RICHMOND, Ky. - Six home games highlight the 2000 Eastern Kentucky University football schedule released today.

Home games with Ohio Valley Conference opponents Murray State (Homecoming, Nov. 4, 2:00 p.m.), Tennessee State (Oct. 28, 2:00 p.m.), Tennessee Tech (Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m.) and Southeast Missouri (Sept. 30, 7:00 p.m.) are on tap for coach Roy Kidd's Colonels as they hope to improve upon last season's 7-4 overall record and 4-3 mark inside the conference.

Rounding out this year's EKU home schedule are the Aug. 31, 7:00 p.m. season opener with Glenville State and a Nov. 11, 7:00 p.m. game with Kentucky State.

"We have a good home schedule with some of the top teams in the OVC coming to our stadium," said EKU head football coach Roy Kidd. "Plus, it will be great to get our kids back down to Florida to play, even though it is against a I-A opponent in Central Florida."

Eastern returns 14 starters among 35 lettermen for the 2000 season, including quarterback Waylon Chapman; tailback Corey Crume; fullback Chad Culver; wide receivers Tyrone Browning and Alex Bannister; offensive linemen Lewis Diaz and Brett O'Buck; defensive ends Shorty Combs and Nick Hill; linebackers Nick Sullivan and Adam Rader; and defensive backs Kris Nevels, Yeremiah Bell and J.D. Jewell.