By Jonah Bronstein
AMHERST — It was a gloomy end to a glorious era.
With his voice wavering and almost no expression on his face, Naaman Roosevelt eulogized his University at Buffalo career on Tuesday, after coach Turner Gill announced that his star receiver will miss the final game of his senior year because of a meniscus tear in his right knee that will require surgery.
“It’s pretty disappointing, not being out there having fun with my teammates. It definitely hurts,” Roosevelt said. “I’ll definitely look at the last four years and how the team has turned around and how the program has turned into one of the great programs in the division. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Roosevelt’s season-ending injury wasn’t as shocking or disheartening for the Bulls as the August discovery that Niagara Falls native James Starks would miss his entire senior season because of a labral tear in his shoulder.
Without Starks, the program’s all-time leading rusher, UB was dependent on Roosevelt’s playmaking ability this season. In 10 games, the St. Joe’s graduate had 70 receptions, 954 yards and nine touchdowns.
As the first player Gill recruited to UB, Roosevelt came in looking to play quarterback, but wound up as the best receiver in school history. His career totals of 268 receptions, 3,551 yards and 28 receiving touchdowns are all school records. Accounting for his kick return production, Roosevelt is the only player in school history to gain more than 5,000 total yards.
“There’s obviously some emotional things there, and I’m obviously saddened and disappointed that he’s not able to finish out the last two ball games,” Gill said. “With this last one I thought we may have a chance. It’s part of life, it’s part of football and we’re always going to look out for the best interest in the young man and what’s the best interest for our program.”
UB plays its final game of the season at Kent State today.
Roosevelt said his knee had been hurting for a few weeeks, but he played through the pain until the Bulls were assured of a losing record and taken out of consideration for a bowl game two weeks ago. He did not play in last week’s win at Miami.
Gill said Roosevelt should be recovered from his surgery by the end of next month, which will give him ample time to train for an expected invitation to the NFL Combine in February.
“I have to get stronger, faster and watch film to see what I need to work on in terms of blocking and route running,” Roosevelt said.
