COMMENTARY
Bob DiCesare: Big numbers for Naaman in finale
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Naaman Roosevelt played his final home game for the University at Buffalo Tuesday night and thankfully, fittingly, his grandest days were reprised.
Roosevelt caught short passes, long passes and throws of medium depth. He snared balls in crowds and cradled others after outrunning defenders who’d received the death sentence of single coverage, a tactic Roosevelt rarely sees.
“I definitely think so,” he said. “More single, more man to man. That’s what we were hoping for.”
The first player recruited by head coach Turner Gill broke Drew Haddad’s record for career receiving yards. He tied his career best with three touchdown receptions. He increased to nine the number of TD passes he’s caught in the last two years during games televised by the ESPN family, affirming his reputation for warming to the brightest lights. And he did it all in his backyard, having established himself as an athletic marvel during his days quarterbacking St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.
It was, save the final score (Ohio 27, UB 24), the fondest of farewells. Eight catches. One hundred sixty-five yards. A game that will linger in the memory with so many others: the Hail Mary reception against Temple of a year ago, the huge day in last year’s championship victory over Ball State, this year’s 157-yard, two TD performance against Pittsburgh.
Drew Willy receives the preponderance of credit for turning UB football around. He was, after all, the quarterback, the decision-maker, the acknowledged leader last season as the Bulls delivered a title at least a year ahead of schedule. But he’d be the first to say that while he waved the wand, it was Roosevelt who performed the magic while rolling up single-year numbers that will long live in UB lore: 104 catches, 1,402 yards and 13 TDs.
Chances were remote that Roosevelt could duplicate those numbers his senior year. Sophomore Zach Maynard would replace the graduated Willy. Running back James Starks, part of last year’s Big Three, was lost for the season during training camp, making Roosevelt the guaranteed primary focus of opposing defenses.
The Pittsburgh game, and subsequent 100-yard receiving days against Temple and Central Michigan, had Roosevelt chugging along in the neighborhood of last year’s statistical glory. But the next four games saw his production dip markedly: no catch for more than 20 yards and three days of 63 receiving yards or fewer. What’s clear is that the Bulls had to be more persistent in getting him the ball, especially in positions that allowed him to utilize his after-catch talents.
“We did talk about it as a staff to make sure we throw the football a little more at him, probably at least 12 or 15 throws,” Gill said. “He’s not going to catch them all but if we attempt to throw 12 or 15 times in his area he’s going to catch eight of 10. Again, we saw where they decided to play some man-to-man coverage.
With Maynard suspended for the first quarter Tuesday and Jerry Davis starting in his place, UB dialed up Roosevelt. He hauled in Davis’ first pass for an 8-yard gain. On the next, drawing single coverage, Roosevelt took a Davis bomb in stride for a 76-yard scoring play. He went over the middle for a 21-yard touchdown throw from Maynard with three seconds left in the half. He worked the corner of the end zone and grabbed a 22-yard Maynard throw for his third TD, drawing UB within 24-21 in the third quarter.
Senior night proved a fitting performance for the most prolific receiver in UB history, one who at this time next year figures to be playing his football on Sundays.
bdicesare@buffnews.com
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