News

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Returning with a capital H

Artist: Motion City SoundtrackAlbum: My Dinosaur LifeLabel: ColumbiaGrade: A

Bills find their man in Gailey

The search for a head coach in Orchard Park is finally over. After two months of rabid rumors and a whirlwind of speculation, the Buffalo Bills have found their man. Though Chan Gailey's name may not widen eyes nor jump off the paper, he is exactly what the Bills have been looking for. New general manager Buddy Nix introduced Gailey as the franchises' 15th head coach on Tuesday afternoon at One Bills Drive. Immediately after the firing of Dick Jauron on Nov. 17, media outlets in Western New York and across the country began to speculate on big name coaches as candidates for the position. While the Bills remained as silent as possible in their search, names such as Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Marty Schottenheimer began to appear. As far as fans were concerned, it was a near certainty that Buffalo would be welcoming aboard a multi-million dollar head coach. As the interview process began, however, rumored candidates quickly declined interest in the position. Whether it is the team's lack of a franchise quarterback, its 91-year-old owner, or its questionable future in the city of Buffalo, candidates declined the opportunity for an interview. When it looked like the Bills would be in for the long haul to find their next leader, Gailey's name appeared out of the woodwork. While he isn't the 'A-list' head coach that Bills' fans were hoping for, Gailey met the criteria that Nix sought. The 58-year-old Gailey has experience both as an NFL and collegiate head coach, as well as an offensive coordinator. He also briefly worked as a defensive coordinator and special teams coach early in his career. 'I wanted to have a head coach that's been successful in this league. I didn't want to go through having to have a guy learn the NFL and the workings of the NFL… I wanted an offensive-minded coach,' Nix said in a press conference. 'We also wanted to find a guy that had character and wasn't going to embarrass this organization. He's going to lead by doing things right. He's a good teacher and has good leadership skills… I want a guy that will help us win games and we found that guy.' Gailey was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 1998-99. He took over a 6-10 team and led Dallas to a 10-6 record and a division title. The following year Dallas finished 8-8 and earned a wild-card berth. After being abruptly fired after two successful seasons, Gailey failed to get an opportunity at another NFL head coaching job and admitted that he was unsure if he'd ever get another chance. "If you sit there and say you lose confidence in yourself, no you don't,' Gailey said. 'But then you see opportunities go by. And you hope that your body of work will speak for itself. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't, that's just the way it is.' Gailey moved to the collegiate level and became head coach at Georgia Tech from 2002 through 2007. He compiled a 44-33 record and led the Yellow Jackets to bowl appearances in each of his six seasons, including the Humanitarian and Champs Sports Bowl victories in 2003 and 2004, respectively. During his 38-year coaching career, Gailey has spent 15 seasons in the NFL and had various stints as an offensive coordinator with Denver, Pittsburgh, Miami and Kansas City. During his career, Gailey has worked with some of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history, including John Elway and Troy Aikman. He has also gotten rave reviews for getting production out of lesser talents such as Kordell Stewart in Pittsburgh, Jay Fielder in Miami and Tyler Thigpen with Kansas City. For a team with so many question marks surrounding the quarterback position, Nix recognized that his new coach had to have previous success with signal-callers. 'We wanted somebody that had developed quarterbacks,' Nix said. 'Those with good quarterbacks are winning and those with bad quarterbacks are losing. It's not that hard to get.' Gailey will need to bring stability to the position in Buffalo. With two inconsistent quarterbacks and an unproven rookie on the current roster, he acknowledged that it will take time to assess the position. 'Until I get in there, watch film and evaluate, it's unfair for me to sit here and say what's going to happen,' Gailey said. 'I want to make sure we do a thorough evaluation, thorough study and do a great job at deciding. Then we'll talk about what needs to go on in the future.' The Bills' offense was stagnant this season. Buffalo finished 30th in the NFL in both total offense (4,382) and passing yards (2,515) and converted an NFL worst 51 percent on 3rd down. As he did in Dallas, Gailey will also assume the role of offensive coordinator. The run-first oriented coach will implement an offensive system that he can have control over and be familiar with. 'I'm going to run the offense to start with,' Gailey said. 'If you want to get it the way you believe it needs to be done from the start, then you need to do it. You have to get it the way you want it and what you believe in. Even if over time I distance myself a little from it, I'll still have the basis and know exactly what's going on.' Gailey inherits a team that has not been to the playoffs in 10 years and has finished sub .500 the past five seasons. While there is much work to be done until the team can get back to a winning tradition, Gailey is up for the challenge in his second stint as a head coach. 'I understand the challenge that's ahead of us. The challenge to get the Buffalo Bills back to a winning franchise on a consistent basis and that is the plan.' Gailey said. 'I know it's going to be a tough task and will take a lot of hard work. It's not going to be something that's done easily and the only way to get it done is for everyone to be on the same page.' E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

Bulls remain unbeaten in MAC

Akron had it coming.

UPD spent winter break in training

While the empty UB campus continued to sleep during its final week of winter holiday, the University at Buffalo Police Department conducted in-service training drills on the vacant grounds. The exercises were specifically 'active shooter' drills, in which a mock assailant with a simulated weapon is disarmed and brought into custody. The officers involved in the drills were required to attend brief lectures, and then participated in physical instruction. 'It is good policy, in general, to conduct these drills several times a year to maintain tactical skills,' said UPD Chief Gerald Schoenle. 'These drills are important to help prevent against, and to deal with, incidents like the recent armed attack in Brockport.' Still in the shadow of the attempt on Northwest flight 253 this past Christmas day, and taking into account the university's recent history with violent crime, UB students have mixed feelings in regards to the drills and their practicality. The exercises are done regularly, several times a year, 'but things are still happening,' said Brittany Sliter, a junior nursing major. 'I suppose the police can't be everywhere all the time, but it's frustrating knowing that people are getting away with armed robbery' says Sliter, as she recounted a story of a student who was assaulted with the butt of a pistol and robbed. 'It is comforting to know that the police are taking measures to remedy the campus security problem, but working nights, even on North Campus, is still pretty scary.' According to UB Crime Statistics, a majority of the violent crimes, namely aggravated assault and robbery offenses, occur on public property. 'We have the most trouble off campus, but I hardly ever see a University Police car on North Campus; it tends to be on South Campus that I see the majority of the cops,' Anthony Parrella, a sophomore business student and South Campus resident, said. But despite student worries, Schoenle still sounds confident in his plans for the future regarding campus security and its subsequent effects on student life. The drills took place on North Campus, and were fitting, yet unspecific, to the campus geography. 'They were standard drills, but important nonetheless,' Schoenle said. Aware of the concerns for North Campus, Schoenle made knowledge of the drills public 'to prevent any cause for alarm, given the drastic increase in police presence on campus. But also, perhaps just knowing that we're making efforts to improve and maintain the integrity of our policing will put some people's minds to rest.' E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Car sharing is caring

As students return to school and are greeted by the harsh Buffalo winter, those without wheels are made slaves to the university bus system. But luckily for them, an alternative mode of transportation is now available that allows access to not only the UB community, but the entire Queen City. It's based on a concept imposed since kindergarten - sharing. The idea started in 2007 when visionaries in the school of urban planning entered an entrepreneurial competition with a for-profit car-sharing model. Although they advanced to the finals, the group unfortunately did not win because the New York State insurance market had not yet embraced the concept of car sharing. When the students switched to a non-profit service, they were awarded insurance backing. With the help of a grant provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency and the Department of Transportation, Buffalo CarShare opened for business in June. Eight months, seven Toyotas and 175 members later, BCS has provided Buffalonians with an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to private vehicle ownership. Adam Blair, a senior environmental design major and founding research associate for BCS, explains how it works. 'You can sign up for as little as $5 a month. As long as you have two years' driving experience [without] any major infractions, we'll pass you through,' said Blair. 'To reserve a car, you can go online or call. We issue you your own key fob [to access the car], and then you return it to the same spot where you picked it up.' Car sharing is ideal for those who don't own a vehicle, but need one for the occasional errand or doctor's appointment - the reason why Creighton Randall, an urban planning graduate student and BCS's founding director, considers Buffalo a perfect market for it. 'Over 31 percent of households in Buffalo do not own a car. That is higher than almost every other medium-sized city in the country,' said Randall. 'Despite popular opinion, we have a decent transit system and people living near downtown can generally get around on the bus or train, so we have the conditions that pair well with car sharing.' With the UB bus system and a number of students without vehicles, BCS has recently begun reaching out to the university. One of its newest additions is a 2009 Toyota Yaris parked near South Campus's Townsend Lot. Emily Bauer, a senior ecology and evolutionary biology major, has been a BCS member for two months and finds the South Campus hub particularly handy. 'Since I live off campus, BSC allows me [the chance] to grab groceries and run other errands at my convenience, instead of relying solely on public transportation and other rides,' said Bauer. 'BCS is affordable and allows students without a car to have access to the Buffalo community and all its shops, services and entertainment opportunities.' Bauer, who has utilized similar car sharing programs in other cities, is happy that Buffalo is following suit. 'More car share programs in more cities mean people will have less of a reliance on their vehicles, which is good for the environment, the community and their wallet,' she said. Bauer's point is valid, according to AAA. They found that car-sharing members typically drive 20 to 40 percent less. 'When you buy a car, you're already paying for it so you drive it [frequently] to get your money's worth,' Blair said. 'If you flip that [model] and pay for your car by the hour, you're going to try to do more things all in one trip.' As more people come to realize its environmental and money-saving benefits, BCS continues to grow. A fifth of its current membership is affiliated with the university, and BCS seeks to expand on this number in the future. For more information, visit www.BuffaloCarShare.org. 'We hope to reach out to Amherst and work with the university to put hubs on North Campus,' Blair said. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

No indication of foul play in Orrange death

Early last Thursday morning, Nicholas Orrange was tragically killed in a one car accident. Orrange was a very active and busy senior, involved in the Student Association as the Special Interest Service and Hobbies Coordinator and former president of the College Democrats. Orrange lost his life after his '98 Pontiac crashed into a retaining wall located at the intersection of Sheridan Drive and Harlem Road, only half a mile from where his family resides. Although his destination is unknown, he had been running errands that night, according to his mother, Cheryl Beamer. 'We know that he went to Mighty Taco that night,' Beamer said. 'He also had the habit of stopping for gas and cigarettes at a station down the road.' Beamer added there is no indication of foul play as the investigation into the accident continues. 'Police have told us that he was definitely not using his cell phone and that initial results indicate no drugs or alcohol where involved,' Beamer said. 'If it was something extreme, it would have showed up immediately.' Official toxicology results are expected within the next two weeks, according to officials at the Amherst Police Department, but no evidence of drugs or alcohol were present on Orrange's person or in the car. 'They really don't know what happened,' Beamer said. 'It could have been black ice, he could have been cut off, or he could have been reaching for something. There were no witnesses to the crash and it sounds like it could just be a tragedy.' Beamer added that Nick was always one to wear his seatbelt, although reports indicate that he was not wearing it during the crash. Orrange also had a clean driving record, with no prior tickets or history of bad driving and had taken a driver education course as well. 'We may never know [what happened],' Beamer said. 'I talked with him not too long before [the accident] and he had made plans with me the next day; he talked to my father shortly after and was going to do a couple of things for him over the weekend.' The Student Association and president Ernesto Alvarado have wasted no time in helping Orrange's family. Rubber bracelets, similar to the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets have been ordered and will be on sale sometime next week. All proceeds will go toward a scholarship in Orrange's name at his alma mater, St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Although times are tough in 350 Student Union after the loss of a close friend and colleague, Alvarado says Orrange would not want to see people moping around and being depressed. 'The wake helped out a lot – we got to meet his family and other friends, but it was rough,' Alvarado said. 'The weekend was really rough for us. There isn't a time when we don't think about Nick or that he isn't in the back of our minds.' A memorial service is being put together in honor of Orrange and his name will appear on a brick outside the Student Union through the Name a Brick program. SA Vice President Greg Robbins has temporally assumed Orrange's duties until an election can be held to fill the position, according to Alvarado. 'We're trying to move on, but not forget … we're focusing on the good times and the great things Nick did,' Alvarado said. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Where do I go from here?

As I pop off the cap to what may very well be my thousandth beer and promptly begin to pour its contents down my throat, I can't help but notice a change. Maybe it's the nine percent alcohol-by-volume, but it's more than likely the fact that I celebrated my 21st birthday this week. There's nothing like turning 21 years old and buying alcohol for your first time. You stop to take a look back at where you came from, but also to the future and where you're headed. Five years ago, I had just turned 16 years old and was a sophomore at Ballston Spa High School. At the time, I couldn't wait to get out of town and go on to live my life. Looking back now, though, I realize that I was lucky to have grown up in that town. It's not the town itself that I often find myself longing to see, but the people I left behind who still live there. My closest friends growing up are still there and spend almost every day together. I told myself that when I left for Buffalo, things wouldn't change between us. They would forever be the people I could always count on. While my core group of friends still falls under that category, I can't help but think of all the people that I used to see every week and who I now haven't communicated with in years. As much as I hate growing apart from the people who made growing up so much fun for me, I know that part of my life is over and I have to move on. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I was alone when I came to Buffalo for my freshman year. Since I was born, I had lived in Ballston Spa and had spent every day with the same people for 18 years. This put me at a disadvantage; I realized that until that moment, I never had to go out and make new friends. Fortunately for me, though, I was placed on the third floor of Goodyear Hall. No other spot on campus means as much to me as that floor. It was there, during a rather intense session of hallway dodgeball, that I met the people I'm happy to call my housemates and best friends. They, along with everyone else I have become friends with over the past two years, are responsible for making UB more fun then I could've ever imagined, and for that I am forever in their debt. It's with them that the next year-and-a-half of my life will be spent, and I can hardly wait to see what trouble we can get ourselves into. But once those 18 months are up, it's over. From that point, the path becomes blurred. My college career is more than halfway over and my aspirations for life are still shrouded in mystery even from myself. I know I would like to work in journalism for the rest of my life, but that's the extent of it. Maybe I will head to Cleveland where my favorite magazine is based. Or maybe even farther, to the West Coast. I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm going to make the absolute best of my remaining time here and make sure I have no regrets. E-mail: james.twigg@ubspectrum.com

Saying goodbye to Nick

Student Association Special Interest Service and Hobbies Coordinator Nicholas Orrange was killed in a one-car crash on Thursday. He was 22 years old.

Google rocks China

The California-based search engine giant Google drew a line in the sand against China with its announcement to cease censoring its search results on Google's Chinese servers.

Hammering Akron

On two occasions last season, Keith Dambrot, head coach of the Akron men's basketball team, referred to Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon as 'his guy.'

Life of a gamer

Down with the sickness

Coming into Thursday's road game at Bowling Green, the men's basketball team had only won one game at Anderson Arena.

"Fear, hope and forgiveness"

One woman's story of the power of hope and faith will be gracing the stage at UB this spring when the play 'Miracle in Rwanda' arrives on campus.

Share your memories of Nicholas Orrange

Share your thoughts, memories and condolences for the family of UB student Nicholas Orrange, who was killed in a car accident early Thursday morning in Amherst.

Haitian terror

There's a unique opportunity presented with this desolation: the world can really improve the lives of the Haitian people. It can be accomplished.

A walk for hope

In 2006, Melissa Reed Chudy, development director for the Amherst Youth Foundation, had a vision of opening an Amherst coffeehouse where local youth could come together in a safe, fun and friendly environment.

Bulls fail to fly with Falcons

The last thing the women's basketball team needed after suffering consecutive losses, was a road matchup against a team that has won all of its games this entire decade.

Special effects aren't everything

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Guess I never got the memo

If I ever meet Ke$ha, I'm going to ask her what it means to 'wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy.' I mean I've had my fair share of 'college experiences,' but I still don't get the reference.

The Blitz

· Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has found himself in trouble yet again. The third-year pro has been accused of stealing $20 from a woman at a TGI Friday's restaurant in Orchard Park last month.