Oct. 16, 2015

It’s Homecoming Weekend as the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-4, 0-4 SEC) host the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-3, 0-2 SEC) on Saturday, Oct. 17. The game will be televised by the SEC Network with kick set for 4 p.m. ET. Dave Neal has the call for the Network with Matt Stinchcomb adding the color commentary. Kayce Smith is the sideline reporter.

A HISTORY LESSON: 2015 marks the 122nd season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 109th-consecutive year in which South Carolina has competed on the gridiron. The University did not field a team in either 1893 or 1906. Carolina is 28 games over the .500 mark with an all-time record of 585-557-44. The Gamecocks were nine games under .500 until head coach Steve Spurrier took the reins in 2005, but are 37 games over since that time (86-49).

SEC, SEC: 2015 marks South Carolina’s 24th year of football in the Southeastern Conference. Carolina and Arkansas joined the league prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned their first SEC Eastern Division title in the 2010 season. Carolina was 37-66-1 (.361) in SEC action from 1992-2004, but are 44-40 (.524) in conference play since Coach Spurrier took the reins, including a 21-15 mark (.583) since the start of the 2011 season.

IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN: Due to the “1,000-Year Flood” which moved last week’s game from Columbia to Baton Rouge, this week’s game against Vanderbilt will be the only home game for the Gamecocks between September 26 and November 14, a seven-week stretch.

ELLIOTT DEBUT: This week’s game will be the first game in charge for interim head coach Shawn Elliott. Elliott, a 1996 graduate of Appalachian State and a Camden, S.C. native, was promoted to his current position by Athletics Director Ray Tanner on October 13, following the resignation of Steve Spurrier. Elliott is in his sixth season at South Carolina and served as the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator before his promotion. Prior to coming to Columbia, Elliott coached at App State, where he helped the Mountaineers to three-straight national championships.

OTHER CHANGES: Interim head coach Shawn Elliott named G.A. Mangus as the offensive coordinator and promoted Travelle Wharton from quality control coordinator to offensive line coach.

HE WILL BE MISSED: Steve Spurrier finished his Carolina career with a record of 86-49 in 10-plus seasons and accumulated an all-time record of 228-89-2 as a college head coach. He ended his career as the winningest coach at both Florida and South Carolina.

CAROLINA VS. VANDY: This is the 25th all-time meeting between South Carolina and Vanderbilt, with the Gamecocks holding a 20-4 advantage, including a 9-2 mark when the teams have met in Columbia and an 11-2 record when the games have been played in Nashville. In the previous 24 outings, Vanderbilt has tallied more than 17 points just five times (24 in 2003, 28 in 2005, 24 in 2008, 25 in 2013 and a record-high 34 in 2014). The Gamecocks won last year’s shootout in Nashville by a 48-34 count, the most combined points in the series history. The Gamecocks have won six straight in the series and 13 of the last 15. Vandy’s four wins have come in back-to-back fashion on two occasions – first in 1998 and `99, then again in 2007 and `08. Those four wins have been by a combined total of 22 points. The teams met just once (1961) before they became SEC Eastern Division rivals beginning in 1992, and have met every year since. Of the Division I FBS opponents against whom the Gamecocks have at least 10 all-time meetings, Carolina has its best winning percentage against Vanderbilt at .833.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET: In what became the highest scoring game in the series, the Gamecocks outlasted the Commodores by a 48-34 count in a shootout in Nashville on September 20, 2014. Dylan Thompson completed 22-of-34 passes for 237 yards and three scores, with Pharoh Cooper on the receiving end of 10 of those completions for 114 yards. Brison Williams added a 53-yard interception return for a score. Darrius Sims kept Vandy in the contest with a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns, scoring from 91 and 100 yards.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET HERE: Behind Connor Shaw’s 368 yards of total offense, South Carolina held on to defeat Vanderbilt 35-25 on Sept. 14, 2013 in Columbia. Shaw threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 21-for-29 passing while also leading the Gamecocks in rushing with 84 yards on 19 carries. Bruce Ellington made eight catches for 111 yards and a score, while Mike Davis added 144 all-purpose yards.

THE LAST TIME OUT: The Gamecocks held their own for the first 30 minutes against the No. 7/5 LSU Tigers last week in Baton Rouge, but could not keep Leonard Fournette and company in check in the second half in a 45-24 LSU win. The game was scheduled to be played in Columbia, but the record flood forced the change of venue, a decision made just three days prior to the game. Fournette, a Heisman candidate, had just 49 yards on 15 carries in the first half, but used an 87-yard TD run on the second play of the second half en route to a 158-yard performance. He was outdone by teammate Derrius Guice, who rushed for 161 yards, as the Tigers rolled up 396 rushing yards and 624 total yards. Perry Orth, making just his second start, completed 14-of-28 passes for 200 yards and two scores with one interception. Pharoh Cooper caught seven passes for 105 yards with a TD.

GET HIM THE BALL: True freshman Rashad Fenton touched the ball for the first time in a college game last Saturday and made it memorable. The Miami. Fla. native returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was the first kickoff return for a score by the Gamecocks since Matthew Thomas went 95 yards against Virginia on Sept. 7, 2002.

ANOTHER C-NOTE FOR COOP: Junior wide receiver Pharoh Cooper caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown at LSU. The TD pass was a 43-yard reception and he added a 42-yard catch. It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and seventh of his career.

THAT’S A FIRST: Junior defensive end Marquavius Lewis is starting the get the hang of this SEC action. The junior college transfer led the team with a career-high nine tackles at LSU, including his first career sack, a 12-yard loss. He also had a quarterback hurry in the contest.

BALANCING ACT: Through six games, the Gamecock offensive attack is as even as it can get. The Gamecocks have rushed 217 times for 1,025 yards and have passed 161 times for an identical 1,025 yards. South Carolina is averaging 170.8 yards both on the ground and through the air.

IT AIN’T OVER `TIL IT’S OVER: The Gamecocks have trailed heading into halftime in all six games this season. They have rallied from behind to win two of those contests (North Carolina and UCF).

HOME SWEET HOME: The Gamecocks are 23-4 in their last 27 home games (.852) and 39-7 (.848) in their last 46 home games. Carolina had its school-record 18-game home winning streak snapped in the 2014 season opener. The school’s previous longest home winning streak was 15 games, set from 1978-80. The only home losses since the start of the 2009 season have come to top-ranked Florida in 2009, to 17th-ranked Arkansas in 2010 and to defending national champion Auburn in 2011 before the 2014 home losses to Texas A&M, Missouri and Tennessee and a 2015 loss to Kentucky.

HOME CROWD ADVANTAGE: The Gamecocks have played in front of 13 sellouts in their last 16 home contests. The Gamecocks ranked 16th in the nation in home attendance in 2014 with an average of 81,381 per game, including a season-high 84,232 against Georgia, the fifth-largest crowd to attend a game in Columbia. Three of 2014’s home crowds figured in the top-30 all-time at Williams-Brice Stadium.

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Fifteen Gamecocks have made their first career starts this season. Carlton Heard, Marquavius Lewis, Connor Mitch, Deebo Samuel and Taylor Stallworth did so in the season-opening win over North Carolina. Larenz Bryant earned the start for the first time in his career against Kentucky. Terry Googer and Perry Orth made their first career starts at Georgia. Those who earned their first start against UCF were Jacob August, Zack Bailey, D.J. Neal, Lorenzo Nuñez and Dante Sawyer. Bailey, Neal and Nuñez are all true freshmen. Matrick Belton made his first start at Missouri and David Williams got the start at LSU.

STABILITY UP FRONT…: The Gamecocks have had stability in the offensive line, as the same player has started every game at four of the five spots. LT Brandon Shell, LG Mike Matulis, RG Will Sport and RT Mason Zandi have answered the bell in each tilt. Alan Knott has made four starts at center with Zack Bailey making the other two.

BUT FLUIDITY AT THE SKILL POSITIONS: In addition to three different starting quarterbacks (Connor Mitch, Perry Orth and Lorenzo Nuñez), the Gamecocks have started three tailbacks (Brandon Wilds, Shon Carson and David Williams), and seven wide receivers (Pharoh Cooper, Deebo Samuel, Carlton Heard, Shamier Jeffery, Terry Googer, D.J. Neal, and Matrick Belton) through six games.

MITCH ON THE MEND: Connor Mitch, who was Carolina’s starting quarterback in each of the first two games, has been sidelined since suffering a sprained right shoulder in week two against Kentucky. He hopes to begin resuming some throwing in practice this week.

THE ORTH QUAKE: Former walk-on quarterback Perry Orth, who went on scholarship prior to the start of the season, figures to make his second-straight start and third of the season against Vanderbilt. Orth, who spent part of the summer working in a local grocery store stocking shelves, has completed 37-of-75 passes (49.3 percent) for 483 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He entered the season having completed just 1-of-3 passes for five yards. His first extensive duty came in relief of Mitch against Kentucky, where he responded by completing 13-of-20 passes for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He made his first career start at Georgia, where he completed 6-of-17 passes for 66 yards with an interception. His second start was much better, as he hit on 14-of-28 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns and an interception at LSU.

NEXT MAN UP: Redshirt freshman Michael Scarnecchia is listed second on the depth chart at quarterback this week. Scarnecchia, more of a traditional dropback passer, made his collegiate debut last week, taking the final series at LSU. He completed his only pass attempt for nine yards.

THE FRESHMAN PHENOM: True freshman Lorenzo Nuñez, who began the fall listed fourth on the depth chart, took over as the starting signal-caller against UCF before injuring his shoulder at Missouri. In his first career start against UCF, the 6-3, 210-pounder, rushed for a game-high 123 yards and hit on 12-of-22 pass attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. In his first road SEC start, at Mizzou, he led the team with 15 carries for 60 yards and completed 15-of-24 passes for 172 yards with a touchdown, but was picked off three times. In relief duty at Georgia, he rushing 10 times for a team-high 76 yards, including a pair of 17-yard scampers, and completed 4-for-5 passes for 18 yards. For the season, Nuñez is 31-of-51 (60.8 percent) for 374 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. Despite playing in just four of six games, he is also Carolina’s leading rusher with 45 carries for 299 yards, an average of 6.6 yards per carry, with one touchdown.

BY LAND OR BY AIR: True freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nuñez rushed for 123 yards and threw for 184 against UCF. It was the first time a Carolina player had both rushed and passed for more than 100 yards in a game since Connor Shaw did so against Clemson in 2011 (107 rush/210 pass).

RUNNIN’ WILDS: Fifth-year senior Brandon Wilds hopes to return to duty this week after missing the last three games with bruised ribs. The 6-2, 220-pounder rambled for 106 yards on 16 carries against Kentucky, his fifth-career 100-yard rushing game. He was limited to just five carries for 24 yards against Georgia before leaving with bruised ribs. Wilds is averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season and 5.0 for his career.

1,000-YARD CAREER RUSHERS: Brandon Wilds is 27th on Carolina’s all-time list in career rushing with 1,458 yards.
No. (PLAYER YEARS) ATT. — YARDS – AVG.
1. George Rogers (1977-80) 954-5,204 – 5.5
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17. Bishop Strickland (1947-50) 381-1,965 – 5.2
18. Duce Staley (1995-96) 345-1,852 – 5.4
18. Andrew Pinnock (1999-02) 422-1,852 – 4.4
20. Rob DeBoer (1990-93) 386-1,810 – 4.7
21. Connor Shaw (2010-13) 452-1,683 – 3.7
22. Spencer Clark (1976-79) 319-1,652 – 5.2
23. Mike Dingle (1988-90) 389-1,634 – 4.2
24. Troy Hambrick (1996-98) 302-1,586 – 5.3
25. Jeff Grantz (1972-75) 405-1,577 – 3.9
26. Alex Hawkins (1956-58) 339-1,490 – 4.4
27. Brandon Wilds 2011-15 291 1,458 5.0

100-100 CLUB: The Gamecocks recorded a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the same game for just the third time since the start of the 2011 season when Brandon Wilds carried 16 times for 106 yards and Pharoh Cooper caught nine passes for 100 yards against Kentucky. The same duo accomplished the feat last season against Tennessee when Wilds ran for 143 yards and Cooper logged a school-record 233 receiving yards.

TRIPLE CROWN THREAT: Pharoh Cooper is not just a great pass catcher, but can also run and throw. He has averaged 8.0 yards per carry in his career, rushing 61 times for 490 yards with four touchdowns, and has completed 8-of-14 passes for 101 yards with three scores. He also returns punts with a career long of 36 yards.

2015–THE YEAR OF PHAROH: Pharoh Cooper caught nine passes for 100 yards against Kentucky, had nine more catches for 102 yards at Missouri, then had seven for 105 yards and a score at LSU, his seventh-career 100-yard receiving game. He ranks sixth in the SEC with 5.5 receptions per game and is seventh with 71.2 receiving yards per game.

AMONG THE BEST: With 105 career receptions, Pharoh Cooper became just the 15th player in Gamecock history to record 100 or more career receptions. He currently ranks tied for 14th with Philip Logan. He is also just 137 yards away from moving into the top-10 at Carolina for receiving yards in a career.
RECEPTIONS
No. PLAYER (YEARS) REC. 1. Kenny McKinley (2005-08) — 207
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8. Sidney Rice (2005-06) — 142
9. Cory Boyd (2003-07) — 117
10. Stanley Pritchett (1992-95) — 116
11. Brandon Bennett (1991-94) — 111
12. Ryan Brewer (1999-02) — 107
13. Bruce Ellington (2011-13) — 106
T14. Philip Logan (1974-77) – 105

T14. Pharoh Cooper (2013-15) — 105

RECEIVING YARDS
1. Alshon Jeffery (2009-11) 3,042
2. Kenny McKinley (2005-08) 2,781
3. Sterling Sharpe (1983-87) 2,497
4. Zola Davis (1995-98) 2,354
5. Sidney Rice (2005-06) 2,233
6. Robert Brooks (1988-91) 2,211
7. Jermale Kelly (1997-00) 2,181
8. Philip Logan (1974-77) 2,063
9. Fred Zeigler (1967-69) 1,876
10. Troy Williamson (2002-04) 1,754
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Pharoh Cooper (2013-15) 1,617

KING TUTT_CHDOWN: With touchdown receptions against North Carolina, UCF and LSU, Pharoh Cooper has moved into South Carolina’s top-10 for receiving touchdowns in a career:
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Sidney Rice (2005-06) 23
Alshon Jeffery (2009-11) 23
3. Robert Brooks (1988-91) 19
Jermale Kelly (1997-00) 19
Kenny McKinley (2005-08) 19
6. Sterling Sharpe (1983-87) 17
Zola Davis (1995-98) 17
8. Bruce Ellington (2011-13) 16
9. Philip Logan (1974-77) 15
10. Toby Cates (1991-94) 13
Monty Means (1992-95) 13
Troy Williamson (2002-04) 13
Ace Sanders (2010-12) 13
Pharoh Cooper (2013-15) 13

ADAMS’ WAY: Senior tight end Jerell Adams, a 6-6, 231-pounder from Pinewood, S.C., has 13 receptions for 200 yards this season, including a pair of touchdown receptions. He has 51 career catches for 756 yards, a 14.8-yard average with six touchdowns. Adams has also produced in the classroom, as he is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was named the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Representative of the University of South Carolina at the 2015 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER: 22-year-old walk-on freshman Hayden Hurst was added to the Carolina football roster this summer. Hurst was originally committed to attend Florida State on a baseball scholarship, before electing to turn pro and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He was drafted as a pitcher and eventually was moved to first base before giving up the game for good. He was encouraged to walk-on at South Carolina by Perry Orth, who he has known for years. Hurst moved from tight end to wide receiver after the UCF game and caught his first pass, a 9-yard reception, at LSU.

THE SHELL GAME: The Gamecocks feature an experienced first unit up front, headlined by fifth-year senior left tackle Brandon Shell. Shell, a 6-6, 328-pounder from Goose Creek, S.C. who has been tabbed to some preseason All-SEC units, made the move from right tackle to left tackle this season, a position where he made his first career start (at Vanderbilt in 2012), before moving to the right side where he made 36 consecutive starts entering the season. His 42 career starts is more than any other two players on the squad combined and is the eighth-highest total in school history.

THE MIKE MAN: Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Mike Matulis, who was penciled in as the starting right guard a year ago, but suffered a left knee injury midway through fall camp and only saw limited time during the season before undergoing surgery, returns for his final campaign. The 6-5, 293-pounder from Boynton Beach, Fla., was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2011, and gives Carolina veteran leadership up front. He has started 16 games in his career, the first 10 at tackle, while battling shoulder and knee injuries.

TURNING IT OVER: The Gamecocks, like most teams, have their most success when they win the turnover battle. The Gamecocks are 2-0 when they have won the turnover battle this season, going plus-3 against North Carolina and plus-1 versus UCF. They are 0-2 when even in turnovers (Kentucky and Georgia) and are 0-2 when committing more turnovers (minus-3 at Missouri and minus-1 at LSU). For the season, they are even.

THE SKAI’S THE LIMIT: The Gamecocks top linebacker is Skai Moore. Moore, a junior from Cooper City, Fla., has led the team in tackles in each of the past two years, becoming the first player to do so since Emanuel Cook (2007-08), and is well on his way to leading the team for a third-straight year. His 58 stops is nearly as many as the next two players combined. The last to do it three years in a row was Tony Watkins (1992-94). The 6-2, 218-pounder who garnered Defensive MVP honors in the 2014 Independence Bowl, tallied a team-high 11 tackles and a pair of interceptions in the season opening win over North Carolina, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Week accolades. It was the third time he’s logged two interceptions in a game, also in the 2014 Capital One Bowl versus Wisconsin and in 2014 against South Alabama. He has recorded double-figures in tackles in three of six games, is fourth in the SEC averaging 9.7 tackles per game and is tied for second in the SEC with three interceptions. Moore now owns 207 career tackles and 10 interceptions.

PICKIN’ AND GRINNIN’: Carolina linebacker Skai Moore has 10 career interceptions, including three this season, two in the opener against North Carolina and one against Kentucky. He is among the school’s all-time leader in career INTs:
CAREER INTERCEPTIONS
1. Bo Davies (1969-71) 14
2. Dick Harris (1969-71) 12
3. Henry Laws (1973-75) 11
Robert Perlotte (1979-81) 11
Pat Bowen (1979-82) 11
Bryant Gillard (1982-84) 11
Robert Robinson (1985-88) 11
8. 8 players tied 10
Most recent: Skai Moore (2013-15) 10

WAVING THE WHEAT GOODBYE: Senior safety Isaiah Johnson graduated from the University of Kansas, came to Carolina late in the summer, and quickly moved into a starting role. The Cary, N.C. product picked off six passes in the last two seasons for the Jayhawks. The 6-0, 209-pounder was voted the Big 12 Coaches’ Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2013. He is second on the squad with 35 tackles.

THE FRISCO KID: Elliott Fry, a 6-0, 164-pound junior kicker from Frisco, Texas is 11-for-15 this season with a career long of 52 yards, missing from 57-, 42-, 49- and 44-yards out. His 1.8 field goals made per game is second in the SEC and eighth in the country. He is tied for seventh among SEC kickers, averaging 7.3 points per game. Fry is a 2015 Groza candidate, was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, was a second-team preseason All-SEC selection by the media and a third-team choice by the league’s 14 coaches. Last season, he was a Groza Award semifinalist, connected on 18-of-25 field goals, ranked third in the SEC with 105 points, the third-highest single-season mark in school history, and was fifth in the SEC in points per game at 8.1.

YOU WANT A FRY WITH THAT?: Elliott Fry has hit on 44-of-58 career field goal attempts (75.9 percent) and on 116-of-117 extra points, including his last 110 in a row, a school record. His field goal percentage increases to 81.5 when he attempts from under 54-yards out (44-of-54). Fry was also a member of the 2014 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

ALWAYS BETTER WHEN IT’S FRY: Junior Elliott Fry is moving up the South Carolina charts in several career categories:
FIELD GOALS MADE
1. Collin Mackie (1987-90) 72
2. Ryan Succop (2005-08) 49
3. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 44
4. Mark Fleetwood (1981-83) 39
Reed Morton (1993-96) 39

FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED
1. Collin Mackie (1987-90) 98
2. Ryan Succop (2005-08) 69
3. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 58
4. Reed Morton (1993-96) 54
5. Mark Fleetwood (1981-83) 53

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
1. Spencer Lanning (2007-10) .773 (34 of 44)
2. Elliott Fry (2013-15) .759 (44 of 58)
3. Josh Brown (2003-05) .741 (20 of 27)
4. Mark Fleetwood (1981-83) .736 (39 of 53)
5. Collin Mackie (1987-90) .735 (72 of 98)

PATs MADE
1. Scott Hagler (1983-86) 117
2. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 116
3. Collin Mackie (1987-90) 114
4. Ryan Succop (2005-08) 104
5. Daniel Weaver (2000-03) 88

PATs ATTEMPTED
1. Scott Hagler (1983-86) 118
2. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 117
3. Collin Mackie (1987-90) 115
4. Ryan Succop (2005-08) 106
5. Daniel Weaver (2000-03) 94

PAT PERCENTAGE (Min. 40 Made)
1. Adam Yates (2008-12) 1.000 (49 of 49)
2. Scott Hagler (1983-86) .992 (117 of 118)
3. Elliott Fry (2013-15) .991 (116 of 117)
Collin Mackie (1987-90) .991 (114 of 115)
5. Ryan Succop (2005-08) .981 (104 of 106)

CONSECUTIVE PATs
1. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 110
2. Scott Hagler (1984-86) 82

POINTS SCORED
1. Collin Mackie (1987-90) 330
2. Ryan Succop (2005-08) 251
3. Elliott Fry (2013-15) 248
4. Marcus Lattimore (2010-12) 246
5. George Rogers (1977-80) 202

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: Junior placekicker Elliott Fry connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal against UCF. That came on the heels of a then-career long 51-yarder at Georgia the previous week. Entering the 2015 season his long was 47 yards. The 52-yarder was the longest field goal by a Gamecock since Ryan Succop connected from 54-yards out against Arkansas in 2008 and tied for the sixth-longest in school history.

MR. AUTOMATIC: Elliott Fry has extended his school record to 110-straight made PATs. He ranks fifth among active kickers in that category.

KELLY’S A HERO: Sean Kelly has proven to be a valuable addition. The former FAU Owl ranks seventh in the SEC in punting with a 42.2-yard average. The junior walk-on got off to a fast start in the season opener against North Carolina, punting five times for a 46.2-yard average, including a 60-yarder and two that were downed inside the 10-yard line. It was the Gamecocks’ first punt of 60 yards or more since 2011 when Joey Scribner-Howard launched a 60-yarder at Mississippi State. The 5-10, 189-pounder from Oakland, Fla., who punted for FAU for two seasons, also ran 17 yards for a first down on a fake punt for South Carolina’s initial first down of the season, and made the tackle on the return of a field goal attempt that came up short, that may have kept points off the scoreboard. For the season, he has punted 24 times with four over 50 yards and 12 inside the 20.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: South Carolina had individual game captains early in the season before electing permanent team captains prior to the LSU game. The permanent captains are Pharoh Cooper, T.J. Holloman, Isaiah Johnson, Mike Matulis, Skai Moore, and Brandon Shell.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Gamecocks have next week off before returning to SEC action on October 31 with the first-ever trip to Texas A&M.