1996 Bucknell Bison football team

The 1996 Bucknell Bison football team was an American football team that represented Bucknell University during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The team won the Patriot League championship, its first.

1996 Bucknell Bison football
Patriot League champion
Conference	Patriot League
Record	6–5 (4–1 Patriot)
Head coach	Tom Gadd (2nd season)
Captains	George Howanitz Rich Lemon Brandon Little
Home stadium	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1995 1997 →

1996 Patriot League football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Bucknell $		4	–	1					6	–	5
Colgate		3	–	2					6	–	5
Lehigh		3	–	2					5	–	6
Lafayette		2	–	2					5	–	5
Fordham		1	–	3					2	–	8
Holy Cross		1	–	4					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion

Bucknell played its home games at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

History

In its second year under head coach Tom Gadd, the Bison compiled a 6–5 record.^[1] George Howanitz, Rich Lemon and Brandon Little were the team captains.^[2]

The Bison outscored opponents 234 to 223. Their 4–1 conference record topped the six-team Patriot League standings.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	Towson State*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	W 44–7	6,466	[4]
September 21	No. 22 William & Mary*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 0–47	5,108	[5]
September 28	Harvard*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 7–30	6,064	[6]
October 5	Penn^*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 21–30 OT	9,166	[7]
October 12	at Yale*	Yale Bowl New Haven, CT	L 21–23	14,502	[8]
October 19	Princeton*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	W 10–6	2,166	[9]
October 26	at Holy Cross*	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 38–7	10,671	[10]
November 2	at Lehigh	Goodman Stadium Bethlehem, PA	W 7–6	10,271	[11]
November 9	at Lafayette	Fisher Field Easton, PA	L 7–23		[1]
November 16	Fordham	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	W 51–17	3,166	[12]
November 23	Colgate	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	W 28–27 OT	5,467	[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming ^ Parents Weekend Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Year-by-Year Results". 2019 Bucknell Football Media Guide. Lewisburg, Pa.: Bucknell University. p. 139. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
2. "Captains". 2019 Bucknell Football Media Guide. Lewisburg, Pa.: Bucknell University. p. 121. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
3. "Football All-Time Year-by-Year Results". Patriot League Football Record Book (PDF). Center Valley, Pa.: Patriot League. 2020. p. 5. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
4. Courogen, Chris (September 15, 1996). "Towson State Errors Lead to 44-7 Rout by Bucknell". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Md. p. 15C – via Newspapers.com.
5. Epler, Eric F. (September 22, 1996). "Dominant Tribe Smashes Bucknell". Daily Press. Newport News, Va. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Vellante, John (September 29, 1996). "Harvard Defense Puts Squeeze on Lemon, Bucknell". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. C13 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Juliano, Joe (October 6, 1996). "Penn Wakes Up in OT, Upends Bucknell". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. C11 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Yale Overcomes 14-Point Deficit, Edges Bucknell". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. October 13, 1996. pp. C1, C10 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Hummel, Todd (October 20, 1996). "Bison Slide Past Tigers". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Ivy League Summaries". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. October 20, 1996. p. D19.
10. "Bison Dominate Holy Cross 38-7". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. October 27, 1996. pp. C4, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Blockus, Gary R. (November 3, 1996). "Missed PAT Costs Lehigh in 7-6 Loss to Bucknell". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pa. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Lentz, Charlie (November 17, 1996). "Lemon Rushes BU Past Fordham". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. pp. C3, C10 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "College Football Scoreboard". The Sunday Record. Hackensack, N.J. November 17, 1996. p. S-6.
13. Hummel, Todd (November 24, 1996). "The Top of the Heap: OT Plays Give Bison Patriot League Title". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. pp. C1, C10 – via Newspapers.com.