2006 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE #3

Colorado School of Mines vs. Adams State
Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:00 pm
Golden, Colo. - Brooks Field

Click HERE for a complete .PDF version of the notes

ABOUT THE SERIES
Colorado School of Mines and Adams State have met on the gridiron 76 times with the Grizzlies holding a 32-22-2 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1947. However, CSM has won the last five meetings, including a 42-27 win in Golden last season and has won eight of the last 10 meetings with Adams State after losing three straight from 1993-95.

THE HEAD COACHES
Bob Stitt is in his seventh season as the head coach at CSM and claims a 41-28 (.594) overall record. Stitt’s .594 winning percentage is the highest by a CSM football coach who has coached in at least 20 games and the highest for a modern day coach at CSM. In addition, his 41 wins are the third most in CSM history and trail only Marv Kay (84 wins from 1969-1995) and Fritz Brennecke (78 wins from 1947-1969). Stitt is 5-1 all-time against Adams State.

Adams State is led by seventh-year Head Coach Wayne McGinn who has posted a 34-44 career mark, including 1-1 this season. McGinn is 1-5 all-time against Colorado School of Mines.

ALL-TIME RECORD
CSM claims a 365-508-30 all-time record since its first collegiate football game in 1888, a 6-4 win over Denver University.

CSM vs. THE “A’s”
CSM is 22-33-2 all-time against schools that begin with the letter “A”. CSM has played 56 of the 57 games against Adams State and is 0-1 all-time against Air Force, a 49-6 loss in 1956.

RMAC OPENERS
Saturday’s game is the RMAC opener for CSM, which claims a 2-11-1 record in 14 all-time RMAC openers since 1992. The two wins came in 2004 and 2005, both against Western State CSM has never opened its RMAC season against Adams State.

UP NEXT FOR CSM
CSM will return to action on Sept. 23 when it travels to Chadron State for a 12:00 pm kickoff. The Eagles are coming off a 35-24 win at Division I-AA Montana State on Saturday.

LISTEN LIVE TO CSM FOOTBALL ONLINE
Now you can follow all the action of CSM football games on the internet, courtesy of Mines Internet Radio. Visit radio.mines.edu and click on the LISTEN LIVE link to follow all the live action of CSM football.

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES ON THE INTERNET
Now you can get all the latest and most comprehensive news on Oredigger football and Colorado School of Mines athletics 24 hours a day by visiting the Colorado School of Mines Athletics Department official website at ... http://athletics.mines.edu.

JOIN THE OREDIGGER EMAIL LIST
Get all the latest news on all of Colorado School of Mines Athletics by signing up for the Orediggers’ E-Mail List. Receive daily updates, game recaps and press releases on all of CSM’s athletic teams by emailing Sports Information Director Gregory Murphy at gjmurphy@mines.edu. You can sign up to receive updates on one sport, numerous sports or all sports. Please indicate in your email what sports you would like to be included on or if you would like to be included for all sports.

ALL ABOUT ADAMS STATE
The Grizzlies enter their RMAC opener at 1-1 overall following a 33-11 loss at West Texas A&M on Saturday evening. ASC fell behind 17-3 at the half before WTAM scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to put the game away. Gene Mejia caught eight passes for 99 yards, while Tyree Walton ran for 22 yards and a touchdown. George Holley led the defense with 10 tackles, including three for losses.

WHEN THE GRIZZLIES HAVE THE BALL
Adams State returned eight starters from last year’s 6-5 squad. Quarterback Clint Buderus has completed 26-of-49 passes for 320 yards and two scores, while his favorite receiver has been Gene Mejia who leads the team with 14 catches for 159 yards. Dave Copelan has caught six balls for 76 yards and a score. Buderus has also run for 54 yards, while Tyree Walton has run 25 times for 54 yards (2.2 ypc) and a touchdown. Walton also has a touchdown reception of 44 yards. It is his lone catch this season. The offense is averaging 24.0 points per game and 291.5 yards per game.

AND WHEN THEY DON’T
ASC returned six starters on the defensive unit from last season. George Holley leads the club this year with 19 tackles, including seven tackles for losses totaling 12 yards. Mike McDonald has posted 17 stops, including three for losses, while Tony Gibalski has recorded nine stops, one interception and two pass breakups. As a unit, the Grizzly defense has given up 16.0 points per game and 280.5 yards per game.

IN THE POLLS
Neither Colorado School of Mines, nor Adams State are ranked in any of the Division II National Polls this week.

LAST TIME vs. ADAMS STATE (11/5/05)
The Colorado School of Mines football team clinched its school-record fifth consecutive winning season with a 42-27 win over Adams State in the 2005 season finale at Brooks Field. Adams State took a 7-0 lead with 9:31 to play in the first quarter when Marcus Sias found paydirt from 1-yard out. However, the Orediggers gained a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter as running back Bryan Florendo scored on a 21-yard scamper and caught a 33-yard touchdown from quarterback Danny Medina on a fourth down play. CSM extended its lead to 21-7 as Medina hooked up with wideout Michael Curl with 4:59 to play in the first half, but ASC quarterback Scott Coxon scored on a 5-yard draw play with five seconds to play in the half. The extra point was blocked and the Orediggers led at the half, 21-13. A 2-yard scoring run by Tyree Walton and a two-point conversion knotted the game at 21-21 just four minutes into the second half. The Orediggers struck again at the 4:52 mark of the third quarter as wide receiver Brent Chacon caught a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Garrett Mehl. The Grizzlies were once again poised to tie the game at 28-28 after Coxon scored from 1-yard out with 10:24 to play in the game, but CSM once again blocked the extra point attempt by Wayne Durham. CSM went on to score 14 more points as Mehl hooked up with wide receiver Derek Dykstra for a 36-yard touchdown and scored on a quarterback keeper from 6-yards out with 26 seconds to play. Mehl and Medina combined to go 15-of-29 for 249 yards and four touchdowns. Florendo ran 21 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and also caught five balls for 57 yards and a score, while wideout Justin Gallas caught six passes for 105 yards. Linebacker Jared Heath led the defense with a game-high 14 stops, while defensive end Marin Richardson produced seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Coxon went 28-of-44 for 384 yards and also ran 12 times for 39 yards and two scores, while Gene Mejia caught eight passes for 151 yards. George Holley led ASC with nine tackles.

STITT IN OPENERS
CSM Head Coach Bob Stitt is 4-3 in season openers at CSM after a 41-21 loss on Sept. 2 at Washburn to open the 2006 season. CSM lost its first game under Stitt, 43-34, to MidAmerica Nazarene but rebounded to win four straight openers before losing to the Ichabods the last two season openers. In the last 20 openers, CSM is 15-5. In overall season openers, CSM is 57-56-5.

PRESEASON RMAC POLL
CSM was picked fourth in the Preseason RMAC Poll with 24 points. Fort Lewis was picked first with 14 points and four first place votes. The Skyhawks were followed by Nebraska-Kearney with four first place votes and 21 points, while Chadron State received the final first place vote and 22 total points. After Mines was Adams State (36 points), Mesa State (38), New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico (55) and Western State (58)

PRESEASON ALL-RMAC SELECTIONS
CSM had four players named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team. Senior running back Bryan Florendo and junior kicker Aaron Abel were named to the offensive squad, while senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough and senior linebacker Danny Sprague were named to the defensive team.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Two CSM players were named to Don Hansen’s National Football Gazette Preseason All-American Team. Senior running back Bryan Florendo and junior kicker Aaron Abel were both named to the squad.

SIX PACK
CSM has five straight winning seasons in the book and will be going after a sixth, a feat that has never been accomplished in program history. The five straight winning seasons are a record for CSM football.

RULE OF TWO
In 30 of the last 37 games, including all 13 in 2004, CSM had at least one player find the end zone two times. The Orediggers are 25-12 during that span.

THE HEAT IS ON
The CSM defense will have a new look this season thanks to Marty Heaton who is in his first year as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Heaton, who joined the CSM staff in January, consistently had one of the top defenses in the RMAC and Division II at Adams State where he worked from 1999-2005. Under Heaton, the ASC defense led the RMAC in both total and pass defense and sacks in 2003. In 2004, the Grizzlies were ranked at the top of nearly every defensive category in the RMAC and were named the NCAA Division II Defense of the Year by the College Sports Report. In addition, the defense finished the 2004 season ranked eighth in the nation in scoring defense, 11th in pass efficiency defense, 12th in total defense and 15th in rushing defense. In 2005, Heaton’s defense led the RMAC in pass defense, total defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and opponent first downs. It also ranked 27th in Division II in total defense and 35th in rushing defense. Heaton guided several All-RMAC and All-Region players, including three-time All-American and two-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Adam McGurk (2003, 2004), Charles Allgood, a 2004 All-American and Cactus Bowl participant, and 2005 RMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Ernesto Villasenor.

LESS IS MORE
The Oredigger offensive line will have a new leader this year in Assistant Coach Curt Lessman who took over for Scott Carey when Carey departed for a similar position at Tarleton State. Lessman came to CSM from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) where he was an assistant coach (tight ends) last season and helped the Bearcats to a Division II National Runner-Up finish. Lessman also spent three years (1999-2001) at NWMSU as a player. and was part of the 1999 team that won the Division II National Championship.

TOPPING THE CENTURY MARK
CSM has had at least one wide receiver top the 100-yard plateau in 28 of the last 31 games. The only three times it did not happen was the 2004 regular season finale at Adams State when Jonny Chan led the team with 83 yards, a Sept. 24, 2005 win at Chadron State when Brent Chacon led the squad with 40 yards and an Oct. 22, 2005 win at N.M. Highlands when Michael Curl posted a team-best 91 yards.

WITH THE ARM AND LEGS
Senior quarterback Garrett Mehl has shown that he is capable of beating teams with his arm and his legs. Mehl has completed 44-of-64 passes for 485 yards and two scores this year and is also the leading rusher for CSM with 100 yards on 23 carries. He also has four touchdowns on the ground. For his career, Mehl has thrown for 2,379 yards and 15 touchdowns and has also run for 791 yards and 12 more scores.

GO FLO
Big things will be expected out of senior running back Bryan Florendo this year. One of the top returnees to the 2006 squad, Florendo is coming off a season in which he earned First Team All-RMAC honors after totaling 1,492 yards from scrimmage. He ran 191 times for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns and also caught 53 passes for 579 yards and three more scores. Florendo, a Preseason All-America pick by Don Hansen’s National Football Gazette, is attempting to become the first CSM running back to break the 1,000-yard mark since 1939 when Lloyd Madden ran for a school-record 1,316 yards and 23 touchdowns on just 92 carries.

DOUBLE “D”
Junior wide receiver Derek Dykstra is primed to have a breakout season in 2006 and has started it with a bang The 6-foot-3 receiver caught a career-high 13 passes for 131 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown in the season opening loss at Washburn. The 13 receptions were one shy of the CSM single game record of 14 set by Dayven Johnston in a triple overtime win at Fort Hays State in 2001. He followed that up with a four catch, 124 yard game in Saturday’s win vs. Fort Hays. It is the first time he has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games.

CURL’S ROUTE
Junior wide receiver Michael Curl is the speedster of the group and also led the team in yards per catch last season at 16.0 yards per reception. Curl hauled in 32 passes for 511 yards and four touchdowns, including a five catch, 100 yard, one touchdown performance in a loss to RMAC Champion Nebraska-Kearney last year. In addition, Curl posted three other games of at least 90 receiving yards. He has caught at least one pass in all 12 games he has played in. Curl is also a member of the CSM track teams and ran a season best 6.95 seconds in the 60-meter dash during the indoor season and a 10.7 in the 100-yard dash during the outdoor season. He showcased that speed in Saturday’s win when he took the opening kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown. Curl also caught six passes for 87 yards, including a key 33-yard reception to the FHSU 4-yard line on a fourth down play.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Senior wide receiver Brent Chacon has some good blood in his genes. He is the cousin of MLB pitcher Shawn Chacon, a pitcher for the Pittsbugh Pirates. Shawn Chacon also served stints with the Colorado Rockies and New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he played a key role in their 2005 playoff run. Chacon has four catches for 35 yards this year.

EXPERIENCE UP FRONT
The Oredigger offensive line is again one of the most experienced groups under Head Coach Bob Stitt. The line features four returning starters from last year’s group, including center Nick Belden, a three-time All-RMAC honoree. In addition, junior left tackle James Reeves, junior right guard Stephen Immel and junior right tackle Brian Fitzpatrick all return after starting last season. Junior left guard James Tyree is penciled in as the starter this year after seeing significant action last year backing up two-time All-American Travis Yenne and also playing on the right side.

IT’S MILLER TIME
Senior free safety Tim Miller returns for his final year at CSM after posting 54 stops last season. He returns as the second leading tackler in 2006. As a sophomore, Miller played the role of “Jonny on the Spot” as he tallied a team-best six interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery en route to First Team All-RMAC accolades.

OH DANNY BOY
Senior linebacker Danny Sprague has come a long way since beginning his sophomore year as a backup linebacker. Sprague earned his first start on Oct. 18, 2003, in a 37-7 win against Fort Lewis and has not looked back. He finished the game with eight tackles and two sacks en route to RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Since that game, Sprague has registered 241 tackles over 30 games (8.0 tpg). He has 19 tackles, including a team-best four for losses and is tied for the team lead in sacks (2.5) this year.

MAR “IN” THE BACKFIELD
Junior defensive lineman Marin Richardson should be glad to see the Grizzlies in town on Saturday. He had his best game of the 2005 season in the season finale, a 42-27 win over Adams State, as he tallied seven tackles, including 3.5 tackles for losses totaling 20 yards and a sack for 15 yards lost. He also all but sealed the win when he sacked ASC quarterback Scott Coxon for a 15-yard loss to the Grizzly 40 yard line on fourth and one with 2:18 to play in the game and CSM clinging to a 35-27 lead. Richardson earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Saturday’s win over Fort Hays when he posted nine tackles, including three for losses and 2.5 sacks. His tackles for losses totaled nine yards.

CHARLES IN CHARGE
Senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough will be counted on to be one of the leaders on and off the field this season. This is evident as he was voted by his teammates as one of two Oredigger captains. Yarbrough, a Preseason All-RMAC selection, tallied six tackles and two sacks in Saturday’s win over Fort Hays State.

BEAU KNOWS DEFENSE
Senior defensive lineman Beau Koenig is getting a chance to start for the first time in his career at CSM. Koenig, who played in nine career games at CSM prior to this season, has notched 10 tackles, including one for loss, this season.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW
Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw has had quite a start to his CSM career. The Broomfield native opened his collegiate career by posting a game-best 13 tackles in the season opening loss at nationally-ranked Washburn. He currently leads the team with 20 tackles.

ONE SMART FRESHMAN
True freshman rover Isaiah Smart has proven that he will be a force on the field over the next four seasons. Smart has amassed 17 tackles, which ranks third on the team, and has two tackles for losses and one sack.

WHAT’S IN A NAME
Sophomore cornerback Kevin Folly-Kossi has made an immediate impact for CSM. Folly-Kossi, a transfer from Santa Monica J.C. (Calif.) and a native of the Ivory Coast, leads all CSM defensive backs with 14 tackles and is also tops on the team with six pass breakups.

READY, WILLING AND ABEL
Junior placekicker Aaron Abel is back for his third season as the Oredigger kicker. He has been solid at CSM as he has connected on 19-of-28 field goal attempts (.679), including 12-of-18 from 30 yards or more and 4-of-6 from 40 yards or more. Last season, Abel connected on a game-winning 27-yard field goal with three seconds left in a 27-26 win at Chadron State. Abel hit his first field goal of the 2006 season, a 44-yarder, in Saturday’s win over Fort Hays State. It was one yard shy of tying his career long of 45 yards.

POINTS ON THE BOARD
CSM has a streak of 72 games in which it has scored, including all 69 games under Head Coach Bob Stitt. The last time the Orediggers were shut out was Oct. 16, 1999, a 47-0 loss to Mesa State. During that same time period, CSM has shutout three opponents with the last time being Sept. 11, 2004, a 58-0 blanking of Western State. During Stitt’s tenure as coach at CSM, the Orediggers have scored at least 30 points 41 times (out of 69 games).