UB Football Ends

In January of 1904, the manager of U.B. Athletics announced that a nice schedule was lined up for the football team in the fall including the home opener against Colgate and a Thanksgiving Day match in Buffalo against Syracuse University. Several other games with well-known schools were pending.  And it was expected that Bemus Pierce, the head coach of the 1899 Buffalo football team, would be back to coach again. But with the announcement came a warning to the students that their full support was needed.  And if it didn’t come, there would be dire consequences.  (see “Buffalo to Meet Cornell and Syracuse on the Gridiron” Tonawanda News, 22 January 1904)

The Buffalo students responded. By September, they had subscribed over $1,000 for a University of Buffalo football team. But athletic endeavors at U.B. had never been profitable over the years. Since U.B. did not have a field of its own, practice time had to be rented on the privately owned Buffalo Athletic Field. Plus 30% of all the U.B. home game gross receipts went directly to the owners of the Buffalo Athletic Field leaving little for the team. In 1904, the U.B. faculty would not consent to make up any financial deficits the team might incur. Ultimately, due mostly to financial reasons, the 1904 Buffalo team and season did not materialize.

Dr. Burton T. Simpson

Buffalo Evening News – Nov 3, 1915

In December of 1904, Dr. Burton T. Simpson of the U.B. medical department (who played football for U.B. in 1899, 1900 & 1901) took up the cause and presented a paper to the U.B. faculty extolling the virtues of college athletics and football specifically. It was hoped that his paper, entitled the “Consideration of the Advisability of Athletics in Professional Colleges, with Special Reference to the University of Buffalo [PDF]” would be the first step towards the establishment of a properly funded football team for the University of Buffalo. The paper was later published in the Buffalo Medical Journal (Volume 60, 435-444).

The discussion after the presentation is documented in the paper. One of the more familiar names that appears is of John Lord O’Brien who stated that “he was of the opinion that the sport had never been properly regulated; that a university spirit was necessary and the best way to develop it was by means of football.  The game should have at least one fair trial.” Following the discussion a vote was taken with 29 in favor of university athletics and only 4 against. (see “Revive Prestige of university” Buffalo Courier, 18 December 1904)

Unfortunately the vote was symbolic in nature only and carried no weight. Although it seemed that the return on U.B. athletics was eminent, the reality proved otherwise. It would be over 10 years before Buffalo would officially support any type of college athletics; the longest period of inactivity in school history.

1904 Buffalo Football

BUFFALO TO MEET CORNELL AND SYRACUSE ON THE GRIDIRON

Dr. Huver, Graduate Manager of U. of B. Athletics, Has Arrangements Pending With Yale, Bucknell and Lafayette.

—

Students of the University of Buffalo received a heart to heart talk on football by a representative of the faculty committee on athletics.

It was stated that if support and loyalty were shown that the Buffalo University would have a team able to cope with the leading colleges of the country.

Each and every student was urged to accord their financial aid by buying a season ticket.

Dr. Huver, who is one of the varsity’s mainstays in football, has been appointed graduate manager and the doctor has booked games with Cornell and Syracuse and has answers pending from Yale, Bucknell, Lafayette and other leading colleges.

Bemus Pierce, the great Carlisle player, reputed to be the only man able to play against the mighty McCracken of the U. of P. 1898 team, will probably be selected as head coach. Pierce was Buffalo’s coach three years ago when an excellent eleven was turned out.

— Tonawanda News, January 22, 1904

REVIVE PRESTIGE OF UNIVERSITY

Dr. Simpson Tells U. of B. Professors That Athletics, and Particularly Football, Will Add to Fame of the Institution.

GOOD TEAM NEEDED, OR NONE AT ALL

—

A paper of unusual interest was read yesterday afternoon by Dr. Burton T. Simpson of the medical department of the University of Buffalo before the faculty of the university at the medical college in High Street. Dr. Simpson’s subject was the “Advisability of Athletics in Professional Colleges, with Special Reference to the University of Buffalo.” It is the first step looking toward the establishment on business lines and under definite responsible management of a football team for the University of Buffalo.

Dr. Simpson’s paper opened with an unequivocal declaration in favor of college athletics, especially football. He considered athletics as to their value to the institution and their value to the students. He showed what other colleges were doing in the way of athletics, 146 having football teams, 53 being purely technical colleges, of which 12 are medical institutions. In the preparation of his paper Dr. Simpson communicated with the presidents of nearly every large college in the country with the idea of securing their views on the advantages or disadvantages of football and their personal opinions of the game. He received 16 replies, 13 of which declared athletics, and especially football, to be beneficial to the students participating and to the student body as a whole. The remaining three were negative.

BENEFITS TO UNIVERSITY

The benefits to the university were advertising: a better standing with the people of a university city reflected through the students and the personal interest shown by newspapers in the work of students who were on the teams. Illustrative of this, Dr. Simpson referred to the U. of B.-Columbia game, where Buffalo defeated Columbia by a score of 5 to 0, by a goal from the field. The student who made the kick was a pharmacy student. The newspapers in his home town gave columns to the game’s report and the student’s kick. These reports, if they did nothing else, told the public that there was a University of Buffalo, that there was a college of pharmacy, that there was a football team, and that it was then superior to Columbia’s. College men talk about their athletes; newspapers give much space to college games, which as a news feature take precedence over everything else, as a rule, and the public shows a deep interest in the results. Just how popular football is was shown by the fact that there were 57 teams playing in Buffalo this year, taking in 700 players.

As to the value of football to the players, the general sentiment is best expressed in the president’s report issued by Cornell, in which it is stated that “College games beget in a young man promptitude, quickness, self-reliance, self-control, co-operation and surrender to authority.” The headmaster at Harlowe has declared that England owes her empire more to sports than to studies, while the professor of mathematics at Yale declares football to be the best form of sport; that no other sport is so beneficial to the body and mind, and that its moral effects are courage, self-control, self-denial and obedience and discipline. Dr. Simpson showed that football consumed but two hours a day for the first two months of the college year, this applying to only twenty men, the players and subs.

STANDING IN STUDIES.

Combating the argument that a student engaged in technical study could not or should not play football, Dr. Simpson called attention to the fact that Pennsylvania’s captain is a medical student; that Cornell’s captain is an electric engineer; that last year the Michigan team had among its members four mechanical engineers and six law students, all of whose averages in study were high.

Dr Simpson has coached the Masten Park High School team for several years and during that time has never dropped a player for study shortcomings in spite of the fact that players were required to make and maintain a percentage of 80 percent, in their studies. Regarding accidents, in the fourteen years he has been connected with athletes. Dr. Simpson has seen only five serious accidents, a broken collar bone, three broken legs and one broken rib. As nearly as he could gather the statistics he found there were 48,000 young men playing football the past season. Of these only 121 were injured.

Dr. Simpson then gave a very comprehensive idea of the game and its requirements; he said if football were reintroduced at the University of Buffalo faculty interest in the games was necessary to the success of the team; the members of the faculties should attend the games; if a team is organized it should be a good one, or there should not be any at all; and he showed how football would benefit the whole student body by providing money enough to fit up a gymnasium and baths from the proceeds of the games. In time the university could have an athletic field of its own.

After the paper had been discussed an informal vote was taken. Twenty-nine voted in favor of university athletics and only four against.

— Buffalo Courier, December 18, 1904

UB Football Begins

In 1894, the University of Buffalo embarked on its very first football season. The wonderful team photo (left) from 1894 is proof positive of the fact. The team was made up of U.B. students with such colorful names as A. B. Stein, Irving Johnson, Gray McCutcheon, J. B. Crofts and “Dinky” Johnson.

1894 Schedule

But who the team actually played that year is open to debate. Official University records have them playing collegiate teams from the University of Rochester and Hobart College. Unfortunately, newly digitized newspaper records do not support that claim. The first U.B. football team played a short schedule with games against the Buffalo High School and Lancaster Football Club. They almost certainly did NOT play the University of Rochester or Hobart College in 1894.

The confusion comes from the existence of a semi-professional club team called the “Buffalo Football Club” which was sometimes referred to as just “Buffalo” in newspaper articles.  The club team organized at almost the same time as U.B. did in 1894. This most likely caused the confusion over the years.  The Buffalo Football Club was considered an “All-Buffalo” team composed of the best area college graduates, members of local athletic clubs, and high school football players. It was the Buffalo Football Club that scheduled games with Rochester and Hobart College in 1894. (see “Football In Buffalo” Buffalo Express, 9 November 1894) The Buffalo Football Club had no affiliation with the University and the two teams did not play each other that year. The University of Buffalo was so new to the game of football in 1894 that experienced teams as the Buffalo Football Club, the University of Rochester or Hobart College would never consider playing such an unskilled opponent as U.B.

First Games

The University of Buffalo played its very first game official game on Saturday, November 24, 1894 against the Buffalo High School and were clobbered either 40-0 or 42-0 depending on which newspaper you read. Either way, the lack of training of the University men was apparent from the start.  Several U.B. men had never played in an actual game before.  Although U.B. slowly improved as the game went on, the High school boys were clearly the better team. (see “High School Won” Buffalo Evening News, 24 November 1894)

The University also lost its second game to the Lancaster Football Club of Lancaster, NY the following Saturday. On a gridiron that was covered with snow, and which in some places was ankle deep, the Lancaster eleven beat the University of Buffalo team at Olympic Park by the score of 16 to 0. When time was called the players were a sight to behold, being covered with a beautiful layer of mud from head to foot. About 200 people braved the elements to witness the struggle. (see “Lancasters Won” Buffalo Courier, 2 December 1894)

Buffalo finished its first season with no wins and two loses.  So if the University of Buffalo truly did not play any collegiate foes in 1894, does that still make 1894 the official starting point of U.B. football? Does anybody have new information about the University of Buffalo 1894 football season?

1894 Buffalo Football Season

FINAL RECORD: 0-2-0

Home: Olympic Park, East Ferry & Michigan Avenue
Total Points: Visiting Clubs: 58
Total Points: University of Buffalo: 0

• 1 – “High School Won” Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, NY, 24 November 1894.
• 2 – “Lancasters Won” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 2 December 1894

FOOTBALL IN BUFFALO

Local Players Organizing for a Fall Campaign

WILL PLAY HOBART ON THANKSGIVING AND HAVE ARRANGED OTHER GAMES

—

“If the people of Buffalo want to see good football and will patronize us, we dare say that we will give them a pretty good version of the game” remarked one of the man interested in the Buffalo Football Club speaking of the professional organization of which will be holding a meeting at Brown’s riding school.

The friends of this athletic institution have not been inactive the past few days. A meeting was held at the Tift House the other evening and the following names were handed in as candidates for places on the eleven: J.F. Parker, Frank Purdy, T. Wright, H. Glenny, Henry French, J.Y. Sloan, T. Pilkie, Bert Brinkworth, Ross Purdy, A. Gingrass, W. Mooney, R. Gray, J. Graves, Stuart Smith, Andrew Purdy, William Colter, A. Howe, A. Brinkworth, R. Trumb, R. Romer, J.R. Purdy, Percy Lapey, A. Walsh, Fred Vokes, S.N. McWilliams, J.H. Clogston, W. Green, A. Chamberlain, Hammond, Simpson, Powers, J.F. Pennell, E. Downer.

The list includes the name of many college men, members of local athletic clubs, and members of the 74th Regiment, High-school and Elmwood football teams. The coaches are to be Dan Upton, who has been player of prominence, hailing from Cornell College, and George Baldwin, another man who is familiar with the fine points of the game. The members of the eleven will be selected by competition and the skills of the candidates will be ascertained by the practice games which will be played conscientiously at the Park and at Brown’s riding school. The idea is to get a team of good players in good condition and pull off some contests will college elevens. A game has been arranged with Hobart College for Thanksgiving to be played at Olympic Park and negotiations are under way with the eleven from Rochester University and Adelbert University of Cleveland.

At the meeting tonight a captain will be elected.

— Buffalo Express, November 9, 1894

HIGH SCHOOL WON

The Football Game Was All Their Way This Afternoon.

UNIVERSITY BOYS BEATEN

The Score Stood 28 to 0 in Favor of the High School Team, But it Was a Very Hotly Contested Game.

—

The High School boys took a great brace this morning and played football for all it was worth. They looked much lighter than their opponents and they were. But the superior build of the University of Buffalo team did not daunt the High School boys in the least.

They tackled the big men like fiends, crushed through the center and surprised even their greatest admirers when they went around the ends for big gains, interfering beautifully and using good judgment in nearly all their plays.

The University of Buffalo had their men together for the first time and played a good game. The men, some of them never had a football suit on before and of course they had no show whatever with the hard working, clever High School team.

The University boys it could be plainly seen put up a much better game as it progressed, but only once did they have a ghost of a chance of scoring, and then when one of the High School team fumbled the ball. The University team is going in to practice and by next Saturday when they play with Lancaster they will be able to put up a stiff game.

The High School boys fumbled the first kick off, but managed to keep the ball. The next play was a pretty one. Simpson got the pigskin, and with excellent interference by George Brothers, Hammond and Pilkey, ran nearly the entire length of the field and made a touch-down, Simpson kicked an easy goal. The ball was in play only a few moments again when Hammond with almost the same interference carried ball over the line again and Simpson kicked another goal.

The University team saw that they must change their tactics and began a kicking game. This was more of a failure than their other plays. Little Pilkey was through the line like a flash every time the ball was snapped and grappling with the man before he could make any gains. This sort of play was indulged in throughout the game the High School boys always making good gains through the center and around the ends.

When the first half of 25 minutes was called the score stood 28 to 0. The second half was a repetition of the first, only the University boys played stronger. But they could not gain through the little giants line, and consequently could not make a single score.

The result was, High School, 42; University of Buffalo, 0. There was a fair crowd present, including physicians, and they had many chances to practice their profession, for many were injured in the contest. Brothers had his nose split open but pluckily remained in the game and did some great work. Burns was also conspicuous throughout. He made some good end runs and tackled well.

— Buffalo Evening News, November 24, 1894

LANCASTERS WON

They Outplayed the University of Buffalo.

FIGURES WERE 16 TO 0.

The University Boys Were Heavier Individually and Collectively, But Lacked Team Practice

—

On a gridiron that was thickly covered with a slimy ooze, and which in some places was ankle deep, the Lancaster eleven and the University of Buffalo team lined up against each other at Olympic Park yesterday afternoon. Though, badly handicapped in the loss of several of its best players, Lancaster proved an easy winner by a score of 16 to 0. This result was due to good team play on the part of the winners. The Buffalos were much heavier, but there was no concentration or organization in their team work. Their line was easily broken, their interference was poor, and with but few exceptions their tackling was also of an inferior grade. On the other hand, the Lancasters were ever on the alert to stop any progress on the part of their opponents, and made steady gains from beginning to end. Runs around the ends were usually resultless, as the slippery condition of the field made the footing very insecure, and ofttimes the runner would slip of his own accord in a mud slough, without having been tackled at all. Lancaster’s gains were mainly through bucking the opposing line and by mass plays.

Lancaster won the toss and chose the west goal. Green kicked off well into Lancaster’s territory, but Lapey caught the ball, and ran 15 yards before he was downed by Ayers. By systematic rushing and bucking the line the Buffalos were forced back until the ball was on their two-yard line. Then by a revolving wedge and a mass play. Pickard was shoved across the line for a touchdown. The ball was brought out, and McIlwain kicked the goal.
Score—Lancaster 6, University of Buffalo 0.

Buffalo kicked off, and J. Burlingame catching the ball made a gain of 20 yards. Lapey followed with a dash around the Bison’s end, but owing to the slippery condition of the ground was unable to make an advance. It was Lancaster’s third down with three yards to spare. This was secured by a mass play. Lapey then went through the University’s center for three yards, and then the ball was steadily advanced to within three yards of the goal, where Pickard was again shoved between the goal posts. McIlwain kicked tbe goal.

Score – Lancaster 12, Buffalo 0.

No further scoring was done

Lancaster kicked off. and Lane punted the ball back 15 yards. The pigskin was near the center of the field, aud In Lancaster’s possession. McIlwain punted to Buffalo’s 20-yard line. The piece of pigskin was advanced to the three-yard line. Then the Bisons go possession on four downs. The ball was passed to Talcott for the punt out. The kick was blocked, however, and the Lancasters falling on the ball, scored a touchdown. McIlwain missed the goal.
Score—Lancaster 16, Buffalo 0.

No further scoring was done, but Ayres made a great run of 75 yards, and I. Johnson advanced the leather 50 yards in a similar manner. Had the Bisons interference been worth the name, both of these runs ought to have resulted In touchdowns. When time was called the players were a sight to behold, being covered with a beautiful layer of mud from head to foot. About 200 people braved the elements to witness the struggle. The line-up and summary follows:

BUFFALO.		LANCASTER.
Stein	left end	Lehey
I. Johnson	left tackle	Frye
Lane	left guard	McIlwain, Capt.
St. John	center	L. Eaton
Donohue	right guard	Caufleld
Green	right tackle	Oehm
Soch	right end	J. Burlingame
E. Johnson. Capt.	quarter back	Underhill
Ayers. Croft	left half back	W. Burlingame
Bumberg	right half back	Lapey
Talcott	full back	Pickard

Score – Lancaster 16. University of Buffalo 0.

Touchdowns – Pickard and Lapey.
Goals – McIlwain 2.
Time – 20 minute halves.
Umpire – Mr Graves.
Referee – Mr. Fowler.
Linesman – Mr. Moore.

— Buffalo Courier, December 2, 1894

The 1970 Buffalo Football team was coming off a successful 1969 season when the team won six games and lost only three. The 1970 edition of the Buffalo Bulls was Bob Deming’s second year as the head coach.  Deming’s young, talented coaching staff included two assistants, Jim McNally and Rick Lantz, who would eventually have long coaching careers in the NFL. The 1970 schedule included future ACC teams Virginia Tech and Boston College as well as future Big East teams Villanova and Temple.  And in a first for UB football, the October 31, 1970 game with Holy Cross would be regionally televised by ABC for the eastern part of the country. Quite a schedule!

Give Peace a Chance

Unfortunately, the 1970 season did not go well. The team lost several players from 1969 due to graduation. And injuries would also have a major impact on the team.  In fact, the spring practice period had to be shortened due to a lack of healthy players. Not a good way to start. Kirk Barton, who replaced Mick Murtha at quarterback, was mostly ineffective and threw only one touchdown pass the entire season.

The televised Holy Cross game on the afternoon of October 31, 1970 received the most attention; but not for the actual football game. The game, won by UB 16-0, is now a mere footnote in UB history.  The real story was the events that took place during halftime.

The UB “Thunder of the East” Marching Band planned its halftime show to make a political statement in opposition to the Vietnam War and other concerns of the era.  The halftime performance was titled “Give Peace a Chance” and included tributes to the anti-war movement, Martin Luther King and environmental concerns. But in order to avoid any controversy, ABC chose to turn its cameras away and instead showed the traffic on Bailey Ave, elm trees and clouds in the sky while announcers gave a run-down of the first half.

MLK – Martin Luther King

Meanwhile, about 400 protestors had gathered at Niagara Square to participate in a march called by the Buffalo Anti-War Coalition.  They marched down Court and Main streets and various other places in downtown Buffalo.  The group was ordered by the police to disperse which it did.  But about 100 protestors eventually gathered at the Buffalo-Holy Cross game chanting “Power to the People!” after the halftime show adding to controversy.

The events of halftime during the Buffalo/Holy Cross game warranted the entire front page of the November 2, 1970 issue of the UB Spectrum. Students were outraged at the “American Big brother Censors…”

The students felt the actions of ABC were so egregious that on October 7, 1971, the SUNY Buffalo Student Association filed a complaint with the FCC against ABC. The Student Association alleged that the American Broadcasting Company engaged in improper broadcast censorship of political expression and asked that ABC be required to broadcast a film or other reproduction of the half-time program at a suitable time to a similar audience, or, in the alternative, require ABC to make time available for the Buffalo Student Association to convey the ideas and information contained in its half-time program through another format.

On March 2, 1973, the Buffalo complaint was denied. But a transcript of the half-time program, diagrams of the band formations and all documents filed in the case remain on file in the Commission offices and are available for public inspection.

And the 1970 UB football team? It lost the rest of its games after the ABC affair including a 65-12 drilling by Boston College the following week. The team ended the season with two wins against nine loses.

No one knew it at the time but the Holy Cross Halloween fiasco would be the final UB football game on campus for some time.  For the second time in its history, UB dropped football a few months later. What a way to go out…

1970 Buffalo Football Season

FINAL RECORD: 2-9-0

Home: Rotary Field, Bailey and Winspear Avenues
Coach: Bob Deming
Total Points: Visiting Clubs: 299
Total Points: University of Buffalo: 133