FOOTBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY - The Bulls travel to Oxford, OH, this week in an attempt to pick up their first victory of the season. Buffalo will square off against the high-powered Miami RedHawks' offense, which is led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ben Roethlisberger.

Miami's junior quarterback ranks first in the Mid-American Conference and seventh in the nation with 335.8 passing yards per game.

Coach Jim Hofher

"They've got one of the premier quarterbacks in the conference - if not the country," said UB head coach Jim Hofher at the Bulls' weekly press conference this past Tuesday. "He's playing very well. He's a Heisman Trophy candidate and he's playing like one."

Roethlisberger threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another two in the RedHawks' 45-20 win over Akron last week. He finished with 369 passing yards on the afternoon.

"I think he had another one of his stellar performances," said RedHawks' head coach Terry Hoeppner during Monday's MAC teleconference. "He is just so in control of our offense. Right now, he's playing about as good as a quarterback can play. He's our team leader and the rest of the guys enjoy following him."

Miami has won four straight games, following a season-opening 21-3 loss at Iowa. The RedHawks have played just one conference game - last week's win over Akron.

"We go to Miami with a tremendous challenge ahead of us," said Hofher. "Miami's offense is outstanding - it's very comprehensive and complete. Miami's defense is also playing extremely well, although it isn't noticed as much as their offense."

The RedHawks' defense is third in the MAC in total defense and tops in defending the run.

Dave Dawson

Buffalo will undoubtedly try to counter the Miami defense with some big plays - something the Bulls have gotten all season from sophomore running back Dave Dawson (Camp Hill, PA/Bishop McDevitt). He has not only recorded two of the longest five runs in UB's Division I-A history (since 1999) this season, but his 76-yard touchdown run at Rutgers remains the longest run by any back in the MAC this season.

Mark Graham

Defensively, UB has gotten its key plays from senior safety Mark Graham (Monroe, MI/Monroe). In the last two weeks, Graham has recovered two fumbles and intercepted one pass. He also leads Buffalo with 42 tackles.

Last week at Central Florida, the Bulls held an opponent under 20 points for the first time this season - surrendering just 19 points to the Golden Knights.

"What teams need to do is to continue to improve during the course of the season," Hofher said. "I think in the last two weeks we have shown some improvement - certainly on defense. We've got to keep trying to do that."

Rob Schroeder

"Our defense is growing as a team," said Bulls' defensive tackle Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) at UB's weekly press conference. "We're learning from our mistakes. We're just trying to play good football and outhit the other team. If we limit our mistakes, that increases our opportunities to stop our opponents."

This season, Buffalo's defense has been particularly strong in the "Red Zone" - the area from the your own 20-yard line to the end zone. Against Central Florida, UB's defense allowed the Golden Knights just six points (two field goals) in six trips inside the 20. On the season, UB's defense has surrendered a touchdown only 52.9 percent of the time that its opponents enter the "Red Zone."

Though Miami has taken all five of the previous meetings between the two schools, neither side is drawing any early conclusions.

"Coach Hofher has done an incredible job keeping those guys playing at the level that they are playing at," Hoeppner said. "There are good players on that team. Their execution - at times - is excellent. I'm really impressed with the spirit that they play with."

The Bulls continue to focus with a positive mentality, despite the winless season thus far.

"Anything can happen on any Saturday - anyone can win," said Schroeder. "We just need to come out and play good football."