2003 Bucknell Football Schedule Announced
2/13/2003 7:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 13, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell football team is still nearly seven months from kicking off its 2003 season, but already the Bison can pencil in two additions to the record book.
Bucknell will play its first-ever game in the month of August, and the Bison will play a 12-game schedule for the first time in 87 years, according to the 2003 schedule, which was announced today by director of athletics and recreation John Hardt.
Thanks to an unusual quirk in the 2003 calendar, college football teams are permitted to play 12 regular-season games this fall. Bucknell has played 12 games in only one other season, that coming in 1916, when the Bison went 3-9.
Bucknell opens its first campaign under new head coach Tim Landis on Aug. 30 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium against defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Duquesne. While all game times are still tentative, the home opener is expected to be played under the lights.
Following the Duquesne game, the Bison will not play another home game for 50 days, with a bye week sandwiched in a five-game road trip that includes three games against the Ivy League. On Sept. 6, Bucknell visits Delaware State for the first time ever. After a week off, Bucknell visits Cornell and Columbia before diving into Patriot League play.
The Oct. 4 league opener will be no easy task, as the Bison tackle defending Patriot League champion Fordham at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx. On Oct. 11 the Bison visit Penn's famed Franklin Field for the first time since a 23-16 victory there in 1999.
A Homecoming Day crowd will welcome Bucknell back to Lewisburg on Oct. 18, when the Bison battle Towson in the first of six straight conference games to close out the regular season. The Orange and Blue will also have home games against Holy Cross (Nov. 1), Lehigh (Nov. 15) and Georgetown (Nov. 22), along with road tilts at Colgate (Oct. 25) and Lafayette (Nov. 8). The Holy Cross game will headline Parents' Weekend festivities.
Bucknell is looking to bounce back from a tough 2-9 season, one that came on the heels of seven straight winning campaigns. Landis, the head coach for the last three seasons at Division I-AA St. Mary's (Calif.), opens his first spring practice on March 18.
2003 Bucknell Football ScheduleDate Opponent Location Aug. 30 DUQUESNE Lewisburg, Pa. Sept. 6 at Delaware State Dover, Del. Sept. 13 (Idle) Sept. 20 at Cornell Ithaca, N.Y. Sept. 27 at Columbia New York, N.Y. Oct. 4 at Fordham* Bronx, N.Y. Oct. 11 at Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa. Oct. 18 TOWSON* Lewisburg, Pa. Oct. 25 at Colgate* Hamilton, N.Y. Nov. 1 HOLY CROSS* Lewisburg, Pa. Nov. 8 at Lafayette* Easton, Pa. Nov. 15 LEHIGH* Lewisburg, Pa. Nov. 22 GEORGETOWN* Lewisburg, Pa.
*Patriot League contest Game times to be announced Homecoming game is Oct. 18. Parents' Weekend game is Nov. 1.
