Friday News ------- July 23rd, 2010

The CAA Media Day on July 28th is coming up. I just tried the streaming audio for ESPN 1370 and it worked for me. I previous years the Hofstra radio station was the lead audio link.

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Speaking of the CAA, the CAA blogger has an article about Delaware's Pat Devlin being named to the Unitas Golden Arm Watch List.

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Craig Haley has his latest FCS column up. He notes that "The NFL travels through Orono, Me"

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New CAA program Old Dominion loses four players.

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There will be a number of good FCS-FCS games this season. There will even be some competitive FCS-FBS matchups. ESPNU is televising the Alabama-Georgia State game. Arrgghh!

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Thursday News ---- July 22nd, 2010

Vladimir Ducasse gets a mention in this article.

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The 2010 CAA Media Guide is available through the CAA's website. The CAA blogger has details here.

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UMass RB John Griffin and TE Emil Igwenagu are on the preseason All-CAA team. Tyler Holmes makes the defense.

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Former Tennessee QB Nick Lamaison is looking for a new home, but is not exactly available.

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Speaking of quarterbacks, 6-5 Erich Berzinskas of the Morgan School in Ct, does not have an offer yet according to Roger Brown. Bleacher Report says he's one of the top QB prospects in the Northeast and a top-30 QB nationally.

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Today is forty-four days until football. Wearing #44 for UMass this year is Perry McIntyre, a 6-0 215 pd SO LB from Royal Palm Beach, FL. McIntyre played in all 11 games in 2009 and started seven times. He was the third leading tackler going 22 UT 42 AT 64 TT 2.5-9 TFL 1 INT 3 BrUp.

Wednesday News----July 21, st, 2010

CBS3 Springfield on the enshrinement of Coach MacPherson and Milt Morin into the College Hall of Fame.

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Ole Miss says "No" to former Oregeon QB Jeremiah Masoli. The Bleacher Report says he might go FCS/I-AA, but nobody really wants a player who will be doing time in a couple of years.

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The Richmond Spiders think they've got the best stadium in the Division.

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William & Mary has named their weight room after their strength coach.

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Today is forty-five days until football starts. Wearing #45 for UMass this year will be Chris Chamberlin a 6-2 240 pd RS SO LB from South Easton, MA. Chamberlin played in 10 games last year and had 5 TT in 2009.

Tuesday News -----July 20th, 2010

The Union Leader has an article discussing some of the details of the UMass-UNH game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 23rd.

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The Sports Network has released their Buchanan Award Watch List for the best defensive player in FCS. IMHO, the list is a little strange. Six of the 20 nominees come from two schools: Appalachian State and Richmond. According to my literature, the Spiders only return four starters on defense. Three of the four are amoung the top 20 defensive players in the division?

The official CAA blogger has more details on the three plus LB Terrance Thomas of Villanova.

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J&B Scouting has a new Q&A Monday article up.

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Villanova has a 2010 Pump Up video on YouTube. It's good to be National Champion.

BTW, the Wildcats highlight film from their win over Montana here. Matt Szczur's touchdown run right through a Montana LB reminds me of the famous Bo Jackson-Brian Bosworth run-over.

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UMass loses a recruiting battle to Iowa as Danvers, MA native Mike Orloff commits to the Hawkeyes.

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Former UMass player and assistant coach Matt Dawson has returned to Fordham for his second coaching stint, this time as Defensive Coordinator.

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Catching up on the player countdown. Wearing #48 this year will be Dawan Nolton a 5-11 212 pd RS SO LB from Irvington , NJ. Dawan appeared in two game in 2009. Did not have a tackle.

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Wearing #47 for the Minutemen in 2010 will be Tom Brandt a 6-0 200 pd RS FR LB from Natick, MA. Brandt was redshirted on 2009.

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Today is forty-six days until the season opens. Wearing #46 for UMass will be Chad Hunte, a 6-0 205 pd SO LB from Brookline, MA. Hunte transferred from Northeastern. He played as a true freshman for the Pride and racked up 18 UT 15 AT 33 TT 1 INT.

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Recruiting 2011---- Anthony Fabiano

UMass is recruiting Anthony Fabiano, a 6-5 238 pd TE/DE from Wakefield, MA.

His Rivals page here. Fabiano is a Rivals two-start recruit.

His Scout.com page is here.

Roger Brown says Fabiano wants to stay in Massachusetts.

2009 YouTube highlight film here.

Fabiano has offers from Bryant and Harvard. He is receiving interest from Dartmouth, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse and UCLA.

Image from Scout.com

Saturday News ---- July17th, 2010

ESPN has a College Hall-of-Fame article that mentions Coach Mac and Milt Morin.

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The Summit League studies adding FCS football.

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This article on UMass' OOC opponent Stony Brook hasn't hit the Sports Network site yet. Stony Brook is a growing program that may fit in the CAA some day or be part of a new Yankee Conference with UMass, UNH, UMaine, UAlbany.

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Montana adds four transfers.

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Richmond's new stadium is almost completed. The stadium has it's own website, which is included in the article referenced.

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Today is 49 days until UMass football opens. Wearing #49 for UMass will be Galen Clemons a 6-2 225 pd RS FR DE from Danielsville, PA. He's a transfer from Central Michigan.

Friday News ---- July 16th, 2010

UMass-UNH tickets for the battle at Gillette Stadium on Oct 23rd go on sale to the general public July 20th.

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The Globe's Albert Breer scouts the Jets and mentions Vladimir Ducasse.

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The College Football Hall of fame has its enshrinement ceremony this weekend (includes bios of Coach Mac and Milt Morin).

The South Bend Tribune has a feature article on Coach Mac.

Matty Vautour has a story about Milt Morin, who was still a fan of UMass football.

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Josh Buchanan will have a Q &A session each week on his blog. Questions from the public will be included.

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There is a new Youngstown State Blog available. It's at http://letsgoguins.com/. I'm not doing a link because it has a flash script that my OS keeps complaining about. It you visit, you should probably turn off Flash.

If you're running FireFox, Sea Monkey or other Mozzilla web browsers, you might consider No Script, which blocks java script, flashlight and other scripts. It will make your web browser a lot more secure.

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This writer ranks the Big Ten's OOC and has UMass as the 5th "worse" game. The writer does not seem to know much about FCS teams. I think Southern Illinois has a chance against Big Ten bottom feeder Illinois (3-9 last year).

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Michigan's Big House could contain the entire population of the US Virgin Islands or it's the 5th largest city in Michigan on game day.



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Today is fifty days until football starts! Wearing #50 for UMass this year will be Josh Samuda, a 6-4 310 pd RS JR OL from Hollywood, FL. Josh has started in 22 of 23 games he's played in. Should start again at LG in 2010.

Thursday news ----- July 15, 2010

Ray Pendagast, who will walk-on for UMass this August, did well in the New Haven National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Classic All-Star football game .

I've blogged about Pendagast before.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network has another of his columns "In the FCS huddle: Matchups to Watch". One of them is UMass' opening game with William & Mary.

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Delaware's Pat Devlin is the only FCS/I-AA representative on the Unitas Watch List.

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Josh Buchanan has released his JBS Preseason Player-of-the-Year Award Watch List. The only UMass player to make the group is LB Tyler Holmes.

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Michigan has released the official 2010 Michigan Stadium Capacity: 109,901.

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Ex-Oregon QB Jerimial Masoli is still available.

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Today is fifty-one days until the start of the UMass season. Wearing #51 for UMass is Quinton Sales, a 6-3 280 pd OL from Fort Washington, MD. Sales is a RS SO. He played in two games in 2009 after missing the entire 2008 season with a broken foot.

Wednesday News ----- July 14th, 2010

The NCAA has an annotated 2010 FCS Vs FBS list here.

Speaking of the NCAA, they have a spiffy new FCS Championship page.

Thorr Bjorn will join the FCS Athletics Directors Association Executive Committee.

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Not everybody is happy with the new look of Michigan's Big House.

MGoBlog has a lot more.

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Montana DB Jimmy Wilson is back with the Grizzlies after an unusual layoff-----he was in jail accused of murder.

His story by the Montana Athletic Dept.

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Only fifty-two days until the 2010 season opens. Wearing #52 for UMass this year will be Bill Nesselt a 6-2 245 pd RS FR DL from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Nesselt was redshited in 2009. He was playing with the first team defense during the spring game.

Tuesday News ---- July 13th, 2010

Image by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Two more articles on the passing of Milt Morin. The Worcester Telegram here and the Cleveland Plain Dealer here.

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Jeremy Cain is featured in this article from the Jaguars site.

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The Walter Payton Watch list is up. From the CAA are Matt Szczur , Chris Whitney and Ben Ijalana from Villanova, Delaware's Pat Devlin and William & Mary's Johnathan Grimes.

Josh Buchanan has more on the Award.

The CAA blogger has a long article (including video) on the CAA nominees .
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Fifty-three days until football and wearing #53 for UMass this year will be D.J. Adeoba a 6-0 215 RS SO LB from Hollywood, FL. D.J. played in 8 games starting 1. He went 7 UT 6AT 13 TT 1 TFL. He was the CAA's Rookie-of-the-week against Kansas State.

Monday News ---July 12th, 2010

Nick Grabbe of the Hampshire Gazette has a story about the the passing of Milt Morin.

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I believe I've blogged before that Theo McCummings, the brother of Thad McCummings will walkon for UMass this year. The third brother, Scott McCummings is going to UConn.

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Richmond picks up a big (literally) transfer from Rutgers.

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First spotted over on Draft Daddy, there's a simple formula that predicts success or failure as a NFL QB.

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Josh Buchanan looks at his FCS Top 100 and how they did in the NFL Draft.

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In New Hampshire news, Lucy the tortoise is home safe.

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We had a real flurry of recruiting news last week and I was unable to keep up with the player countdown. Let's get going.

Wearing #60 this year will be Tyler Major a 6-0 280 pd RS Fr DL from New London, CT. Tyler was redshirted in 2009.

Giddens Rateau, 6-0 246 pd DL from West Roxbury, MA will wear #59 this year for the Minutemen. Rateau redshirted in 2009.

Today's countdown player David Ramsden, 5-11 190 pd RS FR LB from Florence, MA will wear #54 for UMass this ear. Ramsden won the 2009 team academic achievement award.

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Saturday News ----July 10th, 2010

If UMass is still looking for another QB, LSU's Chris Garrett is available. He was a top 20 Pro-Style QB in the country by both Rivals and Scout.com

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The Boise Hawks have a new outfielder----Villanova's Matt Szczur.

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Former UMass star Milt Morin passes away

Mass Live.com reports that former UMass star and NFL All-Pro Milt Morin died Friday at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was 67.

He was to be inducted into the College Football Hall-of-Fame next week.

UPDATE: Nothing from UMass or the Hampshire Gazette as yet. This article mentions Milt as one of "A good Hall-of-Fame Class".

UPDATE II Sunday: Two more articles (but not much new information) from the Boston Herald and CBS3 Springfield.

CBS3 has a copy of an image I found yesterday. The image below is available as a authorized print from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.


The caption says "Milt Morin leads Bo Scott on an eight yard gain against the Oakland Raiders" dated October 4, 1971.

Recruiting 2010 --- Jeff Skoog

A Scout.com image.

Sources say Jeff Skoog a 6-6 300 pd OL from Hudson HS MA/Salisbury School will walk-on for UMass in August.

Skoog was 2009 Team Captain and All-Erickson League. He was selected to the Northeast Vs New Jersey All-Star Classic but DNP due to other commitments.

His ESPN page here.

Scout.com page here.

2009 YouTube highlight film here.

Friday News ----- July 9th, 2010

Phil Steele's 2010 Preseason All-CAA team is here (pdf download). Five UMass players make the list. UMass' Emil Igwenagu and Tyler Holmes make the first team offense and defense respectively. John Griffin, Julian Talley and Josh Samuda make the 2nd team offense.

BTW, add Towson's Yaky Ibia ( 2nd team All-CAA) to my list of favorite sports names.

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Josh Buchanan writes on three FCS players (including Vladimir Ducasse) to sign NFL contracts recently.

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A Richmond-Times writer says UMass has struggled to win consistently in the CAA. He must have slept through the Whipple and Brown eras. UMass has winning series records with James Madison, Richmond,William & Mary and Towson...

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USC fullback D.J. Shoemate is transferring to UConn.

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Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards reportedly signed a $2.5 million deal with the Carolina Panthers.

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I saw this link over on the New Hampshire Football report. UNH's Scott Sicko is all football now.

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Recruiting 2010--Joe Angelo

The Boston Herald reports (scroll to end of article) Joe Angelo a 6-2 275 pd OL/DL will attend UMass in the fall.

Angelo was All-Middlesex conference.

He's #73 in the image. An Ann Ringwood/Wicked Local Staff image.

Recruiting 2010--John Grocki

Classicical's John Grocki intends to walk-on at UMass this fall.

He's listed as 6-2, 204 on coacheAid.com.

Image by ITEM/Owen O'Rourke.

Thursday News--- July 8th, 2010

Vladimir Ducasse has signed a four year, $3.5 million contract with the Jets.

Articles from the Stamford Advocate, USA Today, MassLive and New York Post.

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Craig Haley has another of his "In the FCS Huddle" articles featuring Bucknell's new HC Joe Susan. He also has some FCS tidbits at the end of the story. Delaware's frequently-injured Matt Marconelle has been granted a rare sixth year of eligibility.

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Joh Buchanan has "Five underated small school NFL prospects".

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I've blogged about this before, but UMass has an article on Matt Morin and Dick MacPherson will be inducted into the College Football Hall-of-Fame on July 16-17th.

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Wednesday News ----- July 7th, 2010

Josh Buchanan has posted his 2011 NFL Draft Preseason Team. UMass RB John Griffin makes the list.

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Former UMass DL and assistant coach Ben Albert is an inspiration for Patterson, NJ kids.

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Neal Brown gets a mention in this article profiling assistant coaches that will make an impact at their schools.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network has an article about "Transfers to watch". Mentions former UMass RB Korrey Davis and current Minutemen RB John Griffin.

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Vladimir Ducasse is mentioned in this NJ Jets preview.

Vlad has more coverage in Fanhouse's NFC East players to watch.

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Former UMass WR Jeremy Horne has a short question-and-answer session on Chiefs Links.

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I'll be back tomorrow with more recruiting news.

Recruiting 2011-- Chris Hutton

Hutton (left)

UMass has offered to Chris Hutton, a 5-10 181 pd WR/DB/KR from Haddonfield, NJ. Story here.

Hutton's Rivals page here.

2009 YouTube highlight film here.

He won the shuttle event and the overall at the Philadelphia Nike combine.

Hutton has offers from Temple and JMU as well. I-A's West Virginia and Rutgers also have interest.

Image of Hutton is by Kevin Minnick

Recruiting 2011-- Tyler Matakevich

CTPost.com reports that UMass is recruiting Tyler Matakevich a 6-1 195 RB/LB from St. Josephs HS in CT.

In 2009 Matakevich had 1,542 yards rushing w/20 TD's. He also had 515 yards receiving with an additional 5 TDs. On defense, he had 118 TT 3 SACKS 3 INT.

YouTube highlights here.

Also being recruited by Rutgers, Boston College, Fordham and Villanova.

Image by CTPost. Photographer not listed.

Recruiting 2010 ------- Ray Pendagast

The Stanford Advocate says Ray Pendagast, a P/QB from Shelton HS in CT will walk-on for UMass this August.

Pendagast was a Walter Camp All-Connecticut as a punter.

MaxPreps has him as 6-5 185.

Image by Christian Abreham/CT Post

Monday News---- July 5th, 2010

Some good news for UMass Football fans. The Providence Journal has quotes from the AD's at UMass, UNH and Maine about the CAA.

From UMass' John McCutcheon“We’re committed to competing at the highest end of FCS football. The CAA is probably the most competitive conference in the FCS, and we’re committed to the CAA. We understand there may be some challenges travel-wise. We’ll just have to increase our fundraising,”

Full story here.

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Three of Michigan's highly rated 2010 recruits have failed admission.

BTW, Michigan spent $226 million on upgrading their stadium. It's looking good.

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Neal Brown, who is in his first year as OC for Texas Tech, talks about a call from Mark Whipple.

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I've missed the player countdown over the July 4th weekend.

Wearing #63 for UMass is Kevin Byrne, a 6-4 265 pd RS FR DL from Mashpee, MA. Kevin was redshirted in 2009.

Wearing #62 for UMass in 2010 will be Brandon Flanagan, a 6-2 300 pd RS SR OL from Reading Mass. In 2009 Flanagan played in six games, starting two.

Today is sixty-one days until William & Mary and wearing #61 for UMass will be John Ihne, a 6-5 290 pd RS SR from Wayne,NJ. In 2009, Ihne played in five games, starting three.

Fourth of July 2010

Mrs. Blog and I would like to wish all UMass friends, Blog readers, and football family a "Happy Fourth of July!"

And a Happy Birthday to the United State of America, the world's oldest (and still the best), constitutional republic.

Image by Associate press/WWP.

Recruiting 2011-- Brian Dowling ---RB

UMass is interested in Brian Dowling, a 5-11 180 pd RB/Athlete from Wayne Hills, NJ. His Rivals page is here.

In 2009 Dowling had 2,012 total yards of offense, 27 TD's and 4 INT.

NBR Football has an article featuring him here.

YouTube 2009 highlights here.

UMass and Villanova are interested as well as Buffalo, Cincinnati, Duke, University of Miami, NC State, Penn State and Temple at the I-A level.

Image by Michael Karas/North Jersey.com

Friday News ---- July 2nd, 2010

The Maize & Brew Blog features UMass' John Griffin.

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Wonder if Peabody's Michael O'Brien would walk-on for UMass football this fall? Welcome to Isenberg School of Management, the Blog's old school----before it had its current name, of course.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network goes five questions with Grambling's HC Rod Broadway.

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Former UMass DL Malik Hall has been appointed as Defensive Coordination for Wagner. Hall was one of Hofstra's coaches that lost their jobs when the Pride folded their program.

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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have re-signed David Ball.

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The CAA Football blogger says Villanova's Matt Szczur will return to the Wildcats roster this fall.

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Sixty-four days until football. Wearing #64 for UMass this year is Nicholes Gottshall, a 6-3 315 pd RS SO from Woburn, MA. Nick did not see any game time in 2009.

Thursday News ----July 1st, 1010

Craig Haley of The Sports Network has an article about new Richmond HC Latrell Scott as well as some FCS news.

The article includes a item about the NEC releasing a news story concerning being in talks with Rhode Island about joining the league.
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released former UNH star David Ball.

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Josh Buchanan has a report on 2010 NFL Draft "Small School" signings. Clay Harbor of Missouri State received a $452.9k signing bonus!

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Michigan blogger mgoblog is producing a 128 page 2010 Michigan Preview magazine.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio is just passing through FCS football.

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Today is sixty-five days until 2010 football starts. Ryan McMakin, a 6-3 209 pd RS FR OL from River Vale, NJ will be wearing #65 for the Minutemen this year. McMakin took a red shirt year in 2009.

Wednesday News ----- June 30th, 2010

The New York Times says Vladimir Ducasse has a strong showing in the Jets training camp.

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Two UMass players (Tyler Holmes and Emil Igwenau) have been named to Phil Steele's CAA preseason All-League team. Josh Smauda, Julian Talley and John Griffin were named to the second team. The UMass athletic site has the story here.

Speaking of Tyler Holmes, his interception against Maine was voted one of UMass' top plays of the year.

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Old Dominion's first CAA game will be at Delaware on September 24th.

Another post by the same author talks about Rhode Island leaving the CAA.

Old Dominion HC Bobby Wilder talks about changes in FCS recruiting.

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Meanwhile, future CAA member Georgia State gets ready for their first football game.

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Today is sixty-six days until UMass football starts. Wearing #66 for UMass this year will be Anthony Dima, a 6-7 271 pd RS FR OL transfer from Hofstra. Dima has four years of eligibility at UMass.

Recruiting 2011-- Mike Orloff

Special thanks to the reader who sent me information about this post.

UMass has offered to Mike Orloff a 6-2 215 pd athlete from Lawrence Academy in MA. Orloff's Rivals page is here.

Orloff has offers from Harvard, Louisville and UMass.

Relevant quote from Rivals:"Thus far Louisville, Harvard and UMass are the three schools that have invited Orloff to join their programs. Louisville has offered him as a middle linebacker, while Harvard and UMass like him as a quarterback. Every other school has recruited him as an outside linebacker.

"I don't really have any favorites right now," he said. "I'm kind of just taking it all in right now. I'm going to start narrowing it down towards the end of the summer and make a decision before the season or after a couple of games."

Advantage Football camps bills him as the top QB in the state.

Image by Rivals.com

Tuesday News ---- June 29th, 2010

Vladimir Ducasse and the Jets may be close to signing his contract.

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Marcel Shipp will be sponsoring a football clinic in Paterson, NJ on July 10th.

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Thorr says URI wants to be playing football for another 109 years.

Craig Haley says Maine may be next.

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The Virginia Pilot looks at off season college workouts. Includes coverage of soon-to-be CAA member Old Dominion.

Ryan Whalen is a 205 pd WR for the Stanford. He can power clean 305 pounds.

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Today is sixty-seven days until football. Brian Ostaszewski a 6-5 300 pd RS Jr OL wears #67 for the Minutemen. Ostaszewski started all eleven games at RT for UMass in 2009. Looks as if he will be a fixture at that position for some time.

Monday News --- June 28th, 2010

UMass loses a transfer battle for former Cincinnati QB Najee Tyler. The 6-5 RS FR chose Youngstown state over Hampton, UMass, Appalachian State and Texas State.

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New Bedford's Jon Williams will play for Dean College this fall with the hope of eventually moving on to UMass or URI.

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Phil Steele is doing a FCS Top 25 daily countdown. His east regional magazine that covers FCS football is almost ready for release.

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The Toronto Sun (in between anarchist riots), speculates why a number of highly talented American quarterbacks failed in Canadian Football.

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I'll be back tomorrow with some more recruiting news.

Rhode Island leaving the CAA?

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports Rhode Island may be leaving the CAA in 2012.

The NEC allows forty scholarships and will be eligible for the FCS playoffs for the first time in 2010.

The Rams have struggled in the CAA. Last year they finished 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the league. This is bad for New England football, but at least Rhode Island will be still playing.

Saturday News----June 26th, 2010

Tickets for UMass-UNH at Gillette Stadium will be available on Monday. The ticket price includes parking, which is a nice perk.

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Josh Buchanan has expanded his list of "Top Small School NFL prospects" to fifty players. The only UMass player is Northeastern transfer John Griffin at #43.

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Matty Vautour has a UMass news post with several items relating to Minutemen football.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network looks at some spoilers ready to step up for the 2010 FCS season.

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The NCAA is moving to ban early scholarship offers. Key quote: "Some coaches in high-profile sports have extended scholarship offers to prospects as early as eighth grade, and members of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee voiced concerns about the ethics of such tactics at the 2010 NCAA Convention."

The NCAA proposal would ban scholarship offers before the student's Junior year.

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Today is seventy days until the 2010 season starts. Wearing #70 for UMass this year will be Northeastern transfer Greg Niland. He's a 6-5 305 pd RS SR OL from East Bridgewater, MA. Niland started at LT for the Huskies last year and should be a strong candidate to move into Vladimir Ducasse's spot on the Minutemen offensive line.

Friday News --- June 25th, 2010

Vladimir Ducasse remains unsigned by the New York Jets.

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Shannon James was released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

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Phl Steele has picked William & Mary, UMass' first opponent in 2010, as the #1 team in FCS.

According to a poster on AGS, UMass does not crack Phil Steele's Top 40:

1. William & Mary
2. Appalachian St
3. Villanova
4. Montana
5. Northern Iowa
6. Elon
7. Southern Illinois
8. James Madison
9. Northern Arizona
10. McNeese St
11. Wofford
12. SF Austin
13. Illinois St
14. Cal Poly
15. Delaware
16. Weber St
17. Richmond
18. South Dakota St
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Montana St
21. South Carolina St
22. Jacksonville St
23. Colgate
24. Penn
25. Liberty
26. Grambling St
27. Eastern Washington
28. New Hampshire
29. Texas St
30. Robert Morris
31. Samford
32. Eastern Kentucky
33. Central Arkansas
34. Furman
35. Harvard
36. Dayton
37. Chattanooga
38. Maine
39. UC Davis
40. Missouri State.

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According to the Virginia Pilot, FCS leagues including the CAA, are still worried about conference re-alignments.

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Off Topic: Five of John Calipari's players were chosen in the first round of the NBA draft.

Recruiting 2010----Ken Bates

A Worcester Telegram & Gazette image. Photographer not listed.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has an article on Kenny Bates a 5-11 QB from Bruncoat HS in MA. He turned down offers from several DII and DIII schools for a chance to walk on to UMass.

Bates was a Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super Team member last fall. Bates was also league offensive MVP.

Thursday News --- June 24th, 2010

The UMass website has another article on Liam Coen being appointed QB coach at Brown.

There are a number of UMass connections at Brown. Phil Estes, the HC at Brown worked with Mark Whipple at UNH. He as also interested in the UMass job when Whipple left. Estes has done a great job at Brown, winning three Ivy League championships (Brown has one only one in its entire history prior to Estes). Brown led the Ivies in total offense in 2009 and was 20th in the nation.

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Former UMass HC Bob Pickett was inducted into the UMass Hall-of-Fame.

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Craig Haley's latest "In the Huddle" FCS column features Robert Morris HC Joe Walton and also has news from around FCS.

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Former UNH QB Ricky Santos has been re-aquired by the Montreal Alouettes.

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More CAA football news from the CAA Blogger.

BTW an updated CAA television schedule.
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When guys don't have sports to keep them occupied department: Key quote "On Sunday evening, the 34-year-old men were sharing a few beers when they thought it would be interesting to shoot each other with an air rifle to see if it would hurt, or if the slugs would penetrate their skin."

From Dave Barry's Blog of course.

Wednesday News--- June 23,2010

Click on the image and Blogger displays a larger view.

As we all knew he would. Liam Coen joins the Brown University as quarterbacks coach.

Matty Vautour has a blog post here. I can't find the relevant blog post, but I believe Matty had a over-and-under bet that Liam would return to UMass as HC in about 10 years...

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The deadline for Michigan travel packages and tickets is July 12th!

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UMass loses a recruiting battle to UConn.

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Montana hires a consultant concerning its future in FCS Football.

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The Summer transfer season is in full swing. Richmond gets a OL from Rutgers. Youngstown State gets a QB from Purdue.

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Roger Brown talks local recruiting from Boston College's camp.

Tuesday News ---- June 22, 2010

Only one token FCS player each on the Nagurski and Outland Award watch lists.

The CAA Football Blog has a post on Villanova's Ben Ijalana being named to the Outland Trophy list.

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Saw this article about Notre Dame's strength coach over on Draft Daddy. Somehow I doubt that UMass' Coach "O" gets a couple of hundred thousand per year.

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Brandon London and James Ihedigbo make the pages of Vanity Fair.

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Add Hans Joerg Butt a keeper for Germany's World Cup team, to my list of favorite sports names.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network has a story on who will replace Armanti Edwards at Appalachian State.

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Seventy-four days until football. Wearing #74 for the Minutemen this year will be Stephane Milhim a 6-4 335 pd RS SO OL from Pembroke Pines, FL. Milhim played in seven games and started six at right tackle in 2009.

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Monday News--- Summer Solstice 2010

The Nashua Sports Legends Hall-of-Fame will elect former UMass QB Greg Landry this July 4th.

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The Hartford Courant's sports blogger does not remember UMass-UConn.

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The NCAA has made a couple of changes to FCS football Rules. Relevant quotes:

"The cabinet supports prohibiting institutions from providing accommodations to their student-athletes on the night before home contests in FCS football."

"Cabinet members sponsored legislation for the 2010-11 legislative cycle to increase the number of student-athletes allowed to practice before an institution’s first day of class to 95 in FCS football starting in 2011. Currently, FCS football teams may have a maximum of 90 participants."

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Today is Summer Solstice. Other holidays related to today are Litha (Norse/Anglo Saxon "longest Day"), Midsummer's Day and St. John's Eve.

Also there is "Comet McNaught" available if you are up before dawn. Binoculars will help.

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Today is seventy-five days until football. Wearing #75 for UMass this year is John Moran, a 6-4 315 pd RS SO OL from Salem, MA. Moran played in one game against Northeastern in 2009.

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Recruiting 2011--Taariq Allen

Roger Brown who writes a recruiting New England recruiting blog for ESPN says UMass has offered to Taariq Allen a 6-3 180 pd WR/DB from Weston, MA. He's a Rivals three star player.

Allen just picked up offers from Nebraska and Tulane. He holds offers from UMass and Wisconsin.

Sources say that it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Allen could end up choosing UMass.

I'm not sure of the credit on the image.

Saturday News ----June 19th, 2010

The Green And White Report features Vladimir Ducasse in this article.

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UMass 2010 recruits Mike Delaney and Matt Campbell get mentions in this writeup on the Shriners Football Classic.

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The latest edition of the CAA football Blog is up.

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Superbowl winning Coach Sean Payton played QB for FCS EIU. The Panthers are retiring his number.

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Josh Buchanan's updated Top 25 "Small School" players list.

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Blogger's comment count function at the bottom of each blog post is still broken. You can comment, but it won't show in the count.

Blog News

Blogger is having trouble with the comments count at the bottom of each blog post. Comments that I moderate approved appear in comments, but do not show in count.

Blogger help says they do not have a solution right now and they may not have one until at least next week.

So, if you make a comment you will have to try the post's comment section to see if it's there. You can't tell by the comment count.

Friday News ---- June 18th, 2010

Matty Vautour has an article about the UMass QB situation. Nice to know great minds run alike :) His thoughts pretty much mirror what I have said earlier. I think UMass will add a JUCO or transfer this summer.

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Craig Haley of The Sports Network write on how the Ivy League teams support each other.

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For those interested in Massachusetts HS football, the 37th Shriners game is tonight.

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Josh Buchanan's Top five FCS punters.

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Former UMass and Syracuse HC Dick MacPherson will be entering the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 (Lots of UMass references).

Speaking of Coach Mac, his grandson will be playing for Syracuse this fall.

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Seventy-eight days until football. In 2010 #78 will be worn by Sean O'Connor a 6-6 295 pd RS SO OL from Valhalla, NY. O'Connor appeared in two games in 2009 as a reserve lineman.

Thursday News---June 17th,2010

The Bleacher Report looks at FCS conference expansion.

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Matty Vautour has the news that Octavious Hawkins has transferred to Winston Salem State.

With only three QB's on the roster and Jesse Hunt a walk-on, will the Minutemen add a JUCO or transfer this year?

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The UMass JTAM mentions the football roster update:

Transfers

• Galen Clemons, DL transfer from Central Michigan, wearing #49
• Anthony Dima, OL transfer from Hofstra, wearing #66
• John Griffin, RB transfer from Northeastern, wearing Tony Nelson's #28
  
• Chad Hunte, LB transfer from Northeastern, #17
• Anthony Nelson, WR transfer from Hofstra, wearing #2
• Greg Niland, OL transfer from Northeastern, wearing #70

2010 Recruits

• Stanley Andre LB
• Manny Nascimento LS
• Colton Leary, WR
• Mike Delaney, RB
• Kirkland Nelms, DB
• Edward St.Vil DB
  
• Dominic Wooten TE
• Mike Helig DL
• Brandon Hill QB
• Antoine Tharpe DB
• Sean Campbell LB
• Ryan Young, DL
• Matt Campbell LB

That's the same as Feb 03, 2010 press release, so it looks like we did not have any academic or admissions office casualties.

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Eastern Washington's red turf installation now has a webcam.

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Josh Buchanan's:

• Top five FCS strong safeties
• Top five FCS kickers

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Seventy-Nine days until William & Mary. Wearing #79 for UMass this year is Vincent Westcarr, a 6-4 305 pd RSFR OL from Miramar, FL. Westcarr, a 2009 recruit, worked on the scout team last year.

Wednesday News ---- June 16th, 2010

The New York Post has a mention of Vladimir Ducasse in this article.

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OK, The Sports Network is reporting the 2011 CAA schedule I posted yesterday, so it must be official.

The 2011 schedule is also on the official CAA Football Blog.

Craig Haley has news about Butler and tidbits about the FCS division here.

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A quartet of former UMass players are in UFL camps. The Hartford Colonials have Kyle Harrington and Sean Smalls, the Sacramento Mountain Lions have Steve Baylark and the Las Vagas Locos have Marcel Shipp.

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Eighty Days until football. Wearing #80 for UMass this year is Nick Jablonski, a 6-5 220 pd TE from Assonet, MA. He was redshirted in 2009.