Their opponents are daunting – Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Tennessee. Their doubters are abundant – picked to finish second-last in the Mid-American Conference. The 2011 Buffalo Bulls football team, however, doesn't care about any of that.
"We fear no one," said head coach Jeff Quinn.
The new season follows an intriguing summer. Three defensive players from Buffalo signed with NFL teams. Quinn wouldn't announce who the starting quarterback would be in a closely-contested duel between junior Jerry Davis and sophomore Alex Zordich.
Then drama unfolded; Buffalo announced the arrival of quarterback Chazz Anderson, a transfer from Cincinnati. To top off the exciting news, the Bulls introduced new uniforms this summer.
Saturday marks a new season for the Bulls as they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers at 6 p.m. Buffalo is looking to bounce back from a 2-10 record in 2010. Yet if you ask the Bulls how they feel about the coming season, you'll think they won the national championship last year. Confidence is tremendously high at UB Stadium.
In 2008, the Bulls traveled to Pittsburgh and dropped a hard-fought game, 27-16. Quinn anticipates a close match again, but he plans on coming out on top this time.
"We're going in it with one goal and one objective, and that's to play our very best and have the outcome we expect," Quinn said.
The Bulls expect to win, but they didn't succeed in 2010.
"If you're a competitor, that doesn't sit well – what transpired last year," Quinn said. "Our kids were embarrassed. Call it what you want – a chip on your shoulder. They play at a high, intense, passionate level every single day. Nobody felt good about what happened a year ago. Do I feel they're more motivated? Do they know that the team is better? Absolutely." Many fans believe every position will improve from last season. Every position, that is, with the exception of the defensive backfield.
The Buffalo secondary has some major shoes to fill. With Domonic Cook, Davonte Shannon and Josh Thomas spending their time at NFL training camps, the defensive backfield for Buffalo has been gravely depleted. Senior safety Josh Copeland is switching from linebacker to defensive back to help fill the void.
"I accept the pressure and the responsibility it takes to come from linebacker to safety and lead these guys," Copeland said. "I learned a lot from [Cook, Shannon and Thomas], and those guys challenged me to stay positive and be a leader. All summer and spring we've been working till Sept. 3 at Pittsburgh. Being back on the field is just exciting."
It is yet to be discovered whether the product Quinn puts on the field will improve, but fans can rest assured that at the very least the team will look different.
The new uniforms were introduced at the annual Kickoff Luncheon at the Millenium Hotel in Cheektowaga, NY. Four days later, summer practice began at UB Stadium.
The uniforms are part of the Nike Pro Combat System uniforms – worn by Miami (FL) and West Virginia, among others – and they present the Bulls with five different combinations for games. The jerseys will come in blue and white, while the pants will come in blue, white, and black. The jerseys will display the athletes' names on the back. The team's helmets remain unchanged.
"I always say if you look good, you play well," Copeland said. "It's something to look forward to for the fans."
Quinn worked in conjunction with Nike, ADPRO sports, and members of his staff to finalize the look. He said Athletic Director Warde Manuel put a lot of effort into getting the team new uniforms. Quinn also said the athletes have been asking him for a new look since he took the job of head coach.
"It's just a small step in terms of what we're committing to do," Quinn said. "I know the kids are excited and I'm saying it's now and it's this season and this is the only one that matters. I tell them all the time, ‘don't worry about what the jersey looks like; worry about what goes into it.'"
The seemingly endless list of questions surrounding the 2011 Buffalo Bulls football team will finally begin to be answered on Saturday.
What They're Saying:
Junior outside linebacker Jaleel Verser:
"We've been working hard and taking it day by day, making sure our chemistry is there for the season. We're all looking to step up. I plan on being more vocal. It's a new team but we still have a chip on our shoulder from last year."
Senior right tackle Matt Ostrowski:
"Chazz always gets the offensive line ready to go, because without us protecting for him, he can't do what he needs to do. We're starting to click, and we should have an explosive offense."
Sophomore outside linebacker Khalil Mack:
"I can't wait to get out there with a head of steam and just hit someone. The hype surrounding our front seven doesn't mean anything. We know we need to go out and get some wins on the field."
Junior inside linebacker Scott Pettigrew:
"I learned a lot from last year and I'm ready to move onto this season. We're all looking to step up as leaders, but we have faith in the guys behind us. We're going to help them as they progress."
Head coach Jeff Quinn:
"I feel more comfortable [this year] and I think the players do too with me. My wife says, ‘it's taken 24 years to get to know you, Jeff.' The players understand my philosophy – don't be thin-skinned because I'm here to coach you and make you a better football player."
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
