FOOTBALL GAME DAY (SEPT. 26 VS. DARTMOUTH)

WILDCAT FOOTBALL 2-0 AFTER IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER FBS SCHOOL BALL STATE, 23-16: The UNH Wildcats are 2-0, ,ranked No. 6/7 in the nation, and are coming off an off week as they turn their attention to the battle for the Granite Bowl Trophy vs. Dartmouth. UNH has enjoyed great success in the series in recent years, winning the last 11 meetings between the two schools and the all-time series stands tied at 17-17-2. UNH won last year's meeting by an impressive 42-6 margin and the Big Green has not defeated the Wildcats since Sept. 29, 1976 when Dartmouth won 24-13. UNH has been led in rushing by junior running back Sean Jellison, who is the team's top rusher with 45 carries for 180 yards and three rushing TDs, and he has caught a team-high seven passes for 67 yards and one TD. He is averaging 90 rushing yards per game for the 'Cats. The UNH defense has been solid, giving up just 30 points in the first two games and is ranked No. 1 in the nation in defensive yards allowed (162.5 ypg.). Dartmouth opened its 2009 season with a (34-15) loss vs. Colgate at Memorial Field. The team was led by wide receiver Michael Reilly and his four catches for 87 yards. The Big Green did not win a game in 2008 and is 0-1 heading into this contest with the Wildcats. Dartmouth was outgained by the Raiders (464 yards to 173 yards) in their home-opener.

SCOUTING DARTMOUTH: Dartmouth is looking to rebound from their winless 0-10 season in 2008 but was unable to snap the losing streak after losing to Colgate in their home-opener at Memorial Field, 34-15. The Big Green has turned to youth and went into the Colgate game with 15 sophomores ready to play in starting roles. The team also played without the services of top junior wide receiver Tim McManus, who suffered a broken leg and was expected to sit out the first two games of the season (including UNH) before returning to play in Dartmouth's Ivy-opener vs. Penn on Oct. 3. The team features an outstanding safety in senior co-captain Peter Pidermann who is the team's top returning tackler after compiling 56 tackles in 2008. Against Colgate, Dartmouth scored one touchdown a 57 yard touchdown strike from Alex Jenny to Michael Reilly, while kicker Foley Schmidt booted a pair of field goals as well. The head coach of the Big Green is Buddy Teevens '79 and he has posted an overall record of 67-132-2 as a head coach at Dartmouth, Tulane, Stanford and Maine. While at Dartmouth, Teevens has posted a mark of 33-55-2 and he is in his second stint at Dartmouth, as he also coached in Hanover from 1987 through 1991. He has been at Dartmouth the past five seasons (2005-2009) and checks in with a mark of 7-33 for the Big Green. Dartmouth plays in the Ivy League.

QB R.J. TOMAN NAMED WINNER OF THE NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS GOLD HELMET AWARD FOLLOWING THE VICTORY OVER BALL STATE: CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- Junior quarterback R.J. Toman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) of the No. 6 ranked University of New Hampshire football team was named this week’s recipient of the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Gold Helmet Award for his outstanding efforts in UNH’s upset victory over FBS squad Ball State this past weekend, 23-16. The win marked the Wildcats’ fifth consecutive FBS victory since 2004 when the team defeated Rutgers. UNH has also upset Northwestern in 2006, Marshall in 2007 and Army in 2008. Toman threw for 212 yards while completing 21-of-35 pass attempts with one touchdown and rushed for 51 yards on 16 carries. The touchdown pass was a 26-yarder to freshman wide receiver Joey Orlando (Bethlehem, Pa.) at 9:36 of the second quarter to give UNH the lead for good.

JUNIOR LINEBACKER DEVON JACKSON NAMED CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER VICTORY OVER BALL STATE: Junior linebacker Devon Jackson (Williamstown, N.J.) of the University of New Hampshire football team was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding efforts in the Wildcats’ upset victory at Ball State on Sept. 12, 23-16. The win was the fifth consecutive over an FBS team for New Hampshire, which also defeated Rutgers (2004), Northwestern (2006), Marshall (2007), and Army (2008). Jackson recorded eight total tackles (five solo, three assisted), garnered a sack for five yards and had 2.5 tackles for loss (11 yards). Jackson led a Wildcat defense which limited the Cardinals to just 127 yards of total offense. The Williamstown, N.J., native, forced a key Ball State fumble in the fourth quarter which gave New Hampshire the ball for the final drive, and allowed it to run out the clock. He also had the tackle that earned UNH a safety in the first quarter to start a 16-0 scoring run for the ‘Cats.

WILDCAT DEFENSIVE COACHES NAMED GAME CHANGING COACHES OF THE WEEK BY FOOTBALLSCOOP.COM: UNH coaches on the defensive side of the football were honored today by Footballscoop.com as “Game Changing Coaches of the Week” after leading the Wildcats to an impressive 23-16 road win over FBS foe Ball State. The New Hampshire defense earned a safety and completely shut down the Cardinals run game. Under defensive coordinator Sean McGowan, the Wildcats limited Ball State to 9 first downs, 13 yards rushing, 127 total yards, and held Ball State to a mark of 4 of 16 on third down conversions. New Hampshire was able to force three turnovers and recorded five quarterback sacks. Ball State was held to 27 yards in the first half on 24 plays. The Wildcats are now ranked No. 6 in the most recent Sports Network FCS top 25 poll. The win was the fifth consecutive over an FBS team for New Hampshire, which also defeated Rutgers (2004), Northwestern (2006), Marshall (2007), and Army (2008). UNH has allowed just 30 points in two games played this season and is ranked No. 4 in the nation in total defense with an average of 162.50 yards given up to opponents this season. The Wildcats are also ranked No. 7 in rushing defense with an average of 36.50 yards per game and ranked No. 8 in sacks with an average of 4.0 per contest.

UNH DEFENSE RANKED NO. 1 IN THE NATION IN YARDAGE ALLOWED PER GAME: The UNH defense continues to impress and has proven itself to be the strength of the team.After two games played the Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in the nation when it comes to yards allowed with a very low mark of 162.5 yards per game.. The team has also compiled eight sacks, recovered three fumbles, and have intercepted two passes. UNH has also been outstanding against the run, ranked fourth in the nation and allowing opponents just 36.5 yards per game on the ground, while giving up just 126 yards per game through the air.

A LOOK AT UNH AMONG THE NATION'S STATISTICAL LEADERS: The Wildcats are ranked high in several statistical categories according to www.NCAA.com.

Team:
Total Defense       1st       162.50 ypg.
Rushing Defense       4th       36.50 ypg.
Pass Eff. Defense       4th       79.91 ypg.
Sacks           6th       4.00 pg.
Tackles For A loss       8th       2.30 pg.

Individuals:
Ryan Hinds-Interceptions   T3rd       1.0 ipg.
Sean Jellison-Scoring   T3rd       12.0 ppg.

WILDCAT OFFENSE PROVING TO BE A QUICK-STARTER: The UNH offense has always prided itself on being a quick-starter and this season looks to be no different. In two games played UNH has scored 40 of its 47 points in the first half has just one touchdown in the second half (in the third quarter). UNH has not scored a point in the fourth quarter so far this season.

UNH AND TOWSON PRESIDENTS SET FOR CRUSTACEAN KICK-OFF CHALLENGE: DURHAM, N.H. - University of New Hampshire President Mark W. Huddleston has a crab feast riding on the outcome of the Oct. 3, 2009, football game between the UNH Wildcats and the Towson University Tigers when Towson President Robert Caret -- a UNH alum -accepted Huddleston's friendly Crustacean Challenge -- one dozen New Hampshire lobsters against a bushel of Maryland blue crabs. The UNH D.C. Alumni Chapter and UNH Athletics are partnering to ensure UNH has a strong presence at the game, hosting a pre-game tailgating reception for Wildcat fans from 1-3 p.m. Kick-off is 3:30 p.m. Tickets to the game and pre-game reception are $25, which includes a ticket in the UNH seating area at Johnny Unitas Stadium, food, beverage and cash bar plus shuttle transportation to the stadium; $15 for tailgating only. Wildcat merchandise will be available at the UNH Alumni Association Marketplace and the Wildcat Marching Band will perform. A limited number of tickets are available to the pre-game reception, so fans are encouraged to take advantage of early registration. For more information, to purchase tickets and to register for the pre-game tailgating party visit http://www.alumni.unh.edu or call Lynn Smith at (603) 862-2040. A special hotel rate of $109 per night is available at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Baltimore North-Hunt Valley for anyone traveling. Call 877-898-1721 and ask for the special UNH group rate.

A LOOK AT 11TH-YEAR HEAD COACH SEAN McDONNELL:11th-year head coach Sean McDonnell was named the New England Football Writers Coach Of the Year for his outstanding efforts in 2008. It was the second time he won the award, after being honored in 2005. McDonnell led UNH to its fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and a 10-3 mark in 2008. For hIs career he now owns a 72-50-0 record as the head coach at the University of New Hampshire. He was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year in 2005 as selected by "The Sports Network". In the the last six seasons, McDonnell and his team have posted an impressive overall mark of 59-17 and the program is 28-12 vs. CAA opponents during that timespan. McDonnell was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in 2004 and was named District I Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) after leading UNH to its best season ever in the history of the program. The Wildcats also finished first in the North Division of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference and won their first-ever NCAA I-AA tournament game with a victory at Georgia Southern. McDonnell led his squad to the NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals four times 2004 through 2006 and in 2008.

UNH QUICK HITTERS:
• UNH has seven different players who have recorded sacks in 2009.

• UNH has four players who are already in double digit tackles after just two games.

• UNH has leads the CAA in rushing defense with an average of 36.5 given up per game.

• UNH has the top pass defense in the CAA with a mark of 126.0 ypg.

• UNH has the top defense in the nation and CAA after giving up only 162.5 ypg.

• UNH has given up the fewest first downs to opponents this year among CAA teams with an average of just 11.0 per game.

• UNH's defense has been allowing the fewest third down conversions in the CAA with just 7 off 33 made (21.2 percent).

• First-year assistant coach Jake Zweig was a Navy SEAL for Team 8 in Little Creek, Va. and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

• First-Year assistant coach Matt Dawson is the brother of Mike Dawson who was defensive coordinator at UNH and moved on to coach at Akron.

• The football team picked sophomore linebacker John Duffey as the best dancer on the squad. He can be seen on video on the front page of www.unhwildcats.com.

• The players had several nominations for funniest UNH teammate in the video, but sophomore wide receiver Micky Mangieri was widely regarded as one of the funniest.

• Starting left tackle Seth Price was recruited for and played basketball for the UNH men's basketball team before switching over to play football for the Wildcats. He is 6-6, 280 pounds and was recruited by several Division I colleges to play both football and basketball.

• The UNH defense also returns both of its top interception leaders from 2008. Junior defensive back Dino Vasso and senior defensive back Ryan Hinds each return after picking off five passes last season.

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