UB92

One of the things that really stood out watching this game was that the team didn’t really look organized or with a plan on either side of the ball. I wonder what practices look like. The contrast with Oats is stark. When Oats took over UB, he already had like ten years as a head coach (albeit in HS), but he apparently ran things like you would in a D1 program. He sort of knew what he was doing right from the jump. Our new coach may have a lot of experience in doing a variety of jobs in a top notch D1 program like Nova, but no one could have watched that game today and not be concerned with the the future. At times, it looked like an intramural team playing together (or worse…a pickup game). Even Reggie ball…with those handoffs on the perimeter, was a plan. I know it is only a few games, but I am sort of scratching my head about what that was. Maybe there was a disciplinary issue. Maybe he is trying out different players in different groupings. But whatever it was, it looked non-competitive. That’s about the most damning thing I could say.

And so it starts…

NSFW

I am sort of interested to see whether we make progress on defense and in limiting the turnovers. I think we can come in under the number...but lose a 4 or 5 point game. If we get blown out and lose by 15 or so...I think we would be looking at some of those early Reggie single-digit win seasons...

As is well-documented, those who make these lines are really, really good. If they say we are 6.5 point favorites, then I expect a UB victory.

The shattered glass is in the street and has been run over by several cars, causing damage to many tires. Not a large gash, but a slow leak that you won’t know about for a while, unfortunately…

We were outscored second half by a D2 team in a competitive game that could have gone either way in the last minute or so. All of that isn't good. The coach has been tight-lipped, for the most part. Here is what he said after the game. "We just had some lapses where we let them back in, we're going to clean up take care of the ball," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "As for the win, first win, it's all about the players. Glad that we were able to stay together and get it done." In some other place I read, he spoke about the physicality of the game and being positive about that (and getting to the line). I am going to try and give him a pass for a while. Basically I'd like to see a better performance, especially on the defensive end, in February as opposed to now. That's what I am looking for.

Ultimately, the MAC is sort of a transition league between FCS and G5…let’s face it. The MAC is the worst FBS conference now. We happen to have some very green coaches who are leaning on the job. It sort of “is what it is” at the moment. We don’t have to get much better to be competitive next year, but I am baffled as to why we are doing what we are doing with the QB play…especially when thinking about the future. I haven’t looked yet, but we have gone back 20 years now in sports…at least the top sports. I was hoping we would never go back…but the sleeping giant that awakening a while back…is asleep again. Probably time to think about new leadership for the athletic department.

This is an interesting take. You have to figure that he has had many conversations with Jay Wright. Wright was the slow-and-steady type in his first head gig (at Hofstra). I don't know enough about Wright's style to have any insights -- maybe someone can dig up something on that. But I think the message of "figure out what you have" in the OOC schedule is probably good advice...at the potential detriment of some losses. Massey is more optomistic than I would have thought...and has UB winning 7 of their next 11 games. https://masseyratings.com/cb2024/979

I don’t want to go too deep here, but UB administration made a conscious decision on where sports fits within the hierarchy of the university. This is evident from the past five or so years. Whatever any administrator says about it, winning isn’t the primary thing. If it was, things would look different. Of course, successes will be lauded and winning is important, but it is not first on the list. UB, as an institution, has different aims. I have only one alma mater and I bleed blue, but that was one tough game to watch. We basically are a training ground for the head coach (and some other staff coaches) to learn on the job. It is what it is. I look forward to the confluence of some good luck and creative thinking from the next AD in the future.

That would be Lafayette College, in Easton, PA. It is the home of Crayola. Lafayette is pretty, pretty, pretty good. They beat Holy Cross and are 7-2 this year. All kidding aside, I suspect we aren’t more than a five point favorite or so for that game next year.

I know this isn’t going to happen, but this is a good time of the year to see what we have in another QB. What have we seen on Gunnar Gray? The backup they used isn’t really a passer. I’d like to see someone other than Snyder at this point. We are not going anywhere, so let’s see what we have

Here is the guy. https://ubbulls.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/dj-mangas/506 Maybe he was creative and cutting edge, but I suspect he is figuring out what to do when he is the guy calling the plays in real time (and not being an analyst of position coach). Of course, he is limited a lot by the offensive line and the limitations of the QB. All a learning experience for him.

This is really it. The OC...he is learning on the job, truly. He makes Kotelnicki look like an offensive mastermind. And people complained vehemently about him. Someone wrote in another post that we look like a HS team. We kind of do. Especially on the special teams.

I think all 11 players on Toledo knew that was going to be a fake.

Pace, a D2 school, beat St. Johns by 4 in an exhibition. Daemen was ranked 8th in D2 last year (East), while Pace was 5th. Considering UB won and St. Johns lost, and the competition level being the same, I am confident that UB will be among the favorites in the MAC (and the Mid-Majors, in general). --- I am joking...I just wanted to get here before someone else posted this...but was more serious!

I am gonna guess that Kaulig has put money towards this as well. He was a former Zip QB so the sport connection is deep. As we all know, it is much easier to make an impact in basketball since there are fewer players. Also, unlike football, Akron basketball isn’t a joke. I know the UB Development Division had their best year ever last year, but I don’t think they are as focused on NIL or athletic collectives as they are with other items. We need some very successful UB alumni who have a lot of money (from business) AND a strong connection with athletics.

Hopefully there were a lot of recruits and donors at the game.

UB had a couple of poorly timed penalities -- one took points off the board. Akron isn't very good on offense, but UB was little better. It was a game we could have easily lost, but found a way. Early in the 4th quarter I turned to my father and said "this is going to overtime" and he agreed. There are some poor MAC teams this year and they are inconsistent. I mean, on paper it would seem that CMU is better than UB. They beat a reasonable USA team on the road and had some success versus the Irish. But they were all out to beat EMU as 10 point home favorites. They come into UB Stadium as 3 point road favorites and, to me, this game can be anything. Anything from a 42 - 10 Buffalo win to a 42 - 10 Buffalo loss are in play -- and anything in between. Snyder is certainly not "the guy", but he now has experience and that has value. Go Bulls. Let's make it two-in-a-row this Saturday.

There’s a lot of hatred in this post…certainly very tangential to the actual game.

I've seen it at 3 points in some places. The weather looks pretty good. It may be a high-scoring, entertaining game. Lots of big plays.

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.

Game preview. https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/9/20/23880151/2023-week-4-preview-buffalo-bulls-louisiana-ragin-cajuns-mac-sun-belt-sep-23-cole-snyder-zeon-chriss The running QB thing...yeesh. My guess is UB plays spy on the QB, sells out to stop the run and then we see how the DBs hold up in coverage. Could be a lot of big plays. Need to counter some of those big plays we give up with a pick 6 (or two!) Go Bulls

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?

Isn't this the week we turn it around...on our way to a 9-3 season? Only takes one week to turn it around. This is it! Go Bulls!