TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

You are a UB scholar-athlete. What does that distinction mean to you?

It’s an honor to be a scholar athlete. “Blessed” is the word that best describes it. I thank God for the talent He’s given to all of our scholar- athletes. It’s an awesome feeling; it’s been great for me in all of my five years here.

As a UB student-athlete, how crammed is your daily schedule during the football season?

It’s very exciting to be a student-athlete, but it’s also very hectic. It’s a lot like holding down a job. You put in your work at school and then again at your job. My job just happens to be running around playing a game. So, in that aspect, it turns out to be a lot of fun. But it is a lot like a job in that you have to put in certain hours at certain times. It’s very demanding both during the season and though people don’t realize it, in the off-season also.

When you first began at UB did you ever envision coming into your senior season having started 22 games under center?

No, when I first came to UB I was amazed at the talents of the athletes that surrounded me. I started out as the sixth-string quarterback here my freshman year. In my sophomore year I moved up as the fifth-string quarterback -- I still didn’t travel, like most people do by their sophomore year. During my junior year I still had two guys ahead of me. They both got hurt in the pre-season. Then, the coaching staff tried to move a receiver to quarterback, but that didn’t work out. So finally, they were more or less forced into starting me. It wasn’t something that was high on their list, but it turned out that I was the starter and started that entire season. I always dreamed about starting that many games and playing all the time, but during my first few years here I didn’t expect it. All of my coaches kept telling me to work hard, because you never know what can happen. So, I did that. And it turned out all right for me.

What were the reasons you chose to play college football at UB?

I chose to come to UB because I loved the campus when I came up here on my original visit. The whole layout of the campus was great. I loved that UB had a city atmosphere, while not actually being in a city. It’s ten minutes outside of Buffalo, twenty minutes from Niagara Falls, and it’s about four hours from Pittsburgh -- so it’s a great location from my perspective. I wanted to go to a big school, as well as getting out of my home state of Pennsylvania to gain different experience, and UB gave me that opportunity.

How important is the support of the student body and surrounding community for your football team?

It’s extremely important, and it makes a ton of difference. During the Rutgers’ game, it was absolutely amazing coming out to play in front of all those people. It adds so much excitement to the game. That is what college football should be, with all of that enthusiasm and all of those students. I hope that the fans have as much fun as we have when we’re on the field experiencing that.

You are a communication major. What are your plans for after graduation?

I really don’t have definite plans right now. I’m just going to finish out this football season, and then graduate in May. After that, I’ll just put things in the hands of The Lord and see what He wants me to do.

What was the most difficult adjustment you had to make in the new offense brought in by head coach Jim Hofher and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor?

The biggest adjustment that I had to make was to the new terminology. I had been here the four previous years, and I was set knowing a certain offense. I had to know it backwards, and front wards, and every which way. Then, coming into spring ball -- which is only a few weeks long -- I had to flush all of the old offense out of my mind and take on a new concept and new language. The coaches did an awesome job, especially coach Lazor. He’s really helped us out in the classroom. Just like a regular classroom, we went to school in the off-season and he taught us. Then, the coaching staff really did a great job in helping us apply that knowledge on the field. Essentially, though, most of the work done in learning the new offense took place off the field.

How important is the relationship between the offensive coordinator and the quarterback?

It’s extremely important. You both have to be on the same page. The quarterback has to know the main goals of the coordinator’s offense for the overall season, as well as the individual week -- because the goals and schemes change on a game-to-game basis. It’s also vital that we both understand one another.

Now that the regular season is in full swing, look back and discuss what the off-season and preseason practices entailed?

One word to describe both of them on the whole is “intense.” Especially in the preseason camps, there is a great sense of urgency because everyone knows the season is right around the corner. That time period is really what makes or breaks a season. We put our hard work in then, and now try to maintain it during the season, hoping it pays off for us. The coaching staff put together a great workout program for us, trying to maximize our potential on the field with off-the-field work, such as running and workouts in the weight room.

What type of leadership role do you possess not only as a captain, but also as the quarterback of the Bulls?