SLIPPERY ROCK — Perhaps the third time will be a charm for Slippery Rock.

The Rock (5-1, 4-1) makes its third-ever trip to the University of Michigan's “Big House” to take on Mercyhurst (2-4, 2-3) in a critical PSAC West game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

This will mark the fourth Division II game ever played on Michigan's turf and SRU was involved in the first two. The Rock dropped a 45-14 decision to Shippensburg in front of a still Division II record crowd of 61,143 in 1979.

SRU returned to the Big House in 1981, dropping a 14-13 decision to Wayne State.

Current Rock head coach George Mihalik was an assistant on the SRU staff during both of those years.

“Playing a game in the biggest venue in college football in the country is a lifetime experience,” Mihalik said. “I want our guys to enjoy that experience and the atmosphere surrounding it.

“But when it comes time to watch film, be in the weight room, practice ... We need to be all business then and set all of this other stuff aside.”

Whether a new Division II attendance record will be reached Saturday remains in question. SRU is sending seven student buses to the game along with an alumni bus. Mercyhurst has three fan buses making the trip.

One organized pre-game tailgate party will host 500 Mercyhurst fans. Another will host at least 330 SRU supporters.

Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle knows the majority of the crowd — whatever its size — will be pro-Slippery Rock.

“We're going to have to deal with crowd noise like we've never heard before,” Schaetzle admitted. “We're trying to prepare for it. But this will be an unprecedented atmosphere for us.”

It will be for the current Rock players as well. But they may be able to learn from the program's past experiences at Michigan.

“Don't fall into the trap,” Mihalik cautioned his team this week. “Coaches and players can't get caught up in the hoopla. That's what happened to us up there 35 years ago.

“My most vivid memory of that Shippensburg game was how quiet the bus ride was home. It was awful. We were embarrassed in that stadium.”

Stan Kendziorski, who coached defensive backs at The Rock for 17 years and was part of the staff then, spoke to the current SRU squad earlier this week.

“All I told them was to not believe everything they read and hear,” Kendziorski said. “The media is going to be all about Slippery Rock. There will be very little said about Mercyhurst.

“That's how it was with Shippensburg leading into that (45-14) loss. You walk on to the field at the Big House, it's a different world. They kicked our butts. We didn't play football anywhere near like we were capable and we were good. We won three straight conference titles.

“I can still feel that bus ride home in the bottom of my stomach. That loss still gnaws at me. I just wanted to forewarn the players. This game will stick with them no matter how it goes,” Kendziorski added.

He emphasized the 31-point loss to Shippensburg wasn't just on the players.

“We coaches weren't ready, either. We all got caught up in it. We weren't focused on football,” Kendziorski recalled.

Mihalik agreed.

The Rock will be wearing a gray uniform with silver helmet for the one and only time Saturday. Each player will keep his uniform afterward.

“Years from now, these guys might have that uniform framed on a wall in their homes,” Mihalik said. “Their kids are going to ask whether they won the game.

“What are they gonna tell 'em?”

Both teams were heading to Ann Arbor today and will get walk-through practices at the stadium.

“I told our guys to get all of the pictures taken they want Friday, marvel at the Big House all they want that day,” Schaetzle said. “Hey, this is once in a lifetime. But come Saturday, we're there to play football.”

Like Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst will not wear its traditional green Saturday. The Lakers will wear white jerseys with blue pants.

The Lakers are coming off two straight wins, including a 45-38 upset of rival Gannon last week. Quarterback Brendan Boylan has completed 73 of 133 passes for 1,045 yards and 10 touchdowns — and hasn't been the team's starter all season.

Jaquan Williams has 21 catches for 364 yards, tight end R.J. Miller 21 catches for 229. Brandon Brown-Dukes leads the ground game with 371 yards rushing and three TDs. Seneca Valley graduate Donny Holl starts at fullback.

“Their passing game has been impressive of late, but they're still Mercyhurst and they will still try to establish the run first,” Mihalik said.

The Lakers start only one senior along their offensive line. Freshmen start at center and left guard, respectively.

Defensively, Mercyhurst has generated only five takeaways in six games, though it's blocked four kicks.

“I'm more concerned about us turning the ball over,” Schaetzle said. “That's been a problem. We've put our defense in some tough spots.

“We've played six games now. There are no more freshmen. It's time to buck up and figure it out.”

The Rock is coming off its first loss — 48-26 at California — in a game where it committed four turnovers. Zach Newsock threw for a career-high 368 yards and SRU matched its single-game record of 58 passes throw in a game.

“We have to treat that as a wake-up call,” Mihalik said. “Now, are we going to answer the phone? If we don't, it's on us.”

Notes: The last Division II game played in the Big House — and the only one not involving Slippery Rock — was in 2004. Grand Valley took on Michigan Tech in front of 50,123. ... SRU is 3-3 vs. Mercyhurst in the all-time series, including a 58-34 win at The Rock last year. ... SRU RB Shamar Greene has 887 yards rushing, but fell short of 100 yards each of the past two games. ... Senior right guard Kirk Nypaver (leg) and strong safety Isiah Coleman (concussion) will miss Saturday's game. Nypaver had started the last 22 games, Coleman the last 15 for The Rock. Nate Ehrlich and Kevin Green will be their respective replacements. ... Lakers free safety Colin Kimball has two interceptions, a punt return for a TD and 34 tackles this season. He returned an interception 58 yards for a score against SRU last year.