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CORNELL INFORMATION
Roster I Schedule & Results I Statistics I History I Virtual Guide

WAGNER INFORMATION
Roster I Schedule & Results I Statistics

GAME INFORMATION
Game #3: Wagner at Cornell
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 1, at 12:30 p.m. ET
Site: Schoellkopf Field (25,597), Ithaca, N.Y.
2011 Records: Wagner (1-3, 1-2 NEC); Cornell (1-1, 0-1 Ivy)
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Wagner won 41-7, Sept. 18, 2010, in Staten Island, N.Y.
Radio: WHCU 870 AM, Barry Leonard (play-by-play), Buck Briggs (color)
Live Stats: Available at www.CornellBigRed.com
Live Video: Available at www.CornellBigRed.com
Tickets: Available by calling (607) 254-BEAR or by clicking here

HEAD COACH KENT AUSTIN
Kent  Austin, the Roger J. Weiss '61 Head Coach of Football, is in his second season at the helm of the Big Red (3-9 overall, .250; 1-7, Ivy, .125) ... Austin has won CFL Grey Cups as a player, assistant coach and head coach ... previously was offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Ole Miss, Austin was hired as head coach on Jan. 27, 2010.

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ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell football team will attempt to clinch its first winning non-conference season since 2008 and avenge last season's loss to Wagner when the two teams meet on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 12:30 p.m. You can watch a live video stream of the game by subscribing to RedCast at www.CornellBigRed.com. If you are in the Ithaca area, you can also tune in to listen to Barry Leonard and Buck Briggs on the call on WHCU 870 AM.

With sophomore quarterback Jeff Mathews in his second year as the starter, the Big Red offense has begun to put together explosive plays in bunches. In just two games this season, Cornell has already posted 10 offensive plays that have covered 20 yards or better. Mathews ranks eighth nationally in total offense and is averaging 303.0 passing yards per game. His classmate, Grant Gellatly, has rushed for two scores of better than 20 yards and is averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. Mathews' primary receivers, senior Shane Savage and juniors Kurt Ondash and Luke Tasker, have combined to haul in 27 passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns through two contests. They are averaging a lofty 19.3 yards per catch. The offensive line, which doesn't feature a senior, has surrendered just one sack in the team's first two games after giving up a nation's worst 49 sacks a year ago.

While Cornell has been much improved offensively, the defense has seen the same significant improvement. Cornell has surrendered just 109.0 rushing yards per game (down from 246.1 ypg. in 2010) and 365.5 total yards per game (down from 437.2 yards per game in 2010). Cornell has registered three sacks in two games and 16 total tackles for loss and is on pace to obliterate last season's totals of 12 sacks and 38 TFL. Leading the way has been senior CB Rashad Campbell (16 tackles), senior LB Brandon Lainhart (16 tackles) and sophomore LB Brett Buehler (14 tackles, 4.0 TFL). Junior DT Hugh Stewart has led a young defensive line corps with 4.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks through two games. Opposing running attacks are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, a far cry from last year's 5.8 yards per carry.

The special teams have been led by senior place-kicker Brad Greenway, a nominee for the Fred Mitchell Award. Greenway booted a 26-yard field goal to end the first half against Yale, making him 2-for-2 on the year. He has also made all five of his extra-point kicks. Campbell is averaging a robust 25.0 yards per kickoff return, including a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that was called back against the Bulldogs.

The Big Red will be looking to get back on the right track against a non-conference opponent which controlled them a year ago in Staten Island, ruining the debut of Cornell head coach Kent Austin in a 41-7 victory. Wagner, under longtime head coach and athletic director Walt Hameline, brings a big and athletic team out to snap a three-game skid. The Seahawks used a balanced offensive attack a season ago, led by junior quarterback Nick Doscher and sophomore tailback Dominique Williams. Doscher has struggled in the passing game, completing just under 46 percent of his passes, but continues to be a major dual threat. Williams ranks among the national leaders with his 116.8 yards per game. He has found the end zone six times. A year ago, the Wagner defense limited Cornell to just 242 yards of offense and turned the Big Red over three times.

A WIN OVER WAGNER WOULD:
• make Cornell 2-1 on the year.
• give the Big Red a 2-1 edge all-time against Wagner.
• guarantee Cornell a winning non-conference record.
• match the Big Red's win totals from 2010 overall (2-8).
• be the 620th in program history (10th most in the Football Championship Subdivision).

THE CORNELL-WAGNER SERIES: (Series tied 1-1) This will be the third meeting between Cornell and Wagner, with the teams splitting the first two contests. The squads first met in 1999, a 31-14 Cornell victory at Schoellkopf Field, before Wagner routed the Big Red 41-7 last season in Staten Island.

NOTING THE LOSS TO YALE
• The Big Red blocked a pair of kicks, with Tre' Minor getting his hands on a field goal, while Justin Harris swatted away an extra-point. Cornell last blocked two kicks in the same game against Colgate in 2010.
• The Big Red offensive line didn't allow a sack, surrendering just one total in its first two games.
• Sophomore Grant Gellatly narrowly missed his first career 100-yard rushing game, but scored his second rushing touchdown of the season from outside of 20 yards.
• Junior Kurt Ondash recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game against Yale, posting eight catches for 104 yards in a return to his home state.
• Senior place-kicker Brad Greenway punted for the first time in his varsity career, averaging 32.2 yards per punt and pinning three of his six kicks inside the Yale 20.
• Making their first varsity starts were sophomores Josh Barut (S) and Matthew Simmonds (RG).
• During one stretch in the second half, the teams scored touchdowns on five of six possessions.

BIG PASS PLAYS HIGHLIGHT WIN OVER BUCKNELL: Cornell used three plays of 64 yards or more in the passing game en route to its 24-13 victory over Bucknell on Sept. 17. Junior Luke Tasker hauled in a 65-yard pass from Mathews, while senior Shane Savage went 64 yards for a touchdown on a deep ball from the quarterback. Mathews then sealed the win with an 87-yard toss to junior Kurt Ondash, the fifth-longest pass play in school history.

GREENWAY CLIMBING THE KICKING CHART: Senior Brad Greenway has 125 career kicking points and has eight games remaining to add to that total, which currently ranks third in program history.

GREENWAY A NOMINEE FOR FRED MITCHELL AWARD: Senior place-kicker Brad Greenway has been named to the 2011 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List. He is among 50 kickers on the Watch List for excellence on the field and in the community. Greenway has led the team in scoring in each of his first three varsity seasons and will be attempting to become the first player in school history to lead the team in scoring all four years. Last season, Greenway led the team in scoring with 26 points on 4-of-5 field goals and 14-of-15 extra-point kicks. Off the field, Greenway has been very active serving not only the Ithaca community, but also communities throughout the world. He was part of a program that gathered school supplies, cleats and jerseys to bring to children in Ghana as part of community service initiative. He also visited an Agent Orange community in Vietnam that has disabled children whose parents were impacted during the Vietnam War. There, he visited several schools to play with children. He reads to elementary school students as a volunteer as part of the Big Red Readers program. He also served as a volunteer coach in the Challenger Soccer Camps for special needs children. Greenway has also volunteered at Ithaca's Salvation Army by helping organize clothes and goods throughout the store, as well as volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego.

GREAT START FOR MATHEWS: Sophomore Jeff Mathews is off to a strong start through two contests, completing 64 percent of his passes (41-of-64) for 603 yards and three touchdowns. His 149.30 quarterback rating would be the highest single-season mark in school history. He is also on pace to toss for 3,015 yards, a mark that would be the highest total ever at Cornell (2,944 yards by Ricky Rahne in 2000).

WHERE MATHEWS RANKS: Sophomore Jeff Mathews has gotten noticed for his strong start in 2011. He ranks eighth nationally (and first in the Ivy League) in total offense at 308.0 yards per game, while sitting 20th nationally in passing efficiency (149.30).

MATHEWS SETS FRESHMAN RECORDS: Sophomore Jeff Mathews had a record-breaking season in 2010 en route to earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year accolades. Since freshmen became eligible for varsity competition in 1993, no Cornell rookie had ever opened a game at quarterback until Mathews lined up for the start against Yale during the home opener a season ago. He responded by setting school freshman records for completions (23), attempts (35) and yardage (248). Mathews, who became the only freshman in Cornell history to throw a touchdown pass, ended the season with 1,723 yards and seven scores. He ranked second among all true freshmen in the Football Championship Subdivision in passing.

RECEIVERS AT THE TOP: Cornell's three top receivers so far in 2011, senior Shane Savage and juniors Kurt Ondash and Luke Tasker, have combined to haul in 27 passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns through two contests. They are averaging a lofty 19.3 yards per catch.

SAVAGE WARRIOR: Senior Shane Savage, who will be fifth-year eligible in 2012, became the 15th player in school history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards with his four-catch, 99-yard effort against Bucknell in the season opener. He now has 1,088 yards. Savage has a reception in all 22 career contests and could potentially catch a pass in 40 varsity appearances barring injury or being blanked in a contest. If he catches passes in 40 consecutive games, he would break the school record of 39 set by Keith Ferguson '03, Cornell's all-time leading receiver (202 receptions, 2,569 yards). Savage enters the weekend with 97 receptions and five touchdowns. He is bidding to become the eighth Cornell player to haul in 100 passes.  

UP TO THE TASK: Junior Luke Tasker posted his first career 100-yard game in the season-opening win over Bucknell (102 yards) and is tied for the team lead with nine catches in two contests. Tasker is averaging 18.2 yards per catch with a touchdown so far in 2011. He enters the Wagner game needing two catches to reach 50 for his career.

DASHING THROUGH THE DEFENSE: Junior wide receiver Kurt Ondash entered the season with 11 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. He's matched or surpassed those numbers already this season, sitting on top of the team's charts with nine catches for 191 yards and a touchdown in the first two contests. His 21.2 yards per catch is also a team-best. Ondash hauled in an 87-yard touchdown to seal the win over Bucknell in the season opener, the fifth-longest touchdown pass in school history.

GELLATLY ON THE RUN: Sophomore Grant Gellatly was the leading rusher for the Big Red a year ago despite missing two contests. He has picked up right where he left off, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns from outside of 20 yards, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry and 67.0 yards per game. Gellatly recorded 95 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Yale in the 2011 Ivy opener.

RUN, PASS, CATCH: Senior tight end Ryan Houska was named the team's Most Valuable Player a year ago. Houska was third on the team in receiving (27 receptions, 268 yards, 2 touchdowns) and rushing (27 carries, 106 yards, 1 touchdown) in 2010. He became the fourth Cornell player since 1980 to run, pass and catch a touchdown during their varsity careers - Houska did it all in one season. Luke Siwula '08 (20 rush, 1 throw, 4 receptions), John Tagliaferri '86 (8 rush, 1 throw, 2 receptions) and Derrick Harmon '84 (26 rush, 1 throw, 2 receptions) have also hit on that statistical oddity.

KEEPING THE QB UPRIGHT: Cornell's offensive line has been its most improved position this season, allowing just one sack in the team's first two contests to rank tied for fifth for fewest sacks surrendered. Last year, the Big Red gave up 49 in 10 contests to lead the nation.

STEWART DOMINATING UP FRONT: Junior defensive tackle Hugh Stewart has been his dominant best in the interior of the defensive line, registering four tackles for a loss and two sacks. He recorded a pair of sacks against Bucknell in the opener.

PICKING UP A LOSS: Cornell's defense has been spending much more time in the offensive backfield in the 2011 season, already posting 16 tackles for loss in two contests (8.0 per game). That mark ranks 18th nationally in the FCS. Three players rank among the top 35 nationally in tackles for loss (Brett Buehler and Hugh Stewart - t-12th with 2.0; Zack Imhoff - 33rd with 1.5).

THE CORNELL CAPTAINS: The Cornell football team has elected six team captains to lead the Big Red into the 2011 season, including the first-ever sophomore captain in school history. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Mathews joins senior defensive end Zack Imhoff, corner back Rashad Campbell and place-kicker Brad Greenway, junior wide receiver and punt returner Luke Tasker and center Bob Bullington as team captains. The top two vote getters on offense, defense and special teams earned the honor.

BIG RED IN SEPTEMBER: The Big Red football team has had great success in the early fall over the years, particularly in September. The Big Red is 101-57-5 (.635) all-time during the month.

NEW VIDEO BOARD: Cornell unveiled a brand new video board during its Homecoming contest against Bucknell on Sept. 17. The 18x31 video board produced by Daktronics is being run by Cornell athletics with assistance from Varsity Media out of Rochester, N.Y. The board will have many exciting interactive features for fans and the multi-camera production will also allow for instant replays and multiple angles of the action.

STATING THE STATES: Cornell's 105-player roster includes student-athletes from 27 different states and the District of Columbia. Leading the way is the talent-rich state of California with 15 student-athletes, one of four states that have produced at least 10 current Big Red players (New York - 13; Ohio - 10; Pennsylvania- 10).

IVY PRESEASON POLL: The Cornell football team, under second-year head coach Kent Austin, was picked to finish tied for seventh in the Ivy League media preseason poll. Overall, there were 17 voters in the poll (two media representatives per school and one national media representative). PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Penn (12 first-place votes) 129 points; 2. Harvard (2 first-place votes) 118 points; 3. Yale (1 first-place vote) 95 points; 4. Brown (2 first-place votes) 90 points; 5. Dartmouth 73 points; 6. Columbia 45 points; 7. Cornell 31 points; 7. Princeton 31 points.

BOOKER-TANDY NAMED TO ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM: Senior corner back Nick Booker-Tandy was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I first-team in 2010. He was one of 12 Ivy League players named to the Academic All-District team. In the classroom, Booker-Tandy has posted a 4.0 grade point average in Applied Economics and Management and was an Academic All-Ivy nominee.

CORNELL ALL-TIME: The Big Red has an overall record of 619-473-34 (.565) in its 123 years of football. The program's 619 wins rank 10th among all FCS schools. Over the years, Cornell has taken on 87 different opponents, with its most frequent opponent being Penn (118 meetings).

THE IVY OPENER: Cornell opened the 56th official season of Ivy League play with a 37-17 loss at Yale on Sept. 24. The Big Red now has a 26-28-2 record in 56 conference starters. The Big Red has now faced Yale 12 times (each of the last 12 seasons) in Ivy openers with a 4-8 mark.

BOOTHE, WALTERS ON NFL ROSTERS: Former Cornellians Kevin Boothe '06 and Bryan Walters '10 are on opening day NFL rosters this season. Boothe, an All-American offensive lineman for the Big Red, is in his sixth season in the National Football League and fifth with the New York Giants. He joined former star tailback Derrick Harmon '84 as the second Cornell alumnus to earn a Super Bowl ring after playing on special teams during the New York Giants' run to Super Bowl XLII. Boothe and the Giants upset the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, 17-14, on Feb. 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Walters is in his first season as a wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers after setting Ivy League and Cornell records for career kick return and punt return yardage. He ranks first at Cornell and second in Ivy League history in all-purpose yardage.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOGOLAK'S HISTORIC KICK: This season marks the 50th anniversary of Pete Gogolak becoming the first soccer-style kicker in football history. His 41-yard field goal at Princeton on Oct. 28, 1961 went into the record books.

AP NO. 1: Cornell is the only Ivy League school to be ranked No. 1 in the weekly Associated Press poll, holding the top ranking for three weeks (10/15-10/29) of the 1940 season. The No. 1 ranking ended with the historic “Fifth Down Game” against Dartmouth. The Big Red ended that campaign with a 6-2 record that included wins over Army, Syracuse and Ohio State.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Cornell has won five national titles in its storied football history. The Big Red claimed at least a share of the 1915 (Helms Athletic Foundation, Houlgate System, National Championship Foundation and Parke Davis), 1921 (Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation and Parke Davis), 1922 (Helms, Parke Davis), 1923 (Sagarin) and 1939 (Litkenhous, Sagarin) titles. All five teams went undefeated and dominated their opponents. The 1915 team was 9-0 and outscored its opponents 287-50 with four shutouts. The 1921, 1922 and 1923 squads each went 8-0 and outscored their opponents 392-21, 339-27 and 320-33, respectively. The teams allowed more than one touchdown in a game just once during that 24-game span while scoring 40 or more points 14 times. The 1939 team was 8-0 and defeated Syracuse, Penn State and Ohio State.

STORIED RIVALRIES: The Big Red is involved in three of the top 20 most-played rivalries in college football. Heading into the 2011 campaign, the Cornell-Penn series ranks fifth in most games played with 118. The 98 meetings between Cornell and Columbia ranks 12th, while the Cornell-Colgate rivalry stands 17th with 94 games played. The Cornell-Dartmouth and the Cornell-Penn series are the second-longest uninterrupted active series, as the teams have met every season since 1919, a span of 91 years. They trail only the Lafayette-Lehigh series, which has been played every year since 1897.

LATE START: For the fourth time in the last eight years, Cornell was the last Division I football team to kick off its season. The 6:07 p.m. kick-off against Bucknell on Sept. 17 was the latest of the Ivy League schools to open its season. Penn (vs. Lafayette), Brown (at Stony Brook) and Princeton (vs. Lehigh) were scheduled for 6 p.m. kickoffs. The Big Red was also the final team to open in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

FOR OPENERS: The Big Red continued its historical pattern of success in season openers with a 24-13 victory against Bucknell on Sept. 17. The Big Red sports an all-time record of 90-30-4 (.742) in season openers.

BIG RED ON HOMECOMING: Cornell football improved its record in Homecoming games to 33-29-2 record dating back to 1948 with its 24-13 triumph over Bucknell on Sept. 17.

INSIDECORNELLFOOTBALL.COM: Cornell football launched a new web site, www.InsideCornellFootball.com, this spring to provide all the latest information on the Big Red program. Tune in for new, exclusive videos and other information.

WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY?: All of the Big Red's football games in 2011 are carried live on WHCU (870 AM) in the Ithaca area and on the internet at www.CornellBigRed.com. Barry Leonard returns for his 14th season in the booth and 12th season in the play-by-play chair, while Buck Briggs '76 is back to provide the color commentary for a 11th season. Special guests will also make appearances throughout the year.

LIVE STATS: If you can't make it to Schoellkopf Field, you can follow the Big Red live on the internet with Live Stats. Just follow the link on www.CornellBigRed.com for official stats updated in real-time for each of the Big Red's home games.

UP NEXT: Cornell remains at Schoellkopf Field to face Ivy League foe Harvard on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 12:30 p.m.