Game 9 - Nov. 9 Murray State University at Richmond 1 :00 p.m. EST

Location-Murray , KY

Founded-1922

President-Dr. Kern Alexander

Enrollment-8,328

Colors-Blue and Gold Conference-Ohio Valley

Nickname-Racers

Athletics Director-Mike Strickland

Head Coach-Houston Nutt (Oklahoma State, 1980)

Coaching Record at MSU-20-14-0/4th year

Coaching Record Overall-20-14-0/4th year Phone (502) 762-6181

Assistant Coaches-Bo Hannaford , Mark Hutson, Mike Markuson , Larry McClain, Danny Nutt

Last Year's Overall Record-11-1-0

Last Year's Conference Record/Finish-8-0-0/1 st

SID-Brian Morgan -(502) 762-4270

Home Phone No.-(502) 753-6897

SID FAX No.-(502) 762-6814

Trainer-Alan Lollar

Stadium/Capacity-Stewart/16 ,800

Press Box Number-(502) 762-6811

Lettermen LosUReturning-17/44

Prospectus

William Hampton Cornerback

After what anyone would consider a season of a lifetime a year ago, the Murray State Racers are hoping that 1996 shows that 1995wasn'tjust an abnormality but the start of a trend.

Matching 1995's success will be difficult. Murray State posted its firstever 11-0 regular season, won the school's first Ohio Valley Conference championship since 1986 and was ranked in the top five of Division I-AA most of the season.

But Racer head coach Houston Nutt, who revitalized football at Murray State after the Racers had not had a winning season since 1989 and who was the OVC Coach and Eddie Robinson award-winner as I-AA Coach of the Year, hopes 1995 was just the beginning.

The Racers return five starters on offense, including AII-OVC quarterback Mike Cherry (135-225 for 2,084 yards and 16 TD's). Gone from the offense is '95 OVC Offensive Player of the Year in runningback Derrick Cullars, who rushed for a MSU record 1,765 yards last season.

Junior Reginald Swinton returns after finishing second on the squad in receptions last season with 27 catches for 412 yards and three TD's. Donnie Stephens (9-105-2) is back at tight end after backing up Xavier Shephard for three seasons.

First-teamAII-OVC selection Anthony Hutch returns for his senior year at defensive end to head the Racer line. First-team AII-OVC linebacker Ronnie Merritt and second-team all-league LB Reuel Shephard are back, as is All-American defensive back William Hampton, who set an NCAA record with 280 yards of interception returns on eight interceptions.

Eastern leads the series, 31-20-4.