MORROW, Ga. – September 11, 2007 – Normally, Wednesday’s home contest against Savannah College of Art & Design would be just "another game" for the Clayton State Laker men’s soccer team. Since the Bees are an NAIA program, it’s just another non-conference game for Clayton State.

However, this game will be a different non-conference affair for one reason – John Rootes.

That’s right, the former Laker head coach and current head coach at SCAD will bring his Bees to his former stomping ground known as Laker Field for a 7:30 p.m. showdown against Clayton State on Wednesday. It’s a battle of nationally-ranked teams as SCAD (2-2) is ranked 23rd in the latest NAIA National Top 25 poll, while Clayton State (3-0-1) is ranked a whopping fifth in this week’s Division II Top 25.

"The Godfather returns and he’s coming into our house again," said Clayton State head coach Pete Petersen, who has posted a 38-17-9 record for the Lakers since succeeding Rootes in 2004. "I hope we’ll be able to give them a good fight because John is a great coach and a great recruiter."

Clayton State will be trying to rid itself of the "Rootes Curse" of the last two seasons. In 2005, SCAD rallied to knock off the Lakers 3-2 with three second-half goals, and then edged Clayton State 2-1 in overtime last season.

Prior to taking over at SCAD in 2004, Rootes was hired to light a fire under a Clayton State program in 1998 that had only posted a 39-62-2 mark with two winning seasons in the program’s six seasons. What Rootes did was elevate the Lakers to regional and national prominence with a 69-38-9 record with a Peach Belt Conference championship in 2001 and Clayton State’s first NCAA Division II National Tournament berths in 2000 and 2001.

He’s 35-24-2 in his fourth season at SCAD.

Petersen has since continued to elevate the Laker program with two straight NCAA Division II National Tournament "Sweet 16" appearances in 2004 and 2005 and Peach Belt Conference championships in 2005 and 2006.

"We’ve taken it to the next level from his solid foundation," Petersen said. "Now, we’re trying to get to the ultimate level, and that’s playing for a national championship."