Feb. 10, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Five home games and a second straight Seahawks Stadium appearance highlights the 2004 schedule for the Western Washington University football team.

The Vikings will be the "home" team for the second "Battle in Seattle" on Sept. 25 (6 p.m.) at Seahawks Stadium. Last year, the game drew 16,392, the largest crowd ever to attend a non-Division I football game in the state of Washington.

"I'm very pleased with the schedule," said Western coach Rob Smith, who begins his 16th season as head of the Viking gridiron program and will be going for his 100th career victory in the season opener. "This is a very balanced schedule. We're excited to have five games at home, excited to be back at Seahawks Stadium for the Battle in Seattle. I'm pleased with how this all came together."

Western kicks off its season on Sept. 4 (1 p.m.), entertaining Fort Lewis CO. The Vikings host Nebraska-Omaha on Sept. 18, St. Joseph's IN on Oct. 9, Humboldt State on Oct. 16 and Western Oregon on Oct. 23. All five home contests begin at 1 p.m.

Four road games complete the schedule. Western travels to St. Cloud State MN on Sept. 11 (6 p.m. CT), Western Oregon on Oct. 2 (1 p.m.), Central Washington on Oct. 30 (1 p.m.) and Humboldt State on Nov. 6 (1 p.m.).

All the games with Central, Humboldt State and Western Oregon are Great Northwest Athletic Conference counters, as the conference moves to a full home-and-home schedule for the first time. In addition, all 10 games on the schedule are against NCAA Division II competition.

"The NCAA II playoffs expand to 24 teams this year," Smith said. "Having all Division II opponents means that if we do our part, we'll be positioned for consideration for a playoff berth, and reaching the playoffs is a goal of ours every year."

Smith enters the 2004 campaign with a record of 99-52-1. Only two coaches have won 100 games while directing programs at colleges in the state of Washington, Frosty Westering doing it at Pacific Lutheran and Don James at Washington.

Western finished 4-6 last year, but won its last three games, all conference counters, to claim its fourth league title in the last five years.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - 2004 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept.  4 (Sat.) FORT LEWIS (Colo.)BELLINGHAM    1 p.m.
Sept. 11 (Sat.) St. Cloud State St. Cloud, MN   6 p.m. CT
Sept. 18 (Sat.) NEBRASKA-OMAHA  BELLINGHAM  1 p.m.
Sept. 25 (Sat.) vs. Central Washington* Seattle 6 p.m.               (Seahawks Stadium)
Oct.   2 (Sat.) at Western Oregon* Monmouth, OR 1 p.m.
Oct.   9 (Sat.) ST JOSEPH'S (Ind.) BELLINGHAM   1 p.m.
Oct.  16 (Sat.) HUMBOLDT STATE* BELLINGHAM  1 p.m.
Oct.  23 (Sat.) WESTERN OREGON* BELLINGHAM  1 p.m.
Oct.  30 (Sat.) at Central Washington* Ellensburg 1 p.m.
Nov.   6 (Sat.) at Humboldt State* Arcata, CA   1 p.m.
Nov.  13 (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - First Round        Site to be determinedNov.  20 (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - Quarterfinals        Site to be determinedNov.  27 (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - Semifinals        Site to be determined
Dec.   4 (Sat.) NCAA II Championship        Florence, Alabama            (host North Alabama)
*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contestHome games (ALL CAPS) at Bellingham's Civic StadiumAll games broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM)