The original eight-week regular OUA football season schedule has been expanded to nine weeks, with opening day slated for Wednesday, September 1. The Queen’s Gaels will open their 2010 season on the road when they face the McMaster Marauders that day.

The reigning OUA champion Gaels, were originally scheduled to play Waterloo on Monday, September 6. However Waterloo’s football program has been suspended for one year. The Gaels will instead have a bye week to prepare for their home opener against the Windsor Lancers on Sunday, September 12 at 1 pm.

The expanded OUA season ensures that every school will play an eight-game regular season schedule while keeping the current playoff structure of two quarter-finals, two semifinals and Yates Cup championship intact. The top six teams make the post-season, with the top two teams earning byes into the semifinals.

"The nine OUA football institutions made the best of a difficult situation by keeping the student-athlete in mind," said OUA executive director Ward Dilse. "By having a balanced regular-season schedule while keeping our current playoff structure, it gives all of our players a fair opportunity to win football's oldest trophy, the Yates Cup."

Schools can choose to begin training camps on Friday, Aug. 20 or Saturday Aug. 21, with medicals for student-athletes taking place the day before.

QUEEN’S GAELS 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Week 1
Wednesday, Sept. 1
Queen's @ McMaster TBA

Week 2
Monday, Sept. 6
Bye - Queen's

Week 3
Sunday, Sept. 12
Windsor @ Queen's 1 p.m.

Week 4
Saturday, Sept. 18
Queen's @ Guelph 1 p.m.

Week 5
Saturday, Sept. 25
Ottawa @ Queen's 1 p.m.

Week 6
Saturday, Oct. 2
Queen's @ Western 1 p.m.

Week 7
Saturday, Oct. 9
Toronto @ Queen's 1 p.m.

Week 8
Saturday, Oct. 16
Queen's @ Laurier 1 p.m.

Week 9
Saturday, Oct. 23
York @ Queen's 1 p.m.

OUA Quarter-Finals
Saturday, Oct. 30
6th place @ 3rd place
5th place @ 4th place
Bye - 1st and 2nd place

OUA Semifinals
Saturday, Nov. 6
Lowest Remaining Seed @ 1st place
Second-Lowest Remaining Seed @ 2nd place

103rd Yates Cup presented by Pioneer Petroleums
Saturday, Nov. 13
Lowest Remaining Seed @ Highest Remaining Seed