Vol. 61 NO. 22
Friday, October 21, 2011
ubspectrum.com
The Fray Frolics at Alumni JAMESON BUTLER Senior Arts Editor
As The Fray left the stage before the encore, half of the crowd vacated the arena. The band had people running back down the aisle to catch one last song.
Kanye West, Nirvana, and The All American Rejects. These are just a few of the headliners of fests past. Thursday night, The Fray joined their ranks as they rocked the crowd at Alumni Arena for this year’s Fallfest. This year the Student Association brought The Fray, The White Panda, and 2 AM Club. Compared to years past, this year’s turn out for the concert was noticeably less, according to a few members of the crowd. By time of publication, SA was not able to produce the attendance numbers. Christian rockers The Fray dazzled the crowd for just over an hour. During the deeper tracks, the crowd was stagnant, but when the band got to their hits the crowd responded with a deafening sing along.
The White Panda mixed pop hits to get the crowd dancing before The Fray. Wearing Panda masks, the duo sliced up some catchy mashups to the delight of the crowd. The band stood behind a barrier for a majority of the set, taking an occasional break to come closer to the crowd and try to get them more into it. The White Panda seemed to get the best reaction from the crowd. The crowd danced and sang along to its favorite pop songs. The opening band, 2 AM Club, brought a touch of sunny So-Cal to the stage. The band’s lighthearted sound is reminiscent of Maroon 5.
While the members cite different artists as their influence, they all enjoy a similar taste in music.
While portions of the campus responded with contempt, the majority of people enjoyed the concert.
“Probably Paula Abdul [influenced me the most],” said guitarist Dave Welsh. “She defined my Stage presence.”
“I really liked The Fray,” said Tyler Gagliardi, a junior human services major. “They had really nice sound, the guitar was great. It reminded me of U2 kind of. 2 AM Club definitely had a good sound. I really liked the vocals…Both bands were really good and put on a good show and had a good sound. It is a little slow for me, I like to get amped up, but I really enjoyed it.”
“I personally like J.Lo,” said drummer Ben Wysocki. “I think she made me want to be in a band. She made me want to write songs. She is an amazing song writer.” The Fray showcased its pop-rock sound to an adoring crowd. The band took the opportunity to try out some new material from its forthcoming album, which is due out early next year. “There is a song about a road trip [on the new album],” Wysocki said. “There is a song about being lost at sea. There is a lullaby. There is a big rock song. There is a song with a Hurdy Gurdy. And then there is ‘Heartbeat.’ And then you usually want to turn it up to like 9 or 10.”
While the crowd generally had a good time, there were people that still were not impressed with SA’s choice for Fallfest. “I would go see Fallfest every year,” said Michael Babala, a senior aerospace and mechanical engineering major. “If concerts stay like this I won’t go to any other concerts the rest of the year.” Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
The Fray rocked Alumni Arena Thursday night for Fallfest
Meg Kinsley & Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
Michael J. Fox Speaks About Optimism Strides and Struggles with Parkinson’s Disease
REBECCA BRATEK News Editor Michael J. Fox woke up thinking he only had a little bit of a hangover after a night of drinking with Woody Harrelson. His hand was weak and his pinky finger was vibrating out of control. “No worries,” he thought; it was only a side effect of the fistfight he got into the night before. Fox, who is often regarded as the face of Parkinson’s disease, was the second speaker in the 2011-12 UB Distinguished Speaker Series. He spoke to a crowd of nearly 5,000 people Wednesday night in Alumni Arena. “I was filming Doc Hollywood when I first got the message,” Fox told the crowd. “I woke up to find it in my hand. It was not a fax, telegram, or memo. My hand held nothing at all. It was trembling [in my pinky] and that was the message.” At first this trembling was only a curiosity, but quickly turned into a full-fledged panic, according to Fox. It was time to seek a professional’s opinion. Two decades ago, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a degenerative disease of the central nervous system more commonly known as the “shaking disease.” He spoke to the UB community not only about the disease
that changed his life forever, but also of the life experiences that shaped his worldview.
Weather for the Week: Friday: Showers- H: 51, L: 43 Saturday: Mostly Sunny- H: 55, L: 42 Sunday: Partly Cloudy- H: 59, L: 48
Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz, who is running for Erie County executive against incumbent Chris Collins, doesn’t believe the $2,560 contribution from UB to Collins’ re-election campaign was an honest mistake, as UB officials have said.
Fox walked onto the stage in Alumni Arena to a standing ovation, supporting the blue and white by wearing a UB baseball hat. As the applause settled down, he took off the hat and proclaimed his moment of “shameless sucking up” to be over.
“Shame on them for risking their taxexempt status,” Poloncarz said. “Shame on them.”
It’s clear from the moment Fox began to speak – his Parkinson’s is trying to win control with every word. He struggled to get out full sentences, and the trembling caused him to stutter and stumble over words.
The $2,560 donation came from The Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE), of UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which sold a business management strategy called Lean Six Sigma to the Collins administration for $449,250.10 in 2008.
Born into a military family in British Columbia, Canada, Fox didn’t always know he was going to be an actor. He tried everything from hockey (at 5-feet-4-inches tall, Fox was too small to play professionally) to creative writing to playing in a band (a bust; making $100 a gig, but spending $250 on rented equipment was not evening out).
Continued on page 2
Collins’ opponent spoke to WRUB and The Spectrum
ERIN MAYNARD and LUKE HAMMILL Staff Writer and Senior News Editor
Described as a lecture that is an “episode of Oprah crossed with Charlie Sheen’s Torpedo of Truth Tour,” Fox tells his compelling story by joking and poking fun at himself. This puts the crowd at ease and allows Fox to get in a few laughs along the way.
When Fox was 15, he took a drama class with Ross Jones – a man that he described as his “guiding force”; Jones set him up with an
Poloncarz Reacts to UB-Collins Campaign Contribution
Poloncarz said he won’t need such a strategy if he is elected in November. “I won’t have to hire an outside consultant at half-a-million dollars,” Poloncarz said. “I don’t care what you call it – Alpha Bravo One Two Three. It’s just bad business for the county.” Michael J. Fox spoke about life with Parkinson’s Disease on Wednesday as a part of UB’s Distinguished Speaker series. Alexa Strudler /// The Spectrum
Poloncarz, a Democrat, also said the Six Continued on page 2
I N S I D E Opinion * 3 Life * 4 Arts * 5 Classifieds / Daily Delights * 7 Sports * 8
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Continued from page 1: Michael J. Fox Speaks About Optimism audition for Leo and Me, Fox’s first big television break. Fox described Jones as a man who “took one step closer when you stumbled, but took one step back when you succeeded.” Fox was working on Leo and Me and another play in Vancouver, Canada, getting paid to act while still in high school. Ironically enough, he was failing his high school drama class and made the decision to drop out of school during his junior year to move to Hollywood and pursue acting professionally. His career soared from there. “Early success, money, [and] fame [is] like throwing Miracle Grow on your character defects,” Fox said. “When everyone in the world suddenly says ‘yes’ to you, some people respond by saying ‘yes’ to everyone else.” He described this phenomenon as the “fun house”; he was on top of the world when his career took off from his stint in Family Ties. People who Fox wanted to meet his whole life suddenly wanted to meet him instead. He even got the chance to play in a celebrity hockey game against his childhood hero, Bobby Orr, and was able to break away, deke, and score against the legend (he later learned Orr had let him score the goal). “Fun house may sound great, but it can quickly turn into a carnival house of mirrors and warp your perspective,” Fox said. At the height of his career, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Doctors told him he had 10 good years of acting left – at 29 years old, Fox wasn’t ready for the end. “[It was like] a bomb went off,” Fox said. “Did I ask, ‘Why me?’ No. Did I say, ‘Why not me?’ No. I think I said, ‘This is bulls***.’ “It was like being stuck in the middle of the road, unable to move and stuck in concrete. You know there is a bus coming and you don’t know when or how fast it’s travelling, but you know it’s going to get there,” Fox said. From here, Fox started to take every job he was offered, blindly and without thought. He wanted to make his “last” 10 years count. He starred in the Back to the Future trilogy, Spin City (a sitcom about a fictional local government running New York City), and Teen Wolf. He won an Emmy award, three Golden Globe awards, two Screen Actors Guild
awards, GQ’s “Man of the Year” award, a People’s Choice award, and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fox came out publically with his diagnosis in 1998 – seven years later than his first doctor’s visit. “Disclosing my diagnosis to the public was the last step of owning up,” Fox said. “I was no longer hiding it from myself and no longer hiding it from my family and close friends. One group of people supremely important to me, I was hiding it from. That was you. “I didn’t think [the audience] thought someone was funny if he knew he was sick,” Fox said. Fox married his Family Ties co-star, Tracy Pollan, and together they have four children – two sons and twin daughters. Tracy has been at his side throughout his illness, but Fox told the audience: don’t call her his “rock.” “Parkinson’s is always putting me in a box,” Fox said. “Tracy is an expert at folding back the flaps, tipping it over, and easing me out. She’s fluid, responsive, and wonderful.” These days, Fox is retired from acting, only making a few guest appearances on TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Good Wife, Boston Legal, and Scrubs. He’s a bestselling author of three books, most notably Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist – he shares his struggles and strides while living with Parkinson’s. In 2000, he launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the disease that changed his life in every way. The foundation has every resource needed to work toward its goals – everything except a department of cures, that is.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Continued from page 1: Poloncarz Reacts to UB-Collins Campaign Contribution Sigma strategy has not resulted in the projected savings that Collins, a Republican, had promised.
though. He’d also like to see the line run directly to the airport, which is in Cheektowaga.
neck-and-neck, even though Collins’ campaign has much more money than Poloncarz’s.
The $2,560 contribution was only one of many issues that Poloncarz spoke with WRUB radio and The Spectrum about on Monday.
Poloncarz also has plans for Erie Community College, which receives direct subsidies from the county. But he recognizes that these plans may call for tuition increases.
“My supporters are enthused, and the Collins voters aren’t, really,” Poloncarz said. “It’s a dead heat, and the momentum is on my side.”
On the radio Though he was kind enough to speak to The Spectrum, Poloncarz’s visit to UB was for an in-studio guest appearance on WRUB, UB’s student-run radio station headquartered in the Ellicott Complex. He was interviewed on senior political science major James Gibbons’ Full Disclosure, a weekly talk show that streams live on www.wrub.org on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Poloncarz spoke to WRUB about a range of topics, including his alma mater – the University at Buffalo. “Advancing UB will advance Erie County,” Poloncarz said. “People have got to see UB as an economic driver for the community. UB has a tremendous impact on the community.” One of the things Poloncarz would like to see is an expansion of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) metro line, which currently ends at South Campus, into Amherst. “The main research area is North Campus; it should be easily accessible,” Poloncarz said. However, he cautioned that since the government does not directly run NFTA, it might not be compelled to do anything. Poloncarz certainly encourages and supports the idea of running the metro line further into the suburbs,
“It’s important for UB to have a strong ECC, now that credits transfer from ECC to UB,” Poloncarz said. Poloncarz intertwined his vision for UB with his vision for his number-one goal: job creation, a task he designated as the “number-one responsibility” for the county executive. He’d like to see the students of UB choosing to stay in the Buffalo area after graduation – settling down, making lives, and starting families in Western New York. But he admits that as long as the economy is suffering, that won’t happen. “Everywhere I go, the number one thing people want to talk about here is jobs,” Poloncarz told The Spectrum. “Other things, like libraries, like cultural institutions, those are important too, but the number one thing here is always jobs.” Poloncarz is hoping that he will find himself with a new job as of Nov. 8, but he encourages everyone to get involved in the electoral process, regardless of who wins. “You have to vote,” Poloncarz said. “No matter what, get out and vote.” Poloncarz vs. Collins Poloncarz also spoke to The Spectrum about his current race against Collins. Recent polls have shown it to be
Poloncarz is a Lackawanna native, graduating from Lackawanna Senior High School in 1985. He grew up there, along with his two brothers, under the guidance of his father, Charles, a Bethlehem Steel worker, and his mother, Janice, a nurse. Poloncarz cites his ties to Western New York as one of his major differences from Collins. “You need to have the pulse of the community,” Poloncarz said on WRUB. “Chris Collins doesn’t have those ties.” While it may be true that Collins wasn’t born in Western New York (he was born in Schenectady, N.Y.), he has spent the past 35 years in the Buffalo-Niagara area developing and investing in private businesses. Collins brought that mentality to his foray into politics. He was elected in 2007 after promising to “run the county like a business.” Poloncarz, however, disagrees with such a platform. “You can’t run certain things like a business,” Poloncarz said. “It’s not the government’s job to make money, but to provide services.” Gibbons and WRUB are waiting for the Collins campaign’s reply after requesting for a similar interview with Collins. Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Dr. Jian Feng, UB professor of biophysics and physiology, is conducting research using stem cells to find the causes and cures for Parkinson’s Disease right here at the university. His research is funded in part by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Fox remains hopeful for a cure to Parkinson’s in the future and remains optimistic about the rest of his career, life, and the lives of other Parkinson’s patients. “Life comes down to a series of choices,” Fox said. “The only choice not available to me is whether or not I have Parkinson’s. Everything else is up for grabs.” Email: news@ubspectrum.com
The Director and Staff of the Educational Opportunity Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo cordially invites you to attend the
37
th
Annual
Arthur O. Eve EOP Celebration of Excellence and Awards Convocation
Friday, October 28, 2011 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Student Union Theatre (Students are to check in by 1:30PM) Students Honored:
. State Wide Academic Honors (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Spring 2011 (over 3.0 GPA) . High Academic Achiever Fall 2010 (over 3.0 GPA) . Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges . EOP Graduates 2011
Other Honorees:
. Friends of EOP
Center for Academic Development Services
Opinion ubspectrum.com
Friday, October 21, 2011
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthew Parrino SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR James Twigg MANAGING EDITOR Edward Benoit EDITORIAL EDITOR James Bowe NEWS EDITORS Luke Hammill, senior Rebecca Bratek Sara DiNatale, asst. Lisa Khoury, asst. ARTS EDITORS Jameson Butler, senior Vanessa Frith Nicolas Pino LIFE EDITORS Akari Iburi, senior Steven Wrobel Veronica Ritter Keren Baruch, asst. SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Mansfield, senior Brian Josephs Scott Resnick, asst. Andreius Coleman, asst. PHOTO EDITORS Meg Kinsley, senior Alexa Strudler Satsuki Aoi Troi Williams, asst. Nyeri Moulterie, asst. COPY EDITOR Edward Benoit CARTOONIST Patrick Boyle WEB EDITOR Matthew Parrino James Twigg
PROFESSIONAL STAFF OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helene Polley ADVERTISING MANAGER Andrew Angeles CREATIVE DESIGNERS Nicole Manzo Aline Kobayashi ADVERTISING DESIGNER Aline Kobayashi The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address. The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee. October 21, 2011 VOLUME 61 NUMBER 22 CIRCULATION: 7,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by both Alloy Media and Marketing, and MediaMate. For information on adverstising with The Spectrum visit www.ubspectrum. com/ads or call us directly. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100 Telephone: (716) 645-2468 Fax: (716) 645-2766 Copyright 2011 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by The Buffalo News 1 News Plaza Buffalo, N.Y. 14240
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A Playoff System to Rule Them All BRYAN FEILER Staff Writer
Triggering a Debate Big cuts to defense should be part of a debt solution The United States military is the most deadly fighting force ever assembled in this solar system. We have the best trained fighting force, the most accurate and lethal weapons, and the strongest presence throughout earth. Our massive army may be able to face down any foe with deadly precision but it is not immune to a bunch of old guys in Washington D.C., or the almighty American dollar. As a product over the debt ceiling deal back in August, an unfortunately superpower-less “super committee” was formed to tackle the gargantuan national debt. The committee is supposed to find $1.5 trillion to cut from the federal budget over the next decade, but as is typical of modern congressional politics, it has been in gridlock. Stalemates are not surprising at all anymore, but time is limited for the “super committee.” It has until Nov. 23 to come to a deal, or else a “trigger mechanism” that was built into the bill will automatically take effect and enact a myriad of cuts. Defense spending is already facing roughly $350 billion in cuts over the
As always, everyone will start complaining that teams will be left out of the national championship game despite being undefeated. But I have a solution that will satisfy those who want to implement a playoff system and those who love the current system. As the current system stands, there are 119 bowl-eligible teams and 35 bowl games, which means that more than half of the eligible teams are going to bowl games. This is crucial to mid-major schools (such as Buffalo) that need the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars for reaching a bowl game.
next 10 years, but the autopilot cuts have the Pentagon worried that the figure could, in the worst case, reach over $1 trillion. A report by the Center for a New American Security estimates that the Pentagon can take up to a $550 billion hit and still maintain its current course. Pushing those cuts over the cliff will drastically change the military’s mission and look, which has some in congress up in arms. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is describing the possible cuts in nearly apocalyptic terms, saying they will “devastate” and “hollow out” our national defense. While this “super committee” should get on the ball and do its job, hefty cuts to federal defense spending should not be ruled out. It’s been a decade since we declared war on terrorism, and nearly that long since Operation Iraqi Freedom, and yet we are still bogged down in these quagmires of staggering proportions. Threatening that we might have to pull out of one of those operations in the event of massive cuts isn’t exactly a menacing warning. We are struggling at home. Our economy has been
teetering on the brink of disaster for years, and the working class of this nation has been taking the brunt of the damage. Spending exorbitant sums on two wars that are essentially over seems silly when we could use that money at home. Beyond the war on terror, there is money in the defense budget that is even less timely. We have bases all over the world that are essentially remnants of a cold war that doesn’t exist any more. Do we really need bases in Germany and Japan? It’s unlikely that East Germany and Imperial Japan are ready to rise again like zombies from the History Channel to threaten America.
If you’re a massive national bank, however, prison-dodging perks abound. The story isn’t quite that simple. Back in 2006, before the onset of the worst of the mortgage crisis, Citigroup traders hatched a hare-brained scheme. According to the SEC, Citigroup discussed the possibility of buying financial instruments that would allow it to bet on mortgage assets the bank was assembling in a deal. Late 2007 saw the tumble of the housing market. Subsequently, ratings agencies downgraded most of the investments, which were then pushed into default. Hedge funds and investment managers who bought into the investments lost several hundred million dollars in the process. SEC enforcement chief says that Citigroup intentionally refrained from giving investors key pieces of information that may have prevented An eight or even 16-team playoff system would crush some programs that rely on exposure from bowl games, money from accepting the bid and the money from television rights. This would also add three games to some teams’ schedules, which athletic directors wouldn’t allow.
You keep every single bowl game. Every team that traditionally gets a bowl bid will continue to get one. The change comes with the format of the BCS games. Four BCS games stay the same. The Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange Bowls all keep their contracts with the six automatic-qualifying conference winners. However, a fifth game will be played in a new state-of-the-art stadium to allow two other national champion hopefuls into the mix. This leaves four spaces for a runner up in the automatic qualifying conferences or undefeated teams from a mid-major conference to play for the title. From the five winners of those games, a committee (we all know how much the NCAA loves committees)
them from sustaining losses. On top of that, Citigroup told investors that the scheme was designed by an independent manager, and picked by financial services company Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse was complacent in the deal, agreeing to the terms even though it didn’t select the assets. After the damage was done, Citigroup made out like a bandit, namely to the tune of $160 million in fees and profits. In 2008, not long after the deception, Citigroup was on the brink of failure and received a $45 billion government bailout. Wednesday, Citigroup settled a civil fraud suit stemming from the junk investment it fabricated. It was ordered to pay $285 million, which includes all the profit made, some interest, and a punitive penalty. In a move that would only shock the most stupid people on earth, Citigroup did not accept responsibility or deny the charges the SEC lobbed. In light of the massive Occupy Wall Street protests, this seems like a perfect time to prosecute all the bankers involved. The people who designed the toxic deal and the people who knew what was going on and did will determine who will play in the national championship game. The problem always arises when three undefeated teams and the winner of the SEC that has one loss are all worthy of a title shot. The argument is that a team like Boise State would not be undefeated if they played in the SEC. So this is where you determine if teams like Boise are worthy of a national title shot. So here’s an example: undefeated Boise State plays the SEC winner and undefeated Ball State (before it played Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference title game) takes on the Pac-12 winner, Stanford. That would narrow down the teams worthy of a national title game. Normally, there are three or four teams that are named worthy of a national title birth. With LSU and Alabama both from the SEC at the top of the standings, people are scared that they will play each other in the title game because they are in the same division and cannot play each other in the conference championship game. Another plus is a team that wins the Big East or Big 12 (or Big 6, as
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EDWARD BENOIT Managing Editor
The last thing any undergraduate wants to do during his or her weekend – or during any day of the week, really – is the “suggested reading” professors seem rather keen on assigning. Indeed, a lot of the students I know just don’t bother doing it at all. Well, I’m here to tell you that you should do that reading. Not just because doing the suggested reading will help you out a tad bit more during your psychology midterms or history papers – no, my rationale is a little bit broader and more general than that. To put it in extremely technical terms, you often need to know about stuff to understand other stuff. This goes without saying (or, at least, should go without saying) in an academic context: you need a working knowledge of the King James Bible and Ovid’s Metamorphoses to understand John Milton, for instance, and you can’t even begin to grasp Thomas Pynchon without an extensive background in pretty much everything.
Every avenue should be taken, however. A strong blend of cuts to Defense, entitlement programs, coupled with an increase in taxes on the wealthiest in this nation is the only way to fix this problem.
What many fail to realize, though, is that this same basic principle applies to things outside of school.
Citigroup settles civil fraud suit
Imagine what would happen if you stole over $160 million. You’d probably have to move to a new dorm room in Attica and start wearing much less fashionable orange jumpsuits.
Suggested Reading
All the cuts shouldn’t be shouldered by the Military. We will always need a modern and strong fighting force to defend us when it’s needed, and it would be very irresponsible to let entitlement programs like Social Security continually balloon until it’s too late.
Subsidized Fraud
So here is the billion-dollar idea:
The first Bowl Championship Series standings of the year came out this past weekend with two Southeastern Conference teams at the top.
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nothing to stop it should all be held responsible. What stings so much about it all, though, is that there is really nothing on which to prosecute. The banking industry had been deregulated to such an absurdly anarchic situation that it was allowed to do whatever it wanted. Two other banks, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase and co., have been implicated in similar fraudulent investments. Both paid only a portion of the losses their investors took, just like Citigroup. Since then, there has been no significantly effective legislation to correct the poisonous climate that vaporized billions of dollars, and Congress should be embarrassed. Unfortunately, with the Tea Party essentially controlling the House, it looks like this laissez-faire attitude will prevail. Occupy Wall Street shouldn’t come as a surprise to banking firms like Citigroup. It has perpetrated the shadiest deals since the savings and loan crisis, taken advantage of the poor of this nation, and refused to take any responsibility for what it has done. At least a little kid cries when he’s caught being naughty. it may soon become) will still get its bid (and money) despite not having a chance at the National Title. There are flaws in my system that can be fixed. Such as an undefeated team must be in the top 10 or 15 in the BCS standings to get a chance to play in a BCS game. To sum up, this structure serves two purposes. First, it allows as many teams as possible to get rewarded for playing in a bowl game. And second, more importantly, it narrows the number of the teams that should be in the national title game from three or four to two. There should never be a split national title (like in 2003), and a team should never win the National Championship Game and worry if it will have to split the title. This system only adds one game to the schedule, and it would be played before the start of the second semester so players won’t miss any more school. Mid-major teams will get their money and the best teams will figure out who truly belongs in the title game. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Quentin Tarantino – the idol of every dorm-dwelling poster-buying TV-referencing male college student on the continent – is an absolutely perfect example. Tarantino’s younger “fans” laud the director for his funny, banter-strewn dialogue and propensity for postmodern violence. Many of these same “fans,” however, don’t actually understand the first thing about Tarantino’s work (their ability to recite verbatim the “Royale with cheese” conversation from Pulp Fiction notwithstanding). Actually “getting” Tarantino’s oeuvre requires a ton of cinematic “suggested reading” (or, rather, “suggested viewing”). Ever wonder why 25 minutes of Pulp Fiction’s runtime is spent watching Bruce Willis and his ambiguously European girlfriend pillow talk? Well, you should probably pick up Jean Luc Godard’s À bout de soufflé. While we’re at it, you should also at least rent Bande à part, Pierrot le fou, Alphaville, La dolce vita, 8 1/2, and about every ’70s exploitation film every made. And all that’s just to understand the major allusions Tarantino makes in one movie – don’t even get me started on the actual themes the director explores (and his “fans” fail to grasp), because I could explain the importance of identity signifiers in Inglourious Basterds or morality and subjectivity in Pulp Fiction for hours if you want me to (which you probably don’t), with any one of these topics requiring at least a basic knowledge of theoretical literary stuff. Doing the “suggested reading” proves useful in things other than nerd debates, too. If the Bush administration had familiarized itself with the history of Afghanistan at some point before barging into the country, guns a-blazin’, Afghanistan probably wouldn’t have been invaded at all. History’s greatest military powers – from the Mongols to the British to the Soviets – have all had trouble maintaining armies for long periods of time in the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan, to say nothing of the historic difficulty said powers have had winning over the country’s fragmented and ethnically diverse populace. And yet, here we are, still occupying Afghanistan after a decade. (This is especially disheartening when you consider that George W. and company all lived through the Vietnam War, and, evidently, ignored all of its lessons – neglecting the “suggested reading” is one thing, ignoring the seminal events of one’s own lifetime is something else entirely.) To relate this column to a totally random third thing, the 1 percent of hyper-wealthy Americans ignoring the growing clamor and outrage of the 99 percent evidently didn’t do their “suggested reading” either. In the words of Daniel Handler (better known by his pen name, Lemony Snicket): “Historically, a story about people inside impressive buildings ignoring or even taunting people standing outside shouting at them turns out to be a story with an unhappy ending.” If there’s a moral to this poorly-organized and somewhat disjointed column, it’s that anyone and everyone – whether you’re a Tarantino fanboy or the leader of the free world – should probably spend a good time investigating any pertinent background information before dealing with any sort of analytically complex issue. Or, to put it even more technically, you often need to know about stuff to understand other stuff.
Email: eabenoit@buffalo.edu
Life
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ubspectrum.com
Friday, October 21, 2011
Kickin’ it Around the World TAHSIN CHOWDHURY Staff Writer Kunz field echoed with the sound of students cheering as the Korean Student Association (KSA) dominated the International Soccer Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 16. “I am really happy because this is the first time to win since I began [playing] soccer,” said Charles Lee, captain of the KSA team and a senior biomedical sciences major. KSA started the tournament in matches against the Caribbean SA and Turkish SA, two consistently strong teams, before playing against last year’s winners, Indonesian SA, in the semifinals. “We were not worried too much because we heard [Indonesian SA’s] strength was weakening,” Lee said. KSA was down 1-0 late in the second half of the final match against Japanese SA (JSA), until an equalizing goal gave them the lifeline they needed to take the match into overtime. “Honestly, it was the most terrible moment… because we [let] the opponent make the opening goal for the first time in this year’s tournament,” Lee said. JSA’s President, Yoshitaka Nakamura, a senior accounting major and goalkeeper, admitted that one goal against KSA would not be enough. “Against [KSA], we needed more,” Nakamura said. “I was sad when I let in KSA’s first goal, but it was still 1-1 so I wasn’t too disappointed.”
All participating teams were expected to do well, which only added to the intensity of the competition that the players felt. “There [was] pressure on all of us,” said Ahmad Alsaadeh, captain of the Organization of Arab Students and a junior in the school of management. “Especially [because soccer] is full of surprises…one mistake could cost you the whole game. I expected to do way better than we did, but there were [a] couple of complications that we had.” This year’s tournament was different from the ones held in previous years, something many players were not pleased with. Referees for each game were students from the men and women’s club soccer teams. Players also wished that each game was longer than 20 minutes, according to Alsaadeh. “We [didn’t want to] call everything that went on [because] that would just slow down the matches. We wanted to let the game play,” said Natalie DiCesare, a senior nursing major and one of the referees. The unorganized day and referees weren’t the only things that bothered the players. Some of the players were also displeased with the weather throughout the course of that weekend, although that was out of their control. “The tournament should have started a week earlier just because the weather was very good,” said Yuda Zyco, captain of the Indonesian SA team and a second year MBA student. One player twisted his knee barely six minutes
Despite poor weather conditions, International Student Association teams gathered at Kunz field last weekend to participate in the Satsuki Aoi /// The Spectrum International Soccer Tournament.
into a match because of all of the rainfall. “My cleats weren’t suited to the wet pitch,” said Maurice Herkrath, a junior economics major. “The amount of pain is hard to describe, I’ve felt it before so I know what to expect, but that doesn’t stop it from hurting like crazy at the beginning.” Despite the weather conditions, club members and supporters all braved the cold winds and sporadic rainfall to support their teams.
“The weather was [horrible, but] the tournament brought people together,” said Carl Ross, international council coordinator and a senior Asian studies major. “A lot of people came out and really just had fun, and that’s what we hoped the tournament would be like.”
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Show Your Snowboard Some Skyn SOPHIE TRUTER Staff Writer Getting ready for a day of boarding down a mountain of fresh powder, Sheridan Conway takes her board out of its protective case. Her case looks a lot different than most of her fellow boarders. No, not because of an odd color or design, but because it’s unique – it’s her own invention. Not many people expect to be deep in the business world at the age of 18. But for Conway, a sophomore business major, studying at UB by day and working as a product inventor by night is nothing unusual. Conway is one of the minds behind a new product known as Snowboard Skyns. Conway was fed up with lugging her snowboard around in a bag that did nothing but gather water and rust her board and wanted a solution. She teamed up with her cousin, Gary Iwankow, and her father, Richard Conway, to invent a better alternative to the bulky and ineffective bag.
With assistance and support from her dad and uncle, Sheridan Conway uses creativity to create Snowboard Skyns. Yue Hu /// The Spectrum
mere inspiration; she is responsible for marketing and promoting the Snowboard Skyns. She also plays an active role in advertising the family product.
rated. Using his business knowledge and connections, he has been able to assist Conway and Iwankow in making their product idea a reality.
Christopher Horvatits, a junior broadcasting major at SUNY Oswego and close friend to Conway, believes that Conway’s ambitious character is the heart and soul behind the family business.
“I am very excited about my daughters interest in being involved in the family business,” Richard Conway said. “She brings a lot of fresh ideas and insight to the market Snowboard Skyns is targeting. I am teaching her the ins and outs of what it takes to market a product successfully, and I am hopeful for her future within the family business.”
“If she so much as sniffs an opportunity, she’ll go for it,” Horvatits said. “She really strives to challenge herself. I really see a lot of little kid in her. What I mean by that is she doesn't let the challenges of a situation deter her from going for it. And I admire that about her. If there’s something that she really wants, nobody will outwork her for it.” Iwankow was the technical brain behind the Snowboard Skyns. He modelled the Skyns off of traditional surfboard covers and used the marketing and business talents of Richard Conway to turn the product into a successful sale item.
“A simple way to think about Snowboard Skyns is like a spandex, almost elastic, cover that just goes over your board, rather then a bag,” Conway said. “It’s breathable, it's compact, you can actually roll it up and fit it in your pocket.”
“Working with my cousin and her father has been really simple because they are helping me achieve my goal of making my invention a success,” Iwankow said. “Working with family is easy, as long as everyone understands the difference between work and family.”
Conway’s role in the business goes beyond
Richard owns Ingenious Products Incorpo-
Horvatits shares the same optimism as Richard Conway for his daughter’s future in business. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if she really wants to she can make something out of this business,” Horvatits said. “She’s a savvy girl and she has all of the tools necessary to be successful in the business world.” Conway is happy to just take each day as it comes at the moment. She is currently working with her cousin and father to get the Snowboard Skyns in stores for this coming snow season. As for a future career in business, that is just all a part of the big dream. “I would love to make a career out of this,” Conway said. “I get to work with my family and help create a product I really believe in, for a sport that I love.” Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Arts
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Friday, October 21, 2011
Page 5
A Week in Ink: Issue No. 33 NICOLAS PINO Arts Editor
Green Lantern No. 2
X-Men Regenesis
Sometimes in life, all you need is a good mentor. Unfortunately, Hal Jordan can’t be so lucky. No, Jordan’s condescending, ring-wielding instructor, Sinestro, makes it very clear that if Jordan’s going to rock his righteous ring once more he’s going to have to walk a very dangerous line.
When most couples break up, there’s hurt feelings, broken hearts and – in a worst case scenario – someone’s TV get’s thrown out a window. But when Cyclops’ and Wolverine’s tepid bromance came to a crushing conclusion, hearts weren’t the only things to get broken.
Not so long, long ago in a galaxy not so far away, Sinestro ruled the Yellow Lantern roost, mastering the power of fear and unleashing amber hell across the universe. These days, though, Sinestro much prefers the company of the emerald ring bearers. The series finally comes full circle, as the Jordan / Sinestro pair will either annihilate the amber assailants or let their bad blood boil them alive.
Lines in the sand have been drawn. Scott Summers will continue to lead the X-Men in the protection of the innocents using any means necessary, while his grittier companion is en route to start school back from Summer(s). While Wolverine educating the next class of mutants sounds like a promising endeavor, the whole operation is on shaky ground without a unified front.
With Geoff Johns crafting this DC staple there’s little chance the series won’t be an absolutely enthralling arc, and even with just a taste from these first two issues, it’s safe to say Johns is clearly in control. Exploring the dynamic between Hal Jordan and the Korugar commando has always made for interesting source material, and Johns and DC’s master craftsman will certainly seek to continue this trend.
The issue itself seeks to illustrate the fierce fallout through a thinly veiled analogy of a classic caveman brawl. While the analogy serves the purpose writer Kieron Gillen envisioned, the whole issue instead comes off as cliché and lacks the same gravity that the issue could’ve had sans this prehistoric bout. Gillen, and in turn artist Billy Tan, does well to run the gamut of mutants, each aligning themselves with either Summers’ or Logan’s cause.
As Sinestro assumes the role of Benedict Arnold of the universe and Hal Jordan continues his path to true emotional fortitude, there’s much to be done in the world of the Lantern Corps. With Johns at the helm of this ship, the series is shipping out on a smooth voyage.
Ghostbusters No. 2
The magnitude of the issue’s theme is immense, and instead of leaving readers feeling like they’ve read the literal dissolution of the X-Men, the comic is merely setting the stage for future events. Regretfully, for a costly $3.99, reader’s money is better spent on the series’ back issues than Gillen’s inept attempt at serious stakes.
With Ghostbusters 3 more of a distant hope than a concrete release, this Halloween season was feeling a little bland without the ghost-rustling, slime-busting crew. Thankfully, IDW had our backs. Venkman, Egon, Stantz and crew are back, ready to put the Stay Puft incident behind them and get back to doing what they do best: hilarious dialogue. But with a greater threat looming in the ectoplasm-trapping troops’ future, there’s a little less to laugh about. The transition from the second movie to this pen and panel iteration is flawless. While there’s some digressions about what would have happened after the events of the two films, the team at IDW collectively decided to keep the crew together for the long haul, even though duty probably should have called the characters elsewhere. Conversations are fluid and believable and given enough time with the source material, even sound like the ’90s dream team. There is a lot to love about the series’ ink-soaked reboot, and while the point can be made that a movie is long overdue, this comic intends to prove that the trilogy’s completion will be worth the wait. As the weather starts to slink back to the familiar frigid Buffalo air and college’s night of debauchery is right around the corner, there’s nothing more comforting than reminiscing with the ghost(busters) of Halloweens past. Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Courtesy of DC Comics
Courtesy of IDW Publishing
Courtesy of Marvel
Wits and Strangers crowed with his hysterically cynical brand of observation. Kicking off the evening was a story about a trip to a French dentist’s office, a place where Sedaris was hoping to be praised for a diligent flossing regiment but was disappointed to hear from the practitioner the he had “good time teeth.” The next tale regarded a trip to China and based on the audience reaction, this story was quite a hit. Sedaris used graphic descriptions to discuss the Chinese’s tendency to “plug one nostril and use the other as a blowhole.” Just when the groaning began to subside, he began discussing his opinions on Chinese food. “People told me food in Beijing is more real,” Sedaris said. “Meaning I’d dislike it more authentically.” Grammy-Award winner and host of This American Life, David Sedaris stopped in Buffalo to spread his comedic wit. Courtesy of David Sedaris
JEFF STONE Staff Writer Whoever said NPR is boring has obviously never heard of David Sedaris. The humor writer and regular This American Life contributor appeared at the Center for the Arts on Tuesday night and showcased his sharp brand of sarcasm for a devoted audience. Sedaris was a hit with the mostly middle-aged audience as soon as he walked on stage. With topics ranging from Chinese bathrooms to the current Wall Street protests, all told in short stories and diary excerpts, Sedaris amused the
If he weren’t the one on stage it’d seem unbelievable that the diminutive author with the grey-flecked hair was as popular as he really is. Standing at no more than 5-feet-5-inches and speaking with a slight lisp, Sedaris has sold over seven million books. Along with This American Life, Sedaris’ radio program, he’s also appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, submitted over 40 works to The New Yorker magazine, and tours all over the world. His experience and professionalism was evident. Despite speaking for almost 90 minutes, Sedaris didn’t trip over a single word. Every dirty joke he told was not only funny, it was somehow always a surprise he’d even ventured into that territory because of his dignified demeanor. Probably the biggest highlight of the show was the reading of the story, “’Atta Boy.” Fans of This American Life and his books know that Sedaris is
at his finest when he’s depicting his childhood spent as part of a wacky North Carolina family. “’Atta Boy” is no exception. The parts of the story depicting Sedaris’ father were hysterical: the dramatic old man was seemingly always the target of the rest of the family’s sarcasm. Sedaris told of when he reached for the crackers and cream cheese his father was eating and was reprimanded.
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“‘Oh no you don’t,’ he said. ‘Damn it! You want an after work snack? Get a job.’ Seemingly forgetting that I was 11,” Sedaris said. Occasionally using diary excerpts instead of telling a complete short story, Sedaris skipped easily from topic to topic. At one point he mentioned a friend who had recently broken up with her boyfriend and detailed her bike ride with her ex. “I was so in love, so happy. Then, when I roared back my head in laughter, a bird s*** in my mouth.” Between each story, Sedaris was conversational and easygoing with the audience. He also seemed relaxed when the lights came back up and a short question and answer session ensued. He joked with the crowd, and even offered to give away a German book to anyone who spoke that language. Each story Sedaris told mixed low and highbrow humor, and was met with roaring laughter. Incorporating a filthy Willie Nelson joke into one of his tangents seemed like it barely took any effort at all, demonstrating his mastery in a range of topics. Self-deprecation never sounded so sweet.
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Friday, October 21, 2011
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Visit ubspectrum.com/games for our online game of the week Also see the crossword and Sudoku answers from last issue
Crossword of the Day
Friday, October 21 FROM UNIVERSAL UCLICK
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You can demand more from those around you, and they know you’re asking them to do what can be done -- no more and no less.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You will be able to serve others by serving yourself, and vice versa. This seeming paradox is likely to carry over to tomorrow.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You can put a little more spice into your routine simply by inviting someone new to the party. He or she offers more than fun.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Others are sure to respect you for the way you are doing things, even if they don’t agree with your motives. Information comes to you quickly.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Take care that you don’t mistake what you see for what is really happening -- for your own perception may, at first, be misleading.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -You may want to consider the possible meaning of any dreams you remember from last night. Today, symbolism is key.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A poor decision need not affect you for long; once you realize that you made the wrong choice, you can reverse it quickly.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Others are likely to need you help at regular intervals today. It won’t be more than you can give -- and you’ll want to give more.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Once you get started you’re likely to feel swept along by a current that you cannot independently control.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- It may seem a fiction, but what you perceive is likely to be fact today -- no matter what others may think of it. Your reactions are key.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You are a natural leader, but today it may not be your turn; indeed, someone else is likely to jump at the chance to tell you what must be done.
Sudoku
Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 21, 2011 VARIABLY CONSTANT By Hank Bowman ACROSS 1 Ignores at a ceremony 6 Insignificant bit 10 Assam and pekoe 14 Bone-chilling 15 “Nautical” prefix 16 “Be kind to critters” org. 17 Enough to wet one’s whistle 18 Boon to Aladdin 19 Compassionate feeling 20 Attempted to no avail 23 “Boom-bah” lead-in 24 Bausch & Lomb product 25 Chalked stick 26 Excruciating pain 28 Previously used by Shakespeare? 29 Catch on to 30 Conventioneer’s passport 32 Jiffy 33 Shark’s milieu 34 “Aloha” accompaniments 35 Lung-heart connector
39 Tuscan river 40 John, to a Brit 41 “___ in cat” (part of an early lesson) 42 Whose 1867 folly? 44 Appeared in the paper 45 300 cubit-long vessel 48 Children’s author R.L. ___ 49 It contains a human drum 50 “Hard ___!” (helm command) 51 Wrath 52 NEWS indicator? 56 Cooling pie place 58 Rhine tributary 59 Like certain cereals 60 “Voila!” 61 Diva’s offering 62 Attack from all directions 63 Stone and Stallone 64 Dash gauge 65 Church dignitary
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You can get out of an undesirable situation the same way you got into it -- and your own will is likely to prove your greatest strength.
DOWN 1 Agree out of court 2 “___ My God to Thee” 3 Bearish 4 Takes the bait 5 Budding prospect? 6 Waldorf salad ingredient 7 “Everybody lift together!” 8 “ ___ la Douce” 9 African antelope 10 1/192 qt. 11 “The Phantom Menace” title part 12 Playing a part from 13 More than acquiesces 21 How many like their beer 22 Apprehend 27 Amounts of laughter 29 Diamond or ruby 30 Front closing? 31 Where you might drop off a child 32 ___-Kettering Institute 33 Start of many Brazilian city names 35 When depositions are taken
36 Awkward to carry 37 Tel. book figures 38 Furniture mover’s aid 39 Basketball stat 43 FF opposite 44 Gung-ho 45 Having wings 46 Go back on a deal 47 Better honed 49 Set of principles 50 “... but to no ___” 53 Part of Q.E.D. 54 Glow 55 Thorny bloom 57 ___ Cruces, N.M.
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Sports Page 8
ubspectrum.com
Friday, October 21, 2011
Scouting Buffalo to Face Huskies’ Stampede on Saturday Northern Illinois BRIAN JOSEPHS Sports Editor
The football team is at the defining moment of its season this week.
Last week against Temple, the Bulls (2-5, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) were manhandled by the Owls – more specifically the Temple running game. In 2008, the Bulls rallied after a slow 1-2 start in the MAC, and made it all the way to the Championship game after three conference losses that season. But another loss this season could prove to be more than the team can overcome. The biggest problem facing the Bulls this week is the Michael Vick of college football – Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish. If the Bulls thought it was tough to stop a running game last week, just think how difficult it’s going to be to stop the Huskies (4-3, 2-1 MAC). Harnish ranks fourth in the MAC…in rushing.
Record: 4-3 (2-1 MAC) 2010 Record: 10-3 (8-1 MAC); defeated Fresno State 40-17 in Humanitarian Bowl Last Meeting: 10/16/2010 – Northern Illinois won, 45-14 Notable Win: 49-26 versus Army Notable Loss: 49-7 versus Wisconsin Players to Watch: Senior QB Chandler Harnish – Harnish is a dual-threat quarterback, as he’s passed for 1,547 yards and 12 touchdowns (only four interceptions), and also rushed for 671 yards and seven touchdowns. Harnish averages 316.9 yards of offense per game. Senior RB Jasmin Hopkins – Though Hopkins only averages 77.1 yards per game, he’s the Huskies’ second-best offensive weapon. Hopkins has scored nine touchdowns this year. The Bulls will win if…they can find a way to control Harnish. He’s arguably the best quarterback in the MAC, and he’s terrorized opponents throughout the year. The Buffalo defense has struggled immeasurably, so the D will need to seriously step up if the Bulls want a shot. Also, sophomore running back Branden Oliver needs to get back into the dominant form he displayed before last week.
One positive that head coach Jeff Quinn has been able to preach to his team following last week’s embarrassment is the team’s record at UB Stadium this season. Buffalo has gone 2-1 at home this year, but 0-4 on the road. Buffalo gave fans a reason to be cynical after being throttled last week by Temple (5-2, 3-1 MAC), 34-0. The loss quickly sobered up the blue and white faithful, as they were just celebrating their team’s 38-37 win against Ohio (4-3, 1-2 MAC) a week prior. The Bulls’ defense will face a tremendous challenge in stopping a vicious Huskies offense. Northern Illinois boasts the No.1 offense in the MAC, leading the conference in points (277) and yardage (3379). Quinn was visibly frustrated after last week’s disappointing outcome, but he is optimistic about his team’s chances against the Huskies. “Northern Illinois is a very good football team,” Quinn said. “But it’s great to be back home, and we expect a tremendous effort from our kids getting ready for this football game on Saturday.” The Huskies are coming off a signature win against Western Michigan (4-3, 2-1
The Bulls hope to contain the MAC-leading Northern Illinois offense.
MAC). After trailing at halftime, Northern Illinois scored 38 unanswered points en route to a 51-22 victory. The Huskies put up 607 yards, the second-highest output in school history. Harnish was ruthless against the Broncos, as he finished the game with 432 yards – 203 through the air and 229 on the ground. With his performance, Harnish became just the 11th player in NCAA history to record 200 yards passing and rushing. Harnish has racked up 671 rushing yards, and he leads the MAC in total offensive yards (2,218). Quinn is well aware of just how threatening Northern Illinois’ quarterback is. “He is a great player and competitor,” Quinn said. “We’re not going to stop him, but we have to contain him. I feel good about our defense, defensive coordinator, our coaching staff, and our players. We’re going to have to play a very disciplined and fundamentally sound football game.” Harnish will look to take advantage of a struggling Buffalo defense. The Bulls have allowed 215.3 rushing yards per
The Bulls don’t have a good matchup this week – plain and simple. The Huskies are the No. 1 scoring offense in the conference, and the fact that they are propelled by an aggressive run game does not bode well for the Bulls. Buffalo ranks third-to-last in the MAC in run defense, allowing 215.3 yards per game. Oliver is going to have another big day, as the Huskies are ranked ninth in the MAC in rushing defense. But he can only do so much to make up for Buffalo’s inconsistency. This game is going to be a high scoring one, but unfortunately for the Bulls, Northern Illinois will be too powerful for Buffalo. Buffalo-28 Northern Illinois-38 Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Quinn made sure that his team was prepared to face the Huskies without Jackson’s contributions on special teams.
Senior quarterback Chazz Anderson had no answer for Temple’s swarming defense and threw for an abysmal 84 yards. Sophomore running back Branden Oliver blamed the poor results on a lack of team leadership, but he ended the game with a mediocre 62 yards on 21 carries. Quinn thinks that if the offense steps up, the defense will be able to do the same. “We have to do a better job offensively,” Quinn said. “We’ve got to keep [Northern Illinois’ offense] off the field. And we need to get our mentality offensively, both in the run and pass game, on our side… that eliminates some of the issues we had defensively.” The Bulls will play without senior wide receiver Terrell Jackson on Saturday. He suffered a horrific head/neck injury after a huge hit on a kick return against
The Bulls (9-4-3, 2-2-3 MAC) face the Mid-American Conferenceleading Ohio Bobcats (7-8-1, 4-3-1 MAC) on Friday, followed by a matchup on Sunday against the Akron Zips (6-6-2, 3-3-2 MAC). Buffalo currently controls its destiny in the MAC East Division, as they sit in fourth place. They have nine points, and they sit just four points behind division-leader Ohio.
The Bulls were nothing short of embarrassing last week, but they’ve been a completely different team at UB Stadium this year. Buffalo is 2-1 at home (and very easily could be 3-0), while the Bulls are 0-4 on the road.
Brian Josephs Sports Editor
Quinn holds the offense just as accountable for last week’s loss. Buffalo ended the game with a deplorable 155 yards of total offense.
The women’s soccer team is in a different position this year than in years past, as the squad enters a crucial stretch this weekend with playoff positioning on the line.
Aaron Mansfield Senior Sports Editor
Buffalo-17 Northern Illinois-33
Temple. Jackson is recovering, but his return this season is doubtful.
NATHANIEL SMITH Staff Writer
Prediction:
However, Harnish will prove to be too much for the Buffalo defense.
game, including 400 yards in the debacle against Temple.
“I had a meeting with the team and I said ‘don’t let what happened on Saturday dictate who we are as a team,’” Quinn said. The odds are against the Bulls for the upcoming matchup, but Quinn believes Buffalo’s home field advantage gives his squad a better shot at beating the conference contenders. “We need to create an antagonistic crowd and get [the fans] into the game,” Quinn said. “A commitment we made all summer was taking care of business at home, and we have done that. This will be a tremendous challenge and test for our kids against Northern Illinois.” The Bulls will attempt to upset the MAC Championship contender on Saturday at noon. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls Look to Wrap up MAC Play on High Note
Northern Illinois will win if… Harnish continues to play the way he has lately. If he can complete a few passes, Buffalo will need to respect the Huskies’ passing game, and that’s when Harnish likes to take over with his legs.
Additionally, the Bulls have responded well to massive defeats this year (Buffalo lost 34-0 last week to Temple). After Buffalo lost 35-16 to Pittsburgh, it defeated Stony Brook. After Buffalo lost 41-10 to Tennessee, it defeated Ohio.
Courtesy of Scott Walstrom, NIU Media Services
The Bulls start their crucial weekend stretch with a Friday road game at Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats are coming off mixed results last weekend, as they lost 2-1 to the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (8-7, 3-5 MAC) and responded with a 2-0 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons (5-12, 2-6 MAC). Karen McMahon (15) and the Bulls are going to have to turn it up offensively in order to beat this weekend’s tough slate of opponents. Nick Fischetti /// The Spectrum
Offensively, Ohio is very similar to the Bulls in that they rely on many different players for scoring. They are led by forward Toye Famodu’s five goals. Eight
different Bobcats have scored a goal this year.
has 62 saves with a goal percentage of .816.
On defense, the Bobcats have given up their share of goals, as they have given up 19 on the year. Goalkeeper Mattie Liston has a save percentage of .832, but she was replaced before the Bobcats’ game against the Falcons by Nicole Amari, who earned her first win and shutout of the season. Amari will most likely start in the game against Buffalo.
If Buffalo wins out, and Ohio fails to score a victory on Sunday against the Kent State Golden Flashes (10-6, 4-4 MAC), the Bulls will hold a share of first place going into the Oct. 27 finale against Kent State. To do this, Buffalo will need a flawless weekend from the defense and goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon.
Like the Bobcats, the Zips are also coming off a mixed weekend, as they fell to Miami (OH) 3-0 on Sunday after beating the Falcons 2-1 on Friday. They come to Buffalo just a spot above the Bulls in the MAC East standings, sitting just two points ahead. The Zips are another team that is very balanced offensively, as two players (Ashley Hughes and Rachel Phillip) share the team lead in goals scored with three. All together, five different Zips have scored at least two goals, and eight players have scored the team’s 15 goals this season. Defensively, the team gives up as many goals as it scores. Zips goalkeeper Jeny Wolbert has started 13 games on the year, and
The sophomore still leads the conference in saves (108), and is among the league leaders in save percentage (.900) and goals against average (.740). But the defense has only one shutout in the last five games, and she has allowed seven goals during this span. On the flip side, there needs to be timely goals from the offense, as Buffalo has been unable to put teams away recently with the exception of the game against the Western Michigan Broncos (9-7, 5-3 MAC) on Oct. 9. Friday’s road game will begin at 3 p.m. Game time for the Sunday match at UB Stadium against Akron is noon. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Bulls Anxiously Await Akron
TYLER CADY Staff Writer
There are three games left for the men’s soccer team, and no team stands out more than Buffalo’s battle for first place with the reigning national champions. Akron (10-2-2, 3-0 Mid-American Conference) will come to UB Stadium to face Buffalo (7-6-1, 2-1 MAC) in a battle for the MAC’s first-place spot. The winner will put itself in position to win the conference’s regular season title, and with that come the rights to host the postseason tournament. “[Getting the No. 1 seed] is definitely on our minds because we want to host the tournament,” said interim head coach Dave Hesch. The Zips have been a perennial powerhouse, and this season has furthered the Akron dynasty. The Zips also haven’t lost a conference game since 2006, with only one tie in that time span. Buffalo is looking to end that streak and win the MAC title for the first time in school history.
“I think we are more determined [to beat Akron],” Hesch said. “They want to step up because Akron is always the top seed. To knock them off is a big challenge. “
Buffalo will need another strong output from its offense if the squad wants to top the Zips, as Akron has yet to allow a goal in conference play. The Zips also lead the MAC with 13 shutouts. Buffalo leads the conference in goals against MAC opponents (13), so something has to give. Hesch expects the same sort of offensive production against the Zips. “We’re not going to change our gameplan, and we’re not going to sit in and play defensively,” Hesch said. “We’re going to go out there and try and score as many goals as possible. I think [senor forward] Andy Tiedt and [junior forward] Maksym Kowal are two great forwards who should be able to do something.” For as incredible as the Akron defense has been, its offense has been just as solid. The Zips have netted a conferencehigh 29 goals this season, led by forward
Darren Mattocks, the MAC leader in goals (12).
Hesch believes junior goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi is ready to face Akron’s aggressive offense, and with good reason. The Ottawa native is only giving up 1.21 goals per match, and his 80 saves are good for the conference lead. “Jon is a big-time goalkeeper,” Hesch said. “It doesn’t matter if he’s playing Akron or Canisius. He will [step up] every game.” The Bulls have beaten the Zips before, but that win dates all the way back to the opening round of the 2000 MAC tournament. Since then, the Zips have never lost against the Bulls, and the Zips lead the all-time series, 14-0-1. This may be the Bulls’ best opportunity to win the matchup in recent memory. Buffalo hasn’t entered the game with a winning record since 2008. The latest installment of the rivalry will commence at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at UB Stadium. Email: sports@ubspectrum.com Buffalo will host the defending National Champions, No. 4 Akron, Spectrum File Photo Friday at 7:30 p.m.