Bucknell Football Unveils 2019 Schedule
4/1/2019 4:05:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head football coach Dave Cecchini unveiled his team's 2019 schedule on Monday afternoon.
The Bison will host five games at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium during their 134th season of competition. Their challenging slate includes FBS program Temple and four teams that appeared in the FCS's top 10 over the course of the 2018 campaign.
"Overall, I think our non-conference schedule is as challenging as it can be," Cecchini said. "In addition to Temple and Villanova, we will play a Princeton team that finished undefeated and in the top 10 last year, a Towson team that is coming off a playoff appearance and a Sacred Heart team that went 7-4 last season."
Bucknell kicks off 2019 at Temple on August 31. It will be the first meeting between the long-ago rivals, who met every season from 1927 to 1970 with the winner receiving "The Old Shoe" trophy, since 1970. The Owls, who went 8-5 a year ago, have played in a bowl game for four-straight seasons and are coming off an appearance in the Walk-On's Independence Bowl.Presenting our 2019 schedule.
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) April 1, 2019
Story: https://t.co/vrHQolKNBs | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/xi9CcOi1NT
"We are excited for the opportunity to open the season at Lincoln Financial Field against Temple," said Cecchini, who will make his Bucknell coaching debut against Temple. "The Owls are a talented FBS program, and it will be an outstanding experience for our student-athletes to go up against a team that played in a bowl game this past season."
Following their game against Temple, the Bison travel to Sacred Heart for a tilt on September 7. They then welcome Villanova, a program ranked as high as 10th nationally in 2018, to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for their home opener on September 14.
"Our home opener against Villanova will also be a challenge," Cecchini said. "Traditionally, the Wildcats are a top-25 team at the FCS level, and it will be a great test to see how we measure up against a playoff caliber-team."
Bucknell's tilt with the Wildcats opens a three-game homestand. The Bison host high-powered Princeton on September 28 and begin Patriot League action against Holy Cross on October 5. The Tigers will make for a formidable opponent, as they were ranked eighth in the final AFCA Coaches' Poll of the 2018 campaign; they went 10-0 that season, outscoring their opponents by a combined margin of 470-130. Bucknell's game against the Crusaders will occur on Homecoming.
The Bison then hit the road for three-straight games, squaring off against Colgate (October 12), Towson (October 19) and Lafayette (October 26). The defending Patriot League champion Raiders were slotted seventh in the final AFCA Coaches' Poll of the 2018 campaign and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals; the Tigers were ranked 19th in that poll and also participated in the FCS playoffs by earning an at-large bid out of the competitive Colonial Athletic Association.
Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium to host Lehigh (November 9) and Georgetown (November 16) on back-to-back Saturdays. The Bison then travel to Fordham for their 2019 finale on November 23.
Colgate, Princeton, Towson and Villanova all appeared in the FCS's top-10 in 2018. Bucknell's 2019 opponents went a combined 65-59 that season, with Colgate (10-2) and Princeton (10-0) both reaching the 10-win threshold. Three other teams posted a winning record, with three finishing just one game below .500.
Cecchini was announced on February 6 as the 27th Bob Odell Head Football Coach at Bucknell. Most recently the head coach at Valparaiso, Cecchini has a long track record of building explosive offenses at elite academic institutions. Previously the offensive coordinator at Lehigh, The Citadel and Harvard, his offenses have shattered school records at his every stop, propelling his teams to a combined seven conference championships. An All-American wide receiver at Lehigh during his playing days in the early 1990s, Cecchini spent 13 of his 24 seasons as a coach at his alma mater.
Cecchini's Bison are currently in the middle of spring practice. Their annual Spring Game is set for Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Open to the public and free of charge, it will be held at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
2019 Schedule
Aug. 31: at Temple
Sept. 7: at Sacred Heart
Sept. 14: Villanova
Sept. 28: Princeton (Family Weekend)
Oct. 5: Holy Cross* (Homecoming)
Oct. 12: at Colgate*
Oct. 19: at Towson
Oct. 26: at Lafayette*
Nov. 9: Lehigh*
Nov. 16: Georgetown*
Nov. 23: at Fordham*
