UCO Sports

Playing as an NCAA Division II independent in 2010-11 will create plenty of challenges for the majority of Central Oklahoma’s teams, particularly in regards to scheduling.

The Bronchos have completed their 20-plus year association with the Lone Star Conference and don’t join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association until the start of the 2011-12 academic year, so this is a year of transition for UCO.

Obviously, the most difficult item to deal with this year is finding teams to play since there is no built-in conference schedule.

A look at UCO’s football slate shows just how tough it was.

The Bronchos managed to come up with an 11-game schedule -- including five at Wantland Stadium -- but six of the first seven games are on the road, including the opening four.

Long-time state rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma are back. Former LSC foe Angelo State is there along with future MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Washburn.

But UCO will also face four teams for the first time ever, traveling to long-time Division II power North Alabama and Football Championship Subdivision member Cal Poly in addition to hosting Division II newcomers Black Hills State and Lindenwood.

It’s an interesting schedule and also a very tough one that will definitely require the Bronchos to play at a high level, starting right off the bat with a trip to North Alabama.

Soccer and volleyball will also have limited home contests this fall, though those sports didn’t have as tough a time filling their schedules.

Soccer will play eight of its 18 games at Tom Thompson Field, with the twist being that the Bronchos will play three teams – ECU, SWOSU and Northeastern State – twice, once at home and once away.

Volleyball will also have home-and-home matches with three schools (ECU, SWOSU and SOSU), but UCO’s 33-match schedule will actually include more contests at Hamilton Field House this year (10) than last (eight).

The men's and women's basketball schedules aren't official, but it appears each will have at most seven home games and both teams are set to play NSU and Lindenwood four times apiece.

It remains to be seen what UCO's other schedules will look like.

Such are the hazards of playing as an independent, but thankfully it's a short-term problem before the Bronchos join NSU, Lindenwood and Nebraska-Kearney as new MIAA members in the fall of 2011.