Eastern New Mexico football head coach Kelley Lee announced a 2019 fundraising campaign geared towards raising funds for additional games and travel for the Greyhound football team throughout the next few years of competition.
The Hounds already have a trip up to Monmouth, Oregon planned for the end of the 2019 season to take on Western Oregon and with the Lone Star Conference and Great Northwest Athletic Conference reaching a scheduling alliance covering the 2020 and 2021 seasons, long road trips will become a staple in the Greyhounds scheduling. The Hounds are currently scheduled to host Azusa Pacific in 2020 and will then host Central Washington and travel to Azusa Pacific during the 2021 season.
“In order to achieve our goal of becoming the first Eastern New Mexico football team to reach the NCAA Division II playoffs it is imperative that we play 11 NCAA Division II football games every year,” coach Lee said, “Our young men have been working extremely hard and we are asking that you consider supporting them by making a donation to help cover the increased cost of plane tickets for the travel associated with such long trips.”
The new agreement between the LSC and the GNAC will guarantee the Hounds at least three in-region contests over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but Eastern will still be in search of games against non-conference foes to complete an 11 game schedule each year. The costs associated with the travel to these non-conference games continues to rise and the need for extra funds has never been greater for ENMU football.
The Greyhounds finished last season 5-6 after putting together a record of 8-2 the previous season to put themselves squarely in contention for a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. With a long list of impact players returning and a schedule consisting of quality, in-region opponents for the 2019 year, the Hounds will be looking to make a run at the program’s first ever Division II playoff berth and will need additional financial help to continue that type of scheduling in the next coming years.
Those interested in making a donation to the ENMU football program can do so online HERE or at the link in the story above. For more information regarding the fundraising initiative, please visit the “Fundraising Information” link
