By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

As the calendar has turned to August, the anticipation and excitement continues to build for the Centenary football program.

The Gents will play their first official NCAA season in over a half-century this fall. Centenary will face the Hendrix College Warriors at home on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Mayo Field in its season opener.

The preparation has been ongoing since an exhibition campaign last fall. That was all prelude.

The real on-field work gets going on Aug. 16. Preseason practice begins.

“We are so excited about the upcoming season,” said Centenary head football coach Byron Dawson.

“This year we will continue to build on the foundation that was laid with the class of 2022 and 2023. This time last year, we didn’t have a locker room, practice field or even a goalpost on campus – but what a difference a year can make.”

Those facilities have been established since preseason began last summer. While that was ongoing, the Gents got creative and made the most of it.

“We will enter this season with brand new facilities and field equipment and that is so important to the growth of this program. Last season we practiced every day on a grass intramural field on campus. We dressed out each day in the basketball locker rooms and we didn’t have an off-season to assist in the development of our players,” said Dawson.

There was no magic wand, just a lot of vision, commitment and support that has transformed Centenary football – and the entire athletic program – with completion of a new fieldhouse, artificial turf practice field and the finishing touches on the game field for football and soccer.

“We are so grateful for the leadership of the Board of Trustees, (president) Dr. (Christopher) Holoman, (athletic director) David Orr and his staff and the entire Centenary community for their support,” said Dawson. “Coming to work each day in our new locker room overlooking the new turf field, me, my staff and our student-athletes feel so blessed and honored to represent this city and this great college.

“The ribbon cutting ceremony held on May 9 was a testament to the commitment and vision of so many that made that great day possible,” he said.

The final steps are just ahead.

“In the next few weeks, players will move into their dorms and we will begin fall training. We will have a tough challenge entering the season with the youngest team and roster on our 10-game schedule. We will lean and rely on the experiences from last football season and our spring training.

“We are optimistic about several key returners and a solid group of incoming freshmen. We expect a very competitive fall camp.”

Dawson said the Gents will host a scrimmage against Louisiana Community Christian on Aug. 31 in their final tuneup for the kickoff of NCAA Division III competition.

Season and single-game tickets are on sale now.

Direct link to ticket purchases: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/la/shreveport/organization/69826/centenary-college-of/tickets

See the complete Gents’ season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/fball/2024-25/schedule

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu