For the last three years, Eddie Asbie has been one of the most recognizable faces at Buffalo sporting events. His presence has been felt through various promotions and giveaways that he helped organize.
But unfortunately for the students and fans that have grown accustomed to seeing Asbie's face at football and basketball games, it was decided by the athletic department that his contract would not be renewed.
"It's definitely a shock but there are bigger and better things to come for me in the future," Asbie said. "One thing people need to know is that Student Life and athletics did a lot for me in the last three years and I am very grateful. Everyone has to part their own ways and now it's my time."
Asbie was working as the student relations coordinator for the athletic department on a year-by-year contract.
"My contract is a one-year temporary contract. Every year the university reviews and decides whether they want to renew," Asbie said. "I think I had a good review but some changes had to be made in the athletic department in some areas that needed a little work."
The position Asbie held was unique in nature. He was under the umbrella of both Student Life and the athletics department.
"His position was originally setup so that Student Affairs pays for the budget of the position and athletics pays for the salary and personnel of the position," said assistant director of student activities Jennifer Wantz.
The decision to not renew Asbie's contract came from the athletic department.
"Eddie Asbie was on a temporary appointment and his appointment term ended on March 31st," said the Division of Athletics in a statement given to The Spectrum. "The Division of Athletics would like to thank Eddie Asbie for his efforts in helping build student support of our program. We wish him all the best."
"(The athletics department's) reasoning was because they just wanted to see where the position was going to go, to take it to another level," Asbie said. "Also with the athletic department it was for budgeting reasons. That's my understanding of it... they didn't say anything of (decreased attendance) but I definitely believe that its one of the reasons."
One of the biggest and most recognizable projects Asbie coordinated was the Mighty Maniacs Reward Program that was formed to provide incentives to students to attend UB basketball games.
"I tried to really improve the Mighty Maniacs program," Asbie said. "I tried to make it where the really dedicated fans got to see the benefits in the Mighty Maniacs. I came up with a program where everyone got a membership card that came out to the game. They got a stamp every time they came to a game. You either enter to win something or got our student giveaway."
Students such as senior history major Kevin Wetzel thought Asbie's methods worked well.
"He always thought of a new way to bring out more fans," Wetzel said. "He even held a meeting with fans before the football season to see how to bring more fans out to everything. I thought he was very effective."
Thus, when initial word that Asbie would not be brought back, Wetzel was upset over the decision.
"I was shocked," Wetzel said. "I always liked Eddie and I thought he was helping UB as best he could."
The next student relations coordinator will be held by either a part-time employee or by a graduate assistant. There is no word on what the futures will be of the two graduate assistants and eight undergraduate students that worked under Asbie.
As for the immediate future, Asbie plans on staying at the University at Buffalo community.
"I'm trying to get into the MBA program here at UB," Asbie said. "I want to go back and get my MBA in marketing. Thus, I'll be studying for the GMATs."
