TRACK TEAMS FACE MID-AMERICAN COMPETITION AT OHIO U. INVITE

UB's men's and women's track-and-field teams got their first taste of Mid-American Conference competition Saturday at the Ohio University Invitational in Athens, Ohio. The Bulls finished eighth of nine schools with 40 points, while the Royals were fourth of eight in the women's meet with 96 points. Eastern Michigan took the men's title with 205 1/2 points, while the host Bobcats won the women's meet with 237 1/2 points. Mid-American members Central Michigan and Akron, as well as future member Marshall, were also represented at the meet.

The Bulls' 4 x 400 relay squad of Omar Doyley, Matt Streng, Ryan Candia and Spencer Bell placed second in 3:17.70. Micah Adelstein placed ninth in the hammer throw, setting a school record with his 144-foot toss.

On the women's side, Shelly Hamilton continued her strong season performance, again taking the high jump at 5-4. The sophomore has now won three of four high jump competitions this season. Terry Scherne was also victorious for the Royals winning the 400 meters in 57.4 seconds.

BULLS ANNOUNCE 1997 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Call it a "MAC snack" for the UB football program.

The Bulls, who enter the Mid-American Conference in football in the fall of 1999, will play their first Division I-A opponent since 1970 when they travel to future MAC opponent Ohio University on Sept. 20 for a showdown with the Bobcats, highlighting the 1997 football schedule.

Ohio was 6-6 overall last season and 5-3 in the MAC, losing to eventual league champion and Las Vegas Bowl participant Ball State by three (30-27) in overtime. Ironically, in their last season of I-A competition in 1970, the Bulls played four future MAC opponents (Ball State, Toledo, Kent State and Northern Illinois) before disbanding football from 1971-76. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the return of UB football in 1977.

The Bulls will also have some familiar I-AA opponents after their breakthrough 8-3 season last fall under third-year coach Craig Cirbus. The Bulls will once again play I-AA powers Illinois State (Sept. 6), Connecticut (Oct. 4), Youngstown State (Oct. 11) and Villanova (Nov. 15) all on the road.

The Bulls will also host I-AA playoff contenders Massachusetts (Oct. 18), Hofstra (Oct. 25) and Maine (Nov. 8) at UB Stadium. The Bulls will open their 84th season of football on Saturday, Aug. 30, when they play host to Lock Haven in 7 p.m. at UB Stadium. The Bulls will also host Delaware State (Sept. 13) and West Chester University (Sept. 27) at UB Stadium, where the Bulls finished 4-2 last season and drew 41 percent more fans than they did in 1995. The Bulls will play seven teams in 1997 that won six or more games last season.

"Once again this season we face a tremendous challenge on the field by playing the caliber of opponents on our schedule," said head coach Craig Cirbus. "We obviously will get a taste of our future in the MAC when we play Ohio University, one of the most improved teams in the country last season.

"In addition to that game, we look forward to continuing what has become good rivalries with well-established I-AA teams like Illinois State, Hofstra, Youngstown, UMass and Maine. We feel that we have put together one of the toughest Independent I-AA schedules in the nation."

1997 Football Schedule

Aug. 30 Lock Haven 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 at Illinois State 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 Delaware State 4 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Ohio University 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 West Chester

University 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Connecticut 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Youngstown

State 1 p.m.

Oct. 18 Massachusetts 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 Hofstra 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 8 Maine 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 at Villanova 1 p.m.

Home games in bold face at UB Stadium

All game times are Eastern time

All times are subject to change

For tickets, call 645-6666

TRINIDAD, JACOB TO REPRESENT UB AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

A pair of University at Buffalo athletes-swimmer Lieselle Trinidad and women's basketball player Catherine Jacob-have been selected to attend the 1997 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. The conference will be held May 27-30 at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Florida.

Approximately 500 nominations from 140 CHAMPS/Life Skills institutions were received by the NCAA. The selection committee, comprised of six administrators representing Divisions I-A, I-AA, I-AAA, II and III, invited 276 student-athletes to participate in the conference. Student-athletes from 20 different sports will be represented.

Trinidad, a sophomore, helped lead the Royals to their third consecutive Mid-Continent Conference title this season. An All-Mid-Con first-team selection, she won the 100- and 200-butterfly at the conference championships and was part of the two winning relay squads. She holds a 2.910 grade point average in mechanical engineering.

Jacob, also a sophomore, has been the Royals' starting point guard the last two seasons leading the club to a 45-14 record. She broke her own school record this season with 166 assists and is currently second all-time with 329. Jacob carries a 3.902 grade point average in mechanical engineering and was one of five women's basketball players selected to the GTE Academic All-District 1 University Division first-team.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office