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The University at Buffalo Bulls football program has a mountain to climb in preparing to move to Division I-A football in the Mid-American Conference in 1999. Now after gaining a foothold with an improbable and amazing 8-3 season last year the Bulls are ready to continue their ascent in 1997.

The Bulls stunned Division I-AA football last season by putting together their first winning season in a decade, accumulating the most wins against Division I competition since 1959 and earning a final ranking of 27th in the nation by The Sports Network. The Bulls defeated the likes of Maine, Hofstra, Cornell, Illinois State and Colgate in narrowly missing an NCAA playoff invitation. In addition, three graduated Bulls players; OT Edward Ellis (Patriots), LB Craig Guest (Jets) and P/K Gerald Carlson (Patriots) all signed NFL contracts, with Ellis going in the fourth round to New England.

Those losses, along with 16 other seniors, will make things more difficult this season, but with 12 starters returning, including a wealth of talent at the skill positions, the Bulls are looking forward to continue their ascent in the Division I-AA ranks.

The offense begins with senior tailback Anthony Swan (Kingston, NY/Kingston HS). The durable Swan, who has started 30 games in his career (including 22 straight), became just the third UB back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season last year when he rambled for 1,117 yards on a school-record 244 carries (4.6 per rush). Swan scored nine touchdowns and also caught 16 passes for 172 yards. Swan has 2,448 yards in his career and needs 575 yards to become the school's all-time leading rusher and just 97 carries to become the school's all-time leader in carries.

The Bulls also return a strong receiving corps with the likes of senior Jamie Gasparre (Yonkers, NY/Hackley HS), junior Kali Watkins (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit HS) and sophomore Drew Haddad (Cleveland, OH/St. Ignatius). Gasparre tied the school record last season by snaring 10 touchdown passes and led the team with 48 receptions for 783 yards (an impressive 16.3 yards per catch average). Watkins wasn't far behind with 41 catches for 730 yards (17.8 per catch) and four touchdowns. Haddad made an immediate impact out of powerful St. Ignatius High School, grabbing 21 aerials for 282 yards and a pair of scores.

Who will throw to these talented wideouts is the Bulls' biggest question mark. The leading contenders appear to be sophomore Erik Rusin (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central), redshirt freshman Billy Feldmaier (Birmingham, MI/Seaholm HS) and junior transfer Chad Salisbury (Fayette City, PA/Perryopolis Frazier HS), who comes to UB from New Mexico State.

Rusin saw action in four games, starting two, and completed 26-of-59 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns. He came off the bench in UB's Homecoming battle versus Cornell and threw three touchdown passes to rally the Bulls to a 41-24 victory. Feldmaier was a highly sought after high school standout from the Detroit area who has had a year in the system. He is mobile and has a good arm. Salisbury, meanwhile, is huge at 6-6, 255 pounds, and started all 11 games at New Mexico State last season. The Pittsburgh area native completed 172-of-341 passes for 2,291 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Bulls offensive line needs to replace three starters, including Ellis, but will have sophomores Joe Hattendorf (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin HS) and Michael Garofalo (Sharpsville, PA/Kennedy Christian) returning to anchor the left side of the line at guard and tackle respectively after starting all 11 games as freshmen.

The defense will be led by senior defensive lineman Keith Hansen (Depew, NY/Cheektowaga HS) and Hardy Mitchell (Pelzer, SC/Wren HS). Hansen was a first-team NCAA I-AA Independent All-Star last year at nose guard after making 46 tackles, including 19 for losses, and a team-high nine sacks and four forced fumbles. Mitchell has been injury-prone but registered 39 tackles and five sacks last season and could have a big senior season.

The linebacking corps will have to adjust to the loss of all-time leading tackler Craig Guest but returns sophomore Dan Curcione (Brick, NJ/Brick Township HS) who was second on the team with 67 stops last year. A sure-handed tackler, Curcione improved with each game as a true freshman last season. The Bulls look for bigger contributions from inside linebacker Londell Young (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls HS) who had 26 stops and an interception last season in limited action.

The secondary will have a new look led by the addition of Temple transfer Ted McDuffie (Buffalo, NY/Grover Cleveland HS). McDuffie, a former Western New York Player of the Year, started 18 games in his three years at Temple and had 86 stops two seasons ago for the Owls from his safety position. Cornerback Steve Blake (Rochester, NY/East Rochester HS), who started seven games last season for the Bulls is a big-play specialist who made 37 stops, broke up three passes, forced three fumbles and intercepted two passes during the '96 campaign.