Aug. 27, 2012
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
2012 Stony Brook Football
Game #1: #17 Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 1 • Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, N.Y. • 6 p.m.
LIVE: STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO
Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0)
Head Coach: Chuck Priore, seventh season
Career Record: 76-40
Record at SBU: 37-31
Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-0)
Head Coach: Jeff McInerney, seventh season
Career Record: 42-25
Record at CCSU: Same
Kickoff: For the first time since 2008, the Stony Brook football team will open the season at home, hosting Central Connecticut. The Seawolves, who were picked to win the Big South Conference title, will face the Blue Devils for the first time since 2007. Today's game also marks the 10th anniversary of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook is 38-14 at home since the 2002 season.
The Opponent: Central Connecticut was picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Picked to win the title last season, CCSU finished 4-7, including a 3-5 mark in conference play. Juniors Jake White and Andrew Clements, the team's only returning quarterbacks with experience, combined to record 11 passes last season. Chris Tolbert and Deven Baker, Central's 2011 leading rusher and receiver, respectively, are expected to lead again. Senior linebacker Lorenzo Baker was named to the preseason All-NEC team after leading the Blue Devils with 80 tackles.
The Series: Stony Brook leads the all-time series against Central Connecticut, 7-3. The former Northeast Conference rivals last played in 2007, a 34-7 Seawolves win. SBU has never lost at home to CCSU. Prior to last season's Big South Championship, Stony Brook's last championship was clinched against Central Connecticut in 2005 after Josh Dudash found Lynell Suggs for a 10-yard TD with 31 seconds left.
Preseason Rankings: Coming off the most successful season in school history, Stony Brook is ranked in every major Football Championship Subdivision poll. Phil Steele's College Football Preview (9), Athlon College Football (16), College Sporting News (16), Sports Network (17) and Lindy's College Football (24).
10th Anniversary of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium: In honor of the 10th anniversary of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, the Department of Athletics will unveil a Moment of the Year for each of the six home games. The first moment is Chad King's 94-yard kick return for a touchdown against St. John's on the first play of the game to open the new stadium. King, who also recorded a 67-yard punt return for a TD and an interception, told Newsday after the game that it was a "once-in-a-lifetime feeling." The New Jersey native led the Seawolves to a 34-9 win over the Red Storm as Stony Brook went 8-2 in 2002.
Next Week's Game: Stony Brook will host Pace University out of the Northeast-10 Conference. The Settlers will face the Seawolves in a series that dates back to 1986, Stony Brook's third season of college football. Stony Brook has won nine straight games and is 10-2 all-time against Pace. Next week's game marks the 11th annual Raymond M. Downey Heroes Classic. Chief Downey, a 39-year veteran of the FDNY, died in the line of duty while helping others escape from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
