Joe Walton's 16-year record as head football coach at Robert Morris University is an impressive 95-67-1, which is why the Colonials' sub-.500 marks the past three seasons are unusual.

The records haven't been terrible -- the Colonials finished 5-6 the past two seasons -- but they're not up to the high standard Walton had established. His teams had just three losing seasons the previous 13 years.

Robert Morris expects to return to its winning ways this year. The Colonials have 19 starters returning, including 10 on the offensive side. Coaches in the Division I-AA Northeast Conference picked Robert Morris to finish second in a preseason poll. Walton's goal, as always, is higher.

"We've had three pretty good recruiting classes and I'm excited about our quarterback," said Walton, who started the Colonials' program in 1994. "Our depth is much better than it has been."

The Colonials will get an idea of how good they are at 1 p.m. today when they play at Dayton. The Flyers were 9-2 last year, have 15 starters returning -- 10 on offense -- and have won the past seven meetings with the Colonials.

"They're always good. It's going to be a test for us," Walton said.

Walton expects sophomore quarterback Jeff Sinclair, a Highlands High School graduate, to do nothing but get better. In seven games last year, Sinclair threw for 828 yards and nine touchdowns. He is also a shifty runner, gaining 128 yards and scoring three times.

Sinclair gives Robert Morris something it hasn't had in recent years -- a gifted quarterback.

"We've had guys who were fine, but we haven't had someone with [Sinclair's] ability since maybe Tim Levcik," Walton said. "A lot of people might not remember, but Jeff was all-state as a defensive back in high school and a lot of people wanted him to play there. One of the reasons I think we got him is because we wanted him as a quarterback."

Sinclair is joined in the backfield by senior running back Myles Russ, who has gained more than 1,000 yards on the ground the past two seasons. He will become the Colonials all-time leading rusher, surpassing Sam Dorsett, by gaining 940 yards this year.

The Colonials also have kicker Garrett Clawson, who made an NEC-high 14 field goals last year, and punter Nick Schirtzinger, who put 21 punts inside the opponent's 20 last year, returning. Both are seniors.

Walton knows the reason the Colonials haven't challenged for the NEC title the past three seasons.

"We had a couple of bad recruiting years," he said. "The year before last, we graduated just four starters. Last year, we graduated just five seniors who played a lot. ...

"This year, we'll have nine or 10 senior players who will play a lot. Now, we still have a lot of sophomores and juniors who are going to play, so we'll still be a young team, but we'll have more depth than we've had in the past."

Bucknell at Duquesne, 6 p.m., Rooney Field: The Dukes face the Bison in a season opener for the ninth time in the past 14 years, with Bucknell leading the all-time series, 9-4. ... Sophomore Sean Patterson returns at quarterback for the Dukes after taking over that position last year because of injuries.... The Dukes are 66-21-0 all-time at Rooney Field.

California at Saginaw Valley State, noon, Wickes Memorial Stadium, University Center, Mich.: This non-conference game will be a good test for California. Saginaw Valley has 12 starters return, seven on offense, from a team that went 9-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs. ... California is 50-39-1 in season openers, winning seven of its past nine.

Carnegie Mellon at Grove City, 1:30 p.m., Thorn Field: Carnegie Mellon has won seven of the past 11 meetings between the two and leads the all-time series that dates to 1908, 31-18-1. The Tartans won last year's contest, 45-40. ... The Wolverines have led the Presidents' Athletic Conference in fewest penalties four of the past five years. ... Carnegie Mellon is 11-0 in season openers dating to 1999.

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