Seawolves to Kick Off Football Season at UTEP

After earning a share of the Big South Conference championship for the second straight year, the Seawolves begin the quest for the outright title against the one of their toughest foes on the schedule, the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP).

Saturday's opening game marks the second straight year in which Stony Brook has traveled to take on an FBS school in the season opener. Last year the Seawolves jumped out to a 14-7 lead against the University of South Florida in the first three minutes before falling 59-14. Stony Brook has not won a road opener since 1995.

Stony Brook brings a few weapons in its quest to top an FBS opponent for the first time in school history. Running backs Brock Jackolski (1,029 rushing yards) and Miguel Maysonet (1,128 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns) return from their stellar 2010 campaigns as two of only seven Seawolves to ever rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

"Obviously this is the strongest position of our team, top to bottom. This has been and will continue to be the focal point of our offense," head coach Chuck Priore said of the running backs in the game notes.

This game is the first test of Stony Brook's offense, which added a few wrinkles to highlight the running game. Quarterback Michael Coulter said of the game plan, "We got a little twist in there this year. A new package where we can use them both at the same time. Which is pretty good because Brock's a little more of a receiver and Miguel's got the power game down. We want to be able to use both of those skills fully this year. Hopefully we'll see both of them on the field at the same time."

The team boasts five preseason all-conference selections.

Offense:

• Junior running back Miguel Maysonet. In 2010, Maysonet amassed more than 1,000 yards, and had four 100-plus yard games. All-Big South first team selection.
• Senior running back Brock Jackolski. In 2010, he led the Big South in all-purpose yards with 178.7 per game, good for eighth nationally. All-Big South first team selection.
• Senior wide receiver Matt Brevi. Brevi tallied 668 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver in 2010.

Defense:

• Senior defensive end Ryan Haber. Haber started all 11 games in 2010 and is among the team's tackling leaders.
• Junior middle linebacker Craig Richardson. Richardson racked up 85 tackles in 2010, tied for team best, and totaled a career-high 13 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in the Seawolves' 55-3 win over Gardner-Webb.

Experience may be on Stony Brook's side. The Seawolves graduated only five starters from last year's team, including only one starter on defense. UTEP will feature six new starters on offense, including three on the offensive line and quarterback Nick Lamaison, a junior college transfer.  

Greeting Lamaison in his first start at UTEP will be Stony Brook's new 4-4 defensive scheme, leaving only three players in the secondary.

Coulter is confident that the defense will be able to apply the necessary pressure while covering receivers. "There's a lot of speed on the field. It's almost a 4-2-5 so there's a lot of secondary type players," he said on Media Day. "It's actually really good for a lot of the spread offenses we face in the Big South. It's a good scheme for stopping the pass as well."

If the Seawolves fall in their second opportunity against a FBS college, they'll get another chance next week at Buffalo.