Robert Morris (1-2) @ VMI (1-3) Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Foster Stadium (10,000) - Lexington, Va.
Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Spencer Kowitz - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.bigsouthsports.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team returns to action after its first bye week of the 2013 campaign this Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1:30 p.m. as the Colonials travel to take on nonconference foe Virginia Military Institute at Foster Stadium. The Colonials are coming off of a tight, 21-14, setback at home to longtime nemesis Dayton. The squads were tied, 7-7, after three quarters of play, but the Flyers had the edge in the final stanza and held on late by recovering a Colonial onside kick attempt. Senior linebacker Mike Cook nearly equaled a single-game school record last time out when he totaled 19 tackles against Dayton. Robert Morris has had success throughout its history when playing after a bye week, a fact that has been true in recent years as well. RMU enters the weekend ranking among the top 15 at the NCAA’s FCS level in punt returns (14.25 yards per return) and among the top 20 in sacks (3.0 per game). This is the opening contest of a two-game road trip for the Colonials as they will face former Northeast Conference (NEC) member Monmouth in a non-conference matchup next Saturday, Oct. 5. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Robert Morris is coming off of its first bye week of the 2013 season, and if history is any indication, this should bode well for the Colonials. RMU is 15-6-1 (.705) alltime when playing after an off week, including 15-5-1 (.738) in the regular season. RMU has won each of its past four regular-season games when playing after a bye week, winning one such game in each of the past four seasons. This will also mark the third consecutive season in which Robert Morris has had a bye immediately after playing its first three games of the season. RMU posted three-point wins in both 2011 and 2012 when playing its fourth game after a bye week. Greg Langer (2009-12) kicked a game-winning field goal in the final half-minute to down Lafayette, 31-28, last year while current assistant coach Jeff Sinclair (2009-12) led a gamewinning, 79-yard drive in the fourth quarter to help defeat Monmouth, 23-20, in 2011. Saturday's Opponent - RMU will renew a series with VMI when it takes the field Saturday. Robert Morris will meet the Keydets for just the third time overall, and it will be the first meeting since 2009. VMI has won the previous two meetings in the series, using strong rushing attacks to surge past the Colonials. In the last matchup, Robert Morris had a lead late in the game, but VMI scored with fewer than 90 seconds left to pull ahead, 14-13. The contest was the 2009 season opener for both teams. For more information on the all-time series against VMI, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Sept. 28) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris enters Saturday with a 2-0 mark on September 28 in its history with its most recent game on that date coming in 2002. In that contest, RMU used a fourth-quarter rally to come away with a 15-10 victory over Monmouth, one of just two games in program history in which the Colonials netted exactly 15 points. A 14-yard touchdown catch from Ricky Daldo (2001-03) and a safety gave RMU a 9-0 lead fewer than seven minutes into the game. Monmouth found the end zone late in the first quarter, and then neither team scored for more than 35 minutes. The Hawks would take the lead on a field goal early in the final stanza. However, the Colonials retook their edge when Shawn Martin (1999-2002) hit Stephen McNair (2001-02) with a 74-yard touchdown pass to cap a 97-yard drive with just 3:53 left. McNair threw for 231 yards while James Noel (2002-05) led the defensive effort with 13 tackles and 1.5 TFL. RMU held the Hawks to just 121 yards of total offense.
2013 Schedule Aug. 29 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23
@ #19 Eastern Kentucky L, 6-38 MORGAN STATE W, 31-14 DAYTON L, 14-21 @ VMI 1:30 p.m. @ Monmouth 1 p.m. DUQUESNE * # 6 p.m. @ Wagner * Noon BRYANT * Noon @ Central Conn. State * Noon SACRED HEART * ^ $ Noon @ Saint Francis * Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost .......................... 14 / 10 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 7 / 4 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 6 / 5 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............. 1 / 1 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 34 / 21 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 7 / 4 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-4, 280, Sr. LG - Max Robertson ......................... 6-3, 305, So. C - Nick Faraci .................................... 6-2, 275, Jr. RG - Vince Mongelluzzo .................... 6-3, 265, Sr. HB - Evan Taylor .............................. 5-10, 180, Sr. FL - Duane Mitchell ............................ 6-1, 210, Jr. SE - Donte Jeter .................................. 6-1, 160, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 6 / 5 NG - Farren Mason ....................... 5-11, 285, R-Sr. OLB - Mark Centofanti ...................... 6-1, 240, Sr. ILB - Mike Cook .............................. 6-0, 235, R-Sr. CB - Antwan Eddie ............................ 5-10, 180, Jr. CB - Marcelis Branch ....................... 5-11, 180, So. SS - D.J. Myers ................................... 5-11, 185, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 1 / 1 P - Tony LaMancusa ......................... 5-10, 200, Jr. For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
www.rmucolonials.com