1. Universityat Buffalo Bulls
HeadCoach: Mike Hodgins
2015 Fall Record
In Conference Overall
0 – 7 2 – 9
8th
Place,RugbyEast
Currentlyrankedoutside of D1A Top-
Twenty
Players to Watch
ManinderjitSingh,Sr. - Captain Flanker 2nd
TeamAll-Conference,2015
JohnGrasso, Sr. Fly-half/Center 2nd
TeamAll-Conference,2015
Tom Dreitlein, Sr. 8-Man Honorable MentionAll-Conference,2015
ColtonKells,Sr. - Captain Flanker 1st
TeamAll-Conference,2014
Luca Wrabetz,So. Fly-half/Center
Withthree full seasonsin Division1A now undertheirbelts,the UBrugby clubislookingtomake
markedimprovementsin2016. To a man,the coachesand playerswe spoke withwere disappointed
withthe regressionthat appearedbetween2014 and2015. Afterthe winlessfall,coachMike Hodgins
and hisstaff got to the drawingboardand developedatrue 12 monthprogram, to structure players’
conditioninganddiet.
Such isthe state of ruby inD1A, full time application of the game isrequiredif ateam hopes to keepup.
Hodginsexpected abetter,fittergroup of players toreporton August22nd
, than dida yearago. UB’s
firstpreseasonmatchagainst D1AA Syracuse appearsto indicate successonthat account.The Bullshave
mostlybeennotedforthe defensivestrengthinthe pastand their38-0 winsuggeststhe boyswere
keepingittogetherintheiroffseasonprogram.
In the match, Buffalomovedlastyear’sAll-Conference Fly-half JohnGrassotohismore natural Inside
Centerposition,utilizingLucaWrabetzat Fly.Withhard chargingrunnerslike Grassoandtheirverygood
back-rowthreesome lookingforshort-ball opportunities,Wrabetzmay prove tobe a great decision in
the end.

2. One thingthat iscertain,UB will need the same sortof urgencytheyshowedcomingoutof setpieces
againstSyracuse if theywantto meettheirgoalsonthe year.Hodginsdescribedthe issuelastyearas
needingtobe a lotbetteron firstphase.HisCaptainandtwice All-Conference FlankerManinderjitSingh
put itmore bluntly.“We haven’tbeenmatchingthe speedof otherteamsgettingthe ball out.We’dwin
a set piece andgo rightback on Defense.We were onD 60-65 minutesagame.”
Withcoaches,captains,keyperformersandyoungstersall onthe same page,HodginsandSinghlike the
team’sspirita week awayfromkickingoff inearnest atSt. Bonaventure. Theywanttostartthe year
strong,especiallyagainst theirclosestneighborand longeststandingrival.
Thisis the yearfor Buffalotoput itall together.“Everyone whocame upfrom1AA isgraduatingthis
year,”saidSingh. The game planisto openup the offense bygettingtheirstrongandexperienced pack
ontothe ball formultiple phase effortsandtokeeptheirmotorschurning.
It’sa goodplan.All that’sleftisthe execution,manytimesover.
Article byRyanJ. Trost Artworkby ToddJ. Elliott
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