Faculty & Staff Q&A

Craig Cirbus, a 1980 graduate of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was an offensive lineman at UB from 1977-79. After 11 years as a member of the Penn State Nittany Lions coaching staff, he was recruited in December 1994 to become head coach of UB's football program.

Q: When you were named coach in 1994, you were quoted as describing it as "an exceptional Christmas present." What did you find when you unwrapped the package?

A: An opportunity! An opportunity to play a part in UB's transformation from a high-quality institution in the Northeast attended by many New York State residents to one of the finest state public research institutions in the U.S.

Q: What don't you like about football?

A: Today's society allows for an enormous spotlight to be laser-focused on every aspect of the more highly visible college football teams. A young 17- or 18-year-old person goes to college to obtain a quality education and an all-encompassing, well-rounded, diverse collegial experience. Without certain filters, the media can have a tremendous and overwhelming impact, on not only the normal passage of that 18-year-old, but also draw inferences upon the entire university's reputation based upon that individual's actions. I don't think that is entirely fair.

Q: How is leading football at UB different from Penn State?

A: There is very little difference when determining the course you take, the objectives you state and the mission you want to uphold. There is also no difference in the quality of, and support of, faculty, staff, students and administrators. The only difference is one school has experienced the growth process, while the other is just beginning the growth process.

Q: Are there advantages at UB?

A: I really believe there are. The State University of New York system is relatively young and national recognition athletically at the Division I-A level is new to them. Wherever we go from here can be carefully initiated and discreetly programmed to mesh with the objectives of our university in a step-by-step fashion. We at UB have the benefit of having a "clean slate," while every other state has years of entrenchment in Division I-A athletics. A prime advantage we have is with Title IX. We can carefully plan in the years ahead to insure that women aren't "shortchanged" as we continue to build. Conversely, we are witnessing the challenges that the other 49 states are experiencing in having to adapt and retrofit their historically successful programs in order to meet new federal mandates. The leadership of New York State has an opportunity to be in the vanguard, to be the role model for the entire U.S. on all emerging issues such as this.

Q: Can UB football ever achieve the prominence of a program like Penn State's? What would it take?

A: Certainly. All it takes is the commitment to that objective. Although there are potential roadblocks and challenges with "high visibility" in college athletics today, it is obvious that every one of the other 49 states have reaped great rewards from the relatively minor investment that Division I-A athletics entails. And believe it or not, the average Division I-A athletic program in the U.S. posts a net profit financially. This is in addition to the enormous exposure some of these institutions receive for free. Quite frankly, we can't afford not to pursue this course.

Q: Please comment on the ban on swearing in the locker room and on the playing field adopted by the Oakland Raiders. Would you consider a similar move?

A: We do not condone use of foul language from our staff or players. Our team takes pride in acting as gentlemen. Vulgar language usually is indicative of a lack of poise. We hope to be above that. I must admit however, that when Chad Salisbury threw an interception against Illinois State, I lost my poise...just a little.

Q: What has been your best moment since returning to UB?

A: Without question, reuniting with the faculty and students. Every encounter that I have had has been positive and highly supportive. Personally, it has been enjoyable to visit with many of my engineering professors who were here in the late '70s.

Q: Your worst?

A: My dad died at the beginning of our first season here in 1995. My mother passed just a year earlier. They would have enjoyed coming to the games.

Q: How has the UB engineering degree you received in 1980 helped you as a coach?

A: Every aspect of building a successful football program is analogous with the purity of civil engineering. The architects (no disrespect!) create and design masterful and appealing structures. But no building will last for the long term without a solid foundation and without the proper reinforcement and careful attention to structural integrity "below the surface" or "behind the walls." We have tried to build this football program the same way.

Q: Tell us something that people don't know about you.

A: I grew up in Buffalo and applied to many colleges, but was forced to choose UB strictly because of the costs. I could not afford to go anywhere else. However, it was not until I was here at UB that I finally understood what a great school it was. The perception growing up wasn't even close to what actually existed. If I knew then what I discovered after enrolling, I would have actively sought out UB as a primary choice.