After losing nine out of 10 games this season, along with a coach, the UB Bulls will bid another farewell as 18 of the team's athletes will play their final game Saturday against Eastern Michigan on Senior Day.
Although the Bulls have only one win on the field and have taken heat from the majority of the UB population, the Bulls' snoozing scoreboard hasn't dampened the team's enthusiasm. The finishing seniors have nothing but pride in their accomplishments as UB football players.
Senior defensive back and assistant captain Gemara Williams said the adversity the team has faced has been hard on them, and that the ball doesn't always bounce your way. He added that students should take a deeper look into the games, rather than simply judging the results.
"As a whole, I think in my career here at UB, we as players have taken a lot of negativity from students, outsiders and the media," Williams said. "Some do not see the time invested into the game as well as how hard we work to achieve some of the goals and records that we set out to break."
If Williams was talking about his own personal records set during his football career, he would have mentioned that he leads the Mid-American Conference with 38 passes defended, and is tied for 10th in the nation. Williams' 38 passes defended puts him in the number one spot in the UB record books.
Williams has snatched 13 pass breakups and one interception this season, and is two passes defended, either a breakup or interception, behind UB's single-season leader, Dave Short from 1990's squad.
Senior defensive end Phil Jacques is tied for 12th in the nation for consecutive starts, as he has been a starter for 41 consecutive games and has played in all 46 games of his UB career.
Jacques said he was surprised at the amount of work involved in playing college football. He added that the hard work ethic he adopted from UB football has inspired him to attend law school next fall.
Senior defensive end Aaron Sanders has also embraced UB's work ethic. With 5.5 sacks this season, Sanders leads the Bulls' defense and sets a good example for upcoming players. He has raked in 13 sacks while playing for the Bulls, putting him in seventh place for total sacks in a career at UB. He also played a major role in UB's 10-6 win at Kent State last Saturday.
Sanders said playing football is more than just a sport for him. He has made life-long friendships and will miss spending time with the team most of all.
"Very few people outside of sports will truly understand how close we become over the course of four to five years," Sanders said. "You truly become a family and would do anything for them, and perhaps more importantly, you know they would do anything for you."
Senior linebacker and captain Bryan Cummings also expressed sadness in leaving the friendships he's made with his teammates. After playing football since the age of seven, it will be difficult for him to move on.
"I can stay in touch with the players," Cummings said. "But I can't remember a time when I wasn't playing football, so when it's over, that is what I will miss the most."
Cummings added there was nothing about the season he would have changed, saying, "I do my best at what I do so I don't have to live with the thoughts of what might have been."
Also graduating with four letters are offensive lineman and captain Michael Schifano, kicker Michael Baker, wide receiver Dave Dawson, defensive end Anthony Andriano, offensive lineman Zachary Love and linebacker Rich Sanders.
The Bulls will head into their final game of the season against Eastern Michigan University this Saturday with hopes of repeating last year's Senior Day victory, when they defeated Central Michigan University 36-6.
The Bulls recently broke their 10-game losing steak this past Saturday at Kent State with a 10-6 win and look to carry that momentum with them when they take on the Eagles at 1:30 p.m. in UB Stadium. It will be the first time the teams have faced off in Buffalo.
The finishing seniors hope for a good turnout for their final game, and look forward to becoming figures in future UB Stadium attendance numbers.
"I believe the future of our football team is heading in a forward direction and I am looking forward to coming back and being on the sidelines and watching great things happen," Williams said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
