Something amazing happened on Jan. 3.
For the first time in Buffalo's history, the football team played in a bowl game. The Mid-American Conference Champions rolled to the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ont., ready to play some football.
As the Bulls came out onto the field, 30,000 of a record 40,184 Bulls fans rose from their seats and cheered, rooting for a team that only won 10 games in their first seven years in Division I-A.
The sight was jaw-dropping for senior quarterback Drew Willy.
"As a freshman, there weren't very many people at the games," Willy said. "Coming into my senior year, the spirit of the whole school has been huge and I think that's just helped the whole school with the football program's success and for a lot of years to come."
While the game ended in a 38-20 loss for Buffalo, the experience was priceless for student-athletes and fans alike. The Bulls were Mid-American Conference champions and that title could not be taken away.
After taking care of business in Detroit, the Bulls knew there was more to be done and made some vital sacrifices in order to accomplish everything that needed to be completed in the final weeks of 2008.
While many students began studying for final exams, the MAC champs had more on their shoulders. When not focusing on their academics, they had to condition like never before and practice nearly every day. They met throughout the semester and set their sights on the Connecticut Huskies.
While the NCAA does not allow athletic teams to practice during finals week, the team took care of their educational obligations prior to the end of the fall semester. As the last day of exams came and went, the real practicing commenced.
While a majority of students packed up for break and went home, football players stuck around in Buffalo.
Because university housing closed down for winter break, football players moved into hotel rooms as the trip to the International Bowl approached. Each player was given $250 for food and expenses that week, as they learned their game plan and prepared for their coveted bowl game. From Dec. 15 to Dec. 22, the players had practice every day.
After practice on Dec. 22, the student-athletes were given the opportunity to go home to celebrate the holidays with their families, with one catch-the players were required to be back in Buffalo at 10 p.m. the day after Christmas and prepare for a hefty workload.
While the holiday season was condensed for these athletes, it was worth it for the opportunity to play in Toronto.
"I would not change this for the world," said freshman punter Peter Fardon. "I would have practiced on Christmas Day if it meant we would play in a bowl game. For me, it was definitely worth it and it is a memory I'll hold for the rest of my life."
The Bulls returned for six days of practice-three in Buffalo and three in Toronto. In addition to their trip being paid for by the International Bowl, each teammate will also receive a gift from the International Bowl Committee, ranging from about $300 to $400.
The major highlight of the International Bowl event was the fact that 25 members of the famous Buffalo football team from 1958 were in attendance. On Jan. 2, both teams attended a luncheon with Connecticut, where Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke about the sacrifice the 1958 team gave in order to better mankind.
Junior wide receiver Brett Hamlin feels that, while it was a great experience for the 1958 team to attend the event, it was just as big of a deal for the 2008 team to be in their presence.
" The bowl game means a lot because I guess you could say we are the first to go to the bowl game other then the 1958 team," Hamlin said. "To follow in their footsteps and to play this game in their honor really means a lot to me. It means a lot because they didn't get to play in a bowl game themselves, so while we have our own bowl experience, we also have them along with us to experience it too."
For the seniors on the team, being able to play in postseason games is a goal they worked for throughout their tenure in Buffalo. Winning the MAC Championship and experiencing a bowl game meant the world to each and every one of them.
"For me, personally, it's a great accomplishment to be here," said senior wide receiver Gary Rice. "For all of my years here, we have experienced losing seasons and it has been a hard struggle. When we got [head coach] Turner Gill, it was just exciting. He expected that we were going to be successful and now we made it to [an 8-6 record] and to the MAC Championship and got to play in a bowl game. It's just a great accomplishment."
