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University at Buffalo - Athletics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Athletics

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Athletics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Athletics Grades:

Quick Stats

Athletic Association
  • NAA
  • NCAA
Athletic Division NCAA Division I-A
Athletic Conferences Football: Mid-American Conference
Basketball: Mid-American Conference
School Colors Blue and white
School Nickname Victor E. Bull, Victoria S. Bull
Men Playing Varsity Sports 284 - 3%
Women Playing Varsity Sports 255 - 3%
Students Receiving Athletic Financial Aid Football: 86
Basketball: 25
Baseball: 29
Cross Country/Track: 51
Other Sports: 162
Graduation Rates of Athletic Financial Aid Recipients Football: 25%
Basketball: 33%
Baseball: 67%
Cross Country/Track: 60%
Other Sports: 80%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

In the early ‘90s, UB’s athletic programs moved up to
Division I after decades in Division III. Five years ago, the Bulls made another quick jump to the competitive Mid-American Conference, home to powerhouses like Marshall and Kent State. Despite huge levels of promotion (particularly for football), the teams have failed to inspire much of a following on campus. The hapless football team is so pathetic they are often ranked near the bottom of ESPN’s “Bottom 10.” Over 20,000 students usually come out for the home opener, but interest trails off as the losses mount. Some students genuinely hate the football team, and professors complain about it every day. They say the huge amounts of money that are invested in the program (each of the 100 players on the squad gets a full scholarship) could be better invested in academics.

But in the spring of 2004, the basketball team went on a tear and UB got a taste of the potential of big-time sports. Toward the end of the season, thousands of blue-clad “Mighty Maniacs” crowded like sweaty sardines in the large student section, cheering and chanting loudly for the entire game. The fans even rushed the court after a stunning home victory against Kent State (a top 30 team) and a first-round playoff win against Northern Illinois. The other sports teams have had mixed success—wrestling and women’s soccer are both strong in their conferences, while tennis and baseball are weak. UB fields top-notch club teams, and many students also join intramural sports leagues which are generally taken more seriously at UB than at other schools.

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Buffalo Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Athletics at University at Buffalo

tylermc419

'16

Automotive Engineering Technician

5.0
A+

Swimming

Swimming is my sport of choice and the pool/programs here for swimming are amazing. the pool is always open for my uses as well as competitive swimming.

Feb 08, 2012

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Athletics at University at Buffalo

lmaniac2

'13

Psychology

3.8
B+

Big Into Sports

The Alumni Arena is a huge place dedicated to sports. There is also a huge stadium. UB seems to be big into football with lots of team spirit and support from Bull fans.

Jan 16, 2012

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Athletics at University at Buffalo

Sunshinex3

'15

Dance

3.1
B-

Sports and Students: a Disconnect

Athletics at UB are pretty separated from the general students. When you walk on campus you do not even feel like there are athletes around you. Football games are not that fun, which was a disappointment. There are few fun sporting events to attend. Division 1 does not always mean that they're good. As a student who is not involved in the sports, I barely even realize that there are sports on campus.

Dec 30, 2011

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Page 1 of 10

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How popular are varsity sports on campus?

How popular are intramurals and club sports?

How would you describe the athletic facilities?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Wrestling
Women's Varsity Sports
  • Basketball
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
Intramurals
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Dodgeball
  • Euchre
  • Flag Football
  • Floor Hockey
  • Kan-Jam (indoor, outdoor)
  • Racquetball
  • Roller hockey
  • Soccer (indoor, outdoor)
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
Club Sports
  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Bowling
  • Boxing
  • Cross country and track
  • Equestrian
  • Field hockey
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice hockey (men's and women's)
  • Kendo
  • Lacrosse (men's and women's)
  • Men's Crew
  • Men's Wrestling
  • Paintball
  • Racquetball
  • Rolley hockey
  • Rugby (men's and women's)
  • Seido Karate
  • Ski Team
  • Soccer (men's and women's)
  • Tae Kwon Do
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball (men's and women's)
Athletic Fields & Facilities
  • Alumni Arena
  • Clark Hall
  • Ellicott Fields

Most Popular Sports

As it improves in conference play, the men’s basketball team is starting to draw big crowds. The student section, also known as the Sea of Blue, is filled with vocal “Mighty Maniacs” (sponsored by Mighty Taco, a local Mexican food chain). After victories, everyone stands while the band plays the alma mater and the players run through the section giving the crowd high-fives. However, though Buffalo is a dyed-in-the-wool football town, the UB football team is consistently ranked among the worst in Division I-A. Though they draw nearly 10,000 fans per game, including a group of die-hards, most students respond to their losing ways with apathy or disdain. On the club sport side, UB has highly-ranked rugby and ultimate Frisbee teams. Students say the popular and well-organized intramural teams are a great way to meet people on campus.

Most Overlooked Teams

While UB’s marquee sports have struggled, several sports—including the wrestling team and the men’s and women’s soccer teams—are very competitive in the MAC.

School Spirit

In terms of school spirit, UB is far less than the sum of its parts. The University is made of many small communities—academic units, sports, clubs, and social groups, but these communities don’t add up to a cohesive whole. Most students are happy in their corner of the University, but can muster only lukewarm spirit for the larger institution. Students credit all the fun parts of their years in Buffalo (parties, friendships, achievements) to their communities within UB, while they blame the institution as a whole for all the depressing parts (huge classes, monolithic architecture, parking, and the weather). Since the 1990s, the administration has poured money into the football and basketball programs, hoping that their success would unite the campus. With the exception of basketball, this effort has yet to pay off (if anything, the football team’s problems have increased student apathy). Nevertheless, there’s a core of students at UB who love the school, despite its flaws. Many students grow to love Buffalo, as well.

Getting Tickets

Students are admitted free to all sporting events. Except for the first home football game of the season or late-season basketball games when the team is hot, you’ll never have trouble finding a seat.

Best Place to Take a Walk

Amherst’s popular jogging and cycling path runs through North Campus. Many students don’t know that there are also paths in Letchworth Woods (near the Ellicott Complex dorms) and Walton Wood Park (off Audubon Parkway just north of campus). Delaware Park, Buffalo’s magnificent public park, is a five-minute drive from South Campus.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Buffalo

Name: Christina Reisenauer

Hometown: Amherst, N.Y.

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