???Gone are the days of being listed as one of the worst sports programs in the country. The Buffalo Bulls are currently taking the Mid-American Conference by storm.
???As with any great corporation, it starts with leadership at the top. Athletic Director Warde Manuel has been instrumental in assessing what a flourishing sports program has needed.
???Manuel, a Michigan alumnus, has an MBA from the Ross School of Business. He also earned letters as a defensive tackle when he played football under legendary coach Bo Schembechler, the "winningest" football coach in Michigan history.
???Manuel's biggest impact on Buffalo's athletic program thus far has been his choice of coaches. Many still think that having a minority head coach on a college sports team is a risky move, although the trend is changing. Buffalo is the only Division I school that has minorities filling their "Big Three" positions-athletic director, football coach and men's basketball coach.
???I love the move. Who better to coach a team than former players? They understand what athletes must give to achieve success on the field. Whether it is in the weight room, running sprints after practice or watching tape of games, they have been there.
??As former athlete, Manuel knows the rigors of success and what athletes look for in coaches. I don't think there is any doubt he has accomplished that by picking up Turner Gill and sticking with Reggie Witherspoon.
???Gill's success made waves last season but, in his third year as head coach of the football program, he has changed the entire culture of our football team.
???Think about it. In 2006, Buffalo only won two games, and at that time it was a major accomplishment. This past year, not only has Gill's team won seven games, but it also won a conference championship and was bowl eligible for the first time in 50 years.
???Witherspoon, on the other hand, has entered his 10th season as the head coach of Buffalo's men's basketball team. So far, he has taken a struggling basketball program to new peaks. Since 2004, the Bulls have emerged as one of the most improved college basketball programs in the nation, following a 23-win season and a NIT berth in 2005 with a 19-win season in 2006.
???Although last season was rough, Witherspoon and his squad have returned to the limelight. The Bulls sit at the top of the Mid-American Conference with a sterling 16-5 record. There is even talk that the team might take part in March Madness, something unimaginable until late.
???Witherspoon and Gill's hard work has revitalized the atmosphere regarding Buffalo athletics. Both have shown the nation that building and growing an athletic program in Buffalo can be achieved when once thought impossible. While no one expects to confuse Buffalo with Michigan, the possibility of it happening one day isn't so farfetched anymore.
???In my opinion, one thing the state of New York has always lacked is big time college sports. While this is very hard, since New York has a plethora of professional sports teams, why couldn't it work? If Buffalo can build on its recent success, the sky is the limit. I am looking forward to seeing if the Bulls can fill the void.
???The year 2008 was a banner year for Buffalo's athletic program, but for the first time in my collegiate career, I can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for Western New York. With the hard work of our student-athletes, Manuel, Gill and Witherspoon, anything is possible for the Buffalo Bulls.
???Ready for some glory days?
