Mission I-A Finally a Reality as Akron Comes to Town

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Bulls have waited 29 years and one extra week to see their dreams of returning to Division I-A football realized.

The Bulls begin their first Division I-A campaign since 1970 by hosting their inaugural game in the Mid-American Conference against the University of Akron on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in the newly-expanded UB Stadium.

Buffalo sat and watched last week as most of the other schools in the nation began their 1999 seasons. Those schools included Akron who had the unenviable task of playing No. 3 Penn State at Beaver Stadium as the Nittany Lions came away with a 70-24 win.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the Zips and Bulls.

All University at Buffalo football games can be heard on WWKB-AM (1520) this season with Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Rick Maloney (commentary) on the call for the third straight season.

This week Rick Maloney will handle play-by-play duties while all-time UB great Ed Gicewicz handles color.

In addition, Adelphia Cable will rebroadcast the game on both Sunday and Tuesday nights at 8:30 pm on local cable. Kevin Sylvester (play-by-play), Mark Collins (color) and Chris Brown (sideline) will call the game on Adelphia.