AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The defending Mid-South Sun Conference Champions begin their 2019 title defense on Saturday night when they welcome in the 17th ranked University of the Cumberlands out of Kentucky. Saturday night's contest will kickoff at 7 p.m.
 
Season Preview
 
2018 Sun Division Coach of the Year, Joe Patterson, returns an experienced squad that went 6-4 overall and 5-1 in divisional play a year ago. The fourth-year head coach returns nine of the ten players that earned conference postseason honors last season including Sun Division Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Will Tate.
 
Tate threw for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98 completions last season while also rushing for 329 yards and five scores. He will be protected by senior All-Conference left tackle Jack Weston as well as fellow senior Lucas McAllister. Multiple skills position players return for the Gyrene offense in First Team-All Conference running back Quino Mauricette and Second Team All-Conference wide receiver Kevon O'Connor.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, AMU returns First Team All-Conference members Shar'Quez Hamilton (DL), Dylan Bryan (LB), and Kobi Bowers (DB). Second Team All-Conference honoree Savohn Hunt (DL) adds to the experienced defensive line for the Gyrenes.
 
AMU also welcomes back two-time special teams player of the week and First Team All-Conference punter Devyn McCormick to swap the fields for the Blue and Green.
 
2019 Gameday Information
 
The 2019 season for the Ave Maria University football program is set to begin on Saturday night, as the Gyrenes face Cumberlands at 7 p.m. at Gyrene Field. Fans that are planning on attending Saturday's game, and any future Ave Maria football contests, are encouraged to take note of the University's Game Day policies.

Tickets for all football games are $10 for adults, $5 for children from the ages of 13 to 17, and free for children ages 12 and under. Ave Maria University students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free. 

Fans who plan on attending multiple Ave Maria sporting events throughout the season are encouraged to join the Gyrene Athletic Booster Club. For $100, Gyrene supporters will receive a season pass to all AMU sporting events, as well as priority access in the ticket line. The annual membership also includes additional benefits listed on AveMariaGyrenes.com.

Parking near Gyrene field will be available in the grass lot adjacent to the Tom Golisano Field House. The price to park in this lot will be $10. Tailgating is permitted in the grass lot, but no alcoholic beverages can be brought from this lot to Gyrene Field.

Last season, new bleachers were installed at Gyrene Field, and will be available for all fans. Any fans wishing to bring their own chairs and tents are permitted to do so, but space is limited. Umbrellas will not be allowed in the bleachers.

Any fans that cannot attend the season opener can watch the action unfold on the Gyrenes' Stretch Internet portal, which can be found on the AMU athletics website. This season, all sporting events will be broadcast FREE, including Saturday's football game. ​
 
Mid-South Sun Division Preseason Poll
 
Ave Maria was picked to finish second in the Sun Division of the Mid-South Conference in the preseason poll. The poll was voted on by the division coaches and coaches were unable to vote for their own team in the poll.
 
Southeastern received six of the seven first-place votes to sit atop the Sun Division preseason poll. The Fire went 5-1 in the Sun Division last season and 7-3 overall. Ave Maria (Fla.) is second in the polling with 30 voting points and the final first-place vote.
 
Keiser (Fla.) checks in at third in the poll with 27 voting points followed by Faulkner (Fla.) with 19 points. Webber International (Fla.) is fifth in the poll with 16 voting points while Warner (Fla.) is sixth with 12 points. First-year program St. Thomas (Fla.) completes the Sun Division with seven voting points.
 
NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll
 
The Gyrenes are currently receiving votes in the preseason NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The 2019 Gyrenes are recognized preseason for the first time in school history, and are one of two Mid-South Conference Sun Division teams listed in the poll.

The Gyrenes are ranked 33rd in the nation entering the 2019 season, as Ave Maria appears tied for eighth in the receiving votes category with five total points. Conference rival Southeastern is ranked 19th in the nation. The number one team in the country is reigning national champion Morningside, who was a unanimous selection for the top spot.

In total, nine Mid-South Conference teams are in the top 25 or receiving votes, led by No. 10 Reinhardt. In addition to a road game against Southeastern, the Gyrenes will also face No. 17 Cumberlands in the season opener on September 7 at Gyrene Field, marking the first of the two games against preseason ranked opponents.
 
2019 Schedule
 
The Ave Maria football schedule for the 2019 season features a four-game Gyrene home slate against No. 17 Cumberlands (Ky.), St. Andrews (N.C.), Webber, and Faulkner (Ala.).
 
In 2019, the Gyrenes will play road games against Bluefield (Va.), Jacksonville (NCAA DI FCS), No. 19 Southeastern, St. Thomas (new program), Warner, and Keiser.
 
Ave Maria opens the season this Saturday at 7 p.m. against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), who finished the 2018 season ranked 12^th in the NAIA and currently rank 17^th in the preseason poll. The Patriots were 10-2 in 2018 and finished second in the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South with a 5-1 record.
 
On September 28, the Gyrenes head to Jacksonville to take on the JU Dolphins (2-8) at 1 p.m. This is the first meeting for AMU and Jacksonville and the third time the Gyrenes have faced a NCAA DI FCS opponent. The last time Ave Maria took on a DI FCS opponent was in 2015 when they traveled to Stetson. 
 
Ave Maria and Faulkner (4-6, 1-5 Sun) will meet for a fifth time on Nov. 2 for the Gyrenes' final home game of the season. Prior to the game, AMU will recognize their graduating senior class.