The Buffalo Bulls once refused a bowl game to stand for racial equality

History · Published 5 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1958, the Buffalo Bulls were offered a spot in the Tangerine Bowl. But there was a catch: the organizers demanded the team leave its Black players behind. In a powerful act of defiance, the Bulls chose their teammates over the trophy.

The Buffalo Bulls football program, established in 1894 by fourteen medical students, has seen eras of immense triumph and sudden suspension. During the 1950s, under coach Dick Offenhamer, the team reached a peak of success, including a 58–37–5 record and winning the Lambert Cup, which signaled dominance in Eastern U.S. small-college football.

This success led to an invitation to the 1958 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida. However, the Orlando Elks Lodge stipulated that the Bulls could only participate if black players Mike Wilson and Willie Evans were excluded from the game. Despite protests, the Orlando High School Athletic Association refused to rescind the rule against integrated events. The Buffalo team unanimously refused the bowl offer to stand by their players.

This decision had long-lasting consequences for the program's postseason history; the Bulls would not be invited to another bowl game for 50 years. The program has since navigated various shifts, from being suspended in 1970 due to student funding votes to rising through the NCAA divisions to compete in the Mid-American Conference today.

The program has also served as a springboard for professional talent. Notable alumni include defensive lineman Gerry Philbin, an All-time AFL Team member who won Super Bowl III with the New York Jets, and Khalil Mack, the highest-drafted player in school history, selected 5th overall in the 2014 NFL draft.

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