TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

This year, you have 16 starters returning, not to mention 98 percent of your offense via rushing or passing from 2003. It is the most experienced team that Coach Jim Hofher has had here. So when you open the season at Eastern Michigan on Thursday night, what can we expect to see out of the 2004 Bulls?
First, by far, this is the most experienced team we’ve had in my four years with the 16 starters back. It means you can expect that the Bulls will be at full-tilt come Sept. 2 at Eastern Michigan. We’ve been around for as many as three or four years; even the newcomers have some experience and leadership that can help guide guys along the way. You can expect us to basically come out firing on all cylinders, hoping to get that first win of the year.

On Sept. 11, Buffalo’s home opener is with Syracuse. To have such an incredible amount of anticipation for the event (it should be the first UB home game to ever be sold out at UB Stadium), how much confidence does it give the team as it moves into the season?
The excitement from having that many people here is tremendous, not only for the players and the team but for the school and the community as well - to have everybody embrace this football team. Obviously, the basketball team had a turn last year when they turned the corner and hopefully, this is a game where we can showcase our skills. The football team can show what we’re all about. Hopefully, we’ll give everybody a great showing that we’re for real this year and that we’ve turned the corner as well.

The confidence it gives the team is just huge for home-field advantage. Having 30-plus thousand fans cheering you on every play really hypes you up and your team even more so. It really will go a long way as far as us winning the game.

You and Coach Hofher are both entering your fourth year in the Queen City. What has he done to help UB football, a program that is in many respects still in its transition to DI-A football?
He’s done a tremendous amount for not only the players, but for the program and the community itself. He’s given us an identity. He’s given us a purpose and hope, knowing that we have a proven leader. It means so much to each of the players knowing we have a man such as Coach Hofher out there guiding the way who’s done so much as far as bringing recruits in, as far as helping us year-round, as far as taking care of administrative things. He takes care of everything behind the scenes and he works so hard for the team. It’s just a tremendous honor to have him as our coach.

Last season, despite your overall record, you fought tough in a number of games, including the 26-16 loss to Marshall where you were within three points in the fourth quarter. This year, what needs to happen to turn the corner?
With the leadership that we have back as far as the returning lettermen, we can help the younger guys. As far as the overall confidence and experience in games that we’ve had, a lot of people have gotten their feet wet in games. Younger players and older players have gotten their feet wet and know what it takes to compete at the Division I level and especially in the Mid-American Conference, which has gotten more and more competitive each year. The leadership of the seniors and the upperclassmen has to be there in order for us to successfully turn this around and become a serious competitor in the MAC.

Looking back a little bit more, you scored the lone first half touchdown for UB in its 26-17 win against Ohio last year. You also added a 50-yard punt return in the game. What was that game like, falling behind, losing by a touchdown through three quarters before posting 16 points in the final period?
That game was a very interesting game to say the least. It was kind of chilly; it rained before the game. My touchdown came on a called play. It was a deep fade pattern, and I actually had to come back for the ball. I just out-jumped and out-fought the defender for it and I was able to race into the end zone for our first score. That was kind of big because we were down at the time and that gave the offense and the defense as well as the special teams the confidence to get back in it.

On the punt return, I found a hole in the seam. I got a great block from one of my teammates and I was able to scamper. Unfortunately, I was tackled by the punter, which I don’t take great pride in, but I was able to make that play and help our offense out. That was a big transition in the game. We were kind of in control, but that gave us confidence to seal the deal in the end.

The defense came alive. We stepped up and overcame the sloppy field conditions. We just came together as a team and got one out.

During your sophomore year, you were hampered with injuries that limited you to seven games and one start. What are some things that helped you stay healthy last year?
One of the things that helped me last year was I became real superstitious as far as everything I did from pre-game rituals to pre-practice stuff. I stretched in excess of a half-hour to hour before practices and before games. I would always make sure I stayed loose because one of the worst experiences I’ve had in my athletic career was blowing out my hamstring and not being able to play.

Now, I’m with the trainers and I’m constantly the first guy out to practice to stretch on my own to make sure I’m nice and warmed up. That paid large dividends for me last year because I was able to stay healthy and have a successful season. It comes down to taking care of your body as far as pre-game stretching. I stretch during practice and during the games. I find the trainers whenever I can.

You came into the program and made an immediate impact in 2001, raking in 443 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. Did you think coming into a DI-A program that you would have such a quick impact?
I felt I was shorted out of high school as far as programs turning down looking at me. I always knew the talent I had and that I could be a playmaker at the next level. Coach Hofher and the staff gave me an opportunity to go here. I thought it was a perfect fit, knowing I was confident in my ability, and I came in and just fit in the right system. It was like a West Coast offense and it was just a perfect situation for me to come into to showcase my talents. I wasn’t surprised at all. I just had to learn the transitional game. It was a lot faster, but I knew coming in that I had a realistic shot of playing. I just had to stay focused and work hard.

You were recruited by UB in 2000, just a year after Drew Haddad had finished his career and made a move to the NFL. To see your name start to appear on UB career receiving lists with his, could you have imagined that your freshman year?
I didn’t really imagine during my true freshman year that my name would be included on that list. I kind of think it would’ve been a lot higher if my sophomore year hadn’t been shortened. When I first came in here, I just wanted to play and contribute. It’s something I notice now but I never even looked at when I was younger. To see it on there now, it’s a great accomplishment, but I didn’t see it at the beginning.

Last year, you were chosen as a UB Scholar-Athlete. How have you been able to juggle academics along with playing football at such a high level?
It really is tough. A lot goes into your practice and a lot goes into your academics. I get help from a personal tutor and from my friends and colleagues. Having eight-hour days that consist of early morning workouts, eating, practice and studying is tough. A lot of people don’t understand how many hours we put in, on and off the field and in the classroom. It all adds up and you’ve got to have really great time management to juggle everything. You have to pass so it’s just something you have to take care of. It’s business. Sometimes you don’t like it, but you just have to buckle down and get it done.

What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at the University at Buffalo?
Without a doubt it was my freshman year when we went into Army and we beat the Cadets at West Point. We were supposed to play them the weekend of Sept. 11, but it was pushed back to the third week of the season. It was a weird feeling because there was all heightened security. We got off the bus and there were armed men with night goggles on and machine guns. It was just a different atmosphere because of all that surrounded us, especially at West Point. They had great pre-game activities. Guys parachuted on to the field and there was a big moment of silence.

We came in there and probably, besides the Ohio game (a 44-0 win), probably played our best football of the year. It was unbelievable to beat them at Army in front of all their fans. Our cheerleaders were doing push-ups because when they scored, (the freshmen) would usually do push-ups. When we scored, our guys started doing push-ups, and we put up 26 points on them. It was arguably the best eight-hour bus ride I’ve ever had home. We came in there and everything clicked.

It was a moment I’ll never forget because of all that went on. This game was a bit special because it was supposed to be the Sept. 11 weekend and it was Army and it was West Point. It was something new to our program, but it was a momentous step for us and it helped us go in the right direction from there.