With Trent Edwards back at the helm, there will undoubtedly be concerns about his recent concussion and whether or not it will affect his play. Playing quarterback in the NFL is not a job for the fainthearted and there are a lot of fans that have opined he has not been the same since he was injured against Arizona last year and sat out for a few weeks. Many types of football injuries can end a player’s career, but a head injury can end a player’s quality of life long after their football career is over.
I was one of the fortunate players that never got “knocked out”, but I did get my bell rung on numerous occasions. My wife swears I have short term memory loss. Anyway…..what was I talking about? Oh yeah, head injuries are a lot harder to properly diagnose and treat than other types of football injuries.
Just when the walls look like they are about to come crashing back down, Buffalo finds some mortar.
After a week that left many fans harking back to last November’s falter, the Sabres found some new strength. Even with several starters out with injuries, the team pulled themselves out of the hole they had begun to dig, and put three solid games together in upending a trio of tough opponents. While the Edmonton Oilers are having some trouble early on, both the Calgary Flames and the Philadelphia Flyers were going to be measuring stick games for a Buffalo team who has been in want of some grit in recent years.
For the second time this season, the Canisius College hockey team scored the only goal of the game in the third period, defeating Connecticut on Sunday afternoon, 1-0. The win jumps the Griffs to third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings as the team is now 5-6-1 and 4-3-1 in league play.
“We battled right to the end today,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “It was a close game and we stayed sharp throughout the contest. Connecticut kept coming but we were able to match them in intensity. When the buzzer sounds and you see the victory, it is a good feeling.”
In a tense, tightly contested match the Niagara men’s soccer team was denied its first-ever MAAC Championship after falling to number two seed Loyola, 1-0, in double-overtime on Sunday from Lessing Field. The Greyhounds struck the game-winner with 23 seconds left in double-overtime.
“I’m very proud on how our team played today,” head coach Dermot McGrane said. “Losing Levi (Tesch) and (Justin) Roundy on red cards (Friday), we needed other guys to step up. I really believe if we would have gone into penalties, we would have won.”
The University at Buffalo wrestling team rallied to tie #25 Hofstra University, 16-16 at the David S. Mack Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. Facing a 3-0 deficit with only 16 seconds remaining, freshman Andrew Schutt scored on a late reversal and a three-point nearfall to lead the Bulls’ rally while recording his first dual victory.
The Pride held a 16-13 lead with one bout remaining at 141 between Schutt and the Pride’s Tyler Banks. Following scoreless back-to-back periods, Banks took an early 1-0 lead with an escape. The match came down to the final 16 seconds as Banks scored on a takedown to extend his lead. Trailing 3-0, Schutt quickly picked up a reversal just three seconds later to pull within one. With only five seconds remaining, Schutt managed to pick up three-back points for the decision. Banks collected riding time to bring the final of the bout to 5-4.
When it comes to meltdowns, Amy Winehouse has nothing on these Buffalo Bills.
It was the defining play of the game and for the Bills, their season. In the fourth quarter Sunday of a deadlocked game with Tennessee, the defense faced a third down and goal from just inside the two. Hold the Titans to a field goal and momentum was one their side. Allow a touchdown and the game is likely over.
Chris Johnson took a handoff from Vince Young and went smack dab into Bryan Scott and Paul Posluszny. Two guys went down. Johnson wasn’t one of them. He ran through both Bills defenders, into the end zone, and just like that the Bills were down a touchdown with 10:44 remaining to play.
From there the Bills did what has been customary this season. They folded like a lawn chair. A Titans field goal and two interception returns for touchdowns closed out the game, as the Bills gave up and gave out in their 41-17 defeat.
We’re live at the Alumni Arena as the UB Bulls are taking on Vermont at 5:30 in their 2009-10 home opener.
Reggie Witherspoon is back as coach for his 11th season. Under his guidance the Bulls have won at least 17 games in four of the last six seasons, including a 21-win campaign last year. Last year the Bulls earned a spot in the College Basketball Invitational for only their second postseason appearance as a Division I program
Senior Rodney Piece is back after leading the team in scoring last year with 14.8 points per game. The contest also marks the debut of sophomore Northern Arizona transfer Zach Filzen.
We’re providing live updates throughout the game, so get yourself friendly with that refresh button and lets see if the Bulls can kick off the season on a wining note.
It’s only the ninth game of the season, but from the Buffalo Bills perspective it may as well be January. If the Bills hope to even flirt with the possibility of getting into postseason contention, they’ll need to go on the road and defeat a Tennessee Titans team that started 0-6 but have won their past two games.
If history is any indication, the Bills have an excellent chance to win their third straight road game. Buffalo is 14-6 all time following their bye week.
But in recent years, Tennessee has owned the rivalry, winning five of the last six meetings. Of course, its hard for any Bills fan to remember any game that’s not the Music City Miracle. The Titans own a 25-16 lifetime lead in the series, including the bullshit call last second playoff loss in 2000.
Brockport (4-6/3-6) piled up 726 yards of total offense including 488 in the air and scored on four plays of 66 yards or longer in a 48-30 win over host Buffalo State (2-8/2-7) in the season finale I-90 Bowl Saturday at Coyer Field.
Senior quarterback Jake Graci (Farnham/Lakeshore) led the Golden Eagles, going 25 of 39 for 404 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Hector Rosas (Angola/Lakeshore) had six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, and Matt Newman (Unadilla/Unatego) caught five balls for 188 yards and a score. Tamere Shannon (Buffalo/McKinley) added three catches for 32 yards and a score and also threw a touchdown pass. Aaron Zurn (Sidney/Sidney) led the ground game with 21 carries for 172 yards and found the end zone twice. Derek DeCandia (Beacon/Beacon) and Nathan Bull (Brockport/Brockport) each had 10 tackles for Brockport.
The Sabres gained a lot of confidence last night by winning in a shoot out against a very talented, an ornery Calgary Flames team. The Sabres skated, hit and literally fought tooth and nail with the Western Conference powerhouse, putting their confidence level at a season high headed into tonight.
They’ll need all the confidence they can muster tonight as Buffalo storms into Philadelphia to take on the red-hot Flyers. Philadelphia has won five games in a row, including a 5-2 whupping they laid on Buffalo on their home ice last Friday.
To make the task of defeating Philly on their home ice more daunting, former Sabres’ star Daniel Briere is back in their lineup. He missed the last meeting between the teams with a muscle pull in his leg. He has 9 points in 11 games this season.
You would never know it by looking at their 1-19 record, but the Buffalo Stampede of the PBL (Premier Basketball League) were actually a success last year.
They were a success in the mere fact the club finished the season. After multiple failed attempts by other owners to bring professional basketball to Buffalo, Vincent Lesh stepped up the plate before last season and made sure history didn’t repeat himself.
Last year with a late fold of the Buffalo ABA team, the PBL approached Lesh about 6 weeks before the season started, asking him if he’d be interested in buying the Buffalo team. Lesh got his career started by owning multiple Buffalo area restaurants and clubs, all while promoting local and national concerts. When the PBL came to Vincent, he knew it was a must.
The Niagara men’s basketball team (0-1) dropped its season opener at Auburn (1-0) on Friday night, 69-65. The Purple Eagles held a seven-point lead with 2:24 remaining, but couldn’t get the ball to bounce their way down the stretch.
“I am very proud of our guys,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We had an SEC team beat on their home floor, but a couple plays didn’t go our way down the stretch.”
Niagara outrebounded the bigger Tigers, but were outmatched on the charity stripe by a 30-10 advantage.
I was hoping that last week’s chili con carne would be a good luck charm (or meal) for the Bills. You know, stealing a meal from the Texans, stealing victory… didn’t quite work out that way. But it’s a new Sunday, a new meal, and we think we got this.
Well, for one thing, the Titans suck. Shall I refresh your memory of Week 6? The epic FAIL against the Patriots? You’re right, of course I don’t need to remind you. Oh, and don’t be fooled by the past 2 weeks. They aren’t “warming up.” They’re about to get burned. Plus, we got Hardy, and Scott is back in good form.
But let me stop there. I’ll leave it at, “We’ll see how it goes.”
The Niagara men’s soccer team was well represented on the 2009 All-MAAC Teams. Midfielder Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) earned All-MAAC First Team honors, defender Anthony DiBiase (Richmond Hill, Ont.) was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and freshman forward Bryan DaCruz (Barrie, Ont.) was selected to the All-Rookie Team. Nine Purple Eagles were named to the All-Academic Team which were second most in the MAAC.
Tesch has been conjuring up plays for Niagara all season long. The talisman has taken over games for the Purple Eagles and has been a force to stop for opposing teams. Tesch, who leads the team with 64 shots, is third on the team in points (5 goals, 1 assist). Tesch struck home two game winning goals on the season (at William & Mary and Saint Peter’s).
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) office announced that it will impose a one-game suspension on University at Buffalo football student-athlete Andrew West for violating the MAC Sportsmanlike Conduct Bylaws during Buffalo’s game against Ohio on Nov. 10, 2009. West will be suspended for Buffalo’s next regular season game at Miami on Nov. 18, 2009.
The MAC determined that West’s actions during the fourth quarter of the Ohio contest violated the conference bylaws and sport operating codes section 8.03. “In the event of flagrant acts or additional offenses, violators shall be subject to public reprimand or suspension from additional contest(s) as the Commissioner deems appropriate.”
The top four teams in regular season Harvard Cup play will face off in two playoff games this weekend from All High Stadium. The Riverside Frontiers take on the Lafayette Mighty Violets while the first place Burgard Bulldogs clash with the upstart Bennett Tigers (Listen here)
# 1 Burgard Bulldogs vs. # 4 Bennett Tigers
Saturday, November 14, 2009
All High Stadium
Radio: 1440 AM, TV: Cable Channel 20
Internet: CLICK HERE or WJJL.com
Niagara begins the 2009-10 season on the road, taking on the Auburn Tigers. The Purple Eagles return four starters from last season’s 26-9 team that reached the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons. Senior Tyrone Lewis and Bilal Benn anchor the squad as First-Team All-MAAC performers.
The Purple Eagles are 7-4 in season openers under head coach Joe Mihalich, including a 3-1 mark away from the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center. NU has faced four SEC teams in school history with a 2-7 record. Both wins came against Tennessee.
A lot observers of MAAC basketball are quick to point out that the league is very guard-oriented, but this year’s edition of the Golden Griffins are looking to challenge those thoughts. Four juniors – Greg Logins, Rishawn Johnson, Tomas Vazquez-Simmons and Elton Frazier will all see time in the frontcourt this year for the Blue and Gold, and all four will look to build on two previous seasons of game experience.
Between those four juniors in the frontcourt, Canisius boasts a total of 244 games played and 146 career starts. Logins was honored as a Preseason All-MAAC third-team selection a few weeks ago at MAAC Media Day, Vazquez-Simmons is considered one of the league’s premier shot blockers and Johnson has worked hard to change his body-type, dropping nearly 60 pounds since walking onto campus prior to the start of the 2007-08 school year. Add in Frazier, one of the league’s most athletic players, and the Griffs’ frontcourt might be one of the most recognizable in the conference.
Last week, Coors Light began running a new commercial spot featuring former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy. Until now, it’s been hard to find a video anywhere on the net.
While the commercial isn’t exactly memorable, it’s nice to see Levy on TV. In fact, its nice to see Levy anywhere as long as it’s not in the Bills front office serving as general manager.
Here’s the 30 second clip of the Levy Coors Light ad.
A four-goal outburst in the second period by the Portland Pirates propelled them over the top team in the AHL, Rochester Americans, by a 6-3 margin before a less than stellar crowd (4,685) at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY on Thursday night.
The Amerks, currently with a 12-1-1 record, were going for their 12th consecutive victory of the season, which would have set a franchise record for the longest win streak, a franchise that has existed in the AHL for the last 54 years.
The Buffalo Bills have a rich tradition of fielding excellent running backs. The dynamic duo of Cookie Gilchrist and Wray Carlton helped Buffalo win consecutive AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965. O.J. Simpson set a single-season rushing record and was really the only player of note on some terrible Bills teams in the ’70s. Joe Cribbs had some outstanding seasons in the ’80s, and, of course, the gold standard is Thurman Thomas, a phenomenal all-purpose back now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Buffalo is a blue-collar city. It’s a city that prides itself on its “lunch pail” attitude – work hard, play hard, no excuses. Bills fans want their football team to embody those characteristics. Run the ball, play tough, physical defense. Winning ugly is fine, because glamor isn’t part of the fabric of this city. Perhaps that’s why running backs in particular are remembered so fondly in Buffalo.
Head coach Todd Kress has announced the signing of four players who have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Bulls for the 2010 season. Joining UB will be Dani Reinert (Cincinnati, OH/Ursuline Academy), Kelly Svoboda (Cleveland, OH/Trinity), Christine Fritsche (Parma, OH/Padua) and Carissa McKenna (West Bloomfield, MI/Walled Lake Northern).
Reinert is a setter from Cincinnati, OH and was named as the GGCL Player of the Year and District 16 Player of the Year as she led her team to a 26-0 record. She averaged 10.7 assists per game with 141 digs on the season, serving at a 90.4 percent mark. As a junior, Reinert was also named District 16 Player of the Year as she picked up first-team All-State and All-GGCL honors.
After an hour of scoreless play, junior Chris Leko headed the ball home to give the St. Bonaventure men’s soccer team a 1-0 win against third-seeded Fordham in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Thursday evening.
The Bonnies play regular season champion Dayton Friday in a 5 p.m. contest at Rhode Island. St. Bonaventure improves to 10-8 on the season to notch the first double-digit wins since the 1999 season. Fordham ends the season 9-7-3.
“After the difficult loss to Dayton this past Sunday, I believed our best soccer was yet to be played. I didn’t mean from a technical stand point, but about finding a way to win big games,” said head coach Mel Mahler. “Tonight was just that we played well enough to win. We go a lead and protected it. I am excited for the players and the potential they have as a team.”
Senior Alan McGreal (Dublin, Ireland) of the Canisius College men’s soccer team wrapped up his successful career with All-MAAC First Team accolades, announced by the conference on Thursday. McGreal is the first player in the program’s history to earn all-conference honors in each of his four seasons.
McGreal led the Griffs with 24 points, 10 goals and four assists during his senior campaign. His 24 points rank second in the conference, while his 10 goals are tied for the most in the MAAC.
McGreal graduates as the most prolific scorer in the program’s history. The Dublin, Ireland native holds school records with 99 career points, 24 more than the next highest Griff, 35 career goals and 29 career assists.
Mike Mayock is one of the more respected football analysts on television. The NFL Network draft guru is especially credible among fans in Buffalo.
Many will recall in 2006 as the Bills prepared for the draft, Mayock was the only draft “expert” to accurately project Donte Whitner going to the team with the eighth overall pick. Most had Whitner going towards the end of the first round and in hindsight, the majority of Bills fans currently wish Mayock would’ve been wrong.
With Trent Edwards back at the helm, there will undoubtedly be concerns about his recent concussion and whether or not it will affect his play. Playing quarterback in the NFL is not a job for the fainthearted and there are a lot of fans that have opined he has not been the same since he was injured against Arizona last year and sat out for a few weeks. Many types of football injuries can end a player’s career, but a head injury can end a player’s quality of life long after their football career is over.
Just when the walls look like they are about to come crashing back down, Buffalo finds some mortar.
For the second time this season, the Canisius College hockey team scored the only goal of the game in the third period, defeating Connecticut on Sunday afternoon, 1-0. The win jumps the Griffs to third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings as the team is now 5-6-1 and 4-3-1 in league play.
In a tense, tightly contested match the Niagara men’s soccer team was denied its first-ever MAAC Championship after falling to number two seed Loyola, 1-0, in double-overtime on Sunday from Lessing Field. The Greyhounds struck the game-winner with 23 seconds left in double-overtime.
The University at Buffalo wrestling team rallied to tie #25 Hofstra University, 16-16 at the David S. Mack Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. Facing a 3-0 deficit with only 16 seconds remaining, freshman Andrew Schutt scored on a late reversal and a three-point nearfall to lead the Bulls’ rally while recording his first dual victory.
When it comes to meltdowns, Amy Winehouse has nothing on these Buffalo Bills.
We’re live at the Alumni Arena as the UB Bulls are taking on Vermont at 5:30 in their 2009-10 home opener.
It’s only the ninth game of the season, but from the Buffalo Bills perspective it may as well be January. If the Bills hope to even flirt with the possibility of getting into postseason contention, they’ll need to go on the road and defeat a Tennessee Titans team that started 0-6 but have won their past two games.
Brockport (4-6/3-6) piled up 726 yards of total offense including 488 in the air and scored on four plays of 66 yards or longer in a 48-30 win over host Buffalo State (2-8/2-7) in the season finale I-90 Bowl Saturday at Coyer Field.
The Sabres gained a lot of confidence last night by winning in a shoot out against a very talented, an ornery Calgary Flames team. The Sabres skated, hit and literally fought tooth and nail with the Western Conference powerhouse, putting their confidence level at a season high headed into tonight.
You would never know it by looking at their 1-19 record, but the Buffalo Stampede of the PBL (Premier Basketball League) were actually a success last year.
The Niagara men’s basketball team (0-1) dropped its season opener at Auburn (1-0) on Friday night, 69-65. The Purple Eagles held a seven-point lead with 2:24 remaining, but couldn’t get the ball to bounce their way down the stretch.
The Niagara men’s soccer team was well represented on the 2009 All-MAAC Teams. Midfielder Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) earned All-MAAC First Team honors, defender Anthony DiBiase (Richmond Hill, Ont.) was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and freshman forward Bryan DaCruz (Barrie, Ont.) was selected to the All-Rookie Team. Nine Purple Eagles were named to the All-Academic Team which were second most in the MAAC.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) office announced that it will impose a one-game suspension on University at Buffalo football student-athlete Andrew West for violating the MAC Sportsmanlike Conduct Bylaws during Buffalo’s game against Ohio on Nov. 10, 2009. West will be suspended for Buffalo’s next regular season game at Miami on Nov. 18, 2009.
Just For Starters
A lot observers of MAAC basketball are quick to point out that the league is very guard-oriented, but this year’s edition of the Golden Griffins are looking to challenge those thoughts. Four juniors – Greg Logins, Rishawn Johnson, Tomas Vazquez-Simmons and Elton Frazier will all see time in the frontcourt this year for the Blue and Gold, and all four will look to build on two previous seasons of game experience.
A four-goal outburst in the second period by the Portland Pirates propelled them over the top team in the AHL, Rochester Americans, by a 6-3 margin before a less than stellar crowd (4,685) at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY on Thursday night.
The Buffalo Bills have a rich tradition of fielding excellent running backs. The dynamic duo of Cookie Gilchrist and Wray Carlton helped Buffalo win consecutive AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965. O.J. Simpson set a single-season rushing record and was really the only player of note on some terrible Bills teams in the ’70s. Joe Cribbs had some outstanding seasons in the ’80s, and, of course, the gold standard is Thurman Thomas, a phenomenal all-purpose back now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Head coach Todd Kress has announced the signing of four players who have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Bulls for the 2010 season. Joining UB will be Dani Reinert (Cincinnati, OH/Ursuline Academy), Kelly Svoboda (Cleveland, OH/Trinity), Christine Fritsche (Parma, OH/Padua) and Carissa McKenna (West Bloomfield, MI/Walled Lake Northern).
After an hour of scoreless play, junior Chris Leko headed the ball home to give the St. Bonaventure men’s soccer team a 1-0 win against third-seeded Fordham in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Thursday evening.
Senior Alan McGreal (Dublin, Ireland) of the Canisius College men’s soccer team wrapped up his successful career with All-MAAC First Team accolades, announced by the conference on Thursday. McGreal is the first player in the program’s history to earn all-conference honors in each of his four seasons.
Mike Mayock is one of the more respected football analysts on television. The NFL Network draft guru is especially credible among fans in Buffalo.
