Bucknell University Athletics
Free Admission for Saturday's Bucknell-Lafayette Football Game; Contest to Air Live on Pennsylvania's WB
9/5/2006 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2006
What: Bucknell vs. Lafayette
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium
When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
TV: Pennsylvania's WB/Lafayette Sports Network
Promotions: Community Night (free admission); Recognition of 1996 Team
Tickets // Game Notes
Bucknell's 2006 campaign began on an exciting note, as the Bison pulled out a dramatic 31-28 overtime victory over Duquesne last Saturday night. They quickly got back to business, however, as two-time defending Patriot League champion and 25th-ranked Lafayette looms next on the schedule. The Leopards also won last week, 25-14 over Sacred Heart, and have beaten Bucknell four straight times.
A large crowd is expected on Saturday, with free admission as part of Community Day festivities. The Bucknell 1996 Patriot League championship team will also be honored at halftime.
The game will be televised by the Lafayette Sports Network and will air live on Pennsylvania's WB, which is available on most cable systems throught the Susquehanna Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. There will also be a rebroadcast on Fox Sports Pittsburgh on Monday, Sept. 11 at noon.
A Closer Look at the Bison
• ON THE SIDELINE: Tim Landis is in his fourth season at the helm of the Bucknell grid program. Landis is now 68-72-1 (.486) in his career, which also includes head coaching stints at Davidson (1993-99) and St. Mary's (2000-02), and 15-20 (.429) in three-plus seasons with the Bison. Landis is 0-3 in his career against Lafayette.
• THE OFFENSE: Bucknell's offense made a sparkling 2006 debut under first-year offensive coordinator Ashley Ingram. Last week the Bison pocketed 434 total yards, with 386 coming on the ground. Six different players had at least six carries in a balanced rushing attack, and Bucknell averaged 6.9 yards per play. Bucknell's 386 rushing yards was the highest total in the nation last week.
• UNDER CENTER: Navy transfer Andrew Lair started at quarterback on opening night and performed extremely well before leaving late in the second quarter with a hip injury. Lair ran seven times for 40 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and he completed both pass attempts for 48 yards, including a 33-yard strike to Rashod Bumpers on the first play of the game. Terrance Wilson, who was the opening-night starter last season but was limited to just one game due to a broken jaw, relieved Lair in the second half and came up with a heroic 15-yard TD run on the final play of regulation.
• BACKS & RECEIVERS: It was a stellar beginning for the Bison backs, as slotbacks Rashod Bumpers (9-126) and Roosevelt Davis (6-63) totaled 189 rushing yards and averaged 12.6 yards per carry, while the fullback tandem of Josh DeStefano (11-59) and Paul Forcellini (10-71) combined for 130 yards and a 6.2 average. Sophomore Alex Odenbach was the only wide receiver to catch a pass, but the receiver unit did an excellent job blocking on the edge, as Bumpers and Davis gained most of their yards on option pitches.
• THE O-LINE: This is Bucknell's most veterant position group, with all five starters and the two top reserves either juniors or seniors with game experience. The group got off to a strong start last week, paving the way to a 386-yard rushing day. Co-captain Stefan Niemczyk (LG) started alongside Chad Glasser (LT), Joel Hoffer (C), Jonathan Grainger (RG) and Michael Anthony (RT). The OL unit was penalized only once all night, that coming on a first-quarter false start.
• THE DEFENSE: While the offense clicked on opening night, the defense did allow Duquesne to roll up 527 total yards, including 348 yards and two long touchdowns through the air. Still, the Bison defense came up big with the game on the line. They stopped Duquesne on 4th-and-2 with just over two minutes to play, giving the offense the chance to tie the game on the final play of regulation. Then Bucknell stopped the Dukes on three plays in overtime, leading to a missed field goal.
• DEFENSIVE FRONT: The team's biggest question mark entering the season, the new-look defensive line made some key plays, particularly late in the game. Junior DT Ryan Walsh was the lone returning starter on the line, while freshman DE Josh Eden, sophomore DE Todd Rinaldo and junior DT Brandon Friday all made their first career starts. The linebacker trio of veterans Dorian Petersen and Ryan Slater along with freshman Sam Nana-Sinkham was terrific. Nana-Sinkham had a game-high 15 tackles and a sack, while Petersen and Slater logged nine tackles each.
• DEFENSIVE SECONDARY: Senior CB David Frisbey, the team's interceptions leader with four last season, recorded the team's lone pickoff of the night against Duquesne and also blocked a field goal attempt. FS Stephen Collage had five tackles and made a nice pass breakup in the end zone to prevent a touchdown. At the other cornerback position, sophomore Nolan Applegate and freshman Jason Davis split time.
• SPECIAL TEAMS: Bucknell was outstanding in the kicking game on Saturday night. Sophomore K Will Carney calmly connected on a pressure extra point that tied the game at 28-all with no time left in regulation, then he won it with a 27-yard field goal in overtime. Sophomore P Phil Azarik punted three times for 47.0 average, including a career-long 61-yard boot. Freshman Jason Davis had all the kickoff return chances, handling five for an average of 17.8 yards. Bucknell's kickoff coverage was also strong, as Duquesne's average starting position was its own 18-yard line following four kickoffs. Frisbey's block resulted in one of three Duquesne missed field goals last week, as the Bison had a clear special teams advantage in the victory.
Bison Football Notes & Notables:
• OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT: Bucknell won a 31-28 overtime thriller against a very good Duquesne team on opening night. The Bison had lost their previous two season openers, but still have a sharp 83-37-1 (.690) all-time record in season lidlifters.
• PATRIOT GAMES: The Bison begin their 21st season of Patriot League play this week against two-time defending champion Lafayette. Bucknell is 49-60 (.450) all-time in the Patriot League, and the Bison are looking to snap a six-game conference losing streak on Saturday. Bucknell has won its Patriot League opener in 13 of 20 seasons.
• REMEMBERING THE 1996 TEAM: At halftime of this week's game the 1996 Bucknell football team will be recognized in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of its Patriot League championship. That season ended in dramatic fashion when the Bison defeated Colgate 28-27 in overtime. The two teams were tied for first place entering the game, meaning the winner would take home the championship trophy. LB Brandon Little broke up a two-point conversion pass in the end zone on the final play. Little and fellow co-captain Rich Lemon, Bucknell's all-time leading rusher, are two of more than 30 players from that team expected to be in attendance this week.
• WELCOME TO BUCKNELL: The Orange & Blue received contributions from a number of newcomers on Saturday against Duquesne. Among the notable performances:
• RB Rashod Bumpers -- started at slotback and ran for 126 yards and a TD on nine carries ... also caught a 33-yard pass and had a key 26-yard run on 3rd-and-10 on the final drive in regulation.
• QB Andrew Lair -- the Navy transfer was terrific before leaving with a hip injury late in the first half ... ran for 40 yards and a TD on seven carries and completed both pass attempts for 48 yards.
• FB Paul Forcellini -- split time at fullback with veteran Josh DeStefano and carried 10 times for 71 yards and a TD.
• DB Jason Davis -- saw significant time off the bench at cornerback and made four tackles ... also returned five kickoffs for 89 yards.
• DL Josh Eden -- started at defensive end and had five tackles, including one for loss.
• WR Cale Cadman -- played both wide receiver and on special teams ... made the block that sprung Lair for his 38-yard TD run in the first quarter.
• CARNEY, BUMPERS HONORED: Bucknell picked up two of the four Patriot League weekly honors this week, with K Will Carney earning special teams player of the week and RB Rashod Bumpers garnering rookie of the week honors. Carney booted a 27-yard field goal in overtime to defeat Duquesne, but not after he converted a pressure-packed extra point with no time remaining in regulation. Bumpers ran for a game-high 126 yards and a TD in his collegiate debut.
• DOING THE BUMP: Rashod Bumpers' 126-yard rushing performance marked the first time a Bucknell freshman topped the 100-yard plateau in a season opener since Rich Lemon went for 210 against Bloomsburg in the 1993 season opener. Lemon went on to rush for 4,742 yards, most in Bucknell history.
• A STRONG START FOR THE OFFENSE: The Bucknell offense clicked for most of the night against Duquesne. The Bison piled up 386 rushing yards -- the most in the nation last week -- and 434 total while posting their highest opening-day scoring total since a 37-10 win over Morgan State in 1999. Bucknell picked up 24 first downs, matching its high from all of last season, and converted 8 of 13 third downs.
• TACKLING RANKED FOES: Bucknell defeated a top-25 opponent in each of Tim Landis' first two seasons at Bucknell. In 2003, the Bison knocked off 14th-ranked Fordham 31-10 in the Bronx, and in 2004, they routed 22nd-ranked Colgate 42-7 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Bucknell is 2-5 against ranked foes under Landis. The Bison fell to No. 15 Penn (14-13) and No. 17 Colgate (50-6) in 2003; to No. 10 Villanova (20-14) and No. 16 Lehigh (40-17) in 2004; and to No. 20 Lehigh (42-10) last season.
• CONOVER SIGNED TO TITANS PRACTICE SQUAD: Former Bucknell All-America defensive end Sean Conover, a 2006 graduate, was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad on Monday. Conover was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans in May, and he saw significant playing time in all four of the team's preseason games. In those four games he totalled seven tackles, including a sack, against Green Bay last week. He was one of the Titans' final roster cuts as the team had to get to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit, but he was then one of seven players re-signed to the practice squad.
• A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE: The Bison play their first of four junior varsity games this Sunday against always powerful Lackawanna College. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, and admission is free.
• BISON, LEOPARDS ENGAGE IN WILD FINISHES: While the Bison are looking to snap a four-game series losing streak against Lafayette this week, the last two meetings have featured exciting fourth quarters. Last season in Easton, Bucknell stormed back from a 20-3 deficit, tying the game late in the fourth period on a 24-yard pass from Dante Ross to Sean Conover, two defensive players who were converted to offense due to the team's rash of injuries. Lafayette then won it with 1:47 left, when Brad Maurer connected with Joe Ort on a 40-yard TD strike. Two seasons ago in Lewisburg, the Bison trailed 14-13 when Ryan Korn lined up for a 39-yard field goal on the last play of the game. Ort blocked the attempt, but the ball bounced right back into the arms of Korn, who then ran toward the goal line before being tackled inches shy of the end zone by an alert Torian Johnson.
• WELCOME BACK: Lost in the excitement surrounding many of the newcomers last week was an excellent performance by junior Roosevelt Davis. After seeing limited varsity playing time at both slotback and defensive back as a freshman in 2004, Davis elected not to play football last season. Not only did he return to the team this year, but he came back in excellent shape and won a starting slotback job. In the season opener against Duquesne, he carried six times for 63 yards for a stellar 10.5 average.
• FIRST-TIME STARTERS: Several Bison made their first career starts opposite Duquesne. On offense, QB Andrew Lair, RB Roosevelt Davis, RB Rashod Bumpers, WR Alex Odenbach and OL Michael Anthony were first-time starters. Defensively, DL Josh Eden, DL Brandon Friday, DL Todd Rinaldo, LB Sam Nana-Sinhkam and DB Nolan Applegate made their initial starts.
• PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Bucknell over the summer was picked sixth in a preseason poll of Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors. Colgate (68 points) was picked to win the conference, followed by Lafayette (61), Lehigh (57), Holy Cross (35), Fordham (33), Bucknell (27) and Georgetown (13).
• NUMBER CHANGES: A handful of Bucknell players have changed uniform numbers since the media guide was published. The new numbers: DB Eric Baxter (43), WR Cale Cadman (16), WR Trevor Dombeck (82), TE Stephen Edwards (97), RB Paul Forcellini (5), LB Robert Firman (12) and LB Greg Jones (44).
• OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: In a preseason team vote, senior LB Dorian Petersen and senior OL Stefan Niemczyk were elected team captains.
• NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINE: The Bison have four new assistant coaches in 2006, including a new offensive coordinator in Ashley Ingram. He replaces Tim Camp, who is now the offensive coordinator at Eastern Oregon. Ingram came to Bucknell from Rhode Island, where he helped lead the Rams to four straight Atlantic 10 rushing titles in a very similiar offensive system to Bucknell's. Also new to the staff is defensive line coach Pat Kingman, defensive backs coach Steve Vashel and former Bison quarterback/wide receiver Devin Fitzsimmons, who works with the receivers.
• BIRTHDAY BOYS: Saturday is WR Trevor Dombeck's 19th birthday. Three others celebrated birthdays during the week: OL Alec Yount turned 19 on Thursday, while OL Nick DeFeo and DL Brandon Friday both turned 21 on Friday.
• A RARE DOWN SEASON: Last year's losing season was certainly a rare sight in Lewisburg in recent years. Bucknell has finished .500 or better in 9 of the last 11 seasons, including a 7-4 campaign in 2004.
• NIGHT MOVES: Bucknell opens the season with three straight home games, all scheduled for 7 p.m. starts. The last time the Bison began a season with three straight home games was 1996, when they opened with four in a row at home. Interestingly, that season Bucknell went 1-3 in that initial home stretch but rebounded to win the program's only Patriot League championship.
• IN THE CLASSROOM: The Bison boasted a league-high 24 members of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll last season. In the spring 2006 semester, the Bucknell football players combined for a solid 3.0 grade-point average, the sixth straight semester the team has earned a 3.0 or better.
• LOOKING AHEAD: Next week the Ivy League teams kick off their 2006 seasons, and Bucknell renews its annual rivalry with Cornell on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It will be "Turn Back the Clock" Night, and the Bucknell men's basketball team will receive their 2006 championship rings at halftime.
• BISON BRIEFS: Senior DB David Frisbey led the team with four interceptions last season, and he logged his first pick of 2006 last week against Duquesne ... Sam Nana-Sinkham's 15 tackles were the most by a Bison since Dorian Petersen had 16 at Cornell in week 3 last season ... Petersen was the last Bison freshman to record double-digit tackles in a game; he had 11 against Georgetown in 2003 ... Bucknell has allowed an opponent to rush for 100 yards or more in six of the last seven games; the only team not to claim a 100-yard rusher over that span was Lafayette last season ... sophomore P Phil Azarik launched a career-long 61-yard boot on his first attempt of the season ... Azarik averaged 47.0 yards on three attempts ... sophomore WR Alex Odenbach, who missed all of last season with an injury, made his first career catch in the first quarter ... Bucknell's 14 points in the first quarter last week marked the first time it scored more than seven points in the opening period since scoring 14 against Penn in 2004, a span of 18 games.
