Post Classifieds
Rugby team commands attention as sport grows
By Brandon Schlager
On May 4, 2012
It's not often a Buffalo State team can say they've beaten a Division I opponent in a head-to-head
matchup.
Buffalo State's club rugby team, the Mad Dogs, might be the only team on campus who can rightfully
claim the distinction, at least recently.
The Mad Dogs, who play their regular season games in the fall, have traveled to multiple states this
spring, competing against some of the nation's top rugby programs - and winning.
In March, the team travelled to Savannah, Ga., for the Savannah Shamrocks St. Patrick's Day
Tournament. They defeated the 15th-ranked team in the nation and finished third overall.
Since March, the Mad Dogs have first and second-place finishes to their credit, as well as victories
over bigger Division I schools, like West Virginia University. They've competed in Columbus, Ohio.,
Morgantown, W.V., and Oswego.
"It's a big culture shock, a big change from what people are used to," said sophomore Etem Wade,
who's played rugby since he was an eighth-grader in Rochester. "Rugby's one of the biggest sports
in the world. It's taken me overseas, to different states, places where I would have never gotten the
chance to go otherwise."
Although the team has experienced success, their accomplishments still go largely unnoticed across
campus. Senior co-captain Jayson Dieckman said the lack of recognition has a lot to do with the
team playing without the varsity title.
"I recognize we're not varsity and that makes it tough," he said. "Hopefully, though, now more
people will start to notice us heading into next year. We're going to make a run in the fall."
The Mad Dogs are facing tougher competition as a club team than the varsity programs on campus.
As a Division III school, each of Buffalo State's 17 varsity sports teams compete on a far smaller
stage than their Division I counterparts. If they do come across the opportunity to take on a bigger
program, it's usually through an exhibition game.
The Mad Dogs, a Division II team, have no such limits. Officially recognized as a club, the team of
rugby enthusiasts is not a part of the school's athletic department, which allows them to regularly
take the field against competitors from schools with a much higher enrollment and a larger pool of
students to hand pick players from.
Beating such teams is something Dieckman said the Mad Dogs take pride in.
"It feels awesome to be able to go out there and prove people wrong," he said. "You go to the
campus of some of these bigger schools and sometimes you're wowed by the size. Their campuses
are filled with dorm buildings. Buff State only has like seven. We're definitely at a disadvantage, but
that makes beating them even better."
While interest in the sport has certainly grown over recent years, one thing still holding rugby back,
particularly at Buff State, is the lack of understanding of the rules and concept of the game in a
culture that is unfamiliar with the sport.
Junior Adam Wenig said if more people understood and appreciated the sport, there's no doubt it
would gain more interest.
"Interest can only go up if you're doing well," he said. "If we keep winning, I don't see why the sport
can't grow."
Wade said he thinks it's due to a lack of media coverage nationally. That could change as soon as the
summer of 2016, when rugby officially becomes an Olympic event.
"Everyone grows up watching baseball, basketball and football in the States," he said. "(Rugby's)
like the NFL that people don't know about. We're doing what football does, without the pads."
Football is a sport that derived from rugby. In turn, rugby offers many similar qualities that make
football attractive to the mainstream audience.
"You're still getting the big hits and all that stuff," Dieckman said. "It's even more fast paced than
football."
The Mad Dogs hope that if the team continues to maintain its success, in a few years the sport may
begin to catch on. Maybe, one day, rugby will be on a level playing field with some of the more
widely recognized sports like football.
As the sport continues to grow, the Mad Dogs will hope to challenge for another New York State
title next year, something they accomplished in 2009.
"Our numbers have grown ever since then," Dieckman said. "We had an off year last year, but now
we're starting to get back to our winning ways."
"We're waiting to get our shot," Wade said. "Until then, we're just trying to get our name out there.
This year was our chance to show everyone what we're all about."
Brandon Schlager can be reached by email at schlager.record@live.com.
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