Campus Watch

Western Michigan 34, UB 28 - Final

Western Michigan scored 22 in the fourth quarter and won the game in overtime on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tim Hiller to tight end Branden Ledbetter.

---Rodney McKissic

UB 28, Western Michigan 28 -OT

Western Michigan scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and sent the game into overtime with a 9-yard TD with five seconds left in regulation from Tim Hiller to Jamarko Simmons.

---Rodney McKissic

UB 21, Western Michigan 6 - Third quarter

James Starks has 117 yards and the UB defense is holding one of the MAC's best offensive teams to just six points heading into the final quarter. Starks also has three TDs.

---Rodney McKissic

UB 14, Western Michigan 3

James Starks has two TDs, including a 66-yarder in the second quarter, and UB took a 14-3 lead into intermission. Starks has rushed for 101 yards on the afternoon.

---Rodney McKissic

UB 7, Western Michigan 0 - First quarter

The Bulls started slow with back-to-back three and outs before scoring on a six-yard TD by James Starks to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

---Rodney McKissic

Gill on Phillips

UB coach Turner Gill said it is "sad" to see how life has turned out for Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska tailback, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Gill was an Cornhuskers assistant when Phillips played for the school from 1993-96.

"It's sad,'' Gill said. "He's a human being. Obviously you hear about him because he's a football player, but it's sad and unfortunate that a person hasn't been able to change his behavior and become instrumental in our society."

---On a lighter note, UB tries to focus on winning the East Division title.

---The Kalamazoo Gazette writes how Gill has pumped life into UB's football program.

---Here's a scouting report on OT Jeremy Johnson, who recently gave UB a verbal commitment.

---Rodney McKissic

Niagara to add women's golf

Niagara will be adding women's golf to its varsity sports offering for the 2009-2010 academic season.

The athletic department has been looking to add a women's sport for some time and athletic director Ed McLaughlin said that golf was a good fit. There are solid high school girls' golf programs to draw from throughout New York state along with the New England area -- geographic regions which make up a large percentage of Niagara's student population. Additionally, the sport is one with low overhead costs which should allow for the Purple Eagles to be competitive rather quickly.

McLaughlin said he hopes to hire a coach this semester and that the program will be partially funded on the same model as the school's other Olympic sports.

--- Amy Moritz

Sporting News ranks Syracuse 26th

The Sporting News - which features former Niagara Falls star Paul Harris on one of its covers - has the Orange rated No. 26 in the nation in its pre-season top 40, and sixth in the Big East. Here's TSN's predictions for the Big East, Atlantic 10, Mid-American Conference and Metro Athletic Athletic Conference:

Big East
1. UConn
2. Louisville
3. Pitt
4. Notre Dame
5. Marquette
6. Cuse
7. Villanova
8. Georgetown
9. West Virginia
10. Cincinnati
11. Providence
12. Seton Hall
13. Rutgers
14. DePaul
15. St. John's
16. South Florida

Best athlete: Paul Harris, Syracuse
Best leader: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
All Big East: Flynn

A-10
1. Xavier
2. Temple
3. Charlotte
4. Dayton
5. Saint Joseph's
6. Richmond
7. Saint Louis
8. Rhode Island
9. La Salle
10. UMass
11. George Washington
12. Duquesne
13. Fordham
14. St. Bonaventure

MAC
East Division
1. Miami
2. Akron
3. Bowling Green
4. Kent State
5. Ohio
6. UB

West Division
1. Western Michigan
2. Eastern Michigan
3. Central Michigan
4. Northern Illinois
5. Toledo
6. Ball State

Best interview: Reggie Witherspoon, Buffalo

MAAC
1. Siena
2. Niagara
3. Rider
4. Loyola
5. Iona
6. Canisius
7. Fairfield
8. Manhattan
9. Marist
10. Saint Peter's

Top newcomer: Bilal Benn, Niagara
Top coach: Joe Mihalich, Niagara
All-MAAC Team: Frank Turner, Canisius

---Rodney McKissic

Jerrold out for the season

---UB coach Turner Gill announced that Jordan Jerrold will undergo knee surgery on Wednesday and will miss the remainder of the season. The junior right tackle has been hampered by a knee injury since training camp and had yet to play this season. Jerrold started all 12 games at right tackle a year ago and the final seven games as a true freshman in 2006. He will likely use a redshirt season and have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Junior Andrew West has started all five games at right tackle this season.

---Derrick Brown, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle, will also have knee surgery and Gill said Brown will be "out for a while."

---Senior defensive tackle Ronald Hilaire (leg) has been upgraded from out to doubtful for Western Michigan.

---On the Bulls' two-deep for Western Michigan junior Kendric Hawkins, who has yet to play this season because of a foot injury, is the backup to sophomore Domonic Cook. Junior Brett Hamlin is the backup punt returner to Ernest Jackson in place of Naaman Roosevelt. Jackson and junior tailback Mario Henry are listed as the kick returners.

---The Toronto Globe & Mail writes how Gill and quarterbacks coach Danny Barrett, a pair of former CFL products, are bringing respectability to UB's program.

---Rodney McKissic

Grading Turner Gill

Online Surveys & Market Research

Bulls favored over Western Michigan

---Western Michigan has won five in a row after losing its season opener at Nebraska and has allowed just 30 points in its last three games but UB, coming off a bye week, is a 3-point favorite against the Broncos this Saturday.

---Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit was a finalist for the UB job seven years ago that eventually went to Jim Hofher. Cubit landed the Western Michigan job in 2005 and the Broncos are 25-17 with a bowl appearance in three-plus season under his watch. We all know what happened to Hofher at UB - a 8-49 record and a .140 winning percentage in five seasons, the lowest of any coach in school history - but it's difficult to say if hiring Cubit over Hofher would have made a difference. Hofher was hired long before school president John Simpson and AD Warde Manuel came to UB and while Hofher can be criticized for some of his coaching moves (extreme changes in his offensive philosophy, recruiting, etc.) UB lacked the resources to compete on the Division I-A level during his tenure. Who knows if Cubit could have changed that?

---In his fast food for thought, Bob DiCesare writes that the MAC East is evolving into a three-team wtih UB, Bowling Green and Akron.

---John Henderson of the Denver Post writes that when Wyoming fires Joe Glenn, the Cowboys should look at UB coach Turner Gill among others. While it's assumed Gill won't leave UB for another non-BCS school consider Urban Meyer left Bowling Green for Utah before taking the Florida job and it wasn't considered a latt. Also, Wyoming pays Glenn a contract worth $550,000 annually which is $285,000 more than Gill, the 109th highest paid coach in the country.

---Gill said on his MAC conference call this morning that junior cornerback Kendric Hawkins (foot) is 100 percent and ready to play this weekend but that senior defensive tackle Ronald Hilaire (leg) is out and could miss the Army game as well. Hawkins has yet to play this season after suffering a stress fracture, while Hilaire missed games at Missouri and Central Michigan and the second half of the Temple game. Gill said he hopes to upgrade Hilaire to doubtful status for the Army game.

---Rodney McKissic

Central Michigan 27, UB 25 - Final

A.J. Principe missed a 46-yard field goal that banged off the right upright as time expired as Central Michigan narrowly avoided an upset bid by UB and won, 27-25, in front of 21,032 Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

---Rodney McKissic

Central Michigan 17, UB 11 - Third quarter

Scary moment for the Bulls when QB Drew Willy was blindsided by DE Sean Williams and was motionless for several minutes. He missed one snap - true freshman Zach Maynard came into the game - then completed a pass to Brett Hamlin at the CMU 2 to start the fourth quarter.

---Rodney McKissic

UB 5, Central Michigan 3 - Halftime

No, this isn't a high-scoring hockey game. A field-goal by A.J. Principe and a blocked punt by Tom Drewes which led to a safety is all the scoring UB needed to take a 5-3 halftime lead over the two-time defending MAC champions. The Chippewas got a 31-yard field goal from Andrew Aguila with 19 seconds left in the second quarter, but the UB defense forced three punts and allowed just 125 yards of total offense.

---Rodney McKissic 

UB 3, Central Michigan 0 - First quarter

UB scored a field goal on its opening drive to take a 3-0 lead. Junior tailback James Starks started the game and lined up in the slot at wide receiver in a five-wide set on the first play from scrimmage.

---Rodney McKissic

Starks a go, Hawkins a maybe

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - It looks like tailback James Starks will start today's game at Central Michigan and junior cornerback Kendric Hawkins, who has yet to play this season because of a stress fracture in his foot, is warming up and could see some playing time. Hawkins, who started seven games last season, gives the secondary quality depth.

---Rodney McKissic

Griffs to host rematch of MAAC lacrosse final

Canisius has not yet announced its 2009 men's lacrosse schedule, but Virginia Military Institute released its slate on Friday and according to it, the Koessler Athletic Complex will be the site of a rematch of last season's Metro Atlantic Conference championship game at noon on April 25.

The Griffs defeated the Keydets, 14-5, last May 4 in Loudonville to win the MAAC Tournament and earn their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. That victory capped a magical weekend on the Siena campus that began with an 11-2 triumph over Manhattan in the semifinals. During the regular season of 2008, Canisius beat VMI, 12-8, in Lexington, Va.

Canisius midfielder Adam Jones, who became the first Golden Griffin ever to earn All-America honors during his freshman season, helped his Orangeville Northmen win the Minto Cup Championship over the summer. That trophy has been awarded since 1938 to the top junior team in Canada.

Jones had six goals and 11 assists in the final series against the Victoria Shamrocks. He also participated in the ILF Under-19 World Championship this summer, leading Team Canada to a silver medal and picking up tournament MVP honors.

Jones accumulated team-high totals of 38 goals and 47 points in Canisius' 10-6 season that set a school record for wins in one year.

---Tom Borrelli

Starks doubtful for Central Michigan

UB could be without injured All-MAC tailback James Starks and nose tackle Ronald Hilaire for Saturday's road game against Central Michigan.

Starks, who had 296 yards in the Bulls first three games, has a sore hip that occurred late in the win over Temple. Bulls coach Turner Gill listed Starks as doubtful on Tuesday but will be re-evaluated further this week. If Starks is out, sophomore Brandon Thermilus will likely get the start and share carries with junior Mario Henry.

Gill ruled Hilaire, who missed the Missouri game with a leg injury, out for Central Michigan. Junior Dane Robinson will start in his place.

Changes on UB's two deep for Central Michigan include junior Lawrence Rolle as the backup to senior Chris Scharon at fullback and junior Matt Bacoulis backing up sophomore Peter Bittner at left guard. On defense, true freshman Scott Pettigrew, who started at Missouri, will start again at middle linebacker and Tom Drewes is the backup. Senior Chris Callahan has moved up the depth chart and will back up senior Andrae Smith at defensive end, while redshirt freshman John Syty (Clarence) will back up sophomore Justin Winters at outside linebacker.

---Rodney McKissic

Gross: It isn't working out

Syracuse AD Dr. Daryl Gross, in this interview with ESPN.com said that the football team has yet to show the "obvious progress" necessary for Greg Robinson to remain as football coach beyond this season.

The Orange are 1-3 this season as they prepare for their Big East Conference opener Saturday at home against Pittsburgh. Robinson, in his fourth season at Syracuse, has an overall record of 8-31 including a win last week against Division I-AA Northeastern and two against UB. Syracuse has a Big East record of 2-22 in the past three seasons.

---Rodney McKissic

Athlon says Niagara third in MAAC

Here's the first of our series of overviews of the pre-season basketball magazines. Athlon predicts Niagara to finish third in the MAAC, but long seasons for the rest of the Big 4.

Here's how Athlon sees the MAAC:
1. Siena
2. Fairfield
3. Niagara
4. Rider
5. Manhattan
6. Loyola
7. Iona
8. St. Peter's
9. Canisius
10. Marist

--I think Canisius will finish higher, probably between 4-6 place but they need a signature victory early to give them confidence. Almost everyone returns and they played well during the MAAC Tournament but this is still a very young team.

MAC
East Division
1. Kent State
2. Miami
3. Bowling Green
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. UB

West Division
1. Western Michigan
2. Eastern Michigan
3. Toledo
4. Central Michigan
5. Ball State
6. Northern Illinois

---UB won't finish in last place. Not with experienced juniors and seniors. Freshmen Titus Robinson and Mitchell Watt bring athleticsm that's been lacking recently.

Atlantic 10
1. Xavier
2. Temple
3. Charlotte
4. Dayton
5. UMass
6. Saint Joseph's
7. Richmond
8. LaSalle
9. Rhode Island
10. Saint Louis
11. George Washington
12. Duquesne
13. Bona
14. Fordham

---Lots of new faces means plenty of growing pains for the Bonnies, but they'll be slightly improved. Mark Schmidt has talent now to compete with most teams in the A-10, the only thing lacking is experience.

Big East
I. UConn
2. Louisville
3. Notre Dame
4. Pitt
5. Marquette
6. Georgetown
7. Cuse
8. Villanova
9. West Virginia
10. Providence
11. Cincinnati
12. DePaul
13. Seton Hall
14. Rutgers
15. South Florida
16. St. John's

---The magazine ranks the Orange No. 25 and its prediction of 7th place in the Big East is probably a notch or two too low. Niagara Falls Jonny Flynn is a third-team All-American selection by the magazine, although I would take him over any point guard in the country. He's also listed among the nation's best sophomores and fourth among the nation's floor leaders. Teammate Eric Devendorf is a third-team all Big East selection, while Arinze Onuaku was named the league's most underrated player.

In Athlon's fantasy section Flynn is ranked No. 39 while Paul Harris is 40 and Onuaku 100. Flynn ranks 11th among the point guards, Harris 12th among small forwards and Onuaku 12th at center.

---Rodney McKissic

Chippewas by six

UB is a six-point underdog at Central Michigan on Saturday. The Bulls are 3-1 vs. the spread so far this season. They failed to cover the seven-point spread against Temple.

---Rodney McKissic

Jackson named special teams player of the week

For the third time in four weeks UB has had a player honored by the Mid-American Conference. Senior receiver Ernest Jackson was named the MAC East Division special teams player of the week on Monday after his career day at No. 5 ranked Missouri.

Jackson returned a kick 97 yards for a touchdown, the first of his career and only the second in the Bulls' Division I-A era. This is the first time in his career that Jackson has won the award. Drew Willy and Naaman Roosevelt each earned MAC offensive player of the week honors following the UTEP and Temple games, respectively.

---Rodney McKissic

Missouri 42, UB 21 - Final

Columbia, Mo. - UB trailed No. 5 Missouri by six points midway through the third quarter before the Tigers scored 15 unanswered points to pull away for a 42-21 victory. The Bulls were 34-point underdogs heading into the game.

---Rodney McKissic

Missouri 33, UB 21 - Third quarter

The Tigers' Derrick Washington scored on a TD run with 1:25 remaining in the third to give Missouri a 33-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

---Rodney McKissic

Missouri 20, UB 14 - Halftime

In the second quarter, the Bulls scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Drew Willy to Ernest Jackson and forced two Missouri turnovers to keep the game close at halftime, 20-14. Missouri Heisman candidate Chase Daniel is 20 of 23 for 198 yards, but has yet to throw a TD pass.

---Rodney McKissic

Missouri 10, UB 7 - First quarter

Columbia, Mo. - Thanks to a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ernest Jackson, the Bulls trail Missouri 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. Jackson's kick return is the Bulls first for a TD since Naaman Roosevelt's at Bowling Green on Sept. 9, 2006 and only the second since 1989.

---Rodney McKissic 

Starks out for Missouri game

Columbia, Mo. - Starting tailback James Starks will not play in today's game against No. 5 Missouri because of a hip injury suffered during the Bulls' win last week against Temple. The injury was originally thought to be a leg bruise.

Starks practiced this week but is being held out as a precautionary measure in hopes his condition will improve for next week's game at Central Michigan. Sophomore Brandon Thermilus will start in his place while junior Mario Henry will serve as backup.

The other lineup change is true freshman Scott Pettigrew starting in place of sophomore Tom Drewes at middle linebacker to give the Bulls a more athletic presence against Missouri's spread offense. Drewes will play at middle linebacker as well as defensive end today.

---Rodney McKissic

Source: Manuel interviewed by Washington

UB athletics director Warde Manuel interviewed for the AD position at the University of Washington recently, according to a source close to the situation, a job that was officially filled by acting Washington AD Scott Woodward on Wednesday.

It is not clear whether Manuel was a finalist for the job, but the source said he flew to Seattle twice to meet with Washington officials. When contacted today, Manuel declined comment and said, "I'm happy at the University at Buffalo and look forward to continued success at UB."

Manuel has been widely praised for raising the profile of UB athletics during his tenure as athletics director. Among his achievements: Boosting the Academic Progress Rate of UB student-athletes, improving fund-raising and athletic facilities, and helping the football team to a share of the Mid-American Conference East Division title. In January, Manuel was named to Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal’s “”Forty Under 40’’ list, designated for the best and brightest executives in the sports business industry under the age of 40.

In December 2005, Manuel hired Heisman Trophy finalist Turner Gill, making him the fifth African-American coach in Division I-A at the time. Last season under Gill, the Bulls had their best year since moving up to Division I-A and joining the MAC in 1999, winning five league games and gaining a share of the East Division championship for the first time in school history.

---Rodney McKissic

ESPNU to re-air UB-Temple game

ESPNU is scheduled to re-air the Bulls’ thrilling win over Temple at 7 p.m., on Wednesday.

---Rodney McKissic

Vote for Willy here

You can vote here for Drew Willy's Hail Mary to Naaman Roosevelt as the Week 3 Pontiac Game Changing Performance.

---Rodney McKissic