Monmouth University (1-1, 0-0 NEC) at Central Connecticut State University (2-1, 1-0 NEC)
Saturday, September 24, 2011; 12:00 p.m.
Arute Field, New Britain, Conn.

Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Eddy Occhipinti (Color Analyst)

Ticket Info:
For tickets call (860) 832-2583 or visit www.ccsubluedevils.com for more information

Directions to CCSU University
    For Directions to Central Connecticut State University visit:  http://ccsu.prestosports.com/athletics/directions

A look at the game:
Monmouth opens up Northeast Conference play today against preseason favorite Central Connecticut State at Arute Field.  The Hawks are coming off of one of the marquee wins in program history, a 20-9 victory over Villanova last weekend.  The MU defense held 'Nova, which won the National Championship in 2009 and were NCAA Semifinalists last year, to seven points and 301 yards in the contest.

Central comes into today's game with a 2-1 record fresh off of a 28-24 road game against Wagner.  With the win the Blue Devils have now taken 17 of the last 19 Northeast Conference games and own the nation's longest home winning streak at 15 contests.  CCSU has posted a 7-1 record in conference play in each of the last two years, winning at least a share of the NEC Title in 2009 and 2010.  The Central defense is first in the league in scoring defense (19.67), turnover margin (1.67) and pass efficiency defense (85 yards per game).

The Hawks will be looking to avenge a pair of one-point losses to the Blue Devils in 2009 and 2010.  The last time MU visited Arute, they had a 19-0 lead going into the fourth quarter but eventually fell 20-19 to the Blue Devils.  Last season at Kessler Field CCSU walked away with a 49-48 victory after the Blue Devils converted a two-point attempt in overtime.

The coaching matchup:
Kevin Callahan is in his 19th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 105-81 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Callahan is one of 23 head coaches in the FCS with over 100 career victories.  The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Callahan has earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as 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.

Central Connecticut is led by Jeff McInerney who is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. McInerney owns a 40-19 record with the Blue Devils. Last season McInerney led the Blue Devils to their second consecutive NEC Championship, finishing with a 7-1 conference mark for the second straight year.  In his first season as head coach, McInerney's team defeated No. 13 Georgia Southern in the second week of the season, which marked the first time a NEC school defeated a ranked opponent. McInerney spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the University of Rhode Island prior to getting the CCSU job. Before arriving in Kingston, McInerney spent time at Tulsa, UNLV, Oregon State, Georgia Southern and Southern California. He is a 1982 graduate of Slippery Rock University, where he got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant

Inside the MU-CCSU series:
Today marks the 18th time that Monmouth and CCSU have played, with the Hawks holding a 10-7 series advantage.  MU owns a 4-4 record all-time on the road against the Blue Devils, who have won back-to-back games in the series.  Last season the Hawks and Blue Devils played in a 49-48 overtime thriller in which CCSU won by going for and making a two-point conversion in the extra period. The last time MU traveled to Arute, Monmouth built a 19-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter but the Blue Devils rallied to steal a 20-19 victory in the driving rain.  The loss dashed the conference championship hopes of the Hawks while propelling the Blue Devils towards their first NEC title in four seasons.  Prior to that game, Monmouth had won three consecutive games in the series.

Monmouth Against the NEC:
Today's game marks the first league contest of the year for MU. Monmouth owns a 61-41 record all-time against current members of the NEC. While a member of the NEC the past 15 seasons, the Hawks own a 61-38 record. Monmouth's best winning percentage comes against St. Francis (Pa.), whom the Hawks are 16-2 all-time against. Albany (4-9) and Robert Morris (7-9) are the only NEC teams that the Hawks have a losing record against.  Head Coach Kevin Callahan has led his squad to a record-tying five Northeast Conference Championships, earning Co-Champion honors in 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2004 while winning the outright championship in 2006. Monmouth has never gone undefeated in the conference but has suffered just one league loss in each of the those championship seasons. 

Did You Know?
After last weekend's win over Villanova, Monmouth is receiving votes in the Sports Network Poll for the first time since 2008.  Monmouth also received votes during the 2006 season, the last time MU won the NEC title.

Bathfitter Promotion
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