NAU Game Notes vs. Western New Mexico (PDF)

UPDATE: FCS Pacific picked up the Western New Mexico-NAU game for national telecast tomorrow...If you have the sports package on digital cable you get it on Direct TV Channel 617 (Channel 172-Phoenix, Channel 146-Flagstaff).

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team will open the 2010 season on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Walkup Skydome against Western New Mexico in the season opener for both teams. The game can be heard on 105.1 FM KBTK in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott and seen nationwide on Universityhouse (Dish Network 9411).

“We are getting to the point we need to play a game to figure out the weaknesses we have,” said Head Coach Jerome Souers. “We are working on our technique and assignments to get those as finessed as we can and rely on our athletic ability come Thursday. It is time.”

Western New Mexico and Northern Arizona first met in 1939. Overall, NAU leads in the series 15-6-1. NAU beat Western New Mexico 75-0 in 1996, setting the Walkup Skydome record for points scored. NAU's last loss to Western New Mexico was a 21-17 setback early in the 1989 season. The two schools last met in the 2007 season (W 47-0). Head Coach Jerome Souers owns a 2-0 record against Western New Mexico.

“It is the type of game early in the year when you want to play as many guys as you can,” said Souers. “There are a lot of guys that are capable of playing.”

Souers announced his team's captains for 2010: S Matt Estrada, LB Cody Dowd, LB Reid Worthington, QB Michael Herrick and OL Jeff Hines.

Souers is expecting the anything and everything from Western New Mexico, a Division II team from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference located in the states of Colorado, Nebraska and New Mexico. The RMAC currently competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports and has earned more than 30 NCAA Division II national championships and more than 20 national runner-ups since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the fourth oldest conference in the United States.

“We are excited about an opportunity to play,” said Souers. “That team will come in with a lot of pride. They have a lot of Arizona kids and have a new coaching staff and new attitude. They are going to fly around and give us the same approach we are going to give to Arizona State. They will have nothing to lose and I am sure they will throw everything at us to try to create some production. It will be on us to play on our level.”

NAU has 45 returning letter winners in the program entering the season and boast 23 seniors and 22 juniors on the roster, giving Souers one of his older teams during his tenure. Senior quarterback Michael Herrick is a preseason candidate for the Walter Payton Award and was named a Preseason First-Team All-American by The Sports Network, Phil Steele, College Sporting News and JB Scouting, Inc.

Northern Arizona vs. Western New Mexico

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, 7 p.m.

Walkup Skydome

TAILGATE: Opens at 3 p.m. in Skydome Lots (Pass Required). Call 928-523-5353 for more information.

PAVILION: Open to the public and members of the Lumberjack Athletics Association. Food and drink available for $5 for general public at 5 p.m.. Thursday's Featured Restaurant: Louie's Chicken Shack.

TICKETS: Central Ticket Office: Open Game Day at Walkup Skydome at 5 p.m. Player and Media Will Call Available at 5:30 p.m. Phone 928-523-5661.

GATES OPEN: 6 p.m.

TELEVISION: LIVE - Universityhouse (NAU TV Services), DISH Network Channel 9411. Fox College Sports Pacific on Direct TV Channel 617, Cable Channel 172-Phoenix, Cable Channel 146-Flagstaf.  Tape Delayed -- FS Arizona on Sept. 9 at 12 p.m.

RADIO: LIVE – 105.1 FM The Big Talker (Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott) – Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens.

WEBSTREAMING: Audio and video is available for free at www.bigskytv.org. Registration and email required. Listen to the The Big Talker and the call from the Lumberjack Radio Network at http://www.bigtalkerradio.com/.

GAME SPONSOR: NAU Army ROTC

GAME PROGRAM SELLERS: NAU Volleyball Club.

DID YOU KNOW…The Northern Arizona University athletics department ranked 78^th to place among the Top 100 in the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings. NAU ranked among the top 100 schools for the seventh time in the last eight seasons and 12^th overall in the last 14 years.