Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Gridders to Face Columbia in NYC Saturday
9/17/2001 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2001
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The Storyline
Following an unexpected week off due to the Sept. 11 tragedies in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Western Pennsylvania, Bucknell and Columbia return to the gridiron Saturday evening. The Bison are looking to build on a promising season-opening performance at Kent State 14 days ago. Bucknell significantly outgained the Division I-A Golden Flashes but was doomed by five key turnovers in a 38-17 loss. Meanwhile, the Lions are making their season debut after finishing the 2000 campaign 3-7.
Bucknell-Cornell Game Called Off
Like virtually every other major sporting event in the country, last week's Bucknell-Cornell football game was canceled in the aftermath of the horrific attack on America. While there has been no official decision on whether the game will be rescheduled, a make-up appears unlikely as neither team has an open date for the remainder of the season. It is believed to be the first Bison football game to be called off since the Delaware game on Nov. 23, 1963, the day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Following last Thursday's decision regarding the Cornell game, as well as the suspension of Bucknell's entire sports calendar, Bucknell Director of Athletics and Recreation John Hardt said, "This extraordinary tragedy has affected many of us on the Bucknell campus, including our student-athletes. In order to demonstrate appropriate respect for those touched by this week's catastrophe, we will place sports on the back burner for the time being. The athletic department joins the rest of the Bucknell and Lewisburg communities in offering our prayers and thoughts to the families and friends of the victims of this horrible attack on our nation."
The Bucknell-Columbia Series
Bucknell has enjoyed success in its 13 all-time meetings with Columbia, posting nine wins and a pair of ties against the Lions. Columbia snapped a seven-game losing streak and nine-game winless streak against the Bison with a 10-7 win in New York in 1999, but the Herd avenged that loss by winning a 12-10 nailbiter at home last season. Bucknell is 4-0 at home against Columbia and 5-2-2 at Wien Stadium. The Bison's last road win against the Lions was a 29-22 verdict in 1992. The first Bucknell-Columbia meeting was a scoreless tie in 1973, one of 27 games in Bucknell history to end 0-0.
Last Year's Bison-Lions Clash
WR Jim Horan caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from QB Lucas Phillips with 20 seconds remaining to lift the Bison to a 12-10 win at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium last Sept. 23. SS Justin Lustig iced the game with an interception with only five seconds remaining. Bucknell scored first on a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Jabu Powell, who logged 119 yards on 29 carries. Columbia took a 10-6 lead early in the third quarter when Johnathan Reese rumbled 40 yards on a 4th-and-1 play. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bison failed on a 4th-and-goal from the Columbia 5, but after a defensive stand, FS Kevin Eiben returned a punt 33 yards to the Lion 18-yard line, setting up the dramatic score. Reese rushed for 135 yards on 30 carries for Columbia.
