TOWSON, Md. – The #18/20 Towson University football team is ready for Homecoming with a game against a former conference opponent, taking on Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.
 
Tickets for the game are available by clicking here, by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or emailing 4tigertix@towson.edu.
 
Towson is also partnering with Susan G. Komen Maryland in the fight against breast cancer for this game.  Some Towson players will be wearing pink socks for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
 
The game at Johnny Unitas® Stadium will be broadcast live on FloFootball.com and the Towson Sports Network with Ben Rosenbaum on the call.  The game will also be aired on the radio on CBS Sports 1300 with Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs.
 
Towson, ranked in the top-20 all season, enters at #18 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and #20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.  Bucknell is not ranked in either poll.
 
Towson and Bucknell formerly were conference foes in the Patriot League from 1997 to 2003.  In a series that began in 1982, the Tigers and Bison played every year from 1992 to 2003.  The all-time series is tied at 8-8, with Bucknell winning 14-10 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in the last meeting on Oct. 18, 2003.
 
Towson is coming off its third straight defeat, falling to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent UAlbany 38-21, to enter at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the CAA.  Bucknell, out of the Patriot League, won its first game of the season over the weekend 32-14 at Colgate to stand at 1-5 overall and 1-1 in its conference.
 
This is Towson's final non-conference game of the regular season.  The Tigers defeated each non-league FCS opponent in September with victories over The Citadel and N.C. Central, with the only loss coming at top-10 FBS Florida.

Game coverage presented by Travelstead.

 
TOWSON: TOP-20 TEAM
Despite its defeat to UAlbany, Towson is ranked nationally in the FCS top-20, being at #18 in the STATS FCS Poll and #20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.  The Tigers have been in the top-20 since Oct. 2018.
   
On the week of Sept. 16, Towson earned its first top-5 ranking since 2013.  Towson was ranked in the top-12 in the 2019 preseason, the first preseason ranking since 2014.
 
In total, five CAA teams are in each top-25 poll: Towson, James Madison (#2 STATS, #2 AFCA), Villanova (#7, #7), New Hampshire (#22, #23) and Delaware (#24, #24).
 
FLACCO, SIMPSON PLACED ON WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Two Towson players, Tom Flacco and Shane Simpson, have been placed on the Walter Payton Award preseason watch list.  The Walter Payton Award is given to the top offensive player in FCS football.
   
Flacco and Simpson were two of 25 players across all of FCS, and two of three in the CAA, to be honored on the preseason watch list.
 
Each were named to the preseason watch list for the first time.  Flacco was added to the 2018 watch list in October of last season, finishing fifth in the final voting and first among 2019 returners.
 
In the history of the honor, Dave Meggett won the award in 1988.  Flacco, Terrance West (2013), Joe Lee (1999) and Tony Vinson (1993) have all been finalists, all finishing in the top-10.
 
TIGERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA.....
After a strong 2018 season, four Tigers earned preseason All-America recognition from the various publications.
 
Aidan O'Neill was selected as Preseason All-America by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and STATS, being top-seven in all of FCS last year in field goals per game (1.83) and points scored per game (9.0).
 
Two places, STATS and Phil Steele, named Tom Flacco a preseason All-American.  He ranked top-five in FCS in total offense (332.8) and passing yards (270.9) per game in 2018.
 
Shane Simpson was chosen as a STATS All-American at athlete.  Last year, the now-redshirt senior was second in all of FCS with 171.5 all-purpose yards per game, totaling 2,058 on the year.
 
Shane Leatherbury picked up preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele.  The redshirt senior wide receiver ranked top-30 in receptions per game and receiving yards last year.
 
..... AND FIVE PICKED PRESEASON ALL-CAA
Led by Tom Flacco being selected as the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, five Tigers were voted to the 2019 Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Tom Flacco (QB), Shane Simpson (RB), Shane Leatherbury (WR), Robert Heyward (LB) and Aidan O'Neill were all selected to the preseason all-conference team.  Five more were given honorable mention All-CAA: Jabari Allen (WR), Aaron Grzymkowski (OL), Bryce Carter (DL) and Keon Paye (LB).
 
Five on the all-conference team is the third-most in the CAA, only behind Maine and James Madison.
 
AIDAN O'NEILL APPROACHING CAA FG RECORD
Aidan O'Neill, already Towson's all-time leader in field goals made and attempted, is two field goals away from tying the all-time record in Colonial Athletic Association history.
 
O'Neill has 57 field goals as a Tiger in 78 attempts (73%), including four makes in 2019.
 
The current CAA record is held by Greg Kuehn, who made 59 field goals from 2002-25 with William & Mary.
 
TOWSON PICKED SECOND IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
Towson was predicted to finish second in the CAA preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors.  The Tigers also picked up three out of a possible 24 first-place votes.
 
This ties the highest predicted CAA finish for the Tigers since 2012: Towson was predicted to finish first in 2012 and second in 2013.
 
Towson earned an NCAA FCS Playoff berth in 2018 after tying for third place in the CAA at 5-3, going 7-5 overall including victories over then-ranked Elon, Stony Brook and Villanova.
 
2019 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes, points)
1. James Madison (20), 238
2. Towson (3), 217
3. Maine (1), 201
4. Elon, 164
5. Delaware, 162
6. Stony Brook, 151
7. New Hampshire, 109
8. Rhode Island, 104
9. Villanova, 84
10. Richmond, 62
11. William & Mary, 58
12. UAlbany, 34
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Former Towson players are making their mark in the professional ranks, including Jordan Dangerfield and Tye Smith playing in the National Football League. 
 
In addition, Darius Victor was drafted by the New York Guardians in the newly-formed XFL, which will begin play in 2020.
Tigers in the Pros - 2019
--Jordan Dangerfield: Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL
--Tye Smith: Tennessee Titans, NFL
--Matt Kauffman: New Orleans Saints minicamp, NFL
--Frank Beltre: Toronto Argonauts, CFL
--Darius Victor: Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL
--Gerrard Sheppard: Memphis Express, AAF
--Kanyia Anderson: Sioux Falls Storm, IFL
 
FOUR GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
In the true form of student-athlete, four Towson players take the field as college graduates.  Troy Vincent Jr. graduated from Towson in 2018 and is in his second year of graduate school.  Three others graduated from other institutions before coming to Towson, Tom Flacco from Rutgers, Ricky DeBerry from Oklahoma and Darian Bryant from Temple.
 
TOWSON PLAYERS APPROACHING RECORDS
Several Towson players are approaching the top-10 of records for the program.
Bryce Carter (R-Jr. DL)
--Sacks: 11.5
10th: Justin Yelverton, 16.0 (1999-2002)
 
Tom Flacco (R-Sr. QB)
Passing Touchdowns: 36 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Kurt Beathard, 38 (1984-85)
Passing Yards: 4,687 (8th in TU history)
--7th: Kurt Beathard, 4,768 (1984-85)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 6,006 (1973-76)
Passing Attempts: 633 (8th in TU history)
--7th: Kurt Beathard, 646 (1984-85)
Passing Completions: 379 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 447 (1973-76)
 
Robert Heyward (R-Sr. LB)
Tackles: 238
--10th: Bill Stup, 266 (1985-88)
 
Shane Leatherbury (R-Sr. WR)
Receptions: 124
--9th: Two players, 138
Receiving Touchdowns: 12
--8th: Five players, 14
Career Receiving Yards: 1,592
--10th: Eric Yancey, 1,814 (2003-06)
 
Aidan O'Neill (Sr. K)
Field Goals: 57 (1st in TU history)
--FCS Record: Dan Carpenter, Montana, 75 (2004-07)
Field Goals Attempted: 78 (1st in TU history)
--FCS Record: Chris Snyder, Montana, 107 (2000-03)
 
Keon Paye (R-Sr. LB)
Interceptions: 9 (tied for 8th in TU history)
--6th: Two players, 10
Tackles: 192
--10th: Bill Stup, 266 (1985-88)
 
Shane Simpson (R-Sr. RB)
All-Purpose Yards: 4,751
--1st: Jason Corle, 5,382 (1996-99)
Career Rushing Yards: 1,925 (9th in TU history)
--8th: Matt Romeo, 1,950 (2000-03)
--7th: Nick Williams, 1,985 (2004-07)
Career Rushing Attempts: 376
--10th: Paul Cillo, 421 (1981-82)
100-Yard Rushing Games: 5
--10th: Three players, 7
 
AMBROSE - 3RD LONGEST TENURED CAA COACH
Head coach Rob Ambrose, a Towson graduate of 1993, returns at the helm of the Tigers for his 11th season in 2019 and is the third-longest tenured head coach in the CAA.
 
Going into its 51st season, Towson football has had four head coaches, with three, including Ambrose, serving at the helm for at least 10 seasons.  Ambrose was formerly an assistant under Gordy Combs from 1992 to 2000.
 
Ahead of Ambrose in years is New Hampshire's Sean McDonnell (21st season) and Stony Brook's Chuck Priore (14th season).
 
ALUMNI BACK TO COACH THE TIGERS
Along with Ambrose, several Tiger assistant coaches are also Towson graduates. 
--Scott Van Zile (QBs Coach, Recruiting Coordinator): 1999
--Konstantinos Kosmakos (DL Coach): 2006
--Collin Bauer (OLB Coach): 2013
--Lance Yaniger (Director of Operations): 2011
 
Tigers in the Community
The Towson University athletics department deems community service as one of its highest priorities to give back to the Greater Baltimore area.
 
For the 7th consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season.
   
Towson ranked #1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition.
 
Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations.
 
Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.
 
LAST GAME (UALBANY 38, #9 TOWSON 21)
(10/12/19, TOWSON, MD.):
Despite a pair of passing touchdowns from Tom Flacco, #9 Towson fell to conference foe UAlbany 38-21 on Saturday.
Important Stat:
Towson - Held UAlbany to be 0-for-3 on fourth down
UAlbany - Four players with 99+ all-purpose yards
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 17-33, 187 yards, 2 TD
UAlbany - Jeff Undercuffler: 23-30, 380 yards, 2 TD
Top Rusher:
Towson - Yeedee Thaenrat: 10 rush, 36 yards
UAlbany - Karl Mofor: 30 rush, 120 yards, 2 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Shane Leatherbury: 4 catches, 47 yards
UAlbany - Juwan Green: 8 catches, 156 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Robert Heyward (LB): 11 tkls., 1.0 TFL
UAlbany - AJ Mistler (LB): 7 tkls., 2.0 TFL, 1 BrUp
 
INTERNATIONAL TIGERS
Towson's influence is growing across the world with four international players in 2019, including three from Europe.
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Malik Tyne, from Canada, has played 31 career games for Towson, coming into 2019 with 56 tackles, including 18.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks.
 
From Belgium comes Tibo Debaillie who, despite injury last season, has played in 13 games on the defensive line.
 
Two new players from Europe will serve as offensive linemen this year: Roman Wahrheit from Germany and Vaino Paakkonen from Finland.  From 2014-17, Towson had another offensive lineman from Europe, KJ Brandal, who hailed from Norway.
 
FROM UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST...
The Towson roster nearly covers every state along the East Coast, including 12 states along the coastline and 15 states total in the country.
 
Away from the Eastern Seaboard, Towson has players from California, Michigan and Illinois.
 
...AND REPPING THE HOME STATE
The Towson roster represents the Old Line State well, sporting 35 players from the home state of Maryland.
 
This includes four players from Baltimore City: Marcel Allen (Milford Mill Academy), Sam Grace (Boys Latin), Sean Jefferson (Dunbar) and Myles Wright (St. Frances Academy).
 
SCOUTING BUCKNELL:
Bucknell just won its first game under first-year head coach Dave Cecchini.  Bucknell has been playing football since 1883.
 
Bucknell's passing game, led by junior Logan Bitikofer, ranks third in the Patriot League with 224.5 yards a game.  The Bison also have strong special teams: the team ranks first in FCS in net punting, with fifth year player Alex Pechin averaging 45.22 net punting yards a game.
 
LAST TIME VS. BUCKNELL (BUCKNELL 14, TOWSON 10)
(10/18/03, LEWISBURG, PA.):
Towson's early 10-point lead in the first half did not hold as Bucknell scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to come back and win 14-10.
Important Stat:
Towson - Made Bucknell territory in eight of 13 drives
Bucknell - Had four different players throw at least one pass
Top Passer:
Towson - Anthony Melzi: 14-29, 189 yards, 3 INT
Bucknell - J.H. Jackson: 9-11, 129 yards
Top Rusher:
Towson - Mikal Lundy: 24 rush, 105 yards, 1 TD
Bucknell - Blamah Sarnor: 23 rush, 107 yards, 2 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Jason Galloway: 6 catches, 99 yards
Bucknell - Albert Marquardt: 5 catches, 99 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Neal Regan (LB): 8 tkls., 0.5 TFL
Bucknell - Kevin Ransome (LB): 17 tkls., 1 BrUp
 
FIRST 3-0 START SINCE 2013
With victories over The Citadel, N.C. Central and Maine, Towson started 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
 
In 2013, the Tigers began the year 6-0, including a victory over Connecticut, eventually going to the FCS National Championship game.
 
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. BUCKNELL
--Sept. 19, 1992:
Future Towson Hall of Famer Tony Vinson ran for 140 yards, off 26 carries, in a 24-21 comeback victory over Bucknell, the first victory for the Tigers under head coach Gordy Combs.  Vinson scored the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard run with 7:27 remaining.
 
--Nov. 13, 1993:
Vinson's final home game saw him run for a then NCAA I-AA record 364 yards, scoring four touchdowns, including two for 80 yards each, in a 49-21 victory at Bucknell.  364 yards is currently fifth in FCS history for most rushing yards in a game.
 
--Sept. 13, 1995:
Towson announced that it would join the Patriot League beginning in the 1997 season, making it and Bucknell conference opponents.  The Tigers and Bison would play games as league foes from 1997 until 2003, with Towson going to the Atlantic-10 in 2004.
 
FLACCO FINDING TARGETS
Tom Flacco has found 13 different receivers in 2019.  Shane Leatherbury is the leader with 27 receptions thus far, with all other players having at least two catches.  In the 2018 season, 14 Tigers had at least one reception in the combined 12 games.
 
FLACCO UNVEILED ON CFL NEGOTIATION LIST
In August, Tom Flacco was unveiled on the Canadian Football League (CFL) negotiation list for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 
 
Being on a CFL negotiation list, for international players and non-drafted Canadians, means that team has exclusive rights to negotiate a contract.  All CFL teams release 10 names on their negotiation lists twice a year.
 
INTERCEPTORS
With nine interceptions through the first five games, Towson is tied for fifth in all of FCS in that category, leading to a turnover margin of +7 for the team.  Coby Tippett intercepted a pass in each of the first three games while Keon Paye also has three.  Paye and Robert Heyward each have touchdowns off picks.
 
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