Louisiana
Bulls Make First Trip to Louisiana on Saturday
9/19/2023 2:09:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (0-3, 0-0 MAC) at Louisiana (2-1, 0-1 SBC)
September 23, 2023
Cajun Field - 6:30 pm CT
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• This is the first meeting between Buffalo and Louisiana.
• This will be the first time a UB football team will play a game in the state of Louisiana.
• The Bulls have played a team from the Sun Belt Conference five of the last six years. Last season, UB dropped a regular-season contest at Coastal Carolina before beating Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl.
• Nine of Buffalo's 11 touchdowns on the season have come on scoring drives of at least 65 yards.
• Cole Snyder is the first UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of the first three games of the season. Snyder had two TD passes at Wisconsin, three against Fordham and four against Liberty.
• Cole Snyder leads the MAC and is tied for eight in the nation in touchdown passes with nine.
• Ron Cook has surpassed Naaman Roosevelt for fourth in program history in career kick return yardage (1,472). He is 33 yards shy of catching Andre Forde for third place.
• Buffalo is looking to win a non-conference road game for the fourth time in last six years. The Bulls won at UMass in 2022, Old Dominion in 2021 and at Temple in 2018. The Bulls didn't have a non-conference road game in 2020.
Bulls Make First Trip to Louisiana on Saturday
The University at Buffalo football team will make their first-ever trip to play at Louisiana on Saturday at Cajun Field.
Buffalo is 0-3 on the season and is coming off a 55-27 loss to Liberty last Saturday. Quarterback Cole Snyder threw for 276 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Bulls.
Louisiana, is 2-1 on the season and is coming off a 41-21 win at UAB last Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns are led by quarterback Zeon Chriss who has thrown for thrown for 174 yards and a TD and rushed for 116 yards and two scores.
This is the first meeting between Buffalo and Louisiana.
Take the Long Way Home
The Bulls have utilized long scoring drives to get into the endzone this season. Of the Bulls' 11 touchdown drives on the year, nine have been 65 yards or longer. Their average touchdown drive has been 64 yards. Buffalo has scored six touchdowns on drives of 75 yards or longer.
Cole Powered
In his second season as the Bulls' starter, quarterback Cole Snyder is off to a tremendous start. The graduate signal-caller leads the MAC and ranks eighth in the nation in touchdown passes with nine. He also leads the MAC in passing yards per game (245.0) and total offense (250.7).
Snyder is the first quarterback in program history to complete 24 or more passes in each of the first three games of the season. In addition, he is the first UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of the first three games of the season.
He became the first UB quarterback to thrown four TDS in a game since Kyle Vantrease had four against Miami (OH) in 2020.
With 3,765 career passing yards, Snyder is 235 yards shy of becoming just the 10th quarterback in program history to throw for 4,000 yards.
Spreading the Wealth
A number of different receivers have recorder receptions over the first three games of the season - 12 to be exact. An average of nearly 10 different receivers per game have made a catch this year.
A program-record 12 different Bulls caught passes in the opener at Wisconsin. 10 different players registered a catch against Liberty.
10 players have at least four receptions on the season, led by Marlyn Johnson (13), Cole Harrity (13) and Boobie Curry (10).
Bulls vs. the Sun Belt
The Bulls have played teams from the Sun Belt Conference in five of the last six seasons, including a victory over Georgia Southern in the 2022 Camellia Bowl.
The Bulls are 2-3 against Sun Belt programs with wins over Georgia Southern and Old Dominion and losses to Coastal Carolina (2) and Troy.
Buffalo also played new conference members Marshall and James Madison prior to them joining the Sun Belt.
Sterling Marlyn
Marlyn Johnson had the best game of his UB career against Fordham, finishing the game with seven receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns - all career highs.
Now in his fifth season with the Bulls, Johnson is looking to have a breakout campaign. Heading into the year, Johnson had 23 catches for 234 yards and a score. He has 13 catches for 144 yards and three scores already this year.
Agent Zero
Cole Harrity is becoming a favorite target of quarterback Cole Snyder. Over the first three games, he has 13 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He made the most of his first career start at Wisconsin. The UB grad had five catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns against the Badgers.
In his second year with the program, the New Mexico State transfer appeared in all 13 games last season and finished with 13 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Hinesight
A season ago, Clevester Hines was playing wide receiver. In fact, he remained at that position until a week before the Bulls played George Southern in the Camellia Bowl and Coach Linguist asked him to move to cornerback due to injuries at the position.
Hines started in the Camellia Bowl and, in his first game at the position, totaled seven tackles and three pass breakups. He has remained at cornerback for 2023 and started the first two games of the season, totaling 10 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Silver Season
2023 marks the 25th season of FBS football for the Bulls. UB entered the FBS ranks in 1999 as members of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls were previously an FCS program from 1993-1998.
Doling Out the Hits
Linebacker Shaun Dolac had a record-breaking season for the Bulls last year. A 2022 first-team All-MAC selection, the UB senior ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147 which were the third-most in program history for a single season. Even more impressive was that he led the nation in solo tackles with 97 - 17 more than any UB player in program history.
A local product, Dolac came to UB as a walk-on in 2019. Last season, he was named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the best player in the country who started their career as a walk-on.
Perfect 10
Graduate safety Marcus Fuqua tied for the national lead with seven interceptions in 2022. It was the most by a UB player in the program's FBS era (since 1999).
Along with being an All-MAC First Team selection, Fuqua was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. He joined Khalil Mack (2013) and Jaret Patterson (2020) as just the third UB player ever named an AP All-American.
Snyder Looks to Build on Solid First Season
Cole Snyder enters his second season under center for the Bulls.
A Western New York native, Snyder transferred from Rutgers prior to the 2022 campaign. Last season, he started all 13 games under center for the Bulls. He threw for 3,030 yards and 18 touchdowns last season to become just the third quarterback in program history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. He joined Drew Willy who threw for 3,304 yards in 2008 and Tyree Jackson who threw for 3,131 yards in 2018.
Snyder is on the preseason watch list for the Manning Award as well as the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Max Michel Earns 1-MAC Award
University at Buffalo defensive end Max Michel earned The Mid-American Conference (MAC) 1-MAC Award - given annually to the student-athlete who has a tremendous impact and excellence in inclusion efforts.
A native of New Jersey, Michel quickly embraced the Queen City. Last December, he held his second annual coat drive. Through his efforts, he was able to collect numerous coats, jackets, gloves and hats and donate them to the Buffalo City Mission.
He also donates his time volunteering at the Buffalo City Mission's kitchen, helping prepare and serve food, emptying the garbage and whatever else he can do to help.
In addition, Michel volunteers his time with Harrison's Playmakers, a non-profit organization that promotes social inclusion and kindness with year-round sports programs and activities for kids with developmental differences and special needs.
Among his numerous other volunteer ventures, Michel organized a group of teammates to work with WNY Peacemakers to distribute free groceries in East Buffalo.
In addition, Michel is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.
Depth at Running Back
Buffalo returns three running backs that made at least one start in 2022 and added some talented newcomers to that should make the running back unit one of the deepest and most talented on the team.
Leading the way is fifth-year back Ron Cook, who made 10 starts last season and rushed for 600 yards and four touchdowns.
Sophomore Mike Washington was the Bulls leading rusher in 2022, finishing with 625 yards and a team-best eight rushing touchdowns.
Fellow sophomore Al-Jay Henderson appeared in 10 games last season and had a team-best 5.1 yards per carry average.
In addition, a trio of impressive newcomers should also see action this season.
JUCO transfer Dylan Kedzior was an All-American at Hutchinson Community College where he rushed for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.
Jacqez Barksdale averaged over six yards per carry in his two seasons at Coffeyville Community College.
Lamar Sperling was the USA Today Offensive Football Player of the Year after he broke the Ohio state rushing record, totalling 3,984 yards and 59 touchdowns his senior season at Archbishop Hoban High School.
Linebacker U
UB has had a number of standout linebackers in recent years, most notably Khalil Mack who was an All-American and now an NFL All-Pro.
The Bulls have at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 12 seasons. Shaun Dolac was named to the first team in 2022.
Rounding out the list are James Patterson (2022, 2021, 2020), Kadofi Wright (2019), Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014) and Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
McNulty Named Campbell Trophy Nominee
Graduate kicker Alex McNulty is a nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Given annually to college football's top student-athlete, the Campbell Trophy is also known as the Academic Heisman.
McNulty graduated with degrees in biology for pre-veterinary science and physics. He carries a 3.7 grade point average and is a four-time Academic All-MAC selection.
McNulty is a two-time All-MAC selection and was the 2022 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He is the program record holder in career field goals (50), extra points (173) and points scored (323).
He has made five 50+ yard field goals over his career and is the first kicker in program history to make 100 consecutive extra points.
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC head coaches.
Ohio was picked first with 63 points, followed by Miami (OH) (52), Buffalo (51), Bowling Green (35), Akron (26) and Kent State (19).
Toledo was picked to win the West Division, followed by Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan.
Toledo was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MAC Championship.
On The Airwaves
Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester.
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 24th year, and 16th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his seventh season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
The UB Football postgame show will once again take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
