College Sports Established
1846
Location
Buffalo, New York
College Name
University at Buffalo
Collegiate History
1991 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1998 - Present / MAC Conference
1994 - 1998 / Mid-Continent Conference
1991 - 1994 / East Coast Conference
Nickname
Bulls - The Buffalo Bulls are one of the most storied teams in NCAA Division I athletics, but many sports fans may not know where their nickname comes from. The origin of the Buffalo Bulls dates back to when they first joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 1998.
When it came time for them to choose a mascot and nickname, they decided on something that would honor their city’s history while representing a solid and robust animal – hence, “Buffalo Bulls” was born! As you can guess by its name, this team is named after both buffalo and bulls – two animals known for being tough competitors with an intense spirit. Not only does this make sense given Buffalo's location near Niagara Falls, where there were once large herds of bison roaming free across North America, but it also serves as a symbol of strength, which all athletes strive to embody during competition.
In addition to honoring local wildlife through its name choice, “Bulls” has another special significance - it pays homage to some famous former residents who made significant contributions towards helping shape our country: President Millard Fillmore & First Lady Abigail Powers Fillmore lived in East Aurora NY (just outside of Buffalo). Their legacy lives on today through various landmarks throughout Western New York, including UB's Alumni Arena, which bears his full name, "Millard H.Fillmore."
So next time you cheer on your favorite college team or watch them play at home or away, remember why we call them "the Bull" - no matter how fierce the competition gets, these mighty mammals will always stand tall!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1894
- 1986
- 2015
- 2018
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The University of Buffalo fields its first football team
In 1894, the University of Buffalo (UB) formed its first football team, which played its first game on November 24 of that year. The team was coached by Frank Butterworth, a former Harvard University football player, and consisted of mostly UB medical students. The team played their home games at a field located near Main Street and Fillmore Avenue in ... -
Buffalo Bulls win their first MAC championship in baseball
In 1986, the Buffalo Bulls baseball team won their first Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. Coached by Bill Breene, the Bulls finished the season with a 30-13 record, including a 13-7 record in MAC play. The Bulls’ road to the championship began with a 4-0 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in the MAC tournament semifinals. In the championship game, the ... -
Buffalo Bulls win their first MAC championship in men’s basketball
In 2015, the Buffalo Bulls men’s basketball team won their first-ever Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. Coached by Bobby Hurley, the Bulls finished the season with a 23-9 record, including a 12-6 record in MAC play. The Bulls’ road to the championship began with a 88-74 victory over Central Michigan in the MAC tournament quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Bulls faced ... -
Javon McCrea – Buffalo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018
Javon McCrea was a standout basketball player for the University at Buffalo Bulls from 2010 to 2014. During his time at UB, McCrea became one of the most decorated players in program history, earning multiple conference honors and leading the Bulls to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. McCrea’s impressive career at UB earned him a place in the ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bulls
From its beginnings as a small Division III school in 1894 to its current status as an FBS powerhouse, Buffalo has always had an impressive athletic presence on campus. The football program was founded shortly after World War II and quickly rose through the ranks with legendary coach Jim Hofher at the helm from 1990-1998. During his tenure, he led them to six consecutive postseason games, including two MAC Championships (1996 & 1998). In 2008 they made their first-ever Bowl Game appearance when they played UConn for what would become known as “The International Bowl” held at Rogers Centre Stadium in Toronto, Canada – making them only one of three Mid-American Conference teams ever invited there!
Since then, they've gone on to make four more bowl game appearances, including another MAC Championship win over Northern Illinois University during the 2012 season, which earned them an invitation into Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where quarterback Joe Licata was named MVP after throwing 4 touchdown passes that day! More recently, though, it's been the basketball team getting all attention with head coach Bobby Hurley leading the squad deep into the tournament 2015-16 season before falling short against Miami Hurricanes Elite 8 round - setting a record for the deepest run any mid-major school has made since 1999 Gonzaga Bulldogs Final Four appearance.
No matter what sport you're looking for, Buffalo will provide exciting action every year! So if you haven't already, check out the next home game and see just how much fun can have to cheer your favorite Bulls players onto victory.
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