BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - The Long Island University football team (1-1) returns to campus on Saturday for a matchup with Sacred Heart University (1-1) in its home opener and annual homecoming game. Opening kickoff at Shark Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.

The game will be televised digitally on NEC Front Row, with the "Voice of the Sharks" Phil Constantino (play-by-play) and former college coach Jim Wright (analyst) on the call. Radio coverage will be available on the LIU Sharks Audio Network with Mike Murabito (play-by-play) and former college quarterback Evan Cormier (analyst).

Saturday's television coverage will be proceeded by a Live Tailgate Show from Nuti Park inside Shark Stadium, hosted by ESPN broadcaster Alan Hahn ('92) and Portland Trailblazers play-by-play voice Travis Demers ('03). The show will feature several marquee guests including Head Football Coach Ron Cooper and Head Men's Basketball Coach Rod Strickland, and will also air live on NEC Front Row from 10-11 a.m.
 
Quick Facts
SERIES HISTORY: LIU will be looking for its fourth-straight win against its former NEC rival. Sacred Heart is currently in its second season as an independent before the Pioneers move to the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) on July 1, 2026. LIU leads the all-time series 4-3, with the series tied 3-3 in Division I. The Sharks have won each meeting since 2022.

The two teams last met in Fairfield, Connecticut last November, with LIU coming away with a 28-7 win. The Sharks knocked off the Pioneers, 23-13, at Shark Stadium in 2023 and were victorious on the road, 37-34, in 2022.

LAST TIME OUT:  LIU went on the road last Saturday evening and knocked off Eastern Michigan University, 28-23, of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). It was the program's first-ever win over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.

TRIO OF SHARKS GARNER NEC WEEKLY HONORS: For their efforts against Eastern Michigan, a trio of LIU players were recognized by the NEC with weekly awards.

Redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani was named NEC Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week and graduate student linebacker Rafael Fasolino was named defensive player of the week. Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Greenwood received prime performer recognition for his performance, before exiting the game due to injury late in the second quarter.

The weekly award is Stanzani's first player of the week award of his career. He previously earned weekly recognition as NEC Rookie of the Week three times during his freshman season in 2022. Fasolino earned the NEC's top weekly defensive honor for the first time in his career.

Stanzani and Fasolino are the second and third Sharks to claim a NEC weekly award this season after senior punter Will Lynch was named special teams co-player of the week for his week one performance versus Florida.

LIU ON THE NATIONAL STAGE: The LIU Sharks were named Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week for week two of the season after their upset of Eastern Michigan. LIU also received five votes in this week's Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, securing votes in the poll for the first time in program history.

COOPER'S TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING: Saturday was a victorious homecoming for Coach Cooper who returned to Eastern Michigan, the place where he began his head coaching career. Cooper, who is now in his 43rd season as a coach and 14th as a collegiate head coach, spent two seasons, 1993 -1994, in Ypsilanti as the Eastern Michigan head man.

GREENWOOD CONTINUES TO RACK UP THE ACCOLADES: This offseason, Greenwood (Baldwin, N.Y.) was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, a Second-Team All-American by Stats Perform, and a Third-Team All-American by FCS Central. Greenwood finished last season by earning Third-Team All-America recognition and Second-Team All-NEC honors at quarterback. He ranked third in the NEC and led all quarterbacks with 913 rushing yards and 76.1 rushing yards per game. Both marks ranked Greenwood within the top 50 in the FCS statistics and third best among all FCS quarterbacks. Through the air, Greenwood threw for 921 yards with six touchdowns and just two interceptions. He accounted for 13 of the Sharks' 35 touchdowns in 2024, tacking on five rushing scores while catching two more.

FIVE SHARKS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-NEC SELECTIONS: Five LIU Sharks earned preseason all-conference recognition from the NEC; Greenwood, Lynch, sophomore wide receiver Cory Nichols, graduate student edge rusher DQ Watkins, and redshirt senior defensive back Todd Bowles, Jr.