Sparks goes for win No. 300 in opener against Glenville State as C-N releases 2012 Football Schedule

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks begins his 33rd year as the Eagles’ Head Coach on the threshold of another milestone in his legendary career. He’ll go for win career win No. 300 in Carson-Newman’s season opener on Aug. 30 against Glenville State University (W.Va.), part of C-N’s 2012 football schedule, the school released on Friday.

Sparks will try to become the 12th coach in college football history to win 300 career games, joining the likes of coaching legends like Bobby Bowden, and Paul “Bear” Bryant.

“We aren’t thinking about records, we are concentrating on building a solid team and focusing on the fundamental things that build character and lasting values in these young men,” head coach Ken Sparks says. “I’ve never played in a single one of those 299 games, and I won’t play one in the 300th. The credit goes to all the Eagle players, coaches, fans and the entire C-N family; and to the Lord for giving me a place to coach for 32 years.”

For the third time in five years, the Eagles will play a game in front of a national audience. CBS Sports Network will televise Wingate’s game at Carson Newman on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.

Division II and CBS Sports Network announced their 2012 regular-season football television schedule Thursday morning. Division II Vice President Mike Racy said the program, now in its seventh year, has been good for the participating institutions and Division II in general.

“This will be the seventh season of Division II regular-season coverage on CBS Sports Network,” Racy said. “After this year, national telecasts will have originated from 35 different Division II football stadiums, and about 25 percent of our football-playing members will have had regular-season national television exposure. It’s been great for the division, and the schools say it’s also been valuable for them.”

The Eagles will open the 2012 season at home against Glenville State on August 30th, in a Thursday night game. The Eagles handled the Pioneers last season, 45- 20, to open the 2011 campaign. Glenville State finished the year, 5-6.

Carson-Newman then begins a stretch of four straight SAC conference opponents, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne on September 15th, then visiting Newberry on the 22nd, before hosting the televised game against Wingate on the 27th; completing the run against Catawba on October 6th. The Eagles looks to improve last year’s 2-2 record against these four teams.

The Eagles will step out of conference play to host North Greenville University on October 13 at Burke-Tarr Stadium in Carson-Newman’s homecoming. The meeting will be the second between the two schools. Last year the two teams fought each other to a standstill for most of three quarters Saturday at Younts Stadium, but a late turnover and mishandled snaps on the field goal unit were the difference as the Eagles fell 34-27 to the Crusaders.

On October 20th Carson-Newman travels to another out of conference game against UNC-Pembroke before returning to conference play at Brevard College on October 27th.

Following a short road trip to Greenville to play Tusculum, the Eagles host the season finale’ against last year’s SAC co-champion Mars Hill College, trying to avenge the loss that ended the Eagles 2011 campaign with a 5 – 6 record, the first losing season for Eagles in 33 years.

2012 Game Schedule (times subject to change)

August 30, 2012              AT HOME vs. Glenville State             7:00 PM

September 8, 2012          Bye Week

September 15, 2012        At HOME vs Lenoir Rhyne                1:00 PM

September 22, 2012        AWAY vs Newberry                           6:30 PM

September 27, 2012        AT HOME vs Wingate                       8:00 PM Televised

October 6, 2012C-N        AWAY vs Catawba                            1:00 PM

October 13, 2012            AT HOME vs North Greenville           3:00 PM

October 20, 2012            AWAY vs UNC-Pembroke                  2:00 PM

October 27, 2012            AWAY vs Brevard                             1:00 PM

November 3, 2012           AWAY vs Tusculum                          1:30 PM

November 10, 2012         AT HOME vs Mars Hill                       1:00 PM