UB students, faculty and alumni got rough with balls on Friday as part of the second annual DodgeBull Tournament - the biggest dodgeball game on campus.
The double elimination competition, organized by the University Student Alumni Board, featured 29 teams this year, including last year's champions, "Balls Deep."
"Nickle for our Pickle," who placed second last year, returned to take first place in this year's competition. Members received individual trophies as well as $10 gift certificates to Duff's.
Eddie Todino, a junior biological sciences major and "Nickle for our Pickle" member, said it was a great win for the team, conquering the tournament the second time around.
"It feels good to win when we placed second last year," Todino said. "We came back to win."
Second place was awarded to "Mandelbaum." Their prizes included ribbons as well as a $5 gift certificate to Tully's for each person. Third place was not determined because the teams in fourth place, "Balls Deep" and "TKE," opted out of playing the final round.
Many teams returned from last year's tournament in an effort to win this year. Other teams played for love of the sport.
"It's my life, I live by it," said Ryan Acker, a freshman computer engineering major and member of the team named "The Dingleberries."
This year's event was bigger and focused more on the teams, according to Bryan Fleck, director of DodgeBull 2007. He explained that with his co-director Kendall Stanley, he has completely changed the tournament since last year.
"Kendall and I basically had to scrap everything that we did last year and rebuild it up," Fleck said.
According the Fleck, the changes were made to accommodate the growth to nearly twice the number of teams as last year and to make the event better for participants.
"Last year we had 13 teams...it was single elimination," Fleck said. "It was over too quickly."
The tournament, which took place on various courts set up for the occasion on the Special Events Field, started at 5 p.m. and finished at about 9 p.m.
In the tournament, teams had the freedom to choose their uniforms and team names.
Members of "Balls Deep" wore bandanas, knee socks and short jean shorts. UB alumnus James Banks, Ph.D., explained that the team name corresponds with the way they play the game.
"It is not only our team name, it's our lifestyle," Banks said.
Jesse Parrish, a junior industrial engineering major on the team, said their goal was to intimidate the other teams with their outfits.
"We went for the shortest, dirtiest things we could find," Parrish said.
The two groups of professors and graduate students from UB's Communication department team also wore attire that sent a message. Players sported black T-shirts playing on the common misconception that there is the letter "S" at the end of "communication."
Team members of "Mishandled Balls" wore short blue shorts and covered themselves in blue body paint.
Many teams practiced for the tournament. Craig Gusmann, a junior media studies major, of "The Purrfect Blend" said his team played numerous times at the YMCA before entering the competition.
"We played at the YMCA...we're the best of the best," Gusmann said.
The UB anime team said they played the videogame Super Smash Bros. to practice.
"We have only practiced with videogames," said Hayley Curdaro, a sophomore undecided major.
Team member Josh Gardner, a junior computer science major, explained the appeal of the tournament.
"What is more fun than throwing balls at people?" Gardner asked.
Fleck explained that the USAB wants to make DodgeBull a tradition at UB because it's something fun for the University community.
"Events like this show our school spirit and how we want to be involved," said Fleck. "Events like Oozfest and DodgeBull will be the things people will remember when they graduate."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
