Bulldogs open 2012 season on Sat. (3PM)

BULLDOGS OPEN 2012 SEASON ON SATURDAY AT BULLDOG STADIUM

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Eligible to compete for a spot in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs for the first time in school history, the Bryant University football team begins its 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 when it welcomes Marist College to Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m.

OPENING KICKOFF

The Bulldogs open the 2012 season on Saturday against Marist. Bryant will be competing as a full Division I member for the first time in school history.

THE SERIES

Saturday's meeting will be just the second between the schools. The two met back in 2008, Bryant's first season of transition, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with the Red Foxes taking a 34-7 victory. Marist jumped out to a 27-0 lead before the Bulldogs finally got on the board in the fourth quarter. Marist totaled 428 yards of total offense in the game, including 321 yards through the air.

A FINE JOB

Head coach Marty Fine begins his ninth season at the helm of the Bryant football program on Saturday. In eight seasons, Fine has compiled a 53-32 record. Included in that record is a 19-21 mark against Division I schools and a 13-11 mark against Northeast Conference opponents. Under Fine's watch, the Bulldogs have had just two losing seasons and have won at least seven games in six of the eight years.

SCOUTING THE RED FOXES

Led by the return of 14 starters, the Red Foxes were slated to finish sixth in the Pioneer League this season as they received 42 points in the annual preseason prospectus.

Last season, the Red Foxes put together one of the toughest defenses in the country, allowing just 285.64 yards per game which was good enough for sixth nationally and topped the PFL. Marist returns two key members of that defense this season as All-PFL honorees Terrence Fede and Nick Mainiero are back for another year. Fede led Marist with 8.5 sacks last season and added 16 tackles for a loss.

Offensively, Marist averaged just 295.5 yards per game and a meager 80.5 rushing yards per game. The good news for the Red Foxes, however, is that they return two of their top three rushers from a year ago in Calvin McCoy and Atiq Lucas. One place where Marist thrived was in the passing game and both Tommy Reilly and Chuckie Looney are back under center. Also back is All-PFL tight end Anthony Calcagni. He caught a team-high five touchdown passes last season.

TWO JORDANS

Bryant returns two of the most dangerous offensive threats in the conference this season in senior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) and junior wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, .Pa). Brown was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last season after leading the country in rushing 1,815 yards. Harris set single-season school records in receiving yards (959) and touchdown receptions (9) last year, and has caught a touchdown pass in each of his last eight games.

HAPPY HOME OPENER

The Bulldogs have been nearly unbeatable in home openers under Marty Fine. Since Fine took over in 2004, the Black and Gold are 7-1 in their first game in Smithfield. The lone loss came in Fine's first season in 2004 against Merrimack.

SEPTEMBER'S A GOOD MONTH

As good as the Bulldogs have been in their home lid-lifters, they've been even better in the first month of the season. Bryant has put together a 24-8 record in the month of September under Fine, including an 11-4 mark the last four seasons. The last time the Bulldogs had a losing record in September was back in 2003.

QUICK HITS

- Saturday's opener is the first of three non-conference games the Bulldogs will play this season. Bryant will also host CAA foe Maine on Sept. 15 and travel to Patriot League member Bucknell on Nov. 17.

- Jordan Brown set nine school records last season and is just 259 yards shy of becoming the school's all-time rushing leader. His program-record 5,187 all-purpose yards is currently the most for any active runner in the FCS.

- Jordan Harris caught a touchdown pass in each of the last eight games last season and needs just 189 receiving yards to become the program's all-time leader in that category.

- Bryant has won seven games in each of the last two seasons and six out of the last seven years. The only year they were unable to capture seven wins came in 2009 when they finished 5-6.

- Brown, Harris and offensive linemen Chris Willadsen (South Windsor, Conn.) and Justin Corrales (Beaumont, Calif.) are the only returning starters on offense.

- The Bulldogs return three of their four starting defensive backs in Jeremy Woodson (Houston, Texas), Michael Johnson (New Market, Md.) and Max Machado (Berkeley Heights, N.J.).