BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo announced today their 1999 football schedule, their first as a Division I-A institution and as a member of the Mid-American Conference.

The schedule is highlighted by a trip to Charlottesville, VA on November 13 to battle Atlantic Coast Conference power and potential pre-season Top 10 selection Virginia.

The Bulls will play five home games at the soon-to-be expanded UB Stadium. Buffalo will play its first-ever MAC contest when they open the 1999 campaign against the University of Akron. The Bulls will also play MAC rivals Northern Illinois (Oct. 2) and Central Michigan (Oct. 9 for Homecoming) at UB Stadium as well as two-time MAC champion Marshall University on Oct. 23.

The season closes with a game at Mid-American Conference championship contender Miami, OH on November 20. The RedHawks finished 10-1 last season.

Buffalo will play two familiar foes this season as well - at future BIG EAST member Connecticut (Sept. 18) and host to long-time rival Hofstra University (Nov. 6).

"This schedule represents what the University at Buffalo is building towards with their athletic program," said head coach Craig Cirbus. "Not only will we face an extremely difficult Mid-American Conference schedule but we will have an opportunity to benchmark our program against an 18th-ranked bowl team like Virginia."

"We will face many of the same challenges and growing pains in establishing a I-A program as this University has faced in its previous upgrade challenge from Division III to the present. As difficult as this next step will be, we look forward to bringing major college football back to Western New York," said Cirbus.