There was no way to avoid it. If you were there, you were muddy. When it comes down to it, no one goes to Oozfest for good volleyball. It's all about the mud.
As the temperature dropped and the rain drizzled down, Oozfest celebrated its 21st year on Saturday with 128 teams competing in UB's messiest annual tradition.
Poached Trout in a White Wine Sauce, an Oozfest team of alumni, made its 16th appearance in the event, which is the longest any of Saturday's teams have been involved in the mud volleyball tournament.
"In the 16-year run we have had so far, Poached Trout in a White Wine Sauce has never won Oozfest," said team member Craig Caplan. "We are going to play until we win, or until we are too old to play."
"It is a really good event for friends to share a UB tradition," added Mark Falsone, another member of the team.
Although they have never won the tournament, the Poached Trout can take credit for the "No Swimming" signs posted around Lake LaSalle.
"One year when we all lived in Ellicott we dressed as divers for Oozfest, and then scuba dived back to our dorms in Lake LaSalle," Falsone said. "Next year there was a rule that you could not go in the lake."
Like many other teams that participate in Oozfest, Poached Trout has a motto - it's not how well you play the game, it's how good you look.
Memorable costumes for past Oozfests have ranged from Santa Claus and superhero costumes to parading out of a limo dressed as convicts. On Saturday, one team came dressed in business suits while another squad of boys showed up in ballroom dresses, and one team dressed as their favorite Flintstones characters.
According to Falsone, his team has won so many costume contests at Oozfest that they were awarded a plaque during their 10th year and taken out of the running for good. This year Poached Trout showed up dressed as cowboys.
Jessica Yacovoni, co-chair of Oozfest, said she thought Saturday's fest was vastly improved over last year's.
"There have been improvements this year," Yacovoni said. "SA helped sponsor us by giving us this time-clock, so we are staying on time a lot better this year."
Lindsay Catone, another Oozfest co-chair, said in order to keep the event running smoothly and the mud thick, campus police and the fire department lent a helping hand.
The Getzville Fire Department showered the mud pit with water the night before and the day of the event for a half an hour, Catone said. Up to 1,200 gallons of water were sprayed for each minute the hoses were on.
That amount of water, plus the rain that continued through Saturday, ensured Oozfest 2005 was as muddy as possible.
Students said although the vibe of Oozfest was fun, wet and dirty, the rain and cold weather put a damper on the parade. For the last several years, Oozfest has seen cool temperatures, biting winds, and cold rain.
"I quit," said Mary Schmid, a junior psychology major. "My team, the Incredi-bulls, are still playing. But I can't feel my fingers anymore. This is my third year playing and will probably do it again next year. But it does sound a lot better than it is when you are actually in it."
Jeff Loga, senior communication major, said he had a good time.
"Oozfest is a great time. It would be better if it was warmer weather," he said. "When you are in the mud it is fine, but once you step out, it is cold."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
