GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University football returns this Saturday. The Mountaineers will face Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent and western slope foe, Colorado Mesa University, at 1 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl.
 
Saturday's game will be the 43rd meeting between Western State and Colorado Mesa University, and the first time these two teams will have met in the season opener. The series is even at 21 wins each. However, CMU has won the last 10-of-11 meetings.
 
This will be the second game in-a-row that these two teams have faced each other. The 2015 season ended with the Mavericks defeating the Mountaineers 31-28 in Gunnison. However, Western holds the edge in Mountaineer Bowl with an 11-10 record against the Mavericks in Gunnison.
 
Fans unable to make Saturday's home opener will be able to follow all the action live over the internet (live stats, live video) and social media (@WSCUMountaineer, @MountaineerFB).
 
KEJJ/KPKE 98.3 FM will also be broadcasting live from the Bowl. Gene Hill and Steve Williams will have the call.
 
GAME NOTES
 
PRESEASON PICKS
After finishing the season in sixth place last season, Western was picked to finish fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mountaineers also landed three players on the 2016 Preseason All-RMAC Team - RB Austin Ekeler, WR Kyle Adkins and K Ryan Winke.
 
Returning All-American, Austin Ekeler, was also named the RMAC Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year, a Division II Preseason All-America First Team selection, a Sporting News and Lindy's Preseason All-American, a HERO Sports Preseason All-America First Team selection, and a D2Football.com Preseason All-American.
 
CMU finished last season second in the RMAC and was picked to finish second in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mavericks had four players selected to the 2016 Preseason All-RMAC Team - DL Blake Nelson, LB Tom Saager, DB Jackson Burrell, and DB/ RET Dustin Rivas, a returning All-American.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Western is 32-58 in season openers. Since 1995, the Mountaineers are 1-20 in season openers. Last season, Western lost a close fought battle to Division I opponent the University of Northern Colorado 34-42 on the road in the season opener. The last opening day win came in 2014 against Wayland Baptist, 38-21, on the road. The last season opening win in Gunnison came against Northern Colorado in 1994, when the Mountaineers won 31-26 and went on to win the RMAC title.
 
Of their 32 season opening wins, Western has finished those seasons with a winning record 19 times (59.4%) and won the conference title 12 times (37.5%).
 
CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN
This year's captains on the offensive side are running back Austin Ekeler and quarterback Brett Arrivey. For the defense, linebacker Jordan Woodyard and defensive lineman Austin Yurko are captains. Kicker Ryan Winke is Western's captain on special teams.
 
PRESEASON HONORS
Here's a look at Western's preseason honors for the 2016 season.
 
PRESEASON ALL-ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
RB Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado) - Co-Offensive Player of the Year
WR Kyle Adkins (Sr., Woodinville, Washington)
PK Ryan Winke (Sr., Aurora, Colorado)
 
HERO SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
RB Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado)
 
D2 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
RB Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado)
 
SPORTING NEWS AND LINDY'S PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
RB Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado)
 
D2FOOTBALL.COM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
RB Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado)
 
RMAC PRESEASON RANKINGS
After finishing last season in sixth place in the RMAC, Western was picked to finish fourth in the annual RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mountaineers finished last season with a 4-7 overall record and a 4-5 conference record. It was the most conference wins by Western since the 2003 season.
 
2016 RMAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. CSU-Pueblo (10) - 100 pts.
2. Colorado Mesa - 88 pts.
3. Colorado Mines (1) - 83 pts.
4. Western State - 67 pts.
5. Chadron State - 64 pts.
6. Fort Lewis - 59 pts.
7. Adams State - 41 pts.
8. New Mexico Highlands - 33 pts.
9. Dixie State - 29 pts.
10. Black Hills State - 21 pts.
11. South Dakota Mines - 20 pts.
 
NEW PERSONNEL
Five new coaches were added to the Western staff before the 2016 season. On the offensive side, Paul An (offensive line), Darrin Higgins (wide receivers) and Jack Harris (tight ends) are all first-time Mountaineers. On the defensive side, the Mountaineers bring in a new defensive coordinator with Todd Auer and a new defensive backs coach in Ryan Forrestal.