BRYANT FOOTBALL HOSTS SACRED HEART SATURDAY 1 P.M.

October 6, 2009

HOMECOMING 2010: BULLDOGS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST SACRED HEART
Bryant Looks to Move to 7-0 on Homecoming Under Coach Marty Fine

Game Notes / Live Audio / Live Video / Live Stats

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University (3-2, 0-2) enters saturday's contest against Sacred Heart (1-4, 0-3) looking for its first Northeast Conference win of the season after dropping two-straight league games to Central Connecticut and Wagner. The Pioneers also enter the game winless in conference play and currently sit one spot below Bryant in the NEC standings.

Saturday's game marks the third matchup all-time between the schools and second since the Bulldogs became a varsity program in 1999. The Pioneers are 2-0 against Bryant, taking the last head-to-head tilt, 24-14, in 2009, also winning the first-ever meeting, 42-28, during the Bulldogs' 1998 club season.

Bryant enters the game 6-0 all-time on Homecoming Weekend under head coach Marty Fine and has yet to lose in Bulldog Stadium this season. The Black and Gold will look to end their two-game losing skid and earn their first victory against Sacred Heart as a varsity program.

The Bulldogs' Homecoming tilt can be heard on WOON 1240 AM with John McCarthy calling the play-by-play and Pete Royce providing in-game analysis.  Fans outside of the listening area can hear all of the action live at www.bryantbulldogs.com and can watch every home game on www.bryantbulldogs.tv. Links for both audio and video are available on the Bryant Athletics website.

THE COACHES
Bryant head coach Marty Fine, now in his seventh season, enters Saturday's game with a 42-26 (.617) record since arriving at Bryant in 2004. He has led the Bulldogs to four winning seasons, including an impressive 7-4 campaign in 2008, Bryant's first at the Division I level. Fine led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NE-10 conference championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.

Sacred Heart head coach Paul Gorham is in his seventh season on the Pioneer sidelines. Gorham was named the program's seventh head coach in June of 2004 and owns a 26-38 (.437) record in his seven-year career. Prior to becoming the Pioneer's head coach, Gorham made stops at UMass, Brown, New Haven and his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire.

Today's game marks just the second time these coaches have met, with Gorham leading the series, 1-0.

QUICK HITS

— The Bulldogs are currently 26-8 in Bulldog Stadium since 2005 and have not lost in Smithfield since last falling to Sacred Heart (11/7/09).

— Bryant is now 8-8 (.500) against teams in the Northeast Conference.

— The Bulldogs are 6-0 all-time on Homecoming Weekend under Fine.

— Today's game is the third meeting all-time between the programs, and Sacred Heart leads the series, 2-0. Sacred Heart won the last matchup, 24-14, in Fairfield Conn.

— Fine's club leads the NEC in scoring offense (35.8 ppg) and punt return average (21.7 ypr).

— Jordan Brown is averaging a league-leading 129.4 rushing yards per game and leads the conference with eight rushing touchdowns. The sophomore also leads the NEC in all-purpose yards with 193.8 per outing.

— Jason Riffe's 57 tackles on the season lead the league, and he ranks second among all defenders in forced fumbles.