FLORENCE -- What was once a nine-game schedule for the University of North Alabama football team in 2008 has grown to an 11-game slate that will be one of the most challenging in recent years for the Lions.

UNA, coming off a 10-2 season that saw the Lions advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs, will play eight Gulf South Conference games, a non-conference game against GSC member Southern Arkansas, and non-conference road games at North Greeneville and Carson-Newman.

"I think this is probably the toughest schedule we've played here at UNA in the last 10 years," said UNA Head Coach Mark Hudspeth. "We've added a Carson-Newman program that was 10-1 last year and is a perennial Division II Top Ten team, we're playing six games on the road, four games on Thursday nights and we have Valdosta State (defending Division II National Champion) coming in for Homecoming."

Hudspeth has revitalized the Lion program since his arrival in 2002, leading UNA to three straight seasons with 10 or more wins and four playoff appearances in the last five years. UNA's 50-12 record since 2003 is also the best record of any collegiate football team in the state of Alabama over that five-year period.

UNA will open the 2008 season at home on a Thursday night (Aug. 28) against Southern Arkansas in a non-GSC game.  "We're excited to be opening the season at home, and opening it on a night when we'll be the only game in the state," said Hudspeth.

UNA will then travel to Carson-Newman on Sept. 6 and will open GSC play at home on Sept. 13 against Henderson State. The Reddies were 7-3 last season and were in contention for a playoff spot. The Lions will then travel to West Georgia on Sept. 20 and will then have a short week as they host Harding ay home on Sept. 25 in a game that will e televised by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast. After that home contest, the Lions hit the road for a string of three straight road games in a 13-day span. UNA plays at Arkansas Tech on Oct. 4, and just five days later the Lions will be playing in Greeneville, S.C., against North Greeneville on a Thursday night. The good news for UNA is that the Thursday game in Greeneville will give the Lions a full week of preparation for a Thursday, Oct. 16 date with Delta State in Cleveland, Miss.

Defending Division II National Champion Valdosta State will come to Florence as the Lions Homecoming opponent on Oct. 25. UNA will also host Arkansas-Monticello the following week before closing out the regular-season on the road at West Alabama.

"The four Thursday games will make preparation and planning a challenge to say the least," Hudspeth said. "It gets you off your routine, and with four of them it will really challenge our guys to be ready to play every time out."

Hudspeth said he also expects the GSC race to be even tougher than a year ago. "On our schedule we replaced a Ouachita Baptist team that went 4-6 with a veteran Henderson team that was 7-3 last season. We also still play Delta State and Valdosta State that are always playoff contenders, and other teams like West Georgia should be greatly improved."