???Since the recent success of the Bulls football team, many are looking into the future after a Mid-American Conference Championship and a visit to the International Bowl.
???Many fans I've spoken to are looking for the Bulls to make the jump to a BCS conference like the Big East or for the university to hold a football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
???Slow down, people.
???You do realize that, before this year, the Bulls were nothing. They were a horrendous team that was the laughing stock of Division I. Now, apparently the team is a threat to anyone who steps onto its tracks.
???Now, don't get me wrong. I would love to see the Bulls in a conference that matters. But, the thing is, can this school handle it?
???Throughout the 2008 season, the average attendance at a football game at UB Stadium was 16,924 people. For Rutgers, a member of the Big East and a public institution like the University at Buffalo, average attendance was 42,378 fans.
???See a difference?
???Granted, Rutgers Stadium is far larger than UB Stadium is, but they nearly fill every seat in that venue. Buffalo, on the other hand, barely filled 60 percent of its seats.
???At the International Bowl in Toronto, Ont., 40,480 fans were in the stands watching the Bulls fall to the Connecticut Huskies. The atmosphere was something that Bulls faithful never experienced before.
???Was that a one-time affair?
???Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure-Buffalo, if successful in upcoming years, would be a perfect fit for a troubled football conference.
???In my eyes, the Big East is keeping an eye on four Division I football schools at this time-Buffalo, East Carolina, Memphis and Central Florida. Each school has so much that could be brought to the table, and, in time, any could become a new addition to the conference.
???If the Bulls can stay successful for the next few seasons and the Big East doesn't address their football problems until then, the Bulls moving to the Big East is a no brainer. While Syracuse is the king of college football in New York State, their little brother at Buffalo would be a welcome addition to a struggling conference.
???For this to happen, a multitude of events must occur. The field house mentioned in UB 2020's plan must be built so Buffalo athletics can work on being a dominant force in the Mid-American Conference. In addition, fans must continue to fill the seats at UB Stadium. A game with under 22,000 fans is not an option.
???Thirdly, something needs to be done with UB Stadium to support a Big East team. The rinky-dink home to the football team is in no way suitable for fans of a big-time football program, so an expansion or reconstruction is the only possible option for a successful venue.
???Hopefully, fans and community members see the beginning of a great football product that can be found in Amherst, N.Y. and respond by filling the seats.
Once that is done, a school that is high on its academics can slowly begin to make its move in the world of athletics.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
