Football

The history of Sport at UB begins in 1894 with the first UB football team. By 1897, UB Football was a perfect 7-0 against the collegiate foes. Although the entire UB athletics program was canceled in 1904 due to a lack of financial support, personnel and leadership, it was reinstated in 1915. All intercollegiate athletics were suspended for the duration of World War II. UB sports teams returned in 1946 and the football program continued to grow and flourish. This culminated in its achievement of small college football supremacy by winning the Lambert Cup in 1958.

• 1894- Football begins – In 1894, the University of Buffalo embarked on its very first football season. The team was made up of U.B. students with such colorful names as A. B. Stein, Irving Johnson, J. B. Crofts and “Dinky” Johnson.
  Coach:
  Final Record: 0-2-0
• 1895- First full season – After playing a few football games at the club level in 1894, the University of Buffalo started to embrace intercollegiate sports in 1895.
  Coach:
  Final Record: 1-4-2
• 1896 – WNY Champions – Compiling an overall record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties, the teams made a valid claim of being the champions of Western New York football.
  Coach: Fred D. Townsend
  Final Record: 9-1-2
• 1897 – Almost Undefeated – Losing only once to the local, semi-pro “All-Buffalo” club team, the U.B. squad overwhelmed opponents as Coach C.W. Dibble takes over for Fed Townsend two games into the season.
  Coach: Fred D. Townsend / C.W. Dibble
  Final Record: 9-1-0
• 1898 – Professionalism – Dismissing charges of professionalism, Buffalo finished the 1898 season 4-1 against collegiate foes and 8-1 overall losing only to Cornell at Ithaca, NY.
  Coach: Louis Hinkey
  Final Record: 8-1-0
• 1899 – Duquesne Country & Athletic Club – Continuing an impressive run, Buffalo has another fine season led by Coach Bemus Pierce, a member of the Seneca Nation, losing only to the professional Duquesne Country & Athletic Club in Pittsburgh, PA.
  Coach: Bemus Pierce
  Final Record: 7-1-0

• 1900 – Beat Penn State – Led by player/Coach and team captain Seth Thomas, Buffalo ends the 1900 season on a high note beating Penn State University 10-0 in Buffalo, NY on Thanksgiving Day.
  Coach: Seth Thomas
  Final Record: 3-2-2
• 1901- Michigan at Ann Arbor – Under Coach “Turk” Gordon, the team started the season with four straight wins but the infamous Michigan game sends the Buffalo football program into an uncertain future.
  Coach: James “Turk” Gordon
  Final Record: 4-2-0
• 1902- Columbia at Polo Grounds – Injuries depleted the U.B. roster before the season started. Buffalo plodded through the season, mostly winning its home games and losing its away games.
  Coach:
  Final Record: 3-5-1
• 1903 – Interest Fades – Led by player/Coach Ray Turnbull, the team finished with five wins and five loses as the University contemplated dropping football from its list of athletic sports.
  Coach: Ray Turnbull
  Final Record: 4-4-0
• 1904 – No Football Team – Varsity football is not funded. Dr. Burton T. Simpson of the medical department of the University of Buffalo, a former football player, makes the case for its return.
• 1905 – No Team
• 1906 – No Team
• 1907 – No Team
• 1908 – No Team
• 1909 – No Team

• 1910 – No Team
• 1911 – No Team
• 1912 – No Team
• 1913 – No Team
• 1914 – No Team
• 1915 – Football Returns – After an absence of over 10 years, the longest period of inactivity in school history, football finally returned to the University of Buffalo in 1915.
  Coach: Frank Mount Pleasant
  Final Record: 3-5-0
• 1916 – Art Powell – Art Powell takes over as head Coach but only 4 men reported for the first day of practice. From four the squad grew slowly until it reached eighteen at its maximum.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 3-5-2
• 1917 – Gaining Momentum – Despite wartime conditions, Art Powell leads the team to a respectable record.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 4-4-0
• 1918 – World War & Influenza – Scheduling games was extremely difficult but the season was a success with only one loss against a Cornell squad at Ithaca, N.Y. on Thanksgiving Day.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 6-1-0
• 1919 – Winless Season – A tie against St. Bonaventure saves an otherwise difficult season.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 0-5-1

• 1920 – Rotary Field Opens – The only win of the season comes against crosstown rivals Canisius College.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 1-4-0
• 1921 – Art Powell’s Last Season – The 1921 football season would be the last for Coach Art Powell as he decided to focus strictly U.B. basketball.
  Coach: Art Powell
  Final Record: 2-3-2
• 1922 – ‘Dim’ Batterson – The 1922 Buffalo football team starts the season with a new Coach.
  Coach: George ‘Dim’ Batterson
  Final Record: 1-5-0
• 1923 – Jim Bond – Another new Coach (who lasts just one year) and yet another disappointing season.
  Coach: Jim Bond
  Final Record: 2-5-1
• 1924 – Russ Carrick – For the fourth season in a row, the Buffalo football team starts the season with a new Coach. It was hoped that Carrick would bring much needed stability to the U.B. football program.
  Coach: Russ Carrick
  Final Record: 1-7-0
• 1925
  Coach: Russ Carrick
  Final Record: 3-4-1
• 1926
  Coach: Russ Carrick
  Final Record: 0-7-0
• 1927
  Coach: Russ Carrick
  Final Record: 0-6-1
• 1928
  Coach: Russ Carrick
  Final Record: 1-6-0
• 1929 – Jay Lee – Jay “Biffy” Lee, former Notre Dame football player and Coach, takes over the U.B. football Coaching duties.
  Coach: Jay “Biffy” Lee
  Final Record: 5-2-0

• 1930
  Coach: Jay “Biffy” Lee
  Final Record: 3-5-0
• 1931
  Coach: Bill Pritchard
  Final Record: 2-6-0
• 1932
  Coach: Jim Wilson
  Final Record: 1-5-1
• 1933
  Coach: Jim Wilson
  Final Record: 2-3-2
• 1934
  Coach: George Van Bibber
  Final Record: 2-4-1
• 1935 – George Van Bibber’s Second Year – Early season struggles leasds to another rough season.
  Coach: George Van Bibber
  Final Record: 2-6-0
• 1936
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 5-3-0
• 1937
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 4-4-0
• 1938
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 2-6-0
• 1939 – Winless Season – An upgrade in the schedule leads to a difficult and disappointing season.
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 0-7-0

• 1940 – Hope Restored – The team rebounds with signature wins over the University of Connecticut and Drexel.
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 3-5-0
• 1941
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 3-4-1
• 1942 – World War II – Although the country was at war, the 1942 Buffalo Bulls football season was a success.
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 6-2-0
• 1943 – No Varsity Sports – For the duration of World War II, all University of Buffalo intercollegiate athletics were suspended.
• 1944 – No Varsity Sports
• 1945 – No Varsity Sports
• 1946 – Post-War Football Returns – During the fall of 1946, the University of Buffalo fielded its first “post-war” football team.
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 7-2-0
• 1947 – Best Record in School History – Coach Jim Peelle returns for his thirteenth year and leads the team to another outstanding season
  Coach: James Peelle
  Final Record: 8-1-0
• 1948 – Jim Peelle Steps Aside – Frank Clair is hired as the new head Coach. The Bulls crush the University of Louisville Cardinals 48-13 in Louisville, KY.
  Coach: Frank Clair
  Final Record: 6-1-1
• 1949 – Frank Clair’s Final Year in Buffalo – After a 6-3 record, a season long rift between Athletic Director Jim Peelle and head Coach Frank Clair is revealed.
  Coach: Frank Clair
  Final Record: 6-3-0

• 1950 – Jim Wilson Returns – In early January, Coach Frank Clair was told his contract would not be renewed. Jim Wilson was hired as head football Coach at U.B. replacing Clair.
  Coach: Jim Wilson
  Final Record: 5-3-0
• 1951
  Coach: Jim Wilson
  Final Record: 4-4-0
• 1952
  Coach: Fritz Febel
  Final Record: 1-7-0
• 1953
  Coach: Fritz Febel
  Final Record: 1-5-1
• 1954 – Fritz Febel’s Final Year – The team wins only 2 games but passes it’s ultimate test as name Chancellor Clifford C. Furnas decides to keep football.
  Coach: Fritz Febel
  Final Record: 2-7-0
• 1955
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 4-4-1
• 1956
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 5-3-1
• 1957
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 5-4-9
• 1958 – Lambert Cup Winners – Buffalo beats Harvard and Columbia University on its way to a 8 win and 1 lose season, winning the Lambert Cup, emblematic of supremacy in Eastern U.S. small-college football.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 8-1-0
• 1959 – Second Place in Lambert Cup Race – Playing nine games and winning eight, the Bulls were ranked second only to Delaware, in the Lambert Cup race.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 8-1-0

• 1960 – Schedule Upgrade – Buffalo upgrades its schedule to include several major college team.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 4-6-0
• 1961 – The Eastern College Athletic Conference elevates the football team to “major” college status.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 4-5-0
• 1962
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 6-3-0
• 1963 – Another Successful Year – University of Buffalo seniors John Stofa and Gerry Philbin lead the Bulls to another winning season.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 5-3-1
• 1964 – First Televised Game – The 1964 football season marked Dick Offenhamer’s 10th year as the University at Buffalo’s head Coach.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 4-4-1
• 1965 – Dick Offenhamer’s Final Season – The Buddy Ryan led defensive squad finished second in the nation among major colleges in rushing defense.
  Coach: Dick Offenhamer
  Final Record: 5-3-2
• 1966 – Richard ‘Doc” Urich Takes Over – The team has an average year but fullback Lee Jones leads the nation with 16 rushing touchdowns.
  Coach: Doc Urich
  Final Record: 5-5-0
• 1967 – Doc Urich’s First Winning Season – Buffalo plays a strong schedule including 3 current ACC football team on their way to a 6-4 season.
  Coach: Doc Urich
  Final Record: 6-4-0
• 1968 – Finished Season With 7-3 Record – Doc Urich’s football Bulls played exciting and record breaking football in 1968.
  Coach: Doc Urich
  Final Record: 7-3-0
• 1969 – Bob Deming Named Interim Coach – The year starts with the football program at Buffalo in major turmoil but ends with the team on a late season roll.
  Coach: Bob Deming
  Final Record: 6-3-0

• 1970 – Last Season – Injuries and a difficult schedule leads to a very trying and disappointing season.
  Coach: Bob Deming
  Final Record: 2-9-0
• 1971 – No Football Team – For the second time in its history, U.B. dropped football in early January 1971.
• 1972 – No Football Team
• 1973 – No Football Team
• 1974 – No Football Team
• 1975 – No Football Team
• 1976 – No Football Team
• 1977
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 0-3-1
• 1978
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 3-6-0
• 1979
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 4-5-0

• 1980
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 6-5-0
• 1981
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 5-5-0
• 1982
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 5-5-0
• 1983
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 8-2-0
• 1984
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 6-4-0
• 1985
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 4-6-0
• 1986
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 9-2-0
• 1987
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 3-7-0
• 1988
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 2-8-0
• 1989
  Coach: Bill Dando
  Final Record: 4-6-0

• 1990
  Coach: Sam Sanders
  Final Record: 2-8-0
• 1991
  Coach: Sam Sanders
  Final Record: 3-7-0
• 1992
  Coach: Jim Ward
  Final Record: 4-6-0
• 1993 – A ‘new’ UB Stadium – The Bulls’ long journey back to Division I culminated in 1993 as Buffalo plays its first Division I game since 1970 at the newly built UB Stadium.
  Coach: Jim Ward
  Final Record: 1-10-0
• 1994
  Coach: Jim Ward
  Final Record: 3-8-0
• 1995
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 3-8-0
• 1996
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 8-3-0
• 1997
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 2-9-0
• 1998
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 4-7-0
• 1999
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 0-11-0

• 2000
  Coach: Craig Cirbus
  Final Record: 2-9-0
• 2001
  Coach: Jim Hofner
  Final Record: 3-8-0
• 2002
  Coach: Jim Hofner
  Final Record: 1-11-0
• 2003
  Coach: Jim Hofner
  Final Record: 1-11-0
• 2004
  Coach: Jim Hofner
  Final Record: 2-9-0
• 2005
  Coach: Jim Hofner
  Final Record: 1-10-0
• 2006
  Coach: Turner Gill
  Final Record: 2-10-0
• 2007
  Coach: Turner Gill
  Final Record: 5-7-0
• 2008
  Coach: Turner Gill
  Final Record: 8-6-0
• 2009
  Coach: Turner Gill
  Final Record: 5-7-0

• 2010
  Coach: Jeff Quinn
  Final Record: 2-10-0
• 2011
  Coach: Jeff Quinn
  Final Record: 3-9-0
• 2012
  Coach: Jeff Quinn
  Final Record: 4-8-0
• 2013
  Coach: Jeff Quinn
  Final Record: 8-5-0
• 2014
  Coach: Jeff Quinn/Alex Wood
  Final Record: 5-6-0
• 2015
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 5-7-0
• 2016
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 2-10-0
• 2017
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 6-6-0
• 2018
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 10-4-0
• 2019
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 8-5-0

• 2020
  Coach: Lance Leipold
  Final Record: 6-1-0
• 2021
  Coach: Maurice Linguist
  Final Record: 4-8-0