BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University will play five home football games in 2016 and four of the five games feature a promotional activity. BW plays its game on Tressel Field inside the national-renown The George Finnie Stadium that seats 7,800 fans and has welcomed more than 11,000 for a game in 1998. The Yellow Jackets finished 7-3 last season.
BW opens its season and home schedule on Thursday, September 1 when it plays non-league foe Defiance College for the first time since 1920. It is just the second time BW has opened its season on a Thursday. The first was at The College of Wooster in 2011 and BW posted a 23-0 shutout win. This time the game is against Defiance in Berea and it will be 39th Annual Lee Tressel Shrine Classic with the kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Following the game, an annual Shriners' Most Outstanding Player of the Game will selected for each team. BW leads Defiance 2-0 in the all-time series that began in 1918.
After travelling to OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University for the annual Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy Game on Sept. 17 (game time has yet to be determined), the Jackets will host rival the University of Mount Union on Saturday, Sept. 24 for both the annual Family & Community Night celebration (prior to kickoff) and the 15th Annual Professor Appreciation Day ceremony (at halftime). The Family & Community Night picnic will begin the the North Quad at 4 p.m. with the football kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. Following the game the annual Dick Miller BW Most Outstanding Player of the Game award will be presented.
After trips to OAC foes Marietta College on October 1 and Wilmington College on Oct. 8, BW hosts rival Muskingum University on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. BW leads the Fighting Muskies 44-13-2 in the all-time series that began in 1917 and has won 10 straight games versus the Fighting Muskies, including a 34-28 win in New Concord last season.
The following Saturday, October 22 is Homecoming at BW with a 2 p.m. kickoff against Otterbein University. The new members of the BW Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame and Homecoming King & Queen candidates will be introduced prior to the game, the winners will be announced at halftime and after the game the annual Frank Roppolo BW Homecoming Player of the Game will be named. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series versus the Cardinals, 36-10-1, including a 55-21 win at Otterbein a year ago. The teams played for the first time in 1925.
Following trips to Capital University on October 29 and Heidelberg University on November 5, BW ends the regular season by celebrating Seniors' and Parents' Day on Saturday, November 12. BW hosts OAC rival Ohio Northern University at 1:30 p.m. A year ago, BW beat the Polar Bears 28-27 in Ada and increased its lead in the all-time series against ONU to 28-12-1. The first game was in 1923. Prior to the game, BW will honor its senior football student-athletes, managers and trainers. At halftime, the University will recognize the senior cheeleaders and members of the marching band.
