Sept. 8, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons will open its football season Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Stout at 1 p.m. The Cowboys return 15 starters from a year ago and 25 players on the team have starting experience.

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About The Cowboys Hardin-Simmons begins it 66th season of football and the 14th year since the reinstatement...The Cowboys are 44-6 in their last 50 games...HSU is 2-0 against the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with both wins coming against Wis.-Whitewater...Jimmie Keeling and Alan Wartes are in their 14th year on the Cowboy staff...For the fifth time in six seasons the Cowboys will have a new starter at the reign of its high-powered offensive attack...Andy Stanton (offensive line) and Jim Abbate (defensive coordinator) begin their fourth season at HSU...Ronnie Hughes begins his first season as the Cowboys defensive line coach...The Cowboys will play an attacking 4-3 defense and a wide open one-back offense...After graduation, defections and change of positions the Cowboys will have 15 players start the opener that started last season's opener. Tye Conry, Jordan Neal, Matt Smith and Jon Williams are the only Cowboys that will be starting their first game and all four have extensive playing time as reserves.

About Wisconsin-Stout Stout is a member of the eight-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Last season, Stout was 7-3 overall, 4-3 (tied for third with Stevens Point and Whitewater) in the WIAC...The Blue Devils were in the hunt for the WIAC title up until the final seconds of the final game when they were stopped inches short on a two-point conversion that would have put them ahead of UW-La Crosse with only 37 seconds. The Eagles prevailed, 28-27, and went on to claim the championship and Stout slipped to third...Stout runs a multi-pro offense and a 3-4 defense...Luke Bundgaard is second on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with 168 points...The Blue Devils return all five offensive linemen and 11 starters on offense.

Up Next The Cowboys will open American Southwest Conference play at Texas Lutheran. HSU pounded the Bulldogs 56-7 in Abilene in 2002.

On The Air Hardin-Simmons' games can be heard on KAGT 90.5 in the Big Country, with John Wilson and Al Pickett on the call. Wilson is in his first season as the Cowboys' play-by-play announcer, after two seasons in the color chair. Al Pickett, a longtime Abilene journalist, is the new color commentator.

On The Road The Cowboys will travel to Minneapolis from Abilene via charter and then drive the 70 miles to Menomonie. HSU is scheduled to leave Abilene at 8:30 and should be in Minneapolis by 10:45. The Cowboys will check in to the Best Western in Menomonie and will practice at 3:00 on Friday. HSU will return immediately following the game on Saturday. Media needing assistance can contact HSU Sports Information Director on his cell phone at the game at (325) 665-7932. For complete information during the week and after the game, check out the Hardin-Simmons athletic Web site at www.hsuathletics.com.

In the Polls The Cowboys come into the season ranked No. 15 in the D3Football.com poll and are ranked No. 19 in the Don Hansen poll. The AFCA poll will begin after next week's games. UW-Stout comes in No. 12 in D3football.com and No. 18 in Don Hansen.

Preseason Accolades Junior cornerback Alex Hansen earned three first-team All-American nods in preseason publications, including D3Football.com, Lindy's and Don Hansen Weekly Gazette. He was also named the preseason ASC Defensive Player of the Year. Senior tight end Matt Moskosky was named first-team All-American by Street and Smith's and nabbed second-team honors by D3Football.com and Lindy's. Moskosky was also named a player to watch by USA Today. Offensive guard Adam Hernandez earned second-team honors by Lindy's and third-team honors by Don Hansen.

HSU in Lid-Lifters Hardin-Simmons has won three of its last four season openers, including last season when it defeated Menlo College, 42-34, at Shelton Stadium...The Cowboys are 41-20-4 all-time in season openers...Under head coach Jimmie Keeling the Cowboys are 9-4 in lid-lifters...HSU won in its only trip ever to Wisconsin, the 1999 season opener at UW-Whitewater.

Scoring Streak The Cowboys have scored at least one offensive touchdown in 99 straight games, only once in that span have they been held under 10 points. During the streak, the Cowboys have averaged 38.9 points per game.

The Gunslinger Redshirt sophomore Jordan Neal will start the season opener for the Cowboys under center. He won a preseason battle with one-time starter Travis Jones, although both are likely to see action in Saturday's contest. Neal redshirted in 2002, after being pressed into duty as a true freshman in 2001. Neal was Dustin Proctor's backup in 2001, after Proctor replaced Jones in the starting lineup. After splitting time with Josh McCasland in the 2000 season, that saw the Cowboys advance to the NCAA Semifinals, Jones won the job in the 2001 fall camp over Proctor, but broke his wrist in the season opener and was a medical redshirt. Proctor became an All-American as a junior and was the starter again last year with Jones as the backup. In Neal's freshman season he set an NCAA all-division's record with 27 straight completions. He completed 37 of 46 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide Receivers Neal will have plenty of weapons to throw the ball to, including senior split end Joe Lemberg, who will make his 34th straight start on Saturday. Lemberg has 118 catches for 1,896 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career. He led the Cowboys with 52 catches and 10 touchdowns in 2002. On the other side will be two speedsters in Jon Williams and Patrick Shelby. Williams played in all 10 games last season and had 155 yards on 12 catches as a freshman. Shelby is a transfer from Navarro Junior College and will be making his Cowboy debut. In the Cowboys' "tailback" position, which is really the slot position, two more speedsters will take the field. Triandos Sherrard is back in the slot after playing both the slot and running back positions last season. He was named second-team All-ASC with 13 catches for 170 yards and two TDs to go along with 232 yards on the ground and four more TDs. Shay Ratliff will also play the slot after transferring in from Abilene Christian. He was an all-state selection at Brownwood High School and has speed and shiftiness.

Running Backs Donta' Hayward is the unquestioned workhorse of the team. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry and had three touchdowns in only five quarters of action last season, after breaking his arm in the first game of the season. A big bruising back with good speed, defenses have a hard time bringing him down. He will be backed up junior Lance Moore and senior Dustin Bookhout. Moore played in the slot last season, but is making the move to running back.

Tight End A talented blocker and even better receiver, senior tight end Matt Moskosky is one of the premiere players in the nation. He had 45 catches for 552 yards and six touchdowns last season. Forty of his 45 catches last year went either for a first down or touchdown. Len Williams, a converted wide receiver will play as the second tight end.

Offensive Line The offensive line will have a new look this year with two new starters. Matt Smith will take the reigns at center, replacing three-time All-American Thomas Anderson. Garet Black has moved from the strong side tackle to the quick side. Steven Huth (quick) and Adam Hernadez (strong) remain in their starting roles at guard and Tye Conry will make his first start at strong tackle.

Defensive Line The defensive line will have a similiar look to last season, with senior Tim Eason the only one gone off the line. Senior Adam Taylor and junior Toby Nash will get the nods as the opening day ends for the second straight year. Anthony Gonzales also gets his second straight start opening day start at right tackle. Eric Shults will start at left tackle. The Cowboys will also use Matt Fanning, who started five games last season, and newcomer Reggie Robinson at end. Terrence Penns and Brad Minnix will also play in the rotation at tackles.

Linebackers The Cowboys will start Brent Gailey, Levi Steele and Adam Parker as the opening-day trio. Gailey and Steele got the honors last year. Steele received a medical redshirt after going down for the year early in the season and Gailey played all three linebacker spots last season. Parker emerged as a star late in the season with 33 tackles in his final three games. He started five games.

Secondary The Cowboys' secondary may be the best it has seen in years. Alex Hansen set a school record with nine interceptions last season, and is a preseason All-American. Melvin Dudley is back as the other starter at corner after redshirting last season. He has 25 career starts at corner. The safeties will be manned by three players in Anthony Renfro (20 straight starts), Rocky McAdams and Lance Moore, who is playing both ways for the Cowboys.

Kickers Shane Hudnall will start the season as the Cowboys' placekicker, punter and kickoff specialist. He is a transfer from Texas Christian.