With another banner crop of recruits having signed on to join the Stetson football program, the Hatters can turn their attention toward spring practice and preparations for the 2015 season.

Coach Roger Hughes and the Hatters will open spring ball on March 16 and will practice four days per week until wrapping up with the annual Green-White Scrimmage on Friday, April 10, at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

The efforts during spring drills will begin getting the returning members of the Hatters squad focused on the 2015 season, which will open on September 5 against Webber International. That will be the first of six home games for the Hatters over the course of an 11-game schedule.

"We are excited about the 2015 schedule," Hughes said. "We have six home games, feature a game against an institution from the Southern Conference as well as first time games against in state opponents. In addition, it also features new conference opponent, Valparaiso University, and for the first time we travel to play at Drake. Our players and coaches are excited for the challenge as we look to improve on last year's record."

The Warriors, who compete in The Sun Conference, an NAIA league, are coming off a 8-3 mark in 2014, a record that included an eight-game win streak to end the season and a conference title. This will be the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron.

That game will be followed by a trip to Macon to face the Mercer Bears on Sept. 12. Mercer posted a 6-6 record, including a 1-6 conference mark, in its first season as a member of the Southern Conference.

Pioneer Football League play will open on Sept. 26 with a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to face the Drake Bulldogs. The Bulldogs finished with a 7-4 record in 2014. Following consecutive road games, the Hatters will host Dayton on October 3 in the first PFL game of the year at Spec Martin Stadium. The Flyers were 8-3 in 2014 and finished second to San Diego on the conference race.

The Hatters will go back on the road, but for a short trip, on Oct. 10 as they head up I-95 for a tilt against rival Jacksonville. The Dolphins posted a 9-2 record in 2014, but were ineligible to win the PFL title.

Campbell will visit DeLand on Oct. 17 as the Camels and Hatters get together. The Camels' 5-7 record last fall included a hard-fought 28-24 loss to the Hatters. Over two seasons, Stetson and Campbell have split two games with a combined three-point margin.

The Hatters will travel to Valparaiso on October 24 for the first meeting with the Crusaders. Valpo finished the 2014 season with a 4-8 record. Stetson will return home to host defending league champion San Diego on October 31. The Toreros finished the 2014 campaign with a 9-3 record.

The Hatters will make their final road trip of the 2015 season on November 7 when they travel north to Poughkeepsie, NY, to face the Red Foxes of Marist. Stetson defeated Marist 22-14 at Homecoming in 2014, helping the Red Foxes to their final record of 4-7.

Stetson will close the season with consecutive home games, starting on November 14 with a Homecoming tilt against Ave Maria. The Gyrenes posted a 5-6 record in 2014 as a member of The Sun Conference. The 2015 regular season will come to an end on November 21 when the Davidson Wildcats return to Spec Martin Stadium. The Hatters downed the Wildcats 40-34 in North Carolina last season and are 2-0 against Davidson since re-starting the football program.

Season ticket renewals for the 2015 Stetson football schedule are scheduled to be released in March. New this year, 2014 season ticket holders and new accounts that pay in full will be eligible for early bird season ticket renewal pricing.

The 2015 season will also feature the debut of new pricing for John B. and Hatter Gold seats. Also new in 2015, all fans will have the opportunity to earn reserved parking and pre-game hospitality outside of Spec Martin Stadium.

As always, season ticket holders are guaranteed the lowest per game price and fans sitting in West Reserved, Hatter Gold, or John B. seating areas are guaranteed the same seat for every home game in the 2015 season.

The deadline to secure your same seat and early bird pricing is Friday, May 22. Be sure to renew early to be eligible for season ticket holder upgrades, add-on's and seat relocations, which will occur in June.

2015 Stetson Football Schedule

All Times Eastern

* = Pioneer Football League Game