AHC’S 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FEATURES REGIONAL RIVALS

AHC'S 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FEATURES REGIONAL RIVALS

SANTA MARIA-According to third-year head coach Kris Dutra, the 2003 Allan Hancock College football schedule will be a vast improvement over last year's slate, providing the Bulldogs with more traditional rivals and better balance overall.

Due to a revamp of the Western State Conference divisions, the Bulldogs will have an opportunity to line up against regional counterparts Santa Barbara, Ventura and Moorpark, instead of Santa Monica, L.A. Harbor and West Los Angeles. WSC opponents returning to the slate include traditional Central California-rival Bakersfield, College of the Canyons and Los Angeles Pierce.

"Our 2003 schedule is preferable from a competitive standpoint and, I believe, will generate increased fan interest," said head coach Kris Dutra. "It gets us back to the regional rivalries that community college football ought to be all about."

AHC's non-conference slate will include the Sept. 6 season-opener at East Los Angeles, followed by the Bulldogs' home opener versus West Hills College of Coalinga on Sept. 13 and a mid-season meeting with Los Angeles Southwest at home on Oct.18. By contrast, the rugged 2002 non-conference schedule included El Camino, Long Beach and Compton.