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WEST LONG BRANCH – The Big South released a revised spring football schedule on Wednesday after the league was forced to postpone Monmouth’s first two games due to Covid-19 concerns within
the Robert Morris University and Gardner Webb University football programs. Monmouth was due to kickoff the spring season at Robert Morris on March 13 then travel to Gardner Webb the
following week, March 20. However, on March 10th it was announced that the Hawks game at Robert Morris was postponed due to a positive test within the Colonials program then two days later
Monmouth’s game at Gardner Webb was also temporarily shelved. Robert Morris, a former Northeast Conference rival of the Hawks and a first-year Big South member, had already opened their
season on February 27 losing to James Madison – ranked No.1 in the STATS FCS Top 25 - in a game that was a lot closer than most anticipated, 36-16. James Madison uncharacteristically turned
the ball over four times, including three interceptions and a lost fumble. The Dukes did however outgain Robert Morris 394 to 187 in total yardage with 82 of the Colonials yards coming as a
result of their only sustained drive of the day. Incidentally, the Colonials (0-1) were picked to finish last with Gardner Webb in the 2021 Big South Spring Football Preseason Poll. However,
Gardner Webb (2-0, 0-0) has been a surprise team so far this season already having racked up a 42-20 win over then No. 24 Elon to open their season and a 31-24 win over Presbyterian. The
Runnin’ Bulldogs even picked up 38 votes in the most recent STATS FCS Top 25 Poll – go figure. With the release of the revised schedule, what was supposed to be the third game of the Hawks
four-game Big South spring season now becomes their season and home opener on March 27 against Charleston Southern (0-1) - picked third in the Big South Preseason Poll. The Buccaneers gave
Kennesaw State (2-0, 1-0) – ranked ninth in the weekly STATS FCS Top 25 - a bit of a scare in their season opener coming back from a 24-7 fourth quarter deficit to pull within 24-19 on a
Jack Chambers 1-yard touchdown run with 1:47 remaining in the game. Chambers pass on the two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete, however, and Kennesaw State recovered the onside kick
before running out the clock. Evidently, Monmouth’s strength of schedule has all of a sudden become considerably more difficult than it appeared on paper entering the season. Monmouth – the
preseason pick to win the Big South – fell out of the most recent STATS FCS TOP 25 poll due to inactivity but there will be plenty of opportunity for them to regain their positioning - they
just need to take care of business. Following its opener, the Hawks will travel to upstart Gardner Webb for a Saturday, April 3, game scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. The Hawks then return
home for their regularly scheduled game against Kennesaw State, April 10, which in all likelihood will go a long way in determining the Big South champion and an automatic bid in the FCS
playoffs. Monmouth will close out the regular season the following week, April 17, when they travel to Robert Morris. There is a strong probability that Monmouth will need to win the Big
South championship to secure a bid in the FCS playoffs with the number of teams to be selected reduced from 24 to 16 for the spring season. Typically, the format for the bracket is 10
automatic bids from 10 conferences and 14 at-large bids. However, this spring there will be 10 automatic bids and just six at-large bids.