THE BULLDOG BARK TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOG FOOTBALL GAME NOTES 2009 S CHEDULE GAME 1 ! SATURDAY , A UG . 29, 2009 ! 7:00 P.M. vs. Minnesota St. - Mankato SERIES INFORMATION Minnesota St. - Mankato Series Record: Tied 2-2 Saturday, Aug. 29th First Meeting: 1982 (Truman won 59-14) 7:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium Mavericks Last Meeting: 2006 (MSU won 34-16 - Mankato) 0-0 (9-3 2008 Record ) Last MST Win: 2006 Last Truman Win: 1994 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle St. Series Notes: This is the third trip to Kirksville by Saturday, Sept. 5th ! VS ! Minnesota State and first since 1993. Both schools are 1-1 on the road. 12:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium Radio: 104.7 FM KRES Truman State University (6:10 Pre-Game) Bulldogs Announcers: Brad Boyer, Chad Speakar, @ Nebraska-Omaha Hank Janssen, Kevin White 0-0 (4-7 2008 Record ) Web Audio: Regionalradio.com/KRES Saturday, Sept. 12th Web Video: www.themiaa.tv 6:00 p.m. ~ Omaha, Neb. Live Stats: http://gobulldogs.truman.edu Truman Kicks Off ‘09 Season Against Ranked Foe vs. Fort Hays State (Kan.) Bulldogs Host #18 Minnesota State Mankato Saturday Night At Stokes Saturday, Sept. 19th A new era for Bulldog Football will kickoff on 7:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium Saturday night as Truman, under new head coach I NSIIDE T HE N UMBERS Family Night I T N Aaron Vlcko, will lead his team against the #17th @ Northwest Missouri ranked (AFCA & D2Football.com) Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks at Stokes Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 26th Vlcko is the 21st head coach in the 102 years 1:00 p.m. ~ Maryville, Mo. of Bulldog football dating back to 1900. He re - MSU-Mankato Category Truman placed Shannon Currier, who went 20-35 over the past five seasons and was 4-7 last year. 30.3 (4th) Scoring Offense 26.5 (6th) @ Central Missouri Truman enters the game with fresh faces on 16.6 (2nd) Scoring Defense 28.9 (9th) Saturday, Oct. 3rd both sides of the ball. Junior Phil Davis and red - 178.0 (5th) Rushing Offense 120.3 (9th) shirt freshman Taylor Breen have been competing 1:30 p.m. ~ Warrensburg, Mo. 103.8 (3rd) Rushing Defense 154.6 (6th) during spring and fall camp for the starting quar - 178.8 (10th) Passing Offense terback job and both may see action in the early 223.5(4th) vs. Missouri Western going. The ‘Dogs return an experience receiving 198.8 (6th) Passing Defense 230.7 (9th) Saturday, Oct. 10th corps, many versatile running backs and a young, 356.8 (6th) Total Offense 343.7 (6th) 2:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium but experienced offensive line. 302.6 (3rd) Total Defense 385.4 (8th) Homecoming On the defensive side of the ball, Truman will +17 (3rd) Turnover Margin +16 (1st) need some newcomers to step up on the defensive 42.3 (4th) 3rd Down Conv. 33.7% (7th) line. Senior Eric Sternberg, an honorable mention vs. Missouri Southern 33.7 (4th) Opp 3rd Down Conv. 39.9% (8th) Saturday, Oct. 17th all-MIAA selection will anchor the linebackers while four experienced backs with second team all-con - 65.6 (12th) RZ Offense 75.6% (7th) 2:00 p.m. ~ Joplin, Mo. ference Demetrius Lavant will roam the secondary. 72.4 (7th) RZ Defense 77.3% (4th) The Mavericks have been tabbed to win the vs. Emporia State (Kan.) South Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Rankings and Statistics are 2008 NCAA Conference after going 9-3 last season and earning Saturday, Oct. 24th a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. MSU lost in the first round of the playoffs to Ashland Univer - 1:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium sity by a score of 27-16. Minnesota State is under the direction of second year head coach Todd Hoffner and returns 10 of - fensive starters and six defensive starters. vs. Washburn (Kan.) Senior Quarterback Ryan Fick returns to the team after throwing for 2,020 yards and 14 touch - Saturday, Oct. 31st down passes last season. Senior Vincent Flury led the team in receiving with 55 catches for 715 1:00 p.m. ~ Topeka, Kan. yards and a pair of senior running backs, Julian Phipps and Ernest Walker each gained over 500 yards on the ground. vs. Pittsburg State (Kan.) Bulldogs vs. Ranked Teams: Saturday, Nov. 7th Truman was 1-2 against ranked teams last season. They defeated #16 Nebraska-Omaha, the last 1:00 p.m. ~ Stokes Stadium ranked team to play in Kirksville, 26-20 in double overtime. The Bulldogs lost 45-28 to #14 Pittsburg State and 49-0 to #9 Northwest Missouri back on Sept. 20 at Stokes. M I A A C H A M P I O N S H I P S 1924 1927 1928 1929 1930 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1951 1952 1953 1954 1960 1961 1964 1965 1969 1970 1971 1976 1981 1982 1985 1988 The last time Truman opened up a season against a ranked opponent was in 2005. The Bull - MEDIIA SERVIICES dogs defeated #13 Winona State 21-16 to start the season. Media Credentials: What’s At Stake? Please direct all requests for press, photo • Truman is looking break a one-game loosing streak (Pittsburg St.) against ranked opponents. and parking credentials to the athletics • The Bulldogs will be looking for their 225th victory in Kirksville and 525th win in the program’s history. media relations office at the address on page • Truman is seeking their 232nd non-conference victory and have gone 4-4 in non-conference one. games the last four years. During that same span, Truman is 2-1 in non-conference games played at Stokes Stadium. Press Area: • Truman has won their last two season openers, against Southern Arkansas last year (34-21) Truman’s press box accommodates about and at Missouri S&T in 2007 (38-31). Minnesota State dealt the Bulldogs a season opening loss eight members of the media. Admission is by (34-16) back in 2006. PASS ONLY. Person wishing to sit in this area • The Mavericks are looking for their first season opening victory since 2007 (0-1) and first must contact the Athletics Media Relations under Todd Hoffner. MSU lost at Central Missouri in the 2008 lid lifter 29-9 in a game delayed by Office in advance of game day. strong storms. • Minnesota State has played an MIAA school in non-conference in each of the last four years Press Services: going 2-3. The Mavericks played a pair of games against Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri Rosters, game programs and statistics will with a game against Truman in 2006. be provided to media personnel. The office will email or fax final results to opponent About The Bulldogs (Defense): media if numbers and addresses are pro - Three senior players that earned all-conference honors for the Bulldogs last season return with vided. A small lunch is served to members of one on offense and two on defense. Defensive back Demetrius Lavant was a second-team choice, the media who have given advanced notice while linebacker Eric Sternberg and wideout Albert Coker were honorable mention choices. of their attendance. Lavant was fourth on the squad in tackles with 74 and had 5.5 tackles for loss in his first sea - son with the Bulldogs after transferring from Phoenix College. Lavant had two interceptions, in - cluding the game winner against Nebraska-Omaha on Homecoming. Internet Services: Lavant is joined in the secondary by junior Luther Eta sophomores Michael Elliott and Terrance Stokes Stadium and Pershing Arena both Byrd. Eta had one pick and five pass breakups last season while Elliott had a fumble recovery and have wired internet access in the press box played in 10 games as a true freshman. Byrd, as a redshirt freshman, had three picks and one that are available to use for official business forced fumble while playing in all 11 games. only. Wireless connections are currently not Sternberg had eight tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, two INTs and two fumble recoveries as available a linebacker last year. Junior Anthony Freeman joins Sternberg in the middle after having his sea - son cut short after eight games due to injury last year. On the outside will be junior Dan Bryar, Interview Policy: who has 14 games of experience and redshirt freshman Tremaine Millender. All interviews should be arranged through The defensive line will be tested early. Sophomore transfer Harold Lloyd has been pegged to the Truman Athletics Media Relations Office. replace Andy Swedenjhelm at nose tackle. Lloyd played at Wayne State (Mich.) and was a first- Following Coach Currier’s postgame inter - team all-state performer in high school. view with KRES, the coach will answer ques - Juniors Ryan Ploesser, Billy Oline and Rashaad Barnett along with three redshirt freshmen, tions outside the Bulldog Kennels. Domink Cobos, M.J. Kang and Patrick Blackwell, will also be in the mix for the D-Line. Ploesser has the most game experience with 21 games and 2.5 sacks. Photography: Photographers, with passes, are permitted to Defensive Quick Hits: shoot from the end zone to the 30-yard line, • Truman was first in the conference in both Turnover Margin (1.45/g) and tackles for loss but are NEVER permitted to enter the (6.55/g) in the MIAA last season. player’s box. Passes must be displayed at all • The Bulldogs were ninth in Division II in Turnover Margin with 14 of 28 turnovers forced re - sulting in scores, four returned directly by the defense for touchdowns.