Football August 29, 2007 Monmouth Sports Information

MONMOUTH FOOTBALL SET TO OPEN SEASON AT MAINE

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J-Monmouth University's football team kicks off it's 15th season of action Saturday, Sept. 1, with a trip up to Orono, Maine to face the University of Maine at 6 p.m.

“We are excited to get the season underway,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “The team has worked very hard over the last three weeks in preparation for this game and they are glad that it is finally here.”

Here is a look at the upcoming weekend's action:

Monmouth opens up the 2007 season on the road against the Colonial Athletic Association University of Maine. Three-time NEC Coach of the Year Kevin Callahan returns for his 15th season at the helm of the Hawks.

MU comes off of last year's 10-2 season, in which they captured their third NEC title in four years. Monmouth loses nine starters on defense but does return seven of the team's starters on offense.

The Hawks had seven players named to the Preseason All-NEC teams, including five members of the offense. Fifth-year senior wideout Adam San Miguel, guard Jonathan Dunn, junior tackle Nick LoCastro, two-time all-conference tight end John Nalbone and 2006 NEC Rookie of the Year David Sinisi each earned nods. Senior Chris Reed and Kevin Walsh, both defensive linemen, were the other two selections.

Gone from a year ago are some of the best players ever to put on a Hawk uniform, including quarterback Brian Boland, linebacker Mike Castellano and defensive back Matt Hill.

THE COACHING MATCHUP...

KEVIN CALLAHAN begins his 15th season at Monmouth and also in his 15th year as a head coach. Callahan owns an 85-56 career coaching record, all with the Hawks. Callahan has led Monmouth to five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as a defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.

Like Monmouth's head coach, Maine Head Coach Jack Cosgrove enters in his 15th season at the helm of the Black Bears. Maine is the only program that Cosgrove has headed up, with the former Black Bear signal caller owning a career mark of 76-83. Cosgrove was the 1996 and 2001 A-10 Coach of the Year and has guided 11 Black Bears to All-American honors. The Sharon, Mass., native started his coaching career in Orono in 1978, coaching the bulk of his career there, taking a six year break to coach at the high school level and at Boston College.

INSIDE THE MU-MAINE SERIES...

Today will be the first meeting between Maine and Monmouth University.

MONMOUTH AGAINST THE CAA...

Despite the Colonial Athletic Conference entering its first year of existance after the Atlantic-10 conference decided it would no longer sponsor football, the Hawks have played games against one current CAA team. Towson University, at the time a member of the Patriot League, owns a 7-1 record against the Hawks. The Tigers are the only team that Monmouth has ever faced from the newly-formed conference, with MU set to face Maine today and perennial powerhouse Delaware on Sept. 29. The Blue & White last faced Towson on Nov. 2, 2002, with MU falling at home by a score of 20-0.