LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (April 2, 2009) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Department of Athletics has released its 2009 football schedule, a 10-game slate featuring six home contests. (2009 SCHEDULE) (SEASON TICKET INFORMATION)

Lincoln will open the season by visiting rival Cheyney University on Saturday August 28 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 72-13 Lincoln victory in 1946. The Lions lead the all-time series, 8-1.

Other highlights of the schedule include the home opener against the University of New Haven on September 5, a home contest against reigning two-time CIAA champion Shaw University on September 19 and the homecoming game against Virginia Union on October 10. Overall, Lincoln will play seven of its 10 games in the state of Pennsylvania.

The Lions first CIAA road game will be at Livingstone on September 26. Lincoln also travels to CIAA foes Elizabeth City State (October 17) and Saint Paul's College (October 31). Lincoln, which will also host Bowie State (October 3) and Virginia State (October 24) does not play consecutive road games in 2009.

“We are extremely excited about this upcoming season,” second-year head coach Olabaniji Abanishe said. “We believe that this will be an extremely competitive season with the likes of playing Shaw, VSU, ECSU, and the rest of the CIAA. We are also excited about our non conference schedule.”

Lincoln, which finished 1-9 last season, will play its home games at Avon Grove High School in West Grove, six miles from Lincoln's main campus.

Founded in 1854, Lincoln University is the first historically black institution of higher education and its graduates include such luminaries as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court, and acclaimed poet and author Langston Hughes. Lincoln University is nationally regarded for producing African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences.

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