The Truman Bulldog Football team will begin their fall camp on Thursday morning in preparation for the 2012 season kickoff on Thursday, August 30 at Southwest Baptist University.
The Bulldogs return four All-Americans from the last two years.
This will be Coach Gregg Nesbitt’s third season at the helm of the Bulldogs and 33rd year of coaching after a pair of 4-7 campaigns.
Senior defensive backs Richie Schumacher and Michael Elliott each earned all-America honors.
Schumacher was a Beyond Sports Network selection last season after being one of the nation’s top tacklers and Elliott was on the Don Hansen All-America team as a junior two years ago.
Elliott redshirted last season.
Junior placekicker Derek Koon was also a BSN All-American last year after converting on 15-of-17 field goal attempts, including a Bulldog record 12 straight while senior punter Eric Phillips, a Don Hansen All-America pick, was in the top five in the nation in punting average while just missing the single-season Truman record.
All four have also been named all-conference in the past as have returners Dallas Grier (WR), Blake Holland (OL), Patrick Blackwell (DL) and Wade Pelc (LB).
The first practice is scheduled for Thursday morning at 8:45 a.m. with fall camp concluding with a scrimmage at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 23rd at Stokes Stadium.
The scrimmage will be open to the public and free of charge.
The season will open the following Thursday night in Bolivar where Truman will return to the same place it ended the 2011 season with 24-8 win over the Bearcats.
Lincoln University is in Kirksville the following Saturday for the home opener at 7:00 p.m.
Truman’s lone non-conference game will be the next Saturday, Sept. 15th when they host Northwest Oklahoma State for Family Night.
The Bulldogs return to the road for a national television game against long-time rival the University of Central Missouri on Thursday, Sept. 20th.
That game is the Division II Game of the Week on the CBS Sports Network and will also help the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association celebrate their centennial season as a conference.
Truman, Central and Northwest Missouri are the lone charter members left in the MIAA.
Truman will host Fort Hays (Kan.) State on Sept. 29th followed by a trip to MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 6th and Washburn (Kan.) on Oct. 13th.
Emporia (Kan.) St. will be the homecoming opponent on Oct. 20th with a visit by the defending national champions, Pittsburg (Kan.) St. University on Oct. 27th.
The ‘Dogs will conclude the regular season with a trip to Missouri Southern on Nov. 3rd and a home date with another conference newcomer, Lindenwood (Mo.) University on Nov. 10th.
Truman was picked 14th in the MIAA Coaches poll, above Lincoln University and 12th in the media poll in front of Southwest Baptist, Central Oklahoma and the Blue Tigers.
KRES Story with comments from Coach Nesbitt
Courtesy Truman State University
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO