The Breakfast of Champions is Actually Swim Practice

At this time of year, many friends and teams opt to participate in a “Secret Santa” gift exchange. The State University of New York at Buffalo’s Women’s Swimming and Diving team don’t do this, though, because they’ve already been doing a “Secret Sister” since the beginning of the year. This fun and supportive exchange amongst teammates will continue until the MAC Championship Meet, when the identity of their “sister” is revealed. At the beginning of each year, team member draw the name of another teammate from a hat. This name becomes their year-long “project”. Before meets, they can make their “secret sister” posters, buy them small gifts, or get more creative in order to motivate them through the often weekend-long meets. “It's just a fun way to get excited for meets and it's a good way to learn new things about our teammates,” shares a senior member of the team.  In addition to this fun tradition, these athletes draw focus and motivation from each other each day at practice, even if they don’t have much time to chat during their sets. From fall until March, these ladies are focused on giving their best every day, which starts on their “rough double days” with an alarm at approximately 5:30 a.m. so they can be in the water ready to swim at 6. Classes and school work follow, and then they proceed to dry land practice for a half an hour, concluding with a two hour swim to end their physical training for the day. Despite the physical fatigue that such long days brings, the women describe their long season as “great” because it leaves them plenty of time to prepare for MAC Championships.

The work is undoubtedly difficult, but these women see results from their physical labors, describing the highlights of their season as being some of their toughest meets. After the Snowvember storm, the women arrived to their meet in Cleveland after missing a day of competition. Despite this, the women share that “the coaches did a great job of preparing [them] and staying calm,” so the team was able to give many season best times and a handful of lifetime best performances. They also attribute much of their success to the influence of their captains, who “guide them to be better in and out of the pool.”   Such quality leadership is what helped these swimmers and divers at an invitational earlier this season to defeat Akron, the reigning MAC Champions from last year. They share, “it came down to the last relay so the whole meet was close,” but the Bulls stayed strong and came out on top. The early season success has this team, and its fans, optimistic and excited. “The hardest training of the season is coming up soon,” reports one swimmer. “As long as we keep up the training we’ve been doing, we definitely have a shot at the MAC title this year.” This talented and focused group of women has a very special team this year, and everyone is excited to see what they can do with the second half of their season!

To continue following the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team in their quest for a MAC title, and to hear about our other talented teams, Like the Bulls Pride Facebook Page. Also, be sure to Follow @UB_BullsPride on both Instagram and Twitter.

Aqua Bulls Make The Pool Their Stomping Ground

If you’ve been to a UB athletics event, it’s more than likely that you have seen and heard the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team. This group of men has a ton of school spirit, and they make their presence known both in the water and on dry land. One team member discussed the team’s involvement in AFA’s and support of other teams, saying that as a “low attendance sport” they understand how helpful it can be to see other students in the crowd. They are almost always in attendance to support other teams, and beyond that, they are vocal at the events. At the Volleyball AFA, the boys wore grass skirts to honor the Hawaiian theme and then painted their chests. There was so much interest in participating that, one swimmer jokes, “we had to add a couple exclamation points at the end.” The participation in both AFA’s and community service are attributed to strong leadership. “Our captains and SAAC reps help to motivate us,” the team shared, which is so necessary when a team has the crazy schedule that Swimming and Diving does. The majority of their week day mornings are started in the icy pool water at their six a.m. practices. Later in the day, the team is back in the pool for their second practice of the day, and in between those two they have weight room sessions. Their competition season begins when they arrive for the fall semester and they compete until the MAC Competition in March. One of the athletes shared that, although they are technically “off” from March through the summer, it is “almost impossible to improve without year-long preparation.”

It’s obvious that these men have not failed to prepare year-round. Although a slow start to a meet led the Bulls to fall in the tri-team competition against both Army and Michigan State, the swimmers and divers did not adopt a defeated attitude. Instead, they came in strong at their meet against McMaster’s University, winning almost every event. The positive, confident, competitive attitude that each team member exhibited that day gives hope to all the men on the roster. They are already looking forward to MACs in the spring, with their sights set on Missouri State, who won the Conference last year. Their most recent meet in Cleveland was another dominant performance, showing the potential that these athletes have to place first come March. Although a snowstorm set them back a day, the Bulls went in, again, with their champion mindset and had numerous top ten program times and meet records. Swimming and Diving requires a lot of mental and physical strength, and it can be difficult to stay focused and motivated over such a long training season. The men of UB’s Swimming and Diving team have done a phenomenal job of keeping each other optimistic and training hard, and the results are evident in the water. With such fantastic performances in the first half of their season, it’s difficult to imagine our Aqua Bulls leaving the MAC Conference Meet without lots of gold hanging from their necks.

To stay up-to-date on the successes of the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, and to hear all about our other athletic programs, Like the Bulls Pride page on Facebook and Follow @UB_BullsPride on Instagram.

Leadership Leads To Championships

In this new era of UB Athletics, we are seeing a large focus of energy on striving to reach the next level of success as athletes. This year, our fall sports have all stepped up to accomplish new feats, and the Volleyball team overcame adversity to accomplish some remarkable successes. From their impressive pre-season wins of both the USF and UIC tournaments to their trip to the MAC Tournament, these ladies were relentless all season long. One of the biggest challenges that the Volleyball Team faced this season was its youth. Although these young players are indisputably talented, “down the stretch of games we had some situations where experienced players had the upper hand,” adding a challenge at the end of what are already extremely difficult matches. The transition to a college sport is a hard one, especially when the team refers to their athlete status as a full time job. They say the time commitment becomes much more than what their coach requires of them. The little things they do on their own to remain one of the most competitive teams in the Conference add up, and “you can't just turn your brain off when the game or practice is over”. As a freshman at a Division 1 level, this can be overwhelming.

To counter this disadvantage, the older ladies on the team have had to step up their leadership roles. This means more responsibility, but it also affords the seasoned veterans a chance to shape mature, savvy, successful competitors that will represent UB for the next three years. The captains take this job seriously, focusing on being positive and thus spreading positivity both on and off the court. Their leadership seems to have helped the younger players, who they say have done an excellent job of “stepping up and working hard in their roles”. There is no doubt this is true, since the team competed this past weekend in the MAC Tournament. None of the girls on the team had ever been before, so, despite having to leave a day early in order to ensure a timely arrival due to weather, these girls were thrilled to have the experience. These athletes are “starting a tradition of going every year and competing,” which makes the team very proud. Their competitive and exciting play has drawn larger and larger numbers of student athletes to games over the past few years, one team member has noticed. This year’s Volleyball team boasts higher attendance, elevated success on the court, a phenomenal coach, motivated leaders, and talented players. When you take all of these factors into consideration, it is no wonder the team is one of the best in school history. It has been exciting watching this team work to raise themselves to a new level this year, and the leadership is undoubtedly going to lead to championships.

To learn more about the Volleyball team’s season, or to hear about our other athletic team successes, Like the Bulls Pride page on Facebook. Also, Follow @UB_BullsPride on Twitter and Instagram. 

Balancing Books and Breaking Records

All student athletes understand that competing for a Division One team will not be easy, and each sport entails unique challenges. Being a member of one of the most recognized teams on campus carries with it several obstacles of its own. A few of Buffalo’s football players discussed the toughest aspects of wearing their uniform, as well as the parts that make the sport worth every minute. “Being in the spot light, there is a lot of pressure. You have a lot of people looking up to you, so we have to work really hard every day to make sure we are good role models,” says one player. Their practices are right in the middle of the day, making it difficult to schedule classes. “We have to either do classes really early or really late,” they reported, since the middle part of their day is spent reviewing film, going over the playbook, in the weight room, and out on the field. They do balance their school work, but admit that it is extremely difficult. At this point in the school year, there is a lot of studying and work to be done, and they have several mid-week games. Missing classes, especially this late in the semester, can be stressful. They shared, too, that there is an added pressure to maintain both academic and athletic excellence since “pretty much everything we do is visible to everyone and talked about”.  As football players, these guys are not only working towards excellence, but also battling the “student-athlete stigma”. One player shares that people tend to judge him before getting to know him, sometimes perceiving him as arrogant or disinterested when really, he is just exhausted from his taxing sport.  

All of the football players agreed that they are one of the most active teams in the community. These men spend a great deal of time in Buffalo’s schools, speaking with young kids about the discipline it takes to secure a roster spot. They encourage these youth to work hard and stay on the “right” path. They’ve worked hard and earned everything they’ve received, and they hope to pass that attitude along to the future of their sport. Many of these college athletes had the opportunity to hear from collegiate players when they were young, and they say the motivation and inspiration gained from the experience still helps to drive them today. The valuable insight that was passed on to our current football players was “incredibly helpful” in keeping them working hard over the years, they share, and so they think of it as their responsibility to give back in the same way. This combination of community service, athletic drive, and academic discipline makes the members of this team some of the best-rounded on campus and drives their success.  Just this past week, quarterback Joe Licata broke the record for most career touchdown passes, and the team recorded its most points scored against a MAC opponent since its entry into the Conference 15 years ago. The men on this team are extremely talented and, although they close their season on Wednesday, they are optimistic about their future. With the fantastic mindset and focus each interviewed player displayed this week, along with the talent of these players, we can’t help but be optimistic as well.

To keep up with this team in the off season, and to stay up-to-date on our other teams, like our Bulls Pride page on Facebook and follow @UB_BullsPride on Instagram and Twitter.

Strength in Numbers, Success Through Unity

If ever a sport was a mind game, cross country would be the one. Runners are always being told that they must be crazy to enjoy their sport, and UB’s Women’s Cross Country Team doesn’t deny their unique mindset. They say that the toughest aspect of their sport is that the largest barrier they face is not their ability but rather their minds. In a race of hundreds of girls, most are in near equal physical shape and have the ability to race as well as the others lined up next to them. However, miles of racing can mentally affect each one differently. Lactic acid builds up in each competitor’s legs, but the ones who succeed are the ones who don’t let it faze them. Once the fatigue sets in, the key to a great race is keeping the mind stronger than the body. It can seem like it is the individual against the course, but that’s where this women’s team has created an advantage. Their biggest improvement from last year, they shared, is that the training groups they have in practice have stayed close together during races. When one member of the pack starts to fade during a race, it is a huge help to have a few teammates around to latch on to and help pull her through that moment of mental weakness. In addition to this, they say that their pack of bulls can be daunting to opponents, breaking their competition down. The Buffalo girls certainly do not lack mental prowess, last year earning the second highest GPA out of all 18 athletic teams. This year, they hope their balance of work during and outside of practice will help them to clinch the top spot.

“The sport is ever growing and to be on top you always have to do more,” one runner shared. With many of these girls averaging near or over 60 miles of running per week, it is hard to imagine increasing intensity or mileage, and yet this team is always up for a challenge. “It’s not fun when it’s easy. We’re all extremely hard workers, and we embrace challenges.” These girls are certainly being challenged constantly, but their results this season have shown how well they respond to these challenges. Each returner has improved her times significantly, and every race the pack has been moving up in the scoring. The team made an appearance in the regional rankings for the first time in several years, and they look forward to continuing to improve in their Regional competition this coming weekend as well as throughout their track seasons. Each day, these ladies give their all to their training, and each day they have a little more to give. There is no doubt that these dedicated, relentless women have even more accomplishments in their near future.

To see results from this weekend's meet, and to keep up with all the athletics teams, like our Bulls Pride page on Facebook and follow UB_BullsPride on Instagram and Twitter.

These Bulls Are Running The Show

Many people think of Cross Country as a black sheep kind of sport. In many ways, this sport is very different from all of the others. Men's Cross Country embraces that aspect of the sport along with the rest of it. They are the only athletes at this university, aside from Women's Cross Country, who have their name on three different rosters. They have a fall competition season, an Indoor Track and Field season, and an Outdoor Track and Field season. With three MAC Championships throughout the year, "training pretty much stays at the same intensity all year." This means they have no off season, and they travel all through both the fall and spring semesters. They even come back early from winter break to travel and train for their winter competition season. The men admit that this makes it difficult to have time to balance their work intensive majors with athletics, but share that as an athlete, they feel as though this year round, high intensity training helps them to improve their abilities much faster. Although our team is improving so quickly, they say that the biggest misconception about the sport is that it is easy. The sport of cross country requires the athlete to break down his body every day all year long, "and then come back the next day expecting to do the exact same thing." They get as few mental breaks as they do physical breaks, so battling physical and mental fatigue is a daily task. From eight mile long workouts (not including the warm up and cool down miles) to two hour weekly long runs, the men stress that their training is by no means easy.


As different as their demands may be, the Men's Cross Country Program is like the other athletic programs here in its success. This team is indisputably on the rise, and with no seniors on the current roster, this talented young team is ready to keep climbing. Last year, the program had a milestone in Zach Ahart's MAC Cross Country Championship win, becoming the first male in school history to accomplish this feat. This year, the men ran their way to the highest regional program ranking in school history, and they had some stellar performances this past weekend at their MAC Championships, taking fourth place. With the talent each team member possesses, the close knit bond these teammates share, and the experience they've gained this year, the team looks forward to their Regional meet in two weeks, as well as the amazing accomplishments they know lie ahead. Cross Country may seem difficult to understand, but the discipline, work ethic, and current and future successes of this team are plain to see.

To stay up to date on the Men's Cross Country Team and all of our other teams, like our Bulls Pride page on Facebook, an follow UB_BullsPride on Twitter and Instagram.

If You Want to Know What Champoins Do, Just Ask These Women

UB's Women's Soccer Team is on the same page this morning, but that is nothing new. Their excitement at securing their spot as top in the MAC is shared by all, and yet their determination to earn higher honors is even more apparent in each team member. "As a team we are driven and determined to exceed everyone's expectations and be the best team that has ever stepped in to UB Stadium," says one girl. You would be hard pressed to find an athlete on campus who hasn't noticed the incredible work of these women. They make it a point to build not only themselves, but other athletic programs. They say that they've noticed how much it can help to have a crowd cheering during a game, and they hope to be able to provide that to every team here by attending as many athletic events as their schedule allows. In addition, spending the extra time together at these events has helped to build their team camaraderie. This confidence in one another, they report, has helped to increase their confidence in themselves. "Knowing that every girl next to you has your back and is not only playing for themselves but for the team as a whole . . . is what drives us." These ladies admit they were nervous about their chance at success this year due to a coaching change after last season. Now, though, they rave about how close knit they are as a team and how vital the coaching staff has been to their mindset, work ethics, and ultimate success.


Being successful at a D1 level is certainly not easy, and these athletes face some hardships. As one of the most active teams on campus, time management is essential. Morning practices means a reasonable bedtime is a must in order to practice at the level that is demanded. Most days, after practice, are devoted to studying and homework so that these ladies can stay at the top academically as well. Because they sometimes miss classes in order to travel and compete, some weeks are "catch-up" weeks where the school workload can seem overwhelming. "Being a division one athlete requires you to be on the clock all day long," because in addition to practices, athletes who want to be successful generally do treatment on their own time, meet with coaches, attend mandatory study hours, and constantly monitor themselves to make sure they stay in top condition and make the "right" choices. Despite the expansive list of demands placed upon these athletes, they wouldn't trade the opportunity to represent the University for the world. Although many people don't understand the level of commitment required at this level, that doesn't matter to this team. The love they have for the sport, and that they have for their teammates and staff, makes the difficult parts bearable and the successes all the more special. These girls share trust, determination, tenacity, and a hunger for success that makes us all certain that the best is yet to come.


See more about these women and our other incredible athletes by following UB_BullsPride on Instagram and Twitter and like the Bulls Pride page on Facebook.

A Closer Look at Men's Soccer

Our Men’s Soccer team is into their MAC play, and hopefully a lot of our students, student-athletes, and fans have been out to watch them at some point this season. According to several team members, they have been dominating their games as far as better quality chances go. The results in non-Conference play haven’t been what the team hoped for this season, but they are encouraged by their MAC play this season. They have stayed tough through double overtime in both of their MAC Conference play games so far to snag two draws, giving them 2 points and seating them fourth in Conference play. Both games have included a surge late in the game to keep them in contention and ultimately earn them two 1-point draws. 

It isn’t easy to keep strong the entire 90 minute game, especially with the double overtimes making the game a total of 110 minutes. “People don’t realize how physically draining it is. It is literally an hour and a half of constant running with the guarantee that you will get tackled on several occasions in that time.” The men say that the heat on the field varies by team, but it is always there to some degree. “Guys say pretty personal things,” they told me. “It can get dirty; people definitely underestimate the physicality of [the sport].” Perhaps it is this underlying brutality that makes soccer the number one watched and played sport in the world. 

So why the late-season improvements? The players attribute this success to “clicking” better on the field and being the kind of men who play better in higher pressure situations. The team agrees that having each other is rewarding and a key element that keeps them going during these games. They are optimistic about their chances to make it into the MAC Tournament this year. It would be the first time they entered the tournament in several years. They play a non-Conference game on Tuesday at UB Stadium and a hugely important Conference game this Saturday at Niagara University at 8:30 p.m. They report that a crowd “most definitely” helps them to elevate their level of play. Fans, if you can make it to the game, you could help this team as they give it their all; a win on Saturday gives the team a great chance of competing in the MAC Tournament. 

To see more about UB Athletics, like the Bulls Pride page on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @UB_BullsPride

Small Steps Toward Big Success

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” The sooner you commit to a goal, the more time you have to develop it and the more likely you are to achieve it. Regardless of your season of competition, it isn’t too late or too early to plan for success. As a student athlete, especially entering Week 8 of classes, it can be far too easy to lose sight of what we’re working for athletically. With multiple mid-terms in one week, practice intensity increasing, internships, fall festivals, and everything else going on, the little things can fall by the wayside. Rest is important for everyone, athletes especially. Maybe the 8 hours we were getting in August seems impossible now. We may be tempted to stay up late studying, or need to stay up later studying because we wasted time earlier in the day. Maybe while we’re up late, we drink coffee (more than usual) and thus have elevated caffeine and sugar levels which can further hinder the rest we get. These little things are hardly noticeable, but they can have a big impact on performance. We all have big outcome and performance goals, I’m sure. Maybe it’s to finish a certain number in the MAC (outcome goal), or to run a certain time or attain a certain personal statistic throughout the season (performance goal). These are only dreams, however, until we know our process goals. Process goals are the small efforts that we can do daily in order to perform our best. These could pertain to sleep, nutrition, mental toughness, daily ways to enhance your training, or anything else you need to succeed. Having these posted somewhere, maybe in your room or as the screensaver of your phone, can allow you to re-center yourself mid-day or at night when you’re tempted to have an extra snack or to spend an extra hour awake. College life can be overwhelming, and the added responsibilities of being a student athlete can definitely wear you down. Having predetermined goals, and seeing them every day, can really help to keep you focused and willing to work hard. When you know what you’re training for, who you’re training to be, it can often stop feeling like work.

Hear more about UB athletics on our social media sites. Like our Bulls Pride Facebook page and follow @UB_BullsPride on Instagram and Twitter.

Team Love is True Love

Athlete life in college certainly has its perks. We get first pick of classes behind the honors students (to accommodate our practice schedule), the gear we receive is top of the line, and we attract the interest of more fans than ever before. One of the coolest things we gain through collegiate athletics, though, is the people working alongside us. It can be difficult to find people on campus with the same discipline, focus, mindset, and goals. Most Division 1 athletes are crazy high achievers and perfectionists who constantly demand the very best of themselves. Your classes may not be full of people who operate the same way (those kids who come to class but sit on their phones the whole time?), but the rosters are composed of many people who are constantly in attack mode. We go to class ready to focus. We understand the importance of time management and balancing classroom success with athletic success. When that’s stressing us out, we have all of our teammates who can relate 100% and offer their support and sympathy. When we need to de-stress, our teammates are ready to drive us to our favorite place and tell jokes or sing along (out of tune) to the radio and just really make us laugh. If we need to cry after a bad athletic or school performance, they know exactly what to do, and they do it without judging or badgering us. They see us in our crazy moods and on our ugliest days, and yet they are always there to reassure us of how wonderful we are, inside and out. When we think there is no way we can do something, our team is there to build us up and help us conquer whatever barrier lies in our way. It is truly a special bond, and one that cannot be found anywhere else. We compete against each other sometimes, and we may fight, but we all know that every single person on your team would have your back in a split second should you ever need anything. This week, be sure to step back and look at how much your team gives you, and make sure you are giving that much and more back to them. After all, they aren’t just your teammates but your family, and the bonds we form now are lifelong.

Managing Mid-Semester

Is it really the end of September? Already? If you’re like most college athletes, you have a pretty rigorous schedule. Maybe, like myself, you hardly noticed the time passing. It’s as though you woke up today and suddenly it is mid-season, mid-terms are rolling around, you can’t seem to find enough time to accomplish everything you need to, and you’re thoroughly frazzled. It’s surprisingly easy to become overwhelmed and lose your focus. As we near this mid-semester point, though, it is important to remind ourselves and our teammates and friends that there is a greater picture here. There are a lot of resources available to us to de-stress. The Health and Wellness office in the Student Union offers short massages, stress management tips, healthy snacks, and more. Dog therapy is generally offered several times a semester. Tutors and mentors are available upon request. As student athletes, we have access to the amazing athletics staff, which includes Kellie Pieper. She is a Sports Psychologist who can help you with any issue, whether it is a sports concern, a school issue, or a personal thing. We have team members who are likely willing to help us through the stress, as well. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help. So many of us are used harnessing our inner strength, which is fantastic. However, if we are continuously expending all of this energy and internalizing everything, the stress will catch up to us eventually. Every Division One athlete has an inner warrior, but we also have a whole team full of people just as strong as we are. Not everyone can make that claim, so we may as well utilize these resources. Never be afraid to voice your concerns to others – often the person will be able to relate and offer advice to remedy the problem. Take short study breaks to do something you enjoy, and believe me, you will make it through this!

Under Pressure

The pressure as an athlete, whether collegiate or professional, can be immense. Training, time management, making sure to sleep and eat properly, and keeping your nose clean are all part of the job. In addition, college athletes must maintain the proper GPA, worry about performance in order to maintain a roster spot and scholarship, try to have some sort of social life, and attend seminars or internships or anything that can additionally grow them as a person. I know some people think anyone could do it, but it really is extremely challenging and stressful. Beyond that, we have people examining us constantly. We must be wary of our social media use and make sure everything we do is cleared by compliance. Whether you are a member of a money-generating team or not, the pressure and goals are the same. You had better believe that every team is packed full of athletes working their tails off. Sometimes we may feel the regular student body doesn’t understand all of our responsibilities. It’s worse when we feel other teams at this University don’t give us credit. Many people lack respect for other sports because “they could never do what we do”. Yes, I doubt a 280 pound football player is going to do very well if you throw him into a cross country workout. In the same respect, a 110 pound distance runner won’t fare very well as a defensive end. We need both of these people, though, in their respective areas if we have any chance at those MAC Championships we want to be winning.  It’s not about the competition between the sports here at UB, but the unity. As student-athletes, it is up to us to represent our school, our team, and ourselves in a positive light. Cheering at other sporting events or asking a member of another team how their competition or training has been going can really help to bring us together, as well as bringing us closer to success.  It is much easier to push through the physical and mental exhaustion when a group of your peers is rooting you on. My challenge to you this week, then, is to not just attend the AFA but to be vocal at the event. Maybe get a group to go to the Rowing event the next morning and cheer them on as well. We’re full of talent here; every athlete deserves your full respect and support. The only way to elevate the State University of New York at Buffalo is to lift the other teams up with us as we rise to the top. Success of an individual person or team means hardly anything. We are interested in universal success, and it starts with your success in supporting others.

Reasons You Should...

This week, we have another SAAC body meeting! We had FANTASTIC participation and attendance at our first meeting, and we look forward to even more this week. If you’re not an official rep, that doesn't mean you shouldn't join us. Actually, if you have the availability to do so, you probably should. In case you need more convincing (as I’m sure some of you may), I've compiled a list of great reasons why I should see you all on Wednesday. Without further ado, here it is!

Reasons to attend this week’s SAAC Meeting:

1)      It is at the Newman Center for the first time this year. The meeting starts at seven, buuut if you come at about 6 pm, you can get free food. For anybody who hasn't been there, the Newman Center serves dinner every Wednesday to the community. It’s all home-cooked by the amazing parish members and it is all DELICIOUS! This week they will be serving home-made Polish sausage and side dishes, so if you miss out on this you will probably be super sad and you only have yourself to blame.

2)      We have a ton of awesome activities going on this year! Until you give it a chance, it’s hard to know what SAAC can do for you. Jesse has worked SO hard to plan out the coolest community service activities, and if you don’t know about them it’s difficult to be involved in them. Once you see what they are, though, you’ll want to participate. Don’t miss out on all the fun by being uninformed!

3)      The E-Board is pretty cool. And we’ll talk with you. And then you’ll feel extra cool. Who doesn't want to be extra cool? 

4)      You get to let out your inner artist and be super creative because we are making posters! If you’re not very artistic, don’t worry. Neither am I. Yet I’ll still try to make a poster because sometimes it’s good to laugh at ourselves and be out of our comfort zone (ahh like in last week’s blog? Yes, just like that. Great connection. See? You are creative, being able to make that connection.).  

5)      The E-Board does not contain the only cool people in the room. There will be tons of super awesome athletes there who you can laugh with and make friends with. They’re great and together you and your new athlete friend can be way great and why wouldn't you want to be way great?

6)      Lastly, you can earn Bulls Pride. Remember my challenge from last week’s blog? If not, that’s okay! Read it right now and then if you do what it says you can help boost your team to the prize money reward at the end of the year. What? You earn money for your team through Bulls Pride? See what you miss when you don’t come to SAAC meeting?!

There! I hope you are all thoroughly convinced and that I see your sunshine faces on Wednesday at 6 or at least at 7! Last note-don’t forget to bring your completed Bulls Pride logs.  Happy Monday and GO BULLS!

Stepping Out

How many times have you heard it from your coaches? "Push; if you're not uncomfortable, you're not doing it right!" That is pretty great training advice, but as we all know, we learn things from our sports that help us beyond the competition area. Stepping outside of your "normal" and trying new things can be strange at first, but it definitely pays off. Many of us are settled into the school "groove" at this point. We've established a bit of a routine. Many of us spend a majority of our time with our teammates. We see them at practice, often we live together. There are 18 Varsity sports programs here at SUNY at Buffalo. How many people from other teams have you met? How many names have you learned and remembered? How many games/competitions have you attended? These other teams are just as busy as you are. They are people of the highest quality. Although they may spend their practice time in the pool while you're on the turf, you have more in common that you think. Don't believe me? Go watch them compete. They've got the same grit and drive that you possess. There have been SO many competitions this year already. If you haven't attended a single sporting event yet, you're missing out. There is a crazy useful website http://www.ubbulls.com/landing/index where all the sports teams are listed. There are links to every single schedule for every single team. If you're not going to support the other members of this school who tough it out day in and day out like yourself, you miss seeing awe-inspiring things like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgC9XS7DAU
How about the unbeaten Women's Soccer team? Have you see those XC runners running on pure guts?
How about UB Volleyball traveling to USF to show them how we do it in NY? (They won by the way).

Or our footballers scoring 22 points in the 4th quarter against Army to nearly take the game?


Yeah, you're team is the coolest and it might seem easier to spend all of your time with them as opposed to being slightly uncomfortable and interacting with new people (scary, right?). In the end, though, you have limited time here. There are so many other people from all over the world on other teams (and, believe it or not, some NARPS can even make great friends) who can make a huge impact on you, if only you give them the chance.  My challenge to you is to use the time between now and the next SAAC meeting (September 24) to befriend an athlete from a different team. Bring them to the next meeting (whether they're a SAAC Rep or not!), come introduce yourselves to me at the beginning of the meeting, and then sit together. MAJOR Bulls Pride points and respect to you for going out of your comfort zone and being part of something bigger.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day everyone! Labor Day… that’s kind of a weird holiday to think about. We get a day off at the very beginning of the school year. No classes, maybe grill out with some friends. What did we do to earn this glorious late summer day to do with what we will? Well, since pre-season started two weeks ago and almost all of the UB student athletes trained the entire summer, I like to think maybe that is part of why we are gifted a low stress day. Face it – we work very hard. If we want to keep the roster spot, we must earn it. Of 14,473,884 undergraduate college students in the United States, just 139,063 of them are Division 1 athletes. That is roughly 1% of the college population. Just 1%. Yeah, those early morning practices are sometimes the last thing we want to think about. The burning muscles during practices and the sore ones after. Seeing all the other kids eating way too much dessert at D-Hall and fighting with all your will power to restrain yourself. Doing assignments way in advance because you travel the date they’re due. Having the chance to go see a new movie but instead being in bed at a decent hour because, well, that early morning practice I mentioned earlier is still there. Whether you rest or not, that alarm clock is still going off and you don’t have the luxury of hitting snooze. But then you get to that awful practice and your best friend (and also your teammate) is there to make fun of you for looking like a zombie. And working out beside these teammates, it makes the work part feel more like fun. And as you’re practicing your sport, you remember how much you freaking LOVE your sport. The recovery shakes after – better than that D-Hall junk. And who needs that new movie when that one teammate’s personality is a free show on the daily. Any work you’re missing or doing early, you have an Athletics staff as a safety net to ensure you stay sharp as a student as well as an athlete. And can we just think about the amazing apparel we receive for free? Yes, student athletes put in our fair share of labor. And to tell you the truth, we all have room to work harder. To take the University at Buffalo to the level we need to be on, we’re going to all have to think and train like champions 24/7. The best news though? We’re not alone. Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships. We have the best sources of support working through our labors with us. So this Labor Day, take a little time to relax. The fact that you’re here tells me this: you’ve earned it.

Finals Week Stress Relief!

As we head into finals week here at UB I figured everyone could use a little bit of extra push to get through the stressful times!  Here are some great and cool videos to watch during a little study break!  Good Luck to everyone on their exams, I know you all will do fantastic!! Go Bulls!

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Rivalries!

In sports there are always rivalries.  Rivalries that are old, and others that are new, which create an atmosphere around sports that draws the attention of many people.  In the MAC there are many teams, but who are our biggest rivals?? Some would say Kent State, others Akron, maybe Ohio, or wait....Miami (OH)? Who knows?!?! Rivalries are born from sport to sport I think.  This rivalry team always give you a great battle all the time and whether you win or lose the game, it comes down to the final plays.  You HATE each others guts, but you also have a mutual respect when you are off the field of competition.  You want nothing more than to beat them year in and year out!

The Baseball team's biggest rivalry is Kent State!  Gosh!!!! We HATE their guts, but at the same time we respect each other and always play hard and the energy of those games are the best in our conference for our sport I think.

So what are your team's biggest rivals??  I would love to hear about them and then if you're lucky some extra Bulls Pride!  Have a great week and go Bulls!

5 Reasons Why You Should Apply to be a SAAC E-Board Member

There are 5 SAAC E-board positions, President, Vice President, Community Outreach Officer, AFA Officer, and Secretary.  Here are 5 reasons why you should apply today to be a part of the 2014-2015 SAAC E-board!

1.     You have the opportunity to be a leader amongst your peers!

2.     You get to be involved with decision making for AFA events, and input on community service ideas!

3.     You have creative control and use different media outlets such as, blogging, tweeting, posting on instagram, and making videos for vine to reach out and promote events!

4.     You are the liaison between the administration and the NCAA; providing you with the information to distribute to your fellow peers!

5.     Finally, you can make a change for the better and make the student-athlete EXPERIENCE one that people remember and talk about for the rest of their lives!

I hope you choose to apply for one of the 5 e-board positions this upcoming year.  Remember, you have the power to make your college experience average, or GREAT!  Become a leader in SAAC and have a say in what goes on!  Get involved!

If an e-board position isn’t what you are looking for, talk to your coach about become a SAAC team representative for next year!  See all of you at elections on April 23^rd at 7pm!

SNACK TIME!

Athletes love food, right?!?!? DUH! Well what could possibly be better than going away on a road trip and packing all your favorite snacks for the bus ride???  Here are some of my favorite snacks to pack on road trips!

1. Trail Mix

Whether it be, mountain mix, twizzler mix, candy mix, fruit and nut mix, any trail mix is a good mix! The bags are normally gigantic and there is plenty to share with teammates!  This generally makes you a favorite if you are willing to be a generous soul and part with some of your delicious food!

2. Almonds

Almonds might be one of the most delicious and nutritious snack on the face of Athlete earth.  You get your protein, some good fats and they are awesome!  Although tree nuts can be a little more pricey in the grocery store, it shouldn't stop you from enjoying this delicious snack on bus trips!

3. Any type of Bar...(Chewy bars, granola bars, cliff bars, you name it)!

The "Bar" category is quite extensive, but you can't go wrong!  Any type of bar on the shelves of grocery stores is good enough for me!  All the flavors and combinations you can get in one box are enough to make you keep coming back for more!

4. Finally, last, but not least, the best snack ever...(in my opinion)...

CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate might be the most delicious food group on the whole dang planet.  Yes, I did say food group, because it's soooooo good that it deserves its own place on the pyramid. (Not just in the "sweets" category; I'm saying the CHOCOLATE category).  Any type of chocolate can get you through the short drives, or the longggggggg ones!

Let me know what some of your favorite bus trips snacks are and receive a little extra bulls pride for your team!  Have a great week and Go Bulls!

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round...

Last year I blogged about the different types of roommates you could have on the road and this year I’ve decided to build off of that and talk about some of the personalities you find on those long bus rides/trips to those far, far away places. 

On the Baseball team we travel a lot, so we really get to see who is who on the bus rides around the country. 

The Ben Hartz –

            Hat pulled over face, mouth open, snoring, drooling, oblivious to the world.

The Kyle Brennan –

            Stretching in the aisle, always hydrating from a gallon of water, anticipating the next stop to stretch some more.  This type of bus buddy is also a frequent visitor to the bathroom (probably due to the gallons of water consumed).

The Jimmy Topps –

            The non-stop snap-chatter.  This snapping bus buddy has purple beats and a pink headband.  They are always changing their facial expressions and sending it out to show the world.

The Thomas Richards –

            The Bathroom Bouncer.  This bus buddy interrogates you before you enter the bathroom and the number of trivia question that he asks you is directly related to your age.

The Freshmen –

            A.K.A. the NO FUN ZONE.  These individuals have to sit up in the front of the bus behind the coaches and depending on the size of your team have to double-up in their rows.

This one is a throwback…The Jordan Camp –

            This bus buddy wears noise-cancelling headphones but forgets that just because they can’t hear anything doesn’t mean others can’t hear them!  Therefore this person sings out loud with no regard for others around them. 

The Perfect Bus Buddy –

            Wears headphones, sits silently unless spoken to (they are very pleasant), known to carry a stellar movie collection, willing to share snacks, always knows where they are throughout the trip and how far away the final destination is, along with the nearest rest stop.

I hope all of you find some of these same people on all your fantastic trips to and from competitions during season!  Have a great week and as always…GO BULLS!!!

BRAIN FOOD!

Now that we are in the 2nd week of classes most of us (maybe just me) are still on vacation mentally, so to try and solve this problem, I think we need some brain food for this week! This seems very fitting since we are coming off yet another semester over a 3.0 as an athletic department and there are high expectations for this semester to continue that success!!!!

Riddle #1:

What goes around the world, but stays in a corner?

Riddle #2:

The person who invented it doesn't want it.  The person who bought it doesn't need it.  The person who needs it doesn't know it.  What is it?

Riddle #3:

I'm where yesterday follows today, and tomorrow's in the middle.  What am I?

Answers:

Answer #1

Answer #2

Answer #3

I hope this gets all your brains flowing and continue that awesome success both academically and athletically!  Go Bulls!

And...ACTION!!!

WELCOME BACK BULLS! 

Are you ready to tip-off the Spring Semester?!?!?

We hope you all had a wonderful break and some quality time with family and friends.  The Winter sports are in the middle of their seasons and doing well, and our Spring sports will be transitioning from the preseason to their seasons within the next few, very short, weeks! Make sure you wear your Blue and White and go support your fellow student athletes!  There is a SAAC meeting tonight (1/29) and if you tell me something cool and interesting you did over break, you will have the opportunity to kick off the semester with some extra bulls pride points for your respective teams!  Great job continually supporting your fellow student athletes!  Also, make a point to thank Athletic Director Danny White and his staff for the Awesome weight room upgrades and renovations downstairs in Alumni Arena!  They work hard for all of us, it's important to let them know we appreciate their hard work and dedication to UB Athletics!  The SAAC E-Board cannot wait for another great semester ahead of us. 

GO BULLS!!!