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When Buffalo and Toledo take the field today it will be a contest between to post season bound teams jockeying for position in the conference. Buffalo leads the MAC East by a game and Toledo is one game behind Ball State and Northern Illinois in the Western division.
For Toledo it's literally just another Tuesday but for Buffalo it's perhaps the schools best season since the 1950's.
The Rockets have been to bowls each of the last three years but they have not won a MAC West division title since 2004. This season Toledo has been a constantly competitive team but has come up short against teams like Missouri and Ball State. Despite the setbacks Toledo is chugging along, winning games, and that's nothing new.
For Buffalo however the number of wins and the relative ease with which they have come is something distinctly different then what UB fans have become accustomed to.
Six weeks ago, after a five overtime struggle versus FCS Stony Brook many fans were questioning the future of Buffalo Bulls Coach Jeff Quinn. The fan base was unaware that Quinn's contract had already been extended. The revelation of the new contract was met with consternation from the fanbase.
Nobody is question White's wisdom any more.
Coach Quinn may not know who C.W. Dibble is but he has done something no UB coach other than Dibble has accomplished. The current seven game winning streak is the longest in season streak since Dibble managed an undefeated season in 1897.
| Coach | Year | Level | Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Dando | 1986 | III | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.818 |
| Jim Peelle | 1947 | N/A | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0.889 |
| Dick Offenhamer | 1958 | College | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0.889 |
| Dick Offenhamer | 1959 | College | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0.889 |
| Bill Dando | 1983 | III | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0.800 |
| Craig Cirbus | 1996 | I-AA | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0.727 |
| Turner Gill | 2008 | FBS | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0.571 |
| C.W. Dibble | 1897 | N/A | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Bemus Pierce | 1899 | N/A | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 |
| Jim Peelle | 1946 | N/A | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.778 |
| Jeff Quinn | 2013 | FBS | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.778 |
| "Doc" Urich | 1968 | University | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0.700 |
A win tonight would pass Dibble's mark and move this seasons edition of UB football into the conversation of "Best ever Bulls team".
Already there are only seven Buffalo teams which manged more wins. A win tonight would tie Quinn with Dick Offenhamer (1958,59), Bill Dando(1986), Jim Peelle (1947), Bill Dando (1983), and Turner Gill (2008). It would put him a single win behind Dando's 9 game mark set in 1983.
It's not just the team marching up the UB record books but it's star players.
Khalil Mack is chasing the all time NCAA Tackle for loss record as well as the forced fumble record. Branden Oliver has already set three all time UB marks and has a chance to be the first UB back to break 4,000 yards. Najja Johnson may set a school record for passes defended while Alex Neutz, Patrick Clarke, and Joe Licata are all moving up in various categories.
Toledo is Buffalo's toughest test of the season. Not only are the rockets a solid team but they are very strong at home in the Glass Bowl. The Rockets are led Buffalo native David Fluellen who is second in the conference in rushing yards despite sitting out last week against eastern Michigan.
Fluellen will likely get a chance at the next level, and it's likely that starts in this springs NFL draft. While he leads the Toledo rushing attack the Rockets are very deep in the backfield. Behind the Flu is freshman Kareem Hunt . Hunt is a power runner who put up 168 yards and two touchdowns against EMU.
The Buffalo defensive backfield will be tested by senior quarterback. Terrance Owens. Ownes has been on fire lately, against EMU he completed. 18-of-24 passes for 375 yards and three scores, and has been playing well down the stretch.
With a win, and a Bowling Green loss to Ohio UB will need just one win to secure the MAC East.