Sportsfan

59 minutes ago, DaBulls99 said:

Not if you can’t offer them $$ right away

Agree, they will chase the $$ first over playing time.  

The majority of the FBS schools need to start their own division and stop pretending they are in the same League as the Top 30 - 40 teams who self fund their athletic department.

44 minutes ago, UBinMD said:

Losing our 4th 2022 recruit in Cameron Ball. 3-star TE. This is just painful to watch. Now we are trying to backfill about 30 people and hope the current commits decide to stay. You can’t win many games with freshman playing (see UBMBB). Program stability is key, but that is really hard these days. If you lose they leave, if you win they leave.

College football now has 40% roster turnover a year, between the seniors and transfers.  Hard to image that doesn't impact the quality of the product on the field.

This is just what the coaches deal with now until someone finds a way to slow down the portal entries.

4 hours ago, Tee4three said:

The biggest issue is the lack of ability/talent/skill to score 

Yesterday's game really highlighted the current issues, before we knew it the bulls were down 20pts. It wasn't because Western Kentucky was doing anything special it was because UB couldn't hit open shots

I think the in game/practice/prep coaching is there I see the ball movement on offense and much better spacing than the first few games, on defense I see the communication the effort and defense switching from man to zone and generally seems to work. This is all coaching 

It really comes down to talent and were that falls on GH3 shoulders I wouldn't know because it's all recruiting and retention and a lot of other things very well could have played a part in this 

Starting 3 freshman at guard is not a receipt for any success.  Add in your top scorer from last year is hurt, so basically there are 4 new starters, with 3 being freshment.  Also, 2 of the first 3 off the bench are freshman.  Add in a new coaching staff.  

Year 2 will be very telling (as year 3 was with Mo).  Mo has the program trending downward, Becky B. upward.

2023 Massey Football Ranking - 123 out of 133

2023 - 2024 Basketball Ranking - 353 out of 362

Not sure how someone keeps their job with this type of performance.

As noted in many articles, the MAC is considered the worst conference in FBS for Football, and ranked between 18 - 20 in Basketball.

Is this really the goal of the SUNY system, for their flagship institution to be aligned with such mediocity, yet position the school academically in the Top 50 Public Universities and an AAU member.

Would really like to hear the leadership long term goals on academic and athletic alignment, as not many schools are so disconnect academically and athletically.  

1. Hardnett - Arkansas State
2. Blocker - IUPUI (D2)
3. Jack - Dayton
4. Ceaser - Old Dominion
5. Mading - Norfolk State
6. Powell - UTEP
7. Jones - Iowa State

Only Powell seems to found a similar role and is playing the minutes he had a Buffalo.

Jones is what is more common than not, try to move up and find yourself on the bench as a backup.  There was a reason he was not recruited originally to Power 6 schools.  The P6 coaches really don't miss often on players in regards to what level their skill set is aligned with.  Jones is a good player in the MAC, and a average (backup) at a higher level.  Watching him last year, he was not fleet of foot, or a great defensive player. Good height and a good shooter.  That translates into role player in Power 6.  I think the P6 coaches are brillant, as you can recruit a experienced D1 player (ex starter) as a backup player and it improves your team (Games and Practice) and don't need have a lot of freshman coming off the bench.

BTW, the group aboves 3 pt % are aweful at their new schools.  Jones is shooting 24% from 3 and 33% overall and 58% FT.

MAC is really not a high level basketball conference (see below 2022 - 2023 USATODAY rankings), so what Nate did in recruiting continued be be more amazing as time unfolds.

Very difficult season when you have 3 Freshman Guards starting for your team (unless you are Duke or Kentucky with future lottery picks).  Fulcher is basically a freshmen, as a D2 JuCo is more equivalent to going to a community college.  Prep Schools are better competition.  

I like his quickness, but competely inexperienced as a D1 player.  Looks more like he is playing street ball, so he needs to slow down his game, work on his shot and learn how to play defense.  All 3 have potential, but sooo inexperienced it is unfortunate they couldn't find a couple guards in the portal last year.  

The OL might see some improvement, with their 2023 game experience.

5 hours ago, RecoveringHillbilly said:

Great points on the lopsided defense. We have to rebuild the line and find SOME kind of pass rushers. But all-MAC talent behind them with LB's, Grant, add McCartherens too. 

Running game was merely ok so hopefully Sperling becomes the guy to replace Cook. A healthy McMillan is key, and Morrow should fit into Marlyn Johnson's spot and hopefully show why he had so many P5 offers. Jevell Fugerson has the talent profile, but has to grown and earn a spot.

If this is the choices for next year at WR, and no QB, this offense looks to be in trouble.  BTW, no Jevell Fugerson on the roster.

Clearly a disappointing season for the fans, players and coaches.  Getting rid of another offensive coordinator and a new offensive system for player in 2024.  Not great continuity by the staff.

A bigger question is where is the talent going to come from.  Besides Justin Marshall, the Transfer Portal as not been successful for UB.  A bunch of average players replacing another group of average players.  Where are the Anthony Johnston, KJ Osborn, Malcom Koonce, Patterson brothers, Jacob Gall, Mike Novisky, etc. etc. etc.  Heck, even Jeff Quinn recruited Tyree Jackson.

For being labelled a "Great Recruiter", Lance was far superior of a talent evalurator at this stage then Mo.

Grant, Murdoch, Crawford have the "look", but all on defense.  The offensive recruiting is a little more difficult to find a "future" All MAC talent.

The team was 3-9 this year.  A lot has to change between now and next season to even think this team will be any better.

3 players on All MAC (excluding Special Teams), with only 2 returning at this point (Grant and Doty) is not a great foundation to build on.

I couldn't name offensive player that showed explosive ability, and not a QB that can lead the team to a Championship Game in the MAC.

Really have to question the Recruiting Rankings in Group of 5.

22 hours ago, BrooklynBull said:

Hopefully they will split the years when we play them at home and on the road.  For the last few years we have had to make two trips to that area every other season.

I am against a lack of divisions and the Big 10 is the best example.  The last two years Michigan and Ohio State would have played each other in back to back weeks.  Last it could have knocked both out the playoff.

The expanded playoff starting next year will also lessen the importance of the championship games he Power 4 Conferences.

Assuming the goal of the conferences is to get the best 2 teams in the Championship game every year (for TV).  Iowa was a terrible opponent for Michigan and OSU rematch or PSU would have much greater interest.  This is all about entertainment.  

Seems most of today's college players see college academics in a bit different way then in bygone eras.  

They see if first as a training ground, pay for play, path to making money in sports.  Coaches see it the same way, as there is just toooo much money in college football to believe that they are attending school for their degree.

The NLI and Portal has eliminated the aspect of "student" in Student / Athlete (except for Olympics sport).

UB needs to decide their future in athletics, or the end result might be a rent-a-body school with a 0-12 record.  Like them or not you have to play the game by the rules of today, not yesterday.

1 hour ago, DaBulls99 said:

Dolac was solid but too slow to cover. Won’t catch on in the pros. Wish him the best but we were better covering after he went down. Tackling was another story…

Hey, we love these guys and they represent UB very well.  But there are a lot dilusional players in todays world about their NFL dream.  They should be chasing their next professional via education.

Although, there may be a nice payday in a lower tier Power 4 team (i.e, Iowa State, Kansas, etc.), but the big boys in College Football have players that have it all (size, speed, mental toughness, etc.).  

So what really went wrong with the Mo hire?  What skill is he really missing that has lead to such a disappointing start.  With a search committee, you would think that their decision criteria would include more than 'recruiting expert".  That is the less important trait of a great Head Coach.

With little information, it is hard to tell, but his complete lack of leadership experience, journeyman / gypse training, internal issues with UB / SUNY leadership, his recruiting style / approach, etc.

Only someone with close ties (BrooklynBull) would know, but "Donors" cannot really be happy with the downward trend of the athletic department over the past 3-4 years.

If this was the stock market, UB Athletics would be a "Strong Sell".

8 hours ago, DaBulls99 said:

QB play was plain terrible. You live and die by the QB and we died. OL did us no favors. I thought pass blocking was ok, run blocking was horrific. Especially 3rd/4th and short. 

Everything about the offense was terrible this year, from coaches to every position. Pass blocking was for 3 yard passes, so not really what I would call pass blocking.  I couldn't find 1 bright spot to highlight.  Assuming there will be zero Bulls on the All MAC team offense this year.  What a difference in 2 years with the same QB, and to think Mo fired the OC after last year.  Wow, this is the worst offense in UB in a long, long time.

8 hours ago, MKBullsfan said:

I think coaches should be given 3 years to prove themselves. If by year 3 you haven’t shown you can recruit/coach or showing an positive trend with wins increasing each year then change is needed. The AD should have 5 years to show results trending in a positive direction or conference championships from his own hires. Have we seen this? Do fans feel excited to watch Bball or football anymore?

UB President is nearing retirement

AD has underachieved across football and basketball

Change will come, just not until President retires

41 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said:

I disagree. I’m not coming at you but you can fix turnovers and defense over time. Generally speaking, it’s about teaching. For example, without getting into the weeds, what’s our ball screen defensive philosophy? Do we switch on screens? Do we swarm on D? It’s all about having a philosophy and implementing it. Yes you have to get guys to commit and buy in but it’s coaching. Coaching in practice and communication on the floor are vital. As for turnovers, not having a true PG hurts no doubt, but there have been times so far where I’ve seen Smith or Chatman dribbling on the perimeter, PG or not, that’s not really what you want. Today Boldin had 7 TOs, that screams at me a freshman trying too hard and forcing the issue. Again some of the stuff I’ve see on tape is coachable. It will just take time. 

We suck right now. Maybe we didn’t think it would be this bad but I guess you gotta bottom out before building back. Gonna be a long likely losing season but let’s see if over time we can improve. 

Alnutt is the architect of the current athletic department.  Not good afer 5 years.  Not sure anyone can say he has done a good job since taking over.

11 hours ago, Bluebird96 said:

Big game tonight for #25 Kansas vs #21 KSU.  Jayhawks just tied it up 7-7 late in Q1.  With UB’s season all but over I’ll be rooting for LL and imagining where our program might be today if only we could’ve afforded to keep him around.

The AD made the decision to let him leave, not an affordability issue from what the story is

Mark Alnutt was hired as University at Buffalo's Athletic Director on March 18, 2018.

Football, Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball are the key elements of D1 athletics.  They reminder are considered Olympic Sports.

At the time, the coaches were Lance (Danny White), Nate (Danny White) and Felica (Danny White).

In March, 2018 the Women's basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16, after winning the MAC Championship

In March, 2018 the Men's basketball team wins the MAC Champion and advances to second round of NCAA

In March, 2019 the Men's basketball finish the season 32-4 and a Top 25 Ranking at year end and win 1st round game in NCAA

In November 2018 and 2020 the Football team reaches the MAC Championship Game and in 2020 finishes in Top 25.

I guess 1 more year will tell the story.

Without a better QB and some explosive players on offensive, statistics would tell you teams cannot win with defense only and turnovers (except for maybe Iowa). Is Iowa football really the vision of Mo?  The 2 QB approach is what teams without a good QB.  Both are below average at what they are "in for".

Top recruiting classes in the MAC the last 2 years.  3-4 Freshman on Defense have All MAC potential.

Mo really needs to keep his coordinators for next year.

Not really sure I understand Mo's narrative that the "games are close in the 4Q".  I guess, but isn't the objective to win.  If you are continuely being beat in the 4Q, would indicate you are being outcoached or the other teams have superior talent.  UB doesn't have a bunch of starters in their 1st year in college, actually a lot of experience is in the starting lineup.

Surprising it took a whole season to determine that they don't have a TE who can block.  They move a center to "blocking TE" in 11th game of year.

Next year, with 6 QB on the roster and what we have seen this season from the position, 5-7 would seem reasonable unless there is a transfer portal option.

Transfers from P5 Schools - would seem the majority do not make any impact (Justin Marshall excluded).  I guess in most cases there is a reason they are not playing, and it isn't due to their measureables (which is what the P5 schools recruit).

What Lance is doing at Kansas is amazing.  He really does have the formula.  

On 9/22/2023 at 11:54 AM, UB92 said:

I know...I read his bio before.   But I strongly expect that you can find a similar bio for other G5 coaches in their first season as a DC with a defense that was predicted to be okay not be, basically, last in D1.   

Do you have any specifics?  Do others have specifics on why we have performed so bad that can be laid specifically on this DC?

Note that I am not a DC apologist (obviously), but am trying to figure out why we are so porous on defensive when there was much optimism on this side of the ball prior to the start of the year.

Your choices 

1. Players 

2. Coaches 

3. Scheme 

4. All of the Above

Note:  Defense has 3 new coaches out of 5, and one being the DC who never was a position coach in FBS. 

On 9/19/2023 at 5:15 AM, BrooklynBull said:

The game is set for noon and ESPN+ on September 30, 2023.

Hard to imagine being an 1.5 underdog to Akron.

Really hope they can muster a win and build some momentum in MAC play.  

1 hour ago, UB92 said:

Can you speak to this point I have bolded a bit more?

What do you see (beyond the obvious points, yards, etc.) that point to him being over his head?   

Not a reflection on his potential, but this is not a resume of experiences of a Defensive Coordinator for team aspiring to be MAC Champions and was recently in the Top 25.

Weekly Narrative:  We follow a process that is leading to terrible results, so we have to fix the problems.

Translation = Our coaches are not very good in determining/calling what defense we should be in, or what plays to call.

I do agree with him in that he has enough quality players with experience to win.  Coach Wright is obvisouly in way over his head as DC.

Can he really fix the coaching staff issues this year?  Fixing this problem seen like a offseason action, not something you can do mid-season.

He definitely seems like a good person, and takes accountability.  Seems the breakdown came when he hired Coach Wright to be Special teams coordinator, Coach Bailey bails on him (after 1 year), and he promotes Coach Wright to DC (who btw, spent most of his short career coaching special teams)