Better Know A Buffalo Bull » Brats & Beer

November 16, 2006
posted under: Badgers football

The UW Badgers close out the 2006 regular season this Saturday at Camp Randall with a non-conference game against the 2-8 Buffalo Bulls. Since I’m sure some of you are a little in the dark about what makes these Bulls run, let’s get the 411 on SUNY-Buffalo.

The school is officially called University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, but also goes by the name University at Buffalo, or just UB. It was founded in 1846 as a medical school and joined the State University of New York System in the early 1960s. The school has two campuses, one on the Northeast side of Buffalo and one in Amhurst, with a combined population of about 27,000 students. So basically, UW-Madison could eat this school for lunch and still have room for a snack without ruining dinner.

UB is noted for its medical school and its law program, as well as for its research centers. Among its alumni are “journalist” Wolf Blitzer from CNN, America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, and Chaisang Chaturon, who may or may not still be the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand following the coup in September. Bram Cohen, who created the BitTorrent file sharing client, is the most famous tech-geek dropout from SUNY-Buffalo.

As for the Bulls football team, this is their first year under head coach Turner Gill, and it has not gone very well. The offense has been pretty anemic and the defense hardly shows up, allowing more than 34 points a game and more than 200 yards rushing. (Paging PJ Hill, your Heisman highlight reel has arrived.)

Some names you’ll probably hear on Saturday: Drew Willy, quarterback, has thrown for almost 1,400 yards and six touchdowns with six interceptions; Terrance Breaux, wide receiver, has 28 catches for almost 400 yards and a couple TDs; James Starks, running back, has 675 yards and six scores.

Believe it or not, the Badgers are not the first ranked team the Bulls have faced this year. Buffalo got walloped by Auburn back in September when the Tigers were ranked #2, then later the Bulls were shut out by Boston College. No that is some ambitious scheduling.