Buffalo Bulls football
Encyclopedia
- For information on all University at Buffalo sports, see Buffalo BullsBuffalo BullsThe Buffalo Bulls are the athletic teams representing the University at Buffalo in intercollegiate athletics. The Bulls currently play in Division I , and are a member of the Mid-American Conference for all sports except women's rowing who is in the Cononial Athletic Assocition . They have been a...
The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. Buffalo's first football team was fielded in 1894. The team plays its home games at the 31,000 seat UB Stadium
University at Buffalo Stadium
University at Buffalo Stadium is a stadium in Amherst, New York. It is primarily used for football and track and field events, and is the home field of the Buffalo Bulls. It opened on September 4, 1993 with a game against the University of Maine...
on University at Buffalo's north campus in Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
. The team's main rival are the Temple Owls football
Temple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
. The Bulls are coached by Jeff Quinn
Jeff Quinn (American football)
Jeff Quinn is a college football coach who is the head coach of the University at Buffalo football team. He is the 24th head coach in University at Buffalo football history...
.
History
UB's first run with football started in 1894 and lasted until 1970, when the football program was suspended due to the student body's vote to stop funding the program. The football program was reintroduced in 1977. When reintroduced, the team played in Division III level football until 1992. In 1993, the school made the jump to Division I-AA. In 1999, the Bulls moved up again to Division I-A Bowl Subdivision level football.The early years: 1894–1903
In 1894, UB established an athleticsCollege athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
association and fourteen UB Medical students formed the first UB football team. This team played until 1903 with a record of 28-7-13. The team managed this despite lacking a coach for all but two of those years. In 1897, C. W. Dibble
C. W. Dibble
C. W. Dibble was the head coach of the University at Buffalo college football program in 1897.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
coached UB to a perfect 7-0-0 record and in 1903, Ray Turnbull
Ray Turnbull (football coach)
Ray Turnbull was the head coach of the Buffalo college football program in 1903.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
led the UB team to a 3-3 record. After the 1903 season, UB would not again put a team on the field until 1915.
The UB Bisons: 1915–1930
In 1915, UB re-established the football program and instituted men's basketball. Both teams were named the 'Bisons' and used as their logo a caricature of a male American bisonAmerican Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
, often outfitted in a UB jersey. Frank Pleasant was called on to coach the football team but was replaced the following season after a 3-3 record. Art Powell would take over in 1916 and coach the team for six seasons (13-22-5). UB would go through two coaches in a span of two years - Jim Batterson
James Batterson
Jim Batterson was the head coach of the Buffalo college football program in 1922.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
in 1922
1922 college football season
The 1922 college football season had a number of unbeaten and untied teams, and no clear-cut champion. Three different "retro polls", taken years later and based on opinions drawn from historical research, reached different conclusions...
and James Bond
James Bond (football coach)
James Bond was the head coach of the Buffalo Bulls college football program in 1923.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
in 1923
1923 college football season
The 1923 college football season saw several teams finish their seasons unbeaten and untied. Illinois and Michigan The 1923 college football season saw several teams finish their seasons unbeaten and untied. Illinois (coached by Bob Zuppke) and Michigan The 1923 college football season saw...
- before Russ Carrick
Russell Carrick
Russ Carrick was the head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1924 to 1928.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
would take over, serving five seasons despite winning only five games (while losing 30 and garnering two ties). The team would last be known as the Bisons under the command of Jay "Biffy" Lee, who coached for two seasons (until 1930
1930 college football season
The 1930 college football season saw Notre Dame repeat as national champion under the Dickinson system, and a post-season Rose Bowl matchup between two unbeaten teams, Washington State and Alabama, ranked #2 and #3, respectively...
), leading UB to a 8-7 record.
Welcome the Bulls: 1930–1942
In 1931, the University changed its mascot to the Bulls in order to distinguish UB from professional teams in the Queen City. The Bulls played every year until the outbreak of World War II mainly under the coaching guidance of Jim Peelle who was at the helm from 19351935 college football season
The 1935 college football season was the last one before the Associated Press writers' poll was used in selecting the national champion. The Dickinson System, consisting of the calculations of University of Illinois Professor Frank Dickinson, crowned Southern Methodist University as the best in...
-1942
1942 college football season
The 1942 college football season saw the Buckeyes of Ohio State University named as the nation’s #1 team by a majority of the voters in the AP poll, followed by the Georgia Bulldogs as the runner-up...
and would lead the Bulls to a 38-34-1 record including a 6-2 season in 1942.
Post-World War II: 1946–1954
After World War II, UB again took to the grid-iron under Jim PeelleJim Peelle
James E. Peelle was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University at Buffalo from 1936 to 1947, compiling a record of 38–34–1.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
, who led UB in two impressive seasons of 7-2 (1946
1946 college football season
The 1946 college football season finished with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame crowned as the national champion in the AP Poll, with the United States Military Academy the runner up...
) and 8-1 (1947
1947 college football season
The 1947 college football season finished with Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State all unbeaten and untied, but the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were the first place choice for 107 of the 142 voters in the AP writers poll, and repeated as national champions...
), but were not selected to a bowl in either season. The program was next taken over by Frank Clair
Frank Clair
Frank James Clair was a coach in the Canadian Football League, nicknamed "the Professor" for his ability to recognize and develop talent. Clair is the 3rd all-time winningest head coach in the CFL with 147 wins and the winningest head coach in the post-season with 27 vistories...
, who coached for two seasons, leaving with an impressive mark of 12-4-1. The following season represented one of the low points for UB when, under the guidance of coach Frtiz Febel, UB won only four games in three years with an overall record of 4-19-1.
Offenhamer era: 1955-1965
If the Febel season can be seen as one of the low points in UB football history, then Dick OffenhamerDick Offenhamer
Richard W. "Dick" Offenhammer was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University at Buffalo from 1955 to 1965, compiling a record of 4–19–1.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
brought in UB's most successful era when from 1955
1955 college football season
The 1955 college football season saw the Oklahoma Sooners win the national championship after going 10-0-0. Although the final poll was taken before the postseason bowl games, Oklahoma played against the nation's other unbeaten and untied team, the Maryland Terrapins, at the Orange Bowl in Miami,...
to 1965
1965 college football season
During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press was the most popular,...
, he would coach UB to an impressive 58-37-5 record. In 1958
1958 college football season
The 1958 college football season was the first to feature the two point conversion. On January 13, 1958, the 11-man NCAA Rules Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow teams to choose between kicking an extra point after a touchdown, or running or passing from the 3 yard line for 2...
, the football team won the Lambert Cup, emblematic of supremacy in Eastern U.S. small-college football. That led to the team's first bowl invitation, to the Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
against Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. But the Bulls would be allowed to participate only if back-up defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Mike Wilson
Mike Wilson
Mike Wilson may refer to:* Mike Wilson , Canadian poker player* Mike Wilson , American football offensive lineman...
and starting halfback Willie Evans, who were black, did not play. The team stood behind the two, and refused the bowl offer. The team was profiled on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Outside the Lines
Outside the Lines
Outside the Lines, or also referred to as OTL, is an American television program on ESPN that looks "outside the lines" and examines critical issues in American sports on and off the field of play....
in 2008. Buffalo would not be invited to or be bowl-eligible for another 50 years.
Several UB football stars from the Offenhamer years went on to play professional football, including quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
John Stofa
John Stofa
John Stofa son of the late John and Ann Stofa and a former American college and professional American football quarterback. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and graduated from Bishop McCort High School. He attended the University at Buffalo where he played as a member of the Buffalo Bulls...
with the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, and defensive lineman Gerry Philbin
Gerry Philbin
Gerald John Philbin is a former American collegiate football defensive tackle and four year starter from the University at Buffalo where he earned several honors including Second- team All-American, Little All-America, and All-American Academic team...
with the AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Philbin is a member of the AFL Hall of Fame and the All-time All-AFL Team. Philbin and UB's Willie Ross were the first two UB graduates to play on professional football championship teams: Ross with the 1964 AFL Champion Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
; and Philbin with the 1968 AFL Champion New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who went on to win Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
. They have been followed by Ramon Guzman
Ramón Guzman
Ramon L. Guzman is a Canadian football linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Buffalo.-External links:**...
who played on two Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
Championship teams with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
and James Starks
James Starks
James Darell Starks is an American football running back for the Green Bay Packers. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, .-High school:James attended high school in Niagara Falls, New York...
with the Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
champion Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
Out with a whimper: 1965-1970
Following the departure of Offenhamer in 19651965 college football season
During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press was the most popular,...
, UB would last only five more years before suspending football in 1970. There was some success under coach Doc Urich
Doc Urich
-External links:...
, who led UB to an 18-12 record over three years, but declining performance under his successor, Bob Deming
Bob Deming
Robert C. "Bob" Deming is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Buffalo from 1969 to 1970, compiling a record of 8–12. Deming was the athletic director at Ithaca College from 1980 until his...
(1969
1969 college football season
The 1969 college football season was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of college football. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A"...
-1970
1970 college football season
The 1970 college football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes. On October 2, one of the planes carrying the Wichita State football team crashed on the way to a game against Utah State, killing 31 people on board, including 14 players...
) and financial issues would cause UB to suspend its football program. The main reason that football was dropped was that the student body voted to stop funding the team. At the time athletics at UB were fully funded by student fees. It would be seven years until UB would again take the field.
Division III football: 1977-1992
In 19771977 college football season
The 1977 college football season was one in which the top five teams all finished with records of 11-1-0. Notre Dame, which beat a #1 ranked Texas team in the Cotton Bowl Classic, became the national champion. The year 1977 was the last before NCAA's Division I was divided into I-A and I-AA...
UB began playing football at the Division III level under Coach Bill Dando
Bill Dando
William R. "Bill" Dando is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1977 to 1989.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
, who would be the Bulls' longest serving coach, lasting thirteen years. UB had moderate success during his tenure, and he retired after the 1989 season. Sam Sanders
Sam Sanders
Sam Sanders is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Alfred University from 1977 to 1984 and at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York from 1990 to 1991, compiling a career college football record of 54–42–2.-Head...
would take over, but lasted only two seasons. His coaching career ended because of medical issues and Jim Ward
Jim Ward (football coach)
Jim Ward is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1992 to 1994.He is currently the head coach of the Seinäjoki Crocodiles of the Finnish Vaahteraliiga.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
was promoted because of a New York State hiring freeze and ushered in UB's return to Division I football.
Division I-AA (FCS): 1993-1998
UB's return to Division I football started in Division I-AA (known today as the Football Championship Subdivision). UB would have only one winning season during their time in I-AA. Under Coach Craig CirbusCraig Cirbus
Craig Cirbus is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1995 to 2000.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
, UB would go 8-3 in 1996. This would be UB's last season at or above .500 for a dozen years.
1999-2005: Return to Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Craig Cirbus
Craig Cirbus is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1995 to 2000.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
. After a few years of dismal results, the team hired Jim Hofher
Jim Hofher
-External links:*...
a former head coach at Division I-AA Cornell University
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
to be the head coach. However, Hofher's teams were marked by poor discipline and lack of effort, and won only 8 games during his five seasons at UB. Buffalo won only 10 games and lost 69 during this seven-year period, the second-worst record in the Football Bowl Subdivision during that time. A 2002 win on the road over Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
remains their only win against a BCS
BCS conference
An Automatic Qualifying conference is an athletic conference in NCAA Division I FBS whose champion receives an automatic berth in one of the five Bowl Championship Series bowl games...
team.
2006-2009: Turner Gill era
In early December 2005, Hofher was replaced by Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
assistant coach and former Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
candidate Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...
. The former University of Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
led the program in a remarkable turnaround, helping the team to a 5-7 (5-3 MAC East divisional co-champions) in 2007, their best season since the school joined the MAC.
On November 21, 2008, the Buffalo Bulls won their first outright MAC Eastern Division Championship, sealing the win with a thrilling 2-OT victory over Bowling Green
Bowling Green Falcons football
The Bowling Green Falcons football team is the interscholastic football team at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference in the East Division. The Falcons have won ten conference championships....
, 40-34. Down 27-7 at the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Bulls stormed back to tie the game at 27 and force it into overtime. In the second OT, running back James Starks ran 25 yards on the first play for a touchdown and a Bulls win. The quarterback coach for Bowling Green that day was former UB head coach Jim Hofher.
Following a loss to Kent State
Kent State Golden Flashes football
The Kent State Golden Flashes football team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, USA. The team is a member of the Mid-American Conference East division, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Football Bowl Subdivision...
that broke a five-game winning streak for Buffalo, the Bulls entered the conference title game at 7-5, while MAC West champion Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
was an unblemished 12-0. However, on December 5, at Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
in Detroit, Buffalo's defense returned two fumbles for touchdowns and the Bulls defeated the Cardinals, 42-24, to become Mid-American Conference champions for 2008. Their successful season earned the Bulls an invitation to the International Bowl
International Bowl
The International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to face Connecticut. The Bulls went on to lose that game
2009 International Bowl
The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Buffalo Bulls at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football...
to UConn by a score of 38-20.
2009 would not be as successful as Starks was lost before the season even started to a shoulder injury. The offense also struggled without four-year starting quarterback Drew Willy
Drew Willy
Drew Willy is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
as new quarterback Zach Maynard had an up-and-down season as UB finished 5-7. After the season, Gill left to become head coach of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
.
2010-Present: Jeff Quinn era
On December 20, 2009, it was first reported that Jeff QuinnJeff Quinn (American football)
Jeff Quinn is a college football coach who is the head coach of the University at Buffalo football team. He is the 24th head coach in University at Buffalo football history...
would be the new head coach. He took over after coaching Cincinnati
2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium....
in the 2010 Sugar Bowl
2010 Sugar Bowl
The 2010 Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 76th Sugar Bowl...
. In Quinn's first season as coach, he was unable to build upon Gill's success as UB finished the season
2010 Buffalo Bulls football team
The 2010 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls, led by first year head coach Jeff Quinn, played their home games at the University at Buffalo Stadium and members of the east division of the Mid-American Conference...
2-10.
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:- Drew HaddadDrew HaddadDrew Haddad is a former National Football League wide receiver, who played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills. He finished his career with the San Diego Chargers. He was drafted with the 25th pick of the 7th round in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills...
: Wide Receiver (Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, 2001-2002; Buffalo Bills, 2004; San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 2005) - Ramon GuzmanRamón GuzmanRamon L. Guzman is a Canadian football linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Buffalo.-External links:**...
: Linebacker (Indianapolis Colts, 2007; Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
2009–present) - Trevor ScottTrevor ScottTrevor John Scott is an American football defensive end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was a 6th round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...
: Defensive End (Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 2008–present) - Jamey RichardJamey RichardJameson Tyler "Jamey" Richard is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University at Buffalo...
: Offensive Lineman (Indianapolis Colts, 2008–2011) - Drew WillyDrew WillyDrew Willy is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
: Quarterback (Indianapolis Colts, 2009; Las Vegas LocomotivesLas Vegas LocomotivesThe Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
, 2010)San Diego Chargers (2011) - James StarksJames StarksJames Darell Starks is an American football running back for the Green Bay Packers. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, .-High school:James attended high school in Niagara Falls, New York...
: Running Back (Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, 2010–present) - Mike NewtonMike Newton (American football)DeJuan Michael Newton is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Buffalo.-Indianapolis Colts:...
: Safety (Indianapolis Colts, 2010) - Naaman RooseveltNaaman RooseveltNaaman Roosevelt is an American football wide receiver with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League...
: Wide Receiver (Buffalo Bills, 2010–present) - Josh ThomasJosh Thomas (cornerback)Josh Thomas is an American football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Thomas was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Buffalo....
: Cornerback (Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, 2011-present) - Gerry PhilbinGerry PhilbinGerald John Philbin is a former American collegiate football defensive tackle and four year starter from the University at Buffalo where he earned several honors including Second- team All-American, Little All-America, and All-American Academic team...
: New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
1964-1972, Philadelphia Eagles 1973, New York StarsNew York StarsNew York Stars could refer to:*New York Stars , a team that two three seasons in the Women's Professional Basketball League before disbanding in 1980...
(1974)
Records
| Year | Coach | Record | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | No Coach | 0-1-1 | N/A |
| 1895 | No Coach | 0-1-1 | N/A |
| 1896 | No Coach | 1-0-2 | N/A |
| 1897 | C.W. Dibble C. W. Dibble C. W. Dibble was the head coach of the University at Buffalo college football program in 1897.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
7-0 | N/A |
| 1898 | No Coach | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1899 | No Coach | 6-0 | N/A |
| 1900 | No Coach | 1-1-2 | N/A |
| 1901 | No Coach | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1902 | No Coach | 2-4-1 | N/A |
| 1903 | Ray Turnbull | 3-3 | N/A |
| 1915 | Frank Pleasant Frank Mount Pleasant Franklin P. Mount Pleasant was an American football player, track and field athlete, and college athletics coach in the United States. He played college football at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and at Dickinson College and competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics... |
3-3 | N/A |
| 1916 | Art Powell | 3-5-2 | N/A |
| 1917 | Art Powell | 4-4 | N/A |
| 1918 | Art Powell | 3-1 | N/A |
| 1919 | Art Powell | 0-5-1 | N/A |
| 1920 | Art Powell | 1-4 | N/A |
| 1921 | Art Powell | 2-3-2 | N/A |
| 1922 | Jim Batterson James Batterson Jim Batterson was the head coach of the Buffalo college football program in 1922.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
1-5 | N/A |
| 1923 | James Bond | 2-5-1 | N/A |
| 1924 | Russ Carrick Russell Carrick Russ Carrick was the head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1924 to 1928.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
1-7 | N/A |
| 1925 | Russ Carrick | 3-4-1 | N/A |
| 1926 | Russ Carrick | 0-7 | N/A |
| 1927 | Russ Carrick | 0-6-1 | N/A |
| 1928 | Russ Carrick | 1-6 | N/A |
| 1929 | Jay Lee | 5-2 | N/A |
| 1930 | Jay Lee | 3-5 | N/A |
| 1931 | Bill Pritchard | 2-6 | N/A |
| 1932 | Jim Wilson | 1-5-1 | N/A |
| 1933 | Jim Wilson | 2-3-2 | N/A |
| 1934 | George Van Bibber George Van Bibber Edward George Van Bibber was an American football player, coach, and university professor. He served as the head football coach at Central Michigan University from 1931 to 1933 and at the University at Buffalo from 1934 to 1935, compiling a career college football record of 16–19–3... |
2-4-1 | N/A |
| 1935 | George Van Bibber | 2-6 | N/A |
| 1936 | Jim Peelle Jim Peelle James E. Peelle was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University at Buffalo from 1936 to 1947, compiling a record of 38–34–1.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
5-3 | N/A |
| 1937 | Jim Peelle | 4-4 | N/A |
| 1938 | Jim Peelle | 2-6 | N/A |
| 1939 | Jim Peelle | 0-7 | N/A |
| 1940 | Jim Peelle | 3-5 | N/A |
| 1941 | Jim Peelle | 3-4-1 | N/A |
| 1942 | Jim Peelle | 6-2 | N/A |
| 1946 | Jim Peelle | 7-2 | N/A |
| 1947 | Jim Peelle | 8-1 | N/A |
| 1948 | Frank Clair Frank Clair Frank James Clair was a coach in the Canadian Football League, nicknamed "the Professor" for his ability to recognize and develop talent. Clair is the 3rd all-time winningest head coach in the CFL with 147 wins and the winningest head coach in the post-season with 27 vistories... |
6-1-1 | N/A |
| 1949 | Frank Clair | 6-3 | N/A |
| 1950 | Jim Wilson | 5-3 | N/A |
| 1951 | Jim Wilson | 4-4 | N/A |
| 1952 | Frtiz Febel Fritz Febel Friedrich "Fritz" Febel was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Buffalo from 1952 to 1954, compiling a record of 4–19–1.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
1-7 | N/A |
| 1953 | Frtiz Febel | 1-5-1 | N/A |
| 1954 | Frtiz Febel | 2-7 | N/A |
| 1955 | Dick Offenhamer Dick Offenhamer Richard W. "Dick" Offenhammer was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University at Buffalo from 1955 to 1965, compiling a record of 4–19–1.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
4-4-1 | N/A |
| 1956 | Dick Offenhamer | 5-3 | College |
| 1957 | Dick Offenhamer | 5-4 | College |
| 1958 | Dick Offenhamer | 8-1 | College |
| 1959 | Dick Offenhamer | 8-1 | College |
| 1960 | Dick Offenhamer | 4-6 | College |
| 1961 | Dick Offenhamer | 4-5 | College |
| 1962 | Dick Offenhamer | 6-3 | University |
| 1963 | Dick Offenhamer | 5-3-1 | University |
| 1964 | Dick Offenhamer | 4-4-1 | University |
| 1965 | Dick Offenhamer | 5-3-2 | University |
| 1966 | Doc Urich Doc Urich -External links:... |
5-5 | University |
| 1967 | Doc Urich | 6-4 | University |
| 1968 | Doc Urich | 7-3 | University |
| 1969 | Bob Deming Bob Deming Robert C. "Bob" Deming is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Buffalo from 1969 to 1970, compiling a record of 8–12. Deming was the athletic director at Ithaca College from 1980 until his... |
6-3 | University |
| 1970 | Bob Deming | 2-9 | University |
| Year | Coach | Record | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Bill Dando Bill Dando William R. "Bill" Dando is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1977 to 1989.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
0-3-1 | III |
| 1978 | Bill Dando | 3-6 | III |
| 1979 | Bill Dando | 4-5 | III |
| 1980 | Bill Dando | 6-5 | III |
| 1981 | Bill Dando | 5-5 | III |
| 1982 | Bill Dando | 5-5 | III |
| 1983 | Bill Dando | 8-2 | III |
| 1984 | Bill Dando | 6-4 | III |
| 1985 | Bill Dando | 4-6 | III |
| 1986 | Bill Dando | 9-2 | III |
| 1987 | Bill Dando | 3-7 | III |
| 1988 | Bill Dando | 2-8 | III |
| 1989 | Bill Dando | 4-6 | III |
| 1990 | Sam Sanders Sam Sanders Sam Sanders is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Alfred University from 1977 to 1984 and at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York from 1990 to 1991, compiling a career college football record of 54–42–2.-Head... |
2-8 | III |
| 1991 | Sam Sanders | 3-7 | III |
| 1992 | Jim Ward | 4-6 | III |
| 1993 | Jim Ward | 1-10 | I-AA |
| 1994 | Jim Ward | 3-8 | I-AA |
| 1995 | Craig Cirbus Craig Cirbus Craig Cirbus is a former head coach of the Buffalo college football program from 1995 to 2000.-Head coaching record:-External links:... |
3-8 | I-AA |
| 1996 | Craig Cirbus | 8-3 | I-AA |
| 1997 | Craig Cirbus | 2-9 | I-AA |
| 1998 | Craig Cirbus | 4-7 | I-AA |
| 1999 | Craig Cirbus | 0-11 | I-A |
| 2000 | Craig Cirbus | 2-9 | I-A |
| 2001 | Jim Hofher Jim Hofher -External links:*... |
3-8 | I-A |
| 2002 | Jim Hofher | 1-11 | I-A |
| 2003 | Jim Hofher | 1-11 | I-A |
| 2004 | Jim Hofher | 2-9 | I-A |
| 2005 | Jim Hofher | 1-10 | I-A |
| 2006 | Turner Gill Turner Gill Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High... |
2-10 | FBS |
| 2007 | Turner Gill | 5-7 | FBS |
| 2008 | Turner Gill | 8-6 | FBS |
| 2009 | Turner Gill | 5-7 | FBS |
| 2010 | Jeff Quinn Jeff Quinn Jeff Quinn is a college football coach who is the head coach of the University at Buffalo football team. He is the 24th head coach in University at Buffalo football history... |
2-10 | FBS |
| 2011 | Jeff Quinn | 3-8 | FBS |
Bowl games
| Year and bowl | Winning team | Losing team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 International Bowl 2009 International Bowl The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Buffalo Bulls at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football... |
Connecticut Connecticut Huskies football The Connecticut Huskies football team is a collegiate football team that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big East Conference. Connecticut first fielded a team in 1896, and participated in Division I-AA until 1999. The Huskies began their two-year Division I-A transition period in 2000, and... |
38 | Buffalo | 20 |
Broadcasting
WECKWECK
WECK is a radio station located in the Buffalo, New York, area. Founded in 1956 as WNIA, the station currently is owned by Culver Communications...
currently holds the broadcast rights to Bulls games, with WIVB-TV sports anchor Paul Peck on play-by-play and former Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
quarterback Jim Kubiak
Jim Kubiak
James Kubiak is the color commentator for the Buffalo Bulls football team and the director of the WNY Quarterback Academy. Kubiak was the Director of Football Operations and Offensive coordinator for the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League. He is also a retired American and Arena football...
on color commentary. UB basketball commentators Nick Mendola and Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson was a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1929 to 1942.-Early life:Scott Wilson was born on January 11, 1870, in Falmouth, Maine. He graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1892 and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania...
handle sideline and pregame duties, respectively. The broadcasts are also simulcast on WHTK in Rochester.
A separate feed is available from the student Part 15 radio station, WRUB.