Dayton (0-0) vs. Robert Morris (0-0) Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 at Noon Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa. Radio: WPIT-AM 730 (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Video & Audio on the internet (live and archived) at: www.rmucolonials.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team opens its 2011 campaign and 18th season of intercollegiate football Saturday, Sept. 3, when it welcomes the University of Dayton to Joe Walton Stadium for a Noon kickoff. Dating back to the program’s first season in 1994, the Colonials own a record of 9-8 (.529) in season openers. However, when opening its season at home, Robert Morris owns a record 6-1 (.857), with its only setback a 23-12 loss to Dayton (9/1/07) to open the 2007 campaign. Under the direction of Joe Walton, the only head coach in the history of the program, RMU returns nine starters from last season, each of which will be in the starting lineup Saturday against the Flyers. On the flipside, a total of 11 Colonials will be making their first career start, including seven on defense. Robert Morris takes to the road for three straight games after hosting Dayton Saturday, beginning with a 7 p.m. tilt against Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 10. The Colonials will also visit Morgan State (9/17) and Monmouth (10/1) before returning to Joe Walton Stadium, Oct. 8, to host in-state rival Saint Francis. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - One Colonial to keep an eye on this season is senior tight end Shadrae King. A reliable and capable receiver throughout his Robert Morris career, King led RMU last season in receptions (43), receiving yards (531) and touchdown catches (7) in helping the Colonials finish with an overall record of 8-3 (.727) and claim their first NEC regular-season championship since 2000 with a record of 7-1 (.875). Named to the 2011 FCS Preseason AllAmerica Second Team by both The Sports Network and Phil Steele, King enters his final season of eligibility just 19 receptions shy of establishing a new career school record in the category. Former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey owns the record of 112, which was set from 2002 to 2005. King is also six touchdown catches shy of breaking Massey’s all-time record of 21 entering the 2011 season. On his career, King owns 94 receptions for 1,174 yards and 16 touchdowns. Saturday’s Opponent - The longest running rivalry with a non-conference opponent in program history, Robert Morris and Dayton will meet for the 14th time Saturday. The Flyers own an 11-2 (.846) advantage and carry an eight-game winning in the all-time series into the contest. In last year’s game at Welcome Stadium (9/4/10), the Flyers posted a 28-14 victory over the Colonials as Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino passed for two touchdowns in the second quarter to give the Flyers a 21-0 lead at halftime en route to the win. For more information on the all-time series against Dayton, including last year’s game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Sept. 3) in Robert Morris Football History - While Robert Morris will kickoff its 18th season of intercollegiate football Saturday afternoon against Dayton, on this date in football history exactly 17 years ago the Colonials played their first football game. Just 23 days after the beginning of its first training camp, Robert Morris stopped Waynesburg eight times inside its own 10-yard line in the last five minutes to preserve a 24-19 victory. The game-winning touchdown came courtesy of inaugural running back Tim Hall (1994-95), who scampered 62 yards to paydirt at the 7:22 mark of the third quarter to give the Colonials the final margin of victory. Hall finished the afternoon with 86 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while quarterback Jake Newman (1994-97) completed 13 of his 21 passing attempts for 216 yards and three touchdowns, including a nine-yard strike to split end Robert Frazier (1994-96) at the 14:53 mark of the second quarter that marked RMU’s first touchdown in program history.
2011 Schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19
DAYTON @ Liberty @ Morgan State @ Monmouth * SAINT FRANCIS * # @ Albany * BRYANT * ^ SACRED HEART * @ Central Conn. State * WAGNER * $ @ Duquesne *
Noon 7 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon 7 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ............................ 9 / 15 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 6 / 5 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 3 / 8 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............ 0 / 2 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 36 / 22 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 6 / 5 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-5, 285, So. C - Logan Miles .................................. 6-2, 290, Sr. RG - Brad Rodgers ............................ 6-2, 305, Sr. TE - Shadrae King ............................. 6-3, 225, Sr. QB - Jeff Sinclair ............................ 6-3, 190, Jr. FL - Anthony Coleman ................... 5-11, 200, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 3 / 8 LE - Nolan Nearhoof ......................... 6-2, 280, Jr. RE - Steve Mitchell ............................ 6-2, 250, Jr. OLB - Brad Banas ............................... 6-1, 220, Jr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2
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