Football | 3/21/2016 11:17:00 AM
Moon Township, Pa. – A Thursday night season opener at home, a pair of first-time opponents and a Homecoming clash against a local rival are some of the highlights of the 2016
Robert Morris University football schedule that was released Monday.
RMU will play 11 regular-season games for the sixth consecutive year in 2016 under third-year head coach
John Banaszak.
The Colonials will take on a number of challenges, beginning with the quality of opposition they will face. Four of Robert Morris' 2016 opponents received votes in last season's final FCS national rankings. Furthermore, RMU will play 11 games in 11 consecutive weeks as it does not have a bye between games, the first such occurrence for the Colonials in eight years.
For the third time in four years, and the second time at home, Robert Morris will kick off the season on a Thursday night. RMU will open its slate with a contest Thursday, Sept. 1, against Alderson Broaddus at 7:00 p.m. It will mark the third consecutive season in which the Colonials have opened at home, the first such occurrence in program history.
RMU will then travel to Dayton Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1:00 p.m. as the Colonials continue the longest-running, non-conference rivalry in program history. Robert Morris and the Flyers, who hosted a FCS playoff game a year ago, will hit the gridiron as foes for the 19th time, and 11th consecutive year, this September.
Robert Morris will return to the Buckeye State the following weekend as it faces a perennial top-25 contender. The Colonials will travel to Youngstown State September 17 at 4:00 p.m. RMU nearly pulled a stunning upset of the four-time national champion Penguins in the inaugural meeting between the teams last year in a contest that required overtime to decide the outcome.
The Colonials will close the opening month of the season with a second straight home night game as they host Malone Saturday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. The 2016 campaign will mark the first time in program history in which Robert Morris has played multiple night games at home.
RMU will close non-conference action October 1 at Liberty, a school that has been looking at a move up to the FBS level. One of the most famous victorious in RMU's history came over a nationally ranked Flames squad in 2010.
Robert Morris will open Northeast Conference action on the University's annual Homecoming weekend. The Colonials will welcome in-state rival Saint Francis October 8 at 3:00 p.m.
The Colonials will then play back-to-back road games as they travel to local rival Duquesne (October 15) and Sacred Heart (October 22).
Robert Morris will play two of its final three games at home as it hosts Central Connecticut (October 29) and Wagner (November 12) sandwiched around a trek to Bryant (November 5).
Robert Morris has won six NEC titles, the highest figure of any active league member. Spring practice is underway for the Colonials and will conclude Saturday, April 16.
