Reflecting on UConn

Obviously the game didn’t turn out how we wanted, but we have to learn from our mistakes and move on.   After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter we clawed our way back in the second quarter by playing consistently well and showing glimpses of the kind of football we are striving to play week in and week out.  Unfortunately, we could not continue to pressure UConn in the second half and have now fallen to 1-3 on the season.  Clearly not where we wanted to be after 4 games but as usual we used the next 24 hours to look at our mistakes and turn our attention to Bowling Green which will mark the start of our conference schedule. 

Our conference opener essentially means the start of a brand new season. As coach Quinn said, our out of conference schedule is over and we learned a lot about our team.  Now it's time to move on and prepare for the MAC. Our two team goals are still intact; Graduate with a degree and win the MAC Championship.

Go Bulls

#13 & #39 

Game Time Bulls

The physical preparation is complete with our “shake out” at Rentschler Field on Friday afternoon and now all that is left is to mentally prepare for the game and visualize executing the plays.  The team is under no illusions how big this challenge will be, but the week of practice has been solid and now its time to play this great game.

Senior defensive lineman Anel Montanez (74) is a Connecticut local and as such is expecting more than 50 family and friends at the game.  As one of the captains this week we can expect Anel to give that little bit extra than his usual all out effort.  The other two captains are senior linebacker Raphael Akobundu (51) and sophomore quarterback Jerry Davis (4).

For those Bulls fans not able to make the journey to Connecticut the game is being telecast on ESPN3.  Further details about where fans can view the game can be found at buffalobulls.com.

Go Bulls!

#13 & #39

Perseverance is the Key

First and foremost we want to let all Bulls fans know that Big O (Matt Ostrowski) is recovering well from surgery to his broken leg and is in high spirits.

The game obviously didn’t pan out the way we wanted too and the only solution for that is to get back and work even harder, in the film room, at practice and in the weight room.  Don’t despair Bulls fans this team is resilient and has plenty of character.  We must simply deliver and preserver through this adversity.

We got the week started off on the right foot on Monday by having what we called the “Compete Bowl”. The “Compete Bowl” was a scrimmage that we had between the offensive compete team and the defensive compete team. The offensive and defensive graduate assistant coaches called the plays. It was a great opportunity for some of the younger guys to show what they are made of. The future looks bright with many plays made on both sides of the ball.  It was also good for the team to lift our spirits and get us excited for this week’s opportunity to get back on the right track and beat UConn.

Intense Tuesday and Workin Wednesday are in the books and the preparation is

Go Bulls!

#13 and #39

Learn and Move On

By the time the plane touched down at Buffalo airport not only was it 5am on Sunday morning and the end of a long day but we had already switched our focus to improving and our next opponent; Central Florida.  Losses are always disappointing but the most disappointing thing about this game would be if we didn’t learn from our mistakes and correct them for this week.

After the short bus ride from the airport to UB Stadium on Sunday we immediately had medical checks and then we were allowed to go home and get some sleep.

Monday began the physical process of preparing for UCF with our normal heavy lift in the morning followed by film review and our “shake out” team run.

Tuesday was the first of our full pad practices and you could tell the team was determined to get back on track from the beginning of practice when Davonte Shannon got the team mentally locked in with some “enthusiastic words of encouragement” some of which can’t be reprinted.  During the special teams portion of the practice the coaches decided to dip the footballs in water to simulate wet conditions and see how the snapper’s holders and punters would cope.  It was an interesting exercise and just one more example of doing the little things to prepare for every possible situation.  The team completed the 24 period practice and thus concluded “Intense Tuesday.”

With this being the first time we have had a “normal” week (ie Sat to Sat game) we get the chance to redeem ourselves quickly and get back to playing Buffalo style football.

This week UB is celebrating International Night and if fans feel the need to get an Australian flavor to their body painting, signs or chants it won’t go unnoticed.  Also don’t forget to join the team at 4:30pm for our “Walk to Victory,” for more details go to Buffalobulls.com and click on the football page.

Go Bulls

#13 & #39

Deep in the Heart of Texas

The season has finally started and it was decided that “Kickin It” will continue throughout the season, so keep the questions coming.

Whilst the team has put the season opening win over Rhode Island behind us and focused on Baylor from the Big XII Conference since last Friday, we did want to take this opportunity to thank all the fans that turned out last Thursday night, especially the True Blue student section, which was tremendous.  Over the last few years here at UB the student secion has grown rapidly and become a pivotal part of creating a hostile environment for visiting teams whilst also energizing the Bulls.

This week at practice we focused in on the areas that needed improvement and locked in on our game plan for Baylor.  The temperature dropped dramatically from the previous week and will provide one more challenge as the mercury in Baylor is supposed to reach over 90 degrees.  Just one more challenge for the team, but one we are ready for as the training staff has been ensuring we are constantly hydrating.

Travelling to Texas will be a homecoming for eight Bulls who will be leading the charge for the rest of the team to follow and we are under no illusions as to how big this challenge will be but one that everyone is looking forward to.

With the game being in the heart of Texas, meant a little longer flight than most of the players were used to. Some of the guys on the team like flying more than others. It’s funny to see the players who don’t like flying and their different emotions and reactions during the flight.  It was a successful flight nonetheless as we arrived safely in Waco and had our day before the game walkthrough on the field in preparation for tomorrow.

We would like to make a shout out to our roommate and teammate Raphael Akobundu who is celebrating his 22^nd birthday today. Not that we need it, but it will add a little inspiration for tomorrows game.

Go Bulls

Game week Begins

Thursday was the official end of preseason camp and after morning meetings and lifting, we had lunch in the dorms for the last time and it was great to see the new students moving into the dorms and we hope that they all attend the welcome BBQ tomorrow and our home opener next Thursday.  This is a personal invitation to all students to pack the True Blue section of the stadium and get loud.

At 7pm the team started the last official scrimmage of camp under the new bright lights at UB Stadium.  It was a scrimmage that focused on every possible situation that could occur during the course of a game.  This included surprise onside kicks, blocked kicks and punts, penalties, sudden changes, fakes, big plays and overtime.  The team is confident that no matter what a game or opposition throws at us we will be prepared for it.

Tomorrow the team has most of the day off with our only team activity being our attendance at the Welcome BBQ.  It will be a chance to mingle with our newest fans and get them excited for the upcoming season.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as we have enjoyed writing it.  There is a chance that we may continue it into the regular season if there is enough interest.

GO BULLS!!!!!!

The Wait is Almost Over

In our previous blog we forgot to mention our team building activity that occurred on Sunday night.  We held our UB’s Got Talent night which allowed players a chance to get up in front of their teammates and entertain them.  We had some great impersonations of Coach Quinn, Coach Jones and strength Coach Duval.  Also there was the always popular look alike Powerpoint presentation. 

Intense Tuesday kicked off with our usual meetings and lifting sessions followed by lunch and our afternoon practice.  Tuesday also saw the first practice with our “Scout Team”. The scout team is the group of players that are assigned to give the starters and immediate back-ups a look of what the opposing team will run. The scout team is very important to give a good look and prepare the starters for the upcoming game.  So the Rhode Island preparations are now in full swing and we are moving ever closer to the September 2^nd home opener. After practice, another great team dinner was had on the concourse of the stadium and followed by more meetings.  When camp finishes, it will be strange to have to prepare meals again for ourselves. We are getting kind of used to having it ready for us right after practice.

Working Wednesday came and went and mirrored both Monday and Tuesday in terms of the schedule and it will be great to have camp officially close tomorrow with our first scrimmage under the new lights.  That will mark exactly one week til the kick off of the 2010 season and the first under Coach Quinn.  Fans you better be getting “PUMPED UP” for it because your team is prepared and ready to unleash itself on Rhode Island and the rest of the 2010 schedule.