(0-1, 0-0 MIAA) AFCA National Ranking: RV D2football.com National Ranking: n/a	(0-0, 0-0 RMAC) AFCA National Ranking: n/a D2football.com National Ranking: n/a

Date: Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 Time: Noon (1 p.m. CST)    Site: Golden, Colo. Stadium: Brooks Field     Opened: 1922 Surface: Grass    Capacity: 3,500 Series History: Today's meeting is the 15th all-time … Washburn leads 10-4 having won 3 of the last 4 games. Rankings (AFCA/D2football.com): WU (RV/NR), CSM (NR/NR) Television: none WU Radio:  AM580 WIBW with Bruce Steinbrock (play-by-play), Mark Elliott (color analyst), Dustin Odum (sideline). The broadcast begins 30 minutes before kickoff. Internet: Live audio available through www.wusports.com

PDF Game Notes
Setting the scene. . .
The Washburn Ichabods will hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Golden, Colo., to take on the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers. The Ichabods are coming off a 34-24 loss to No. 5 Chadron State, the preseason pick in the RMAC to win the conference. The Orediggers were picked seventh in the RMAC preseason poll. This season's contest is the fourth in a six-year contract between the two teams.

Ichabods on Radio . . .
The game will be broadcast live on WIBW AM 580 - the home of the Ichabods and Lady Blues. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.wusports.com by following the “Listen to the Game” links. Bruce Steinbrock will be the play-by-play voice of the Ichabods and former WU quarterback Mark Elliott will be the color analyst.

The Coaches . . .
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. Schurig is 32-26 (.561) in his sixth season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 25-19 (.568) against the MIAA. He led the Ichabods their first MIAA title since joining the league and the first conference title since the Ichabods won the CSIC in 1983 in 2005. He was the 2005 MIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Ichabods to their first NCAA Playoffs and MIAA Championship. (complete bio on page 2 of notes).
Colorado Mines head coach Bob Stitt is in his eighth season as the Orediggers' coach. He is 44-34 entering his eighth season as the Orediggers head coach. He is a 1986 graduate of Doane College.

Ichabods last time out . . .
Aug. 25, 2007 • No. 5 Chadron State 34, No. 25 Washburn 24 • TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 25 Ichabods fell 34-24 to the No. 5 ranked Chadron State Eagles in their home opener in front of 7,489 fans. The Ichabods will now hit the road next week taking on their second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent in as many weeks as they travel take the Colorado School of Mines at 1 p.m. CST next Saturday in Golden, Colo.
The Eagles turned an Ichabod turnover on the first drive of the season into a 3-0 lead as Travis Atter kicked a 24-yard field goal to put them up early. Washburn responded with a field goal of their own as freshman Kyle O'Neal booted a 36-yard field goal with 8:34 remaining in his debut with the Ichabods capping a nine-play, 59-yard drive knotting the score at 3-3.
On the Eagles' next possession, the 2006 Harlon Hill winner Danny Woodhead rushed for the first of his four touchdown runs on the afternoon going 16 yards putting the Eagles up 10-3.
With the Eagles kicking off after the score, the Ichabods Cary Williams returned the kick 94 yards to tie the score at 10. The 94-yard return was the fifth-longest in school history.
The Eagles took their next possession and scored in two plays as Woodhead ran for his second 16-yard touchdown rush putting the Eagles up 17-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Chadron State was the only team to score in the second quarter as the Eagles' Woodhead rushed for an 8-yard touchdown run with 6:51 remaining in the half while taking a 24-10 lead into halftime.
The Ichabods cut the lead to seven at 24-17 after Michael Krajicek returned a pick-six touchdown interception from 29 yards out.
After trading three-and-outs, the Ichabod forced another Eagle turnover as Michael Wilhoite forced Woodhead into a fumble, which was recovered by Jarod Tetuan at the Washburn 21. Washburn would then march 63 yards on 10 plays to the Chadron State 16 before the Eagles picked off a Washburn pass ending the drive. On the Eagles' next play, Woodhead rushed 89 yards down the left side of the field before cutting back for his third touchdown of the afternoon stretching the lead to 31-17 at the end of the third quarter.
After the Eagles' Atter hit his second field goal of the day, this time a 43-yard attempt, the Ichabods were down 34-17 with 6:31 left in the game.
On Washburn's next drive, Jordan Brill capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run trimming the lead to ten at 34-24. Brill's scamper was his first rushing touchdown of his career and the longest rush of his career as well.
After a failed onside kickoff attempt, the Eagles ran out the clock closing the door on the Ichabods.
Ra'Shawn Mosley led the Ichabods on the ground with 81 yards on 18 carries while Brill completed 24 of 41 passes for 249 yards. Brill completed passes to 10 different Ichabod receivers led by Joe Hastings, who had a team-high five receptions. Brad Cole led the Ichabod receivers with 47 yards on two receptions.
Zach Watkins led the Ichabods with nine tackles including a sack to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss.
For the Eagles, Woodhead finished with 290 yards on 32 carries and four touchdown scores. Joe McLain was 8 of 19 passing for 137 yards hitting Landon Ehlers and Micah Smith for two receptions each for 64 and 31 yards respectively.

About the opponents . . .
The Orediggers will be opening the 2007 season against the Ichabods. Mines returns 16 starters overall with seven both on offense and defense. The Orediggers leading retuning rusher is Corey Huck who had 30 yards rushing last season and their top receiving threat is Derek Dykstra. Dykstra had 499 yards receiving last season and two touchdowns. On Defense, the Orediggers return Hunter Wardlaw, who recorded 94 tackles with 33 solo stops and four sacks as well as eight tackles for loss.
CSM placed four players on the RMAC preseason poll all-conference team. Named to the squad were senior offensive lineman Stephen Immel, senior defenseive tackle Marin Richardson, outside linebacker Hunter Wardlaw and senior placekicker Aaron Abel.
Series Notes . . .
Today's meeting is the 15th in the all-time series and the fourth in a six-game contract with CSM. The Ichabods lead the all-time series 10-4. The Ichabods have one three of the last four meetings since the series was continued in the 2004 season.
Today's meeting is only the fourth since Oct. 3, 1964. The Ichabods won that meeting 16-0 in Golden. In the game, the Ichabod defense forced two fumbles, one by Bob Noblitt in the first quarter and Burton Clemons recovered one in the fourth quarter. Bob Hardy rushed for a 49-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. The Ichabod defense picked up a sack for another two points and then quarterback Tom Huber connected with Pete Roscetti on a 21-yard touchdown strike for the final score. Roscetti, who was also the placekicker, connected on both of his PAT's in the game. The 1964 Ichabods finished the season 8-1 and won the CIC Conference Championship.

Last Meeting with Colorado Mines . . .
TOPEKA, Kan. - Junior quarterback Jordan Brill passed for 309 yards and tied his career high with five touchdown passes in the win completing 18 of 27 passes as the No. 16 ranked Washburn Ichabods opened the 2006 season with a 41-21 win over the Colorado School of Mines in front of 6,156 people in Yager Stadium.
Washburn won the opening toss and marched 69 yards in five plays as Brill hooked up with senior wide receiver Sam Sissom for a 12-yard touchdown pass. The reception gave Sissom 37 for his career, one shy of the MIAA's career all-game record of 38 held by Jamaica Rector (Northwest Missouri).
On the Orediggers first possession of the game, they marched down to the Ichabod 4-yard line, but the Ichabod defense stopped them on four plays, including two inside the 1-yard line. Washburn took the ball and marched 95 yards on 13 plays as Brill found senior wide receiver Aaron Gardiner for a 25-yard touchdown strike putting the Ichabods up 14-0 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out for the Orediggers, junior wide receiver Jake Lebahn hooked up with Brill for a 17-yard touchdown reception capping a three-play, 22 yard drive set up by Sissom's 36-yard punt return into Oredigger territory.
Connor Sabel added a 36-yard field goal at the 6:16 mark of the second quarter after freshman linebacker Michael Krajicek picked off a Garrett Mehl pass at the Mines' 45 yard line.
On their next possession, Mines scored their first points as Mehl hit Derek Dykstra on a 16-yard touchdown reception, but the extra point attempt was blocked by senior defensive tackle Trey Lewis cutting the Washburn lead to 24-6.
Washburn fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Orediggers took advantage of the mistake scoring their second touchdown   in :25 seconds and Mehl rushed for eight yards to cut the Washburn lead to 10 points at 24-14 following the two-point conversion. Gardiner recorded his second touchdown pass of the afternoon with the only points of the third quarter as Brill hit him on a seven yard touchdown reception pushing the Washburn lead to 31-14. 
In the fourth quarter, both teams traded punts and Sabel connected on a 38-yard field goal with 12:05 left in the game.
The Orediggers capped a 68-yard drive as Mehl rushed 33 yards down the sideline to once again cut the Washburn lead to two scores at 34-21. After a Washburn punt by Ben Boswell that was downed at the CSM 1-yard line, junior cornerback Cary Williams picked off a Mehl pass and returned it to the Orediggers' 30 yard line. Four plays latter, Brill tossed his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon to junior tight end Ben Ramsey on a 3-yard connection, wrapping the scoring at 41-21.
Brill's 309 yard passing performance was his third of his Washburn career and his second highest total following a 348 yard outing against the Orediggers and a 328 yard day against Central Washington last season. In two starts against the Orediggers, Brill is 32-of-52 for 657 yards and eight touchdowns.
Gardiner led the Ichabods in receiving yards with 128 and six receptions with the two touchdowns and Sissom finished with four receptions for 93 yards.
On the ground, Washburn's Trent Hearn had 22 carries for 99 yards.
Defensively, Washburn's redshirt freshman linebacker Zach Watkins had 11 tackles including six solo stops with a tackle for loss. Senior linebacker Aaron Neal had nine stops. Willams had two interceptions for the Ichabods and three pass breakups.
   
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 475-538-44 in its 117th year of college football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 476-538-44 in its football history.
• lift the Ichabods to 11-4 all-time against Colorado Mines.
• make the CSM alum Craig Schurig 3-1 against his alma mater.
• be their third straight win over the Orediggers in Golden, Colo.
• level the Ichabods record at 1-1 entering the bye week before starting the MIAA season on Sept. 15.
• be the Ichabods second straight road win dating back to last season.

A loss for Washburn would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 475-539-44 in its football history.
• drop the Ichabods to 10-5 all-time against the Orediggers.
• give the Ichabods an 0-2 non-conference record for the first time since the 2002 season when Washburn fell to Wisconsin-LaCrosse 31-17 and then RMAC member Fort Hays State 37-29.

The Ichabods in the National Polls . . .
The Ichabods dropped out of the AFCA National Coaches Poll, but still received votes after appearing at No. 25 in the preseason poll. The Ichabods dropped out of the D2football.com national poll after showing at No. 24 in their preseason poll.

Ichabods vs ranked opponents . .
   The Ichabods are 6-34 vs ranked Division II opponents after their win over No. 11 Missouri Western in the 2006 season finale. The win over the then No. 14 ranked Colorado Mines in the 2005 opener was the first win over a ranked team on the road for the Ichabods and the win over then No. 5 Northwest Missouri was the Ichabods' highest win over a ranked opponent on the road.  The Ichabods' highest win ever over a ranked opponents is their 35-34 overtime win over Pittsburg State, who was ranked No. 4 before losing to the Ichabods on Oct. 1, 2005.Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 6-13 against ranked opponents since 2002. They are 5-5 since the 2004 season including a 3-1 record in 2005.

Bods and Ends . . .
• Fourth game of an original four-game contract that has been extended another two seasons into a six game series ending in 2009 … discussions are on going about adding more games to the contract.
• Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig is a 1987 alum of School of Mines where he was team captain as a senior.
• Ichabod offensive coordinator Brian Miller is a Golden, Colo., native.
• In two starts against the Orediggers, senior quarterback Jordan Brill is 32-of-52 for 657 yards and eight touchdowns.
• In Saturday's game against the Eagles, the Ichabods attempted 40 passes for the first time since Oct. 26, 2002 when Dustin Hickel attempted 42 against Missouri Western. Against the Eagles, Jordan Brill attempted 41.
• Cary Williams' 94-yard kickoff return against the Eagles was the first brought back by the Ichabods since Fletcher Terrell returned one 83 yards against Pittsburg State on Oct. 1, 2005.
• About Brooks Field, the home of the Orediggers: The center section, the length of the football field, was built in 1922 with a $5,000 contribution from Ralph D. Brooks. Mr. Brooks was a trustee of the Colorado School of Mines from 1922-1924. The two end sections were added in 1929. It has an elevation of 5,770 feet above sea level. For comparison, Washburn is at 945 feet above sea level.

Up next . . .
Washburn will be off from games next week returning home on Sept. 15 after a week off to open the MIAA schedule with Fort Hays State in a 1 p.m. kickoff.