Coughlin-Alumni Stadium (16,700) - Brookings, S.D.

Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team makes its longest trip of the year this Saturday, Sept. 26, as it travels to South Dakota State for a 6:00 p.m. (ET) kickoff at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. The Colonials are coming off their first victory of the year, a come-from-behind effort, after dropping tight decisions in each of the first two weeks. In fact, the team leading at the half in each of RMU's first three games has ended up on the losing end. South Dakota State has won a game in the FCS Playoffs in each of the past three years and currently has tied its best ever FCS national ranking. True freshman Warren Robinson was selected Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Monday, giving the Colonials at least one honoree in each of the season's first three weeks for the first time since 1997. True freshman Mathew Barr ran for two TD's last week to become the first Colonial freshman QB to rush for multiple TD in a game. This will be RMU's final tune-up before commencing Northeast Conference play as the Colonials will remain on the road next Saturday, Oct. 3, to take on defending NEC co-champion Wagner.

Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Robert Morris got points from a variety of sources in its victory last week. In addition to three conventional touchdowns, RMU also scored on a punt return and an interception return. Producing non-offensive touchdowns has been a recipe for success throughout Colonial history as RMU improved to 31-11 (.738) all-time when finding the end zone via its defense or special teams. When Warren Robinson brought back a punt 66 yards to the end zone in last week's win, Robert Morris scored its 50th non-offensive touchdown in program history. However, last week's contest was even more notable since it was only the third time ever, and the first since 2002, in which a Colonial team scored TD's via its offense, defense and special teams in the same game. Robert Morris' single-season record for non-offensive TD's is six, and this year's version of the Colonials is already halfway to that mark through three games.

Saturday's Opponent - Saturday's game between Robert Morris and South Dakota State marks the inaugural meeting between the two programs. Robert Morris owns a record of 20-14-1 (.586) when facing off with an opponent for the first time. South Dakota State is one of four new programs on RMU's schedule this year, the most new foes the Colonials have faced since their inaugural season. This is the sixth consecutive season in which RMU has played at least one new opponent. It is also the third straight game against a first-time foe. Of RMU's previous 35 games against a first-time opponent, 18 have come on the road. In those games, RMU is 7-10-1 (.417).

All-Time Series vs. South Dakota State
Series tied, 0-0

On This Date (Sept. 26) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice before on September 26, tallying a win and a loss. However, this Saturday's game will mark the first road game and first non-conference tilt RMU has ever played on this date. The first time the Colonials took the field on 9/26 came in 1998 when they played Central Connecticut in their home opener after a bye. RMU jumped out early and never looked back as Fred Parker (1996-98) caught two touchdowns in the first 11 minutes of the game. The Colonials took a 21-3 lead into the locker room before Archie Wannamaker (1996-98) had a quarter to remember as he tallied three touchdown runs in the third period to blow open the game. A pair of Blue Devil TD's in the fourth only made the final margin a little closer as the game finished 42-17 in favor of the hosts. The Colonials dominated thanks to a +4 turnover margin, generated by four different Colonials recovering fumbles. Reggie Chambers (1998-2001) led RMU with nine stops.

Head Coach John Banaszak (second 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 and final as assistant head coach for Robert Morris. Among his numerous duties with the program before becoming head coach, 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 11 years and ranked among the top four nine times in the past 12 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 helped five distinct Colonials win an award at return specialist within the span of one 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 - Robert Morris jumped out to a 21-0 lead but had to rally in the fourth quarter to claim a 35-24 win over Notre Dame ... True freshman Mathew Barr finished 14-for-18 passing. His 77.8 completion percentage was the third-highest in RMU single game history … Redshirt sophomore Sam Woods recovered the first fumble of his career on kickoff coverage … Redshirt junior Austin Trgovcich finished with a team-high 11 tackles and tipped a pass that led to a Colonial interception … Redshirt senior captain Forrest Mason contributed nine tackles, tying his career high, while adding 2.0 tackles for loss … RMU carried the ball a single-game school record 63 times.

Special Special Teams - True freshman Warren Robinson was named the NEC's Special Teams Player of the Week Monday. The rookie returned three punts for 89 yards last Saturday, including a 66-yard return for a touchdown. It marked only the fourth punt return for a touchdown in RMU history, but it was the first ever by a freshman. In fact, he is one of only two freshmen among the 123 FCS programs to return a punt for a TD in 2015. Robinson's 66-yard scamper was the second longest punt return in RMU history.

Homegrown - One week after Rameses Owens ran for 152 yards, Cole Blake showcased RMU's depth at running back with his effort last week. The hometown product rushed 25 times for a career-best 136 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Blake actually saw little action in the first half and registered 132 of his 136 yards in the second half.

Rank and File - RMU's game at South Dakota State will mark the second time in three weeks that the Colonials have faced a nationally ranked foe. That will make 2015 just the second season ever in which RMU has faced multiple foes who were ranked at the time. Saturday's contest will also mark the second ever for RMU in which it faces a team ranked among the nation's top 10.

Checkmate - True freshman Adam Check's punting was one factor that helped RMU to a victory last Saturday. Of Check's seven punts, four forced Notre Dame to start drives inside its own 15-yard line. In doing so, Check tied the RMU single-game record of punts downed inside the 20. On his last 16 punts, Colonial opponents have totaled only 27 return yards.

Halfway There - In each of its first three games this season, the Robert Morris defense has held its opponent scoreless in either the first or second half. It marks just the second time in program history that the Colonials have achieved this feat in the first three games of a season with the other occasion being 1996 when RMU pitched three straight shutouts to open the campaign.

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