The Game
The Angelo State football team begins the season on the road against the McKendree Bearcats on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. The game will be the opener for both teams as the Rams face their first three opponents on the road. 

McKendree
The Bearcats are led by fourth year head coach Mike Babock who is 17-14 including a 8-2 record last season. The 8-2 record was the most wins for the Bearcats since 2010. McKendree is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and was picked to finish No. 2 in the GLVC preseason poll. 

The Series
This will be the first meeting between the two programs. 

Road Warriors
The Rams will travel 5,166 miles before their first home game of the season and a total of 8,062 miles to all seven road games this season. The longest trip of the season is 3,064 miles to Marquette, Michigan to play Northern Michigan and the shortest is 312 mile round trip to Wichita Falls.  ASU will look to improve its road record under head coach Will Wagner. The Rams are 16-11 under Wagner on the road and 8-4 in the last two seasons. 

Season Openers
Angelo State is 29-22-1 in season openers dating back to 1964. The Rams are currently on a seven game winning streak in season openers. This will be the first season opener on the road since Will Wagner's first season in San Angelo in 2011. ASU defeated Western State 35-17 to give Wagner his first career victory. 

Team Captains
Fred Lawrence, Richard Franklin, Willie Brown, Donovan Thompson and Trey Green were selected as captains for the 2016 season by their teammates.

Replacing Production
Angelo State will try to find a replacement for All-American Kyle Washington. Washington set the ASU career records for total offense (12,406), passing yards (9,485) and passing touchdowns (84) during his career at quarterback. He was also the first Ram to throw for at least 2,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 yards in a single season and throw for at least 3,000 yards in a season. 

Thursday Night Lights
The season opener will be the second Thursday night season opener under head coach Will Wagner and the first since the Rams hosted Black Hills State on Sept. 5, 2013. ASU defeated BHSU 38-26 in San Angelo. 

LSC Preseason Poll
The Rams were picked to finish No. 3 in the LSC Preseason Poll. ASU recieved 211 points behind No. 1 Texas A&M-Commerce with 269 points and No. 2 Midwestern State at 254 points. 

Receiving Votes
The Angelo State football team received 19 votes in the American Football Coaches Association preseason poll and sits outside fo the top 25. Texas A&M-Commerce appeared at No. 8 while Midwestern State came in at No. 14. 

Close to Receiving Records
Donovan Thompson set the ASU single-season record for receiving yards with 1,133 yards last season. His 70 catches were the second most in a single year behind V'Keon Lacey's 74 receptions. Thompson finished last seasono No. 7 in receiving yards per game (103.0) and No. 11 in total receiving yards. He is 1,484 yards away from owning the career receiving yards and is No. 17 in ASU hsitory. 

#RamFam Connection
Two current Rams have connections to Rams of the past. Brennan Bibbs heard about ASU from former All-American uncle Henry Alsbrooks. Alsbrooks played defense for ASU and was a 1988 All-Americna. He recorded 271 tackles and is No. 10 all-time in career tackles. Myron Turner, Jr. plays opposite side of his dad Myron. The elder was an all-conference performer in 1989 and 1990. He is No. 8 on the career receiving yard list with 1,704 yards and led ASU in yards in 1989 with 706 yards. 

All-Conference Returners 
The Rams have seven returners who earned some type of all-conference honor last season. Tyler Hamilton, Donovan Thompson, Fred Lawrence, Rance Layton, Trey Green, Willie Brown, Ricahrd Franklin were all selected to the LSC All-Conference team. 

Listen to the Rams 
The Rams will once again be carried on KWFR 101.9 The Fire with four-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Jeremy Bryant on the call. He will add Dr. John Klingemann in the booth for color analysis. Dr. Klingemann is the chair of the history department and an associate professor at Angelo State 

Live in HD
Every Ram home game will be broadcasted on RamTV Suddenlink Channel 6 and 106HD.  Fans will be able to see the games in full high definition with Angelo State students directing the broadcast and giving play-by-play and color analysis

New Offensive Coordinator
Will Wagner promoted Drew Dallas to offensive coordinator. Dallas has been an integral part of the offensive staff at Angelo State since 2011 as a graduate assistant and promoted to assistant coach in 2012. He has worked with the wide receivers since 2011 and picked up recruiting coordinator duties in 2012.The Ram offense is coming off a record-setting season by leading the nation in total offense with 560.4 yards per game. 

Head Coach
Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) will begin his sixth season as head coach of the Rams. He is 31-25 in his three seasons at the helm of the Rams. The Odessa native helped Northwest Missouri State win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.

Winning Seasons
ASU secured the program's 32nd winning season since 1964 with a 7-4 record last year.It was the first time the Rams have had winning seasons in back-to-back years since 2000-2001 under former head coach Jerry Vandergriff.

414 and Counting
Angelo State has won a total of 414 football games since 1939. The following lists the coaches and record breakdown in Ram football history. 
 

Pete Sikes	1939-1949	41-23-5
Max Bumgardner	1950-1968	74-74-2
Grant Teaff	1969-1971	19-11
James Cameron	1972-1973	13-7
Jim Hess	1974-1981	65-23-3
Jerry Vandergriff	1982-2004	143-101-2
Dale Carr	2005-2010	28-36
Will Wagner	2012-Present	31-25

The Program
Angelo State won the NAIA National Championship in 1978 and has won three Lone Star Conference Championships (1978, 1984, 1987). The Rams have seen five NCAA D-II playoff appearances and produced 57 All-Americans. Angelo State has sent 11 student-athletes on to successful NFL careers, including Pierce Holt, who earned two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers in 1988 and 1989. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff coached at ASU, and has been inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame with Holt and former Ram tackle Rodney Cason.

Follow From Home
If you cannot attend the Angelo State football game, ASU has you covered. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Facebook page along with its Twitter account, @AngeloSports, Instagram, angeloathletics or on YouTube AngeloSports.