BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo football coach Craig Cirbus' contract will not
be renewed at the end of the season, The Associated Press has learned.
Cirbus will direct the Bulls in the final three games of the season, said a
university source with knowledge of the situation. An official announcement
will be made by the school during a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m.
Monday.
Cirbus and athletic director Bob Arkeilpane did not immediately return phone
messages left by The Associated Press.
The announcement follows Saturday's 73-10 loss at Northern Illinois, the
Bulls' worst defeat since losing 66-0 to Harvard in 1932, and the most points
Buffalo has allowed since giving up 128 to Michigan in 1901. The loss dropped
the Bulls to 1-7 this year, and 1-18 since the program moved to Division I-A in
1999.
Cirbus, a former assistant under Penn State's Joe Paterno, is 18-45 in six
season at Buffalo. His best season was 1996 when the Bulls finished 8-3 and
Cirbus was selected Division I-AA Independent coach of the year.
The Bulls -- who entered the year ranked 115th out of 115 schools in some
polls -- have been outscored 369-127 this season, and 206-79 in their last four
games since beating Bowling Green 20-17 on Sept. 23. That win ended an 18-game
losing streak and marked the school's first victory over a Division I-A
opponent in almost 30 years.
AP NEWS
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