1968 Buffalo Bulls Football
by Scott Hollander
University at Buffalo Libraries
Finishing the season with an impressive 7-3 record, Doc Urich’s football Bulls played exciting and record-breaking football in 1968.
Senior halfback Ken Rutkowski, one of the most exciting runners ever at Buffalo, set two one-year records. His 177 carries for 729 yards made him the most worked and most productive back in Buffalo history and earned him a berth on the ECAC All-East Team. Rutkowski actually accounted for 1,154 yards with pass receiving, kickoff, and punt returns production in the total.
Quarterback co-captain Denny Mason, a second-stringer for two seasons, came into his own setting a school record of 89 completed passes. Mason’s total yardage figure soared to 833 with 729 yards in the air and 104 yards on the ground. Scoring honors were taken by fullback Joe Zelmanski with 10 touchdowns.
Defensively, the standouts were linebackers Don Saba (co-captain), Scott Clark and Dave Richner (All-East selection) along with defensive ends Prentice Henley, Tom Murphy, and Tom Vigneau.
1968 Buffalo Bulls Football Season
| Date | Opponent | Score | W-L-T | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/14/19681 | at Iowa State | 28 – 10 | L | Ames, IA |
| 9/21/19682 | at Kent State | 21 – 13 | W | Kent, OH |
| 9/26/19683 | UMass | 23 – 0 | W | Buffalo, NY* |
| 10/5/19684 | Boston College | 31 – 12 | L | Boston, MA |
| 10/12/19685 | Delaware | 29 – 17 | W | Buffalo, NY |
| 10/19/19686 | Villanova | 28 – 7 | L | Buffalo, NY |
| 10/26/19687 | Holy Cross | 10 – 9 | W | Buffalo, NY |
| 11/2/19688 | at Temple | 50 – 40 | W | Philadelphia, PA |
| 11/9/19689 | at Northern Illinois | 20 – 7 | W | DeKalb, IL |
| 11/23/196810 | at Boston University | 13 – 10 | W | Boston, MA |
FINAL RECORD: 7-3
Home: Rotary Field, Bailey and Winspear Avenues;
*Game played at War Memorial Stadium, Jefferson Avenue and Best Street.
Coach: Richard “Doc” Urich
- “Iowa State Rips Buffalo” Niagara Falls Gazette Niagara Falls, NY, 15 September 1968.
- “Bulls Defeat Kent, 21-13” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 22 September 1968.
- “Mason Sparkles as UB Defeats Redmen, 23-0” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 28 October 1968.
- “Eagles Score 31-12 Victory Over Bulls” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 6 October 1968.
- “Bulls Rebound, Whip Delaware, 29-17” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 13 October 1968.
- “Villanova Beats UB, 28-7” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 20 October 1968.
- “Embow Field Goal Wins for UB, 10-9” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 27 October 1968.
- “Bulls ‘Outpoint” Owls in 50-40 Duel” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 3 November 1968.
- “Bulls Defeat Northern Illinois, 20-7” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 10 November 1968.
- “Bulls Rally Nips Boston” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 24 November 1968.
