SBNation.com User Blog: bull_trojan

99 for 99: #3 - Our Old Kentucky Home - UB's Signature Win of the 40's

bull_trojan — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:57:46 -0000

The Licata era began with a loss... not the Toledo loss, and not that Licata, Jules Licata started at Quarterback for the 1948 team, and Frank Clair's first outing was a horrific 25-0 loss at Colgate.

Clair became the 13th coach on UB's official record, and the 5th coach to lose his first game as coach without scoring a point. UB Coaches started 5-8 in their first games, and have since gone 4-6-1. Each of the 11 coaches to come after Clair were able to score in their first contest, so Clair holds the dubious distinction of being the last coach to suffer a shutout in their first game as UB head coach.

Clair is one of 9 UB Coaches to win 10 or more games. Those coaches were 5-3-1 in their first game.

Buffalo breezed through four victories outscoring their opponents 127-35, but their next test would be the strongest. Buffalo with a 4-1 record and a 19-4 record since 1946 would travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals who were 3-2 and 16-4-1 since 1946. Louisville expected an easy homecoming win, they received quite the opposite.

10,000 fans watched UB gain 487 yards on route to scoring 48 points in a 48-19 Buffalo win. Up 7-6 early, UB's passing game, led by Licata (3-8 passing for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns) opened up room for the runners, and kept Louisville guessing. A 21-6 lead at the half, turned into a 41-6 rout in the 3rd quarter.

Buffalo returned to their homecoming against the hated Niagara Purple Eagles. Heavily favored, UB seemed content to nurse a 13-6 lead rather than expand on the lead. This backfired when a questionable pass interference call gave Niagara the ball on the 1 with 4 minutes to play. Clair argued that the Niagara receiver interfered with the UB defender who had position on the ball, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Niagara tried to punch it in twice and failed, on the third attempt, they faked the run and tossed a pass into the flat for the tying touchdown.

UB's final attempt to break the tie was intercepted, leading to a last second 47-yard field goal attempt by Niagara, that was no good.

For the second straight year, attendance for the homecoming game declined, 6,400 fan attended compared to 14,000 in 1946. Buffalo would rout Bucknell the following week to end the season 6-1-1. This was even more embarrassing as a the following day, the 5-1 Canisius Golden Griffins faced undefeated St. Bonaventure in front of 32,541 fans at Civic Stadium.

In a time when UB was overshadowed, the win over Louisville provided UB with a signature win and the successful season from Clair showed UB could maintain success.

The graph shows the win percentage in the final two seasons of UB Coaches with 10+ wins and the win percentage of their replacement's first two seasons. Only Jim Hofher was able to improve, while only Clair, Wilson and Urich were able to start their coaching careers over .500. The drop between Gill's final two years (.500) and Quinn's first two years (.208) is the largest drop on the list, which shows how hard it is to transition, and as a result makes what Jim Peele and Frank Clair were able to do even more special.

Frank Clair would get his revenge over Niagara in 1949, his second an final year as UB football coach. Clair would also be the last UB coach to ever defeat Niagara. Niagara would stop playing Football for good after the 1950 season and Canisius would take a 19-year hiatus from football after 1949. The coach of Canisius when they decided to end their football program was former UB Coach Jim Wilson. Wilson was 28-15-4 at Canisius and took Canisius to the 1948 Great Lakes Bowl in Cleveland. Despite the success Clair enjoyed, Wilson was seen as the best coach in Western New York. Clair was let go, and Jim Wilson was rehired as coach of UB.

Clair would move 90 minutes north, to coach the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. In his first year, he delivered a Grey Cup victory to Toronto. Clair would win one more with Toronto and three more Grey Cups with the Ottawa Rough Riders. The Stadium was named after Clair and he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

With the move, UB traded a successful 33-year old coach for what some would consider a 54-year old "also-ran." Had UB been more patient, perhaps UB Stadium would be named Frank Clair Stadium, perhaps his Grey Cup Championships would have been National Championships, perhaps Clair would be a legendary coach in the College Football Hall of Fame. Alas, we'll never know, and Clair, like Urich and Gill will forever be in the "what if" category of legendary UB coaches.

UB's Summer Blockbusters

bull_trojan — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:57:11 -0000

View this gallery here.

99 for 99 - #4 - Jim Peele's Blueprint - Part 2

bull_trojan — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:24:51 -0000

99 for 99 looks at the 99 biggest moments in UB Football history during the 2012 football season, the 99th season of UB Football.

Jim Peele's final test was to build on momentum. His 5-3 1936 squad finished a game worse. His 6-2 1942 team did not get to play in 1943. His 1947 squad would have the burden of expectations brought on by a 7-2 campaign in 1946. Some even feared the '47 team had a sense of complacency. Everyone wondered if Peele would be able to meet or exceed the standard he set in 1946.

Niagara's team is one of the better western New York elevens and is well-known for the "Little Three" competition with Canisius and St. Bonaventure. This triumvirate symbolizes the inner circle. It is that circle which the Bulls are determined eventually to crash.

The Bulls have waited a long time for this opportunity to burst into prominence. They are sure to make the most of their chance next Friday.

The Buffalo Bee - 9-12-1947

September 19, 1947 - Buffalo 27, Niagara 14

The Bulls entered the Niagara game as 14-point underdogs. The last game between the two teams occurred 13 years prior, with UB falling for the 5th consecutive time to the Eagles in a 27-0 shutout.

In 1947, Niagara either didn't feel like favorites, or they were confident that they would embarrass the Bulls; they resorted to trickeration to take the lead.

With Niagara's tricks out of the bag, UB controlled the game, and countered with a trick of their own; a reverse on a punt return that left all the Purple Eagles chasing after Lockport Lou while Eddie Middlesteadt ran unmolested for a 60-yard touchdown. Buffalo won the game and ended Niagara's gridiron domination.

THE BULL PEN

Now, after years of watchful waiting, the Bulls and followers are doing the howling. In fact, the whole town is talking about the cyclone from north Main Street...The Bulls had proved to the neighboring community that the U of B can play-and outplay-at least one member of the highly-vaunted "Little Three."

By Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 9-26-1947

September 26, 1947 - Buffalo 7, Moravian 0

Despite sloppy play from the experienced offense including only 2 for 13 passing and multiple fumbles, the young UB defense held strong, stopping Moravian's only serious intrusion on downs at the 11 yard line, as UB won a sloppy 7-0 contest.

October 4, 1947 - Buffalo 14, Rensselaer 7

RPI's initial deluge of offense was halted by a fumble that was returned 26-yards by Middlesteadt for a UB Touchdown. A fancy 70-yard punt return touchdown by Lou Corriere looked to blow the game open in amazing fashion: Corriere was stranded on one sideline, only to reverse field and score. However, the score was called back with a clipping penalty. The penalty seemed to take the wind out of UB's sails and the teams went into the half tied at 7.

In the second half, Buffalo scored on a fluke pass that was deflected by a RPI defenseman but alertly scooped up by Bill Rudick for the touchdown. UB's offense, expected to be the team's strong side, disappointed for the second straight week. UB's chance to put the game out of hand came late, on a 4^th and inches from the 1 yard line. The Bulls could neither score nor get the first down. However UB's defense again was up to the task, they kept RPI out of the endzone and secured a 14-7 win.

THE BULL PEN

One fumble and the typical UB rooter either gets up for a beer or keeps right on going out the gate.

The UB philosophy is simple but crude. If we win...that's nice. If we lose...they're bums. If we win...we shoulda won by more. If we lose ... I wish they woulda murdered them Bulls.

By Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 10-10-1947

October 11, 1947 - Buffalo 54, Hobart 0

Maybe it was last year's homecoming loss, or the lackluster offensive fortnight, but compared to 1946, only half the fans, 8,000, showed up for homecoming in 1947. Those who stayed home missed out as UB out-gained Hobart 431-108. A Hobart fumble on their own 15, led to a Rudick 1-yard TD plunge and a 7-0 UB lead. On the next drive, UB threw an 18 yard pass on 4^th and 5 to extend the drive which ended when Mittlesteadt scored on a lateral to put the Bulls up 14-0. In the second quarter, UB scored on a pair of Vic Manz TD pass: an 8-yard pass to Jack Whitman and a 19-yard grab by "One-play Harry" MacWilliams for a 27 -0 lead.

Hobart marched down to the 2-yard line on their initial drive of the 2^nd half, before fumbling to end the threat. Later Mittlesteadt broke a 32-yard run and Vic Manz ran 8-yards to put UB up 34-0. Paul Missana caught a pass in the flat from Bob Conk and ran in from 12-yards out to put UB up 41-0, and Frank Nappo ran in from 4-yards out to put UB up 48-0. With 2 minutes remaining Missana returned a punt 50-yards for the final touchdown of the game.

October 18, 1947 - Buffalo 40, Alfred 7

UB extended their win streak to 9 games with a win over Alfred. Eddie Mittelsteadt ran 23 yards down to the 2 and finished the drive with a sweep around the end to score to give UB a 7-0 lead. A blocked punt gave Alfred the ball deep in UB territory and led to a Paul Curran TD pass to even the score at 7 at the half. The game first turned against the Bulls on a punt, it turned back in their favor on a punt. Alfred shanked one out of bounds at their own 12 and Lockport Lou converted with a touchdown run to give UB a 13-7 lead. Corriere then intercepted an Alfred pass setting up Mittelsteadt's second TD of the day this time from 23 yards out. After another Alfred miscue, this time a fumble, Felix Siezega scored from 37 yards out to put the Bulls up 27-7.

UB gave Alfred an opportunity, with a bad pass intercepted and returned to the UB 15, but UB then took that opportunity away when Corriere nabbed his 2^nd interception of the game, this time on the goal line. On the return, Corriere injured his leg, the second straight year he injured himself the week before facing Wayne State.

Sore feelings abound, the next play, resulted in a fist fight. That would be the last of the fight shown by the Saxons on that day, Vic Manz and Vic Cleri would tack on two more touchdowns and Buffalo won 40-7.

THE BULL PEN

Once in the dim grid past, a gallant, outmanned UB eleven was being roundly thumped by Alfred. Alfred's coach allegedly said something to Jim [Peele] about "keeping your sissies off the field if they couldn't take it." Saturday brought the turnabout. An ardent Saxton supporter bemoaned the strength of Buffalo reserves and complained to the press box huddler that using so many men was unsportsmanlike...finally your reporter told him to "keep your sissies off the field if they can't take it"

Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 10-24-1947

October 25, 1947 - Buffalo 12, Wayne State 32

Wayne jumped out to a 7-0 led with a 10-play 57-yard opening drive eating up over five minutes on the clock. Wayne dominated the first half but miscues cost them points. UB got on the board, after one of the Wayne miscues, a botched lateral, led to a Eddie Mittelsteadt touchdown. Wayne struck quickly, countering the UB score with one of their own to end the half, and they scored to start the second half, to quickly build a 21-6 lead. Bill Rudick, did his part in the third, intercepting a pass, and then scoring on a touchdown pass during the resulting drive. Two missed conversions put Buffalo down 2 scores 21-12.

UB put up a good stand on defense, preventing Wayne from scoring on downs at the 10 yard line. The offense betrayed them, promptly throwing an interception and allowing Wayne's Jack Hazely to return it for a touchdown. Later another UB desperation heave was caught by the wrong team, leading to yet another Wayne touchdown. The game ended 33-12, the perfect season was over.

THE BULL PEN

Two announcements of the past week have attested to the rising prominence of the university of Buffalo as a gridiron power. One concerns the broadcasting for the first time in UB's history when Al Haley, WWOL's sportscaster airs the Bethany tussle tomorrow...The second announcement concerns the letter received by the athletic office in regards to a possible postseason game in El Paso, Texas. This game would be a climax of the Southwestern Sun Bowl Carnival and is scheduled for January 1.

By Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 10-31-1947

November 1, 1947 - Buffalo 50, Bethany 6

Out-gaining Bethany 401-143, the Bulls rolled to their sixth victory of the season. "Steady" Eddie Mittelsteadt, focal point of the offense due to the injury to Corriere shined with 69 yards on the day and all 3 of UB's first half touchdowns. Surprisingly though, it was the UB aerial attack that did the heavy lifting on the day. UB completed 12 of 23 passes for 193 yards and 3 touchdowns. The defense recovered 3 fumbles and scored a safety, and shut Bethany out in the second half to ensure the game never became a contest.

November 8, 1947 - Buffalo 50, St. Lawrence 7

An already over-matched St. Lawrence team was further disadvantaged by the mud and snow at Civic Stadium. UB, in their final home game, looked at home in the slop, running up the score with the running game and capitalizing on special teams. Eddie Middlesteadt led the Bulls with 66 yards and 2 touchdowns, mostly comprised of a 57-yard scamper in the 3rd quarter.

THE BULL PEN

One question kept re-appearing as we wondered about the issue. What's better - to win in your own class with well-matched opponents-or to lose in a class a team isn't yet ready to crash?

By Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 11-14-1947

November 15, 1947 - Buffalo 14, Bucknell 6

In the finale against Bucknell, the Bison, led by North Tonawanda native Eddie Stec, pushed through the snowy field for a 79-yard game opening drive to take a 6-0 lead. Fortunately, the UB defense found their footing, allowing only 59 more yards on the day.

UB caught their first break with a surprise punt, Bucknell muffed the punt, and UB recovered on the 9. Bill Rudick blasted into the end zone 3 plays later and with the extra point, UB led 7-6. Later in the half, UB's own North Tonawanda native Felix Siezega set up "Lockport" Lou for a 21-yard touchdown run on his first carry since his injury at Alfred. Siezega played for Bucknell when the Bison defeated the Bulls in 1946, now as a Bull he was vital in helping Buffalo avenge the loss.

After a sloppy 3^rd quarter, Bucknell drove to the 3-yard line, only to fumble the ball away. With an interception, some stout defense, and a clock-controlling run game, UB walked off the field for the last time in 1947 with a solid 14-6 victory and an impressive 8-1 season record.

THE BULL PEN

UB's moleskin maulers say goodbye to the grid wars afters humbling Bucknell last Saturday to crown the best season in the school's history. Now comes the time for "watchful waiting" as the gridders sweat out the hoped-for bid to the Sun Bowl in El Paso Texas...

Perhaps the best moments during the year came at both ends of the schedule. An awesome opponent, Niagara loomed as the season's opener. The Buffaloes went into that game the underdog yet surprised everyone with a rather handy win, 27-14; it is interesting to note that Canisius, after almost an entire season was passed, racked up the exact same 27 points though they held the Purple Eagles scoreless. This further enhances the Bull showing since they went into the game "cold"; both Niagara and Canisius were thoroughly warmed up for last Sunday's fracas. The inference then is logical. What would happen if the Bulls and the Golden Griffs were to tangle? No one can be sure, but the arriving at an outcome, whatever it may be, certainly would create one of the most potent rivalries hereabouts. The drawing power would be terrific not to mention the caliber of football that would no doubt be displayed on the part of both teams

By Irv Haag - The Buffalo Bee - 11-21-1947

The Sun Bowl passed over the Bulls, selecting a local team, Texas Tech, and 9-0-1 Miami of Ohio in their first year as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Miami won the contest 13-12.

Jim Peele would move on from coaching, and focus on his duties as UB's athletic director. To replace himself, Peele hired 31-year-old Frank Clair. Clair played at Ohio State, coached the B team at Miami University and was an assistant coach at Peele's alma mater Purdue. Peele's '46 and '47 squads set a fine blueprint for the future of Buffalo football, it was up to Clair to follow the blueprint and lead UB to glory.

99 for 99 - #4 - Jim Peele's Blueprint - Part 1

bull_trojan — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:40:44 -0000

99 for 99 looks at the 99 biggest moments in UB Football history during the 2012 football season, the 99th season of UB Football.

After only four winning seasons in 21 years, Jim Peele started his UB career going 9-7 in his first two seasons as coach. Expectations were dulled however as over the next 4 seasons UB won only 8 games. In 1942, "Lockport" Lou Corriere led the Bulls to a 6-2 season. As UB football fever reached it's peak, the Bulls traded the gridiron for the battlefield.

In 1946, over 100 men returned to UB's first practice. Coach Peele, Fritz Febel, Vito Grieco and Vince Bonerb worked to craft those men into a team that could play as well as they did in 1942. In 1946 UB would play their home games four miles south of campus at Civic Stadium (War Memorial Stadium).

September 28, 1946 - Buffalo 40, Moravian College 7

UB's star Lockport Lou Corriere returned from war, and instantly got back to scoring touchdowns. He scored the first of the season with a pass to put the Bulls up 7-0. In the second half, Corriere scored on a 55 yard run on route to a 40-7 romp over Moravian.

THE BULL PEN

"We ask you to give your whole-hearted support to the teams representing the University. These teams are your teams in every sense of the word; they are financed by you, they are playing for you, and they are representing your school. If you desire to see the University of Buffalo on a big time athletic scale, remember that this can never be accomplished with small time support."

By George T. Hennessey - The Buffalo Bee - 10-04-1946

October 5, 1946 - Buffalo 28, Rensselaer Poly 13

The Bulls recovered a RPI fumble deep in Trojan territory. Lou Corriere scored on the next play. RPI struck back on a 90 yard punt return by Art Beard but UB still led 7-6 after an RPI missed extra point. RPI took their first lead with a 26-yard touchdown run by Dick Powell, taking a 13-7 lead into halftime

The teams traded punts in the third and early in the fourth RPI controlled the game. An early drive was ended when the Bulls held strong on 4^th and inches. Later RPI threw an interception to Bill Rudick on the 15. Rudick ran to the 30, and lateraled to Jack Whitman who took it the rest of the way for a UB touchdown, the extra point would proved to be the game winning point.

UB scored twice more: Hal Gerard flipped the ball to Sal Barone who ran 36 yards for a touchdown, followed by Frank Nappo's 15 yard toss to Gerard. With 21 points in the final eight minutes, UB escaped from their trip to Albany with a 28-13 victory.

THE BULL PEN

"The team might have been content to return home with a 14-13 victory; but no, instead, they continued to play "heads up" football even though time was running out on them, returning home with a 28-13 decision.

Sticking by my previous opinion, I still maintain that this will be the greatest gridiron eleven in the history of the University of Buffalo."

By Harry Rosamilia - The Buffalo Bee - 10-11-1946

October 12, 1946 - Buffalo 20, Hobart 7

UB defeated Hobart 20-7 on a cold icy early October day Geneva. Ball security was key in the slippery conditions, as Hobart found out early. A Hobart fumble was recovered by Bill Rudick which set up Eddie Mittlesteadt for a 30-yard touchdown run.

Later in the first quarter, Corriere flipped a lateral to Mittlesteadt who then ran another 55 yards for a touchdown. Buffalo led 20-0 after Vic Cleri scored on a 21 yard run.

After halftime, the ice thawed and the field was reduced to a mud pit. The played slowed down with only one score in the half. Lou Corriere couldn't handle a bad snap, he recovered in the back of his end zone and bicycle kicked the ball out of desperation, it traveled only 12 yards, resting at UB's own 2 yard line. It took Hobart all 4 plays, but eventually they pushed the ball in from the 2 to ruin the Buffalo shutout.

THE BULL PEN

The Bulls proved they are "mudders" as well as "fast track" runners in their conquest of Hobart last Saturday. Although the general aspect of the game was comparable to water polo, the boys showed flashes of brilliance even under the miserable conditions.

By George T. Hennessey - The Buffalo Bee - 10-18-1946

October 19, 1946 - Buffalo 0, Bucknell 20

UB returned home for the first homecoming game since the war. The 3-0 Bulls entered at 18 point underdogs against the Bucknell Bison.

Bucknell came into the game 0-3 with losses coming at Cornell and at Penn State. Perhaps the Bulls took the Bison lightly. UB was shut out in front of 15,000 fans. Worst than the end of the undefeated season, UB suffered many injuries including the loss of star player Lou Corriere.

GOAL POST MORTEMS

Many persons last Saturday undoubtedly left the stadium very disappointed that Bucknell won the contest. Many others too probably ripped the UB squad to pieces, with their cutting phrases of sarcasm. Usually, however it is such persons, who run around frothing at the mouth, that know the least abou the game. To anyone with any football sense, the Bulls played the best game of their season thus far...

The Buffalo Bee - 10-25-1946

October 26, 1946 - Buffalo 20, Wayne State 25

Without Lou Corriere, Harry MacWilliams and jack Whitman, UB fell late to Wayne State at home. On the winning score, Wayne's Tartar Ventio was crushed by UB's Vic Manz, but not before Ventio lateraled to Haag who scampered 40 yards for the touchdown.

THE BULL PEN

The Bucknell Bisons made it two in a row over our Bulls last Saturday although most people are giving the credit to Wayne University since they were on the field with the Bulls.

By George T. Hennessey - The Buffalo Bee - 11-01-1946

November 2, 1946 - Buffalo 32, Bethany 6

Eddie Mittelsteadt ran for a 30-yard TD to open the scoring, and after two quarters, UB led 12-0 via a Bill Rudick touchdown plunge. A subduded opening broke out into an exciting second half, sparked by a twenty-yard run by Lou Corriere for a 19-0 UB lead. Hal Gerard scored later to give buffalo a resounding 25-0 lead. Coach Peele sent out the reserves and Bethany took advantage with their first TD of the game to cut the lead 25-6. In response, Peele sent his first team offense back into the game resulting in a Bud Houser score to end the game 32-6 in UB's favor.

GOAL POST MORTEMS

Imbued with fanatical zeal and enthusiasm for victory, the Buffalonians struck back viciously at the Bison squad to give the Bethany fans an afternoon jam-packed with football excitement. In fact, before the contest was over, many Bethanyites had been won over to our side and were wildly cheering the Bulls on to victory.

By Harry Rosamilla - The Buffalo Bee - 11-08-1946

November 9, 1946 - Buffalo 20, Alfred 12

Alfred, coached by Alex Yunevich, teammate of Peele at Purdue, came into the UB game undefeated. The key to beating UB was taking advantage of UB's sloppy play. Alfred did that early, converting a Eddie Mittelsteadt's fumble of a Bill Rudick's lateral into 6 points. Alfred however was not as good at the other key to beating Buffalo, keeping Lockport Lou in check. Corriere put UB in the endzone with a 14-yard scamble and the Houser extra point gave buffalo a 7-6 halftime lead.

For the second week in a row UB took off in the second half, Bug Houser intercepted Alfred and returned it 26 yards to the 14. Corriere plunged across the goal line for his second score giving UB the 14-6 lead. After an Alfred score, Eddie Mittelsteadt took off for 25 yards and a touchdown to seal a 20-12 win.

THE BULL PEN

The Bulls really went to town last Saturday and when the smoke had cleared, there was one less undefeated, untied team in the country. Alfred had finally bitten the dust. It was a rough, bruising game with our boys being a bit tougher although the Saxons tried every trick in the books, including the unmentionables.

By George T. Hennessey - The Buffalo Bee - 11-15-1946

November 16, 1946 - Buffalo 28, Carnegie Tech 0

Buffalo faced the winless and "scoreless" wonders of Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. To expectations, UB defeated and shutout Carnegie 28-0, although the game was closer than the score indicated. UB went ahead 7-0 early but could not pull away until the 4th quarter when they scored 21 points.

November 23, 1946 - Buffalo 36, Johns Hopkins 0

In the 1946 finale, the 6-2 Bulls hosted Johns Hopkins. Lockport Lou Corriere sparked the Bulls with an eighty-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter. He also added a thirty-yard touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter. Paul Missana ran for a touchdown, Eddie Mittlesteadt exploded for a seventy-two yard TD run and Vic Manz hit Len Serfustilli for a thirty-two yard TD pass. The defense dominant all day also got on the scoreboard, knocking Hopkins QB Jack Adams out of the end zone for a safety.

Coach Peele became the winningest coach in UB history on November 2nd 1940 with a win over City College of NY, a distinction he would hold for twenty-two years. On October 16, 1942 UB defeated Hartwick and Peele became the first UB coach to win twenty games. Today only three other coaches have matched that feat. The Hopkins win was Peele's 30th career victory.

THE BULL PEN

The University of Buffalo football team has completed its season with a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, having scored 224 points to its opponents 91 points. In its last 2 seasons it has compiled a record of 13 wins and 4 losses...

Jim Peele not only acted as head coach during the year but was also in charge of the physical education department, in charge of publicity for the team, responsible for the various items connected with the actual games played by the University at the many social functions he attended during the year. He was easily doing the job of four or five men.

By George Hennessey - The Buffalo Bee - 12-6-1946

Jim Peele's 1946 campaign showed that UB still had football talent after the war. 1947 returned most starters with an average player age of 24 years old.

99 for 99 - #5 - The Catch

bull_trojan — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:37:12 -0000

So what does this dog have to do with the greatest single play in UB football history?

Long Live the TANKThread

bull_trojan — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:13:22 -0000

This week the TankThread returned, and Buffalo won both games, something that shouldn't be surprising if you have paid attention. I first took note of the Tankthread last year, as the Sabres crashed down to last place, we began to wish for the Tank so we could be in a good position to draft a top Center prospect like Mikhail Grigorenko.

Of course something funny happened on the way to the draft podium, the Sabres began to win. They uncharacteristically won a lot of games on the West Coast swing and turned doubters into believers. The Tank Thread was replaced by the MustWin Thread, and as we know we finished 9th.

Analyzing the tank threads, (I found 13), we can see the Sabres excel in a TankThread environment.

The Sabres are 9-3-1 in tankthread games, with 7 Regulation & Overtime Wins while outscoring opponents 35-27.

The All Tankthread First Team is:

Pommers: 3 goals 10 points
Roy: 3 goals 7 points
Ennis: 2 goals 8 points
Ehrhoff: 1 goal 8 points
Myers: 2 goals 6 points

Goalie: Ryan Miller 9-2-1 as starter (TankBuster MVP)

All Tankthread 2nd Team:

Vanek 2 goals 7 points
Stafford 4 goals 6 points
Boyes: 2 goals 4 points
Sekera: 1 goal 3 points
Weber: 2 points

Goalie: Enroth 0-1-0 as starter

With only 9 games remaining and only 4 points out of 8th, let us learn from last year's mistakes, and finish out the regular season (and postseason if applicable), under the leadership of the TankThread!

Analyzing the tank threads, (I found 13), we can see the Sabres excel in a TankThread environment.

The Sabres are 9-3-1 in tankthread games, with 7 Regulation & Overtime Wins while outscoring opponents 35-27.

The All Tankthread First Team is:

Pommers: 3 goals 10 points
Roy: 3 goals 7 points
Ennis: 2 goals 8 points
Ehrhoff: 1 goal 8 points
Myers: 2 goals 6 points

Goalie: Ryan Miller 9-2-1 as starter (TankBuster MVP)

All Tankthread 2nd Team:

Vanek 2 goals 7 points
Stafford 4 goals 6 points
Boyes: 2 goals 4 points
Sekera: 1 goal 3 points
Weber: 2 points

Goalie: Enroth 0-1-0 as starter

Poll

Long Live the TankThread?

Yes, TankThread to the Playoffs

20 votes

No, I want a top 5 pick, make them Gamethreads

8 votes

No, I want the sad dissapointment of the MustWin Thread

0 votes

This was 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back

6 votes

34 votes | Poll has closed

99 for 99 #6: The 2009 International Bowl

bull_trojan — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:34:09 -0000

After the 1999 season, there were 23 Bowl Games, but only one invited a MAC team; the team was Marshall and the game was the Motor City Bowl. Despite the addition of two more Bowl Games in 2000, again only Marshall represented the conference in postseason play. From 2001 to 2003, the number of Bowl games increased to 28. One of the new games, the GMAC Bowl, gave the MAC a second annual bowl bid. In 2004, five MAC teams went Bowling but in 2005 the number of bowling MAC teams returned to two.

In 2003, the SARS outbreak hit Canada and had a negative impact on the country's tourism, as a result in 2005, the International Bowl was created. The inaugural International Bowl in 2007 pit Cincinnati against Western Michigan, WMU was one of 4 MAC...

University Rebranding

bull_trojan — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:58:02 -0000

After a six-month process, Danny White unveiled his rebranding plan for the Buffalo Bulls today. The University originally know as the University of Buffalo, has gone by the University at Buffalo, or SUNY Buffalo since joining the State University of New York. The athletics program was branded simply as the Buffalo Bulls until now...

The athletics program will now be known as Southern Ontario-Western New York at Erie Coast Blue Bulls.

Southern Ontario is in the name to emphasize UB's ties to the large Toronto media market, highlighted by UB's 2009 International Bowl appearance. "I think we are Canada's college program" White remarked. When asked if this move was in preparation to resurrect D-1 Hockey at Buffalo, he said "No" and when follow up questions came up, he indicated that he would answer no more questions on the subject.

Western New York was important, because White wanted to expand from a Amherst or Buffalo focus to a larger, multi-county focus. "Buffalo is UB territory, but so is Rochester" White explained. The move will help UB save on facilities, because they can now outsource teams throughout the region. "Baseball at MCC, Football at the Aquinas Institute, Rowing the Erie Canal, the possibilities are endless."

New apparel will be delayed because the SOWNY Bulls, were changed just last week to SOWNYEC Bulls. White explained that with the emergence of Florida Gulf Coast University in the tournament, he found it important to specify the coast that Buffalo is on. "I never heard of FGCU, but I know where the Florida Gulf Coast was, the average sports fan spends 37 seconds on one thought, instead of spending that 37 seconds on map quest wondering where Florida Gulf Coast was, I spent 37 seconds on wikipedia learning about their history. I want people new to UB looking at Wiki, not mapquest or god forbid, UB Bull Run."

White added that the Erie Coast moniker will alleviate confusion from opposing teams. Temple left the MAC after they found out that Buffalo was not just outside of Manhattan. White explained the situation: "Detailed maps are banned at Temple, in an attempt to keep students at Temple, by keeping them ignorant of the outside world. The administrators were not prepared for the extra cost of travel up to Buffalo."

Finally, with the addition of coach Bobby Hurley, White decided to synergize Hurley's pedigree, by changing the Bulls into the Blue Bulls. "Our research showed popularity increases when you describe the color of your mascot. Blue Devils, Red Wings, Red Sox. There are a lot of color blind fans out there and you do not want to alienate them."

When asked when Southern Ontario Western New York Erie Coast Blue Bulls apparel be available, White said he would be making no more comments on that.

Jeff Quinn Welcomes Coach Hurley

bull_trojan — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:53:35 -0000

Coach Hurley,

I am delighted to welcome you into the UB coaching family. When I arrived, your predecessor gave me a few words of advice about winning at home and trying to finish in the top five of the conference and developing players, and I have to admit, all of his advice was crap. I did none of that and I'm still here, I'm still standing, and he, well he's gone. So I thought I would give you my Jeff Quinn Next ~~Bearcat~~ Bull In certified ten step plan to success.

1) Alienate your star. I ignored that lump Zach Maynard, and was free to find and develop my own Quarterback. Licata Time baby. You got that kid McCrea, text him and tell him you're moving him to Point Guard and then never return his calls or texts.

2) Reject all current recruits. This fanbase will attribute all successes for three-four years to Reggie, so start supporting the "bare cupboard" defense by rejecting the entire recruit class.

3) Slogan! Change UB True Blue to the Buffalo Berserkers, it's like Duke's Cameron Crazies but it's Buffalo...never let them forget you're from Duke.

4) Speaking of...book Coach K for the season tipoff luncheon, better get on that, I hear he's hard to get.

5) Change the Uniforms, if you change the uniforms they will be forced to stop showing old highlights, which comes in handy just in case your teams have no real highlights.

6) Study real hard to beat Ohio, like once...trust me, one Ohio win is worth like seven MAC wins

7) Repeat after me: "it's part of the process"

8) Lighten up that schedule...no one remembers S.O.S. during extension renegotiations.

9 Speaking of extensions, it's never too soon to ask for an extension, get back to that renegotiation table.

10) No subs, run your starting five 40 minutes a game, every game, it's not your fault if your good players breakdown.

Best of luck as you take over in the coming months,

Jeff "Jafar" Quinn

Head Ball Coach

Buffalo Football

Buffalo's Southeast Division Problem.

bull_trojan — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:35:15 -0000

The Northeast division is the best division in the East, opponents have earned 0.990 points per game against the Northeast 4 teams are in the playoffs today and all 5 teams are in the top 10 of the East. The next best division is the Atlantic, opponents earn 1.09 points per game, they have 2 playoff teams and 5 teams in the top 13. The Southeast is the worst division, 1.22 points earned against them per game, they have 2 playoff teams but also the 2 worst teams in the conference.

Great news for the Sabres, as they face three Southeast opponents in a row as they try to get into the top 8, or not, the Sabres are 2-7 against the Southeast, the 2nd worst points per game rate of any team against any division in the East this year.

Winnipeg is the greatest beneficiary of the Southeast conference this year with only 11 points outside of the Southeast but 23 points within the division. Carolina would be the #2 team in points per game not counting the Southeast division and Buffalo would be #8, right on the heels of Ottawa, New Jersey and Toronto.
However the Southeast division does count, and for the next three games, the Sabres road to #8 goes through the weakest division in the conference. Despite what Montreal says, truly dominant teams give inferior teams no chance to win. The Sabres have not done that, and if the trend holds, they'll only earn 1 point in the next 3 games.
The push to playoffs begins now, and if the Sabres want to get in, they'll have to do much better than that.

Best and worst against the Northeast Division

1) Pittsburgh 16 points in 9 games
2) Carolina 14 points in 10 games
3) Boston 14 points in 11 games
6) Buffalo 16 points in 14 games
13) Philly 4 points in 7 games
14) Tampa 5 points in 9 games
15) Florida 4 points in 10 games

Best and worst against the Atlantic Division

1) Montreal 14 points in 9 games
2) Pittsburgh 18 points in 13 games
3) N Jersey 18 points in 13 games
9) Buffalo 10 points in 9 games
13) Philly 8 points in 11 games
14) Tampa 6 points in 12 games
15) Wash 5 points in 11 games

Best and worst against the Southeast Division

1) Montreal 18 points in 9 games
2) Boston 17 points in 19 games
3) Tampa 16 points in 10 games
13) Florida 12 points in 14 games
14) Carolina 6 points in 11 games
15) Buffalo 4 points in 9 games

Best and worst against the Northeast Division

Best and worst against the Atlantic Division

Best and worst against the Southeast Division

1) Montreal 18 points in 9 games
2) Boston 17 points in 19 games
3) Tampa 16 points in 10 games
13) Florida 12 points in 14 games
14) Carolina 6 points in 11 games
15) Buffalo 4 points in 9 games

99 for 99: #7 Local Rivalries

bull_trojan — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 21:29:38 -0000

The History of UB's Now Defunct Local Rivalries.
By Bull_Trojan and Tim Riordan

For 27 of the first 33 seasons of UB Football, UB played Rochester, Niagara or Canisius. In 23 of the next 47 seasons, UB would play Rochester, Niagara, Canisius, Brockport, or Buff State. UB went 49-35-4 in 88 games against those teams.

The First Seventeen Games

UB played Rochester 3 times in the first 4 games of UB Football, going 0-1-2 in those games. In 1897, UB played Niagara for the first time, winning 32-0. By 1920, UB was 5-0 against Niagara, 5-4-2 against Rochester and they won their first contest against Canisius 12-0.

The Losing Streak

Over the next 16 games, UB would go 0-15-1 against Rochester and Niagara.

Leaving Rivals Behind Part 1

U...

Reggie Fired: Thoughts and the Smoking Gun

bull_trojan — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:56:29 -0000

View this gallery here.

99 for 99 - #9 & #8 - Undefeated Teams of the 19th Century

bull_trojan — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:04:29 -0000

1897 Buffalo Football team goes 7-0

After three seasons and one win, UB Football broke out with an undefeated season in 1897. UB opened the season with an exhibition loss to the All-Buffalo football team, but that loss where UB was shut out, seemed to prepare UB's offense for the games that counted.UB outscored their opponents 170 to 10 in the final 8 games.

UB destroyed Niagara in the first meeting between the two teams, 32-0. UB then shutout Syracuse in a back-to-back home and home series, winning 16-0 in Buffalo and 10-0 in Syracuse. Buffalo at this point was 2-0-1 all time against Syracuse. UB then returned home for their second exhibition game with the Buffalo All Stars, where they avenged their earlier loss with a 36-0 victory. UB finished their season 7-0 after avenging the 1894 loss to Hobart in the first UB football game, winning 28-0.

In 1898, Buffalo went 9-2, 4-1 in official college games.

1899 Buffalo Football team goes 6-0

In 1899, UB played six university games, and one game against a professional team from Duquesne. They went 6-0 in the college games, defeating Rochester, Syracuse, Hobart and Bucknell and led by star fullback Turk Gordon, UB outscored their college opponents 126-0.

In a three-year span, UB won twenty-three games and lost only four. In official contests, UB was 17-1, with two undefeated seasons in three years. As UB and College Football increased their commitment to amateurism, UB would begin to struggle in football and it would take almost sixty years for the Bulls to put together an amazing string of successful seasons again.

Poll

Best UB Football Moment?

#70 Pat Whitehead: Mr. Versatile

0 votes

#65 The Election Game

1 votes

#62 James Stark's Most Rushing Yards...

0 votes

#55 UB Beats the Ivy League

0 votes

#50 Exposition City and the Michigan Debacle

0 votes

#9 Undefeated Seasons of the 19th Century

1 votes

2 votes | Poll has closed

We Just Got Cleveland

bull_trojan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:05:36 -0000

No, not my best work, but it's 2012-13 UB Basketball, and it's not Reggie's best either, and like Reggie I can't be fired so you're just going to sit back and take what I give you.

Lyrics:

Have you ever missed the bye to Cleveland, but you won the 1st round game so you got to go anyway? Bowling Green hasn't but we...

We just got Cleveland
and it feels so good, (feels so good)
We won the first round of the MAC tournament

We just got Cleveland,
and we’ll never go back (never go back)
to the 1^st round loss ways of the past

So this ones dedicated to the Bulls that won in the first round playoff game
if your Skeete or Regan A-N or Watson,
we all should thank McCrea for getting us this far

But we lost to Bowling Green, doesn’t matter...

What Is Buffalo Sucks?, or How I Learned to Love the MAC Tournament & Hate Ohio

bull_trojan — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:35:27 -0000

As a freshman in 2003, UB Football and Basketball were both one time events. The Football home opener was an event, a tailgate in the fading warmth of Buffalo in early fall, a concert, and a blowout by halftime, where, even if the score was close, most students would leave to start partying on South Campus. I didn't go to the 2003 Basketball opener, and for a few months I regretted that decision, not because I missed good basketball, UB lost to Canisius, but because I did not get my free "Mighty Maniacs" shirt.

That first year, UB football was nursing a historically long losing streak before beating Ohio. Ohio was the only MAC team we could beat in those days, it didn't make us rivals, it just meant both teams were bad.

The 2002-03 Bulls Basketball team won 5 games, so there was no enthusiasm for UB Basketball during my first semester, however that all changed, in February. I spent my winter break in Cleveland, where I saw Kent State jump out to a 11-3 record, which made me even less eager to return to Buffalo and watch the 5-9 Bulls. In a month, the Bulls would go on an incredible 6-2 run to even their record at 11-11, culminating in a matchup against the 20-3 Kent State Flashes, who were riding a 10-game winning streak.

UB asked everyone to wear blue and 6,176 fans arrived to form a "Sea of Blue." UB stormed to a 82-66 victory and the sea spilled out onto the court after the final buzzer. A few weeks later, almost 9,000 people rocked the Arena as UB won their first ever MAC Tournament game over Northern Illinois.

Despite their success, UB lacked two things: A definitive home field advantage and rivals. I personally found my first rival in 2004 during my first trip to Peden Stadium. The fans were annoying, the band was good, but ruined their performance with childish antics, and the 34-point shutout loss angered me. Not to mention the stupid Ohio chant.

UB Basketball season was highly anticipated. 04-05 proved to be a crazy MAC year, where 9 teams had records between 10-8 and 12-6. Alumni Arena went from an easy road win, to a place to be feared, since '03-'04, UB is 59-29 at Alumni Arena against MAC foes:

UB won 33% of their home games before 2003-04, but they have won 70% since. UB gained their home court advantage, but they still lacked a rival, that is until the MAC Tournament. In the opening round of the 2005 Tournament, UB would again dispatch of NIU, although this time the fans at Alumni were over that small accomplishment and ready to do damage in Cleveland.

The fun of the Cleveland games is that it is a rare situation where fans from eight schools are all in the same building. It was there I realized the fans develop the rivalries, not the teams. The next night 4 teams returned, Ohio beat their arch rivals the Redhawks and Buffalo took on Western Michigan. As Buffalo played, an in-game promotion gave an Ohio fan center stage, he used it to poke at Buffalo.

The student had to answer three questions and hit a shot to win a prize. He wasted his 3 trivia questions to say "Buffalo Sucks." The kid got the response he wanted, 3/4 of the Arena laughed and 1/4 of the Arena exploded with murderous rage. Once it became apparent Buffalo was going to make it to the final, I remember Ohio fans running to the UB student section to antagonize us while we tried to enjoy our victory.

I already hated Ohio, but at that moment, hundreds of UB fans who made the trip hated Ohio too. We had our rival and we were going to face off for the championship. Some from Bobcat Nation will read this and say, "man I can't believe Buffalo hates us." To that I'll say a few things:

1) Not all of Buffalo hates Ohio as much as I do, but in my travels, places/fans I hate ends up being 1) Ohio, 2) NIU, 3) Ball State. I hate Kent State's team, but I have never had any issue with Kent State people. Ball State disparages Buffalo, which fine, but from Muncie, you are not in the position to criticize anyone else's town. They also have MAC Championship Truthers, (But MiQuale Lewis scored! boohoo) and people who won't give Buffalo respect for earning the win. NIU had the most arrogant fans I've ever seen, and not Orange Bowl NIU, like ten years ago NIU, I can't imagine how bad they've become now. But Ohio takes the cake for me, that said I know a lot of Ohio U Alums and they are all great people, maybe the two schools are too similar to ever like each other...

This year Buffalo has avoided Ohio a team they have struggled to beat during the DJ Cooper era. Their path to the title game is CMU > Ball State > Kent State > Akron. UB is 3-3 against these teams this year. The biggest test should be Kent State, UB lost both to Kent, including choking away a big 2nd half lead in the 2nd meeting. Buffalo would also face hostile crowds in the Kent and Akron games, the teams closest to the Quicken Loans Arena.

Historically, Buffalo is 9-13 in the MAC Tournament. Strangely, the Bulls are 8-3 against MAC West teams in the Tournament but only 1-10 against MAC East teams in the Tournament. The Bulls have ended the seasons of NIU, Toledo and Ball state twice, while they have been defeated by Ohio and Miami three times and Kent twice.

Every year since the '05 tournament, it seems teams have gotten better. No MAC West school has won the Tournament since 2004 when Western Michigan won, this year WMU might be poised to win it again. Since 2004, the Tournament has been dominated by Akron, Ohio and Kent. Will this be the year where a darkhorse, maybe an 8th seed, surprises the conference and wins? I hope so, but more importantly, I hope Ohio loses, and just maybe I hope some annoying kid from an equally annoying MAC school gets on the mic and sparks some more hatred, because that is what the MAC Tournament is really all about.

DJ Cooper Steals Bikini Sign

bull_trojan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:44:57 -0000

DJ Cooper Steals Bikini Sign

Spectrum with the story of DJ Cooper stealing a poster of him in a swimsuit. No amount of points, assists, rebounds or steals can make that image go away.

99 for 99 - #10 - Under Duress & Underfunded, UB loses it's Autonomy, It's Football & It's Innocence

bull_trojan — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:28:13 -0000

But this is not a football story. This is a story of how it all fell apart. In the early 1960's UB was at a crossroads. Ambition and budgetary issues led Buffalo to join the SUNY system in 1962. Eight years later, the move would destroy UB Football, community goodwill and the momentum of the University as a whole.

Chancellor turned President Furnas, an engineer by trade, was dedicated to a well-rounded education, and wanted to improve the liberal arts at UB. Furnas was also a former Olympian dedicated to the improvement of UB athletics. As former Assistant Secretary of Defense, he could have used his influence and UB's talent in engineering to support the school with Military projects, however he was surprisingly, and as it turns out wisely, against UB performing defense research.

Without the use of military money, Furnas turned to the State to help fund his ambitious plans for UB. He used the infusion of cash from the SUNY system to hire liberal arts faculty from around the country, but was blindsided by the loss of administrative control. In 1964, SUNY Chancellor fired a radical English professor against Furnas' wishes and in spite of an agreement not to do so. A year later, Furnas would retire.

The retirement of Furnas came at the worst time as the conflicts of the time were managed by Furnas who had enough clout in Buffalo and Nationally to keep all dissidents at bay. Without Furnas the faculty splintered into two factions:

The conservative Buffalonian Medical and Engineering faculty that did not want to be a part of SUNY, they wanted to stay private and fund themselves with military research.

The liberal arts non-Buffalonian faculty who were engrossed in the many issues of the time, they were dependent on SUNY for funding and generally against the military.

When UB's next President arrived with youthful ambition but none of the power that Furnas possessed as President, the rift between the two sides of UB grew bigger.

President Martin Meyerson came to UB from Berkeley with the goal of making UB the "Berkeley of the East." In theory, Meyerson was the man to continue Furnas' vision, in practice, he lacked the credibility to enact change. Medical and Engineering faculty revolted, finally able to voice their opposition to SUNY and Liberal Arts. As a compromise, Meyerson finally allowed UB to start working on military projects. In 1967, UB accepted a 1.2 million dollar Themis grant to conduct research on behalf of the Navy.

Meyerson could not catch a break during his tenure, even issues that had nothing to do with UB eventually affected UB. One such incident occurred in the final week of June in 1967, the Buffalo Riots. The riots were a result of growing racial tensions in Buffalo, a city that experienced an increase in the Black population, but experienced no sign of economic growth or opportunity for Blacks in Buffalo.

The Riots helped substantiate fears about Blacks and encouraged suburban flight. It also empowered the Buffalo Police to use aggressive, often violent action against any act that could be interpreted as incitement. This clashed with UB's students, increasingly liberal and since joining the SUNY system, increasingly populated by downstaters, who sided with Black Buffalonians against racism and police brutality in Buffalo.

On November 10, 1967, five months before his assassination, the UB Graduate Student Association hosted Martin Luther King at Kleinhans Music Hall. In the wake of the Riots and the unpopularity of civil rights in Buffalo, the support of civil rights began to strain the relationship between UB students and the Buffalo community.

On campus, more students were involved with anti-war movements as the liberal presence on campus continued to grow. Some students against the war in Vietnam were particularly upset at UB's newly established involvement in military research. After peaceful protests proved ineffective, some students turned to violence and vandalism. In December of 1967, students caused $200,000 worth of damage to the Themis project. The vandalism in the eyes of the Buffalo community painted UB students as outsiders creating trouble, warping the minds of their good kids, and ultimately destroying Buffalo's way of life.

Unable to enact the change he desired, Meyerson resigned as President. He went on to become President at the University of Pennsylvania where he was able to establish programs for ethnic and gender diversity. Like Furnas, Meyerson left the campus in a precarious position, Furnas left a contentious rift in the faculty, Meyerson left an increasingly vocal student body. Meyerson promoted free speech and activism at Buffalo, he thought a healthy amount of expression would add to the educational experience. His successor, Acting President Peter F. Regan, did not appreciate the value of expression like Meyerson. Regan worked at the Medical School and represented the interests of the conservative faculty at Buffalo.

As Regan took office, the University of Buffalo truly became the University at Buffalo; it was in Buffalo, but it did not really represent the city. Buffalonians saw the University as radical outsiders who turned the University into a war zone. Students saw Buffalonians as ignorant, intolerant and racist. Buffalo needed someone to repair the damage of the 60's and not take sides. Regan was not that man. Regan took office four days before Woodstock, on August 11, 1969. His first big test came 3 months later.

Black members of the UB Basketball team accused coach Len Serfustini (a UB Athletic Hall of Famer) of stranding Black players in Binghamton after a game telling them to hitchhike back to Buffalo, among other discriminatory acts. Eight Black basketball players boycotted practice during the 1970 season. The basketball team demanded some Black coaches be hired and that financial promises would be fulfilled. Regan initially ignored the boycott, which was ironic because UB sacrificed the Tangerine Bowl 12 years earlier to combat discrimination, and they had just hired the first Black hockey coach in college history, Ed Wright.

The boycott lasted all season, and it gained traction with students, Black and white, who fought for civil rights. On February 24th, UB's basketall game against Stony Brook was cancelled due to a sit in at Clark Gym. President Regan called the Buffalo Police to monitor the campus and prevent any major disruption.

On February 25th, UB's Black basketball players met with president Regan. They agreed to cancel the varsity game that night against Albany, however the freshmen team game against NCCC went on as planned. Campus police was present for the entire game, which angered the students. The students marched on Regan's office at Hayes Hall where the President and the athletes were making good initial progress. When a rock was thrown through Regan's window, Regan sent campus police to the Student Union to arrest the window breakers. Students resisted and assaulted the Campus Police,and as a result the administration called again on the Buffalo Police to monitor the campus. The Buffalo Police arrived in riot gear and entered the Union, by the end of the altercation, 27 students were admitted to the hospital.

For the month of March, Buffalo Police occupied the University and students went on strike. Violence could strike at any moment. On March 13, a student-police confrontation sent twenty more students to the hospital. Meanwhile, President Regan denied the use of tear gas or force, and ignored the demands of students publicly, instead condemning students for the damage they caused. Two days later, professors conducted a sit-in with the goal of getting face time with President Regan, instead they received face time with the Buffalo Police. 45 faculty members were arrested for causing a disruption. They were each found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in jail.

A month into the police occupation, Regan sent the police home and the campus normalized after spring break. Regan announced that he would resign his Acting President post in August. Then Kent State happened. On May 4th, 1970, four students protesters were killed at Kent State and 9 others were wounded. The National tragedy sparked a whole new set of protests at UB, the police responded with tear gas, pepper spray and shooting birdshot into crowds.

On July 1st, Dr. Robert Ketter, Dean of the Graduate School became the new University President. The new year brought a fresh start after a semester of upheaval. However there would be no fresh start for UB Football.

This is the football story.

Buffalo football had a window. The Offenhamer era, the move to Division 1 and the support of Presidents who wanted to put UB on the same level athletically and academically as Berkeley and Michigan. In the 14 years before the unrest, UB Football went 30 games over .500, with only 1 losing season. UB recruited the best freshman class in school history, and the Frosh Football team went undefeated in 1970. The team had future games scheduled with the top schools in the East, Offenhamer's dream of an annual series with Syracuse seemed likely.

Between World War II and the end of the UB Football program, 6 coaches, Bob Deming, Doc Urich, Dick Offenhamer, Fritz Febel, Frank Clair and Jim Peele, led UB to a 124-94-7 record over the course of 25 years. UB enjoyed three 8 win seasons, five 7+ win seasons, ten 6+ win seasons, and sixteen 5+ win seasons. To put that in perspective it took 35 years for UB to surpass the win total of the 3rd era, UB is 128-256-1 since returning to football.

Despite a quarter century of success and the ascension to the highest level of the game, attendance suffered. The growing unrest and unpopularity of UB in the city of Buffalo was a cause of this in some aspects. In another, UB could be seen as a victim of the suburbanization of the city and the increased crime in Buffalo. For one reason or another, UB was winning but attendance was dropping.

The window was closing fast. As UB faced turmoil, lack of leadership and a loss of support from students and the community, they also faced a budget issue. An unintended consequence of joining SUNY was losing autonomy on tuition. SUNY demanded that UB no longer offer athletic aid. The Basketball program survived at a minor level, Varsity Hockey survived for another decade thanks to foreign student tuition waivers for Canadian Hockey athletes. Football meanwhile would have to get major contributions, or drop back down to a lower level where they could compete without scholarships or tuition waivers.

If winning solves everything, the team did nothing to help the situation in 1970. The Bulls played a very modern-day MAC schedule, with modern-day MAC results, opening with two lossess at home against Ball State and Toledo and a third loss at Kent State before finally getting a win over UMass. After a fourth home loss against Villanova, UB would finish the season with 5 of 6 games on the road.

While the Bulls were out of town, the city was free to fully embrace the Sabres and the Braves at the Memorial Auditorium. On October 14, 1970 the expanded Aud hosted the inaugural home game for the Buffalo Braves, who defeated the Cleveland Caviliers 107-92. The next day marked the inaugural home game for the Buffalo Sabres who tied the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-1.

The 1-6 Bulls returned to Buffalo for the final time to face Holy Cross in a regionally televised ABC game, a first for UB. The Bulls finally helped their cause with a win, but student activism marred what should have been a defining moment.

October 31, 1970 - Buffalo 16, Holy Cross 0 - Last home game, last win of UB's third era, ABC regionally televised game.

Back before the major schools sued for the rights to put 100 games on TV at any day of the week, before Tuesday Night MACtion, only a few games were ever seen on TV. On Haloween, Buffalo shared the stage with South Carolina at Georgia and Nebraska at Colorado. After the UB game, ABC showed Berekely against USC.

This game is not known for being on TV or being an easy UB win, instead it is known for the halftime show "Give Peace a Chance." After the Kent State shootings, the NCAA met with ABC and the companies agreed not to show student activism, they did not want to encourage the behavior at NCAA events.

The student unrest that started on a Basketball Court now spilled over to the Football Field. Universities normally looked for exposure, but now exposure was a bad thing, the student's could not be controlled, so the increased exposure exposed UB's dirty laundry to the world.

November 21, 1970 - Buffalo 21, Northern Illinois 43 - Last game of UB's 3rd era a loss to Doc Urich's Huskies:

The matchup against former UB coach Doc Urich would be the last game for Coach Deming, the last NIU game for Coach Urich and the last UB game for 7 years. Just four years earlier, Urich was chosen as the golden boy replacement for Offenhamer, but now he was the harbinger of death to the program.

Diehard Bulls fans were optimistic after the 1970 campaign because the freshmen would join the varsity team in 1971 and infuse the team with talent. Before that could happen, on January 18, 1971, without warning, the football team would dropped.

October 8, 1977 - Buffalo 7, RIT 7 - UB Football Returns, the 4th Era of UB football (1977-present)

September 23, 1978 - Buffalo 35, Brockport 31 - UB Football's first win in almost 8 years

When UB football was dropped, Bill Dando, the linebackers coach, was working on the 1971 recruiting class. Dando stayed to watch his players and recruits disperse and the dissipation of all the positive momentum of UB football. In 1977, Dando was rewarded for his patience and loyalty, with the opportunity to lead the Bulls back onto the field, albiet it at the D-III level. After tying RIT in the first game back, UB would have to wait a year to taste victory, over SUNY Brockport. The win broke a 9 game winless streak that spanned almost 8 years.

Dando would go on to become the winniest coach in UB history, winning his UB record 59th game in the final home game during his final season in 1989. Since returning to football, UB has only 128 wins in 35 years, 49 of those wins are Dando's over his 13 year stint as coach. Dando helped slowly build up UB with a 55% winning percentage at home and excelled in 1983 and 1986 winning 8 and 9 games in those seasons.

Dando started with a Division-I team, but found himself inheriting a Division-3 team. He like the legendary coach he surpassed, Dick Offenahmer, oversaw the process of moving the team back to Division-I, and without him, UB wouldn't be where they are today.

Poll

Greatest UB Moment:

#95 - Drew Willy Can't Miss

5 votes

#90 - Ed Ellis Breaks 34 Year Draft Drought

0 votes

#88 - Two Bulls Selected in the 2008 NFL Draft

2 votes

#80 - UB True Blue Created

1 votes

#78 - Highest Attended Home Game of the 1900's

1 votes

#10 - Under Duress& Underfunded, UB loses it's Autonomy, It's Football & It's Innocence

1 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

Postseason Meal 8.3: The Hero of the Year

bull_trojan — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:21:45 -0000

In the penultimate Postseason Meal, we honor the hero of the 2012 year...hope he didn't graduate.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4
Part 5

Part 6

Part 7.1

Part 7.2

Part 7.3

Part 8 preview

Part 8.1

Part 8.2

HERO OF THE YEAR:

THE REPLACEMENTS

If I had to pick last year, it would have been Branden Oliver. This year Alex Neutz had a crazy season, fought through injury, adjusted to two different quarterbacks and was often double teamed. In a normal year he would be the clear hero of 2012.

But 2012 was not normal, in a season defined by injury, the Next Bulls In, were the true heroes in 2012. In particular, Joe Licata at Quarterback, Devin Campbell, Brandon Murie and Rashad Jean at Running Back and Derek Brim at Safety.

Those replacements played in 50 games and started 15, however their impact was much larger.

On the offensive side, the four replacements had the ball in their hands for 44% of UB's offensive plays.

With Oliver out, Campbell, Murie and Jean in Massachusetts were able to effectively maintain the UB run game.

But 2012 may go down as the year UB found their next great Quarterback. Licata in 4 starts (granted against dubious competition), had passing numbers that are comparable to those of Zordich through 8 starts.

Most importantly, as seen by the title graph, the replacements compiled a .467 win percentage as starters while the rest of the team had a .333 winning percentage. Licata was 3-1 as a starter while Derek Brim went 3-2 after earning his way into a lead role in the secondary.

Talent cliff yes, shallow pool no. With 3 times as many Freshmen and Redshirt-Freshmen as Seniors, this team's best days could be ahead of them. UB lost a third of their starters to graduation, and the majority of returning starters will be Juniors and Seniors in 2013. Most of the 40 rising Sophomores will have no starting experience. The replacements are the exception, they will return Senior Brandon Murie, (3 starts in 2012), Junior Derek Brim (5 starts in 2012), and Sophomores Licata and Campbell (4 and 3 starts in 2012 respectively). With so many players, both experienced and not, fighting for starting spots, the battle to be the "Next Bull In" should be more intense than ever during Springball, and the result should be a stronger team in 2013.

99 for 99 - #11 - A Little More Gasparre in the Tank

bull_trojan — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:24:21 -0000

99 for 99 takes a look at the 99 biggest moments in UB Football history during this season, the 99th season of UB Football. These moments are not in any order, however the top 10 moments have been saved for last.

November 2, 1996 - Mark Taylor connects with Jamie Gasparre for a UB record 91 yard TD pass, Gerald Carlson ties own record with 12 punts.

UB's When Starting QB Mark Taylor went out with an injury, UB's offense struggled. UB was outscored 58-26 in two consecutive losses before a fortuitous bye week. As the Bulls travelled to Nassau County to face the Flying Dutchmen of Hofstra, they hoped the return of Taylor would reverse the Bulls' fortunes.

UB's offense looked out of gas: only managing 82 yards in the first half, and going 1-for-20 on 3rd downs in the game. Hofstra went up 7-0 early, and added a field goal to take a 10-0 lead into the half. Hofstra decided to pin UB deep with a punt instead of attempting a 53-yard field goal and it seemed to pay off when Buffalo's struggling offense had to start from their 9 yard line. However, Mark Taylor and the Bulls showed they had a little more Gasparre in the tank. Taylor's pass glanced off the Hofstra defender and into the hands of Jamie Gasparre who sprinted the rest of the way for a 91 yard touchdown, still the longest pass play in UB history.

Jamie Gasparre, a Yonkers native started his college career 10 miles up the Island at C.W. Post before transferring to Buffalo. He was right at home, scoring for a second time on a 6-yard slant route for a touchdown.

Despite Gerald Carlson tying his own UB record with 12 punts and 5% 3rd down conversion rate, UB was able to hold on to the 14-10 win. The UB defense held Hofstra to 4 first downs and only 139 yards of offense. Hofstra, who came into the game without their 1st string quarterback, also lost their 2nd string quarterback to injury in the 1st quarter. The UB defense jumped on the inexperience of Hofstra's true freshman 3rd string quarterback and the Flying Dutchman never recovered on offense.

The Akron Zips And Why You Should Cheer For Them

bull_trojan — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:47:03 -0000

Brown and Gold implored us to root for Ohio during football season...I'll return the favor, a Buffalo fan telling us all to Root for Akron Basketball.

Akron is #24 in USA Today poll and in first place in the MAC, they are 4 games away from finishing the regular season 26-4 riding a 22 game win streak. They are primed to make the MAC's second straight deep run into the NCAA tournament. Here is why you should cheer for their success.

Because MAC Basketball still isn't respected. With two 20 win teams already, Ohio and Akron should both be in the tournament discussion, this is a red hot Akron team, and the Ohio team that went to the sweet sixteen in 2012. However, both ESPN and SB Nation have only one MAC team in the tournament conversation. If Akron is dominant, and beats Ohio twice more, once regular season, once MAC tournament, it actually makes room for Ohio to possibly sneak in. If Akron loses, expect only one team in.

Because MAC Champions still aren't respected. Ohio as a very good 13 seed ran to the sweet 16. It's a very hard road as a high seed to get to the final four. Both bracketologies currently place Akron at...the 13th seed. Akron is the lowest seeded team out of all 25 teams ranked in the USA Today poll. #20 Notre Dame is a 6 seed, #21 Butler a 4 seed, #22 Marqutte a 5 seed, #23 Saint Mary an 11 seed and #25 VCU a 9 seed. More Akron wins could led to a better seed and a better chance at a lower seed.

Your team will lose in the first round of the tournament. Of course, unlike football it's anyone's game, any team can go to the Q win 2 or 3 or 4 games and punch their ticket to the dance. But know, the dance will be short, and everyone is going to hate you. I mean if Javon "That S**T" McCrea" decides to go full Tim Duncan and take Buffalo to the dance, I won't cry, but I do know this Buffalo team has no shot in the big boy tourney.

Ohio had their chance, like twice. Ohio greedy cats. They made a great sweet 16 run in 2012, they flirted with a BCS bowl game, they lost money on the game they ended up going to. They are living the big college dream. Let someone else get a taste. Akron lost to UMass, IN FOOTBALL, they deserve this one.

Just as Brown and Gold did, I'll personalize the reasons:

NIU Fans

You get another season of Jordan Lynch: Who cares about basketball when your going to Orange Bowls.

Toledo Fans

Sanctioned:

Kent St Fans

Yes hated rival, Wagons and Wheels and what not: Yes you also only lost 3 games to Ohio and Akron by a total of 8 points. Still, this is about the MAC. Kent State will be back someday, and would you rather be a 13 seed or a 9 seed?

BGSU Fans

Look at the Stroh Center, now look at the JAR; Let Akron have something nice for a change.

WMU Fans

Sure you're "in the hunt" but on the Westside is that really a thing to be proud of?

Buffalo Fans

We already pulled the code red at the JAR: What's the point of beating them now?

Ohio Fans

Not Very Impressive on National TV, might be better to stay out of the limelight: Two Words: Vince Gill

So here's hoping the Zips can get to 26-4, win two more in the tourney, and head to the dance 28-4 riding a 24 game win streak. Zip it up, and Zip it out!

Brown and Gold implored us to root for Ohio during football season...I'll return the favor, a Buffalo fan telling us all to Root for Akron Basketball.

Just as Brown and Gold did, I'll personalize the reasons:

NIU Fans

You get another season of Jordan Lynch: Who cares about basketball when your going to Orange Bowls.

Toledo Fans

Sanctioned:

Kent St Fans

BGSU Fans

Look at the Stroh Center, now look at the JAR; Let Akron have something nice for a change.

WMU Fans

Sure you're "in the hunt" but on the Westside is that really a thing to be proud of?

Buffalo Fans

We already pulled the code red at the JAR: What's the point of beating them now?

Ohio Fans

Not Very Impressive on National TV, might be better to stay out of the limelight: Two Words: Vince Gill

So here's hoping the Zips can get to 26-4, win two more in the tourney, and head to the dance 28-4 riding a 24 game win streak. Zip it up, and Zip it out!

Non Revenue Recap: You Got Served

bull_trojan — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:08:54 -0000

Exasparated by UB Basketball's lackluster performance at home against Manhattan? Cheer up, there is better ball being played everywhere else the non-revenue teams went 9-5 last week, including 4-0 in Tennis.

Team	Record	Results
Wrestling	1-11, 1-4 MAC	Loss to #14 Purdue, 31-10
Men's Swimming	4-3, 1-1 MAC
Women's Basketball	9-17, 7-6 MAC	Loss to Miami, 69-56, Win over Ohio 56-35
Baseball	3-3	Wins over UMES 9-6, & VMI 10-3, Loss to VMI 4-6
Men's Track and Field	-	Finished 4th of 5 in Indoor MAC Championship
Women's Track and Field	-	Finished 6th of 12 in Indoor MAC Championship
Softball	2-7	Win over Kent State 3-2
		Losses: EIU 4-1, Louisville 9-3, EIU 7-6
Women's Swimming	6-3, 2-2 MAC
Men's Tennis	5-2	Wins over Niagara 6-1 & Duquesne 5-1
Women's Tennis	6-0	Wins over Temple 6-1 and Binghamton 6-1

Women's Tennis

Women's Tennis stays in the top spot, not only are they 6-0, but they did two of my favorite things: beat a SUNY and beat Temple.

Bulls Run Streak To Six With 6-1 Win Over Binghamton

The University at Buffalo women's tennis team won its sixth consecutive match on Sunday afternoon, defeating Binghamton, 6-1, at the Miller Tennis Center. The Bulls are 6-0 on the season, their best start since the 2006-07 season and the six-match winning streak is their longest since 2008-09.

Softball

If you are going to beat someone, might as well be a MAC Rival. Softball goes 1-3 on the weekend, losing to Eastern Illinois twice and Louisville, but picked up a 3-2 extra innings win over Kent State.

Curtiss Walk-Off Single Leads Bulls To Extra Inning Victory Over Kent State

Sophomore Alexis Curtiss broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday afternoon, leading the Bulls to a 3-2 walk off victory over MAC foe Kent State in the opening round of the Cardinal Classic. This was a non-conference game for both teams. The win improves UB's record to 2-4 on the season.

Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball scores exactly 56 points for the 3rd time in 5 games, but for the first time this year it was enough for the win. When scoring over 70, UB is 3-3. When scoring under 60, UB is 1-14. 60-69 is the sweet spot, UB is 5-1 when scoring between that range. UB's loss to Miami really hurt their MAC Standings, they now sit at 7th, but they can still win the East, 2 games back with 3 games remaining. As for the Ohio Game, UB scored more in their first meeting (73) than Ohio scored in the 2 games combined (71).

Strong Second Half Leads Miami Past Buffalo, 69-56

The University at Buffalo women's basketball team was outscored 41-33 in the second half and fell in its return to Alumni Arena, 69-56, to the visiting Miami (OH) RedHawks. The Bulls shot it well in the second half, but recorded 12 turnovers, which Miami took advantage of. The loss evens UB's MAC record at 6-6.

Bulls Roll Past Ohio, 56-35

The University at Buffalo women's basketball team allowed just 35 points on Saturday afternoon and led wire-to-wire, defeating the Ohio Bobcats, 56-35.

Men's Tennis

Sophomore Sebastian "I'm On One" Ionescu improved to 6-1 on the year, as UB easily sweeps the weekend to improve to 5-2.

Men's Tennis Completes Weekend Sweep With Win Over Duquesne

The University at Buffalo men's tennis team completed its weekend homestand on Saturday morning with 5-1 win over visiting Duquesne at the Miller Tennis Center. The Bulls are now 5-2 overall while the Dukes are now 7-3.

Track and Field

UB Thrower dominates...

MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Recap - Hustle Belt
The meet's single best effort largely got ignored. Buffalo shot putter Jonathan Jones broke the meet record on Friday with a distance of 64' 3¼" (19.59 meters), which earned him the award as the meet's Most Outstanding Field Performer. The distance ranks him fifth in the NCAA and, while fields won't be set for another week, it will almost certainly qualify him to the NCAA Championships at Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center on March 8-9.

Baseball

Jason Kanzler and Jon Mestas powered UB to a 2-1 weekend. Kanzler tallied 5 hits, 6 RBIs and a homerun in each game while Mestas added 4 hits, 6 RBIs and 1 homerun. Anthony Magovney and Cory Folk each put in 6 solid innings of work and earned a win. Folk was most impressive with a 5 hit 1 earned run outing.

Bulls Power Past Keydets

Spurred on by a strong pitching performance from Cory Folk, and two high-powered innings by the offense, the Buffalo baseball team (3-3) cruised past VMI (1-5) Sunday afternoon, avenging a loss less than 24 hours earlier to the Keydets. Jason Kanzler hit his third home run and extended his hitting streak to 20 games in the process.

Wrestling

Max Soria, Wally Maziarz and Mark Lewandowski win, but UB falls to #14 Purdue. Will host MAC Championships on March 10.

Bulls Fall to #14 Purdue

The Buffalo wrestling team earned three individual victories, but closed out the 2013 duals season with a 31-10 loss to 14th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers. The dual was part of the NWCA Regional Festival, hosted by Franklin & Marshall University.

UB's Sackmaster: Vince Canosa

bull_trojan — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:08:39 -0000

UB's defense in the 2000's has been headlined by their secondary. UB produced greats including: "Mark Graham, Gemera Williams, Mike Newton, Davonte Shannon, and Josh Thomas. So the current influx of front 7 talent seems like a revolution, but it is actually a throwback to the UB defenses of the 90's when Pete Conley, Craig Guest, Hardy Mitchell, Rich Dadabo, Keith Hansen and perhaps most of all, Vince Canosa.

Canosa played during the down times as UB transitioned from Division III to Division 1-AA. They moved into a new stadium, and lost a lot of games due to the talent disparity. Canosa however was ready for the spotlight. In 1993, he set a UB record that still stands today, recording 12.5 sacks. His standout game was against Buff State, the last game of the rivalry. Canosa recorded 3.5 sacks a high that would not be broken until Duane Williams recorded 4sacks in 2000.

Despite UB's 1-10 record, Canosa continued to work hard and lead the team. In 1994, Canosa set another season record, recording 21.5 tackles for a loss. The record also still stands today, thanks to Khalil Mack coming a half tackle short of tying the record in 2012.

Canosa a career leader in both sacks and tackles for loss could have put both records out of reach, however, Canosa was bothered by a lingering ankle injury his senior year and only recorded 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Nevertheless, his tackle for loss record lasted 17 years, before Khalil Mack was able to best it in 2012. Canosa remains tied for 1st in career sacks with Rich Dadabo, thanks to the fact that Trevor Scott played Tight End for a few years. At this point, Canosa & Dadabo's sack record looks safe for the foreseeable future.

Good News: The NCAA Is Not Stuck In 1806. Bad News They Are Stuck in 1906.

bull_trojan — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:57:48 -0000

4) The NCAA Should Stop Running Commercials

So enforcement is/has been in trouble since the SMU case failed to stop everyone from cheating. Cheating will only end when Universities stop allowing their employees to cheat, which hasn't happened yet because they have their hands in the cookie jar as well. But the rest of the NCAA, it's good stuff. Educational initiatives, student athlete support, rules to increase competitiveness, scholarships and fairness.

Except when they dont. The infamous, "still think we're a bunch of dumb jocks" commercial comes to mind. The commercial inadvertently tells you everything you want to know.

"Division 1 student athletes have higher SAT and ACT scores than college bound students. The number of us receiving diploma's is at an all time high. African American males who are student athletes are 10% more likely to graduate. Still think we're just a bunch of dumb jocks? You need to do your homework.

There are over 400,000 NCAA Student Athletes and just about all of us will be going pro in something other than sports."

Black students are 23% less likely to graduate than white students. Only 38% of Black men graduate. I always hated the "still think we're a bunch of dumb jocks commercial" because it purposely avoids racial disparity. The commercial talks about how as a whole, NCAA athletes do better than all students, then narrows down to talk about how African American males who are athletes graduate more than non athlete Black males. It is the only flattering stat they could use because if you use those numbers, 48% of Black male athletes graduate, which brings them only 18% below the non-athlete average and 34% below non-Black student athletes.

18.3% of D-1 student athletes were Black in 2006-07 according to the NCAA which includes 60% of D-1 Men's Basketball athletes, and 46.4% of Football athletes. I'll re-write the commercial, adding what they didn't say but kinda are in bold.

"Division 1 student athletes have higher SAT and ACT scores than college bound students. The number of us receiving diploma's and the disparity between blacks and non blacks receiving diplomas are at all time highs. African American males who are student athletes make up 53% of the two biggest revenue generators for the whole system. They are 10% more likely to graduate, although still 18% less likely to graduate than an average non-athlete and 34% less likely to graduate than the average athlete. Still think we're just a bunch of dumb jocks? You need to do your homework. Yes the homework shows that it's not our fault, Black men just are not that smart, but at least under the constant supervision and guidance of a (statistically speaking) white coach, they can do better than they would on their own.

There are over 400,000 NCAA Student Athletes and just about all of us will be going pro in something other than sports." Congrats to the 48% that do graduate, hopefully your athletic experience shields you from 3.1% higher unemployment for Blacks with college degrees, and if you are one of the 48% that did not graduate, well lets just hope you did go pro in sports and never bring it up again.

My version isn't as uplifting. The NCAA has solved the problem of racial disparity similarly to the way the Bobs handled the Milton problem in "Office Space." The NCAA didn't solve the problem, they just increased academic standards. As a result, there is an increase of dubious high school grades for students struggling to qualify for college, and once there, student who are not adequately prepared for college are lead to less useful majors and academic dishonesty. The NCAA needs to spend less time worrying about the no-win enforcement situation, and completely focus on the win-win problem of educational disparity.

5) Compensation

Should college athletes be paid yes, from a capitalistic view...anyone who provides tangible value should get paid according to his or her value. His or her value is some formula of revenue generated multiplied by the cost to replace that person.

Athletes are rare commodities, certain sports, for this argument we'll say Football and Men's Basketball, generate a large amount of income. So they have a clear value that should be compensated via cash payment. Any extra benefit an athlete can get, any profit from their own image, person or achievement is their right to benefit from. It doesn't effect the game in the slightest, except in the minds of people who want to believe in Ameteurism but probably dont know the origins of ameteurism.

If we were confused about the value of a single football player, we have a few examples. Will Lyles was paid 25,000 for scouting services on two Oregon Ducks. That values each recruit at $12,500 each, on top of the value of the free training and education they received. Secondly, Tosh Lupoi, a coach with a reputation for great recruiting classes received a raise from 164,000 a year to about 500,000 a year when he moved to Washington. If you assume his coaching duties were rated at 164,000, his 336,000/year can be attributed to his ability to bring in 25 star players. Per player, Lupoi earns and extra 13,440. So you could value a PAC 12 level recruit between 12,500 and 13,440.

What about the mid-majors, their recruits aren't worth that much right? Lets value that. Cupcake games pay around 1 million dollars. In exchange for a game mid-major athletes are not expected to win, their department earns 1 million dollars. Lets say out of that, the mid-major nets 700,000, 70 players make up the travel team, which for even mid-major players, their value is at least 10,000. The game value for major players would be even more, (the previous values was their "signing bonus" recruit value) if Georgia can afford to pay 2 million for a 7th and 8th home game, it's only logical to assume that they profit by more than a million dollar per home game. With 8 home games, those major players are worth over $80,000 each season in addition to the education and training they already receive..

So yes player bring in revenue, they should be paid, do they deserve to get paid, I say no. Student Athletes are not slaves, they are 1900's factory workers. They feel overworked, underpaid, and have a decent amount of populist support. Just as in those days, it will take a stoppage of the work, to ever attain better conditions for the work. The NCAA never will and never should sacrifice anything until the players force them to.

Black student athlete domination of revenue sports in some ways, makes it easier for america to accept an unfair system, and makes it easier for Black people themselves to feel powerless to change the system. In that way it IS a figurative plantation. Slavery itself was not an inevitabilty, escape and revolt could have occured daily, but history shows, feeling helpless and feeling hopeful for the coming of an eventual savior keeps people from doing anything drastic. NCAA atheletes are not helpless, and no one, especially not the institutions or the NCAA is coming to save you, and if anyone was going to be saved, it would not be Black athletes. It would be a massive sacrifice, but if athletes truly believe they deserve compensation for their work, they should stop working until they get it.

Finally there will be people who love the idea of ameteuerism and believe that the current system works well. To these people I refer you to the racial disparity again. Resist the temptation to blame kids who may not have been prepared for life in college. Instead look at the system that uses and disposes of these men, especially young Black men who fight an uphill battle even when they do everything they should.

Then look at net benefit. not all $240,000 4 year scholarships are created equal. Socioeconomic status is highly correlated with academic performance so students who can afford to pay for school, often don't have to as a result of merit scholarships for good grades. Middle class students get average grades, and have some ability to pay for college. Low income students generally have poor K-12 college preparation which leads to low scores and less merit schoalrships.

On the flip side, there is need-based aid, which gives more aid based on your financial situation, low income students getting the most, and high income students get no need-based aid.

Athletic Aid for Football and Basketball are 100% awards, students are eligible for federal need-based awards, (pell grant, SEOG, stafford loans) but are not eligible for most state and university awards. Therefore you cannot stack awards. As a result, low income students are generally eligible for most of their college costs via need based aid. At USC, a 4 year scholarship is worth about $240,000, but a low income student would automatically be eligible for about $180,000 in need-based gift aid. If they did not play football, the different in award would be made up with loans ($27,000), work-study ($17,000) and Out-of-Pocket ($16,000) over the 4 years. To make up the difference, the student could work 30 hours a week at $10/hr.

Meanwhile, a wealthy student who did not earn a merit scholarship would be on the hook for the 4-year bill for USC, near $240,000. If that wealthy student played Football, he would earn a net benefit of $240,000. You would have to work 115 hours a week at $10/hr to pay that tuition on your own. This student would also have the financial support of their family, like Bob Leinart, Matt's dad who paid $2,566 each month towards his son rent in LA (which ended up being a stupid NCAA violation).

The result of net benefit, is a system that benefits the rich more than it benefits the poor, and it probably hurts the middle class the most. More than a system of compensation, I would like to see a system where students can stack their athletic aid on top of the aid they would receive if they were not a student athlete. That would create a more fair system where students receive their scholarship for their efforts on the field, as well as any extra they are entitled to for their academic excellence and/or their established financial need.

6) 7 Quick Suggestions

1) End the cycle of blame. We no longer need a pound of flesh. Decriminalize the rulebook and focus on education for schools, fans and players. Punish coaches and administrators personally and financially for bad behavior.

2) Lay off NCAA enforcement and start holding your own University responsible for the actions of the athletic department.

3) Four Year Scholarships. Eliminate the 1-year transfer rule. Reinstate mandatory freshman redshirt.

4) The 2-4 plan. 2 years in college, 1 year as a redshirt, 1 active year. After the 2nd year, you can go pro. If you do not, you must stay 4 years. This will focus students on graduation, or a career in sports, not a grey area as in 1 and 3. 2 years in school facilitates transfers and return to school for students that do go pro.

5) Financial reporting by athletes, and athletic aid that can stack on top of a students other aid.

6) Allow endorsements & Agents, give the players representation, let the agents help players figure out what they want and need. In turn, agents in pursuit of their cut, will monitor and prevent under the table payments. Endorsements will help the most popular players fund the cost of focusing on a career in sports.

7) Dedicated independent academic advising for black college athletes until they match the graduation rates of their peers. Prevent the Football program from hijacking or watering down a students education. Create more programs to prepare minority athletes for college curriculums before they graduate from college.

I Don't Blame The NCAA, It is our fault

bull_trojan — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:04:39 -0000

After reading "Why firing Mark Emmert would not be enough to fix the NCAA" and "3 Reasons not to compare College Athletes to victims" I decided to write my thoughts. 5,000 words later, I decided to edit my thoughts down to 3600 words. But first, a brief recap of the two articles.

Professional Lawyer Robert Big Wheel felt the NCAA won't be fixed until amateurism was dropped, student-athletes are paid and casually compared the NCAA to a plantation.

Our very own Tim Riordan countered with the opposite view, comparisons to slavery and sweat shop labour are hyperbole. He recommended amateurism for those who wish to be amateurs, and unhampered access to professional sports for those that want to play professionally.

Both good points, both very popular, let me put my spin on them.

Do I believe that student-athletes should be compensated? Yes

Do I believe that student athletes deserve to be compensated? No

Do I believe the NCAA/Slave/Plantation/Sweatshop metaphor is apt or hyperbole? I believe it's both. The idea that the NCAA is infallible and unstoppable creates a hopeless slave situation. That is important, because during actual slave times, slaves could have rebelled with numbers, but the idea that it futile among other things preventing any substantial rebellion. However, student athletes do have the power either to gain an education or to fight for whatever else they want. They have the power, they are not slaves.

Do I believe compensation is the most important issue for the NCAA? No, I think #1 issue is the achievement gap for Black male student athletes. I think the #2 issue is while gross scholarships are equal, net benefit from those scholarships are very inequitable, they favor the rich and punish the poor.

Do I support unhampered acces to professional sports for those that want to play professionally? No, I think access to the NFL, that waives a chance at re-establishing NCAA eligibility would trap many Black male athletes on the outside looking in of both the NFL and the NCAA.

With that out of the way, I'll go in depth to the reason why the NCAA isn't to blame, we should blame you and your school for the problems we have. Then I'll talk about compensation and why we should blame the student's and not the NCAA for their problems.

1) Your University Is The Problem

I have been fortunate to be employed at Universities for most of my young career. They are great places to work, and you get to help students achieve their dreams every day. There is that ugly business side however, now more than ever. The recession hit Universities hard, especially the public ones. If you didn't know, at every University the unofficial motto is: Cash Rules Everything Around Me, CREAM get the money, dollar dollar bills ya'll.

Do Universities use cash to manipulate students? Yes, all the time, I have my hands in that. Do Universities take advantage of students? Oh god yes, I don't do as much of this as I used to, but it's part of the business. Have I ever been in a position where I had to choose between a student's success and a profitable business decision? No, I'm thankful for that.

What can students do to protect themselves from the institution? They can educate themselves on the issues, speak out as an individual, organize and speak out as a group, and/or ultimately shop around, and take their talents to another University. I feel students do not take advantage of their power as a consumer, when it comes to choosing and staying at a college, but they should.

While I have never had to choose between profit and student success, do I trust that all Universities will do what's best for the student given the choice? No. This is where the student athlete is very disadvantaged. They are directly tied to a specific revenue source, especially if they are Football or Men's Basketball players. These athletes also lose the ability to truly transfer freely, they can leave, but the athletic department is allowed to say what other athletic departments they can talk to. So if you want to transfer and stay on athletic scholarship, you have to sit out a year and you might not be able to go where you want to go. Financial compensation wouldn't necessarily solve this problem, Universities are very skilled in using money to manipulate students and I doubt they would compensate athletes with no strings attached.

Universities have continued to seek the prestige and revenue associated with major Football and Basketball, culminating in the idiotic conference realignment process. The Universities are turning their backs on student athletes with more needs than a scholarship can fulfill as well on the black male athletes (and black students in general) who are being underserved in colleges.

2) The Cycle of Blame

The Cycle of Blame is namely the belief that every team is guilty EXCEPT the team(s) you root for. It is constructed by the media and by fans. Fans and especially media tend to be lazy, so we need a quick and clean way to determine whether teams or people are "clean" or "dirty" and the NCAA provides that. Duke Basketball gets a resounding clean from most not in powder blue, just as Lane Kiffin gets a resounding dirty from most.

You can look at USC, extra benefits, Reggie Bush, "Cheatey" Pete, Lane Kiffin, Michael Garrett's Hater Speech, people wanted the book thrown at USC. They celebrated when USC was punished, justice was served. Meanwhile, USC fans were appalled at the low standard of proof needed to slur the name of the program nationwide. One peculiarity was harsh bans on the football program, 2 years of bowl ban and 30 scholarships, based on the "ill will" that led the NCAA to rule that although they had no proof that Coach Todd McNair knew about Reggie Bush's benefits, he should have known. Meanwhile the NCAA knew Basketball Coach Tim Floyd funneled cash to OJ Mayo, yet the Basketball team was allowed to skate by with a one year self-imposed postseason ban. As a result, USC was able to blame the NCAA as an evil institution that ruined their team.

One program that celebrated USC's fall was Auburn, a few years later, they found themselves defending against the NCAA's investigation of the Cam Newton's recruitment. I was at USC during their judgment, where the NCAA informed USC that money paid to the family was the same as money paid to the player. Less than 2 years later, the NCAA ruled that in Auburn's situation, money paid to the family was not the same as money paid to the player.

Another program that celebrated USC's fall was Penn State. Once they tasted the justice of the NCAA, they now defend their program vehemently. A few months ago, in the court of public opinion, Miami was deemed guilty. Today, they are portrayed as victims of the NCAA's strong armed tactics. Much to the chagrin of USC fans, it was the late Miami AD Paul Dee who lead the NCAA's investigation into USC, while the Shapiro scandal brewed inside of his own campus.

The Cycle of Blame demands periodic pounds of flesh, so that we can feel secure in our own programs cleanliness and laugh and condemn other teams for their dirtiness. It's why we felt happy when USC, Penn State and Ohio State served their punishments, and why we felt so robbed when Auburn escaped scot free. As a result of our bloodlust, the NCAA has done what bureaucracies do, become really efficient at giving us what we want, and being very slow to change as demand changes. Public opinion has started to change in favor of more accountability over punishment, however, I wouldn't expect the NCAA to catch up to that anytime soon.

3) The NCAA Has Lived Long Enough To See Itself Become The Villain

The NCAA peaked in 1987. Not to mix Dark Knight with Star Wars (although that is what I am about to do) the death penalty was the NCAA's Death Star. The world destroying weapon (for good!?!) was the NCAA's greatest risk, (second greatest risk now behind sanctioning Penn State) they decided they would use a weapon so crippling that no program would dare risk an NCAA investigation.

The risk did not pay off. For one, the NCAA did permanent damage, and as an organization made up of schools to organize, count and distribute money, permanent financial damage is not exactly in the mission statement. Secondly, the money just got really good, and the risk/reward judgement skewed heavily in favor of taking risks.

The NCAA has taken on risk takers, Michigan, USC, Miami, but they can't take on everyone. In addition, with the influx of money, schools are able to arm themselves with compliance officers and legal teams to keep their programs out of trouble. As a result lower funded programs find themselves in more NCAA trouble than their big counterparts, which creates the sentiment of, "The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky, it's going to give Cleveland State two more years." People see that as corruption, I see it as economics.

With USC, it seems the NCAA tried a new approach, what I would describe as the "Gangster-Squad" approach. Pay for protection up front, or watch as your storefront gets destroyed. Without subpoena power, there are limits to what the NCAA could actually prove, but since USC wasn't willing to concede guilt upfront, they were going to pay anyway. This continued with Penn State's accept these death-like penalties or get the death penalty negotiation and with the unethical lawyer payment in the Miami case. The Gangster Squad approach backfired finally, which hurts the NCAA's image, but I can't fault them. They only did what they can do, to give us what we want, we wanted Miami to pay. Now we have a chance to take down a bigger bad, the NCAA, but the biggest bad is the University. Even if the NCAA dies, the Universities will replace it with a new but basically equivalent system.

UB Does The Oscars

bull_trojan — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:56:51 -0000

View this gallery here.

Today In Schadenfreude

bull_trojan — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:04:43 -0000

Five SB Nation team sites had Lindy Ruff's firing on their main page. Maybe more will get to it tomorrow, but as of now:

Die By The Blade - Buffalo Sabres

Eyes On The Prize - Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup of Chowder - Boston Bruins

Broad Street Hockey - Philadelphia Flyers

and

On The Forecheck - Nashville Predators.

Let's analyze.

1) Neutral Reaction

On The Forecheck - Nashville Predators: The Nashville guys went with the obvious story for their fanbase, that their coach Barry Trotz is now the longest tenured coach in the NHL.

Die By The Blade - Buffalo Sabres: Did a good job of measuring the pros, cons with the "finally", and the "I can't believe it" Also earned one of 2 breaking news banners featuring a banner of "Lindy Ruff Fired"

2) Positive

Eyes On The Prize - Montreal Canadiens: Surprisingly positive after the whining I sawfrom Habs fans after the last second win by the Sabres a few weeks back. They suggest Randy Cunneyworth as a possible Sabres coach.

3) Negative

Broad Street Hockey - Philadelphia Flyers: The article was actually kind of positive, recounting the intense playoff rivalry between the Ruff Sabres and the 7 or so Flyers coaches since 1997. I put it in the negative for the "Tell Lindy to f*** off" headline.

4) Special "lowest of lows" Category Reserved for Boston:

If you can't beat 'em, laugh when he gets fired, by my count Lindy Ruff was 50-33-16 against Boston and 1-1 in playoff series against the Bruins, so Stanley Cup of Chowder should be relieved that he is gone.

They didn't have it in them to write an article, how can you write an article about losing to a coach twice, only for that coach to get fired for poor performance. They did put up the breaking news banner linking to DBTB that read: "LOL ALERT: Lindy Ruff Canned"

Five SB Nation team sites had Lindy Ruff's firing on their main page. Maybe more will get to it tomorrow, but as of now:

Die By The Blade - Buffalo Sabres

Eyes On The Prize - Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup of Chowder - Boston Bruins

Broad Street Hockey - Philadelphia Flyers

and

On The Forecheck - Nashville Predators.

Let's analyze.

1) Neutral Reaction

On The Forecheck - Nashville Predators: The Nashville guys went with the obvious story for their fanbase, that their coach Barry Trotz is now the longest tenured coach in the NHL.

2) Positive

3) Negative

4) Special "lowest of lows" Category Reserved for Boston:

Non-Revenue Roundup: Play Ball!

bull_trojan — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:59:58 -0000

Baseball and Softball notch their first wins of the season, Men's and Women's Tennis continue to win and Wrestling continues to find a way to lose.

Team	Record	Results
Wrestling	1-10, 1-4 MAC	Loss to NIU, 20-18
Men's Swimming	4-3, 1-1 MAC
Women's Basketball	8-16, 6-5 MAC	Win over EMU 79-63
Baseball	1-2	Win over N.C. A&T 10-6, Losses to N.C. A&T 6-3, 6-5
Men's Track and Field	-
Women's Track and Field	-
Softball	1-4	Win over FAMU 2-1
		Losses: Texas-Arlington 5-3, Stetson 5-1, South Carolina 8-0, UCF 6-1
Women's Swimming	6-3, 2-2 MAC
Men's Tennis	3-2	Win over Cleveland State, 4-3
Women's Tennis	4-0	Win over ASA College 6-1

Women's Tennis

Facing a shorthanded opponent, UB only needed to earn 2 points, they quickly did that, and added another 2 to win 6-1, (2 points via forfeit) over Brooklyn's ASA college. UB remains perfect, now 4-love on the season.

Bulls Remain Perfect With 6-1 Win Over ASA College
Having two matches cancelled last week was not enough to slow down the University at Buffalo women's team as the Bulls defeated ASA College, 6-1, to remain undefeated at 4-0.

Softball

UCF won all 5 games to win their own tournament. UB finished 1-4 with a win over Florida A&M University. Freshman Nicole Aviles earned the lone win and Junior Tori Speckman earned the save. Freshman Dani Cowan pitched for 3 losses, but was arguably UB's best pitcher with 8 earned runs over 12.1 innings pitched. Offensively, Sophomore Alexis Curtiss recorded 2 hits, 2 RBIs and UB's lone homerun of the tournament. Junior Sammi Gallardo also had 2 RBIs, she and Sophomore Karly Nevez led UB with 4 hits in 5 games.

Bulls Open 2013 Season With Two-Game Split

The University at Buffalo softball team split its two games on Friday to open the 2013 season at the UCF Holiday Inn Select Tournament. After falling 5-3 to Texas-Arlington in the morning, UB came back with a 2-1 victory over Florida A&M this afternoon.

Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball breaks a 3 game losing streak with a win over EMU. With the win the Bulls pull to 6-5 and 6th in the MAC, two games behind Akron and Ball St. for the automatic trip to Cleveland.

Long Range Shooting Leads Bulls Past Eastern Michigan, 79-63
The University at Buffalo women's basketball team recorded a season-high 23 assists and shot 50.0% from the floor, defeating Eastern Michigan, 79-63, Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The victory snaps a three-game losing streak for the Bulls and improves them to 6-5 in Mid-American Conference play.

Men's Tennis

UB wins the doubles point and splits the single matches to earn a 4-3 victory.

Bulls Pull Out 4-3 Victory at Cleveland State
The University at Buffalo men's tennis team picked up a 4-3 victory at Cleveland State on Saturday afternoon at the Chagrin Valley Athletic Club to snap a two-match losing streak.

Track and Field

Track and Field was back in Cornell for the Marc Deneault Invitational. UB won the Men's and Women's pole vault with a pair of Sophomores, Craig Howard, who broke a UB record, for the men and Jenna Van Dusen with the women. UB swept the women's 400-meters with Gina Carnovale, Kyla Kenyon and Tiffany Vera finishing in the top 3 spots. Shante White, Erin Miller and Kristy Woods swept the weight throw.

Track Squads Compete at Denault Invitational
The University at Buffalo men's and women's track and field teams made final preparations for next week's Mid-American Conference Championships with their final regular season meet, the Cornell Denault Invitational at Barton Hall on Saturday. The Bulls won four events and placed second in five events on the day.

Baseball

Buffalo lost Senior Matt Pollock to injury in game 2, but pulled out a win in the final game against NC A&T. Redshirt Freshman Tyler Mautner was the best hitter of the series, hitting .455 with an RBI. Junior Thomas Richards hit UB's lone homerun while hitting .364 and 2 RBIs and Senior Jason Kanzler led the Bulls with 4 RBIs. In game 3, Junior Pitcher Mike Burke was the star earning a win with his 5 hit, 9 strikeout performance.

Bulls Cap Opening Series With Win
Spearheaded by a dominating start from starting pitcher Mike Burke, the Buffalo baseball team tallied its first win of the early season Sunday afternoon, beating North Carolina A&T 10-6. Down 3-0 after three innings, the Bulls dominated the middle innings to get the win.

Wrestling

Without #18 John Martin-Cannon, UB loses in overtime on the final match of the day.

Bulls Lose to Huskies on Senior Day
The Buffalo wrestling team (1-10, 1-4 MAC) suffered another heartbreaking defeat Saturday afternoon, losing to Northern Illinois in the final match of the day. It was senior day for four UB seniors – Mark Lewandowski, John-Martin Cannon, Jedd Mason, and Chris Conti.

Further Proof That the MAC has overtaken the Big East as #6 Conference

bull_trojan — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:55:34 -0000

Further Proof That the MAC has overtaken the Big East as #6 Conference

"Be prepared for referees from each major conference to make a total disaster of this in their own way."

Conferences listed, SEC, ACC, B1G, P12, B12 &...the MAC.

Postseason Meal 8.2: The Top 4 Games of the Year

bull_trojan — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:24:25 -0000

The Postseason Meal will have to sustain us all until the Bulls return to Columbus, Ohio in 2013. The goal of the postseason meal is to Hydrate, Nutritionate and Reflect on the season that was.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4
Part 5

Part 6

Part 7.1

Part 7.2

Part 7.3

Part 8 preview

Part 8.1

In Part 6 & 7, I analyzed the worst games and performances of the season, to recap:

12) at Northern Illinois (45-3 loss)

11) Kent State (23-7 loss)

10) Pittsburgh (20-6 loss)

9) at Georgia (45-23 loss)

8) at Bowling Green (21-7 loss)

7) at UConn (24-17 loss)

6) Toledo (25-20 loss)

5) WMU (29-24 Win)

3 wins and the Ohio loss...obviously a game we should have won in Athens, how good was that game?

Let's find out as we reveal games 1-4.

#4 Game 5: Ohio (38-31 loss)

Offensive Performance: #2

Defensive Performance: #9

Overall Performance: #4

UB lost 3 games by a total of 19 points. 3 touchdowns away from a 7-5 season. The Ohio game especially was a game we had to win because it showcased Alex Zordich's best FBS game as leader of the offense.

Progress towards a 1st down:

Offense: 121.6% (2nd)

Defense: 68.9% (4th)

Buffalo almost doubles Ohio's progress to a first down.

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:

Offense: 49.2% (4th)

Defense: 44.3% (10th)

But once you take out the big plays, Buffalo's numbers are less impressive, but still good on offense, on defense, the play was better than only better than the NIU and UGA games.

Progress towards a Touchdown:

Offense: 13.94% (4th)

Defense: 17.4% (11th)

In a game where the big plays and the progress towards a first down favored Buffalo, and both teams scored 31 points on offense, Ohio still somehow made more progress down the field than Buffalo. Stalling drives by Buffalo, and an inability to stop Ohio's offense once it gained momentum, allowed Ohio to go on a 38-10 run to clinch the victory.

High and Low Lights:

1st Quarter

4th Best Offensive Performance

14 Points Scored

PT1: 144.1%
PT1A: 61.3%
PTTD: 20.37%

Every year under Quinn we get a small glimpse of what life could be. This was that.

2nd Quarter

8th Worst Offensive Performance

0 Points Scored

PT1: 56.6%
PT1A: 31.2%
PTTD: 4.73%

We follow a truly great quarter of offense with 21 plays for 79 yards, 2 fumbles and 2 punts.

3rd Quarter

7th Best Offensive Performance

10 Points Scored

PT1: 232.8%
PT1A: 50.3%
PTTD: 13.15%

UB had amazing PT1 numbers indicating gaining twice as many yards each play than needed for a first down. However a 15 play drive only netted a filed goal, and a 7 play drive only gained 28 yards and ended in a punt. A good offensive performance but to be truly great you need to score TDs when your offense is clicking.

The top 3 games are 3 of the 4 wins of the year, which will be #1?

#3 Game 9: Miami (27-24 win)

Offensive Performance: #3

Defensive Performance #2

Overall Performance: #3

I think this game is the peoples choice for game of the year, but the bi-polar nature of the game hurts it. The first half was a stalled offense and a stalwart defense, the second half was a wild west shootout, the offense could not be stopped and the defense couldn't make a stop.

Progress towards a 1st down:

Offense: 111.4% (3rd)

Defense: 55.1% (2nd)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:

Offense: 49.7% (4th)

Defense: 35.2% (3rd)

Progress towards a Touchdown:

Offense: 13.78% (5th)

Defense: 12.4% (4th)

This game, where we allowed that long first down conversion in the 4th quarter that allowed Miami to tie the game, and the UConn game inspired me to create this measurement, you can only allow 200 yards a game, but if the opponent was able to move the ball easily for first downs and touchdowns then your defense isn't good, just really really efficient losers.

High and Low Lights:

1st Quarter

4th Best Defensive Performance:

0 Points Allowed

PT1: 10.1%
PT1A: 11.6%
PTTD: 2.68%

2nd Quarter

9th Best Defensive Performance:

3 Points Allowed

PT1: 36.1%
PT1A: 32.8%
PTTD: 6.56%

3rd Quarter

Best Offensive Performance:

14 Points Scored

PT1: 233.3%
PT1A: 81.5%
PTTD: 34.3%

4th Quarter

10th Best Offensive Performance

10 Points Scored

PT1: 102.2%
PT1A: 50.3%
PTTD: 13.51%

#2 Game 2: Morgan State (56-34 win)

Offensive Performance: #1

Defensive Performance #5

Overall Performance: #2

The sad part is we put up such an average defensive performance against a FCS team at home.

Progress towards a 1st down:

Offense: 131.2% (1st)

Defense: 87.5% (6th)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:

Offense: 60.9% (1st)

Defense: 41% (7th)

Progress towards a Touchdown:

Offense: 27.45% (1st)

Defense: 11.2% (2nd)

In one of the best offensive games in UB history, Buffalo played their best game. Neutz had 4 deep touchdown receptions, Potts scored on 1 long run, and Oliver had a moster day on the ground.

The stats show the defense was bend but not break. Morgan gained 1st down yardage fairly well, but despite scoring the 4th most points allowed, they made only 11% progress towards a TD per play. The other teams that scored over 34 points made 17.3%, 17.4%, and 24.6% progress.

High and Low Lights:

1st Quarter

3rd Best Offensive Performance:

14 Points Scored

PT1: 147.5%
PT1A: 60.1%
PTTD: 27.63%

Best Defensive Performance:

3 Points Allowed

PT1: 1.9%
PT1A: 7.7%
PTTD: -11.25%

2nd Quarter

Best Offensive Performance (Tied with Miami Q3):

21 Points Scored

PT1: 187.5%
PT1A: 90%
PTTD: 51.71%

3rd Quarter

6th Best Offensive Performance

21 Points Scored

PT1: 106.6%
PT1A: 50.8%
PTTD: 17.96%

4th Quarter

7th Worst Offensive Performance

0 Points Scored

PT1: 32.5%
PT1A: 32.5%
PTTD: 6.1%

Finally, the best game of the year the "close shave" at Gillette.

#1 Game 11: Massachusetts (29-19 win)

Offensive Performance: #4

Defensive Performance #1

Overall Performance: #1

Progress towards a 1st down:

Offense: 76.0% (7th)

Defense: 54.7% (1st)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:

Offense: 45.4% (2nd)

Defense: 30.9% (1st)

Progress towards a Touchdown:

Offense: 15.26% (6th)

Defense: 10.1% (1st)

Strip away the zone read, strip away the trick plays, take away the deep bombs and the hail marys and you have the UMass game. An opus from a team built to dominate the offensive and defensive lines with a powerful run game, run defense and a relentless pass rush.

High and Low Lights:

1st Quarter

2nd Worst Offensive Performance:

0 Points Scored

PT1: -53.2%
PT1A: 13.5%
PTTD: 2.33%

4th Quarter

5th Best Offensive Performance:

15 Points Scored

PT1: 95.6%
PT1A: 55.9%
PTTD: 25.55%

2nd Best Defensive Performance:

0 Points Allowed

PT1: 7.7%
PT1A: -0.2%
PTTD: -1.07%

UB answered the bell in the 4th, scoring enough to win and completely shutting down the UMass offense.

Who would have thought, the Harnish-less Huskies would be our toughest test, followed by Kent State at home and the 3 coaches in 3 years Panthers. I think we expected UMass and Morgan to be 2 of our easier games, but no one expected Ohio, Miami, WMU and Toledo to be so winnable.

Non Revenue Roundup

bull_trojan — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:04:53 -0000

Nemo made a quiet week in Non Revenue Sports even quieter. This week Baseball and Softball begin their 2013 campaigns.

Team	Record	Results
Wrestling	1-8, 1-3 MAC
Men's Swimming	4-3, 1-1 MAC
Men's Track and Field	-
Women's Track and Field	-
Women's Basketball	7-16, 5-5 MAC	Lost to BGSU, 61-56
		Lost to CMU, 86-51
Women's Swimming	6-3, 2-2 MAC
Men's Tennis	2-2	Lost to Cornell, 7-0
Women's Tennis	3-0

Volleyball

Another addition to the coaching staff:

James Goodridge Named Assistant Volleyball Coach

University at Buffalo volleyball head coach Todd Kress has announced the addition of James Goodridge as assistant volleyball coach. Goodridge has spent the last three years as the head men's volleyball coach at Lees-McRae College.

Women's Basketball

Women's Bball falls to 7th in the MAC after 2 more losses this week. They fall 2 games back in the MAC East with 6 games remaining.

Bulls Fall Just Short Against Bowling Green

Despite allowing just 25 second half points on Thursday night against Bowling Green, the University at Buffalo women's basketball team was defeated in a tough 61-56 decision against the visiting Falcons at Alumni Arena.

Bulls Run Into Hot-Shooting Chippewas In Mt. Pleasant

The University at Buffalo women's basketball team allowed 86 points on Sunday afternoon as the host Chippewas shot 54.3 percent in the second half to defeat Buffalo, 86-51.

Cherridy Thornton scored 36 in the two games, Loesing scored 28, but fell because they gave their opponents too many chances to score. BGSU collected 16 offensive rebounds and while they shot worse than the Bulls, they attempted 12 more field goals, which provided them just enough offense to sneak by the Bulls. CMU used a 22 rebound advantage and hot shooting, 48.5% to overtake the Bulls.

Men's Tennis

Back to back blowouts at the hands of the Ivy League:

Bulls Drop 7-0 Decision at Cornell

The University at Buffalo men's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision at Ivy League opponent Cornell at the Reis Tennis Center Sunday afternoon to even the team's record to 2-2 for the spring season.

Track and Field

In individual action at the SPIRE invitational in Geneva, OH, Miles Lewis finished 2nd in the men's 60 meter dash while at Cornell, Mike Morgan won the men's high jump while Danielle Anderson finished 3rd in high jump.

UB Tracksters See Action at SPIRE, Cornell Meets

University at Buffalo men's and women's track and field athletes were in action on Saturday