Butler Background

Almost hidden in interim AD Bob Ceplikas state-of-the-football program letter yesterday was a note that Dartmouth would be playing a home-and-home with Butler (in Hanover in 2012 and in Indiana in 2013) and visiting Georgetown in 2015.

Georgetown's struggles in the Patriot League should be relatively well known to Ivy League and Dartmouth followers. Butler is a little more of a mystery, so here's a primer on the Bulldogs:

• The Butler football website.
• Butler played in Division II until 1992 and has been a IAA/FCS member since.
• The Bulldogs play in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. Official page.
• The unofficial PFL Wikipedia page.
• From the PFL information page:

The 2009 season marks the 17th year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference.

• Butler was chosen fifth in this year's PFL preseason poll.
• Butler plays in the Butler Bowl, capacity 2,500 (source)
• Averaged 2,858 per game last year.
• Butler Bowl picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4, picture 5

Butler records since going IAA/FCS:

1992 - 8-2
1993 - 4-6
1994 - 7-3
1995 - 2-8
1996 - 3-7
1997 - 6-4
1998 - 4-6
1999 - 5-5
2000 - 2-8
2001- 5-5
2002 - 4-6
2003 - 2-9
2004 - 1-10
2005 - 0-11
2006 - 3-8
2007 - 4-7
2008 - 6-5

2008 Results

At Albion (Mich.) W 20-6
Franklin (Ind.) L 31-28
at Missouri-Rolla, W 41-15
Drake, W 21-15
at Campbell, W 56-7
at Valparaiso, W 48-7
Morehead State, W 31-21
Jacksonville, L 45-9
Dayton, L 28-21
at San Diego, L 34-17
at Davidson, L 46-34

2009 Schedule

Sep. 5 Albion
Sep. 12 at Franklin
Sep. 19 Hanover
Sep. 26 at Morehead State *
Oct. 3 San Diego *
Oct. 17 Valparaiso *
Oct. 24 at Campbell *
Oct. 31 Davidson *
Nov. 7 at Dayton *
Nov. 14 at Jacksonville *
Nov. 21 Drake *