AZUSA, Calif. –- When he took over the reigns of Azusa Pacific football last December, first-year Cougar coach Victor Santa Cruz knew that his most challenging task out of the gate was to put together a schedule, something that has become quite a chore in recent years for the NAIA independent Cougars.

If his ability to schedule is anything similar to his coaching skill, Santa Cruz will enjoy quite a successful gridiron tenure as the Cougar mentor.

Santa Cruz has fashioned a 10-game 2006 schedule for Azusa Pacific that is like none other in the program’s 41-year history. Six first-time opponents dot the Cougar slate for next fall and another foe is back on the docket for the first time in 7 years. And no one in the NAIA will be traveling more than Azusa Pacific, which will be packing its bags for 6 road games that collectively cover over 7,500 miles. In 2006, the Cougars are playing football from San Diego to Wisconsin, and from Spokane, Wash., to Oklahoma City. To top it off, they travel to the home of football in Canton, Ohio.

“It’s an ambitious adventure,” said Santa Cruz, “but we’re excited about this schedule. It’s unique in terms of opponents and sites. We’ll have to prove our worth, but we’ll do so against teams from a variety of areas of the country.”

The Cougars will be on the road for 6 games in 2006, including the first 3 of the season. For the tenth straight year, Azusa Pacific opens a new campaign against the University of San Diego, visiting the Toreros for a rare Friday-night game on Sept. 1. The following week, the Cougars will tour the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, during a weekend that they take on NAIA member Malone College on Sept. 9. Azusa Pacific turns right around and returns to the Midwest the next Saturday, Sept. 16, to visit NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The Cougars make their home debut Sept. 23 against Wisconsin-La Crosse, and though it’s the first time these 2 programs have ever met, they nonetheless have a history that dates back more than 20 years. In 1985, the Christian Okoye-led Azusa Pacific was bumped from the eighth and final NAIA berth playoff berth by Wisconsin-La Crosse, which surprisingly leapfrogged the Cougars in the final coaches’ poll of the season. The Eagles, who themselves were led by future NFL great Tom Newberry, justified their sport by going on to win the NAIA national championship.

Azusa Pacific closes out September by making a first-ever trip to Whitworth College in Spokane on Sept. 30. This is only the second meeting between the schools. Whitworth, which is coached by Cougar Sports Hall-of-Fame quarterback John Tully, visited the Canyon City in 1999 during Azusa Pacific’s centennial weekend celebration.

In October, Azusa Pacific renews an emerging rivalry with Southern Oregon by visiting the Red Raiders in Ashland, Ore., Oct. 7. The Cougars return home to host Humboldt State on Oct. 14. After a week off, they entertain Dixie State of St. George, Utah, during homecoming festivities of Oct.28. The 2006 campaign will be the Rebels first season competing as a 4-year school after playing as a junior college for numerous years.

Azusa Pacific closes out the schedule with games against first-time opponents, hosting NAIA member the home Webber International of Lake Wales, Fla., on Nov. 4, before visiting NAIA-member Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla., Nov. 11.

Click here to view the entire 2006 Azusa Pacific football schedule.