VALPARAISO CRUSADERS (0-0)

at WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS (0-0)

Thursday, September 2  •  6 p.m.  •  MACOMB

Hanson Field (Natural Grass/16,368 capacity)

All-Time Series: First Meeting

THE GAME: The Mark Hendrickson era officially kicks off when Western Illinois takes the field against Valparaiso... Hendrickson served as acting head coach for parts of the last two seasons. He was named the program's head coach on December 2, 2009... This is the first meeting between Western and Valparaiso.

THE RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked or receiving votes in the latest 'Top 25' polls.

THE SCHEMES: Western Illinois will line up in a multiple formation on offense and 3-4 alignment on defense... Valparaiso runs a pro one back offense and multiple 3-4 alignment defensively.

THE COACHES: Mark Hendrickson begins his 12th year in the Leatherneck Football program, first as the head coach. He owns a 5-10 record while serving as acting head coach over the past two seasons... Dale Carlson makes his Valparaiso debut after taking over as head coach in the off-season. He owns a 110-103-3 record in 21 years as a head coach.

NEARING 500: Leatherneck Football is nearing another milestone in the storied program. Western is standing with 498 wins all-time, two shy of 500. The .546 winning percentage (498-412-36 dating back to 1903) is the highest winning percentage of all the Division I programs in the state of Illinois.

RADIO: Every Western Illinois Football game can be listed to on the Leatherneck Sports Network: 88.3 FM in Macomb and WRMS 94.3 FM in Beardstown... Brock Wissmiller (Play by Play) and Ryan Bower (color analyst) will call the action.

INTERNET: Fans can listen to the game on the internet at: www.GoLeathernecks.com. Premium subscribers to Rocky Vision at www.GoLeathernecks.com can watch video of home games and select road contests.

TELEVISION: The game will be televised live on WIU-TV3, channel 3 in the Macomb area. Kyle Schassburger and Julio Rasso will call the action.

SUCCESS IN THE 2000s: Despite a slow end to the end of the 2000s, Western Illinois posted 61 wins during the decade - the third-most wins by the Leathernecks in a 10-year span.

1903-09: 14-16-2 (.469); 1910-19: 28-28-3 (.500)

1920-29: 33-33-10 (.469); 1930-39: 38-35-5 (.519)

1940-49: 29-45-6 (.400); 1950-59: 68-18-6 (.772)

1960-69: 45-41-2 (.523); 1970-79: 59-42-2 (.583)

1980-89: 52-55-1 (.486); 1990-99: 71-45-1 (.611)

2000-09: 61-53-0 (.583)

THREE SELECTED PRESEASON ALL-MVFC: Preseason All-Americans Kyle Glazier (Geneseo/Geneseo), Lito Senatus (Miami, FL/Southwest) and Todd Speight (Bradenton, FL/Southeast) represented Western on the preseason squad. Glazier was one of four linebackers selected, Senatus was one of three wide receivers and Speight was the lone return specialist.

Southern Illinois received 30 of the 36 first-place votes, totaling 312 points in the preseason poll. South Dakota State (2 first-place votes, 252 points), Illinois State (3 first-place votes, 249 points) and Northern Iowa (1 vote, 244 points) were a close second, third and fourth, respectively... Missouri State (164 points), North Dakota State (151) and Youngstown State (130) were picked ahead of Western (70) with Indiana State (47) picked ninth.

ALL-TIME SERIES: This is the first meeting between Western Illinois and Valparaiso... The Leathernecks are 3-0 all-time against teams in the Pioneer League, defeating Drake twice (1999 and 2002) and Morehead State (2006 season-opener).

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS: Valparaiso won its second game of the 2009 season but came up short the rest of the year, entering the 2010 campaign on a nine-game losing streak... Dale Carlson enters his first year as head coach of Valpo. In 21 years as a collegiate head coach Carlson owns a 110-103-3 record... The Crusaders return 44 letterwinners from last season, including six starters each on offense and defense... Offensive lineman Nate Blair and defensive lineman Nikko Carson earned Honorable Mention All-PFL honors last year... Tim Bennett led the way with 773 all-purpose yards last season... JaVon Welch paced the defense with 71 tackles while Carlson led the way making 12 TFL... Eli Crawford has recorded nine interceptions during his three-year career.

FORMER CONFERENCE RIVALS: Western Illinois may be facing Valparaiso on the football field for the first-time ever, however, these two athletic department programs are very familiar with one another. Valpo is a former member of the Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League), in which Western holds membership in all sports outside football. Valpo left after the 2006-07 season to join the Horizon League.

LEATHERNECK TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Four seniors were voted on by their teammates as captains for the 2010 season... Quarterback Matt Barr (Belvidere/Belvidere) and linebacker Kyle Glazier (Geneseo/Geneseo) were repeat selections from 2009... Wide receiver Lito Senatus (Miami, FL/Southwest) and defensive lineman Mike Stieren (Springfield/Sacred Heart-Griffin) also represent the offense and defense, respectively.

QUICK HITS: Western Illinois looks to snap a 10-game losing streak in the season-opener against Valparaiso. The Leathernecks won their 2009 opener at Sam Houston State but dropped the final 10 games... A win over the Crusaders would also end a 6-game losing streak at Hanson Field. Western's last home win was a 48-45 overtime win over Illinois State on November 15, 2008... This is the first meeting between Western and Valparaiso. Of the three non-Missouri Valley Football Conference games, two are against first-time opponents. Western's next game at Purdue marks the first time the two programs will meet.

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS AGAINST FCS: The Leathernecks own a 6-game winning streak in season-opening games against Football Championship Subdivision opponents. The last time Western dropped a season-opening game against a FCS program was 1993, a 29-16 loss to Montana State.

2009: 35-28 at Sam Houston State

2007: 29-26 OT win vs. #20 South Dakota State

2006: 31-6 vs. Morehead State

2002: 64-7 vs. Drake

2001: 17-13 vs. #3 Western Kentucky

1997: 41-0 vs. #6 Eastern Illinois

Since 2000 the Leathernecks have defeated Division II Wayne State (35-3 in 2003) and lost to Football Bowl Subdivision teams Missouri (50-20 in 2000), Nebraska (56-17 in 2004), Toledo (62-14 in 2005) and Arkansas (28-24 in 2008).

RETURNING ALL-MVFC: Western Illinois returns several All-Missouri Valley Football Conference performers in 2010... Todd Speight earned First Team accolades last year as a return specialist...  Despite leading the Valley in tackles last year (and Western the past two seasons) Kyle Glazier was only a Second Team selection in 2009 and Honorable Mention his sophomore year... Fullback Josh Gabelmann and wide receiver Lito Senatus were selected Honorable Mention... Senior defensive lineman Victor Visoky earned Second Team honors his freshman year, and was a Honorable Mention selection in 2008.

PAST MVFC ALL-NEWCOMERS: Save for 2009, Western has returners in recent years MVFC All-Newcomer Teams... In 2007, Victor Visoky and starting quarterback Matt Barr were honored. In 2008 defensive back Tim Franken, linebacker Kevin Palermo and Lito Senatus were selected and return.