Left Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig/US Presswire
Lost Lettermen is counting down and ranking all 124 FBS college football teams from best to worst by comparing each to a well-known song. We will examine one team per day through the summer in the lead up to the 2012 season. Today’s team: The Buffalo Bulls.
Overview:
2011 Record: 3-9
Head Coach: Jeff Quinn
Returning Starters: 16 (8 offense, 8 defense)
Key Players: RB Branden Oliver, TE Alex Dennison
Schedule:
9/1: @ Georgia
9/8: vs. Morgan State
9/19: vs. Kent State
9/29: @ Connecticut
10/6: @ Ohio
10/13: @ Northern Illinois
10/20: vs. Pittsburgh
10/27: vs. Toledo
11/3: vs. Miami (Ohio)
11/10: vs. Western Michigan
11/17: @ UMass
11/24: @ Bowling Green
Skinny:
With five wins over the past two seasons, the outlook for Buffalo in the upcoming campaign is pretty grim. Yet, what can be worse than losing to Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, and Temple by a combined score of 117-41? Third-year coach Jeff Quinn has an unknown quarterback after the loss of Chaz Anderson and with the graduation of top receiver Marcus Rivers. Still, Quinn might be assured that he’ll receive some yardage on the ground following Branden Oliver’s breakout campaign in 2011 where he ran for almost 1,400 yards. Even if Oliver can replicate his play from last year and Quinn’s quarterback can magically fare well under center, the defensive side of the ball has issues — big ones. Stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback aren’t exactly
what the Bulls have been known for the last two seasons under Quinn.
Quinn has recorded a 5-19 mark over two seasons already at Buffalo and if past years are any indication, it could be a long season for the Bulls. While there looks to be potential — eight players return on both sides of the ball — another bowless season is in store. The Bulls’ struggles brings to mind Bruno Mars’ song where he chimes, ‘Don’t give up, keep on trying…You’re going to make it, I ain’t lyin.’ This song screams motivational pump up music, but the Bulls are going to be waiting another year – or two or five – before they make it.
FBS 124 Countdown
#124: UTSA is … Rebecca Black’s “Friday”
#123: UMass is … Clay Aiken’s “Invisible”
#122: South Alabama is … Rednex’s “Cotton Eye Joe”
#121: Texas State is … Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
#120: New Mexico is … Double Take’s “Hot Problems”
#119: Florida Atlantic is … Rammstein’s “Du Hast”
#118: Memphis is … Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”
#117: Akron is … LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out”
#116: UNLV is … Wayne Newton’s “Remember When”
#115: UAB is … Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”
#114: MTSU is … Jessica Mauboy’s ‘What Happened to Us?’
