Students have been begged for it long enough - and they're not begging for the sign in front of the Student Union to light up. Or for the wind not to blow down the Clemens wind tunnel. Or for a parking spot to open up in a lot anywhere close to class.
Finally, a winning team.
After breezing by Northern Illinois Monday night, the UB Bulls men's basketball team is headed to Gund Arena in Cleveland to face off against the Toledo Rockets in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals. If they beat the Rockets, they will advance to the next round on Friday.
After shattering a men's basketball attendance record at Alumni Arena on Monday, the Bulls have found a rejuvenated fan base and loyal following among students.
"I've waited four years for a team that I can follow and pay to see," said Anthony Brozier, a senior mechanical engineering major. "The basketball team is worth seeing. They deserve all the support they can get. I should know. I've been to every game."
Many students and faculty plan on following the team to Cleveland to pledge their support for the Bulls.
Timothy Bouchard, a junior media studies major, and four of his friends are traveling to Gund Arena on Thursday afternoon. He said that the fervor surrounding the game has made it tough for him and his buddies to concentrate.
"We basically don't want to do anything until Thursday," he said. "Motivation for school is really low and motivation for basketball is really high."
Brozier, who is in Bouchard's group, said although he feels bad, class is worth skipping for an event of this magnitude.
"I will be missing technical writing and gas dynamics. I really don't care. I want to see the game," Brozier said.
Reggie Witherspoon, head coach of the men's basketball team, is banking on a strong showing from students like Bouchard. In a media conference on Tuesday morning, Witherspoon was asked what affect Toledo's home advantage would have on the Bulls' spirit.
"For them to assume that Toledo is going to get more people than us, I take that as a challenge to the students, city and region," Witherspoon said.
Dennis Black, vice president of student affairs, is looking forward to seeing the Bulls play on Thursday, but said this wasn't his first trip to Cleveland.
"I was there when the women's basketball team went and played at 9 a.m.," said Black. "You can bet I'll be there for the men. I hope to go to Cleveland and stay there for a long time."
Black was excited not only at the Bulls recent success, but the way the UB community has gelled because of it.
"I think that what you have is the beginning of a strong campus community," Black said. "We have strong academics, strong faculty and without a strong team you can't build a community."
Bryan VanVliet works in Alumni Arena everyday as a volleyball official. The sophomore environmental engineering major constantly monitors the pulse of UB athletics. But he has never felt it beat this strong before.
"I work in Alumni and I know all the athletes. I have never seen this kind of a buzz before. After this year it will never be the same," VanVliet said.
Robert Suglia, student relations coordinator for the UB division of athletics, said UB is accommodating students who want to head to Cleveland.
"We have some buses going. For $20 students get round trip, game ticket and a great time," said Suglia. Buses leave at 4 p.m. in front of Alumni Arena.
But with the sudden surge in interest, there was concern among administrators that there wouldn't be enough buses for all that wanted to go.
"We're just playing it by ear, said Black. "It's our hope that we'll have lots of fans and lots of buses. If we have to provide a little more help, we'll do that."
VanVliet is psyched about the trip and said that he will keep cheering until the very end.
"I got money to go. If they are winning, I'm staying," he said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
