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OGDEN, UTAH - Back to back games with teams from the Mountain West Conference, a Division I FCS playoff game rematch with nationally ranked Cal Poly, and the always tough Big Sky Conference schedule are ahead in 2009 for the Weber State University Wildcats. All 11 teams on the schedule are NCAA Division I BCS or FCS teams. There are no Division II, III or NAIA teams on the slate in 2009.
"This will obviously be a demanding schedule," said WSU athletic director Jerry Graybeal. "Fortunately, we have strong team returning. They are battle hardened and I expect they will be up to the challenge. The games at Wyoming and Colorado State affords our fans a chance to travel without a lot of expense."
The Wildcats will make three treks across I-80 East this season including back-to-back weekends to play Wyoming (Sept. 5) and Colorado State (Sept. 12). WSU will also travel across I-80 for an October 24 game at Northern Colorado. Wyoming was 4-8 overall last season and 1-7 in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys released Head Coach Joe Glenn and replaced him with Dave Christensen. It will be the third meeting ever between the two schools.
Colorado State won its last two games of the 2008 regular season to finish bowl eligible at 6-6. The Rams then went on to defeat Fresno State, 40-35, in the New Mexico Bowl to complete a 7-6 season under first year head coach Steve Fairchild. This will be the third meeting between the two schools.
Weber State and Cal Poly met in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs with the Wildcats winning 49-35 in San Luis Obispo, California last November 29. The November 21st game is a single game deal with the Mustangs.
The September 19th game in Ogden with Idaho State kicks off the Big Sky Conference schedule. The Wildcats also face Montana State (Oct. 3), Sacramento State (Oct. 17) and Northern Arizona (November 14) at home in Stewart Stadium.
On October 31, the Wildcats face the University of Montana. It will be WSU's third appearance in as many years in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Last year, Weber State defeated Montana, 45-28 in Ogden during the regular season, then lost 24-13 in Missoula on December 6 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. Weber State and Montana were co-Big Sky champions but the Wildcats earned the league's automatic berth into the playoffs because of the regular season win over the Grizzlies.
