"New season, new start"

Monday marked a new semester for students, a semester to have a clean slate and start fresh, hopeful of making improvements on the past.

Thursday holds the same significance for the University at Buffalo football team.

After a dismal 2-9 season last year, capped off by a 29-0 loss to the University of Connecticut, the Bulls return to UConn's Rentschler Field to redeem themselves.

"We couldn't be more energized and enthused about heading into a season as I believe our team is right now," said Bulls' head coach Jim Hofher. "I am excited about the start, a very challenging start going on the road against a bowl team who defeated the MAC program champions in 2004."

The biggest change for the Bulls is at quarterback. After competition for the spot during camp, Hofher recently announced that 6-foot-3-inch junior Stewart Sampsel would be the new starter for the opening game, beating out junior Tony Paoli.

"They competed against themselves to be able to learn how to effectively manage the offensive scheme and do the things that the position needed to do," said Hofher. "We're going to need both of those guys throughout the season. But as we go into this ball game, it's a situation where Stew has earned the right to go into the game as the starter. He's been just a little more consistent."

Sampsel last played in the 2003 season as a redshirt freshman against Toledo. Sampsel saw minimal time in the game and did not complete a pass. Sampsel is looking forward to returning to the field.

"I'm excited and I think it's a great opportunity for our team," said Sampsel. "We just are hoping to go to UConn and shock their fans and a bunch of our fans and show them all the hard work we've done. It's the culmination of about nine months of work."

What the team lacks in quarterback experience, it hopes to make up for on the defensive side of the ball.

"The defensive line with Kirk Berry and his mates is certainly as experienced an area as we have on our team with five senior defensive lineman, three at defensive end and two at defensive tackle," said Hofher. "There's quite a bit on the defensive front that is going to be helpful."

Returning seniors on the defensive line include Berry, Phil Jacques, Rob Schroeder, Aaron Sanders, and Brian Cummings. According to Berry, a 6-foot-2-inch senior defensive lineman, the defense knows exactly what they need to do.

"Up front we need to create a new line of scrimmage going backwards for them and keep our heads up and make tackles right away," said Berry. "With their two good running backs, we just have to be aware of their style and continue to get 11 blue bullets to the ball."

UConn head coach Randy Edsall is aware of the experienced line that will be coming at his quarterback Thursday night.

"We know that Buffalo is a very good team and they have an excellent defense coming back," said Edsall. "I know that they feel like they are going to be one of the top defenses in the MAC. We know from a defensive standpoint that there is a lot of experience in their front seven and I know they're excited and they should be with all those games under their belt."

As a whole, Hofher is addressing this season with a team-oriented outlook complemented by unit specific goals.

"We have team goals, ultimately that we want to arrive as a team," said Hofher. "You know, if you want to drive to Arizona, you're probably going to have to drive through Missouri. You've got to keep taking steps to get to your ultimate spot. Our units have goals, that when reached, will give us a chance to have success as a team."

Hofher also added that the team has to work within the confines of what it can control.

"I am certain of this: they are not going to go away in the game. We can't control that," said Hofher. "We can control that we are not going away during the course of the game."

Buffalo will face the Huskies Thursday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.