Moon Township, Pa. - Back-to-back road games to open the season and a full slate of Northeast Conference games highlight the 2009 Robert Morris University football schedule. Under the direction of 16th-year head coach Joe Walton, the Colonials will play 11 games as part of their regular season in 2009.

For the first time since 2006, RMU will open its season away from home, visiting Lexington, Va., for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Virginia Military Institute (VMI) of the Big South Conference Saturday, Sept. 5, for its 2009 season lidlifter. It marks the second meeting all-time between the Colonials and Keydets, as VMI defeated Robert Morris in the inaugural meeting between the two programs at Joe Walton Stadium in 2007.

RMU will stay on the road the following week, traveling to Patriot League foe Bucknell for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Sept. 12, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. In the inaugural meeting between the Bison and Colonials in 2008, Bucknell blocked a field goal late in the game to salvage a 17-14 win over RMU at Joe Walton Stadium.

Robert Morris will open the home portion of its 2009 schedule Saturday, Sept. 19, when it welcomes Dayton to Joe Walton Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. It marks the start of back-to-back home games for RMU, as the club will also host future NEC member Bryant Saturday, Sept. 26, as part of 2009 Homecoming festivities at the University.

The Colonials open their 2009 NEC slate Saturday, Oct. 3, by visiting crosstown rival Duquesne for a 1:00 p.m. tilt at Rooney Field and will also visit Central Connecticut State (Oct. 10) before returning home to host in-state rival Saint Francis for its first NEC home game of the year Saturday, Oct. 17.

RMU will also host NEC foes Sacred Heart (Oct. 31) and Wagner (Nov. 14) while visiting conference opponents Albany (Nov. 7) and Monmouth (Nov. 21).

For the fourth straight year, the regular-season champion of the NEC will face off with the regular-season champion of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) in the Gridiron Classic, which in 2009 will be played at the home of the PFL regular-season champion. Last season Albany earned the NEC's first victory in the Gridiron Classic with a 28-0 win over Jacksonville at University Field in Albany, N.Y. In the first two years of the Gridiron Classic in 2006 and 2007, San Diego and Dayton of the PFL claimed victories over Monmouth and Albany of the NEC, respectively.

In addition, the winner of the NEC in 2009 may also qualify for the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs if it meets three specified criteria. To earn the at-large position, the conference champion must accrue at least eight Division I victories, win a minimum of two non-conference games against Division I teams from a league that has earned an automatic berth and rank 16th or higher in an average of the last regular season media, coaches and/or computer polls. In 2010, the regular-season champion of the NEC will earn an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

Led by Walton, the only head coach in RMU history, the Colonials own an all-time record of 91-61-1 (.598). During that span Robert Morris has claimed five NEC titles, a pair of I-AA mid-major national championships according to Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette and two ECAC Bowl victories.

Robert Morris, which returns 20 starters and 41 letterwinners in 2009, concludes spring practice Wednesday, April 15, with its annual Blue-White scrimmage at 4:00 p.m. at Joe Walton Stadium. Admission is free and the scrimmage is open to the public. In case of inclement weather Wednesday, the Blue-White scrimmage could be pushed back to Thursday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m.

2009 Robert Morris Football Schedule