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BUFFALO, NY - Three straight games against Big East opponents to open the season and another tough Mid-American Conference schedule - including a trip to nationally-ranked Marshall - highlight the University at Buffalo's 2000 football schedule announced today.

The Bulls will begin their second season of Division I-A football with trips to Big East member Syracuse (Sept. 2) and Rutgers (Sept. 9) before hosting Connecticut in the home opener on Sept. 16th at UB Stadium.

Buffalo will also host MAC members Bowling Green (Sept. 23), Ball State (Oct. 21 for Homecoming), Kent (Nov. 4) and Miami of Ohio (Nov. 18) during the 2000 season. Road games in the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule include trips to Marshall (Sept. 30), Ohio (Oct. 7), Northern Illinois (Oct. 28) and Akron (Nov. 11).

"My first reaction is that this year's schedule is more challenging than last year's," said UB head coach Craig Cirbus. "The fact that we open with three Big East teams and have four of our first six games on the road will be a real challenge to our young football team."

"That being said, our football program - as always - is excited about facing challenges and there must be a great deal of excitement with our fans about playing three Big East teams right off the bat," said Cirbus.

The Bulls will once again play in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference and will play divisional games against Bowling Green, Kent, Miami, Akron, Marshall and Ohio. Buffalo's only cross-over games will be against Ball State and Northern Illinois.

Once again, the MAC will be among only three Division I-A conferences in the country to sponsor a Championship game. As required by NCAA by-laws, each school will play every school in its own division.

The 2000 football schedule, all times yet to be determined.

Date Opponent Site Stadium (Capacity) Series Record

Sept. 2 at Syracuse Syracuse, NY Carrier Dome (50,000) SU leads, 3-1

Sept. 9 at Rutgers Piscataway, NJ Rutgers Stadium (42,000) First meeting

Sept. 16 Connecticut Amherst, NY UB Stadium (31,000) UConn leads, 7-3

Sept. 23 Bowling Green* Amherst, NY UB Stadium (31,000) First meeting

Sept. 30 at Marshall* Huntington, WV Marshall Stadium (30,000) MU leads, 3-1

Oct. 7 at Ohio* Athens, OH Peden Stadium (20,000) OU leads, 3-2

Oct. 21 Ball State*# Amherst, NY UB Stadium (31,000) BSU leads, 2-0

Oct. 28 at Northern Illinois* DeKalb, IL Huskie Stadium (31,000) NIU leads, 2-1

Nov. 4 Kent* Amherst, NY UB Stadium (31,000) Series tied, 4-4

Nov. 11 at Akron* Akron, OH Rubber Bowl (35,202) Akron leads, 1-0

Nov. 18 Miami* Amherst, NY UB Stadium (31,000) Miami leads, 2-0

#-Homecoming/Family Weekend
*Mid-American Conference games