RHODE ISLAND VS. LIU - SERIES NOTES

• The Rams and the Sharks will play one another for the first time on Saturday afternoon. 
• LIU is one of three first-time opponents on Rhode Island's schedule, joining Minnesota and Campbell.
• So far, Rhody has a split record in those meetings with a road loss to the Golden Gophers (48-0; Sept. 7) and a home victory over the Camels (21-9; Sept. 14). 
• The 2024-25 academic year is LIU's sixth competing at the Division I level.
• Formerly split between two campuses - Post and Brooklyn - the university merged into a single athletics program in Sept. of 2019. 
• LIU is coming off a narrow loss to Lehigh in its NEC opener (20-17; Sept. 14). 
• The Sharks kicked off their 2024 slate with a game against a familiar foe to Rhode Island in UAlbany. 
• A pair of scores in the third quarter allowed the Great Danes to overtake the Sharks for a 27-21 victory at home (Aug. 31). 
• Rhode Island is 3-1 against current members of the NEC, with all four results coming from games against Central Connecticut State.
• URI safety Ayinde Johnson spent three seasons with the Sharks before hitting the transfer portal. He appeared in more than 20 games and earned a handful of NEC weekly honors. 

BUCHANAN PROVIDES A BIG TARGET

• Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan has caught a pass in 10 consecutive games thanks to his recent performance opposite Campbell. 
• The sophomore had four grabs for 48 yards while hauling in his first touchdown of the year.
• Buchanan leads the team with 200 receiving yards on 13 catches so far.
• Last year, the Providence, R.I. native was named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American at the end of a rookie campaign that had 638 receiving yards and four touchdown catches.
• Four different receivers have caught a touchdown pass so far: Shawn Harris, Jr., Greg Gaines III and Tommy Smith.
• The Rams are averaging 178.33 passing yards per game. 

FROM KINGSTON TO FOXBOROUGH

• The game between Rhode Island and LIU will not be the only notable matchup between a New England team and a New York team this week.
• The New England Patriots are scheduled to play at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19.
• MetLife Stadium and LIU's Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium are less than 40 miles apart. 
• There are numerous ties between the Rams and the Patriots this season.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Case Mankins is the son of Logan Mankins, who was the Pats' first round draft selection in 2005. 
• He played 11 seasons in the NFL as a guard and was selected to seven Pro Bowls.
• Case played in 10 games as a true freshman and has appeared in all three this year.
• Sophomore punter Devin Walter's father Ken Walter played the same position in his nine-year NFL career and was the holder for the Patriots' 2002 and 2004 Super Bowl Championship teams. 
• Devin has been at the top of the Rams' depth chart since his arrival in Kingston.
• Former wide receiver Ed Lee (2017-22) had a nearly three-month stint with the program after signing as a rookie free agent in June of 2023. 
• His professional journey with the Patriots began when the Second Team All-CAA selection received an invitation to attend a mini camp that spring. 
• Former Ram Coby Tippett's (2020-21) father, Andre Tippett, was a standout for the New England Patriots and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.
• The defensive back, who played for the Rams in 2020 and 2021, was a First Team All-CAA performer at punt returner and earned Third Team accolades at safety.
• After a successful coaching stint at Tufts, Coby joined the Patriots' staff as a special teams coaching assistant. 

RHODE WARRIORS

• The Rams make the trip to Brookville in search of their first road win since Oct. 7 of last year. On that day, Rhode Island defeated in-state foe Brown 34-30 to claim the Governor's Cup. 
• URI lost its final two road contests of the 2023 season, falling at UAlbany (Oct. 21; 35-10) and Towson (Nov. 18; 31-30). 
• This year, Rhody lost 48-0 to Big Ten power Minnesota in its first road game (Sept. 7). 
• The issues on the road have not prevented the Rams from overall success, as the team has strung together four consecutive winning seasons. 
• Rhode Island last had a winning record on the road in 2020, going 2-0 in the COVID-shortened campaign that was played in the spring of 2021. 
• Before that, the Rams had not achieved the feat since a 4-2 campaign in 2001 (8-3 overall).