Bryant (4-3 / 2-2 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (2-4 / 2-1 NEC)
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at Noon
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.

Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team opens a two-game homestand at Joe Walton Stadium Saturday afternoon by welcoming Bryant for a Noon kickoff in a key Northeast Conference game. The Colonials are coming off a 28-17 setback @ Albany (10/15), which concluded a stretch in which four of RMU's first six games of the 2011 campaign were on the road. The Great Danes jumped out to a 21-0 halftime advantage on the strength of three touchdown passes from quarterback Dan Di Lella en route to the victory over RMU. Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair finished 12-for-33 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown and also rushed 14 times for 78 yards and a score to lead Robert Morris. The Colonials enter Saturday's game against the Bulldogs winners of eight straight games at Joe Walton Stadium against NEC foes dating back to the 2009 season. RMU's last loss at home to a league opponent came Sept. 26, 2009, when Bryant posted a 20-13 win over the Colonials. Robert Morris continues its two-game homestand after squaring off with Bryant Saturday by hosting Sacred Heart in a Noon kickoff Saturday, Oct. 29.

 

 

Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Both of RMU's touchdowns in a 28-17 setback @ Albany (10/15) came courtesy of junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair, who connected with sophomore wide receiver Donte Jeter for an eight-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter while also rushing for a 17-yard touchdown in the games waning seconds. So far on the 2011 campaign, Sinclair has been responsible for 12 of RMU's 15 (80%) touchdowns, throwing for eight touchdowns while also rushing for four more scores. Since taking the reigns as RMU's starting quarterback midway through the 2009 season, Sinclair has been responsible for 51 of RMU's 76 (67.1%) touchdowns over the last 24 games. Over that span he has thrown for 39 touchdowns while rushing for 12 more. Sinclair enters Saturday's game against Bryant with 4,142 career yards of total offense, which ranks sixth all-time at Robert Morris, while his average of 172.6 yards of total offense per game ranks second all-time. The program's career leader in both touchdowns responsible for and total offense is former quarterback Tim Levcik (1998-2001), who finished his career with 7,082 yards of total offense and 81 touchdowns responsible for.

Saturday's Opponent - Albany and Robert Morris will meet for the 13th time Saturday afternoon, with the all-time series between the two programs tied, 6-6 (.500). The Colonials have won two straight over the Great Danes after a 38-0 victory in last year's meeting at Joe Walton Stadium (10/16/10). In that contest RMU scored 21 points in the first quarter in jumping out to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to the win.

 

Bryant leads, 3-0

 

 

9/26/09 - L, 13-20; Home

11/13/10 - L, 21-27; Away

@ Moon Township, Pa. - BRY, 1-0@ Smithfield, R.I. - BRY, 2-0

 

Robert Morris 2011 Quick Outs - Robert Morris 2011 Quick Outs - RMU was picked third in the 2011 Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll, trailing only preseason favorite Central Connecticut State and Duquesne ... The Blue Devils earned five first-place votes in the NEC preseason coaches poll, the Dukes garnered two while RMU and Bryant each finished with one ... Senior tight end Shadrae King has caught at least one pass in 25 straight games dating back to the 2009 campaign, a school record ... King also owns 122 career receptions, a Robert Morris school record ... Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair owns career totals of 3,697 passing yards and 39 touchdowns ... Junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof is RMU's active leader in tackles (108), tackles for loss (18) and sacks (11) ... Nearhoof needs just half a sack to move into the top 10 all-time at Robert Morris ... A total of 18 Colonials have earned their first career start so far in 2011.

Head Coach Joe Walton (18th Season; Pittsburgh '57) - At the forefront of the football renaissance at Robert Morris University throughout its 18-year history is Joe Walton, who has built the Colonials from a fledgling program into one of the top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in the region.

The one constant associated with the program, Walton was named the first head coach July 27, 1993. He started the program from scratch, completing everything from hiring assistant coaches to purchasing equipment to recruiting student-athletes for the team's inaugural season in 1994. He owns an overall record of 105-74-1 (.586).

Walton's fingerprints are all over the football program, and to prove that, RMU has played its home games since 2005 in a stadium that bears his name. During his tenure, Walton has led Robert Morris to the first Northeast Conference championship in 1996, guided RMU to a perfect 10-0 season in 2000 and in 2010 helped lead the Colonials to the NEC's inaugural bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs with their league-high sixth regular-season championship.

"It's hard to believe," Walton speaks on how fast time has elapsed. "I've said this many times before, and I mean it when I say that this situation is one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my life. It happened at the right time. Before this position became available, I felt I was too young to quit coaching, but I wasn't anxious to get back into pro football. When this came along, it was the perfect fit. This situation was the perfect opportunity for me to continue to do what I like to do, and I've loved every minute of it."

Under Walton's tutelage, the Colonials have claimed outright NEC regular-season titles three times (1997, 1999, 2000) while sharing three others (1996, 1998, 2010). Walton led Robert Morris to back-to-back ECAC Bowl victories in 1996 and 1997, and in 1999 and 2000 he guided RMU to a pair of NCAA I-AA mid-major national crowns according to Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette.

In 2010, Walton added to his legacy by engineering the Colonials on an eight-game winning streak for a share of the NEC regular-season title and the NEC's first bid in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. In the process he picked up his 100th career victory in the collegiate ranks.

Albany Game Notes - Albany snapped a two-game losing streak against Robert Morris with the win and took a 7-6 (.538) advantage in the all-time series ... The defeat marked just RMU's second loss against an NEC foe in its last 16 league games ... The Great Danes racked up 473 yards of total offense and also suffered 14 penalties that cost them 134 yards ... The Colonials compiled 293 total yards ... Robert Morris was a perfect 3-for-3 in fourth-down conversions yet 3-for-16 in third-down conversions ... Robert Morris finished with seven tackles for losses that totaled 19 yards, including the first sack of the 2011 campaign by junior linebacker Kyle Cooper ... RMU's 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 17-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair in the fourth quarter is its longest of the 2011 season.

Hanging Chad - Junior safety Cameron Chadwick established a career high with 16 tackles @ Albany (10/15), becoming the 17th different Colonial in school history to accumulate at least 15 tackles in a game. Chadwick enters Saturday's game against Bryant leading Robert Morris in tackles with 41, an average of 6.8 per contest that ranks 12th in the Northeast Conference.

Stuffing The Run - Six games into the 2011 season, and the Robert Morris defense is again proving to be stingy in regard to the opposing running game. Despite allowing a season-high 194 yards rushing @ Albany (10/15), the Colonials enter Saturday's game against Bryant allowing an average of just 105.5 yards on the ground per game, which leads the Northeast Conference and ranks 18th in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The school record for rushing defense is held by the 2006 Colonials, which allowed an average of 99.8 yards per game. Overall, RMU enters Saturday's game leading the NEC and ranked 15th in the country in total defense, yielding an average of 307.83 yards per contest.

Driver's Education - While the offense struggled at the beginning of the 2011 campaign, the unit is coming together at the right time. Robert Morris enters Saturday's game against Bryant having posted 15 touchdown drives this season, but it's been the ability of the offense to put together sustained drives that is paying off. Of RMU's 15 touchdown drives this season, seven have been 70 yards or longer. Six of those drives have come in the last three games and are big reason why RMU leads the Northeast Conference in time of possession at 31:52. Hats off goes to the defense in regard to allowing the offense to put together sustained drives, as the Colonials are allowing opponents to convert just 30.7 percent (23-for-75) of its first downs, which leads the NEC.

Sack Happy - Thanks to a deep front seven that features interchangeable parts, Robert Morris enters Saturday's game against Bryant having recorded 11 sacks through the first six games of the 2011 campaign, an average of 1.83 per game and a total that is tied for fifth in the Northeast Conference with Monmouth. To illustrate RMU's depth in regard to its front seven, a total of nine different Colonials have registered at least half a sack so far this season. Leading the way have been junior defensive linemen Nolan Nearhoof and Steve Mitchell, who each have two and-a-half sacks to their credit. Nearhoof and Mitchell enter Saturday's game against Bryant with a combined 17.5 career sacks between them.

First Time for Everything - Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair made history in RMU's 45-14 victory over Saint Francis (10/8), becoming the first quarterback in school history to eclipse the 100-yard rushing plateau. Sinclair finished with 110 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on just five carries, an average of 22.0 yards per rush. Sinclair posted touchdown runs of 64 and 22 yards in the second quarter to help the Colonials build a 35-0 halftime lead en route to the victory. Overall, Sinclair is the 12th different player in school history to post a 100-yard rushing game.

The King's Speech - Thanks to a pair of touchdown receptions in a 45-14 victory over Saint Francis (10/8), senior tight end Shadrae King pushed his career total in the category to 20. King is tied for seventh all-time at Robert Morris in career touchdowns with former running back Devin Wilson (2002-05) and is just two points shy of cracking the top 10 all-time at Robert Morris for career points scored. King currently owns 120.

A New No. 1 - Senior tight end Shadrae King tied a career high with nine receptions in a 23-20 victory @ Monmouth (10/1), compiling 104 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. In addition to recording his third career 100-yard receiving game, King became the program's all-time leading receiver. He enters Saturday's game against Bryant with 122 career catches, a total that eclipsed the record of 112 that was held by former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey (2002-05). King also owns career totals of 20 touchdown catches and 1,468 career receiving yards, which rank second and third, respectively, all-time at Robert Morris. King enters Saturday's game against Bryant ranked fourth in the Northeast Conference in receptions per game (4.67) and 10th in receiving yards (49.0) per contest.

Dr. Dre - Senior tight end Shadrae King was one of three Colonials to tie for team-high honors in receptions @ Albany, posting three catches for 29 yards. It marked the 25th straight game dating back to the 2009 campaign that King has recorded at least one reception, extending a school record. King eclipsed the old mark of former wide receiver Opio Gary (1998-2000), who closed out his Robert Morris career by posting at least one reception in each of his final 22 games.

Two Pair - Quarterback Jeff Sinclair tossed three touchdown passes in a 45-14 victory over Saint Francis (10/8), including a pair to senior tight end Shadrae King. Thanks to the three scores through the air from Sinclair against the Red Flash, Robert Morris improved to 10-2 (.833) when he tosses two or more touchdown passes in a game.

Many Happy Returns - Senior Anthony Coleman has been a rock for Robert Morris on special teams throughout his career, as the wide receiver enters Saturday's game against Bryant owning Robert Morris career records for kickoff returns (91) and kickoff return yards (1,938). Thanks to his consistency on special teams, Coleman owns 2,989 career all-purpose yards, which ranks sixth all-time at Robert Morris. Coleman enters Saturday's game against Bryant just 11 yards shy of becoming the sixth player in school history to eclipse 3,000 career all-purpose yards.

Start Me Up - Seniors Anthony Coleman and Brad Rodgers each enter Saturday's game against Bryant as RMU's active leader in career starting assignments with 28. Coleman has started 28 straight at wide receiver, the longest active streak for consecutive starts, while Rodgers owns 26 straight starts on the offensive line and 28 overall.