The time couldn’t have been more prime. Just before 9 p.m. Sunday, a university and its followers had its welcome-to-the-NFL moment, introduced to an audience of many millions.

“Jamey Richard,” said the Indianapolis Colts rookie, starting at center.

“Buffalo.”

Richard isn’t the first UB football alumnus to play in the NFL — but none of his predecessors were able to give the Bulls that kind of exposure. Richard played the entire game Sunday in place of injured starter Jeff Saturday, and although his offensive unit underperformed in a home loss to the Bears, Richard earned some praise from his coach.

“I thought Jamey played well in there,” Tony Dungy said. “We didn’t have much leakage in the middle.”

The next night, the other former Bull, Trevor Scott, made his debut with the Oakland Raiders, playing on the special teams and coming in as a pass rush specialist on third downs.

“Last night, I was watching Trevor and paying attention to his technique and what he was doing on the defensive line, as opposed to the overall, what was going on in the game,” UB defensive tackle Dane Robinson said. “I see those two, and I’m happy for them, and I wish them continued success.”

“It’s a great example for the guys that are on our football team now,” coach Turner Gill said. “Those two guys were definitely leaders of our football team, not just because they were very talented, but because of their work ethic.”

Scott, who was selected early in the sixth round, 77 picks before Richard, has also been reminding his new NFL peers that there’s another football team in Buffalo to pay attention to besides the Bills.

Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard, a former UTEP player, couldn’t believe the trash talk coming from Scott last week after UB’s big win over Howard’s Miners in the season opener, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Blogger David White quoted Howard’s surprised reaction: “From a rookie!”

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James Starks (Niagara Falls) moved past O.D. Underwood for third place on the school’s all-time rushing list Saturday, and also became the first player in UB’s Division I-A era to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

After gaining 97 yards in Pittsburgh, Starks has the 11th highest per-game rushing average in the country (138), and the best in the Mid-American Conference.

Over Starks’ first two seasons, he averaged 37.2 yards in the first two games.

This week, the Bulls host a Temple team is allowing 113 yards per game, less than half the national average.

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Cornerback Kendric Hawkins, offensive tackle Jordan Jerrold, and defensive end Chris Callahan are doubtful for this week, Gill said.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstin at 282-2311, ext. 2258.