That said, I look forward to conversing with you from time to time and welcome your thoughts and questions. I especially thank you for the many kind words you took the time to send me as our football team completed a magical season with a Mid-American Conference championship and our first bowl appearance. That puts our overall championship total at three in the 2008 season (MAC titles for football and women’s tennis and the Dad Vail title for our rowing program). All in all, the best year in our school’s Division I history – and you have played a major role in it through your gifts to our athletic department, purchase of tickets and merchandise, and of course, overall support of our program.

Let’s get to some of your questions:

Question: What nationally prominent events is UB Athletics looking to host in the near future? National championships, World University Games, etc...
Eric Sandler (Rochester, NY)

Eric,
We are in constant communication with the Greater Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau about hosting future events. We are open to utilizing our facilities where available for regional, state and national events and we look forward to hosting the Empire State Games in 2010. We have participated with the CVB in the past in bids to attract Track & Field Championships, but the CVB did not win any of those bids. We will continue to work on it.

Question: Great win for FB Team and Turner Gill today (BGSU)! MAC East Champs!!! Question about the new fieldhouse. Do we have anything concrete as to a start date?
Brian Chylinski (Clay, NY)

Bryan,
We are currently working on our fundraising initiatives. We hope we have something to announce at some point in 2009, but let me say that without a doubt, this is the top priority that we are working on to continue to our drive to win conference championships that will benefit nearly all of our sports and the UB and the Western New York communities.

Question: Let me briefly thank you and send my whole-hearted appreciation for all you and your staff have done while at UB. As an alum from a time before yours, I can tell you that the difference in environment is night and day. With the future in mind, I was curious to know if there are ever any designs on UB moving to a BCS conference or if there is a possibility of such an opportunity to present itself? The MAC has proven to be an excellent proving ground and a welcoming home for the Bulls over the past decade. It does seem, however, that the planned improvements to the athletic infrastructure via UB 2020 are bigger in scope than the Mid-American Conference.
Joe Jenkins (Albany NY)

Question: With the recent success accomplished by the football team, I was wondering of the possibilities of someday in the near future, is it possible UB could join a BCS conference such as the Big East or Big Ten? You’re doing a great job. I’m proud to be a Bulls Fan! Thank You.
Joe Martin (Bufalo, N.Y)

Question: I was eight years old and present for many of the home games in the Bulls' now-famous 1958 season. Although I've since moved out of the Buffalo area (I spent my first 40 years in East Aurora), I get home to see the Bulls play about twice each season and I love the whole experience. My question is this: with the doubts facing the pro franchises in Buffalo, it's likely the support for the football Bulls will increase as it will for the other athletic teams. Any thought of the Big East in the future, or Conference USA? The MAC is just fine but a regular contest against the likes of Syracuse and Pittsburgh and West Virginia would be nice also. By the way, great job!
Marc (Peterborough, NH)

Joe, Joe and Marc-
First off, thank you for the kind words – it is awesome to know that the work we are doing in UB Athletics is resonating with so many alumni.

To your questions, we will continue to focus on winning championships in the Mid-American Conference. Should an invitation arise or an opportunity presents itself we will humbly consider joining a BCS Conference. Right now we are in the perfect place for us. The MAC is a tremendous conference with a strong, rich history and we are not currently looking to be in any other conference. The one factor that people need to realize is that consistency of success is more important than winning the three championships we have secured in the past calendar year.

Also, I should point out, that we have a four-year home-and-home contracts with UConn (beginning in 2010), Pittsburgh in football and the Panthers will be coming to UB Stadium this fall for our home opener, UTEP and UCF are strong opponents from Conference USA. Hope you can be there!

Question: What can businesses and individuals do now, with the fever of the success of the football team, to create a fund or work partnership for a field house?
David Brand (Amherst, NY)

David,
At the appropriate time we will present opportunities to individual and businesses that would provide a vehicle for contributions towards the building of a field house. Our first priority, as in most fundraising initiatives, is to find lead gifts that would make a large step towards raising the funds necessary to build a facility of this magnitude. Once we start to secure those 1 or 2 lead gifts we will begin to cast a wider net to secure more gifts in support of the facility.

That being said, we continue to accept donations in support UB Athletics and our vision for academic & athletic excellence! Every little bit helps. As we have done in the past three years, we will continue to use all investments wisely.

Question: I want to congratulate you on a job well done, on not only on this season, but for bringing Coach Gill here and for turning this program around. It was great to know the AD actually cared and see you present at every game this year and as a season ticket holder I really appreciate that. My question is, in your wildest dreams did you ever imagine the amount of success this football program has reached, in such a short time? Alex Burkard (Kenmore, NY)

Hi Alex,
Honestly, no, I did not. I thought it would take at least five or six years of steady progress before we would be in the position to win a MAC championship. It’s a tribute to Coach Gill, his staff, and the student-athletes who have worked incessantly to make the team’s success happen that we were able to accomplish our goal in a very short period of time.

Turner and I are also proud of the staffs of the athletic department and University and all of their hard work. This was a team and University-wide effort.

Question: Mr Manuel,
CONGRATULATIONS to you, Turner, the team, assistants, and all Buffalo fans on winning the East Championship and locking up a bowl game. This is a turn-around story that will be written about for years. I listened to the Bowling Green game on the radio link from your website. Is there somewhere that I can buy the DVD of the game?
Bill Carter (Lincoln, NE)

Bill,
It’s been very impressive to see how many new fans we have in Nebraska since bringing Coach Gill to Buffalo! The good news is we are currently producing a DVD that will encompass our entire championship season, including all of the overtime wins like Bowling Green. It will be sold both on campus as well as on our website in the coming months. Watch www.buffalobulls.com for more details.