SLIPPERY ROCK — When new offensive coordinator Phil Longo was installing his up-tempo, spread offense last year, head coach George Mihalik had one request.

“I told him I'm old-school and I like to run the football,” Mihalik said. “I still want to be able to run the football.

“Coach Longo told me we would average 200 yards a game on the ground. I was sold.”

Through the first eight games of this year, SRU is averaging 204.5 yards per game on the ground. The Rock has rushed for 23 touchdowns.

That's not bad, considering:

Nigel Barksdale has passed for 2,790 yards and 23 touchdowns and is on the verge of shattering Rock records in both categories.

John Schademan is on the verge of breaking SRU's record for TD catches in a season and needs 273 yards receiving to break the school mark of yards receiving in a single campaign.

Fifteen Rock players have caught at least one pass this season.

SRU has completed 37 touchdown drives in less than two minutes and 13TD drives in less than one minute so far this season.

“We are not just a passing team,” Longo said. “It's a cliche, take what the defense gives us, but, really, that's what we do.”

The Rock offense habitually runs a play every 10 to 12 seconds. It ran 110 offensive plays in the season opener at Northwood (Mich.). Only one Division II team — Oklahoma Panhandle (113) — has run more in a game.

It ran 103 plays last week at Edinboro. This week, at home against California (Pa.), SRU has a chance to seize control of the PSAC West.

Just like it's taken control of opposing defenses.

Four times this season, SRU has scored more than 50 points. Four times, the team has generated more than 600 yards in offense.

No Rock team had ever done such a thing. SRU ranks fourth in all of Division II with 572.7 yards per game.

“The more you do something, the better you get at it,” Longo said. “We know we can get better. Because of penalties and turnovers, we've left 57 points on the field (through seven games) this year. That's a lot.

“When you go at the pace we like to, everything has to be instinctive. That all starts with the quarterback. It's the most unique position in sports and we couldn't be doing this if it wasn't for his dedication and commitment to it.”

Barksdale tore up his knee at the end of last season and Mihalik wasn't sure when he'd have his top signal-caller back.

“I was thinking Week 3 or 4,” Mihalik said. “It's to Nigel's credit that he got back so soon.”

Barksdale puts in as much preparation time off the field as he does on it.

“I do a ton of film study,” the quarterback said. “I have to run things out there. I have the authority to audible in and out of plays, based on what I see, so I have to know what's going on.

“I study our stuff all the time and I break down that week's defense in the film room so I can recognize what they're doing.”

If a mistake is made, there's no time to talk about it between plays.

“We correct and talk about things between series, not plays,” Longo said. “We like to keep it moving.”

The Rock offensive line loves to keep it moving.

Starting guards Bill Whitaker and Kirk Nypaver welcome the quick pace — because of what it does to the defense they line up against.

“It's very visible,” Nypaver said of defenses tiring. “You see them running subs in and out, lining up slowly. We don't face as many stunts or blitzes late in games because they're out of gas.”

Often times, SRU's offensive line is ready to snap the ball for the next play before the skilled players are set.

“We want to keep it moving because we see how it affects the defense,” Whitaker admitted. “We love it. We have no problem keeping up.”

That's because during conditioning drills, Rock linemen do the same amount and type of running as the skilled position players.

“Most teams split up their linemen and skilled players when it comes to that stuff. We don't,” Longo said. “Our offense can only move as fast as our linemen do.”

The linemen need to know as many as 12 reads, based on the play call from the sidelines or from Barksdale.

Receiver Ken Amos said the wideouts need to know more than 20 reads.

“We've got to be on the same page every play ... and we've got to get there quick,” Amos said.

Amos has no problem sharing the wealth. He is one of seven Rock players to catch a touchdown pass this season. He's one of three — joining Schademan and Jaimire Dutrieuille — with more than 400 yards receiving.

“For me, it's all about football,” Amos said. “I love throwing a touchdown block more than scoring a touchdown myself. It's a source of pride when your block helped somebody get into the end zone.

“Believe me, we all have to block at one time or another.”

Barksdale has become a legitimate Harlon Hill Trophy candidate as the best player in Division II. By the time the season is over, he will rank third on SRU's career list in touchdown passes.

He will trail only four-year starters Randy McKavish and Nate Crookshank. Barksdale has started less than two full years at The Rock.

“I don't worry about that stuff. I'm just concentrating on doing my job,” Barksdale said.

And winning.

“He throws more passes in the first seven minutes than I did in a game,” said Mihalik, SRU's quarterback from 1971-73. “This pace of play and style of offense is still a new comcept for me.

“But I'm not complaining. Who can? It works.”

Slippery Rock University’s offense ranks among the best in NCAA Division II this season:Team — 2nd, Total Offense, 580.8 yards per game (leader-Emporia State, 584.4)Team — 2nd, 110 plays in a game (leader-Oklahoma Panhandle 113)Team — 4th, Passing Offense, 376.3 yards per game (leader-Henderson State, 427.1)Team — 5th, Scoring Offense, 46.5 points per game (leader-Henderson State, 55.1)Team — 6th, 221 first downs (leader-Colorado Mines 246)Nigel Barksdale — 4th, 2,790 passing yards (leader-Joe Clancy, Merrimack, 3,247); 5th, 378.1 offensive yards per game (leader-Clancy, 417.1)John Schademan — 4th, 1,012 receiving yards (leader-Freddie Martino, North Greenville, 1,179); 5th, 11 touchdown receptions (leader-Trevor Harman, Shippensburg, 14)