- Robert Morris has faced Sacred Heart in each of the past 16 seasons, and the series is dead even. In last year's matchup, Sacred Heart jumped ahead early and held off 19 points by Robert Morris in the final 10 minutes to claim a win. Each of the past two times that RMU has traveled to Fairfield, the Colonials have claimed victories by scoring a touchdown in the final minute to turn a deficit into a lead. In the last two meetings, RMU has scored 34 of its 46 points against the Pioneers in the fourth quarter.
11/16/13 - L, 25-42; Home
@ Moon Township, Pa. - Sacred Heart, 5-4
@ Fairfield, Conn. - Robert Morris, 4-3Sacred Heart Series Quick Outs - Robert Morris has opened its conference slate twice before with Sacred Heart, in 2001 and 2010 … Four of the past six games have been decided by four points or fewer, three of which were won by Robert Morris … RMU's 9-7 victory in 2009 (10/31) is one of just three occurrences in school history in which the Colonials failed to score 10 points but still garnered a victory … Tyjuan Massey (2002-05) set RMU school records for receptions (10), receiving yards (272) and all-purpose yards (349) in the 2005 meeting between these programs … The longest fumble return in school history for Robert Morris came in a 41-21 victory @ Sacred Heart (11/11/06), as former defensive back James Kazil (2004-07) returned a fumble 94 yards for a touchdown … The home team is just 7-9 (.438) in the all-time series and has lost four straight meetings.
On This Date (Oct. 11) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice previously on October 11. Â Both games were conference contests, and the Colonials were victorious on both occasions, earning wins in 2003 and 2008. The most recent game on this date for RMU doubled as its first-ever league game with county rival Duquesne. The game was a back-and-forth affair played on a warm, sunny afternoon. The Dukes jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the second quarter, but Robert Morris scored 10 points in the final five minutes of the half to even the proceedings before intermission. RMU pulled ahead twice in the second half only to see Duquesne score a matching touchdown on its next drive. Robert Morris used a 12-play drive to pull ahead for good in the latter half of the fourth quarter before the Colonial defense forced a turnover on downs on the Dukes' final drive.
Myles Russ (2007-10) had a huge day as he ran for a career-best 246 yards and two TD, helping RMU accumulate 440 yards of total offense.
Head Coach John Banaszak (first season; Eastern Michigan '75) -
John Banaszak became the second head football coach in Robert Morris University history in December 2013. He served as an assistant coach and assistant head coach for the Colonials for 11 consecutive years prior to taking over the top spot. Banaszak was selected as Coach-In-Waiting in January 2012, allowing for a simple transition following the 2013 campaign.
At the end of the 2013 season, he was named as the Assistant Coach of the Year at the FCS level as selected by the American Football Coaches Association. He was one of five coaches selected for dedication to their teams and communities. He was the first RMU coach, as well as the first from the NEC, to claim this honor.
The 2013 season was Banaszak's sixth as assistant head coach for Robert Morris. Among his numerous duties with the program, he was responsible for tutoring the defensive line and the special teams unit.
Under Banaszak's guidance in 2013, Robert Morris led the NEC in net punting, punt return defense and punt return average. Banaszak was also a key component in instructing a RMU defense that finished second in the NEC in total defense within league play in 2013. Robert Morris finished its regular season ranked among the top 25 nationally in at least seven defensive categories including total defense.
With Banaszak's assistance, RMU has led the NEC in total defense four times in the past 10 years and ranked among the top four nine times in the past 11 seasons.
Banaszak was a key component to a 2010 defense that led the NEC in total defense as the Colonials claimed the NEC's inaugural berth in the FCS Playoffs. In 2006, he helped tutor an RMU defense that led I-AA in total defense, allowing an average of just 228.36 yards per game.
10 of the 13 players in school history to earn All-NEC recognition on the defensive line have come under the tutelage of Banaszak, including Nolan Nearhoof (2009-12), who was named the 2012 NEC Defensive Player of the Year after breaking both the school and league records for career sacks. Nearhoof would go on to earn All-America honors, becoming the third Colonial defensive lineman to claim an All-America nod under Banaszak in a seven-year span.
As much as Banaszak's presence has been felt on the defensive side of the ball, the same can be said on special teams. He has helped five distinct Colonials win an award at return specialist within the past decade.
A graduate of Eastern Michigan, Banaszak signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 1975 season and was one of only three rookies to make the defending Super Bowl champion team out of training camp.
Primarily a special teams player on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl X championship team, Banaszak started five games the following season and then started at both right end and inside tackle in 1977 before suffering a knee injury that forced him to the injured reserve list.
Between 1978 and 1980, Banaszak started 45 regular-season games at defensive end as the Steelers won back-to-back Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XIII, Banaszak recorded six tackles, including a pair of sacks, and a fumble recovery in a 35-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which garnered him Defensive Player of the Game honors. The following year, Banaszak helped the Steelers to a 31-19 victory over the Rams.
Last Time Out - Monmouth used a considerable advantage in points off turnovers to take down Robert Morris, 51-20, in the Colonials' non-conference finale … Despite the hosts having the edge in time of possession, offensive plays and having more than 50 fewer penalty yards, Monmouth's takeaways proved to be the difference … Senior
Duane Mitchell became just the third Colonial ever to surpass 1,500 career receiving yards … Sophomore
Andy Smigiera notched the first interception of his career, taking away a potential Hawks' touchdown in the end zone … Sophomore linebacker
Jimmy Masson notched his first-career sack in what was his second-career start.
Runnin' Rameses - True freshman
Rameses Owens ran for 154 yards on just 24 carries in his first home start, averaging over six yards per attempt. What made his effort even more impressive was that it came against a Monmouth team that was allowing under 100 yards per game on the ground, among the top 15 rushing defenses in the country entering the game. He tallied the most rushing yards by an individual against Monmouth in the Hawks' last 29 outings. Owens is responsible for two of the three occurrences in RMU history in which a freshman has topped 150 rushing yards.
Go For It - Robert Morirs went 3-for-3 on fourth down last week against Monmouth. It marked the first time they were perfect on fourth down with at least three attempts since October 2011 against Albany (10/15). Making RMU's feat more impressive was that two of the three conversions were longer than eight yards.
Three Is for Me - Robert Morris proved adept at getting off the field on third down on its three-game road trip earlier in 2014. RMU held each of those foes to three third-down conversions when they all had 14+ attempts. It marked the first time since 2009 that the Colonials held their opponent to lower than 25% on third down in three straight weeks. Monmouth went 6-for-16 on third down last week, but RMU remains among the top 25 nationally.
Reaching New Heights - After setting a career high in receptions (six) in the 2013 season finale, junior
Sean Gavin broke out in the 2014 opener against Eastern Kentucky before leaving due to injury. Gavin set career highs in catches (eight) and receiving yards (102) against the Colonels. In his first game back last week, he caught the first TD of his career, a 19-yard strike.
For Starters - When Robert Morris took the field last Saturday against Monmouth, it sported its fifth distinct offensive starting lineup in the first five games. RMU, which has sported different lineups on offense in its past eight games overall, has seen 18 distinct players start on offense in 2014 alone.
