HAMELINE FIELD AT WAGNER COLLEGE STADIUM 

In a stirring pre-game ceremony vs. Monmouth on Sept. 15, the field at Wagner College Stadium was named after Walt Hameline who is in his 32nd year as athletic director/football coach. One of just eight active Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) coach to win 200 games, he also ranks 16th all-time among FCS coaches and 18th among active NCAA coaches. Heading into the Bryant game, Hameline has an overall record of 208-126-2.

THE WAGNER-RMU SERIES

At halftime of the Wagner-Robert Morris game, the 2012 Hall of Fame Class, comprised of seven people, will honored in a halftime ceremony. The new inductees include Lou DeLuca (Class of 1959, Contributor), Greg Kovar (Class of 1989, Football), Quincy Lewis (Class of 1993, Men's Basketball), Rich Robinson (Class of 1989, Football), Steve Slocum (Class of 1985, Football), Mike Venezia (Class of 1990, Baseball) and Patti Winterfeldt Svraka (Class of 1994, Women's Basketball). These seven individuals will be formally introduced at 10:00 am ceremony on Saturday.

ROBB-LIA TROPHY TRADITION TO CONTINUE AT HOMECOMING

A longstanding Wagner Homecoming tradition will continue on Saturday when the Seahawks host NEC rival Robert Morris. Annually at homecoming, two Wagner College football players are selected to receive special awards for outstanding play. The top offensive player, selected by a Homecoming Panel comprised of former football letterwinners, awards the James Robb Memorial Trophy to the outstanding offensive payer and Nick Lia Memorial Trophy to the game's outstanding defensive player. This year's game is novel in that it features two former Robb Trophy Winners and one former Lia Trophy winner. In 2009, Nick Doscher took home the Robb Trophy and in 2011, Dominique Williams was the Robb winner. Also in 2011, linebacker Mike Lombardo was awarded the Nick Lia Memorial Defensive Trophy. Established in 1949, the Robb Trophy was named in memory of James Robb, a Seahawk gridiron star who was killed in action during World War II. It was presented to Wagner's outstanding individual player in the annual Homecoming game until 1969. In that season, the Lia Trophy was introduced in honor of another Wagner football player, Nick Lia. The 1965 recipient of the Robb Trophy was killed in the Vietnam War. An outstanding defensive player and team captain, the Staten Island native was a graduate of Curtis High School. In 2000, Lt. Nick Lia was honored for his athletic achievements by being inducted into the Wagner College Athletics Hall of Fame. Lia helped lead the 1964 football team to an undefeated season and captained the '65 team.

WAGNER NO. 1 IN NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS

Thanks largely  by the efforts of sophomore Otis Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL/ Dillard), the Seahawks are tops in thee nation in kickoff return yardage (28.19) and, obviously, No. 1 in the NEC. Individually, Wright is third nationally in kickoff return yardage at 31.57 yards per return. The Seahawk defense, led by defensive coordinator Malik Hall, meanwhile, is ranked ninth nationally while giving up just 17.0 points per game. 

SEAHAWKS NINTH NATIONALLY SCORING DEFENSE
The Seahawk defense, led by defensive coordinator Malik Hall, meanwhile, is ranked ninth nationally while giving up just 17.0 points per game. Wagner is also No. 1 in the NEC in Scoring Defense as well as Total Defense (322.9), Pass Defense 1st (153.7),
Rankings in the NCAA

Team

Category                Rank

Kickoff Returns     1         (28.19)

Pass Defense      6         (153.71)

Scoring Defense  9        (17.00)

Total Defense     21       (322.86)

Individual

Name                  Rank

Otis Wright         3rd       Kickoff Returns (31.57)

Seahawks Rankings in the NCAA

Team

Category              Rank

Kickoff Returns     1         (28.19)

Pass Defense       6        (153.71)

Scoring Defense   9         (17.00)

Total Defense     21        (322.86)

Individual

Name Rank

Otis Wright 3rd – Kickoff Returns (31.57)

Seahawk Rankings in the NEC

Team

Category                    Rank

Scoring Defense     1 (17.00)

Total Defense          1  (322.9)

Pass Defense         1(153.7)

Kickoff Returns        1(28.19)

Opp. 4th-d. Conv.     1 (43.8%-7-of-16)

Time of Possess.    2 (30:53)

Kickoff Coverage      2 (40.1)

Individual

Name Rank

Otis Wright                 1        Kickoff Returns (31.6)

Patrick O'Connor      6        Tackles (8.0)

C.O. Prime                 T-7th Tackles (7.9)

Sidiq Soulemana      13th Tackles (7.4)

ROBERT MORRIS SEEKING SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

Robert Morris erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to pick up its first league win of the season by a 37-21 count over Central Connecticut. The Colonials scored the game's last two touchdowns, a 27-yard pitch-and-catch from Jeff Sinclair to Donte Jeter followed by a two-yard TD plunge by Deontae Howard with 1:50 remaining.  Central Connecticut received 377 all-purpose yards from running back Rob Holloman, who logged his first career 200-yard rushing day.

HAMELINE 7-3 IN FOLLOWING BYE WEEKS

Last week's victory over Saint Francis (PA) improved Wagner's record to 7-3 in games following a bye week during the Walt Hameline era. The only time Wagner had two byes in the same season was during the 1987 team's march to the Division III National Title. The biggest gap between byes is 16 years (between 1989 and 2007). There have been only three times under Hameline when Wagner has had a bye in consecutive weeks (1982-83, 1986-87, 2011, 2012).

DOSCHER CONTINUES ASSAULT ON RECORD BOOK

Against Saint Francis (PA), last week, senior QB Nick Doscher (Staten Island,, NY/ Moore Catholic) became just the second Seahawk to enter the 5,000-yard passing club as has now thrown for 5,153 career yards, second all-time behind Sciarra who amassed a staggering 5,902 passing yards in just two seasons (2004-05) as a Seahawk. Doscher is also second behind Sciarra (473) in career completions with 386. Already far and away the school-record holder in total offense, Doscher annexed the 7,000-yard plateau vs. the Red Flash, upping his career total to 7,131 yards. In his career, Doscher has accounted for 63 touchdowns, 37 by air and another 26 by ground. In addition, his 1,978 yards rushing ranks him ninth all-time. The three touchdowns tossed by Doscher vs. Saint Francis (PA) moved him closer to third place on the Seahawk all-time list. The Staten Island native entered the game in fourth-place on the Wagner career list with 37 TD passes and is now just one behind Aaron Smith, who tossed 38 TD aerials from 1999-2001. Don Cavalli (1958-61) is the Seahawk all-time leader in TD passes with 46, followed by John Sciarra's 40 (2004-05), Smith's 38 and Doscher's 37.

WILLIAMS KEEPS ON CHUGGIN

With his 93 yards on the ground, junior RB Dominique Williams (Bridgeton, NJ/ Milford Academy) Williams increased his season total to 672 yards. Williams entered the game fifth in career rushing and increased his total to 2,652 yards, narrowing the gap between himself and fourth-place Kito Lockwood (1992-95), who gained 3,156 yards. By finishing seven yards shy of the century mark vs. Saint Francis, Williams has now rushed for 100 yards or more in 16-of-26 career games. He also saw his 100-yard streak end at three games. For the season, Williams has eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in four out of seven games.

SEAHAWKS AT FIRST-PLACE ALBANY NEXT WEEK

A victory today would set up a showdown at Albany on Saturday, November 3. The Great Danes, perennial NEC kingpins, are a perfect 4-0 in the NEC (6-1 overall) heading into a road matchup vs. Sacred Heart. If both Wagner and Albany win today, then next week's winner will have the inside track at gaining the NEC title and accompanying invitation to the NCAA FCS Championships.t would be a tall order for Wagner as the Seahawks are 1-12 all-time vs. Albany. That lone win did, however, did occur in the state capital .when the Seahawks won a 38-30 shoot-out on Sept. 23, 2000.