For several years the University at Buffalo's basketball crowds have been wowed by a group of classy ladies who have boosted Buffalo's athletics with their booty shaking, hip gyrating, arm waving dance moves. They have truly given new meaning to the word "dazzler."
However, this fall season there will be some new bulls in town with a simple goal - challenging these short-shirt wearing beauties for the affection of the Alumni Arena faithful.
Girls look out, UB's first intercollegiate all-male dance squad, the UB Razzlers, have plans of notching a place for themselves into the proverbial dance-cheering record books.
The Razzlers - who have been an underground club for the past couple decades - finally took the leap from closet Kevin Federline's to legit Justin Timberlake's.
The idea of an all-male dance ensemble started at UB during the 1970's when several students founded the Razzlers based on the principles of fun, entertainment and spirit. Unfortunately, only one of the original three members is still around.
Amazingly, this founding Razzler remained connected to the University Administration and after a heartfelt recommendation by Athletic Director Warde Manuel, ex-Razzler and former Vice President for Student Affairs Dennis Black accepted the position as Vice President of Dancing Hotly, with the new improved UB Razzlers administration. Black admitted in an exclusive interview with The Spectrum that it was a tough process switching from the Student Affairs sector to the athletics department.
"I didn't know what I was getting into," Black said. "He needed a straight guy and there's nobody straighter than me."
Junior finance major Ryan Grosse was recently chosen as team captain due in large part to his high goals, outrageous spunk and perfectly groomed moustache. Rivaling the Dazzlers he admits will be no easy task.
"It's going to be tough," Grosse said. "These girls really dazzle people and that's going to be hard to compete with. But we know in our hearts that there are a lot of people out there who want to be razzled right after they're dazzled and that's what we plan on doing."
Grosse and Black both hope that the dazzlers don't hold too much on court animosity towards the Razzlers.
"I just don't want to feel the cold stares across the court when its game time," Gorsse said. "Girls can be really mean. Sure they smile at the crowd but will they have the same attitude toward us? Someday I can only hope we'll get the opportunity to team up for something really spectacular. Dennis and I have been working on some different choreography that would involve both squads, if they'll have us. Dennis really wants to dim the lights at half time, have fireworks and then have both squads come out in blue sequined outfits."
When asked what a number like this would be called, Black said it best.
"It's the ol' Razzle-Dazzle and believe me when I tell you, it's guaranteed to live up to its name."
The Dazzlers would not comment officially. But one member who asked not to have her named disclosed did have something to say.
"Please," she said. "Those hairy boys really think that they can bring sexy back? We already brought it back this year, and you better believe it will be back next year."
Mighty Maniacs everywhere celebrated the dance team's movement from club to official team. Though, some are unsure what the situation will be come basketball season.
"I mean right now most of the Maniacs pretend like we're the guys who could take home a dazzler, some of us even refer to select girls from the squad as our girlfriends," said Mighty Maniac Al Cage. "I guess we will find a way to connect with these guys too, wishing they were our big brothers or something."
For the most part the entire community has embraced this new dancing mania. Only Associate Athletic Director Paul Vecchio has any reserves on the future of the dancing craze that has taken over UB.
"We'll have to see about these guys," Vecchio said. "Anyone can put on a tight sequined man-thong and paint their nipples blue, but sometimes it takes more than that to wow a crowd of 5,000."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
