1950 Buffalo Bulls Football
by Scott Hollander
University at Buffalo Libraries
The city of Buffalo’s football landscape changed dramatically during the winter of 1950.
In early January, U.B. coach Frank Clair was told his contract would not be renewed. Then on January 21, 1950, it was announced that Buffalo’s franchise bid to join the newly merged AAFC-NFL was rejected. The city of Buffalo would no longer have a professional football team.
Finally, on February 7, 1950, Canisius College announced that it was abandoning football due to heavy financial difficulties. By spring, the University of Buffalo had the only football team in town.
On March 11, 1950, Jim Wilson was hired as head football coach at U.B. replacing Frank Clair. Wilson had previously coached the Bulls during the 1932 and 1933 seasons. He also coached at Canisius College from 1939 to 1942 and again from 1948 to 1949. (Wilson was inducted into the Canisius College Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.)
After a win in week one, the team lost its starting star tackle, co-captain Les Molnar, to the Marine Corp when he was drafted on September 26, 1950.
The biggest home game of the season was on October 7th against Niagara University. Niagara’s football team racked up its first post WWII victory over the University of Buffalo, 27 to 13, at Civic Stadium in front of 24,217 spectators.
Although the team finished with a 5-3 record, disappointment was in the air as more was expected from the squad.
1950 Buffalo Bulls Football Season
| Date | Home Team | Score | Visiting Team | W-L-T | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/23/19501 | Cortland | 0 – 13 | Buffalo | W | Cortland, NY |
| 9/30/19502 | Louisville | 48 – 19 | Buffalo | L | Louisville, KY |
| 10/7/19503 | Buffalo | 13 – 27 | Niagara | L | Buffalo, NY |
| 10/14/19504 | Buffalo | 13 – 0 | Alfred University | W | Buffalo, NY |
| 10/21/19505 | Buffalo | 52 – 6 | Brooklyn College | W | Buffalo, NY |
| 10/28/19506 | Buffalo | 33 – 12 | Rhode Island | W | Buffalo, NY |
| 11/11/19507 | Buffalo | 14 – 22 | Ohio University | L | Buffalo, NY |
| 11/18/19508 | RPI | 14 – 34 | Buffalo | W | Troy, NY |
FINAL RECORD: 5-3
Home: Buffalo Civic Stadium
Coach: James Wilson
- “UB Gridders Open With 13-0 Triumph Over Cortland” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 24 September 1950.
- “Powerful Louisville Eleven Turns Back Buffalo, 48-19” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 1 October 1950.
- “Niagara Clips UB, 27-13, Before 24,217” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 8 October 1950.
- “UB Gridders Triumph, 13-0, Halt Alfred Winning Streak” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 15 October 1950.
- “Buffalo Soundly Drubs Brooklyn, 52 to 6” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 22 October 1950.
- “UB Whips Rhode Island State, 33 to 12” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 29 October 1950.
- “Ohio U Snaps Bulls’ Win Streak, 22 to 14” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 12 November 1950.
- “UB Whales RPI, 34-14, To End Year” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 19 November 1950.