Could their be two Bulls victories today?

[Jim Johnson]

Slay what? Bulls out to gore Pitt

UB tries to shatter the BCS mystique

By Rodney McKissic NEWS SPORTS REPORTER

Updated: 09/06/08 6:18 AM

PITTSBURGH — Back in 2000, Toledo played at Penn State and won. Chalk one up for the Rockets. A year later, they shocked Minnesota. In 2003, Bowling Green knocked off Purdue and Northwestern in the same season and dropped Pittsburgh just last week. Slowly, Mid-American Conference programs are chipping away at the Bowl Championship Series mystique.

So what’s up with the University at Buffalo?

“We’re building off what we did last season,†said junior defensive tackle Dane Robinson, “but we haven’t tasted success against a BCS opponent.â€

The Bulls (1-0) enter tonight’s game against Pitt at Heinz Field (6 p. m., Radio 1230 AM, SNY) knowing that to move up to an unexpected 2-0 start for the first time since 1983, they must do something they have done only once before. They must defeat a BCS opponent.

“We have a lot of players who played against the likes of Auburn, Rutgers and Penn State,†said sophomore strong safety Davonte Shannon, who is from Jeannette, Pa. “I heard how we played at Auburn and obviously last year at Penn State. While we didn’t finish well, we competed against them. We can play with the big teams.â€

Playing with the big boys is one thing, beating them is entirely different. Since 1999 the Bulls have played BCS programs 22 times and suffered 21 losses by an average of 29.4 points. Even in the three years since Turner Gill took over and rejuvenated the program — including last year when the Bulls shared the MAC East Division championship — the Bulls have been outscored by seven BCS opponents, 251-70. The closest UB came to knocking off a BCS opponent under Gill was last season’s 20-12 loss at Syracuse.

UB’s last win against a BCS foe was a 34-11 victory at Rutgers in 2002. And although the Bulls have since elevated the status of their program, back then the Scarlet Knights were not to be confused with either USC or Georgia. A week before the UB loss, Rutgers lost to Division I-AA Villanova.

So much goes into BCS opponent’s dominance over the Bulls, from superior talent to nearly unlimited depth to national reputation and pure intimidation. Yet, chances are, UB won’t blink.

Take, for example, the last three games against BCS programs. The Bulls rang up 24 points at Penn State, including a halfback option pass for a touchdown, and

trailed Baylor, 10-7, at the half. The game against the Orange will perhaps never sit right. The Bulls entered the red zone four times and kicked four field goals.

“We have to finish those games off,†Shannon said.

Meanwhile, despite coming off an unsettling 27-17 loss to Bowling Green, the Panthers (0-1) have the advantage of their surroundings. The Panthers remain contenders for the Big East title, so expect their fans to incessantly wave their arms and dig deep into their throats to back a club that cannot afford to fall to 0-2. A slow start will turn those potential cheers into boos.

“When people are disappointed they are going to express it,†said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, who has come under fire this week. “That’s part of the business and you’ve got to be able to handle that.â€

But the deer-in-the-headlights approach to large gatherings dissipated for many of the Bulls when they played in front of 80,000-plus at Auburn two years ago. Last year at Penn State, they played in front of a crowd of nearly 108,000.

“It shouldn’t be that big of a deal,†Gill said. “We have a handful of freshmen who haven’t experienced that, but they’ll get past that as we get into the stadium and get ready to play some football. It does help that you’ve been there and done that.â€

The key to beating the Panthers is stopping the run. Last season sophomore LeSean Mc- Coy enjoyed the most prolific season by a Pitt freshman tailback since Tony Dorsett when he set a Big East freshman record with 1,328 yards rushing. But against Bowling Green, McCoy was held to 71 yards on 23 carries, and Pitt had only 46 yards in the final three quarters after outgaining the Falcons, 137-6, in the first quarter. The Bulls also have to be concerned with senior tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling, who also rushed for 71 yards, but did it on just seven carries.

“They can take the ball into the end zone at any given time,†Gill said. “Our defense is going to have to play very, very well.â€

If they do, the Bulls will continue to remove some of the BCS mystique and move up to 2-0. If not, it’s 1-1. The formula is simple.

“We have to continue the trend of moving in a positive direction,†Robinson said.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/432155.html

[TheBullies]

"UB Bulls" just doesn't roll off the tongue like "USF Bulls," does it?

[smazza]

there is only usf bulls

[BrahmanBulliever]

And getting beat by a less than spectacular Pitt pretty much says that as well as anything.

[GarySJ]

As historically awful as Buffalo has been, competing with even a bad Pitt team is a huge step in the right direction for the other Bulls.