Notebook
The 128th Season of Bison Football • Bucknell will begin its 128th season of football Sept. 7 vs. Marist at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It marks the second consecutive year the Bison and Red Foxes have squared off in the season opener. • This is the ninth straight year Marist is on Bucknell’s schedule. • Just eight of Bucknell’s 11 opponents from 2012 remain on the Bison 2013 schedule. Sacred Heart (Sept. 28), Dartmouth (Oct. 19) and VMI (Nov. 23) replace Delaware (L, 19-3), Harvard (L, 35-7) and Bryant (W, 24-21). • Bucknell will have five home games this year, marking the fourth time in the last five campaigns it has five home contests and six road games.
NEW Faces on Coaching Staff • For the first time in Joe Susan’s tenure as Bison head coach, the Bucknell coaching staff featured significant turnover in the offseason. Susan brought in Matt Applebaum (OL), John Bowes (LB/ST) and Eric Wicks (DB) to replace Ross Pennypacker, Chad Rogosheske and Chip Taylor, who had been mainstays on the Bison staff the past three years. • Returning to the coaching staff in 2013 is volunteer assistant Rich Scarantino. Scarantino takes over the running back coaching duties from Bill Morrow. He previously held the position in 2010, Susan’s first at Bucknell. • In addition to the new on-field coaches, Eric Hahn has joined the program in the role of administrative coordinator. He will be responsible for team video and team travel as well as many other duties. Success in Close Games • Bucknell has had success in close games in recent years. In fact, the Bison have posted a 15-10 record in games decided by seven points or less since 2006. • Seven of Bucknell’s 11 games in 2012 were decided by seven points or less. Returning All-Patriot League Players • Bucknell had seven players named All-Patriot League last fall and five of them will return in 2013. • First-team selections Travis Friend and Matthew Steinbeck return as do secondteam picks Evan Byers, Sean Sellers and Tracey Smith. • The only All-Patriot League players to graduate were Samuel Oyekoya and Beau Traber.
Position Changes • The following Bison changed positions during the offseason: Josh Butler: LBaDE Dominique Daniels: LBaS Jake Hartman: WRaTE Daniel McManus: DLaOL Number Changes • The following Bison changed numbers during the offseason: Terry Bennett: 23a4 Matthew Jegede: 85a9 Sean Cobelli: 93a17 Kareem Hyman: 38a32 Dominique Daniels: 53a38 Aaron Wells: 45a42 Brian Duncan: 92a85 10 Straight Games • Bucknell’s bye week came prior to its first game a year ago, causing the Bison to play 11 games in 11 weeks. • This year, Bucknell is idle week two (Sept. 14), meaning this season the Bison will play 10 consecutive weeks starting Sept. 21 at Cornell. Preseason Recognition • Senior DE Sean Sellers, junior LB Evan Byers and junior S Matthew Steinbeck earned preseason recognition from the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). All three veterans were named to the CFPA watch list for their respective position. Sellers had 32 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a team-high six sacks last year, while Byers posted a team-high 100 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and picked off three passes. Steinbeck led the Patriot League with six interceptions, was among the nation’s leaders in interceptions per game and posted 44 tackles. Opponents • Bucknell’s 11 2013 opponents posted a combined 54-66 (.450) record in 2012. • Bucknell’s 90 meetings with Lafayette make it the most-played rivalry in program history. Lehigh (75 games) is No. 2 on that list. • Bucknell will be playing its first-ever game against Sacred Heart and its second all-time contest against VMI in 2013. • Bucknell will conclude the season at VMI, marking the first time in the Patriot League era the Bison will close back-to-back seasons against non-conference opponents (Bryant in 2012). Long Road Trips • Bucknell will be heading on the road for a couple of its longest road trips in recent history this year when it travels to Darmouth and VMI in 2013. • Longest Road Trips (since 2003): 1. at Dartmouth (2013) - 431 miles 2. at Harvard (2011, 2012) - 378 miles 3. at Holy Cross (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012) - 341 miles 4. at VMI (2013) - 298 miles 5. at Richmond (2006) - 288 miles No Shutouts • Bucknell has scored points in a program-record 75 straight games. • The previous record was 72 games from 1996 to 2002. • Bucknell has not been shut out since Sept. 9, 2006 (31-0 vs. Lafayette).
Tracey Smith
Turnovers • Bucknell’s defense has at least one interception in eight straight games and 20 of 22 over the last two years. • The Bison have forced 55 turnovers over the last two years (2.5 per game), including 39 in 2011 to rank second nationally. Milestone Watch • Brandon Wesley (Bucknell ranks) 1. Career Pass Completions - 461 1. Career Pass Attempts - 806 2. Career Passing Yards - 4,926 (1. Scott Auchenbach - 5,256) 2. Career Total Offense - 5,401 (1. Scott Auchenbach - 5,404)
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2013 Bucknell Football