"Rome wasn't built in a day"
Little money, the gimmicky pre-game and half-time shows, poor attendance, little or no media coverage, multiple uniform changes, and twelve wins in eight years sums up the University at Buffalo Bulls football program thus far.
Last year, UB won two games and could have easily won a third; that's coaching! The overtime thriller loss to Bowling Green was a heartbreaking loss. Turner Gill has done a helluva job as the Head Coach. This year won't be much easier schedule wise with teams from power conferences such as Penn St, Rutgers, Baylor, and Syracuse still present for a quick cash grab. Apparently, according to the college football history book I was browsing through at Borders (the title of the book escapes me) and Rutgers is the Bulls' biggest rival. Someone might want to let Rutgers know that. Arguably the two best players on offense are Gill's recruits - Starks and Roosevelt from the Western New York region respectively.
We're talking about UB football the program that hasn't won more than three games in a season since making the move to D-I but could do it this season. UB needs to win at least four games to keep the program going in the right direction. The three games I believe the Bulls should win are 9/8 at Temple, 10/27 home vs. Akron, and last game of the season at Kent State.
Furthermore UB has the most returning starters on both offense and defense in Division 1. Whether that is actually a good thing or not is still to be determined but things are looking somewhat sunnier on the Amherst campus. Note, the Bulls opened camp Friday.
Another reason to hate ESPN, UB is ranked dead last!
Aug. 30 at Rutgers
Sept. 8 at Temple
Sept. 15 at Penn State
Sept. 22 Baylor
Sept. 29 at Ball State
Oct. 6 Ohio
Oct. 13 Toledo
Oct. 20 at Syracuse
Oct. 27 Akron
Nov. 3 at Miami (OH)
Nov. 17 Bowling Green
Nov. 24 at Kent State
UB gets what they deserve. Talk about trying to run before crawling. Buffalo was barely mediocre and had little support & following while in lower divisions.. And the administration thought that would change overnight by going 1a? Throwing money at your program and making the jump to 1a clearly doesn't work without the proper foundation; there are 25+ "1a" programs that are now living proof and UB leads the pack.
ReplyDeleteThe last season in Division 1-AA they were 8-3. The program needs to be Division 1-A. They would never get the money they got for getting beat up by Auburn, Wisconsin, and Syracuse as they would if they played Lehigh or Canisius. UB is in the best conference they could possibly be in and correct me if I am wrong they are recruited to house a football, baseball, and basketball teams to play in the MAC. The problem is lack of money, the budget is stretched thin as it is.
ReplyDeleteI could understand UB in the MAC for other sports but not football. Not sure how one season at 8-3 in 1-AA means a school is ready for the big stage, but you hit the nail on the head in terms of the $$ attraction for playing Auburn, etc.. But, do you really want to become a Temple? (I doubt the players/alums take solace in getting their heads kicked in exchange for a share of the gate receipt)... Obviously, one w/b naive to ignore the money factor, but there's something to be said for a universities who look in the mirror and are honest with themselves.. And, if lack of $$ is STILL an issue even after the paydays from Auburn etc, is it really worth becoming one of the laughingstocks in football? Maybe that's another question to ask someone from Temple... In a nutshell, I think it's better to be respectable as a D2, 3, or 1aa program instead of being a perennial loser w/ tepid admin backing and little fan support-- it's what the fans, alums, and players deserve.. What scares me is the UB has had a hard time even in the MAC- a conference who usually has some nice teams, but overall is considered one of the lowest 1a leagues.. They should be able to compete against those teams.
ReplyDeleteWhat conference would you suggest UB join? You need to offer a solution to the problem if you are going to bring up a problem. I don't think any MAC team will compete for BCS title but Motor City Bowl Championship would be nice. I would suggest a new downtown stadium for UB and Buffalo ala Pittsburgh. Ub wants to build another downtown campus so why not build a new stadium for UB and the Bills? Than maybe the Big East isn't looking too far off.
ReplyDeleteI think my solution was stated pretty clearly- I question their role in 1a football.. There are ~125 1a programs that are chasing a dream, and the bottom ~50 are light years away and will never reap the rewards they are chasing.. It's all a mirage. Florida Intl, etc? Cmon already... Perhaps the A10, would be a better fit- a VERY respectable 1aa conference w/ good programs who have nice followings.. UB has avg'd <13K fans over the past 2 years (= published number, actual bodies in seats less, no doubt)... Hardly a good number for a "1a" program...At this point, I think I'd rather play Delaware vs. Ball State (ie. who cares either way, at least I have a better shot to beat Delaware) All that said, I do think UB could eventually compete in the MAC, and reach the Motor City Bowl.. But the question is one of cost/benefit. As for a downtown stadium, Im not a fan w/ regards to college teams. I've been to a Pitt game, and it was a good experience, however, I think it would have been a better "college atmosphere" if they built a new stadium on the campus.. yes, the stadium is nice, but there was sort of the feeling that it wasn't their stadium; it's a pro stadium. If UB is building a new campus downtown, then perhaps a stadium could be tucked in nicely. My guess however is that we wont see see this goven the amount of $ already sunk into the existing stadium.
ReplyDeleteWhile some of you responders have made valid points regarding UB's jump to the MAC, I think you are overlooking the fact that this was something UB and the SUNY system should have done eons ago.
ReplyDeleteNew York State Schools should be like every other state in the country. The problem was that the backwards administrators did not see this. Now they try to go to the alumni for money, alumni who do not identify with their college due to the lack of a "true" college experience. Sports teams help make this happen.
Also, I don't think you realize how good some of the hires in the athletic department have been. Reggie Witherspoon has worked out great as a local product, Warde Manuel (the AD) came to us from Michigan and has already made HUGE fund raising strides. Turner Gill is an icon. He will turn the team around. I think next year UB challenges for the MAC East title in Football.
Imagine if Omar Jacobs picks UB over Bowling Green.
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