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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Turner Gill (1st season) 2005 record: 1-10 MAC finish: 1-7 (5th East) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 101st (109.0 ypg) Passing: 100th (170.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 99th (189.6 ypg) Passing: 9th (173.6 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 31 Temple Sept. 9 at Bowling Green Sept. 16 at Northern Illinois Sept. 23 at Auburn Oct. 7 Ball State Oct. 14 Miami (Ohio) Oct. 21 at Ohio Oct. 28 at Boston College Nov. 4 Kent State Nov. 9 at Akron Nov. 18 at Wisconsin Nov. 24 Central Michigan Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 89 Brett Hamlin So. 3 Gary Rice So. WR 83 Evan Wallace Sr. 21 Ernest Jackson So. LT 70 Ray Norell So. 59 Derek Newell Fr. LG 57 Jon Geddes So. 72 Andrew West Fr. C 71 Jamey Richard Jr. 79 Chris Lauzze So. RG 75 Jeff Niedermier So. 76 Matt Bacoulis Fr. RT 78 Gerry Weissinger Sr. 67 Jon Burgio Jr. TE 80 Chad Upshaw Sr. 82 Jessie Rack Fr. QB 16 Drew Willy So. 19 James Starks Fr. FB 9 Steven King Sr. 36 Ike Nduka Fr. RB 26 Chris McDuffie Sr. 5 Jared Patterson Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 92 Dane Robinson Fr. 97 Andrae Smith Jr. DT 87 Marck Abraham Jr. 95 Ronald Hilaire So. DT 55 Labinot Hakanjin Jr. 96 Ted Rene Sr. DE 89 Trevor Scott Jr. 91 James Judges Jr. LB 2 Ramon Guzman Sr. 48 Chris Callahan So. LB 39 Ollice Ervin Jr. 52 Tom Drewes Fr. LB 58 Jeff Bublavi Sr. 4 Jamal Chisam So. CB 40 Kendric Hawkins Fr. 13 Gerald Jackson So. CB 30 Mike Newton Fr. 11 Andre Evans So. FS 14 Jesse Imes Jr. 29 Ronald Sears (Jr. SS 20 Kareem Byrom Jr. 28 Mario Henry So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 10 Gerry McGroarty So. P 8 Ben Woods Jr. KR 3 Gary Rice So. PR 19 James Starks Fr.

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Turner Gill will try to accomplish what no coach has been able to do at Buffalo since 1996 - compile a winning record. Craig Cirbus and Jim Hofher failed to bring respectability to the program. Now Gill gets his shot, and he has somewhat of a track record. He nearly led Nebraska to a national title as a player in the early 1980s and won three national championships as an assistant to Tom Osborne in the '90s. Buffalo is not expecting the same results, however. The Bulls would be overjoyed with a 7-5 season.

"It puts a smile on my face, and I'm really excited about the opportunity," Gill says. "What makes it so exciting is our staff...they're going to bring some energy, they're going to challenge (the players), and they're going to love them."

The Bulls' schedule is the most difficult in the program's Division I-A history - with trips to Auburn, Boston College and Wisconsin, not to mention Mid-American Conference games at Bowling Green, Northern Illinois and reigning champ Akron.

Optimism generally surrounds a program with a new coach, but unless Gill has experience as a miracle worker, it will be yet another rocky year in Buffalo.

OFFENSE

The consensus during spring workouts was that the quarterbacks never looked better, which is promising because the position has long been the program's weakest link. Sophomore Drew Willy, who started eight games last season, gets the nod heading into the fall, but seniors Stewart Sampsel and Tony Paoli and redshirt freshman James Starks are close behind.

Senior Chris McDuffie missed all of last season with a quad injury but looked good in the spring and moved up to No. 1 on the depth chart. Steven King, last year's top rusher, got a look at fullback. There's also senior Jared Patterson, who shows flashes, and sophomore Philip Warren, who, at 270 pounds, is one of the biggest tailbacks in the nation. But Warren sat out the spring for disciplinary reasons and may not be in the mix. Gone is the headache-inducing tailback-by-committee under former coach Jim Hofher. The starter will log 20-to-30 carries per game, which means Buffalo could have its first 1,000-yard rusher since 1996.

The top two leaders in receptions - sophomore Brett Hamlin and senior tight end Chad Upshaw - are back. Hamlin and Upshaw are both possession receivers, while senior Evan Wallace has the ability to stretch the defense, though he wasn't able to display it much in Hofher's sputtering offense.

The offensive line lost three starters but returns junior center Jamey Richard, who already ranks high on new coach Turner Gill's list because of his leadership ability, and sophomore Jeff Niedermier.

DEFENSE

Yes, the Bulls have to replace the entire front four and several key backups, but there wasn't much there to begin with. The line recorded only 10 sacks and was poor at stopping the run. Trevor Scott's shift from tight end to defensive end should help, and junior Andrae Smith is a decent pass rusher, but the jobs are up for grabs.

Until the front four and the secondary become seasoned, the linebackers will have to carry the defense. It starts with senior Ramon Guzman, a former safety who will make a case for all-league honors. Jeff Bublavi is back after starting 10 games last fall.

The secondary is young and won't resemble the group that finished ninth in the country in pass defense. Juniors Kareem Byrom and Jesse Imes are the starting safeties, while Kendric Hawkins and Mike Newton, both redshirt freshmen, emerged from spring atop the depth chart at cornerback.

SPECIALISTS

The punting is in good shape with junior Ben Woods, who averaged 37.1 yards per punt. The Bulls, however, must find a kicker. Sophomore Gerry McGroarty is first in line after making 2-of-5 field goals last season.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The Bulls are trying to forget the past as they usher in a new football era at Buffalo after last year's disastrous 1-10 season. Gill brought in his own staff and installed a multiple, run-oriented offense with a smidgen of option. Gill also switched to a traditional 4-3 defense from the 4-2-5 set run by Hofher the last two seasons.

With 12 starters returning, Gill is optimistic, but the former Nebraska assistant will have a difficult time changing the losing culture of the program.