RAPID CITY --- South Dakota School of Mines and the Hardrocker football program have announced the schedule for the 2012 season. The ‘Rockers will again play an 11-game season with a majority of their contests against NCAA Div. II opponents mixed in with a couple former NAIA Dakota Athletic Conference rivals as well as an NCAA Div. I opponent.

SD Mines opens the season in Grand Forks, N.D., against Div. I University of North Dakota slated for Aug. 30. This will be the first-ever meeting for SD Mines and UND.

The Hardrockers will face six teams in 2012 they have never seen before in the program’s storied history. Along with North Dakota, SD Mines will take on William Jewell College (Kan.) Sept. 22 in Rapid City; travel to Joplin, Mo., for a matchup with Missouri Southern University (Oct. 6); are at Alva Okla., on Oct. 20 to face Northwestern Oklahoma State University; welcome Fort Hays State (Kan.) Oct. 27; and play host to the University of Nebraska-Kearney Nov. 3.

SD Mines also has a rematch with Colorado School of Mines Sept. 8. This will be the third-consecutive year the Hardrockers and Orediggers have renewed their old rivalry. The Hardrockers will also see Missouri Science and Technology again on Nov. 10 in Rapid City (SDM travelled to Rolla, Mo., in 2011 for the two squads first-ever meeting).

Also on the 2012 schedule are old DAC foes Jamestown College and Valley City State. Both games will be played in North Dakota. The ‘Rockers face the Jimmies Sept. 15 and take on the Vikings Sept. 29.

The Hardrockers close out the 2012 season against it biggest and oldest Rival --- the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets. That game is slated for Nov. 17 at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish.

The 2012 schedule lists the Hardrockers’ homecoming game (M-Day) on Sept. 22 against William Jewell and SDM will play three night games --- Aug. 30 at UND (6 p.m.); Sept. 8 vs. Colorado Mines (6 p.m.); and Sept. 22 against William Jewell (5 p.m.).