The Logistics:

See original review – not easy to get to, but does have Niagara Falls nearby. Make sure to go early rather than later in the season.

The Site:

The Bulls play in UB Stadium. Given their relatively recent entrance to the FBS, it feels like the University of Buffalo realized it needs to make it easy to attend games. They have succeeded. There are tailgate lots that require either donations or season tickets to purchase that are right next to the stadium just like other FBS programs. However, the aftermarket for such spots is nearly non-existent. Thankfully, the Bulls offer a few lots up for free and they throw in shuttles to the stadium if you don’t want to make the 5 to 10-minute walk. They are supported with trash bins and port-a-potties.

We set up in the nearest lot to the stadium. We had just started putting up our pop-up when one of the lot attendants came by and said we can’t have the pop up in the parking lot row. Instead, we had to flip it and put it up in either grass or sidewalk ringing the lot. If you took that literally, it would mean you could only tailgate on the outer ring of each parking lot. This had to be a mistake. However, we were on the outer ring and so we set up on that sidewalk as the grass wall was too hilly. Having tailgated at over 50 sites, this is very atypical, nor do I think it meets a “safety” concern. I have been on the inside of a parking lot lane many times. In fact, I would say it is the standard. Additionally, since we had set up on the sidewalk, pedestrians would have to walk around us, either into the lot or on the grass.

In any case, with a small number of tailgaters in the lot, compliance with the unusual setup request was not an issue. Plus, we had folks coming in multiple cars and we were all able to park near each other. It was not crowded, so it allowed us to spread our small group out a bit without any hassle. The downside was that it was not a vibrant atmosphere. I have been to funerals that had more people cutting loose. Our group still managed to have a good time. Based on my unscientific review of the other lots, the low key atmosphere was the dominant one.

We were able to grill with a successful test run of my new cooking approach. My Cuisinart tailgate grill had finally bit the dust so I was using a Coleman camping stove with a cast iron grill. I cooked hot dogs, hamburgers, and pepperoni balls easily. The true beauty of the Coleman is that it doesn’t smell like the grill when you are done. I have made several cold autumn night drives home with my back windows open to let the smell of smoke and grease waft out the back rather than return home smelling like a short order cook.

Fully satisfied and comfortably numb, we shut down our tailgate and headed to the game. I bought the tickets on Stubhub on the shuttle over to the stadium for the princely sum of $4 each. Somanystadiums.com generously comped the entire group. Buffalo Stadium does not feel much like a stadium but more like two sets of massive bleachers. That’s not unusual for Group of Six stadiums. The seats are primarily bench seats, but there are some seatbacks towards the middle. There are stands on one side of the endzone with the other being blocked off by a field house and one video scoreboard. The scoreboard and sound system looked and sounded a little dated, and there was a maddeningly limited number of highlights shown.

Not much in terms of traditions at a Bulls games. There was a Go Bulls cheer but it was not particularly noteworthy. A “Go Blue – Go White” cross stadium cheer was attempted with little success. There were lots of student bits during the TV timeouts as expected. The band was on the small side but sounded good. Other halftime entertainment included an exhibition game of the local women’s football team and an honoring of the local professional lacrosse team’s third national championship. Yes, it is a small market.

The Game:

Unless Buffalo completely shit the bed, this was not going to be a good game. They dominated from start to finish against the lesser FCS team. Look I get it, St. Francis is to Buffalo as Buffalo is to Penn State. Everyone likes cupcakes now and then. I didn’t like UB trying to ice St. Francis kicker at the half when they were up by 24. It felt very bush league. Otherwise, the Bulls handled their business which is exactly what they are supposed to do in this case.

Personal Notes:

My mom came to the game with me, which was very nice. Hard to believe that with five sons, four of whom played some level of football, she had never been to a tailgate. But, as she always said, football was far too violent for her. Being a former caterer, I told her this was right up her alley. It was just like hosting a party which is something my mom excels at. She appreciated tailgating more than the game, but honestly on that day, I think we all did.

As you might guess, the University of Buffalo is not must see. However, they make it easy enough that I certainly wouldn’t avoid it. Assuming you catch a game before mid-October on a nice fall day, it is a pleasant and extremely affordable way to spend an afternoon. Like my mom says, enough wine and any party is a good time.

Previous Review: Mercyhurst Lakers vs University of Buffalo Bulls, 10/28/1989

Final Score: UB 45 Hurst 6

Weather: Cold and Clear, Ticket Price: A little blood, sweat and tears.

“For the love of the Game” by Tree

The Site:

My attendance at this game was actually from the sidelines way back in 1989. I played four years at the ‘Hurst and we played the University of Buffalo a couple of times. This game was the last D3 game for the Buffs before they started working their way up to D1. What I remember is that the field was paper thin Astroturf. Not that that soft, spongy turf of today, but rough, hard turf just the like the green carpet your grandma has over her concrete sun room floor down in Florida.

The Logistics:

I came to the game via the “fun” bus. It was a smaller bus that the defensive backs rode to away games while the rest of the team rode on a coach. It was a less comfortable ride, but it made for a lot more fun. Getting to Buffalo is not very difficult and it is close to Niagara Falls. Of course, I would plan on an early visit. Buffalo is no stranger to snow, especially in late October and November. Whatever charm Buffalo has as a travel destination, it certainly cannot overcome bad weather.

The Game:

I have no recollection of this game other than it was a blowout. That much I can remember because I actually got to play some in the fourth quarter. When I say I played for the ‘Hurst, it really meant I was on the team. Yes, four years and I could never get past second string. And that was a generous second string. I was a corner and had no illusions that if the guy I was backing up got hurt, I was going in. More than likely, the other second string corner would have gone in first. That being said, I am not ashamed of my inability to get on the field. At 5’5″, I was the smallest guy on the team and had the disadvantage of playing corner for the first time in college. My teammates may more likely attribute my failure to start due to inferior speed, jumping ability and a general lack of coordination. Some of those guys were not exactly Mensa candidates, so I would take their assessment with a grain of salt. Still, in high school, heart and hustle can often tip the balance over bigger and more athletic players. I did do that on a regular basis in my pre-college playing days. But even at D3, the competition just gets that much better.

Regardless, my love of the game, and in particular the occasional opportunity to hit other people, was more than enough to overcome the sting of being a bench warmer. On the rare occasion a teammate would tease me about riding the pine, I would take comfort knowing that they wouldn’t be playing on Sundays either. The University of Buffalo fans spent the majority of the game reminding us of that disparity. It was their homecoming game and the theme at halftime centered on how the ‘Buffs were going to be on ESPN and the Hurst was not. The floats were funny but not exactly prophetic. While the ‘Buffs are D1, I don’t ever recall or even seeing UB on GameDay.

Personal Notes:

At the time of the game, my big brother was living in Buffalo so a bunch of my family came up for the game. Afterwards, we all went out to dinner at Italian restaurant for a bittersweet celebration. I knew my college career was about to end but I did not realize how emotional that last game would be. The following game was the last of the season and it was Senior day. Part of me was just happy to be done with it as it is not easy to spend four years on the bench after always being a starter. I had acquired a new respect for the second string. We went through pregame as usual on the field and then back into the locker room for the last time. The rest of the team went back on to the field while the seniors stayed back in the locker room. I don’t know who cracked first, a player or a coach, but before I knew it, we were all crying. Not bawling mind you, but definitely real tears of sadness. It is the cruel reality of college football – when it is over, it is over. Sure, I still play team sports but it will never replace the experience I had in college. The teamwork, the hours in the weight room, those little concussions when you hit someone just right, the ribbings, the summer camps, and the instant family that being on the team created is something I have not experienced since.

The other thing is that the real football experience can’t be duplicated once it is over. I have played on flag football teams and it was not the same. Some skinny dude would catch one over the middle in front of me and act all bad about it. I would just shake my head because I knew if it was tackle football he’d be on ass, or worse. Hitting was the one skill I never worried about. I knocked a dude out cold in high school and I sure as hell could do it to Mr. Six Foot and a Buck Fifty.

It is the collective of all those experiences and perhaps the fact that I know I will never be able to recreate it again that keeps me going on my stadium tour. At most games, something happens that brings back one of those memories and I smile to myself, stealing back a little of the past.

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