UB Football vs. Pittsburgh – Live Blog

We’re back for week 2 of the college football season.  This week it’s the Bulls home opener as they take on Big East opponent Pittsburgh in Amherst today.  We’ll have all the updates right here, just as last week, plus pictures and updates from right at the game with Brad Riter.

11:30am - The crowd is filling in nicely for a big out of conference opener between a pair of 1-0 teams.  The weather couldn’t be nicer here in Western New York.

Kickoff - The Bulls defense will be on the field first to see if they can stop the Pitt offense.

1st Quarter – Touchdown Pitt – Pitt – 7 UB – 0 - After the first play was a dropped interception on a deep ball, the Panthers marched right down the field and a short pass puts it in the endzone.  There looks to be an early advantage in the trenches for the Panthers so far.  The defense has to be concerned with stopping the run.

1st Quarter – Turnover – Touchdown Pitt – Pitt – 14 UB – 0 - Things couldn’t have started worse for the Bulls.  The ensuing kickoff after the Pitt TD was a fumble on the return by Mario Henry.  The Panthers immediately put it in the endzone with a 23 yard TD pass and UB is down two touchdowns before the offense has even touched the field.  Pitt QB Bill Stull looks great early going 5-6 77 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Sophomore QB Zach Maynard has to come out here and calm things down and get the Bulls on the board to slow the early Pitt momentum.

1st Quarter – TOUCHDOWN – UB – 7 Pitt – 14 – 5:55 – Bulls QB Zach Maynard answers the call and leads UB down the field for a great drive then finds TE Jessie Rack for a 24 yard touchdown.  Rack went right down the middle of the field and a nice pass cleared the linebackers and dropped in nicely to Rack’s hand who went the final five yards into the endzone for the score.  The Bulls and the home crowd are right back in the game as the scoring is coming early and often here in an exciting game.

UB Bulls Football vs. UTEP – Live Updates

The UB Bulls football season and defense of their first ever MAC Championship is about to begin!  You can listen to all the action on WECK 1230am or online at WECK1230.com – Plus, you can get live updates right here throughout the game with all the action that’s been going on, opinions and more from Brad Riter who’s in the booth in El Paso (aka Mexico), Andrew Garrigan who’s here in the studio, and myself who will be passing along all the info.

8:04pm – Brad is live in El Paso and says, “We’re surrounded by mountains, tacos, and they’re playing salsa music in the stadium for warm-ups.”

8:10pm - The Bulls will have their hands full today if the other MAC performances indicate anything.  The MAC has been outscored 156-45 TODAY.  Plus add in the embarassing loss by Temple at home on Thursday to D-II Villanova, mix it with Ball St. losing at home to North Texas by ten both on Thursday & it’s a very rough start.  They’re 2-6 so far with the only wins coming from Kent St. over Coastal Carolina and Bowling Green over Troy.  Oh, and Ohio, Northern Illinois & Eastern Michigan are all in the process of getting rolled as we speak.

8:40pm – The Sun Bowl is filling up nicely for tonights game (yikes… see picture below).  In a related story, we’re a little worried here in the studio because it smells like something is burning.  We’re hoping that it’s  a local campfire coming in through our open window.

8:51pm – We’re being told that the above picture is the Miners entering the field from the “Mine Shaft” where the players enter the field from the side of a mountain into the crowd, then onto the field.  Also, Andrew thinks that the word mine shaft is one word.  Research is in progress.  Also, Virginia Tech has 3 yards on 6 plays and is leading Alabama 7-6.

9pm - Kickoff is moments away.  The NCAA sportsmanship initiative is underway.  Both sides shaking hands at mid field to get things off on a nice start.  The crowd has filled in nicely and is clad in orange.  We’ll get to see the Bulls defense first as the Miners won the toss.

1st Quarter – 0-0 – UTEP opened the game with the ball and after chewing up some serious yards on the ground got within field goal range.  The UB defense stiffened in the red zone and held to field goal which went wide left.  Bulls take over and dodge an early bullet.  The Bulls need to get tougher on run defense if they hope to win today.

1st Quarter - 5:07 -  UTEP – 7 UB – 0 - The Miners draw first blood as the the Bulls defense gets run over.  The Bulls offense needs to come out here and get a drive going, not only to tie the game, but to give the big guys a break.  Zach Maynard’s coming out for his second series, so hopefully there will be less butterflies and things can settle down.

9:38pm - Here in the studio our main focus is on the UB game, but every now and then we get to see what else is going on around college football.  My latest sighting might be the biggest one of the season in college football – Returning Heisman Trophy winner and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is on the sidelines in a t-shirt… and his throwing arm in a sling.   Early word is that it’s a sprained shoulder.  BYU is hanging in there down just 3 in the 4th quarter.  Uh-Oh.

End of 1st Quarter – UTEP – 7 UB – 0 - The Bulls offense finally has things going at the end of the quarter and are at the Miners 3 yard line about to pound it in.

2nd Quarter – UB – 7 UTEP – 7 - Buffalo answers strong after the defense was gashed.  Zach Maynard leads the offense right back down the field to tie it up.  60 yards on the drive and Brandon Thermilus takes it in for the first Bulls TD of the year.

2nd Quarter - Huge special teams screw up by the Miners and UB is able to really put UTEP in a rough spot.   A short kickoff following the UB touchdown hits the turf, gets by the return man and Chris Storr is able to make the tackle back at the UTEP 1 yard line.  The Miners have 99 yards to go for a td.   Could be a big momentum switch in this game.  Remember UB got off to a slow start vs. the Miners last season then, once up to speed, dominated from the second quarter on.

2nd Quarter – SAFETY! – UB – 9 UTEP – 7 – Well, the defense holds strong & with the short field the Bulls are able to take advantage.  Another special teams miscue for UTEP as a high snap on the punt, gets batted down in the end zone and the Miners fall on it for two points to Buffalo.  The Bulls are awaiting the ball to try and add some more points.

2nd Quarter – TOUCHDOWN – UB – 16 UTEP – 7 - Things are really starting to look good for the Bulls as they’ve ripped off 16 straight in the second quarter in just 3 minutes.  The kickoff return for Buffalo went 62 yards by Dominic Cook, eventually setting up a Mario Henry TD run.  Special teams is the difference in this one so far and the momentum is all on the side of Buffalo.  Coach Gill has to feel great that in every way possible, his team has been able to capitalize on EACH mistake made by the Miners.  It’s a sign of a well coached team.

2nd Quarter - 4:02 - The Bulls defense stiffens again the red zone and UTEP elects to go for it on 4th down instead of getting the points and just taking a chip shot field goal.  Buffalo forces the incompletion and UB gets the ball back on their own 13 yard line.  UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe missed a wide open TE in the end zone for what should’ve been a touchdown, but instead ends another drive.   I guess it goes to show you how little confidence Mike Price has in his special teams.  And after what they’ve done today, you can understand why.

Halftime – Buffalo – 16 UTEP – 7 - We’ve reached the intermission and despite a shaky start, the Bulls are in control.  Special teams has been the difference, and the offense has been able to capitalize on the Miners mistakes.  Zach Maynard’s first career start is going ok.  No major mistakes, specifically turnovers.  I’d have more stats here for you but there’s no where for me to get them from.  The “gametracker” on the UTEP website is still advising me that they’ll begin for kickoff… nice.  Apparently the Miners special teams coach also runs the I.T. department.  We’ll find a way to get them to you though.

3rd Quarter – TOUCHDOWN – UB – 23 UTEP – 7 – It looks like Coach Gill had the team ready to come out in the second half as Zach Maynard drives the Bulls down and throws a pass to Naaman Roosevelt for a touchdown.  6 Plays, 80 Yards on the drive.  It’s Maynard’s first career td pass, and Roosevelt breaks a UB record by catching his 20th career touchdown.  It was a short five yard pass that Roosevelt turned into a masterpiece taking it 42 yards for the score.  Brad Riter officially reports that it was a, “bubble screen & naaman with some nasty moves.”  He also reminds me that Roosevelt scored on a 60 yard touchdown on the exact same play last season vs. UTEP.  Now, the Bulls really have this game in control and another score could put the nail in the coffin.

3rd Quarter – 7:37 – Touchdown – UB – 23 UTEP – 14 - The Miners answer with a big 80 yard touchdown drive and stay in the game.  Trevor Vittatoe goes 6 for 6 on the drive that is capped off by a touchdown run.  The score energizes the crowd that has been mostly quiet tonight.  Let’s see if the Miners defense can come up with a stop.  Brad has passed along that the official attendance in the Sun Bowl is 35,214.

11:24pm - We finally got some stats – here are the important ones – Zach Maynard 8-13 116 yds 1td – Brandon Thermilus 14 carries 34yds 1td – Mario Henry 7 carries 48 yds 1td – Naaman Roosevelt 4 catches 84 yards 1td.

End of 3th Quarter – UB – 23 UTEP – 14 – The Bulls have the ball and are on the move, just inside of UTEP territory.  The run game hasn’t looked explosive with the absence of senior tailback James Starks, but still consistant.

11:35pm – This is all about UB, but there’s some pretty HUGE Bills news going on as well.  Fired offensive co-ordinator isn’t going quietly.  Big time accusations there, and plus there’s the report from profootballtalk.com that talk about a super not-so-secret meeting where Owner Ralph Wilson summoned Dick Jauron, Russ Brandon, and two assistant coaches to his HOME IN DETROIT for a meeting on the season.  The Bills trainwreck continues.  Spot of the night goes to Andrew Garrigan.

4th Quarter – 5:39 – Field Goal – UB – 23 UTEP – 17 - The Miners inch closer, capping a 10 play drive with a 31 yard field goal.  Some key 3rd down conversions got it done for UTEP to make it a one possession game.  It wouldn’t be a Bulls game without it being a nail biter and coming right down to the wire.  Naaman Roosevelt is on the sidelines right now suffering some cramps.  We’ll see how that effects the offense, along with the boisterous crowd who’s hoping the defense can get a stop.  Big test coming up here for the sophomore Maynard in his first start.

4th Quarter – 2:29 - UTEP has 80 yards to go after Brandon Thermilus was stopped on a 3rd and 2 near midfield.  Questionable play call on the pitch out and Thermilus was stuffed.

4th Quarter – :30 – UTEP on the move at the UB 25.  They need a touchdown to tie & the extra point to win.  1st down.

4th Quarter – :19 – UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe to James Thomas for the 19 yard touchdown on the corner route… flag down… holding on UTEP.  WOW.  Then tack on 15 yard personal foul penalty after the play.  MONSTER break for the Bulls on the road.  The Miners need a miracle now.

Game Over – Buffalo Bulls – 23 UTEP Miners – 17 – It wasn’t without the dramatics, especially in the last twenty seconds but anyway you slice it, it’s a win.  UB’s first road win to open a season since 1980 when they beat Brockport.  Under Turner Gill, Buffalo’s won an aweful lot of these type of games, and that trend continues tonight.  UB goes to 1-0.  UTEP will be talking about the MAC officials in the post game I’m sure because of the holding call that called back the tying, and with an extra point, winning score.

Postgame on WECK 1230 with your calls – 716-783-9325

More to come…

College Football has Arrived – UB Football Preview

Hey everyone, I finally got set-up here on wnymedia.net (thanks Marc!!) and now things are going to get really fun.  I’ve got big plans for on here & I’m really excited to get going.  Let’s start with those plans, you’ll be able to get inside fun from Riter Radio as I produce that show on WECK 1230am (shameless plug: you can catch it 4-7pm weekdays), plus college football coverage focusing on UB Football, I’ll have some blog updates during the UB games as I’ll be in the studio producing the games and then hosting the postgame show, and a bunch of other great stuff too.  On that topic, I’ll be taking your calls on the UB football postgame show right after every game this season, so you can get in and talk about the game at 716-783-9325 (shameless plug #2).  You can hear the UB games on the flagship WECK 1230am (shameless plug #3).  It’s a free flowing space here and you can feel free to email me to get in on the action too at scottonweck@gmail.com.  Eventually after a year, I’ll put all four up here as a “mailbag.”  College football starts tonight so let’s get to it:

Let’s start with the top 5 stories facing the defending MAC Champion UB Bulls Football team:

#5 – New Blood on Defense - The Bulls have a new man running the defense this year, Fred Reed.  But he’s not all that new to the Bulls, as Reed was the defensive backs coach last season.  Reed gets the promotion to defensive co-ordinator replacing Jimmy Williams.  It’s usually a cliche kind of thing when a coach talks about instilling a “blue collar ethic.”  But Reed has taken the phrase to heart.  The defense all has time cards and the coach makes his defense punch in and punch out every day.  How does that translate to the field?  We’ll see, but in an interview in August with Bob DiCesare, Reed stated that the defense is going to have a stop the run first attitude, then they’ll adjust to the passing game.  If the Bulls expect to reach the heights of last season, the defense will have to improve on the run, but more importantly, keep getting the ball back for the offense.  Last year, the defense was able to get key turnovers, flipping field position and setting the offense in a position to score and switch the momentum of the game.  The defensive turnovers basically won the MAC title game in Detroit and that’s a trend that must continue for 2009 success.

#4 – Turner Hands Over the Calls - I guess I should acknowledge here how great it is that I’m referring to Head Coach Turner Gill handing over the offensive play calling duties to Danny Barrett, and not the entire team.  Especially considering at the end of last season I was watching Charles Barkley on ESPN’s PTI talk for five straight minutes about how awesome Coach Gill is and how he should take over at Auburn.  Luckily he’s still here, and Auburn still sucks.  It’s not often that a coach makes a change to an offense that scored a school record in points last year, but Coach Gill wanted more time teaching and motivating the team.  It allows Gill to spend more time with both sides of the ball in practice as well.  He hands the play calling duties over to Barrett who was a head coach in the CFL and has been involved in the offense now for two seasons.  As similar and familiar as Barret may be with the team, you can expect a different style and different sequence of plays this season.

#3 – James Starks Career Ends - As much as any head coach will tell you that they feel they have “great depth,” there’s no way that losing the best running back in the school’s history two weeks before the season opener is a good thing.  There’s no amount of depth that can cover that up.  James Starks is a game breaking player and a player that was expected to get 20 carries and 5 catches a game this year.  He was also slated to be the highest NFL draft pick ever taken from UB with some scouts placing him at the end of the first round.  Subtract that from any team, and you’ve got yourself a giant hole.  Combine that with a quarterback that’s played about 15 snaps ever, and you could have a BIG problem.  UB will turn to Brandon Thermilus and Mario Henry to carry the load this year and both have the experience to get the job done.  But, Starks broke just about every rushing record in school history BEFORE his senior season and a talent like that is tough to replace.  If the depth can’t step up and fill the void, things will very difficult for the offense.

#2 – Playing with Expectations - There are some schools out there that don’t have the strong traditions in college football, that occasionally experience success like Cincinnati is right now.  It’s a whole different game when a school has never had a winning season before, and goes on to be conference champions.  Make no mistake about it, the UB Bulls won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year, especially in conference.  After being the seemingly permanent underdog, now we’ll see what the Bulls look like as the ones with the target on their back.  It’s something that could go either way for a team, either the pressure cooks a team down, or it proves it can compete again, and becomes a legitimate year-to-year conversation.  In the case of a still young UB program, as big as the story book season was last year, a second straight winning season might do more to help in the long run.  It would show recruits that it’s a stable program that can consistently compete, and will go a long way to finally prove to fans that it’s a worthy time/money commitment to support.  It’s the number two story because flat out UB has never had any expectations, so we don’t really know what to expect.

#1 – Replacing Drew Willy - It’s an inevitable thing in college football, you only get a player for so long, so you better make it count.  Drew Willy did just that.  He showed up on campus as a back-up quarterback with some buzz, but at the worst college football program in the country.  He left as the best quarterback in school history, and a program that can call itself champions.  Now the Bulls say thanks… now what?  It’s one thing for a program to replace a long time starter, it’s another to replace the record holder for every major passing category and a leader like Willy.  This, in the end, will be the story of the UB season.  The college game requires the quarterback to be the ultimate game changing player.  In Willy, UB had that.  New QB Zach Maynard might be good, but the bottom line is, we don’t know that yet.  We know he’s mobile and left handed but outside of that it’s a mystery.  The fact that no one knows much about him might be to his advantage in the early season because without tape of his skill set & the UB coaches plans on how they intend to utilize him, the defense will be guessing for a while.  Bottom line, it’s tough to be as good as a long time leader and starter like Willy, especially right out of the gate, but if Maynard experiences growing pains, the Bulls won’t be headed back to a bowl game.

My Week One UB prediction – UB @ UTEP – 9PM – UB’s on the road in Mexico.  Okay, technically El-Paso is in Texas but the Sun Bowl is about 100 yds from the border, so it counts to me.  The Bulls are minus their long time starting QB, their game breaking RB in James Starks, a sophomore QB making his first start, and the crazy heat and humidity of Mexico.  I’m still taking the Bulls.  UB has experience, solid coaching in Turner Gill and will be able to run on UTEP.  Bulls 27-20.  Side note:  UTEP head coach Mike Price casted the lone vote that UB received for the Top 25 poll at the end of last season, despite the fact that they had played 4 months earlier.  You can also remember after the Bulls beat the Miners down hard last season, after the game Price was asked about his upcoming game against #4 Texas the next week and responded by saying, “Well, I hope they’re not as good as Buffalo.”

Keep it here on wnymedia.net as I’ll get some updates up during the games every Saturday from the studio & also don’t forget to tune in to WECK 1230 or WECK1230.com for the game & to call in to get your opinion on the game heard on the Postgame show!!!

Other College Football Notes:

- DO NOT TAKE CAREER ADVISE FROM JEFF JAGODZINSKI!!! - I’ve never seen a guy mess up his career quite like this.  In about 7 months he went from the beloved coach at Boston College that has kept the Eagles competitive in the ACC and had the support of now NFL superstar Matt Ryan to jobless.  After sticking his nose in and campaigning for the vacant NY Jets opening, BC said to just leave and fired him after two winning seasons.  Then he ended up with the Jaguars.  Coach Jags as they called him just got fired as the offensive coordinator position in Jacksonville a week before the opening of the season.  That can’t be good for the resume.

Enjoy the History - For the first time ever, there are two players returning that could win their second Heisman Trophy in Tim Tebow in Florida and Sam Bradford in Oklahoma.  There’s only been one two time winner in Archie Griffin & this might be the best chance for another player to add his name to that list that there will ever be.  {Even though Adrian Peterson should’ve won two and didn’t even win one}  Add in Texas QB Colt McCoy and it will be quite a race.  I thought McCoy should’ve won last year & he’s my pick for this season.  It only seems right that all three players leave with the heavy hardware.

Will Notre Dame Actually Beat Someone This Season? – Honesty first, I do not like Notre Dame.  That aside, this is more than a make or break season for Charlie Weis, it’s just that for the program.  In a rare moment of sympathy for Irish fans, I have to feel for them a bit.  In what felt like the blink of an eye, ND has gone from the mountain top to the valley.  ND fans have to feel like they’ve gone from having season tickets to the Yankees, they get up to get a hot dog, return to their seats and realize that it’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals game.  The ND administration refused to lower the academic standards for football players, and while that is noble, it also saw the rest of the college football world race by.  Plus, in the high pressure recruiting battle, who really wants to choose South Bend, Indiana over say Los Angeles and USC.  Above everything else, they haven’t won a meaningful game against a real team since the Florida State game in the early 90’s. If it’s another mediocre season, it’ll be the finishing point of a fall from grace unseen for a while.  That being said, they have changed their view on scheduling, going with the, if you can’t get raise the play, lower the opponents mind set.  It’s still the same game plan to trick people into thinking they’re capable of competing with real college football teams, get into a BCS game because of attendance figures, then get BLOWN AWAY by an SEC team.

Teams to Watch - Syracuse – I know I’m biased, but you can’t tell me that you’re at least intrigued by the Duke point guard playing quarterback for the Orange.  Greg Paulus will have his hands full on Saturday.  They open the season at home vs. Minnesota @ Noon on ESPN2.

USC – They’re always a team to watch but they’re starting a Freshman at QB for the first time EVER in Matt Barkley.  They play AT Columbus, Ohio in week 2.  The Horseshoe won’t be friendly, especially after the curb stomping that the Buckeyes took last year in LA.

Tennessee – Well, Lane Kiffin hasn’t shut up since becoming the coach.  We’ll see if his team can back up their coaches big mouth.  Hey Lane, have fun at Florida this year.  I bet after that you’ll prefer Al Davis to the angry drunk booster dressed in a bright orange and white checkerboard leisure suit when you get crushed by the Gators.

Georgia – No one even comes close to a schedule this tough. How about games at Oklahoma St., home to Arizona St., and at rival Georgia Tech on top of the SEC schedule.

Georgia Tech – Paul Johnson is a great coach.  I love his old school approach and the old school offense that proves execution and good play calling can beat just about anyone.  The Yellow Jackets may be the ACC Champs this season with an offense right out of the 1950’s.

GAME OF THE YEAR - Red River Rivalry – Texas vs. Oklahoma – I don’t remember the last time that a game this important featured two teams seeking revenge.  Mix that with the pure hate, and it’s a classic.  Remember, Texas beat OU last season on the field (Sooner revenge factor) and Oklahoma still went to the National Championship Game (Longhorn revenge factor).  Two of the final three Heisman candidates, last year’s winner in Bradford, and Colt McCoy are at the helm of the football powerhouses that will play a game that will eventually go a long way to decide the title.  Or, if last year is any indication, it won’t have a factor at all.

Week 1 Picks - #13 Georgia @ #9 Oklahoma St. – 3:30 – ABC – I love the SEC and the overall talent, but Georgia doesn’t have Matt Stafford or Knowshon Moreno any more and the Cowboys return dual threat QB Zac Robinson and future NFL wideout Dez Bryant.  This is the highest preseason ranking for the Cowboys but their coach has the experience to get them through that… after all, he’s a man he’s 40. Ok St. – 30 UGA – 24

Nevada @ #23 Notre Dame – 3:30 – NBC – The Irish looked good in Hawaii to end last season in the Hawaii Bowl.  Nevada runs an unusual offense led by Head Coach Chris Ault.  Wolfpack QB Colin Kaepernick is a star that had just under 3,000 yds passing and 1130 yards on the ground.  Add in two other 1,000 yard rushers and the Irish could be in big trouble.  I think that Nevada’s offense is going to score.  I’ve yet to see if Notre Dame’s can.  Nevada – 28 Irish – 17

#20 BYU vs. #3 Oklahoma – 7 - ESPN – BYU is good, but not this good.  Bradford and the boys will be rolling again and the Cougar defense won’t be able to slow them down.  By the end of the day the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be singing “Boomer Sooner.”  Oklahoma – 48 BYU – 21

Maryland @ #12 California – 10 – ESPN2 – Cal went east last year and laid a gigantic egg in the land of crab cakes.  Of course Maryland didn’t help their visitors with a noon kickoff time (9am PST).  Cal’s a favorite to win the Pac-10 this year and the jet lag gets to flip to the turtle this year as kickoff is at 10pm EST.  Bears always beat Terps.  Cal runs for 280 yards on the ground and wins.  Cal – 35 Maryland – 17

#5 Alabama vs. #7 Virginia Tech – 8 – ABC – It doesn’t get much bigger than this.  Beamer vs. Saban.  The Hokies will rely on QB Tyrod Taylor who can run and throw.  But ‘Bama has game breakers all over the field starting with WR Julio Jones, the human mountain at DT Terrence Cody, and LB Rolando McClain.  The latter two returning All-Americans.  Coming off of two straight losses to end the season last year, losing to Florida in the SEC title game to miss the BCS title game, and an embarassing loss in the Sugar Bowl to Utah, Nick Saban will have his team ready to go.  Defense rules the day but the Tide have just enough.  Tide – 20 Hokies – 15

Blowout Alert – Charleston Southern @ #1 Florida - Are you serious?  At least Charleston will have the great fortune of being in the presence of the great Tim Tebow… Even if it is just for the short time period he runs by them for a touchdown. UF – 77 Ch. Southern – 8

Upset Alert – Louisiana Tech @ Auburn – The Tigers were struggling last season, now they’ve got a coach in Gene Chizik that has a terrible record as a head coach (5-19 at Iowa State).  La. Tech was 8-5 last year and won a bowl game.  And they opened last season by defeating Mississippi State, so the SEC mystique shouldn’t phase them.  Mix in the Tigers with new coaches, new schemes, and you’ve got yourself an upset.  La Tech – 24 Auburn – 21

Talk to everyone again soon & thanks for reading – scottonweck@gmail.com