April 3, 2009
BRYANT ANNOUNCES 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Five Home Games, Including First-Ever Matchup With Hofstra,
Highlight Bryant's Second Season of Division I
| 2009 Bryant University Football Schedule | ||
| Sept. 5 | SOUTHERN CONN. | 3:00 PM |
| Sept. 12 | HOFSTRA | 1:00 PM |
| Sept. 26 | at Robert Morris | TBA |
| Oct. 3 | WAGNER (Homecoming) | 1:00 PM |
| Oct. 10 | at Fordham | TBA |
| Oct. 17 | at Albany | TBA |
| Oct. 24 | CENTRAL CONN. (Parents Weekend) | 1:00 PM |
| Oct. 31 | at Monmouth | TBA |
| Nov. 7 | at Sacred Heart | TBA |
| Nov. 14 | SAINT FRANCIS (PA) | 12:00 PM |
| Nov. 21 | at Duquesne | TBA |
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Five home games, including the first-ever matchup with Hofstra University, highlight the 2009 Bryant University football schedule, announced today by head coach Marty Fine. Bryant's 11-game schedule will feature three first-time matchups and includes a trip to Albany, N.Y. to face the two-time defending NEC champion University at Albany.
"This is a tremendous and challenging schedule for our program heading into our second year of Division I competition," said Fine. "It will be the toughest schedule we have ever had and our fans will have a great opportunity to see some of the top programs in the region come to Bulldog Stadium this fall."
The Bulldogs will open the season hosting Division II Southern Connecticut on Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. and will host Hofstra University on Sept. 12. The Pride, members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), are coming off a 4-8 season in 2008, posting wins over URI, Bucknell, Stony Brook and Northeastern. This will be the second year in a row Bryant will play a member of the CAA after playing at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. in 2008.
The Bulldogs will host Wagner College for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 3 and Central Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 24 for Parents & Family Weekend. Last year, the Bulldogs fell to Central Connecticut in the season opener in New Britain, Conn., but earned a 24-14 win at Wagner College, marking the program's first victory at the Division I level.
Bryant will have six road games this fall with trips to Robert Morris (Sept. 26), Fordham (Oct. 10), Albany (Oct. 17), Monmouth (Oct. 31), Sacred Heart (Nov. 7) and Duquesne on Nov. 21 to wrap up the season.
This will be the first meeting not just between Bryant and Hofstra, but also the Bulldogs' first matchup against both Fordham University of the Patriot League and the University at Albany of the Northeast Conference. Albany captured its second-consecutive NEC Championship with a perfect 7-0 record in league play in 2008. The Great Danes were 9-3 overall under longtime coach Bob Ford, who ranks first among active Division I FCS coaches with 234 career victories.
This will be the second meeting between Bryant and Sacred Heart. The Pioneers won the only previous contest between the two schools, 19-15, in Fairfield, Conn. in 2000, Bryant's second season of varsity football.
Bryant is currently in its second year of a four-year transition to Division I. The Bulldogs, who are not eligible for postseason play until 2012, will become full members of the Northeast Conference in the fall of 2012.
