SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame Football released its 2010 schedule on Wednesday. The Falcons will play 11 games in their inaugural season, beginning with the season opener against Mercyhurst (Pa.) on Saturday, Aug. 28.  (Schedule)

NDC is slated to play five home games and six road tilts in what will be the first varsity season for the program, which was launched in the fall of 2008.

“I feel like we put a great schedule together for 2010,” said Notre Dame Head Coach #Adam Howard#. “Opening up with Mercyhurst College on Aug. 28 will be a great challenge for our program and help to set the tone for the rest of our season. Coach [Marty] Schaetzle does a fantastic job, and they will be a very well-coached team.”

Notre Dame will face six NCAA-II teams and five NAIA teams in its inaugural season. The Falcons will play the 2010 season as an NAIA independent - Notre Dame is currently Candidacy Year-One institution in the NCAA Division II membership process.

“Our focus for the schedule was to make sure that we played all-scholarship football programs. We feel like as we transition into NCAA Division II we need to play scholarship schools to attract the type of players that want to be challenged to perform at a high level. We look forward to all the challenges and growth that our schedule will bring us in 2010.”

NDC's scheduled home games will be against Mercyhurst, Walsh, Southern Virginia, Marian (Ind.) and Urbana. The Falcons will play their home games at Korb Field in Lyndhurst, Ohio (Brush HS). Kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

The 2010 slate has Notre Dame playing one game in August, four each in September and October and two in November. The schedule opens with the Falcons hosting Mercyhurst on Aug. 28. NDC then goes on the road for two games - at Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) on Sept. 4, at Fairmont State (W. Va.) on Sept. 11. The Blue & White then host Walsh on Sept. 18. The Falcons' next three games will be on the road - at Taylor-Ind. (Sept. 25), at Central State (Oct. 2) and t St. Joseph's-Ind. (Oct. 9). NDC then hosts a pair (Oct. 23-Marian-Ind., Oct. 30-North Greenville-SC) before going on the road one last time, at Kentucky Wesleyan on Nov. 6. The Falcons will close out their inaugural season on Nov. 13, with a home tilt against Urbana.

The Falcons will take on three teams from the Buckeye State - Central State, Urbana, and Walsh - during the 2010 season. The combined 2009 record of all foes on the schedule is 45-58 (.437).

Notre Dame College is a co-educational liberal arts institution in South Euclid, Ohio. The Notre Dame Department of Athletics sponsors the Falcons' participation in 23 men's and women's intercollegiate sports. The College is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the American Mideast Conference (AMC). On July 10, the NCAA announced that Notre Dame had a membership application approved. The College is currently competing as a Candidacy Year-One institution in the NCAA Division II membership process.