2013 Southwestern Football
Southwestern Pirates (0-0)
vs. Texas Lutheran Bulldogs (0-0)
Saturday, September 7 - 7 p.m. – Birkelbach Field (Georgetown, Texas)
VIDEO/AUDIO: K-MAC Sports (link)
Merle Bertrand (play-by-play), Johnny "JB" Baeza (color)
LIVE STATS: http://livestats.prestosports.com/southwestern/
COMPLETE NOTES IN PDF FORMAT – Click Here
THE GAME
Southwestern enters Saturday's game as one of 11 schools across the country to field a football team either for the first time or by reinstating the program this fall. The return of Pirate football brings back a program with a brief, but rich history that includes the first college program to win back-to-back Sun Bowls in 1943 and 1944.
The Pirates and Bulldogs both enter 2013 as new members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference joining Trinity and Austin College as schools sponsoring football. Both teams are looking to make a mark early in the league standings as TLU finished just 2-5 a year ago as members of the American Southwest Conference.
THE SERIES
This will be the second meeting between the Pirates and Texas Lutheran. Southwestern knocked off the Bulldogs 27-9 Sept. 28, 1940.
THE COACHES
Joe Austin (Concordia-St. Paul '01)
Austin is 17-22 overall and in his fifth year as a head coach after. He spent the previous four seasons at Hanover College helping the Panthers to back-to-back second place finishes in the HCAC. He was also the offensive coordinator at the University of Dubuque after spending time at Augsburg College and his alma mater, Concordia-St. Paul.
Danny Padron (Our Lady of the Lake '73)
Padron enters his fourth season at Texas Lutheran where he is 14-7 and coming off a 4-6 record in 2012. Prior to his first collegiate head coaching position, Padron was the head coach at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in San Antonio from 2002-2010 where he compiled a 65-30 record. He led O'Connor to seven straight high school playoff berths in his eight seasons.
A WIN FOR THE PIRATES…
A win for the Pirates would give Southwestern a 2-0 record against Texas Lutheran ... The Pirates would have their first win in football since Nov. 4 1950 when the Pirates defeated Austin College 27-7 … Southwestern would improve to 1-0 … It would improve Head Coach Joe Austin's overall record to 18-22 … It would make the Pirates 155-203-35 all-time
A LOSS FOR THE PIRATES…
A loss would be the Pirates third straight loss dating back to the final two games of the 1950 season … It would even the all-time series record against Texas Lutheran at 1-1 … Southwestern would open the season at 0-1 … It would move Head Coach Joe Austin's record to 17-23 … It would make the Pirates 154-204-35 all-time
A LOOK AHEAD …
Southwestern continues its historic return to the gridiron next week at Bacone College … Bacone is a NAIA member in the Central State Football League and were receiving votes in the first NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll … The Pirates return home for their final home game of September against East Texas Baptist on Sept. 21 … Southwestern will also face new "new" football teams that have also been reinstated when they take on Hendrix College (Sept. 28) and Oklahoma Baptist (Oct. 12) … Homecoming for the Pirates has also been set for Nov. 2 vs. Austin College … The Pirates will play three conference games this season, as their Nov. 2 game vs. Austin College and Nov. 9 meeting at Trinity will not count as official SCAC games
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Texas Lutheran opens a historic season of their own as they make the move from the American Southwest Conference to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, marking Saturday's game the first SCAC football game ever for both schools. TLU spent 15 seasons in the ASC as they renew their rivalry with fellow SCAC schools.
Head Coach Danny Pardon begins his fourth season with the Bulldogs and has seen and remarkable turnaround on the gridiron. Taking over for a team that finished 0-10 prior to his first season the Bulldogs compiled a 4-6 record last season.
The Bulldogs will lean heavily on senior quarterback Brent Peavy who was an all-ASC Honorable Mention selection last season. After passing for 2,569 yards last season, Peavy helped TLU set school team records for passing yards, passing yards per game, total offense in a single game, total offense per game and touchdown passes in a season.
Peavy will also have some familiar faces to throw the ball to, led by his twin brother, Cameron. A senior wide receiver, Cameron Peavy set a career-high in receptions with 50 catches and eight touchdowns. Three juniors – Dustin Hannon, Lewis William and Deion Barnes – also join the receiving core for TUL giving the Bulldog offense plenty of experience at its skill positions.
Defensively the Bulldogs are led by senior linebacker, Bradley Snowden. Snowden has been a three-year starter for TLU and is a two-time all-ASC First Team pick after leading the Bulldogs in tackles each of the last two seasons.
RALLY TOWEL GIVEAWAY
Southwestern University Athletics has teamed with Georgetown T-Shirt Company to provide free rally towels to the first 1,000 fans to help commemorate the return of Pirate football. The gold towels will be distributed at the north entrance by Pirate cheerleaders and will be available while they last.
PIRATE PEP RALLY
Celebrate the first home football game with the greater Southwestern community at a Pirates Pep Rally on the Georgetown Square Friday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Visit our Pep Rally information document for details. Information can also be found by visiting the University's calendar.
GAME DAY TICKETS
Tickets will be sold at the Georgetown ISD Stadium for $8 per person. Children 2 years old and younger do not need a ticket. Seating will begin 90 minutes prior to kick-off for each home game. For directions to the stadium, click here.
TAILGATING INFO
Socialize with friends prior to each home game at the Georgetown ISD Stadium parking lot in the designated tailgating area. Tailgating will begin four hours prior to kick-off of each home game. Official tailgating policies are posted on the Pirate Athletics website. One tailgate spot is $10 (or two for $15) - cash only please - and can be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Each tailgater must have a game day ticket, which can be purchased upon arrival for tailgating. Tailgaters over the age of 21 can also socialize at CJ's Sports Bar Pirate Cove (their tent is within walking distance of the official tailgating area). To see the location of the designated tailgating area, click here.
Parking
If you do not plan to tailgate, parking is free in the general admission parking area. Click here to see the Birkelbach Stadium parking map.