UMass Hockey Blog Opens

As per a recent comment, there is now a UMass Hockey Blog. I'll be adding a link in my "UMass fan sites' section in the side bar.

Good luck to the new blog and may last longer than the "UMass Basketball blog", which lasted two days. That has to be a record for brevity, even for internet fan sites.

Monday morning 12/01/08

Another 2008 UMass football opponent is playing in the post season as Albany (the NEC champion) plays Jacksonville University (the champion of the Pioneer League) this Saturday in Albany.

Keepers football ratings has the following ratings in the FCS playoffs:

• Albany over jacksonville by 7.74
• Appalachian State over Richmond by 4.97
• JMU over Villanova by 9.00
• Montana over Weber State by 3.63
• UNI over New Hampshire by 4,70
  

Recruiting 2009------ Ed Roberts

UMass is interested in Ed Roberts, a 5-11 220 pd ILB from Timber Creek HS in NJ. He runs a 4.61 forty.

His Rivals.com page is here .

Also interested are Delaware, Maine, Towson, Rutgers and Penn State.

Sunday articles 11/30/08

Well, the Blog readers correctly picked seven of the eight first round games in the FCS playoffs. It was close on New Hampshire though. Weber State was all over Cal Poly to ruin most people's brackets.

ESPN has final scores, drive charts and box scores here .

The CAA website has longer write-ups of all the CAA games here .

A couple of articles on the UNH-Southern Ill. game here (from the Saluki's side) and here (from New Hampshire).

CSN has a bracket and more post-first round playoff stuff here .

I think Weber State beats Montana and Villanova upsets JMU in the second round.

Playoff Saturday 2008

In two different stories, the Salukis remind UNH of UMass here and here .

The game will be streamed for free. Details here .

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Appalachian State Vs South Carolina State on ESPNU at 12:00 Noon.

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Chuck Burton's CSN column "Feasting on Football"

More FCS playoff notes and facts from CSN.

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Keepers Football ratings has the following:

• Appalachian State by 18 over South Carolina state
• Cal Poly by 10.75 over Weber State
• JMU by 13.09 over Wofford
• Montana by 17.75 over Texas State
• UNH by 0.41 over Southern Ill.
• Richmond by 31.71 (wow) over EKU
• UNI by 9.81 over Maine
• Villanova by 19.55 over Colgate

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Recruiting 2009--Jermaine McDay

A kind Blog reader initially us the link for this story about Jermaine McDay a 6-3 245 pd FB/LB from Keene, NH (just down the road from me).

McDay also made 2008 All-New Hampshire.

Also being recruited by Hofstra and Northeastern.

Image by Correy Perrine.

Recruiting 2009---Martin Hyppolite Part II

I've blogged before about UMass recruiting Wakefield's Martin Hyppolite.

He ran for 218 yards and four TD's in the big Turkey-Day game against Melrose. (mentions UMass)

Thanksgiving Thursday

Hope all readers are enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday. Truly there is much to be thankful for.

Dave Coulson prognosticates the playoffs .

Bruce Dowd does his weekly CAA Today column here .

Matty Vautour has a link to a video interview with Brandon London.

Recruiting 2010----Justin Silveria

Could Wareham Junior Justin Silveria be a future safety for UMass? He likes the Minutemen. Silveria sounds like Coach Brown's kinda player.

Image by Mike Valeri.

News November 26, 2008

Mostly FCS playfoffs news on the web.

No TV for the New Hampshire-SIU game .

Maine gets UNI in the dome . No TV for that game either.

ESPNU will air probably the worst matchup in the first round: Appalachian State against South Carolina State.

2008 FCS bracket here .

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The Miami Dolphins lost one of their top receivers to a knee injury. That may open the door for Brandon London to crack the starting lineup.

Recruiting 2009----- QB Ray Doucette

The Boston Globe has an article about Ray Doucette a 6-3 175 pd pro-style QB from Cambridge & Latin HS in Cambridge, MA.

He has thrown for over 7,000 career yards.

His Rivals.com page is here .

Scout.com page is here .

Recruiting interest by Columbia, Harvard, Temple and UMass.

Ray, take a long look at the UMass receiving corps!

Boston Globe image by Patricia McDonnell.

Tuesday Morning 11/25/08

The UMass Daily Collegian has a Hofstra game article here .

Matty Vautour looks at next year's needs and discusses who will fill the seniors shoes here .

Relavent quote:"He will have plenty of holes to fill as key players depart. Some can be filled from within by redshirts, but Brown and his staff will likely be actively looking at potential junior college and Football Bowl Subdivision transfers."

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Chuck Burton of SCN complains about this year's playoff selections .

CSN continues its series on the best FCS players of the last thirty years (all in pdf):

• Defensive linemen
• Kickers
• Running backs

The Sports Network has its weekly column "Around FCS' here .

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Eleven Minutemen make All-CAA teams

Eleven UMass players made the 2008 All-CAA teams. The UMass website has an article on the honors here .

First Team:

• Tony Nelson RB. In his first year as a starter, Nelson was 3rd in the CAA with243-1,325 5.5 yards/carry 12 TD 110 yards/game. He also added 19 receptions for 120 yards.
• Victor Cruz WR. A couple of years ago Liam Coen said we "didn't have anybody like Victor Cruz". In his first year as a starter Cruz was the top receiver in the CAA in two categories. He led the CAA in total yards with 71-1,064 6TD 5.92 rec/game. He also led the CAA with 88.7 yards/game.
• Vladimir Ducasse OL. Ducasse started practicing with the first team about three days after he arrived in Amherst. This year he sharply reduced his penalties and with his physical gifts became one the CAA's top linemen.
• Josh Jennings LB. Jennings ended up 7th in the CAA in tackles with 90TT and 8.2 tackles/game despite missing the last two games of the season.
• Courtney Robinson CB. Not many QB's threw in Robinson's direction and he added 18-404 22.4 kick return average.
• Jeromy Miles DB. Miles was second in the CAA amoung DB's with 104 TT 8.8 tackles/game and was 5th in tackles amoung all positions.
• Brett Arnold P. Arnold led the CAA and the nation with 46-2,080 yards and 45.2 yards/punt.

Second Team:

• Liam Coen QB. Despite his ailing arm, Coen threw for 206-2,749 61.7% 24 TD and 229 yards/game. That was the 5th highest single-seasonTDs and 5th highest total yards in UMass history.

Third Team:

• Jeremy Horne WR. Horne was 3rd in the CAA with 50-895 8TD's and 2nd in the CAA with a 74.6 yards/game average.
• Sean Calicchio OL. Calicchio as a fifth year player was a force on the UMass OL.
• Kyle Harrington DL. Harrington was 3rd in the CAA amoung DL with 50 TT 4.7 tackles/game.

Congrats to all the UMass players who made the 2008 All-CAA team. And seven of the eleven are underclassmen!

UMass-Hofstra Web album

Click on the image and Blogger displays a much larger view.

A Picassa web album of the UMass-Hofstra game and senior day is here .

Monday Morning November 24, 2008

Jeff Thomas has an article about Coach Brown recapping the season .

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Shannon James and the Calgary Stampeders won the Gray Cup .

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Fanhouse has a FCS plsyoff article here .

CSN has an extensive article with a bracket and individual game information here .

The Sports Network also has a long article about the playoff selections here .

Keepers football ratings have New Hampshire a slight favorite against SIU and Maine a nine point underdog to UNI.

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CAA gets five teams in the Playoffs

The New Hampshire football Report has details here .

All the traditional websites seem jammed up.

The teams:


Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)
Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)
Texas St. (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)
Weber St. (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)
South Carolina St. (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian St. (10-2)
Eastern Ky. (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)
Maine (8-4) at No. 3 UNI (10-2)
New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Ill. (9-2)

Congrats Maine and UNH.

UPDATE: The CAA website has an article on the selection of five CAA teams (includes audio link to CAA press conference).

Sunday-after-the-Hofstra-game articles

Click on the image and Blogger displays a much larger view.

The NY Newsday says Hofstra ends a tough season with a loss .

The Worcester Telegram says Nelson stole Coen's thunder .

WWLP says it was the end of an era for UMass .

Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican said UMass ran past Hofstra .

The Boston Globe said Coen's parting gift to UMass was a victory .

Matty Vautour said 2008 ended with a win.

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In case you missed it, UNH beat Maine in the snows of Orono to make the playoffs .

Playing in Hamilton, Holy Cross lost by a point to Colgate to knock the Crusaders out of the playoffs.

And the streets of Lubbock Texas must have been very quiet last night as the Red Raiders were creamed by crimson 65-21.

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The FCS 2008 playoff selection show is on ESPNU (fixed link) at 6:00 PM. ESPNU is available on Dish Network channel 148.

UPDATE: Charles Burton has an article on the FCS playoff selections here .

Dude! I found my team! UMass 28-14 over Hofstra

Winning makes you warm! UMass made a big comeback from its dismal performance against New Hampshire.

The UMass defense, missing four starters, may have played its most opportunistic game this year as the defenders had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. We did not allow a point in the second half.

Tony Nelson showed again he was the best player on the field with 208 yards and two TD's.

Over 5,000 frozen fans showed up for the final game and a significant number of seriously demented devoted fans even stayed for the post game concert.

I think the team showed a lot of character and the win was a good way to start building for next year.

Thanks again to the seniors and all UMass players, coaches and fans!

UMass write up here .

Hofstra write up here .

Game Day-----Hofstra

Well, it's a frosty morning here in New Hampshire. My thermometer says it's 14 degrees right now.

I'm charging my camera batteries and checking my winter clothes to get ready for the game.

The Herald News has a story about Shane Viveiros getting more playing time in the UMass secondary.

Jeff Thomas has a game day article here .

Matty Vautour has a Hofstra game article here .

Matty has another story about Liam Coen's legacy to UMass football. There is a great quote from Coen:

"I'm very loyal to UMass football," Coen said. "I hope people remember me as being tougher than maybe your average quarterback has been. To know how much I cared and how much most of my days went to trying to win games for this program. It's something I care about a lot."

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The Sports Network has its week #13 FCS Preview here .

Chuck Burton has previews of the games of rivalry weekend.

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Holy Cross will meet #21 Colgate for the Patriot League championship and a playoff birth today.

Albany has already won the NEC championship and awaits its opponent in the Dec 6th Gridiron Classic.

And "Oh-by-the-way", Texas Tech meets Oklahoma tonight at 7:00 pm for a BCS game bid.

Image stolen from the Wizard of Odds college football blog----who undoubtedly stole it from someone else. It's not accredited.

Hofsta Preview

Game articles for Hofstra:

UMass game notes here (html) and here (pdf)

Hofstra's game notes for UMass here (pdf)

Jeff Thomas states that it's a bitter-sweet game for the seniors .

The Springfield Republican says Coen's last game is the end of an era .

Matty Vautour says both Ben Coblyn and Josh Jennings are out of the Hofstra game with injuries.

Bruce Dowd has his weekly "The CAA Today week 12 &13" column here .

The Sports Network has its weekly "Around FCS" column here .

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The Pride is 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the CAA

• Lost to UConn 3-35
  
• Lost to Albany 16-22 OT
• Lost to JMU 0-56
  
• Lost to Maine 40-41 (2 OT's)
• Lost to Delaware 0-17
• Lost to UNH 25-45
• Lost to Richmond 14-35

Wins:

• Rhode Island 23-20
• Stony Brook 43-3
• Bucknell 45-31
• Northeastern 42-14

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Hofstra players to watch are:

Rushing

1. Everette Benjamin 119-550 4.6 AVE 4 TDs
2. Brock Jackolski (great name!) 75-506 6.7 AVE 8 TDs
3. Cory Christopher (QB) 106-272 2.6 AVE 6 TDs

Passing

1. Cory Christopher 127-190 6 INTs 66.8% 1,163 yards 4 TD's

Receiving

1. Aaron Weaver 66-572 8.7 yards/catch 4 TD's

Defense

1. Luke Bonus (another great name) 42 UT 48AT 90 TT 6.5-31 TFL 2.5 Sacks 2 FF
2. Greg Melendez 27 UT 35 AT 62 TT 2 FF

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This could be a tough game for the Minutemen. With Ben Coblyn, Sean Smalls, Brian Ellis and Josh Jennings all out, UMass will be really short on bodies.

Freshman LB Tyler Holmes will get his first start.

Hofstra is a running team and our depleted defense has not done well against running teams this year.

I would look to the UMass offense to win this one. Tony Nelson, Liam Coen and the receivers Victor Cruz and Jeremy Horne should put up good numbers against the Pride. Get out to a good start and keep the defense off the field.

Go UMass!