Bronchos are in transition

The 2011 schedule for the Central Oklahoma Bronchos is bookended by a four-game road trip and a four-game home stand.

UCO is in a year of transition as the Bronchos have said goodbye to the Lone Star Conference, but must wait for full membership into the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. In the meantime, the schedule of an independent is showing that it can be an odd one.  See the full schedule here.

Four straight games on the road is not unprecedented, but certainly not the norm in college football on any level.  The Bronchos will travel over 1750 miles before playing their first game at Wantland Stadium in October.  October!

The road trip features perennial power North Alabama and future MIAA foe Washburn, as well as in-state, and former LSC, rivals Southeastern and Southwestern.

Then the real flyer miles are earned with a trip to California to face FCS opponent Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, a whopping 1477 miles from Edmond.

The good news for UCO fans is that from Game 8 on, they will be able to see their team without leaving Oklahoma County because the final four games are at home.  Fort Hayes State and Lindenwood are opponents that UCO will come to see more regularly in the MIAA.  NAIA’s Black Hills State will also make the long trip from Spearfish, S.D., to Wantland Stadium during this home stand.  And arch-rival Northeastern State, who is also transferring membership to the MIAA, will be in Edmond in November.

Central will play a full 11-game slate and face teams from five different conferences, but will the Bronchos be able to make of the most of the transitional schedule with all of its ups and downs?

Coach Terry Holland’s squad is coming off a 2-9 season in 2010.

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