UB-uffalo isn’t all bad

Those of you living in Buffalo may remember this-

Former Buffalo RB Willis McGahee had an interview with Penthouse Magazine where he talked about the future of the Bills and the city in general.

“That would be a good situation. Toronto is a beautiful place. But if they’re going to put a team there, they should just bring the Buffalo Bills to Toronto. Case closed.”

 

Then, weeks after he was traded, McGahee painted the entire
community as a cultural backwater, quoted in The Baltimore Sun as
knocking Buffalo’s nightlife, restaurants and women, saying he’d
spend most of his down time eating at Applebee’s and sitting on the
couch playing video games. Of course McGahee’s asshole agent Drew Rosenhaus said all those comments “were taken out of context.” What were the questions?

Interviewer- “Willis, if you were a venture capitalist who purchased the Bills and were forced to move them…. where would you go?”

Interviewer- “Willis, what is your favorite chain restuarant in Buffalo?”

Kenny Mayne, the most hilarious man in all of sports did a “Mayne Event” feature with new Bills RB Marshawn Lynch poking fun at McGahee.

Special thanks to frequent reader Nate for finding this clip.

While Buffalo certainly isn’t as prosperous as it once was. Some people highlight the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, where the first street lights in America were reveled. During the 1950’s Buffalo was a prosperous city boasting half a million in population before the St. Lawrence Seaway was constructed destroying the shipping route reserved for the “Queen City.”

Like many other rust belt cities, hard times followed. Population decreased, fewer snow shovels were available, and a chip was placed squarely on the shoulder of all residents.

Like so many others, I spent my college years in Buffalo. While the winters may have been snowy and bleak, the lawlessness of the city piqued my interest. Where else in America are the police so apathetic as to turn their heads to under-aged drinking and other puny offenses?

Where else are the bars open until 4a.m.? Where else would a library card get you into a bar while being under-aged? Where else would Travis Henry go to pick up young dates? What other city would rip out blocks of space to create more bars, and send the hookers elsewhere? In Buffalo, that’s where!

Trust me, there is more apathy than good jobs currently in Buffalo but, being the broke economist I am, I do know that once the property value hits its ultimate rock-bottom value the businesses will return.

For example, Labatt has moved its American Headquarters to Buffalo. Waterfront condos are popping up, and the UB BULLS have four wins under headman Turner Gill!

Last weekend I traveled to Oxford, Ohio to take in my second UB this season. Unfortunately, UB is now 0-2 when I am in the stands. The Bulls opened the game strong, and finished in the same manner. Instead of folding down the stretch, they finished with a TD and converted a two-point conversion. The passing game led by Drew Willy was crisp, but it is obvious that T.G. is still afraid to let him air it out. RB James Starks’ numbers (19 rushes 148 yards) are deceiving since he ran for 93 on one play.

The UB faithful traveled well, and I got the chance to speak and sit with many of the players parents. They spoke of the new attitude and confidence the Bulls have gained since Gill took over. I agree, that new attitude starts with the experienced coaching staff and trickles down to the players.

1. Gill quote post loss to Syracuse- “You have to give credit to Syracuse. They shut us down a little bit on offense, they made the plays when they had to make them, but our kids will bounce back this week and get ready for Akron.”

2. Hofher quote post loss- “Akron did an outstanding job tonight.” They beat us in every phase of the game.”

See the difference? Jim Hofher was a hack from Cornell who had no business coaching a D-IA team through its infancy. This was the kind of cost cutting rubbish put out by the UB athletics office for about a decade. Enter a new president, new AD, new coach do you see the results yet?

Since UB Athletic Director Warde Manuel was hired, he has done the following things.

1. Hired Turner Gill, Auncha Browne Sanders (most famous for her harassment claim against the Knicks,) hired Donald Reed (who will improve academic standing among athletes)
2. Raised money for the Robert G. and Carol L. Morris Sports Performance Center, a 12,000 square foot athletic training facility on campus.
3. Improved student relations- There is a new club at UB that gets funding to support the team at home and away games.
4. Improved website, made it more interactive, user friendly.
5. Improved other sports facilities
6. Contract with Nike, improved apparel with New Era Co.

All you naysayers beware. UB sports is on the move, it will take a decade or so but LWN told you so.

The football team proved that it was not comfortable controlling its own destiny just yet, but showed it was not ready to quit either, just like the “Queen City.”