THE HERO'S JOURNEY
THE HERO'S JOURNEY
QB Cole Snyder overcomes 2nd-half flubs, leads UB to 24-20 win over Miami with lots of help from the Bulls' defense
Adversity, and Finding The Will to Win
Image from ubbulls.com
What is the hero’s journey?
It’s the framework of almost every story you’ve read, movie you’ve seen, or tall tale you’ve heard since, well, the beginning of time.
The Hero's Journey is a myth based framework. Incredibly flexible, it has three main parts— the separation, where the hero sets out on his journey, seeking (possibly reluctantly) adventure. Secondly, the initiation, where the majority of the journey happens—the hero arrives. Finally is the return. The hero has finished whatever they set out to do and has obtained the object (treasure, love, or knowledge). Now he must return home. These are the basic elements of every Hero's journey, and can be used in a variety of ways to improve, analyze, and create narratives.
Let’s apply this structure to the UB football team’s quarterback, Cole Snyder (pictured above).
Snyder battled through a tough game to finish a game-winning drive that gave the Bulls (2-3 overall, 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference) a critical divisional win over Miami, 24-20, on Saturday at UB Stadium.
Let the journey begin.
1. The Ordinary World
This is the original world of the hero, which "suffers from a symbolic deficiency." The hero is lacking something, or something is taken from him.
Image from ubbulls.com
Let’s jump ahead to the second half. The “symbolic deficiency” is, well, Snyder.
Despite a 17-10 UB lead, he’s struggled against Miami (2-3, 0-1).
After completing an efficient three-of-four pass attempts for 40 yards on a game-opening 70-yard drive that culminated in running back Mike Washington’s two-yard touchdown run, Snyder connected on just four of his next 11 throws for for 26 yards.
The quarterbacking story of the game, in the first half, is Miami’s Aveon Smith: he broke off an electric 73-yard sprint through the heart of the Bulls’ defense on third-and-eight from the UM 27-yard line at 6:07 of the first quarter.
While five-of-11 for only 26 yards and an interception, Smith ran for 110 yards and a touchdown. Playing for injured RedHawks star QB Brett Gabbert, Smith is nothing if not exciting—and, against a Buffalo defense not known for stopping great running quarterbacks, he’s terrifying.
2. The Call to Adventure
The hero is given a challenge, problem, or adventure. Often it appears as a blunder, or chance. This stage establishes the goal of the hero.
After building a 17-10 lead at 7:07 of the third quarter, the RedHawks march downfield and tie the score, 17-17, on Smith’s second rushing touchdown of the game. Snyder, and the Bulls offense, must respond!
3. The Refusal of the Call
The (often) reluctant hero has to be set along the correct path. He must weigh the consequences and be excited by a stronger motivation to proceed further.
Snyder fumbles on the first play of the ensuing drive. Was it a pass attempt? Maybe. Call on the field stands. Miami ball on the UB 23, and six plays later, Graham Nicholson kicks a 22-yard field goal to give the visitors a 20-17 lead.
4. Meeting With the Mentor
The hero encounters a wise figure who prepares him for the journey. This figure (or item) gives advice, guidance, or an item, but cannot go with the hero.
Image from ubbulls.com
Enter Quian Williams (pictured above).
He’s the senior receiver with over 2,000 career receiving yards between Eastern Michigan, where he spent the 2019 and 2020 season, and Buffalo, where he’s been a valuable weapon since joining the team in 2021. He provides security.
The wily veteran, who’s caught 96 balls for 1,201 yards and five touchdowns as a Bull, opens UB’s next drive by snagging a 17-yard pass to the RedHawks’ 42-yard line. An illegal use of hands call on UM’s Kobe Hilton bumps it up to the Miami 48.
As the clock turns to the fourth quarter, Snyder hits Williams two more times, moving inside Miami territory.
But even Quian can only take you so far.
5. Crossing the Threshold
The hero has committed to his task, and enters the special world. Often he is met by a threshold guardian.
The threshold guardian, in this case, was RedHawks defensive back Yahsyn McKee, a transfer from FCS Mercer College.
McKee collects the first interception of his FBS career on Snyder’s third pass of the fourth quarter, an ill-advised heave to avoid blitzing linebacker Ty Wise. Snyder hopes to hit double-covered receiver Justin Marshall with a home-run ball down the middle of the field, but the back-foot throw fades into McKee’s arms for the easy pick.
6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies
In the special world, the hero learns the new rules by meeting people and obtaining new information. There is often a "local watering hole" component. This is where the true characteristics of the hero are revealed.
Image from ubbulls.com
Two straight late-game turnovers! We’ve seen this movie before.
But, of course, we haven’t—not recently, anyway.
The true test is the response. Focus on the present, or let the past break you.
While Snyder regroups, his defense steps in—and steps up.
Look, we’ve done our share of disparaging the Bulls’ defense over the past two seasons.
The UB offense only posted 278 yards against Miami, the 41st-ranked defense in Division 1 football.
Winning meant Buffalo would have to put out a similar effort, and it happened. The performance Saturday—against a legit opponent, not a Wagner or an Akron—was brilliant.
Yes, the Bulls allowed 240 rushing yards—nearly a third of those yards came on Smith’s first-quarter run. The RedHawks converted only five of 14 third downs, and turned Snyder two potential game-killing turnovers into just three points.
What do we see at crunch time?
Image from ubbulls.com
We see Shaun Dolac (pictured, two up) put on a potential MAC East Defensive Player of the Week performance (UPDATE: he is). He posts 14 total tackles—12 solo—including three for a loss. He makes three fourth quarter hits on the RedHawks’ penultimate series, which sputters out on the Buffalo 37-yard line and leads to a fourth-and-11 punt with four and a half minutes on the clock—the Bulls’ final drive.
We see defensive tackle Daymond Williams (pictured above) creating absolute havoc, moving in ways a 295-pound man should not be able to move, absolutely flattening Smith for a two-yard loss to help stop the drive immediately after the interception.
We see defensive back Caleb Offord, stuck on UM’s top receiver, Mac Hippenhammer, getting targeted all day. Hippenhammer burns him nicely twice, including once for a 44-yard completion on a drive that ends in a Miami touchdown. Instead of checking out mentally, Offord makes two crucial tackles for losses in the fourth quarter—a third-down stop on receiver Kevin Davis to force a three-and-out with less than 12 minutes in the game, and minus-two-yard tackle on Tyre Shelton on Miami’s final, fruitless drive.
We see safety Marcus Fuqua break up two fourth-quarter passes, continuing his emergence as one of the top defenders on the UB squad.
We see Elijah Blades and Keyshawn Cobb, a pair of transfer defensive backs with the talent to play on Sundays, show why it was such a coup for head coach Maurice Linguist to lure these talented young men to Western New York.
We see linebacker James Patterson (pictured above) do James Patterson things, picking up six tackles and a sack. We see defensive ends Damien Jackson and Ibrahim Kante arrive at key moments to make clutch plays.
A total team effort, the most complete in two seasons.
The defense gives the Buffalo offense the ball twice in the fourth quarter, down 20-17 each time.1
On the first possession, with 11:14 on the clock, the Bulls pick up a first down before the sputtering running game and two Snyder incompletions lead to a punt.
On the second possession, we see something else. Snyder, with the game on the line, takes the reins.
7. Approach the Innermost Cave
Now our hero, and often his allies, have come to the edge of the dangerous place where the "object of the quest" is hidden. This stage often is the land of the dead.
Image from ubbulls.com
First and 10 from the Buffalo 18.
UB has not moved the ball more than 45 yards since the first drive of the game. Now, Buffalo must go 82 yards and kick a field goal to tie, or score a touchdown to win.
Any misstep likely leads to a fourth loss on the season. The Bulls would need to go 5-2 in order to earn bowl eligibility—and answer serious questions about this team’s ability to consistently pull it together.
Doubt seeps in. Another lost season? Is head coach Maurice Linguist right for the job? Potential churn. Potential stagnation.
This is, indeed, the edge of the dangerous place.
8. The Supreme Ordeal
The hero faces danger, often a life-or-death moment that is either physical or psychological.
Image from ubbulls.com
Here we go.
Snyder starts the drive with a shotgun pass to Justin Marshall, who buttonhooks to the right sideline. Nine yards, nice read, nice catch.
Mike Washington takes two cracks at the first down. He cashes in on the second try with a one-yard gain. First down. OK, we’re moving.
After an incompletion, Snyder flips a trickier-than-it-looks pass over blitzing linebacker Matthew Salopek to Washington in the right flat. A mistake, a tipped ball, and It’s third-and-10 or—worse—a loose football wobbling dangerously slowly through the air. No matter—Snyder gets the job done, and Iron Mike does the rest, rumbling down the sideline for a 23-yard gain to midfield. He also connects with would-be tacklers Jacquez Warren and Eli Blakely with such force both are temporarily knocked out of the game.
Next up: great play call by offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery with a nicely diagrammed misdirection scheme. The offensive line pushes right, and Snyder looks left to a cutting Williams, who jukes around d-back Ambe’ Caldwell for a 21-yard run-after-catch gain.
Two more Washington rushes move the ball to the Miami 25. Third-and-four, and Snyder…throws incomplete.
Alex McNulty, UB’s red-hot kicker comes on to attempt the field goal. It’s good: tie game, 20-20. But wait!
From Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News:
Alex McNulty lined up and kicked a 39-yard field goal that appeared to tie the game at 20-20 with 46 seconds left. But officials called Miami’s defense for an offside penalty on the play.
Instead of taking the points, Linguist took the risk.
“We had a decision to make there,” Linguist said. “I just liked the look that our offense had in the eye. There was no flinch. There was no backdown. And I think (offensive lineman) Gabe Wallace would have choke-slammed me if I tried to keep the field goal going. He was like, ‘Coach, put us back out there.’
Cole Snyder, UB’s quarterback, was on the sidelines and heard someone shout, “Offense ready!” as McNulty’s kick went through the uprights.
“I was like, what just happened?’ ” Snyder said. “I didn’t see the penalty, or anything. Really, I just chalked it up to God.”
Riverboat Mo! The hero needs fate to intervene at times, and it did on Saturday.
So where were we: first-and-10, ball on the Miami 17. Ron Cook runs for two yards. Time out, 40 seconds left, still down, 20-17.
Second and eight, Miami 15, Snyder to Williams, incomplete.
Could’ve been picked off by cornerback John Saunders, Jr.
Snyder has one more shot at the win before McNulty comes back out. Assuming McNulty connects, it’s overtime, and after all of this, the outcome would still be a toss-up.
9. Reward, or seizing the sword
Image from ubbulls.com
After surviving, our hero takes possession of the object, typically a treasure, weapon, knowledge, token, or reconciliation.
Third and eight.
And folks, a hero has completed his journey. Two, really, because let’s not forget Marshall, whose own journey, like Snyder’s, included a frustrating experience at a Power 5 school before finding a new home in Buffalo.
Marshall talked to Rachel Lenzi about the game-winning catch, on which he absolutely roasted McKee—the cornerback who picked off Snyder earlier in the fourth quarter.
“Emotions can get high. Frustration comes and everything goes, and the way the game swings and turns, I was emotional. I could do nothing but cry. I could not stop crying. It was all tears of joy and, definitely, being thankful to God that I was even in a position to make the play. That the coaches even called my number to make the play, and my quarterback trusted me to know that I’m going to come down with the ball and win the game for us.”
Snyder’s final stats on Saturday: 19-of-35, 188 yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a game-winning drive.
And that last part is the only thing anyone will remember. One more step on the journey is complete.
And don’t forget that a major reason why Buffalo’s even in this game is safety Jahmin Muse’s interception in the second quarter, which he returned 51 yards to the Miami one-yard line. It took four tries, but Snyder cashed in that turnover with a nifty one yard cut-and-run on an RPO at the 10:49 mark to give the Bulls a 14-7 lead.