FLORENCE
–
For the fifth consecutive season and
the 15th time overall,
the University of North Alabama’s
football team has advanced to the
post-season with a chance to compete
for the NCAA Division II National
Championship.
The Lions, 10-1 overall, received
the No. 1 seed in Super Regional 2
and will have a first round bye when
the playoffs begin on November 14.
The Lions will host a second round
game at Braly Stadium on November 21
against the winner of the Arkansas
Tech-North Carolina, Pembroke game.
Kickoff for that contest will be at
noon Central time.
Carson-Newman received the No. 2
seed in Super Regional 2 and will
host the winner of the Albany
State-West Alabama game.
Despite suffering a four-overtime
loss to West Alabama in their
regular season finale, the Lions
will have a full head of steam
heading into the playoffs, according
to UNA head coach Terry Bowden. “I’m
excited for our team to have this
opportunity to compete in the
playoffs,” Bowden said. “We are
coming off a loss, but then only one
team in the 24-team playoff field is
undefeated. This is the real season
now.”
Bowden said even though UNA didn’t
achieve its goal of a perfect
regular season, the Lions have their
eyes on a bigger prize. “We set our
goals quick. We set them high. We
set them out-loud and we have never
strayed from them,” Bowden said.
“One goal was to win the Gulf South
Conference championship and we did
that. Another was to have a perfect
regular-season. We didn’t get that
but it’s time to put that aside.
When you set your goals at the
highest point, that’s when it hurts
the most if you don’t get there. For
this team, we are still focused on
our ultimate goal and a higher
prize.”
UNA has advanced to the Division II
playoffs 14 times previously and the
Lions have a 26-11 all-time record.
The 26 wins are the most by any
current NCAA Division II
institution. UNA has competed in the
playoffs in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1990,
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003,
2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, The Lions
won Division II championships in
1993, 1994 and 1995, advanced to the
Championship Game in 1985 and also
reached the semifinals in 1980,
1983, 2003, 2005 and 2008.
Tickets for UNA’s November 21
playoff game will go on sale Monday
at the UNA Ticket Office at the
front of Flowers Hall. UNA season
ticket holders will have one week to
claim their same seats before they
go on sale to the general public.
2009 NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFF
PAIRINGS
SUPER REGION 2
#1
North Alabama (10-1) – Bye
#5
North Carolina, Pembroke @ #4
Arkansas Tech (8-2)
#
2 Carson-Newman (9-2) – Bye
#
6 West Alabama (7-4) @ #3 Albany
State (8-2)
SUPER REGION 3
#
1 Minnesota-Duluth (10-1) – Bye
#5
Saginaw Valley State (9-2) @ #4
Nebraska-Kearney (10-1)
#
2 Grand Valley State (10-1) – Bye
#
6 Hillsdale (9-2) @ #3 Minnesota
State, Mankato (10-1)
SUPER REGION 4
#
1 Central Washington (11-0) – Bye
#
5 Tarleton State (9-2) @ # 4 Texas
A&M-Kingsville (9-2)
#
2 Northwest Missouri State (10-1) –
Bye
#
6 Abilene Christian (8-3) @ # 3
Midwestern State (8-2)
SUPER REGION 1
#
1 West Liberty (10-1) – Bye
#
5 Edinboro (8-3) @ # 4 East
Stroudsburg (8-3)
#
2 Shippensburg (9-2) - Bye
#
6 Fayetteville State (8-3) @ # 3
California, Pa. (8-3)
