Could it get any better? A year with three MAC championships and an NCAA Championship is undoubtedly the best that UB has ever had since going to Division I. It's been a journey of being a Mid-Major bottom-feeder to a Mid-Major Contender over the last seventeen years. The time to pay attention is though is now. UB has become a school that can win championships. Something that fans from the early 2000's never would've dreamt of. With the help of names like Turner Gill, Reggie Witherspoon, Shawn Burke, Vicki Mitchell, Danny White, and now Bobby Hurley; UB shows one of the greatest potentials in college sports. Many of these names have come and gone but they all hold their place in UB Athletics history as what got us to this point.
A year ago I knew nothing about UB Athletics or the city of Buffalo for that matter. But after spending countless hours of researching what has gone on here, I have become a devoted fan for an underdog city and school. After immersing myself into all of this, it is clear to me now that it's Buffalo's time to shine. This is the most important year for UB. It's time for UB to decide if this is the highest it wants to go or if it wants to be the next Mid-Major Powerhouse that we all want it to be. It's time to step up the game.
The skeletons for dominance are there. Women's Soccer already has the pieces to be back-to-back MAC Champs and go deep in the NCAA Tournament. Lance Leipold has a more than capable roster that was sent into chaos under Jeff Quinn. Men's Basketball has five returning athletes from an incredible championship run and a rookie coach that knows what he's doing. Track and Field is poised to become one of the better know running schools with its progress. Programs like Baseball and Softball have work to do but can also reach success with the strong efforts that have been put into the other programs.
The effort on all fronts needs to taken to a new level though. The coaches need to work harder than they have before. The marketing department needs to do better than their already amazing efforts last season. But most of all, the fans need to show up in their UB Blue and cheer everyone on. They need to stay for the WHOLE game, yell and scream for the WHOLE game, and do their best in bringing more friends and family out to games and show them what UB is all about. Showing up to track meets, tennis matches, and soccer games can also make all of the difference.
Right here, right now, that should be the focus. The best year in history has just happened, Syracuse is weakened, and fan attendance is growing. The chances of getting into a power conference any time soon are slim to none. But, Mid-Major Dominance is not out of the question. The biggest question is if UB wants to be the next Gonzaga, Butler, or Creighton. The pieces are there and it's time to get the motivation to finish that 1000-piece puzzle that is gathering dust on the shelf. The ability to win isn't the question. The ability to do it consistently is what everyone is asking.
Let's Go Bulls!
