Morgan State (0-1) @ Robert Morris (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at Noon
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.

Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team opens its 2013 home slate this Saturday, Sept. 7, at Noon as the Colonials welcome Morgan State to Joe Walton Stadium in a non-conference matchup. The Colonials are coming off of a season-opening setback to nationally ranked Eastern Kentucky, one of the top programs at the NCAA's FCS level year after year. Morgan State also played a tough foe a week ago as it met FBS member Army. Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Cook posted a game-high 10 tackles in the season opener. Paul Jones started at quarterback in his RMU debut and completed 16-of-28 (57%) passes. The Sto-Rox product is set to make his western Pennsylvania collegiate debut Saturday. Jones tossed a touchdown pass to true freshman Alex Caratelli in the opener as the rookie found the end zone in his first career action. Robert Morris is 13-6 (.684) all-time in home openers and is 2-0 all-time on September 7. RMU will remain at home next week as it will host long-time nemesis Dayton Sept. 14 at Noon before enjoying a bye week on the fourth week of the season.

Quick Stat of the Evening - Robert Morris is set to play in Joe Walton Stadium for the first time this season Saturday, and the Colonials enter the game with an all-time mark of 13-6 (.684) in home openers. This is the 12th season in RMU history in which the team has opened the season on the road; in the 11 previous such years, RMU sported a record of 7-4 (.636) when playing at home for the first time. RMU has played 11 different programs in its home opener entering 2013, and it has defeated nine of these opponents at least once in a home opener. Top performances by RMU in home openers: most points - 49 (vs. Butler - 9/17/05); fewest points allowed - 0 (vs. Butler - 9/14/96); most rushing yards – 282 (9/14/96 vs. Butler); most passing yards - 298 (9/10/94 vs. Monmouth); most total yards of offense - 466 (9/14/96 vs. Butler); fewest yards allowed - 113 (9/27/03 vs. Saint Francis).

Saturday's Opponent - Robert Morris and Morgan State will meet for just the second time Saturday, with the Bears having claimed a narrow 13-12 victory in the inaugural meeting between the two programs at Hughes Stadium in 2011 (9/17). RMU trailed, 13-6, late in the fourth quarter but scored a touchdown with fewer than two minutes remaining. However, the Colonials' extra point attempt was no good. Each team scored just one touchdown in the contest as the two squads combined for just 462 total yards.

All-Time Series vs. Morgan State
Morgan State leads, 1-0
9/17/11 - L, 12-13; Away

@ Moon Township, Pa. - Tied, 0-0
@ Baltimore, Md. - Morgan State, 1-0

Morgan State Quick Outs - Robert Morris fell to 18-11-1 (.617) when facing an opponent for the first time after its first contest against Morgan State (that mark currently stands at 19-12-1 (.609)) … With his five receptions against the Bears in 2011, Shadrae King (2008-11) tied a school record for consecutive games with at least one catch at 22 … Donte Jeter earned his first career start against Morgan State, starting a stretch of 20 consecutive starting assignments … Mike Cook's only prior interception in a Colonial uniform came in the team's only previous meeting with Morgan State. Cook added a then career-high seven tackles, including a half-sack in that contest … RMU's previous meeting against the Bears is one of just three times that the Colonials have played in the state of Maryland … The 25 combined points between the teams in the only previous meeting marks the second fewest combined points in a RMU game since the beginning of the 2010 season.

On This Date (Sept. 7) in Robert Morris Football History - The last time Robert Morris played September 7 came 11 years ago as part of the 2002 season opener. RMU opened that campaign at home against Buffalo State and romped to an early-season victory. On a warm, sunny day the Colonials and Bengals played an ugly first half, featuring three turnovers and two missed field goals, which saw just 13 points scored. Holding a slim, 7-6, edge at the break, the Colonials burst out in a big way in the second half, scoring 34 points after intermission, including 27 straight to start the half. The breakout in scoring was not due to the offense, but rather the defense and special teams. Rupert Rickards (2002-05) blocked a punt, and Josh Weight (2001-03) returned it 20 yards for a score. Then Corey Oaks (2001-02) took over. He intercepted passes on consecutive Bengal drives and returned both to the end zone, notching a school-record 99 combined return yards in the process. He helped put the game away as RMU then cruised to a 41-12 victory.

Head Coach Joe Walton (20th season; Pittsburgh '57) - At the forefront of the football renaissance at Robert Morris University throughout its 20-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 109-87-1 (.556).

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.

Last Time Out - Robert Morris opened its season against one of the most storied programs in the NCAA's FCS level as Eastern Kentucky has won two national titles and made 20 playoff appearances … Senior Samuel Collins contributed a career-best eight tackles, including a tackle for loss … Senior Matthew Fox added his first-ever forced fumble with a vicious hit on kickoff coverage … A.J. Holderman and Adrian Perez teamed up on a sack to turn the ball over on downs … RMU played on a Thursday for the first time in school history … It was also the program's first-ever game in August … Robert Morris fell to 19-12-1 (.609) when playing an opponent for the first time.

Full of Firsts - True freshman wide receiver Alex Caratelli had a dream start to his collegiate career. In the season opener, Caratelli was inserted onto the field for the first time on a third-and-10 play in the second quarter. On that very play, he proceeded to catch a pass streaking across the middle of the field and sprinted into the end zone, recording his first-career reception and first-ever touchdown with a 20-yard catch.

Everything But a W - In the only prior meeting between the Colonials and the Bears, Robert Morris had advantages in a variety of statistical categories. In addition to having a second-half lead, RMU had advantages in first downs, total yards of offense, average gain per play, time of possession, third down conversion percentage, fourth down conversions and sacks all while having fewer penalties and penalty yards. Somehow, though, the Colonials still fell short, falling 13-12.

Comeback Kids - Robert Morris made a habit of coming from behind late to win games during the second half of the 2012 season. In fact, RMU won three games in which it trailed at some point during the fourth quarter a year ago, marking the second time in program history that the Colonials achieved such a feat. The other such instance was during the 2000 season, and, in both cases, the three comeback wins came within a four-week span and one of the wins occurred at Sacred Heart. The 2012 stretch featured wins over Central Connecticut State (37-31, after trailing 23-31), Duquesne (17-13, after trailing 10-13) and Sacred Heart (21-17, after trailing 6-17).

Preseason All-NEC - RMU was well represented from an individual perspective in preseason All-Northeast Conference (NEC) voting as five Colonials garnered preseason All-NEC nods, tying for the most in the league this year with Wagner. Sophomore cornerback Marcelis Branch, redshirt senior linebacker Mike Cook, senior offensive lineman A.J. Dalton, junior punter Tony LaMancusa and redshirt senior defensive lineman Farren Mason all were named to the NEC's 25-member preseason squad. RMU's three selections on the defensive side of the ball on the preseason team also tied for the league high this year.

Weekly Football Coaches Show - The RMU Football Coaches Show, featuring both head coach Joe Walton and head coach-in-waiting John Banaszak is set to make its debut for the 2013 season. The show will take place each Monday following a game at 7:00 p.m., beginning Sept. 9. Chris Shovlin, the voice of the Colonials, will host the show, which will air from various Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the greater Pittsburgh area. The show will air on ESPN Radio 970 AM and will be rebroadcast each Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. For a complete schedule of locations each week, please visit www.rmu.edu/coach.