Game Information (Click Related Link for Full Notes)
Opponent: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Site: Bob Young Field
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Radio: KWSN
Internet/stream: www.usfcougars.com
TV: Midco Sports
Entertainment: Post-game fireworks
The USF-SDSM&T Series
USF Victories: 16 (won last six meetings)
SDSM&T Victories: 18
Ties: 1
Oct. 22 will be the 35th meeting between USF and SDSM&T.
Game Notes
Last time: In 1999 USF called on home fi eld adavantage to edge out the Hardrockers, 38-27. The Cougars finished 6-3 that season.
Running Wild: Junior RB Jordan Taylor has broken the century mark in each of the last two games with 143 yards against William Jewell and a career high, 148 yards last weekend against Black Hills State.
Hicks for Six: Senior wide receiver Michael Hicks is both a long ball threat and one of the most feared return men in NCAA DII football. On 17 catches, Hicks averages 17.4 yard per catch and has a reception of 40 (48, 40 and 47) or more yards in three of six games this season. He also has returned an 85 yard punt and a 94 KO return for a TD. Hicks averages 13.2 per punt return, 29.3 per KO return and 187 all-purpose yards per game for the Cougars.
In Transition: USF (3-3) and South Dakota Mines (0-7) are in their 2nd and third years of NCAA DII reclassifi cation, moving from the NAIA. USF will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year, while SDSM&T is undecided on a conference for 2013-2014.
Kratzer: SDSM&T head coach, Dan Kratzer is no stranger to big time football. He has coaching and playing experience at the NAIA, NCAA DII, DI and NFL level. Kratzer was selected in the 8th Rd by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1972 NFL draft and moved to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1973. He went on to serve as an administrative assistant for coach Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers summer camp before entering the college coaching ranks.
Take aways: USF's entire starting defensive backfield has at least one interception this season: Robert Virgil (3), Michael Frericks (2), Angelo Pree (2) and Brett Jensen (1) as the Cougars have eight interceptions in three wins. Under Coach Stugart, USF is14-1 when forcing two or more turnovers.
