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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo's spring football practices are being hampered by mounting injuries.

UB head coach Craig Cirbus reported today that eleven players are now out for the remainder of spring practice due to injuries, including seven offensive and defensive linemen and starting quarterback Joe Freedy (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park).

Freedy had an emergency appendectomy this morning and will most likely be out the rest of the spring to recuperate. Other players that have sustained injuries during winter workouts and spring drills include offensive lineman Gabe Kogler (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg Central), defensive back Geoff Terry (Buffalo, NY/McKinley), defensive lineman Bob Dzvonick (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler), defensive lineman Steve Fleming (Rochester, NY/Greece-Olympia), offensive lineman Matt Baniewicz (Fairport, NY/Fairport) and offensive lineman Kevin Dunn (Mission Viejo, CA/Mission Viejo).

Kogler, the most serious of the injured, suffered a left knee injury in practice yesterday and will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of his knee injury. A tear of his ACL could very likely end his career as he is a fifth-year senior. Dzvonick and Baniewicz both have suffered hamstring pulls while Fleming has a sprained knee and Dunn an ankle sprain.

Cirbus noted that these injuries, particularly to the offensive and defensive lines, "is making continuity and execution more difficult and combined with the injuries suffered throughout last season has created a dilemma in practice organization."

Players who were injured last season and sitting out spring drills include free safety Craig Rohlfs (Cincinnati, OH/Moeller), defensive end Jamie Guerra (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon), defensive back Adolphus Barkor (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) and offensive lineman Bo Rogers (Ashland, PA/North Schuykill). Rohlfs and Guerra both had off-season shoulder surgery while Barkor had double knee surgery. Rogers has been forced to give up football due to recurring shoulder problems.

"Rebuilding our offensive line was of paramount importance going into spring drills and because of these injuries it has been extremely difficult to gain any continuity," said Cirbus. "These injuries have really forced us to shuffle practice plans as well as players."

The Bulls will play their spring scrimmage on Saturday, April 22 at 4:00 pm at UB Stadium.