Pre-Game Notes
ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University will be facing another opponent which it has not seen for some time, when it hosts No. 9/16 West Texas A&M University on Saturday. Kickoff at Wilford Moore Stadium is slated for 2 p.m., as McM plays its second top-25 team in the past three weeks.
"I'm glad we're playing at home," Miller said of returning to the confines of Wilford Moore Stadium after three weeks on the road. "We had a really good crowd the last time we were home (vs. Angelo State) and I hope that repeats.
The War Hawks and Buffaloes will be renewing their football rivalry for the first time in 56 years with Saturday's game. The last time these two teams strapped it on in football was 1957.
To put that into perspective, when last these teams played on the gridiron, the "War Hawks" were called "Indians" and WTAMU was called West Texas State. Heck, also consider that the last time McM and WATMU played a football game:
• Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the United States.
• The phrase "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. paper money.
• "Leave it to Beaver" made its TV debut.
• Average cost of an automobile is $2,100.
• The USSR launched the first artificial satellite: Sputnik.
• The Brooklyn Dodgers announced their move to Los Angeles.
• "West Side Story" made its Broadway debut.
• "Bubble Pack" was invented.
• Gas was 24-cents a gallon.
• No. 1 pop song was "That'll be the Day" by Buddy Holly & The Crickets.
• Ford introduced the Edsel.
• "American Bandstand" made its TV debut.
These two schools had met a total of 20 times, with WTAMU holding an 11-8-1 advantage in the series. The Buffaloes have won the last three meetings (1955, '56 and '57) and are actually playing McM in Abilene for the first time since 1932 (the last 13 meetings taking place on WTAMU's home turf).
Fast forward to 2013 and Saturday's game. WTAMU currently sits as the No. 9-ranked team in the nation by D2Football.com and is tabbed as No. 16 in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll. The Buffs sport a record of 6-1 overall (and are 3-1 versus Lone Star Conference competition), with their only setback coming versus nationally-ranked Tarleton State in an LSC bout.
On the season, WT is averaging 49.4 points per game, while allowing opponents just 21.1. The Buffs average 510.7 yards per game of offense, with better than 408 yards per game coming through the air.
WT and McMurry have three common opponents thus far – Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State – all three victories for the Buffs and losses for the War Hawks. WTAMU's most recent game was its 34-30 come-from-behind victory over Angelo State.
The War Hawks – who will become affiliate members of the Lone Star Conference in football beginning in 2014 – will be playing their fifth LSC team this season with WT. In just its second season in the transitional process from NCAA III to NCAA II, McMurry is playing what is, arguably, its toughest schedule in recent memory. In addition to the five LSC foes, McM slated three games versus NCAA Division I FCS teams.
McMurry is coming off of a 65-43 loss last Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce, a game it led, 43-37, heading into the fourth quarter. The wild shootout had TAMUC ahead, 31-21, after just one quarter and the teams combining for 1,062 yards of total offense (552 for McM and 510 for the Lions).
The McMurry offense has been humming to the tune of nearly 456 yards per game in 2013. However, 18 turnovers by the offense, opponents churning out an average of 543 yards per game against the defense and some special teams' breakdowns have all led to negative results for the War Hawks' squad.
One reason for the McM offensive success has been freshman quarterback
Gabe Rodriguez, who is from Amarillo and was also recruited by WTAMU. On the year, Rodriguez has thrown 22 touchdown passes and 1,625 yards through the air. He has completed 144-of-238 attempts (60.5%).
