2004 Bucknell Football Schedule Announced
2/16/2004 7:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 16, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Six home contests and a season-opening Thursday night affair at Villanova headline Bucknell's 2004 football schedule, which was announced today by director of athletics John Hardt.
The Bison open the season on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Villanova at 7 p.m. The Wildcats finished 7-4 in 2003 and are one of the annual contenders in the tough Atlantic-10 Conference.
Following a bye week, Bucknell hosts three Ivy League teams in a four-week span. On Sept. 18, the Bison make their Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium debut against Cornell at 7 p.m., followed a week later by another home night game against Columbia. The Ancient Eight triad concludes on Oct. 9 when 2003 Ivy League champ Penn, coming off a 10-0 season, visits Lewisburg for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Parents' Weekend.
Bucknell played those same three Ivy League teams on the road last season, dropping all three by a total of only six points.
Just prior to the Penn game, the Bison travel to Georgetown for their Patriot League opener. The Bison concluded their 2003 campaign with a 45-16 win over the Hoyas, who finished 4-8.
After Lafayette visits on Oct. 16, capping a run of four home games in five weeks, the Bison embark on a difficult two-game Patriot League road swing. First, Bucknell travels to Lehigh, where the Bison have not won since 1996. The Mountain Hawks are coming off an 8-3 campaign. On Oct. 30, Bucknell travels to Holy Cross.
Bucknell faces a very difficult finish to the 2004 campaign, squaring off against three teams that went a combined 32-7 last season.
Homecoming Day is slotted for Nov. 6, when Bucknell hosts 2002 Patriot League champion Fordham at 1 p.m. The Bison will look to make it two straight against the Rams following last season's 31-10 in the Bronx against a Fordham squad that was ranked No. 14 at the time.
Senior Day will be Nov. 13, when defending Patriot League champion and NCAA finalist Colgate visits Lewisburg. The Raiders are coming off a memorable 15-1 season that concluded with a loss to Delaware in the Division I-AA championship game.
The six home games are the most for Bucknell since the 2000 season. The Bison were 4-1 at home in 2003.
Bucknell wraps up its 2004 regular-season slate with a non-league game in Pittsburgh against Duquesne on Nov. 20 at 12:30 p.m. The Bison opened the Landis era with a 28-21 win over the Dukes last fall.
"I'm extremely excited about what should be a very competitive and balanced schedule," said Landis. "Any time you have a team the caliber of a Villanova to open the season, you know you have your work cut out for you. We had three last-minute losses to Cornell, Columbia and Penn from the Ivy League last season, and now we get another shot at them here in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Of course the Patriot League schedule is always difficult, with a large group of teams that have a realistic shot to win the title this season. And having six home games, with never more than two in a row on the road, really gives a good balance."
Bucknell finished third in the Patriot League with a 4-3 record last season and finished 6-6 overall, after being picked for last place in the league in the preseason coaches' poll.
2004 Bucknell Football Schedule
Day Date Opponent Location Time 2003 Record Thu. Sept. 2 at Villanova Villanova, Pa. 7 p.m. 7-4 Sat. Sept. 18 CORNELL Lewisburg, Pa. 7 p.m. 1-9 Sat. Sept. 25 COLUMBIA Lewisburg, Pa. 7 p.m. 4-6 Sat. Oct. 2 at Georgetown* Washington, D.C. 1 p.m. 4-8 Sat. Oct. 9 PENN Lewisburg, Pa. 1 p.m. 10-0 Sat. Oct. 16 LAFAYETTE* Lewisburg, Pa. 1 p.m. 5-6 Sat. Oct. 23 at Lehigh* Bethlehem, Pa. 1 p.m. 8-3 Sat. Oct. 30 at Holy Cross* Worcester, Mass. 1 p.m. 1-11 Sat. Nov. 6 FORDHAM* Lewisburg, Pa. 1 p.m. 9-3 Sat. Nov. 13 COLGATE* Lewisburg, Pa. 1 p.m. 15-1 Sat. Nov. 20 at Duquesne Pittsburgh, Pa. 12:30 p.m. 8-3All times Eastern and subject to change
*Patriot League game
Parents' Weekend is Oct. 9
Homecoming is Nov. 6