Capsule
The Robert Morris University football team goes on the road for the third time in four weeks as they travel to Lynchburg, Va., for a 7:00 p.m. game at Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Colonials are coming off their first win of the season, 21-19, over Malone. The Flames have lost their last two games, at SMU and home against #3 Jacksonville State, and are 1-3 on the year.
 
vs. Liberty
> The Colonials and Flames split their previous two meetings, each winning at home
> Last time they met was in 2011, a 38-7 RMU loss at Williams Stadium
> RMU won the first meeting, 30-23, in 2010
> The Colonials are 11-11 against members of the Big South (Monmouth, 10-10)
 
About the Flames
> Liberty is 1-3 on the season
> They beat Jacksonville, 55-7, in week two of the season
> Offensively, average 137.5 yards rushing, 160.0 passing and 25.2 points
> Defensively, allowing 251.0 yards rushing, 202.8 yards passing and 30.0 points
> A trio of backs - Carrington Mosley (56.2 ypg), Frankie Hickson (49.8 ypg) and Todd Macon (47.8 ypg) - share carries
> Stephon Masha (34-69, 327, 3/7) and Stephen Calvert (25-56, 313, 2/3) split time at QB
> B.J. Farrow and Dante' Shells are the top targets with 13 and 11 catches each
> Juwan Wells leads the team in tackles (36) and sacks (2.5)
> Tyrin Holloway has three of the team's five interceptions

Musket Shots
> WR Warren Robinson set a school record with 123 punt return yards vs. Malone
> He had an 81-yard punt return for a TD, the second longest in team history
> WR Tim Vecchio had eight receptions, third most in team history, vs. Malone
> RB Dante Satcher leads the nation in kickoff return average (43.0)
> RB Sam Woods' 52-yard TD pass to WR Eldin Anu vs. Youngstown State was first passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley is 4th in FCS averaging 1.38 sacks/game (5.5 sacks)
> RMU is 18th in FCS with five interceptions
> The Colonials 32.56 yard kickoff return average is second in the nation
> Dante Satcher opened the season with a school-record 99-yard kickoff return
> RMU is 17th in the nation in red zone defense at 64.7% (allowed 11 scores on 17 trips)
> Defense is 12th nationally with 3.25 sacks/game
> On offense in week one, nine players, including six freshman, made their first career start
> RMU was picked sixth in the 2016 NEC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
> Sophomore WR Kyle Buss was a Preseason All-NEC First Team selection
> Seniors Marcelis Branch (DB) and Andy Smigiera (DB) were Preseason All-NEC picks on defense
> Special teams accounted for three touchdowns in 2015 (kick return, punt return, blocked punt return)
> Head coach John Banaszak boasts a 43-29 carrer record in six seasons, 5-20 in his third season at RMU


 

TEAM NOTES
 
Standing in the Hall of Fame
> Three more football players join the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016
   >DBJason Hempstead (1999-03)
   >WR Tyjuan Massey (2002-05)
   >RB Myles Russ (2007-10)
> The trio brings the total number of football members in the Hall of Fame to 17
> For more information, see the inset on page five
 
Against the Big South
> RMU is 11-11 against the Big South
> They are 1-1 against Liberty
> They played former NEC member Monmouth 20 times, going 10-10 against them
 
Weather Delay, Part Deux
> Lightning in the Youngstown area forced RMU into a weather delay for the second consecutive game
> The YSU delay lasted 1:06 in the first quarter, from 4:39 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
> The RMU-Dayton tilt was called with 9:37 left in the fourth quarter due to inclement weather
> It was the first time in team history RMU did not play a full 60-minute game
> Play was initially stopped at 3:17 p.m. for lightning
> Delay lasted until 5:06 p.m. when the remainder of the game was called by officials
 
Academic Accolades
> Senior Andy Smigiera and 2016 graduate Nick Faraci were both named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academica All-District II honorees in 2015
> Faraci was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team
> It was the sixth time in the last six seasons a Colonial earned Academic All-America honors
 
First Time For Everything
> WR Warren Robinson is the first player in team history with two punt return TDs
> RB Dante Satcher is the first player in team history with two kickoff return TDs
> RB Sam Woods 52-yard TD pass to WR Eldin Anu vs. Youngstown State was the first passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history
> RMU has two first time opponents on its schedule this season - Alderson-Broaddus and Malone
> The Colonials are 24-16-1 when playing an opponent for the first time
> RMU also had a game called - against Dayton - before the full 60 minutes was played for the first time in history
 
NFL Experience for Miller
> Offensive coordinator Mike Miller has spent 12 seasons in the National Football League
> Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2011 and 2012
> He spent six seasons with the Cardinals
> Miller was also an assistant with the Buffalo Bills (2004-05) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2003)
> He has also spent time in the press box as a public relations assistant with the Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League
> During his tenure as receivers coach with Arizona, he mentored Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston
 
Brother Act
> Tyler Lamica joins brother Nic Lamica on the RMU roster in 2016
> The elder Lamica, Nic, is a redshirt-junior who started seven games at tight end last season
> The younger Lamica, Tyler, is a freshman linebacker currently seated in the two deep at outside linebacker
> Nic returns to LB at RMU after spending last season at tight end
> Nic went to Forest Hills Central and Tyler went to Grand Rapids Christian
 
Score 30 or More
> Since the inception of RMU football in 1994, RMU is 72-5 (.935) when scoring 30 or more points
> The Colonials are 29-0 when tallying 40 or more points
 
The Founding Father
> RMU had only one coach in its first 20 seasons of existence, Joe Walton
> Walton was a former NFL tight end and head coach (see sidebar, right)
> He was a four-time NEC Coach of the Year
> Under his guidance, RMU won two NCAA I-AA mid-major national titles
> Walton was inducted into the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-25 in these categories:
   >12th in sacks (3.25/game)
   >17th in red zone defense (11-17, 64.7%)
   >18th in interceptions (5)
   >23rd in scoring defense (21.0)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top 50 in these categories:
   >LB Gee Stanley is fourth at 1.38 sacks per game
   >LB Adam Wollett is 18th in fumbles recovered
   >DE Steven Fiadewornu is 50th averaging 0.33 forced fumbles per game
 
Dread Naught
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has 5.5 sacks
> He is fourth in the nation in sacks
> The RMU freshman record for sacks is 7.5 by Matt Grayson (1998)
> He had a game-high nine tackles in his RMU debut vs. Alderson Broaddus
> Stanley is fourth on the team with 26 tackles
> He is second with 14 solo stops
 
Pride of Poland ... Ohio
> Sophomore LB Adam Wollet leads RMU with 37 tackles
> He also tops the team with 17 solo stops
> He is 52nd in the nation at 9.3 tackles per game
> He made a career-high 12 tackles at Dayton
> He leads the team with three pass break ups and a fumble recovery
 
Hurricane Watch
> Hurrcane, W.Va., native Zach Cooper is second on the team with 27 tackles
> He has 1.5 sacks this season
> Cooper has two hurries and two pass break ups
> He has started nine consecutive games at OLB
 
Branching Out
> DB Marcelis Branch is 64th in FCS averaging 1.0 passes defensed per game
> He is fifth on the team with 23 tackles
> He also has an interception, returning it 15 yards
> He had 35 solo and 28 assisted stops in 2015
> A Preseason All-NEC pick, he had one interception, three PBU's and four passes defensed last season
 
Get it Back
> The Colonials are 18th in the nation with five interceptions
> RMU has forced a total of six turnovers, five interceptions and one fumble
> Robert Morris forced four turnovers in week one vs. Alderson Broaddus
> Three came from interceptions by Marcelis Branch, Travon Stott and Roger Richardson
 
Boom Sack-a-Lacka
> RMU ranks 12th nationally with 3.25 sacks per game
> They have at least two sacks in every game this season
> Colonials collected four sacks against Alderson Broaddus and and Malone
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has accounted for 5.5 of those sacks
> Eight different players have recorded at least a half sack
> DE Ryan Lewis has two sacks and LB Zach Cooper has 1.5
> RMU tied the team record with 34 sacks last season (34, 2006)
> Players who contributed for 24.5 of those sacks return to the roster this season
> Lewis had 4.5 sacks in 2015
 
Swiss Steve
> In three starts this season, DT Steven Fiadewornu has 12 tackles
> In season opener vs. Alderson Broaddus, he made nine tackles
> He had five career tackles coming into the season
> Added 0.5 tackle for loss and forced a fumble
> Hometown is Zurich, Switzerland
 
25-7
> The defense ranked in the FCS top-25 in seven different statistical categories - and the top 15 in five categories in 2015
   >7th - Sacks by (3.09/G)
   >11th - Third down conversion pct. (.309)
   >14th - Fourth down conversion pct. (.333)
   >14th - Pass yards allowed (172.0/G)
   >14th - Tackles for loss (7.7/G)
   >18th - Passing efficiency defense (108.13/G)
   >21st - Total defense (321.4/G)
> RMU has ranked in top 25 in total in defense in four of last five seasons
> 2015 tied the team record with 34 sacks
 
Seasoned Secondary
> The entire starting second from 2015 returns intact in 2016
> Redshirt senior Marcelis Branch, a two-time All-NEC player, was named to the preseason all-conference team
> Senior Andy Smigiera was also named to the Preseason All-NEC squad
> Junior Drew Allen started every game at corner back as a sophomore
> Ryan Richards, Jr., played all 11 games at strong safety
 
Sensational Secondary
> Colonials led the NEC in fewest yards allowed per attempt at 5.8 in 2015
> RMU had fewest passing yards allowed in league games last season (138.5)
> RMU had the second most pass break-ups in team history last season with 46
 
Safety Smigiera
> Andy Smigiera is also a Preseason All-NEC selection
> Smigiera had a total of 19 passes defensed last season (8 PBU)
> He tied with Ryan Richards, Jr., for the team lead with three interceptions
> He finished with 62 tackles, 30 solo
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
 
Tim Time
> Freshman WR Tim Vecchio hauled in eight passes for 64 yards against Malone
> Its the third most catches in team history and ranks 11th in the record book (10 - two players; 9 - eight players)
> He leads the team with 11 receptions for 108 yards
 
Who to Anu?
> RB Sam Woods hit WR Eldin Anu for a 52-yard TD pass against Youngstown State
> It was the first touchdown pass by a non-quarterback in RMU history
> It was also the longest play from scrimmage for the team this season
 
Romanchak Under Center
> R-Freshman Andrew Romanchak made his quarterbacking debut in week one and his first start at Dayton
> Last week, he went 8-of-9 for 68 yards against Malone
> This season, he is 36-80 for 271 yards
> He finished 13-32 for 121 yards and one interception in week one
> Romanchak has tossed two interceptions
 
Un-Dante-d
> Sophomore RB Dante Satcher has 66 touches on 207 offensive plays (31.8%)
> He has 59 rushes and seven receptions
> He set career highs for rushes, 20, and yards, 88, against Malone
> Satcher is averaging 56.2 yards of total offense and 115.0 all-purpose yards
> Satcher finished with 161 all-purpose yards, returning a kickoff 99 yards for a TD, against Alderson Broaddus
 
Going to the Wells
> Sophomore Malik Wells carried four times for 21 yards against Malone
> He had just two carries coming into the game
> Wells had a six-yard rushing TD
 
Third and Long
> Of the 53 third downs RMU has faced this season, 27 have been third-and-10 yards or more
> RMU is 7-16 when facing third-and-five yards or shorter
> Colonials are 1-37 when facing third and five or longer
 
10 Targets
> Ten different players have caughts passes for RMU this season
> WR Warren Robinson leads the team with seven receptions
> RB Dante Satcher has six receptions and Reggie Green has caught five passes
> WR Eldin Anu has caught the only TD pass of the year
> WR Kyle Buss leads the team averaging 20.5 yards per reception
> DeLano Madison had three catches
 
Hello Mr. Robinson
> WR Warren Robinson has nine receptions for
> Hauled in a season-best three passes at Dayton
> He had two catches against both Alderson Broaddus and Youngstown State
> Also returns punts for the Colonials
 
Barr Set
> Sophomore QB Mathew Barr made his 2016 debut against Malone
> He was 5-of-13 for 24 yards and a TD
> In 2015, earned two of the last three NEC Rookie of the Week accolades in 2015
> He went 20-31 for 225 yards and two scores in week nine against East Tennessee State
> In season finale vs. Bryant, Barr completed 13 of 16 for 122 yards
> Barr started nine games last season, going 90-188 for 989 yards
 
Other Side of the Woods
> Redshirt-Junior Sam Woods has moved to running back after spending two seasons as a defensive back
> Woods is responsible for the only passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history, hitting Eldin Anu for 52 yards at YSU
> Woods had 35 career tackles, 34 of which came in his redshirt freshman campaign of 2014
 
Cole Shortage
> The team's top returning rusher, junior Cole Blake, will miss all of the 2016 season due to injury
> Blake rushed for 722 yards on 170 carries last season
> He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and had two TDs
 
Get on the Buss
> Redshirt sophomore WR Kyle Buss was the NEC Offensive Rookie of the Week last season
> He was also a finalist for STATS National Freshman Player of the Year
> He is the fifth RMU player to earn the NEC accolade, the most of any league school
> Among FCS rookies, he was second in receiving yards (742) and third in receptions per game (4.5)
> Buss set six RMU freshman records:
   >Season receptions (50)
   >Season receiving yards (742)
   >Season receptions per game (4.5)
   >Game receptions (9, twice UND, ETSU)
   >Game receiving yards (160, CCSU)
   >Longest reception (84, ETSU)
 
Freshmen Front Five
> Four of the five starting offensive linemen on the two-deep are true freshmen
> Redshirt junior LG Blake Chambliss is the lone upperclasssman on the two-deep
> Of the 10 offensive linemen listed, seven are freshmen or redshirt freshmen
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-25 in these categories:
   >2nd in kickoff return average (32.56)
   >19th in punt return average (15.4)
   >21st in punt return defense (3.75)
 
National Rankings- Individual
> Colonials rank in the top-50 in these categories
> T1st kickoff return TDs - Dante Satcher (1)
> 1st kickoff return avg - Dante Satcher (43.0)
> 2nd punt return TDs - Warren Robinson (1)
> 13th punt return avg - Warren Robinson (15.4)
 
Super Satcher
> Sophomore Dante Satcher set a school record with a 99-yard kickoff return against Alderson-Broaddus
> He is first in the nation averaging 43.0 per kick return
> He is averaging 115.0 all-purpose yards per game
> His career kick return average of 27.0 yards is second in team history (35.6, Archie Wannamaker 96-98)
> He is the only player in team history with two kickoff returns for a TD
> He had a 96-yard return for a score against Sacred Heart (10/10/15) last season
 
Robinson Returns
> Warren Robinson is 13th in the nation averaging 15.4 yards per return
> He is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs
> He had an 81-yard return for a TD vs. Malone
> His 17.12 career punt return avg. is the best in team history
> In 2015, Warren Robinson set the single-season school record for punt return average (18.2 yds.)
> Robinson ranked second nationally in punt return average
> He has three of the four longest punt returns in team history - 81(T), 66(T) and 58
 
Check Marks
> Adam Check is averaging 36.0 yards on 32 punts this season
> Check set school records punting 12 times for 455 yards at Youngstown State
> He has planted six punts inside the 20
> His long is 53 yards
> Had 55 punts in 2015 averaging 36.7 yards
> His career avg. of 36.44 is fourth at RMU
 
Specialty Scoring
> Special teams has accounted for two of the teams five touchdowns this season
> Dante Satcher has a 99-yard kickoff return and Warren Robinson has a 81-yard punt return
> Satcher is the only player in team history with two kickoff return TDs
> Robinson is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs
> The RMU special teams accounted for three touchdowns in 2015
> A blocked punt return, punt return and kickoff return accounted for the three specials teams scores
> Three players accounted for returns - Cole Blake (blocked punt), Warren Robinson (punt) and Dante Satcher (kickoff)
 
Shennan-igans
> Kicker Connor Shennan is 0-4 on FG this season
> Two kicks from 33 yards were blocked
> He missed a 42-yard attempt
> Six of his nine kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks
> Shennan went 5-9 on FGs last season, connecting from 30, 46, 30, 36 and 19 yds.
> His 13 career FGs are fifth in RMU history
> 17 of his 36 kickoffs resuted in touchbacks
> He also punted 28 times with 40.7 average
> Six of 28 punts pinned opponents inside the 20
 
Kick Return Commendations
> The kick coverage unit was second nationally in kickoff return defense - 14.2 yards - in 2015
> In 2015, RMU led the NEC in touchback percentage - 47.2% of Colonials kickoffs
> No other NEC team was above 30%