UB's Search For Talent Spans the Globe

They come from afar, with just themselves, a suitcase, and a pair of cleats.

Out-of-state student athletes are a relatively new phenomena at University at Buffalo. UB began Division-I competition four years ago and it led to a more serious attitude towards all the athletic programs. The increased competition in the Mid-American Conference meant the dire need for advanced recruiting methods and taking closer looks at athletic hotbeds outside of New York State. Almost every team at UB now contains several out of state players from as far away as Europe and New Zealand.

For women's soccer goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert, UB was the last place she thought she would end up. The Dallas, Texas native was recruited by many local schools in her home state and just happened to receive a phone call from women's soccer Head Coach, Jean-A. Tassy.

"We first got to watch Anna-Lesa at the WAGS (a national tournament), we liked what we saw, she fit into our designated needs and we expressed interest," said Tassy.

On July 1, between her junior and senior year of high school Calvert got a phone call from Tassy. This is an important date, marking the first time a student athlete in any sport can speak with a school under NCAA compliance. Two weeks later a visit was scheduled for spring break of her senior year.

The visit is a 2-day whirlwind that attempts to give the athlete a feel for the campus and the city in 48 hours. Tassy and upperclassman goalkeeper Emily Cox picked up Calvert at the airport. Over her trip she dined at Casa de Pizza, saw Niagara Falls, went for a tour of the school (including a stop at academic advisement), and got up to observe a 7 a.m. practice.

"I loved it, we don't have snow in Texas," said Calvert. "What sold me on the school was the relaxed attitude, I did not feel like at the other schools I was making my decision, coach Tassy wanted me here only if I wanted to be here."

This was a different approach compared to some other schools that demanded answers by the end of the trip, not giving Calvert enough time to think things over with her family. Deciding to move away still was not easy.

"When I first got here, largely because I couldn't play, I was very homesick," Calvert said. "Soccer is who I am, and to have to sit out was very difficult."

Calvert's teammates were very supportive and inviting. It helped her feel closer to home. Now as a sophomore, she "couldn't imagine being anywhere else".

Scott McMahan was a punter for Santa Ana Junior College in Huntington Beach, Ca. In May of his second year at school his football coach told him of a scholarship opportunity at UB. McMahan sent them a tape of him doing the basics.

"A specialty position (like punter) is much different from many of the others, there isn't always a need for a coaches visit," said McMahan. "By the tape you pretty much know what you're getting."

Typically the recruiting process is more in-depth, featuring months, sometimes years of research.

"With a punter, if you don't have one, you need one, sometimes junior college players are still available in May," said UB Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor. "We watched Scott on film, thought he could come and help us, and flew him in for a visit."

The transition was not very difficult for McMahan. He was a transfer student entering his junior year of college.

"Coming out of junior college I was mature in many areas, and ready to play right away," McMahan said.

Success is granted to those who are willing and ready to take big steps to further themselves on the field and in the classroom. For many college students, the thought of settling at a school more than a few hours from home is frightening, while others feel the need to get away and discover new terrain. Traveling far to play athletics is definitely not for everyone.

"You can't trick them. If they want it they'll be here, if they don't want to be near snow, have a nice day . there are enough other guys out there," Lazor said.

UB's out-of-state athletes hail from just about everywhere. Including New York, 22 out of the 50 states are represented. Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio have produced the most UB athletes. The school has also attracted foreign athletes from the Slovak Republic, Tasmania, Indonesia, Turkey and Israel. UB has Canadian athletes from British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario.