Out to win the Empire 8 title again for what will be the fifth time in the last seven years, the St. John Fisher College football team has released its highly anticipated 2010 schedule.

Fisher won the 2009 ECAC Northwest Championship Bowl last fall and finished 7-3 overall, marking the seventh straight year the Cardinals have advanced to the postseason. This season, the Cardinals will play a rigorous 10-game schedule, welcoming the addition of Fisher's newest competitor, Frostburg State.

Fisher opens its season at Growney Stadium under the lights with a 6 p.m. non-conference game against the College at Brockport. The two teams have not met since the 2007 season, when Fisher defeated the Golden Eagles 45-7 at home. The Cardinals are 30-7 overall at home since 2004 and look to improve that record.

Following its opener, Fisher hits the road for four straight games, including its first Empire 8 Conference contest of 2010.

Fisher begins its road trip at 12 p.m. on September 11 at Buffalo State College, whom the Cardinals defeated 55-7 at Growney Stadium in the 2009 season. The Bengals will officially be an affiliate of the Empire 8 beginning in the 2012 season.

The following week, on the 18th of September, Fisher will meet University of Rochester in Courage Bowl VI. For the first time in the tradition's history, the game will not be played at either school, but will be played at the Marina Auto Stadium in the City of Rochester at 7 p.m. Local-rivals Fisher and Rochester have squared off in the Courage Bowl each season since 2005 in a game dedicated to the children of Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Continuing its run of road games, Fisher travels to Hobart on September 25 for its second of three straight night games, at 7 p.m. The Cardinals and the Statesmen have not played each other since the 2007 season, when the two teams met in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship Playoffs, where Fisher left with a 24-7 victory.

Fisher wraps up its road schedule with the first of its Empire 8 contests and its third straight contest under the lights. The Cardinals will be hosted by the Utica Pioneers on October 2 to open conference play, marking the beginning of a tough lineup for the Cardinals, who then return home to host rival Ithaca College on October 9 for a 4 p.m. contest during Fisher's Homecoming weekend.

Following the Ithaca matchup, which has become arguably one of the Cardinals' heaviest weighted games in past years, Fisher hosts its third conference contest against Empire 8 contender Hartwick on October 16 at 5 p.m.

Fisher will then return to the road for a chance to avenge last year's heartbreaking 31-28 loss to rival Alfred University on October 23 at 1 p.m.

The Cardinals return home for their final two games of the regular 2010 season, beginning with a 12 p.m. non-conference matchup against Frostburg State, on October 30.

Fisher hosts Springfield College on November 6 for both the last game of Empire 8 play as well as the last game of the 2010 regular season.

Ticket information for each of Fisher's five home games, as well as information regarding television, internet and radio broadcasts, will be announced at a later date.