Louisiana-Monroe officially released its complete 2019 football schedule Friday morning listing its season opener with I-20 neighbor Grambling State for a Thursday, Aug. 29 kickoff. There’s one problem with that, according to GSU officials.

As of Friday night, Grambling hadn’t agreed to open the year at ULM on a Thursday night, GSU president Rick Gallot told the News-Star Friday afternoon.

The contract signed for the game between the Warhawks and the Tigers was slated for Saturday, Aug. 31 and Gallot said no one from Grambling State had approved the move.

“Our contract calls for us to play ULM on the 31st,” Gallot said. “That’s when we plan to play. (Unless) something changes and a new contract is executed to change the date, then Aug. 31 is when we intend to play the game.

“Our former acting (Athletics Director Obadiah Simmons) executed this contract two years ago.”

ULM Associate Communications Athletic Director John Lewandowski declined comment on the schedule change Saturday morning.

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Gallot told the News-Star that Grambling isn’t 100 percent opposed to moving the date for the ULM game, but it would be difficult with numerous alumni and fans who have already planned trips to attend, as well as fundraising events and other activities that have all been coordinated for a Saturday contest.

“All of the things being generated about the game being moved is coming from somewhere other than us. We have many of our support organizations, planned fundraising activities and other things scheduled around a Saturday game, not a Thursday game,” Gallot said. “There’s no upside for us trying to move it.

“We’re excited to play them on Aug. 31 and the following week, playing Louisiana Tech. We’ve been looking forward to the ULM game for over two years now.”

Grambling officially released its full 2019 football schedule nearly a month ago, on Feb. 4, and had the season opener at ULM listed for Saturday, Aug. 31. On the school’s athletic website as of Friday night, Grambling State has the game on the 31st.

The two schools, separated by a 42-mile stretch of interstate, entered into the deal to play each other back in October 2016. According to the contract, ULM is set to pay GSU $250,000, according to Gallot. The following week on Sept. 7, Grambling has another guarantee game with its next-door neighbor, Louisiana Tech, when it’ll receive $300,000 for that non-conference contest.

ULM owns the 3-0 all-time series record over the G-Men with the Warhawks winning the last meeting, 48-10, back in 2013.

This story will be updated.

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