Rochester will participate in the 2012 Courage Bowl football game vs. St. John Fisher.

Following a review of the football schedule, the school will discontinue the football series with St. John Fisher following the 2012 game. Rochester will look to support Camp Good Days and Special Times through other initiatives.

There was widespread speculation that Rochester would pull out of the Courage Bowl following this season, prompted by a posting by the football program seeking a new opponent for that date. St. John Fisher defeated Rochester 52-3 in this year's Courage Bowl.

“We have valued our involvement with Camp Good Days and Special Times over the years, and we look forward to participating in the 2012 Courage Bowl,” said George VanderZwaag, Rochester's athletic director.

“We feel it is important to make some changes in our schedule and focus our energies on competing effectively within our own conference.”

Rochester is 3-4, 2-2 in the Liberty League.

Rochester’s Liberty League schedule will expand by one game in 2012 with the addition of Springfield to the league. That will give each team seven conference games. If Rochester plays just a nine-game schedule, short of the Division III maximum of 10, then that would leave two non-conference games.

The Courage Bowl benefits the children of Camp Good Days and Special Times. Each year, players and coaches from both competing schools visit the camp to meet with the youngsters.

“Visiting the Camp in preseason and raising awareness of this cause has been a meaningful experience for our students,” VanderZwaag said.

The University will continue to support Camp Good Day and Special Times through many of these activities and will explore new initiatives.