GAME 1

DATE: Thursday, August 30

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Macomb

STADIUM: Hanson Field (16,368)

SURFACE: Matrix Turf

ALL-TIME SERIES: First Meeting

LAST MEETING: First Meeting

LIVE STATS: www.GoLeathernecks.com

LIVE AUDIO: Click Here

RADIO (Leatherneck Sports Network)

ANNOUNCERS.... Beau Spencer/Mark Bloom (pregame starts 45 minutes before kickoff)

Macomb: WIUS 88.3 FM (Flagship)

Macomb: WJEQ 102.7 FM

Galesburg: WAIK 1590 AM

Quincy: WPWQ 106.7 FM

Clinton, Iowa: KCLN 1390 AM

Monroe City, Missouri: KWBZ 107.5 FM

TELEVISION                                        

NETWORK................... WIU-TV3 (tape delay)

ANNOUNCERS... Aaron Viner/Josh Gleason

VIDEO                                                  

Available pay-per-view on Rocky Vision

MOBILE                                                

Audio/Stats available on iPhone and Android phones with mobile app download. Search WIU Leathernecks app on iTunes and Google Play.

THE GAME: Western Illinois kicks off its 109th season of football... This season-opening clash marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs... The Leathernecks are 5-0 all-time against teams from the Pioneer League, most recently a 35-21 win over Jacksonville in the 2011 home-opener. Western is 2-0 versus Drake, 1-0 against Morehead State and 1-0 versus Valparaiso... It marks the third straight year Western has opened at home against a Pioneer League member (Butler-Jacksonville-Valparaiso)... A win would end Western's six-game losing streak dating back to last year and three losses in a row at Hanson Field... During Mark Hendrickson's tenure at Western, the Leathernecks are 12-1 in his home openers.

THE RANKINGS: Western Illinois received one vote in the Sports Network 'Top 25' poll. Butler was not ranked or received votes in either poll.

THE COACHES: Mark Hendrickson is in third year as full-time head coach with a 10-14 record, and his 14th year with the Leatherneck Football program (15-24 overall record including parts of 2008/2009 season as acting head coach)... Jeff Voris enters his seventh year at Butler with a 33-34 record, and 12th year overall owning a 48-68 mark.

LEATHERNECK FOOTBALL

• All-time winningest Division I program in the state of Illinois (.542).

• Nine appearances in the Division I Playoffs (1988, '91, '96, '97, '98, 2000, '02, '03, '10).

• In 2012, the Leathernecks will face all three non-conference foes for the first time.

• Western will square off against three teams from Indiana.

• Since Mark Hendrickson's arrival in 1999, the Leathernecks are 25-4 against non-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams at Hanson Field.

• The Leathernecks own a 221-106-7 record at Hanson Field (since 1950).

• Western is 27-15 all-time against teams from the state of Indiana.

• Of the 6 times in Missouri Valley Football Conference history an offensive/defensive 'Player of the Year' earned First Team Academic All-Conference honors, four have been a Leatherneck (Russ Michna: Offensive 2002, 2003), Herb Donaldson (Offensive 2008), Matt Barr (Offensive 2010), Kyle Glazier (Defensive 2010).

2012 TEAM CAPTAINS: The Leathernecks voted five seniors as captains for the 2012 season. Offensive linemen Andrew Robiskie (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Chagrin Falls {OH}) and Max Dancer (Quincy/Notre Dame), defensive lineman Dwight Harris (Aurora/Waubonsie Valley) and defensive backs Chris Boone (Chicago/Fenger) and Kieron James (Bradenton, FL/Southeast) were voted by their peers.

TWO NEW COORDINATORS: Head coach Mark Hendrickson announced the hiring of Brian Ward as defensive coordinator, and the promotion of KiJuan Ware as offensive coordinator during the off-season... Ward was instrumental in helping the Drake Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and 2011 Pioneer Football League championship. As the 2011 season progressed, the Bulldogs' defense got stingier holding five of the final eight opponents to 14 points or less. Drake finished the year second nationally in rushing defense (77.2 ypg), third in redzone defense, fifth in sacks (39), seventh in scoring defense (17.8 ppg), 10th in total defense (295.4 ypg allowed), 13th in tackles for loss (7.7) and 23rd in pass efficiency defense... Ware saw his backfield record five 100-yard rushing games including two during the North Dakota State game - the only time all the year the FCS national champion allowed that feat to happen. True-freshman Nikko Watson, pressed into action during the eighth game of the season due to the rash of injuries, turned in three of those 100-yard rushing efforts and was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team. Ware's running backs finished the season without losing a single fumble in 332 rushing attempts, the only time during Western's Division I era accomplishing that feat.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS: Three new assistant coaches will make their Leatherneck debut this spring while another returns to the program... Quarterbacks coach Jared Elliott joins Western from Miami (Ohio) where he spent the last two years... Offensive line coach Jason Eck spent last season at Hampton and the 2009-10 seasons at Ball State. He is a graduate of Wisconsin... Defensive line coach Jake Sprague, another Wisconsin grad, worked the previous four seasons at South Dakota. Last year he was co-defensive coordinator... Following his playing days and previous coaching stint with the Leathernecks Kevin Almlie returns to the program. He coached at Missouri Southern last year, and returns as the cornerbacks coach.

RETURNING LEATHERNECKS: Western returns seven starters on offense, six on defense and two special teams players. In all 37 letterwinners are back (17 offense/18 defense/2 special teams) while 22 were lost (12/9/1).

LEATHERNECKS EARN PRESEASON ALL-MVFC HONORS: Led by offensive lineman Jimmy Holtschlag, several Leathernecks have earned preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors... Holtschlag was a preseason pick by the coaches/sports information directors/media... Defensive back Kieron James and defensive end Dwight Harris earned Honorable Mention preseason All-MVFC honors... According to the Phil Steele Preseason listing James earned a spot on First Team while Harris, Holtschlag, running back Caulton Ray and linebacker Theon Dixon were all Second Team selections... James was also named to the College Football Performance Awards Watch List at defensive back.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Butler finished 5-6 last season, and 3-5 in the Pioneer League... The Bulldogs return 31 letterwinners from last year, but lost 25. Of those 31, 12 are on offense and 19 on defense... The offense returns four starters while the defense has five returners with six or more games started... Head coach Jeff Voris enters his seventh year in charge of the Bulldogs (33-34) and 12th overall coaching (48-68)... Trae Heeter rushed for 713 yards and four TDs last year, averaging 5.2 yards per carry... Tom Judge (284 yards passing, .490 percentage) and Wade Markley (301 yards, .694 percentage) both threw three touchdowns last year, however, Judge also was picked off three times... Brendan Shannon caught 25 passes for 295 yards and two scores while Heeter registered 26 receptions for 270 yards and a score... Jordan Ridley led the Pioneer League for the second consecutive year in tackles with 140. A two-time All-PFL performer, he recorded 10 or more tackles in eight of the 11 games last season. Ridley had two sacks, one interception and 8.0 tackles for a loss... Jayme Szafranski recorded 66 tackles and Sean Grady was right behind with 62 along with his three interceptions and 4.5 tackles for a loss... Jeremy Stephens finished with 7.5 TFL and 54 total tackles.