In Buffalo, football fans know first-hand that championship aspirations can only become a reality with strong play at the quarterback position.
Signal caller Drew Willy became a household name on campus in 2008 when he led the Bulls to the Mid-American Conference championship. In 2011, the Bulls boast four starting-caliber quarterbacks who are chomping at the bit to lead the Bulls to their next title.
The Bulls entered training camp this summer with a plethora of holes to fill due to departed seniors. However, perhaps no battle in camp was more integral to the pending success of the Bulls than the competition at quarterback.
Buffalo stumbled to a 2-10 record in 2010, and it's no secret that the team's struggles were a direct result of its inconsistencies at the quarterback position.
First-year starter Jerry Davis and true freshman Alex Zordich split time at the position in 2010, and they struggled through their fair share of growing pains behind a shoddy offensive line.
Ultimately, the success of the quarterback position relies on the strength of the offensive line. So far in 2011, head coach Jeff Quinn is confident that his line can improve on last season's underwhelming performance.
"The offensive line is playing harder, they're playing with more determination," Quinn said. "They're quicker, they're picking up things, they're anticipating and reacting better. They're bigger, stronger and more explosive."
While the offensive line looks to be vastly improved in 2011, Quinn still set out to strengthen the quarterback position during the offseason, and in doing so, he created a level of intensity at the position that hasn't been seen since the days of Willy.
Quinn brought in University of Cincinnati transfer Chazz Anderson, a fifth-year senior who Quinn coached during his days as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator.
Prior to adding Anderson, Quinn successfully recruited local Williamsville product Joe Licata. He was widely regarded as one of the top New York state quarterbacks in the class of 2011, and he was rated by Scout.com as a top 100 quarterback in the nation.
Licata garnered praise from his head coach throughout training camp.
"Joey Licata's done very well in terms of completion ratio," Quinn said. "He's been outstanding in terms of completion and judgment. He's a pure thrower."
Despite Quinn's heavy praise for all four of the quarterbacks, Anderson won the job out of training camp. It's now his responsibility to bring the Bulls back to prominence.
Anderson appears to be more than ready to accept that challenge.
"Consistency is what we need to work on most," Anderson said. "I want to be predictable to my team. I want them to know when I'm on the field exactly what I'm giving them."
Quinn also had high praise for his newly-minted starter.
"The guys are very confident with the addition of Chazz," Quinn said. "He is a very mature and bright young man. He has great judgment with the ball and has the ability to get out of trouble."
As the Bulls travel to Pittsburgh for Saturday's season opener against the Panthers, they will leave Buffalo with a newfound air of confidence. 2010 was an ugly season, but the Bulls may have finally found the man who can right the ship.
It's Chazz Anderson's time to be the next Bull in.
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