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.