With kickoff drawing near, Bulls ready to make history

NASSAU, Bahamas — It’s been a fun few days of frolicking along white sandy beaches, exploring the sprawling Atlantis Paradise Island resort, launching down waterslides and wading in the clear water of the Atlantic Ocean.

But now, it’s game day. The Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl kicks off this afternoon and, while they’ve had plenty of fun in the sun this week, the Bulls are ready to do what they came here for: make history.

“These could be special memories on and off the field if we play well tomorrow,” Bulls head coach Lance Leipold said at Thursday’s Bahamas Bowl press conference held at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. “We’ve talked about it a lot because there’s a lot of things in a program, and really, this is such a special matchup. You have two young FBS football programs playing here in this game, and there’s a lot of firsts that could happen.”

UB is looking for its first bowl win in four tries, while the Bulls’ opponent, the Charlotte 49ers, are playing in their first-ever bowl game.

“One of our main goals at the beginning of the season was to get the first bowl win in Bulls history. That’s been on our mind all season long. We want to have fun down here, but we’re also here to get a win and represent the MAC and our university,” Bulls punter Evan Finnegan, who has been out since suffering a broken leg in Penn State game, said during a pep rally UB’s spirit teams held in the Atlantis.

A few dozen UB supporters — including coaches’ and players’ family members, UB President Satish K. Tripathi and Interim Provost A. Scott Weber, as well as a handful of alumni and donors — attended the pep rally, which featured the UB pep band, cheerleading squad and the UB Dazzlers.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, who was also in attendance at the pep rally and will be at today’s game, offered a few words for the Bulls.

“Nice season. Getting here is only part of the goal, right? What do we talk about? We came here to do one thing,” Steinbrecher said as he unfurled a MAC Jolly Roger flag. “Fly that flag!” he said, referring to the flag he provided each conference institution playing in a bowl to fly after their victory.

Scott and Julie Shepard, parents of redshirt freshman offensive lineman Caelan Shepard, were among the Bulls supporters at the pep rally.

“I just posted this on Facebook, but a year ago today he signed to come to Buffalo, and a year later he’s at the Bahamas Bowl. Isn’t that awesome?!” a very proud Julie Shepard said.

“This is the best place to be. Great memories and I know they’re going to win. I just feel it.”

Added Scott Shepard: “These seniors have really turned the program around and they deserve this win. I’m sure they’re going to bring it home.”

One of those seniors, linebacker Matt Otwinowski, said the Bulls are ready. “Especially being a senior, it’s been something we’ve talked about a lot — going out and being the first senior class to get the first-ever bowl win in school history,” he said during the press conference.

“I think it’s just a credit to how everyone has prepared the past couple weeks. People have been watching a lot of film, putting in a lot of extra time. I think that we’re really prepared as a team right now to win a game.”

Kickoff of the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl is set for just after 2 p.m. and the game will air nationally on ESPN. Steve Levy and Greg McElroy will be in the ESPN broadcast booth calling the game. Paul Peck, Scott Wilson and Brad Riter will handle radio duties on ESPN 1520 AM.