Full Game Notes (PDF)

LET'S GET IT STARTED: Butler kicks off the 2016 season with a trip to Terre Haute to face Indiana State. The 3 p.m. start will air on the WatchESPN app and through ESPN3.com. The Bulldogs posted a 6-5 record in 2015, including 4-4 in Pioneer Football League play.
 
PRESEASON HONORS: Sean Horan and Connor Andras represent Butler on the 2016 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team as selected by the league's head coaches. Horan, recognized as one of the PFL's three linebackers selected, led the Bulldogs in tackles in 2015, being named first-team Academic All-Pioneer Football League, second-team All-Pioneer Football League, and receiving Butler's Defensive MVP recognition. Andras, a junior, is one of two long snappers on the preseason team. He earned honorable mention All-PFL in 2015. He also sees significant time along Butler's defensive line.
 
HOW THEY WERE PICKED: Butler was selected to finish seventh in the upcoming Pioneer Football League season in a poll of the conference's 11 coaches. In the 2016 poll, a group of six teams – separated by only 15 points – were bunched in the third through eighth spots. The PFL released the preseason poll July 25.
 
HOME COOKING: Butler displayed a 5-0 home mark in 2015. That Butler team is the first since 2012 to go undefeated at the Butler Bowl.
 
CAPTAINS: Linebacker Sean Horan, defensive tackle Jordan Ransone, and offensive lineman Michael Demos are Butler's captains for the 2016 season. All three are fifth-year seniors.
 
BACK IN (ALMOST) FULL FORCE: Butler's defense returns nine of its 11 starters from a season ago, graduating only defensive tackle Adam Rodgers and linebacker Jordan Massey. The defense returns its top eight tacklers from 2015, led by Sean Horan with 72. Senior Josh Willis and his team-leading seven sacks also returns.
 
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER: Butler graduated four of its top five pass-catchers from 2015. Danny Cotter highlights the returning group, pulling in 37 passes for a team-high 510 yards a season ago. Sophomore Pace Temple was one of the freshmen who saw significant action last season, with four of his 18 catches going for touchdowns. Duvante Lane, Anthony Scaccia and John Hall return in the backfield, from a group that only lost Rico Watson to graduation. Running back Sam Schrader was injured in the third game of the 2015 season. He is expected to return during the 2016 campaign after putting up 609 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014.
 
ALONG THE LINE: Butler was able to utilize one unit along the offensive line for all 11 contests in 2015. Left tackle David Tiwari and center Max Brodbeck graduated from that unit, but Michael Robinson (LG), Nestor Porres (RG) and Joe Hackett (RT) return. The group also welcomes back All-Pioneer Football League performer Michael Demos at left tackle. He missed the 2015 season due to injury. Dakota Sneed is slated to step in at center in 2016.
 
UNDER CENTER: With the graduation of do-everything quarterback Matt Shiltz, the Bulldogs entered spring ball and their August camp without a designated No. 1 quarterback. Redshirt senior Malcolm Weaver and redshirt sophomore Will Marty battled through the team's final scrimmage last weekend, and Weaver will get the start Week 1. Weaver saw extensive action in 2014 as a sophomore, starting five contests. During that time, he passed for 1,010 yards and ran for 198, accounting for eight total touchdowns.
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: Isaak Newhouse led the Bulldogs with six interceptions a season ago. Newhouse ranked third in the PFL and seventh in FCS in picks per game last season.
 
THIS TIME LAST YEAR: The Sycamores of the Missouri Valley Conference utilized a powerful running game to score the 52-17 win in the 2015 opener for both teams. ISU rushed for 303 yards on 34 carries with five of their seven touchdowns coming on the ground. LeMonte Booker led the Sycamores with 137 yards. The 3:05 p.m. kick-off did not end until just past 8 p.m. as the game was delayed twice by lightning in the area. 

FILLING THE GAP: The graduation of Matt Shiltz leaves opportunities for others to step up and contribute offensively. In 2015, Shiltz led the PFL in total offense and was fifth in FCS, accounting for 304.7 yards per game. His 10 rushing touchdowns also led the league. Shiltz was one of five Bulldogs to earn postseason All-PFL honors.
 
THREE AND OUT: In 2015, Butler's defense led the PFL in getting off the field on third down. Their opponents were able to convert on only 31.3 percent of third downs.
 
THAT'S GOOD WORK: Butler senior captain Sean Horan is among 165 nominees for the 25^th Anniversary Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the nominees Wednesday, July 13. 
 
IT'S SO PRETTY, LET'S PLAY TWO: The 2016 schedule for the Bulldogs will be identical to the 2015 slate as Butler opens with Indiana State, Franklin and Taylor before facing off with the same eight PFL foes as they did a season ago.
 
WINNING WAYS: Butler has posted winning seasons in three of the last four years.
 
THE MAN IN CHARGE: Head coach Jeff Voris enters his 11^th season in charge at Butler, posting a 60-53 record. He is third on Butler's all-time wins list, trailing only Tony Hinkle (165) and Bill Sylvester (84).