All-PFL selection and co-captain Patrick FitzGerald.
Davidson Football Opens Season at Home Saturday
9/1/2007 9:48:13 AM | Football
Marc Gignac
No. 8 Davidson Wildcats (0-0) vs. UNC Pembroke Braves (0-0)
Sept. 1, 2007 - Game One - Davidson, N.C.
Smith Field at Richardson Stadium (4,500) - 7 p.m. - Natural Grass
Sept. 1, 2007 - Game One - Davidson, N.C.
Smith Field at Richardson Stadium (4,500) - 7 p.m. - Natural Grass
Full Game Notes (PDF)
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Today's Game
• Davidson open its 109th season of football by hosting UNC Pembroke at 7 p.m. at Richardson Stadium.
• The Braves are playing their first varsity football game since 1950 and are expected to bring at least five busloads of fans and supporters to the game. UNC Pembroke has been practicing for two years in anticipation of playing varsity football.
• UNC Pembroke and Davidson have never met on the gridiron.
• Davidson is coming off a 6-4 mark in 2006, its first winning campaign since 2002.
• The Wildats were picked third in the PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll and earned a No. 8 preseason ranking in The Sports Network Mid-Major Poll.
• The Wildats return 36 letterwinners and 11 starters (5 offense, 6 defense) from last season.
• This will be Davidson's first season opener at home since 2003, a 22-10 setback to Wingate, who is next week's opponent.
• The 'Cats are 25-12-1 in season openers that double as home openers.
Season Openers
• Davidson has a winning record in 108 season openers with a mark of 53-50-5 (.514). But the 'Cats have suffered losses in each of the past five years.
• The first season-opening victory came on Oct. 7, 1900, when the 'Cats defeated Guilford, 16-0. That victory began a five-game winning streak on opening day.
• The longest opening-day winning streak for the Wildcats was 10 straight (1922-31). Davidson shut out Elon in each of the first five season openers during that streak, plus beat the Fightin' Christians (now Phoenix) in eight of those 10 games. All in all, the 'Cats outscored their opponent in those 10 opening-day games, 221-8.
• Coach Monk Younger owns the best opening-day record of any Wildcat coach, going 9-0 from 1923-31.
• The longest losing streak in Davidson season openers was eight from 1981-88.
• In 1946, Davidson recorded its biggest victory on opening day, squashing Erskine, 74-0. That game is also the fourth largest margin of victory in Davidson history.
• VMI has the distinction of handing Davidson its worst defeat on opening day — 55-0 in 1975.
Home Openers
• In the first game of the season at Richardson Stadium, Davidson has an all-time record of 44-36-2 (.549).
• The 'Cats are 5-2 in home openers since 2000.
• The Wildcats won their first 16 home openers, from 1923-38; Duke was the first team to beat Davidson in a home opener. The 'Cats have not won more than three consecutive home openers since.
• In 15 of the 81 seasons since Richardson Stadium opened, the Wildcats played a game in Charlotte prior to the home opener, including nine straight years against Catawba (1955-63).
• Coach Monk Younger owns the best home-opener record of any Wildcat coach, going 9-0 from 1923-31.
• The longest losing streak in Davidson home openers was eight from 1981-88.
• In 1946, Davidson recorded its biggest victory in a home opener, squashing Erskine, 74-0. That game is also the fourth largest margin of victory in Davidson history.
• Wofford has the distinction of handing Davidson its worst defeat in a home opener — 54-0 in 1982.
What to Look for from the Cats' Offense
• Senior quarterback Ryan Alexander, who broke school records for passing and total yards last year, is back behind center.
• Alexander was fifth in NCAA FCS in passing, sixth in total offense and 35th in passing efficiency.
• Davidson put the ball in the air 37.7 times a game in 2006.
• An entire new backfield as Chad Barnes and Kirk Benedict take over starting roles at tailback and fullback, respectively.
• Two sophomore starters on the offensive line with Shane Purvis at center and Mark Iafrate at guard. George Zoeckler, Zach Jakob and Will Nolte are returning starters.
• A veteran corps of wide receivers, led by seniors Ryan Hubbard and Beaux Jones, who each posted over 500 receiving yards.
What to Look for from the 'Cats Defense
• A very experienced and talented secondary, led by Patrick FitzGerald, Matt Easton, Matt Mikrut and Zach Long.
• Will Funderburg to be an impact player on the defensive line. The three-year starter is back at noseguard, flanked by sophomores Daniel Hauffe and Aaron Saltzman.
• Talented and quick outside linebackers with Bud Crawford, coming off two consecutive 50-tackle plus campaigns, on one side and the speedy Kwame Som-Pimpong on the other.
• Some youth providing depth at inside linebacker. A pair of freshmen are behind junior Peter Bakke and senior Chris Hampton.
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