2009 Buffalo Bulls football team


The 2009 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season.

Notable players

was a year of milestones for the UB Bulls: first winning season since rejoining FBS, first outright division championship, first conference championship and first bowl game appearance. It was a season of close wins and close losses with six games being decided on the last play or in overtime. UB won four of those games and lost two.
UB stunned observers when they decisively defeated Ball State 42-24 in the 2008 MAC Championship Game. They went on to lose the International Bowl to Connecticut 38-20.
Head coach Turner Gill signed a contract extension with the Bulls after being courted by Syracuse and Auburn.

Recruiting

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown
Jevin ColbertDefensive Back6'1"170Arlington, TX
Alex DennisonQuarterback6'2"210Irwin, PA
Jibrille FewellDefensive Tackle6'1"270Rock Hill, SC
Peter GagliardiFullback6'3"235Miami, FL
Jeffvon GillRunning back5'11"195Euclid, OH
Jimmy GordonTight End6'4"250Patchogue, NY
Matt HornbuckleDefensive Line6'1"270Colleyville, TX
Jeremy JohnsonOffensive Line6'5"310Springfield, OH
Bunduka KargboSafety6'1"205Albany, NY
Carlos LammonsCornerback5'9"185Pahokee, FL
Fred LeeWide Receiver6'1"200Chester, SC
Khalil MackLinebacker6'3"220Fort Pierce, FL
Alex NeutzWide Receiver6'3"190Grand Island, NY
Branden OliverRunning back5'8"185Miami, FL
Rick PerezCenter6'2"275Miami, FL
Jake ReederTight End6'4"250State College, PA
Kenny ScottDefensive Line6'1"300Anderson, SC
Nick SizemoreFullback6'2"235Lititz, PA
Albert SparksDefensive Tackle6'3"310Irving, TX
Darius WillisLinebacker6'3"240Houston, TX
Pat WilsonOffensive Line6'5"270East Aurora, NY

Schedule

2009 got off to a bad start for the Bulls as star running back James Starks injured the labrum in his left shoulder in a pre-season scrimmage. It was determined that he would need surgery and miss the whole year. Because he was redshirted his first year at UB, he will not be able to play again for the Bulls.
Buffalo's offense struggled to overcome the loss of Starks and the up-and-down play of new starting quarterback Zach Maynard while the defense continued to have a hard time stopping opposing teams and could not generate as many turnovers as they did in 2008. Buffalo was out of MAC championship contention midway through the season, but did finish with two straight wins on the road. After the season was over, Turner Gill accepted an offer to coach Kansas. Gill was replaced by Jeff Quinn.