I like complaining.
I complain about class, work and my favorite sports teams.
I generally complain because I have high expectations. I expect class to be interesting, schoolwork to be easy and my favorite teams to win. Recently, I haven't had much luck.
My relationship with this year's football team has been similar to many relationships I've had with people. The Bulls repeatedly tell me they are going to change, but fail to make good on their promise.
Since my freshman year, I have been teased with and promised a winning football team. The Bulls have opened every season with a home game against an inferior team, which they dominate. The win always seems to promise a strong season.
But every year, the season is already over by the middle of October.
I thought this season was different. Through two weeks, it appeared to be different. Buffalo played a highly ranked Georgia team tough on the road and then put on an offensive display against Morgan State.
Even when the Bulls lost to Kent State, they drew me back in with a good game against UConn on the road.
But without a win since Week 2, the Bulls have been slowly testing my patience, and the breaking point came on Saturday. They were thoroughly dismantled in every phase of the game against Northern Illinois.
I have had enough of this team.
Head coach Jeff Quinn continues to insist his team will get better, which is something he's supposed to say. But at what point does the team cease to be inching closer to Quinn's ideal team and become the team it is and has been for the past three seasons: a hard-working, pleasant-to-be-around, but ultimately underachieving group of talented players?
My fandom only stretches so far, and after the embarrassment - Athletic Director Danny White did not look all too happy to see his Bulls demolished - the Huskies put the Bulls through, I can't help but think this could be the end of the road for Quinn.
He has had his shot. It is generally accepted that three years is the amount of time needed to get a program on its feet. Although Quinn has definitely put the program in the right direction with strong recruiting classes, the results in the win column have not showed.
If Warde Manuel were still at the reigns, I would say Quinn gets one more season.
But White owes Quinn nothing.
You have to believe White is embarrassed after Saturday. He comes from a family of athletic directors and coaches. His father is the athletic director at Duke - which is close to clinching its first bowl game since 1996 - and his brothers work at Louisiana Tech, who was ranked as of Saturday.
Plus, with White's Southeastern Conference roots, you have to believe he takes pride in having a strong football program.
After looking at Quinn's record from the past two-plus seasons - he is 6-24 halfway through his third season - White is probably making his short list of candidates to import from the south and revamp the Bulls' football program.
The Bulls have been out-coached in half their games this year - against Kent State, UConn and Northern Illinois (this loss was not the players' fault; they did not have the schemes to keep up with the Huskies' aggressive play-calling).
Quinn has worn out his welcome. It is no longer acceptable for the Bulls to have games against MAC opponents where they can't even compete.
It's time for a change.
Email: ben.tarhan@ubspectrum.com
