SLIPPERY ROCK — George Mihalik has plenty on his mind this weekend.

The 24-year Slippery Rock University head football coach, who has 40 years of his life vested in the program, will see SRU’s stadium renamed Mihalik-Thompson Stadium at halftime Saturday night.

There will be organized tailgate parties before and after the game and Mihalik will be the victim of a good-natured “roast” tonight in the University Union. That will be followed by a reception in the Ski Lodge adjacent to the stadium.

Oh, yeah ... Cheyney is coming here to play The Rock in a football game, too.

“That still has to be our primary focus,” Mihalik said. “The game is always No. 1. We have to be prepared to play.

“There are a lot of festivities going on. I’ve known about this for seven months, but now it’s here. The nerves are creeping in. I can really feel this thing happening now.”

Cheyney (1-0) and SRU (1-0) will kick off at 6 p.m. In a 9-11 remembrance ceremony at 5:45 p.m., local military veterans and first responders will be honored on the field.

The visiting Wolves, led by interim head coach and former defensive coordinator Kenneth Lockard, are 0-3 all-time vs. SRU and dropped 91 of their previous 99 games overall before posting a 21-19 win over rival Lincoln last week.

That victory marked Cheyney’s first season-opening win since 2000.

“They’ve got a new coach, a new staff and new confidence after winning their first game,” Mihalik said. “We can’t overlook this team.”

Cheyney quarterback Chris Anderson completed only four of 13 passes last week, but two went for touchdowns. Running back Marcus Jones had 15 carries for 96 yards.

Defensive end Tim Hume was named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week after recording four tackles for loss and forcing a fumble late to seal the Wolves’ victory.

“This is my team for this year,” Lockard said. “Their search for a permanent head coach begins Dec. 1, but I’m not even thinking about that.

“We’re working on this team having the best football experience it can have this year — and that’s all we’re working on.”

Lockard said SRU is “a very good team and Akeem Satterfield is one of the best running backs in the conference. We have to find a way to control him.”

Cheyney allowed only eight net rushing yards to Lincoln. Satterfield had 125 yards rushing and a touchdown while only playing the first quarter of The Rock’s 51-14 win at Seton Hill.

Cheyney runs an option offense that The Rock defense has not seen much of over the years.

“That is a definite concern,” Mihalik admitted. “It’s tough for our scout team to simulate that in practice.”

SRU will enter this game healthy, though it lost reserve linebacker and special teams player Carroll Smith to a broken collarbone against Seton Hill. Smith, a Mars graduate, is out for the season.

Mihalik lauded the play of defensive tackle Jack Charles, linebacker Zach Sheridan, safeties Jayson Nickson and Brandon Watters, the offensive line and placekicker Kurt Brackman for their play last week.

“Kurt’s been in a tight competition for the kicking job,” the coach said. “We went with him for the opener because of his experience and he produced a career day.”

SRU is looking to get off to a 2-0 start for the third consecutive year. The Rock is 86-40 — a .683 winning percentage — in home games under Mihalik.

SRU defeated Cheyney last year, 30-0, on the road.