BUFFALO, NY -After naming game captains for the first eight games of the season, Buffalo head football coach

J.J. Gibson

Jim Hofher has announced the permanent captains for the 2004 season after a vote by the team.

Voted as permanent captains are senior safety J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home), senior offensive guard Erik Zeppuhar (Allison Park, PA/Shaler), senior flanker Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) and junior linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira).

Gibson, an All-MAC candidate, has played in all 43 games in his career and has been the Bulls' leading tackler this season and currently ranks among the top 25 tacklers in the nation. Gibson currently leads the Bulls with 81 tackles, 46 solo stops, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He stands third among MAC players in tackles per game (10.1) and 25th nationally. Gibson currently ranks

Erik Zeppuhar

second all-time in solo tackles (204) and fifth in total tackles (325) in UB history.

Zeppuhar is a four-year starter, who leads all Bulls with 41 career starts, including each game this year. He has helped Buffalo rank among the top 50 in the nation in rushing yards per game the last two seasons.

Knueven is another four-year starter who ranks among the UB's all-time top ten in both

Matt Knueven

career receptions and yardage. He leads the Bulls this year with 23 receptions for 343 yards (14.9 per catch) and is seventh in career receptions (113) and ninth in receiving yards (1,497) and has eight receiving touchdowns in his career.

Cummings, meanwhile, has been a three-year starter and is the only junior who earned captain status. Cummings currently ranks fifth on the team with 45 tackles and is second with six tackles for loss.