Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Open 2011 Season Thursday at Louisville
8/30/2011 4:03:00 PM | Football
GAME NOTES
RV/RV Murray State (0-0, 0-0 OVC) vs. Louisville (0-0, 0-0 Big East)
Sept. 1 - 5:01 p.m.
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium - Louisville, Ky.
STORY LINES
The Racers and Cardinals are playing the first football game of the 2011 season. It marks the second time in the last five seasons the two teams opened the season. The teams met in the 2007 season opener on ESPNU.
Murray State enters the season with one of the most prolific offenses in the FCS. Last season, the Racers ranked fourth nationally in passing offense (313.55), fifth in total offense (449.73) and fifth in scoring offense (36.09).
Quarterback Casey Brockman is one of 20 players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. In six starts last season, Brockman threw for 2,442 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 292 yards and seven scores. With Brockman as the starter, the Racers averaged 549.7 yards a game of offense, including 364.7 yards through the air, and 44.0 points per game.
Head Coach Chris Hatcher became the fifth youngest coach in college football history to record his 100th victory. At the time, Hatcher was 37 years, 274 days. He falls just behind Pop Warner and just ahead of Amos Alonso Stagg.
The Game
The Racers open their 87th season of NCAA football as they travel to face Louisville in the first televised game of the 2011 season. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
vs. Louisville
The Racers are 6-11 in games against Louisville. The Cardinals have won three-straight games in the series, with the last victory coming in the 2007 opener. Prior to that, MSU had won two-straight games, in 1980 and 1984.
vs. The Big East
The Racers are 6-12 against teams from the Big East, with all but one game coming against Louisville. The only other Big East team the Racers played was Connecticut in 2004.
FBS Openers
This season marks the 11th time since the 1969 season that the Racers have opened
the season against a FBS opponent. Six of the previous 10 meetings have all come within the last 11 years.
Season Openers
The Racers enter the 2011 season opener with a record of 47-35-4 in openers. MSU is 4-6 in openers over the past decade.
Turnovers in Opener
The Murray State defense has forced a turnover in each of the last three season openers. The Racers forced two turnovers against Lambuth in 2008, four against Kentucky Wesleyan in 2009 and two against Kent State in 2010. The defense also scored a touchdown in the games in 2008 and 2009.
Last Time vs. Louisville
The Racers would like to forget their last visit into Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. After tieing the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, the Cardinals took over from there and handed the Racers a 73-10 defeat. It is the second largest margin in the series, with the biggest margin being a 105-0 Racer victory in 1932.
First TV Game of Season
For the second time in the last five seasons, Murray State and Louisville will meet in the first televised college football game of the season on ESPNU. The two teams also opened the 2007 season on TV.
Racers Receiving Votes
Murray State enters the 2011 season with more anticipation than in recent years. The Racers are receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches Poll and The Sports Network poll. MSU is 32nd in the coaches poll and 29th in the TSN poll.
Homecoming for Cullen
Senior kicker Kienan Cullen is returning home in the 2011 season opener. Cullen, a native of Louisville, played his high school ball at Butler High School. Cullen grew up a fan of the Cardinals, but was not offered a scholarship out of high school. Kienan is the second Cullen kicker to not attend U of L, and return to face the Cardinals. Desi was a punter for Connecticut for four years.
King Returns to Where Career Began
Wide receiver John King came to Murray State last season after spending two years at Louisville. He was a member of the practice squad and will return to go against players he went against while he was there. King is expected to see time on special teams and at wide receiver.
Coaching Ties Between Schools
There will be some familiarity from across the field in the opener as Louisville boasts a former Hatcher assistant. Cardinals wide receivers coach Ron Dugans spent three seasons as the wide receivers coach under Chris Hatcher at Georgia Southern.
Also, defensive line coach Kenny Parker played for, and later coached along side Cardinal head coach Charlie Strong. He played for the Gators from 2000-04, before joining the staff as a graduate assistant and an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Huzzie Returns to Where Last Season Began
Linebacker Qua Huzzie is having a feeling of deja vu. Huzzie, who played last season at Kentucky, will be playing his first game of the season at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Huzzie recorded three tackles in the opener last season as the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 23-16.
First Two on the Road
For the first time since the 2007 season, the Racers will begin the season with a pair of games on the road. Coincidentally, the last time the Racers opened with two road games, the season opener was at Louisville.
Trotter and Robertson Return
After sitting out last season due to academics, the receiving tandem of Ja-Vonta Trotter and Patrick Robertson are poised for breakout seasons in 2011. Robertson will step outside this season and fill the void left by the graduation of All-American Marcus Harris, while Trotter will return to his spot in the slot.
Pair of Safeties Reunite
Murray State had a pair of safeties join the team at different times this summer. Now that they are in the same defensive backfield, chemistry between the two should not be a problem. They will have familiarity with each other after spending the 2010 season as teammates at Ole Miss. Junior Julian Whitehead spent two years with the Rebels, while junior Jarius Williams redshirted his only season.
Offensive Line Returns All 5
Murray State returns all five starters from an offensive line that was considered one of the top five offensive lines in the FCS last season. The unit allowed just 18 sacks in 515 pass attempts, while helping the Racers to average 449.7 yards of offense per game. The line includes junior center Brock Rydecki, junior guard Andy Mahoney, senior guard Elbert Ojendis, senior tackle Raymond Hopson and junior tackle Roderick Tomlin.
RV/RV Murray State (0-0, 0-0 OVC) vs. Louisville (0-0, 0-0 Big East)
Sept. 1 - 5:01 p.m.
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium - Louisville, Ky.
STORY LINES
The Racers and Cardinals are playing the first football game of the 2011 season. It marks the second time in the last five seasons the two teams opened the season. The teams met in the 2007 season opener on ESPNU.
Murray State enters the season with one of the most prolific offenses in the FCS. Last season, the Racers ranked fourth nationally in passing offense (313.55), fifth in total offense (449.73) and fifth in scoring offense (36.09).
Quarterback Casey Brockman is one of 20 players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. In six starts last season, Brockman threw for 2,442 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 292 yards and seven scores. With Brockman as the starter, the Racers averaged 549.7 yards a game of offense, including 364.7 yards through the air, and 44.0 points per game.
Head Coach Chris Hatcher became the fifth youngest coach in college football history to record his 100th victory. At the time, Hatcher was 37 years, 274 days. He falls just behind Pop Warner and just ahead of Amos Alonso Stagg.
The Game
The Racers open their 87th season of NCAA football as they travel to face Louisville in the first televised game of the 2011 season. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
vs. Louisville
The Racers are 6-11 in games against Louisville. The Cardinals have won three-straight games in the series, with the last victory coming in the 2007 opener. Prior to that, MSU had won two-straight games, in 1980 and 1984.
vs. The Big East
The Racers are 6-12 against teams from the Big East, with all but one game coming against Louisville. The only other Big East team the Racers played was Connecticut in 2004.
FBS Openers
This season marks the 11th time since the 1969 season that the Racers have opened
the season against a FBS opponent. Six of the previous 10 meetings have all come within the last 11 years.
Season Openers
The Racers enter the 2011 season opener with a record of 47-35-4 in openers. MSU is 4-6 in openers over the past decade.
Turnovers in Opener
The Murray State defense has forced a turnover in each of the last three season openers. The Racers forced two turnovers against Lambuth in 2008, four against Kentucky Wesleyan in 2009 and two against Kent State in 2010. The defense also scored a touchdown in the games in 2008 and 2009.
Last Time vs. Louisville
The Racers would like to forget their last visit into Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. After tieing the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, the Cardinals took over from there and handed the Racers a 73-10 defeat. It is the second largest margin in the series, with the biggest margin being a 105-0 Racer victory in 1932.
First TV Game of Season
For the second time in the last five seasons, Murray State and Louisville will meet in the first televised college football game of the season on ESPNU. The two teams also opened the 2007 season on TV.
Racers Receiving Votes
Murray State enters the 2011 season with more anticipation than in recent years. The Racers are receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches Poll and The Sports Network poll. MSU is 32nd in the coaches poll and 29th in the TSN poll.
Homecoming for Cullen
Senior kicker Kienan Cullen is returning home in the 2011 season opener. Cullen, a native of Louisville, played his high school ball at Butler High School. Cullen grew up a fan of the Cardinals, but was not offered a scholarship out of high school. Kienan is the second Cullen kicker to not attend U of L, and return to face the Cardinals. Desi was a punter for Connecticut for four years.
King Returns to Where Career Began
Wide receiver John King came to Murray State last season after spending two years at Louisville. He was a member of the practice squad and will return to go against players he went against while he was there. King is expected to see time on special teams and at wide receiver.
Coaching Ties Between Schools
There will be some familiarity from across the field in the opener as Louisville boasts a former Hatcher assistant. Cardinals wide receivers coach Ron Dugans spent three seasons as the wide receivers coach under Chris Hatcher at Georgia Southern.
Also, defensive line coach Kenny Parker played for, and later coached along side Cardinal head coach Charlie Strong. He played for the Gators from 2000-04, before joining the staff as a graduate assistant and an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Huzzie Returns to Where Last Season Began
Linebacker Qua Huzzie is having a feeling of deja vu. Huzzie, who played last season at Kentucky, will be playing his first game of the season at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Huzzie recorded three tackles in the opener last season as the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 23-16.
First Two on the Road
For the first time since the 2007 season, the Racers will begin the season with a pair of games on the road. Coincidentally, the last time the Racers opened with two road games, the season opener was at Louisville.
Trotter and Robertson Return
After sitting out last season due to academics, the receiving tandem of Ja-Vonta Trotter and Patrick Robertson are poised for breakout seasons in 2011. Robertson will step outside this season and fill the void left by the graduation of All-American Marcus Harris, while Trotter will return to his spot in the slot.
Pair of Safeties Reunite
Murray State had a pair of safeties join the team at different times this summer. Now that they are in the same defensive backfield, chemistry between the two should not be a problem. They will have familiarity with each other after spending the 2010 season as teammates at Ole Miss. Junior Julian Whitehead spent two years with the Rebels, while junior Jarius Williams redshirted his only season.
Offensive Line Returns All 5
Murray State returns all five starters from an offensive line that was considered one of the top five offensive lines in the FCS last season. The unit allowed just 18 sacks in 515 pass attempts, while helping the Racers to average 449.7 yards of offense per game. The line includes junior center Brock Rydecki, junior guard Andy Mahoney, senior guard Elbert Ojendis, senior tackle Raymond Hopson and junior tackle Roderick Tomlin.
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