Gallaudet University Announces 2009 Football Schedule

Washington, DC.- Gallaudet University made a formal announcement about their 10-game 2009 football schedule on Wednesday afternoon. 

With a new season comes change.  Gallaudet is excited to begin play in their newly formed league, The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, in the Fall of 2009.  The ECFC was formed in the spring of 2009 as an NCAA Division III single sport football conference. The conference derives its name after the geographic location of the institutions.

Founding members were Anna Maria College (Worcester, Mass.), Becker College (Leicester, Mass.), Castleton State College (Castleton, Vt.), Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), Husson University (Bangor, Maine), Maritime College State University of New York (Throggs Neck, N.Y.), Mount Ida College (Newton, Mass.), and Norwich University (Northfield, Vt.).

The schedule begins with a non-conference game at GU versus the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, September 5th.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm at Hotchkiss Field in Washington, DC.   This is the first of their five home games in the 2009 season.

The Bison then take to the road for the first of three straight road contests when they travel to Hiram College on September 12th.  Game-time is slated for 12 pm in Hiram, OH.  GU will attempt to avenge their 20-14 overtime loss from last season.

Next on their road schedule is a trip to ECFC foe Mount Ida College on Saturday, September 19th.  The Mustangs have won the previous 2 meetings between the schools (38-7 this past season and 28-14 in Newton, Massachussetts two years ago).

Rounding out their third straight week on the road is a trip to ECFC opponent Castleton State College in Castleton, VT on September 26th. This will be Castleton State's inaugural football season in 2009.

After three long weeks on the road the Bison come home for four straight games at the friendly confines of Hotchkiss Field.

First up on the home-stand is ECFC powerhouse Husson College on Saturday, October 3rd.  They are followed by Norwich College, who is leaving the Empire 8 to join the newly formed ECFC, on October 10th.  Kickoff is set for noon.

Next up for the Bison is a cross-town rivalry game with The Catholic University of America on October 17th at 1pm.  This is the first meeting between the two programs in over 15 years.

The homestand ends in grand fashion on October 24th, Homecoming Weekend, with a ECFC tilt versus Becker College whom the Bison defeated last year 26-18.  The game is slated to begin at 1 pm.

The stretch drive of the regular season will pit the Bison against ECFC foe Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA.  SUNY Marytime College in Throggs Neck, NY (Nov 6) 

The inaugural season of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference is set to conclude on November 6th when GU travels to Throggs Neck, NY to play SUNY Maritime under the lights at 7pm.

In the ECFC's first year the top 2 teams will play in a conference championship game on November 14th with the Leagues top team garnering hosting duties.