FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Read the game notes prepared for the Arizona State game by the NAU Media Relations staff.

Three Dot Data...
NAU is playing its 95th season of football dating back to the 1915 season...NAU and ASU are meeting for the third time in six seasons...NAU is playing its eighth game against a Pac-10 Conference opponent in the last eight seasons (Oregon State in 2001, Arizona in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007 and Arizona State in 2003, 2006 and 2007)...NAU has not beat a NCAA FBS or I-A opponent since 1987, posting a 7-41 all-time record in match-ups against FBS/I-A opponents since 1957...See chart later in the release...ASU represents the highest-ranked FBS opponent played by NAU in school history...NAU is playing a FBS-ranked opponent for the third time in school history with the Sun Devils representing all three matchups...ASU was ranked No. 20 entering the game in 2003 and No. 24 in 2006...Head Coach Jerome Souers has posted a 7-3 record in 10 previous season openers...

Did You Know...
NAU was formerly called Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff from 1929 to 1945 and Arizona State College at Flagstaff from 1945 to 1966.

Arizona State Connections...
There are several connections between the two schools via the coaching staffs and student-athletes on both rosters. ASU Defensive Coordinator Craig Bray was an assistant coach at NAU from 1980-83...Bray's wife, Kaprice. was the head volleyball coach at NAU from 1980-83...ASU Running Backs coach Jamie Christian was an assistant at NAU for the 2002 season...ASU tight ends coach Dan Cozzetto's daughter played for the NAU soccer team...Junior Pete Hargis played with former ASU standout Zach Miller at Desert Vista High School...Hargis' cousin Jon plays for the Sun Devils...Sophomore OL Jeff Hines father, Art, is a Pac-10 official....Senior DB Cyrus Igono's brother Josiah played two seasons for Bruce Snyder at ASU before transferring to NAU...Sophomore DB Brian Hunter attended Arizona State for one season before joining the NAU program in 2007...

Series History...
NAU and ASU have met 27 times dating back to 1915. The Sun Devils lead the all-time series 19-14-4 and have won six consecutive games in the series including a 35-14 win in 2006. The meeting in 2003 was the first between the schools since 1950 despite the short distance (153 miles) between the two campuses. NAU and ASU played regularly as members of the Border Conference back in the day.

Scoreboard Watching...
NAU has played close to Arizona State for stretches in each of the last two meetings. In 2003, NAU scored the opening points of the game and led 7-6 at the completion of the first quarter. In 2006, NAU again scored first and was tied at 14 with the Sun Devils entering the fourth quarter.

Lumberjacks Earning Poll Respect...
NAU just missed out on cracking the top 25 of The Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll, which was released last week. NAU ranked No. 26 overall and earned 249 total points, the most among teams not in the top 25. NAU has not been ranked in The Sports Network poll since midway through the 2004 season. The Lumberjacks were listed at No. 18 in The Sporting News preseason listing, while 2008 USA Today Sports Weekly preseason poll has NAU at No. 20.

All-America Status...
NAU placed four players on the preseason Sports Network All-America team and the Big Sky Conference had 18 athletes selected when the squad was announced August 22. NAU was one of three schools with four players on the team. Northern Arizona landed cornerback K.J. Gerard and punter Robbie Dehaze on the first team, while safety Cyrus Igono and tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick were third-team selections.

Dehaze Among Nation's Best at Both...
Senior Robbie Dehaze, who was named to The Sports Network All-America honorable mention team in 2007, ranked fifth in the nation with a 43.3 per punt average with 23 punts inside the 20 helping the team rank fourth in the nation in net punting at 38.9 per punt in 2007. He has made 40-of-54 field goal attempts (74.1 percent), the ninth-best active field goal percentage in the FCS.

Gerard Among Active Leaders...
Senior K.J. Gerard ranks among the NCAA active leaders in the Football Championship Subvision and Division I overall entering the 2007 season. Only David Hyland of Morehead State has recorded more interceptions. Gerard, who ranks second in interceptions among active career leaders in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with 14, was named to Associated Press (third team) and The Sports Network All-America teams in 2007. He ranked second on the team in tackles with 57 with a team-best 34 solos in 2007, while recording six interceptions to lead the Big Sky Conference and tie for sixth nationally.

Division I Active Career Interception Leaders
(Name, School, Class)

1. David Hyland, Morehead St., Sr. 17
2. K.J. Gerard, Northern Arizona, Sr. 14
2. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Sr. 14
3. Noel Williams, Morehead State, Jr. 13
4. Christopher Owens, San Jose St., Sr. 12
4. Joe Burnett, Central Florida, Sr. 12
4. Jairus Byrd, Oregon, Jr. 12
7. Al Donaldson, Alabama A&M, Sr. 10

Championship Subdivision Active Career Interception Leaders
1. David Hyland, Morehead State 17
2. K.J. Gerard, Northern Arizona 14
3. Noel Williams, Morehead State 13
4. Andy Green, Drake 12
5. Al Donaldson, Alabama A&M 10

Is There Something in the Air?
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart is the latest in a line of successful NFL coaches with NAU ties. Stewart played at NAU from 1986-87 and was an assistant in 1995. Three current NFL coaches have roamed the sidelines in the Walkup Skydome, including Brad Childress (Minnesota Vikings), Andy Reid (Philadephia Eagles) and Mike Shanahan (Denver Broncos). Overall, five former Lumberjack assistants have led a National Football League franchise. Bill Callahan was the coach of the Oakland Raiders and current Philadephia assistant Marty Mornhinweg was the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Joe Barry (Detroit Lions), Darrell Bevell (Vikings), Jeff Imamura (Vikings), Derek M ason (Vikings), Pat Morris (Vikings), Frank Pollack (Texans), Dante Scarnecchia (Patriots) and Ken Zampese (Bengals) complete the list. See page 93 of the NAU media guide for more information.

Souers Among Big Sky Best...
NAU Head Coach Jerome Souers is second on the all-time school win list and sixth on the Big Sky win list with 55 victories entering this week. In his 11th season at the helm of the program, he has the longest tenure of any football coach in school history. He is one of seven coaches in conference history to coach his team for 100 or more games. The others...Don Read, Montana; Chris Ault, Nevada; Dave Arslanian, Weber State; Tim Walsh, Portland State; Mike Kramer, EWU/MSU. See chart on Souers bio later in the release.

EQ Manager Fox Earns Honor...
NAU equipment manager George Fox was named the 2008 recipient of the Dino Dennis Equipment Manager of the Year at the Annual Athletic Equipment Manager's Association Convention in Dallas this summer. Fox was the recipient for District 9 representing the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. The award is voted on by his peers in the district.

True Blue Fridays...
Northern Arizona University fans, alumni and boosters are encouraged to wear NAU gear and/or colors every Friday. The best way to support this initiative is to gear up on NAU by using your 10% LAA discount at the NAU Bookstore (present your LAA membership card at check out), and to wear your NAU gear proudly on Fridays. If you own a business, we encourage you to ask your staff to wear NAU gear on Fridays as well. If your workplace dress is formal, you can still be True Blue by wearing an NAU lapel pin, tie, or other accessory, or just wearing a navy blue suit or dress.

Record Watching...
* RB Alex Henderson with 1,913 career yards is 87 yards short of becoming the eighth player in school history to reach 2,000 yards.

* K Robbie Dehaze stands in third on the career scoring list with 225 points. He trails former running back Archie Amerson by three points for second place all-time.

* K Robbie Dehaze is eight field goals from tying the NAU school record for career field goals. He enters the season with 40.

2007 Team Highlights...
* NAU secured a winning season for the second consecutive season, finishing with a 6-5 overall mark and 5-3 record in Big Sky play to tie for third. It is the best conference finish since 2003.

* Safety Cyrus Igono blocked two punts at Montana State, tying the FCS record for blocked punts in a season. He was named the Special Teams Player of the Week by the Big Sky Conference and was selected for the national honor from the Sports Network, while garnering one of four National Player of the Week honors from College Sporting News.

* NAU played a challenging non-conference slate with FBS member Arizona and then-FCS and eventual national champion No. 1 Appalachian State with both on the road.

* NAU won a school-record tying three Big Sky Conference games on the road, a feat accomplished just five previous times in school history. NAU won three in 1978 (first year in I-AA), 1995, 1996, 2001 and 2003. The last three times NAU advanced to the playoffs.

* NAU was the only team in the nation to have three players rank among the top 100 rushers in the country in the NCAA Statistics. The Lumberjacks led the Big Sky Conference and ranked 13th in the FCS in rushing 231.5 per game.

* NAU won in Bozeman over Montana State, snapping the Bobcats eight-game home field winning streak.

* NAU played its seventh game against a Pac-10 Conference opponent in the last seven seasons (Oregon State in 2001, Arizona in 2002, 2004 and 2005 and Arizona State in 2003 and 2006).

* The 24 points are most scored by NAU in a game against Arizona and the most against a FBS opponent since scoring 28 at New Mexico in 2000.

* The crowd of 52,638 was the fourth-largest a NAU team has played in front of in school history.

* The defensive unit had a strong start against Western New Mexico with a 47-0 shutout. It was the first shutout for the Lumberjacks since 2004 and the largest margin of defeat in a shutout win since NAU defeated Western New Mexico 75-0 to open the 1996 campaign. The NAU defense recorded four interceptions in the game, while holding the Mustangs to 188 yards of offense in the contest. They also forced three fumbles, recovering two in the shutout effort.

* NAU won its 400th game in school history in the season opener against Western New Mexico.

* Head Coach Jerome Souers recorded his 50th career victory against the Western New Mexico.