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Shareholders Society Renamed to Honor 1958 UB Football Team
6/1/2022 4:10:00 PM | Football, General
BUFFALO, NY – To honor the legacy of one of the most important groups of student-athletes in the history of UB Athletics, it was announced Wednesday that the Shareholders Society has been renamed the 1958 Society.
The Shareholders Society (now 1958 Society) was established in 2013 to recognize those individuals who make major gift commitments to UB Athletics strategic priorities. These gifts provide critical resources for facility improvement and new facility construction.
The 1958 University at Buffalo football team will be remembered as much for its dominance on the football field as for its unity off it. Following an 8-1 regular season, the Bulls were honored on "The Ed Sullivan Show" for winning the Lambert Cup — a trophy given to the best small school program in the East. The honor came with an invitation to play Florida State in the Tangerine Bowl — UB's first bowl invitation.
However, in a time of civil rights unrest, the invitation came with one condition: that Buffalo's two African-American players, Willie Evans and Mike Wilson, not attend the game. Without hesitation, the team unanimously voted not to play the game, refusing to leave their teammates behind. The 1958 team's unified stance against racism was a great and principled action, inspiring to others, and dignified themselves, the university, and all of Buffalo in the eyes of the entire nation.
"As we looked to rebrand and relaunch our very successful Shareholders Society, there was no hesitation to change the name in honor of our 1958 Lambert Cup Football Team," UB Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt said. "Our great donors are loyal to our Athletics department and are leaders as they inspire others to support us in a transformational way. These were two significant qualities of the 1958 team as they stood together against racism and effectuated change. I look forward to the continued growth of our highest level of philanthropy which will help us provide the resources needed for our student-athletes to be successful both on and off their respective fields of play."
1958 Society contributors, through their commitment, are recognizing the importance of providing our coaches and student-athletes with facilities that are commensurate with a championship program. All 1958 Society dollars are restricted to facility improvements designated as strategic priorities by our athletic director.
Click here for more information on the 1958 Society.
Annual donors to UB – any gift at any level every year – are recognized as Loyal Blues. Loyal Blues receive a variety of benefits from the university, including special discounts at the UB Bookstore, a celebration day each spring, and mailings and exclusive information provided by the university.
The Shareholders Society (now 1958 Society) was established in 2013 to recognize those individuals who make major gift commitments to UB Athletics strategic priorities. These gifts provide critical resources for facility improvement and new facility construction.
The 1958 University at Buffalo football team will be remembered as much for its dominance on the football field as for its unity off it. Following an 8-1 regular season, the Bulls were honored on "The Ed Sullivan Show" for winning the Lambert Cup — a trophy given to the best small school program in the East. The honor came with an invitation to play Florida State in the Tangerine Bowl — UB's first bowl invitation.
However, in a time of civil rights unrest, the invitation came with one condition: that Buffalo's two African-American players, Willie Evans and Mike Wilson, not attend the game. Without hesitation, the team unanimously voted not to play the game, refusing to leave their teammates behind. The 1958 team's unified stance against racism was a great and principled action, inspiring to others, and dignified themselves, the university, and all of Buffalo in the eyes of the entire nation.
"As we looked to rebrand and relaunch our very successful Shareholders Society, there was no hesitation to change the name in honor of our 1958 Lambert Cup Football Team," UB Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt said. "Our great donors are loyal to our Athletics department and are leaders as they inspire others to support us in a transformational way. These were two significant qualities of the 1958 team as they stood together against racism and effectuated change. I look forward to the continued growth of our highest level of philanthropy which will help us provide the resources needed for our student-athletes to be successful both on and off their respective fields of play."
1958 Society contributors, through their commitment, are recognizing the importance of providing our coaches and student-athletes with facilities that are commensurate with a championship program. All 1958 Society dollars are restricted to facility improvements designated as strategic priorities by our athletic director.
Click here for more information on the 1958 Society.
Annual donors to UB – any gift at any level every year – are recognized as Loyal Blues. Loyal Blues receive a variety of benefits from the university, including special discounts at the UB Bookstore, a celebration day each spring, and mailings and exclusive information provided by the university.
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