Bryant releases 2015 football schedule; Opens season at home on Sept. 5
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off one of its most successful seasons in program history, the Bryant University football program and head coach Marty Fine have announced the 2015 schedule, featuring a road trip to 2014 NCAA Quarterfinalist Coastal Carolina.
The Black and Gold posted an 8-3 mark in 2014, setting a Division I record for victories, while tying the all-time program record for wins in a season. Two of those wins came against Colonial Athletic Association members and a third came against a member of the Patriot League.
This fall, Bryant's 11-game schedule includes just four home games and marquee road trips to in-state rival and Ivy League member Brown, Big South and national powerhouse Coastal Carolina, former NEC rival Monmouth and Holy Cross from the Patriot League. Bryant's four home games mark the lowest amount since the 2008 season.
Bryant kicks off the 2015 season on Sept. 5 when they host American International at 3:00 p.m. The Black and Gold will then make the short trip to Providence to face Brown and start a month-long four-game road trip. After facing the Bears, the Bulldogs will head south to Conway, S.C., to take on the Chanticleers on Sept. 26. Coastal Carolina opened the 2014 season 11-0 and was the top-ranked team in the country for a majority of the year. The Chanticleers finished 12-2, falling in the NCAA Quarterfinals to eventual champion North Dakota State.
The Bulldogs will then head to West Long Branch, N.J., to renew an old NEC rivalry with current Big South member Monmouth. The Hawks own a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, defeating the Black and Gold 21-18 in their most recent meeting in 2013. Bryant's non-conference finale comes on Halloween as it travels up Route 146 to take on Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. The Bulldogs have won the only meeting between the teams, defeating the Crusaders 17-16 in the 2013 season opener.
Bryant's four-game road swing wraps up with a trip to New Britain, Conn., to face Central Connecticut in the Northeast Conference opener. The Black and Gold will then return home for back-to-back weeks, hosting Duquesne on Oct. 17 and Saint Francis U. on Oct. 24.
Following their matchup with Holy Cross, the Black and Gold will wrap up the season with a grueling three-game stretch against NEC teams. They open the stretch on the road against a Wagner (Nov. 7) team that claimed a share of the 2014 NEC Regular-Season title, before welcoming two-time NEC champion Sacred Heart to Smithfield on Nov. 14 for Senior Day. Bryant will then trek across the state of Pennsylvania to face Robert Morris on Nov. 21 in the season finale.