BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb will open its season away from home for the third season in a row, traveling to face Tennessee Tech on Thursday night at 8 pm ET.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-6 in 2007) welcome back 19 starters on offense and defense, earning the squad a third-place projection by the Big South Conference coaches in late July.

Tennessee Tech (4-7 in 2007) is a familiar foe for the ‘Dogs, despite the series only dating back two games. Both games were played in the past four seasons, however, with GWU losing a late lead at Tech in 2004 (32-26 loss) and the Golden Eagles falling on a late Bulldog touchdown in 2006 (30-26 win for GWU).

The history of close games between the two programs should make for good football in the season opener at Tucker Stadium. The game marks just the second time in Gardner-Webb's 39-season history of senior college football that the team has played on a Thursday night. Ironically, both games have been played against Tennessee teams, in Tennessee, in the past seven seasons. GWU opened at UT-Martin in 2001 on a Thursday night.

Gardner-Webb's offense will look for balance in 2008, and will rely on talented receivers Dobson Collins (6-2, 188, Sr.) and Tre Perry (6-0, 172, RFr.) for speed on the edge. Collins, with 4.47-second speed, and Perry – a converted prep quarterback – each had outstanding efforts during preseason drills.

Quarterback Stan Doolittle (6-3, 210, Jr.) will make the start under center, which will be his second career appearance against Tennessee Tech. The Ninety Six, S.C., native came off the bench as a true freshman in 2006 against the Golden Eagles to complete 7-of-8 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown – earning Big South Conference Freshman of the Week honors in the process.

Tennessee Tech's Lee Sweeney will also be making his second appearance against GWU at quarterback. The former University of Louisville signee passed for 262 yards and two long touchdowns in the 2006 matchup, completing 15-of-31 passes in that game.

Both teams are coming off season-ending losing streaks, with injuries playing a major role in the late-season rough patches for each. Tech dropped six in a row after rolling to a 4-1 start in 2007, losing three quarterbacks in three games to injury. Gardner-Webb was physically banged up after an early schedule that saw the ‘Dogs tackle Mississippi State (FBS), Ohio (FBS), Appalachian State (No. 5 FCS) and Wofford (No. 8 FCS), dropping its last two games at Coastal Carolina and to Liberty in Spangler Stadium.

Thursday's game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3), with Fabian Fuentes providing the call from Tucker Stadium. The audio will stream live, free of charge, via Teamline, for fans outside the 50,000-watt radio station's listening area.