Winston-Salem State played 13 of its 14 football games last season in North Carolina. That won't be the case in 2012.
The Rams, coming off a program-best 13-1 season, will play out of state more often, including Sept. 15 when they will meet Morehouse in the Cleveland Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
WSSU will open at home Sept. 1 against UNC Pembroke, then will play at Concord (W.Va.) on Sept. 8.
Coach Connell Maynor said he likes the schedule and called it a bit of an upgrade from last season.
"Any time you play good football teams like we are doing, it's going to improve you," Maynor said. "Last year, we had a lot of trouble scheduling, and we were lucky to even find Edward Waters. This year, we don't have any of those types of games."
WSSU has four home games on the schedule, including its CIAA opener Sept. 22 against Virginia Union.
Maynor said the addition of Bowie State will make the CIAA schedule a little more difficult. WSSU will play at Bowie State on Sept. 29 and play at Johnson C. Smith on Oct. 6.
"We have some better teams on the schedule and we've proven we will play anybody anywhere," Maynor said.
The Rams, defending CIAA champions, will play St. Augustine's at home Oct. 13 and Livingstone at home Oct. 20 for homecoming at Bowman Gray Stadium. The final two games will be at Shaw on Oct. 27 and at Fayetteville State on Nov. 3.
Maynor said he thinks that the extra travel, especially to Cleveland, will be worth it.
"That will be nice exposure for us," Maynor said of the Cleveland Classic, which started last season and matched Central State against N.C. Central.
WSSU’s 2012 schedule
Sept. 1 - UNC Pembroke
Sept. 8 - at Concord (W.Va.)
Sept. 15 - Morehouse (in Cleveland)
Sept. 22 - Virginia Union
Sept. 29 - at Bowie State
Oct. 6 - at Johnson C. Smith
Oct. 13 - St. Augustine’s
Oct. 20 - Livingstone
Oct. 27 - at Shaw
Nov. 3 - at Fayetteville State
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