AZUSA, Calif. – NAIA independent Azusa Pacific University has put together a 10-game football schedule for 2008 that is as diverse as the past 3 Cougar schedules, head coach Victor Santa Cruz announced.

Half of the Cougars’ new docket will be on the road, and again they will travel the country to play games, returning to Wisconsin for the third straight year while visiting Texas for the first time in 4 years. Eight of the Cougars’ 10 foes had winning records last year, and 3 of them advanced to their respective association playoffs, including a pair from NCAA Division II.

“It’s a terrific schedule that I’m really excited about, and I think our players and fans will be as well,” said Santa Cruz. “We have some good trips planned, a lot of quality opponents, and an overall challenge that should produce some exciting college football.”

Azusa Pacific will not be easing into the new season with “tune-up” games. Rather their first 3 opponents combined for a 36-3 record last year. The Cougars open 2008 against defending NAIA national champion Carroll College (15-0 in 2007) in Azusa on Aug. 30. They hit the road the next 2 weeks to visit nationally-ranked University of San Diego (9-2) and West Texas A&M (12-1), a 2007 NCAA Division II playoff program in Canyon, Texas.

The Cougars return home to host NCAA Division III power Wisconsin-La Crosse (5-4) on Sept. 20, before visiting the Eagles’ conference mate, Wisconsin-Stevens Point (6-4) in a first-ever gridiron meeting between the 2 schools.

October opens with the Cougars visiting traditional foes Humboldt State University (2-8) and Southern Oregon University (5-4) with a week off in between. For the second time in 3 years Dixie State College (3-8) will be the Cougars homecoming opponent on Oct. 25.

In November, the Cougars host NCAA Division II power Central Washington University (10-3) on the 1st before closing the regular-season on Nov. 8 with a first-ever visit from NCAA Division III East Texas Baptist University (5-5).

West Texas A&M, Wisconsin-Stevens Point and East Texas Baptist are all first-time Cougar opponents. Carroll returns to the Cougar slate for the first time since 2005, while Central Washington will be making its first visit in the “Canyon City” since the Cougars’ 1998 NAIA championship season. In all, 6 of the Cougar opponents were nationally-ranked during the 2007 season.

“College football players like to travel and play hard-hitting, quality football,” said Santa Cruz, “and that’s what the Cougars will experience this fall.”

The combined 2007 record of Azusa Pacific upcoming opponents was an impressive 72-39 (.649).

Azusa Pacific is coming off a 6-5 season in which they finished the campaign ranked No. 21 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Poll.

Click here to view the complete 2008 Cougar football schedule.