What Lies Ahead:  The Minnesota State football squad embarks on its 84th season in program history next Thursday as the Mavericks entertain Northern Michigan to light the candle on the 2010 campaign at 6 p.m., in Blakeslee Stadium.

It's Been a While:  Minnesota State and Northern Michigan have played three times prior to this year's tilt.  The last time the two teams met was Nov. 4, 1967 when the Mavericks traveled to Marquette and suffered a 45-0 loss.  The two teams have played twice in Mankato, with Northern Michigan earning a 51-6 win (11/7/64) and Minnesota State winning 20-7 (11/6/54).

Random Fun:  Thursday's game marks the third consecutive season that Minnesota State has played a member of the GLIAC...In 2008, MSU lost a playoff game at Ashland (27-16) and dropped a home playoff game to Hillsdale (27-24, ot) last season...MSU is 12-10 in 22 games against members of GLIAC...Both Minnesota State and Michigan Tech used to be members of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) and the Mavericks are 11-5 all-time against the Huskies.

What's in a Win:  A win would mark the 37th time in school history that Minnesota State has opened the year with a victory...It would also give MSU its 368th win in school history, pushing the Mavericks over the .500 level all-time...A victory would be the 20th victory for head coach Todd Hoffner at MSU and the 66th victory of his career...A win would also mark the sixth straight home opening victory for MSU and the second time that a Hoffner lead team has won its season opener under his regime...Finally a win would push MSU's record against the GLIAC to 13-10 and even its record all-time against Northern Michigan (2-2). 

A Little History Lesson: The 2010 season marks the school's 84th season playing football.  The Mavericks are 367-367-28 (.500) in 762 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922.  Minnesota State is in its third season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and owns a 18-2 record in league action.  Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 17 conference championships including 15 NIC titles.

Lifting the Lid:  The Mavericks own a 36-41-6 record in season openers and are 1-1 under head coach Todd Hoffner.  Minnesota State has won its last five home openers, including both under coach Hoffner.

Scouting Northern Michigan: Northern Michigan played to a 6-4 record last season, with all 10 games coming in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  NMU was picked seventh in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, picking up 101 points. 
    Offensively, the Wildcats return junior quarterback Carter Kopach who threw for 1,373 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago.  Kopach connected on 57.9 percent (117-of-202) of his passes and only had three interceptions en route to averaging 137.3 yards per game.  Three of Kopach's favorite targets from a year ago return in senior wideout Dustin Brancheau (33 catches,329 yards, 2 TDs), senior tight end Blake Crider (10 catches, 154 yards, 2TDs) and sophomore Christian Jessie (4 cathces, 78 yards, 0 TDs).  At the running back position, NMU looks to replace Mark Bossuah.  A year ago, Bussah led the squad in rushing with 152 carries for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns.
    Defensively, senior defensive back DJ Oke is the leading returning tackler.  Last season, Oke, recorded 56 stops – 30 of which were solo – while hauling in two interceptions and breaking up three passes.  He also forced four fumbles.
    Northern Michigan is coached by Bernie Anderson who is in his fourth year with teh program and owns a 16-24 record.

Weather Report:  According to weather.com, next Thursday's forecast calls for a high of 72 with a 30 percent chance of rain and cloudy skies.

Can't Make it to the Game?: Fans who can't make it to Thursday's game can follow the action in a variety of ways.  The game will be broadcast over the air on 100.5 Oldies FM with Mike Sullivan, Casey Lloyd and Jason Westerlund.  If you can't pull in the over the air signal you can listen to the game on www3.mnsu.edu/athletics for free.  A live videostream of the game is available on www.pennatlantic.com, at no cost, and fans can view the livestats of the game at http://www.sidearmstats.com/mnsu/football/.

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