April 9, 2008

2008 BUCKNELL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell will begin its 123rd season of football against Duquesne on Sept. 6, 2008 at 6 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, the first of six home games slated for next season.

Bucknell and Duquesne are no strangers to opening-day clashes. This will be the seventh season-opening game between the Bison and Dukes since 1997. Bucknell has won five of the previous six, including a 28-19 win in Pittsburgh last season.

A unique element of this year's schedule is that the team will alternate home and away games throughout the season. Bucknell will also play a home night game on Sept. 20 against traditional Ivy League rival Cornell, along with 1 p.m. home contests against Hofstra (Oct. 11), Colgate (Oct. 25), Lafayette (Nov. 8) and Fordham (Nov. 22).

The first road contest comes in week two at Robert Morris, a Division I-FCS program coached by the legendary Joe Walton, the former head coach of the New York Jets. Five-time Northeast Conference champions, the Colonials play their home games at three-year old Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa., just outside Pittsburgh. Additional road games include trips to Marist (Oct. 4), Georgetown (Oct. 18), Holy Cross (Nov. 1) and Lehigh (Nov. 15).

A relative newcomer to the home schedule is Hofstra, which will take on Bucknell for the first time since 1994. The Pride, a member of the Colonial Athletic Association who went 7-4 last season, have won four of six previous series meetings.

The team's lone bye week will be on Sept. 27, just prior to the Marist game. Homecoming Day is Oct. 25 against Colgate.

The Bison are coming off a 3-8 season, but the year ended optimistically with a 38-24 victory over 18th-ranked Fordham in the Bronx. Bucknell returns 16 starters and 36 lettermen from that young squad, including almost all of the offensive skill position players, the entire defensive secondary and both kicking specialists.

Spring practice is currently underway and will culminate with the annual Orange-Blue Scrimmage on Apr. 26 at 10 a.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.