UB Football Camp - Day 18

With the 2007 season set to open one week from tonight at Rutgers, the University at Buffalo football team conducted a walk-thru today as they end fall camp at UB Stadium. Beginning on Saturday, the Bulls will start their traditional week of preparation prior to next Thursday’s opener.

As fall camp ends, the UB football blog hopes that you have enjoyed reading along as we have followed the Bulls through fall camp. We would also like to thank Turner Gill and the entire coaching staff for allowing us to bring you a small taste of what has been happening with the Bulls as they prepare for the 2007 football season. Go Bulls!

UB Football Camp - Day 17

A steady drizzle met the University of Buffalo football team as they took the field Wednesday morning for the first of two practices for the day. While UB Stadium is reasonably quiet today, one month from today that will all change as the Bulls face Baylor in the home opener.
Early in today’s practice much of the offensive emphasis was on the running game, but that didn’t stop Ed Young from finding Gary Rice for a 23-yard connection.

During the individual positional work, punter Ben Woods worked with the receiving corps, sort of. Woods helped out with the receiver drills by serving as a passer during their work today.

The 11-on-11 work later in practice was concentrated in and around the red zone. Backed up to a third-and-17 after a questionable “sack,” Drew Willy found Naaman Roosevelt for 19 yards to keep a drive alive. Another play during this session that caused a bit of controversy was a pass from Corey Jorgenson to Alex Pierre that would have put the offense on the two-yard line. The play was ruled out of bounds but today’s practice did not include officials, so the call was made by those standing on the sideline, and the play happened on the defensive sideline. In a game situation, the play certainly would have been worthy of a replay challenge.

For the defense, a number of players found their way into the backfield today; among them were Trevor Scott, David Hubbard and Jamal Chisam.

The Bulls return to the field for a single practice on Thursday at UB Stadium.

UB Football Camp - Day 16

The Bulls were on the field at UB Stadium for a single practice on Tuesday as the 2007 season opener at Rutgers draws nearer. The team practiced in full pads during today’s workout under cool, cloudy skies.

Running back Mario Henry got off to a quick start in the early portion of 11-on-11 work with a pair of nice runs. With the likes of Jordan Jerrold and Jeff Niedermier paving the way up front, the running game had its share of success early in today’s practice. The exact length of the runs is difficult to approximate due to the limited nature of the contact involved.

After individual positional work, Ben Woods highlighted the special teams’ activity by consistently forcing would-be punt returners to back pedal to catch his 50-plus yard boots.

When practice shifted back to 11-on-11 work with sustained drives, the offense found its stride right away as Drew Willy found Aaron Connacher on a rollout for 26 yards on the first play of the first drive. That play was followed by a 10-yard run for Mario Henry and a 15-yard run for Brandon Thermilus. The drive was finished off by a 36-yard AJ Principe field goal.

Defensively, Kendric Hawkins had an interception and a few pass break-ups today.

Off the field, the new scoreboards on the east and west sides of the stadium were put into use for the first time today. The fascia boards, which had just been installed in the past few days, were turned on and tested late this afternoon. These two scoreboards, along with a new videoboard that will be installed in the coming days, will be an upgrade that fans will definitely notice this season when they come to UB Stadium.

Wednesday the Bulls will be back on the field for two practices as the season opener is just over a week away.

UB Football Camp - Day 15

After a day off from on-field activity, the University at Buffalo football team was back on the field for two practices today. Cooler temperatures greeted the Bulls on Monday as they went through the morning workout in full pads before returning in shorts and helmets, with no shoulder pads, during the afternoon workout. Along with the cooler temperatures, a steady, light rain fell during the afternoon and many players chose to wear long-sleeves as a result of the weather.

As was the case on Friday afternoon, today’s second practice was a walk-thru as the offense and defense went through numerous plays at a walking pace. While this type of work may not make for the most viewer friendly practice, it is an important part of the preparation for the team as they continue working toward the August 30 season opener.

While there was little to report on the field, off the field we can tell you that the installation of the fascia scoreboards on the east and west stands have been completed.

Preparation for the 2007 season continues on Tuesday at UB Stadium as the Bulls are scheduled to have a single practice.

UB Football Camp - Day 14

With only 12 days until the 2007 season kicks off at Rutgers, the Bulls held their second scrimmage of camp on Saturday night and their first under the lights at UB Stadium. It was a controlled scrimmage in full pads.

Here are a few highlights from the scrimmage:

Todd Robertson recovered a fumble and scampered 20 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the scrimmage.

Drew Willy found freshman tight end Aaron Connacher for a 15-yard gain at the end of which he plowed over Kendric Hawkins for a couple extra yards. Connacher, working with the first team, caught all three balls thrown to him.

Lackawanna-native Marcus Rivers hauled in a one-handed catch from Zack Ingle that gained 36 yards down the sideline. It set up a 29-yard field goal by A.J. Principe in the closing seconds of the half. Principe was 2-for-2 in field goal attempts as he also connected on a 42-yarder.

Willy connected with Ernest Jackson in stride for a 34-yard gain along the sideline for his longest pass of the night.

Willy found Brett Hamlin across the middle for a 25-yard gain.

Mario Henry was one of the players that stood out the most on offense. The sophomore running back had runs of 25 and 15 yards and also caught a screen pass and turned up field for 15 yards before he was touched by a defender and the play was blown dead. If not for the whistle, he likely would have scored a 65-yard touchdown.

James Starks had another solid showing as he broke a couple of nice runs, but was especially effective catching passes out of the backfield.

Walk-on Raphael Akobundo made an interception inside the five-yard line to cap a goal-line stand by the defense.

Anel Montanez had a pair of sacks as did defensive end Trevor Scott. Kevin Johnson also had a sack for the defense.

The Bulls will get a day off on Sunday before taking the field for a pair of practices on Monday.

UB Football Camp - Day 13

Friday was another day of two practices for the University at Buffalo football team as they continue to progress toward the August 30 season opener. As preparations were underway for the afternoon session, a heavy downpour hit UB’s North Campus. The weather affected preparation for practice but by the time practice had begun the rain and winds gave way to sunshine and the only evidence of the earlier showers were the puddles around the track at UB Stadium.

During this afternoon’s practice, the Bulls were without shoulder pads, working out in just shorts and helmets. The session was more of a walk-thru than a true practice, with no plays actually run during the session. As a result, there is not much to report about significant plays or players from this afternoon’s work.

The Bulls will be back on the field Saturday for a single session on the turf at UB Stadium.

UB Football Camp - Day 12

Two weeks from tonight the University at Buffalo football team will be at the birthplace of college football, Rutgers University, to begin the 2007 college football season. But today it was back to the practice field at UB Stadium for a single practice as fall camp continues on UB’s North Campus.

The running game got off to a quick start today as both Mario Henry and James Starks scampered 25 yards for touchdowns during the early period of 11-on-11 work today. The offensive line, lead by center Jamey Richard, set the stage for both plays as they opened big holes on the two touchdown runs.

During the one-on-one drills between receivers and cornerbacks, Naaman Roosevelt made a spectacular, one-handed 30-yard touchdown catch while fending off a defender. A wrinkle that was thrown into those drills today was the presence of officials. On other days, the corners could (and would) push the receivers around without anyone to officially make a pass interference call, but today with officials around, there was no doubt about what was and was not pass interference.

Later in the practice, the offensive emphasis was put on the two-minute drill. The highlight of that work was a Zack Ingle to James Starks 69-yard touchdown pass. The swing pass was executed to perfection as the offensive line and receivers provided key blocks to help pave the way for Starks to find the end zone.

Trevor Scott led the way for an attack-minded defense today as they brought the heat on the UB offense many times throughout the day.

Practice was also spiced up a bit by some work on special situations as the Bulls continue to work their way toward the August 30 season opener.

The team will be back on the practice field again for two practices tomorrow.