WATCH THE FIRST FINANCIAL BANK/RAISING CANES CHICKEN PRESS CONFERENCE OF 2023

McMurry University opens the 2023 slate on Thursday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is 6 p.m. versus Southern Athletic Association foe Birmingham Southern College. War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, is the venue.
 
First Financial Bank presents this War Hawks weekly football outlook.
 
TUNE IN TO THE WAR HAWKS: Fans can view live audio, stats, and video by going to the McMurry University football schedule home page and clicking the link next to the game date against Birmingham Southern College. David Bacon and Randy Turner, The Voice of War Hawks football, provide each exciting moment along 101.7 FM, The Patriot, by visiting https://www.1017theraider.com/ and clicking on the "Listen" link at the top of the page.
 
SERIES HISTORY:  This is the second meeting between both schools. BSC was a 26-9 winner a year ago. A pair of current Maroon and White scholar-athletes made their presence felt on the defensive side that day, as junior linebacker Herman Moore (Prosper, Texas) and junior defensive lineman Kane Strohman (Katy, Texas) each compiled seven tackles.
 
ASC PRESEASON POLL: A pair of returning second-team All-American Southwest Conference honorees spotlighted the 2023 conference preseason poll release on Aug. 21.

Lee and senior place-kicker Jared Mendoza (Fort Worth, Texas) were tabbed the War Hawks' Players to Watch. Lee is coming off 2022, where he set a new single-season record for sacks (9.5). Mendoza is the program's all-time leader in made field goals (23) and is tied for the single-season mark (nine).
 
Head coach Jordan Neal's Maroon and White charges received 26 polls, putting them sixth in the survey. Their total was less than 20 from a spot in the first five. Defending champions The University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons University, and Howard Payne University made the top three selections.
 
NEAL NOTES: "There is such a sense of excitement in the program (going into 2023)," McMurry's head coach said. "With the tremendous recruiting year we had, an upgraded locker room, and so much buzz going around campus not only about football but all sports, it's hard not to smile about being a McMurry War Hawk."
 
"Our director of operations and specialists coach John Stark says every day that 'It's a great day to be a War Hawk!'" he continued. "This is so true. Our young men have been working tremendously hard in the preseason. It's time to get out and find where our mental and physical grit is. The best way to get a good look at where we are, what we need to work on, and where we could go is by playing a quality opponent. Birmingham Southern has plenty of strength on both sides of the ball, so we can understand where we are quickly."
 
ON THE HORIZON: McMurry continues three straight road contests to start 2023 with a visit to Millsaps College on Saturday, Sept. 9.