Robert Morris (0-0) @ No. 1/2 North Dakota State (0-0) Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. EDT Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700) - Fargo, N.D. Radio: WPIT-AM 730 (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Audio on the internet at: www.rmucolonials.com / Video: www.espn3.com
Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team opens its 2012 campaign and 19th season of intercollegiate football Saturday, Sept. 1, when it travels to North Dakota State University and Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff (ET). The Bison won the 2011 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national championship with a 14-1 record and enter the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason FCS Coaches’ Poll. Dating back to the program’s first season in 1994, the Colonials own a record of 9-9 (.500) in season openers. Under the direction of Joe Walton, the only head coach in program history, RMU returns 17 starters from last season. On the flipside, a total of five Colonials will be making their first career start, three of whom have never before appeared in a game for Robert Morris. Robert Morris returns home after playing the Bison as it opens Northeast Conference (NEC) play the second week of the season against defending conference champion Albany Saturday, Sept. 8, at Noon at Joe Walton Stadium. RMU will then take back to the road to meet Dayton Sept. 15 in western Ohio. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Robert Morris enters its 2012 lidlifter with an all-time record of 9-9 (.500) in season openers, all of which have come in non-conference play. RMU dropped its openers in 2009, 2010 and 2011, but the Colonials have never lost four straight season openers. The game against the Bison will also mark the first time Robert Morris has played a nationally ranked opponent in a season opener … Top performances by RMU in season openers: most points - 47 (9/4/04 vs. Buffalo State); fewest points allowed - 0 (9/7/96 @ Mercyhurst); most rushing yards - 215 (9/6/03 @ Buffalo State); most passing yards - 282 (9/6/03 @ Buffalo State); most total yards - 497 (9/6/03 @ Buffalo State); fewest yards allowed - 167 (9/4/04 vs. Buffalo State) Saturday’s Opponent - Robert Morris and North Dakota State will meet for just the second time on the football field Saturday, with the Bison having earned a 43-17 victory over the Colonials in the inaugural meeting between the two programs in the 2010 NCAA FCS Playoffs at the Fargodome (11/27). RMU trailed by just three points, 20-17, with fewer than 10 minutes remaining in the game, but the Bison broke it open with three touchdowns in the closing minutes to set the final margin. D.J. McNorton ran for 110 yards and one touchdown for the Bison. For more information on the all-time series against North Dakota State, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Sept. 1) in Robert Morris Football History - September 1 is the earliest date in program history in which RMU has ever played a game. The Colonials previously played on the opening day of September in both 2001 and 2007. Entering the 2001 season, RMU was riding a 17-game winning streak, which included a perfect 10-0 mark during the 2000 season. However, despite building a 17-0 lead at Buffalo State, the Colonials allowed 26 second-half points and dropped a 33-27 decision, ending the program’s longest winning streak. Jeff Carlo (1998-01) had kicked a game-tying field goal with fewer than five minutes to play, but the Bengals scored on a 39-yard touchdown pass with just 30 seconds remaining. RMU dropped its 2007 season opener as Dayton used three field goals and a defensive touchdown to claim a 23-12 victory. That game marked the inaugural appearance in a Colonial uniform by eventual all-time leading rusher Myles Russ (2007-10) as he notched the first 29 of his school-record 4,271 rushing yards.
2012 Schedule Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17
@ #2 North Dakota State 7 p.m. ALBANY * Noon @ Dayton 1 p.m. LAFAYETTE # 6 p.m. @ Saint Francis * Noon @ Bryant * 1 p.m. CENTRAL CONN. STATE * ^ Noon @ Wagner * 1 p.m. DUQUESNE * 3:30 p.m. @ Sacred Heart * Noon MONMOUTH * $ Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ............................ 17 / 7 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 7 / 4 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 8 / 3 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............ 2 / 0 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 39 / 14 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 7 / 4 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-5, 285, Jr. LG - Vince Mongelluzzo .................. 6-3, 250, Jr. RT - Nate Hargraves ........................ 6-4, 280, Sr. QB - Jeff Sinclair ............................ 6-3, 190, Sr. FB - Nick Groat ............................ 6-0, 220, Sr. HB - Deontae Howard ................... 5-10, 190, Jr. SE - Donte Jeter .......................... 5-11, 180, Jr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 LE - Nolan Nearhoof ......................... 6-2, 280, Sr. NG - Farren Mason ........................ 6-0, 310, R-Sr. RE - Steve Mitchell ............................ 6-2, 250, Sr. OLB - Brad Banas ............................... 6-1, 220, Sr. ILB - Kyle Cooper ............................... 6-0, 215, Sr. OLB - Andrew Douglass .................... 6-2, 235, Sr. SS - D.J. Myers ............................... 6-0, 190, Jr. WS - Cameron Chadwick ................... 6-1, 215, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 2 / 0 PK - Greg Langer ................... 5-10, 165, Sr. P - Tony LaMancusa ................... 5-11, 180, So.