University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Football Travels To Richmond
November 01, 1999 | Football
Nov. 1, 1999
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
The Teams: UMass (5-3, 5-1 A-10) vs. Richmond (5-3, 3-3 A-10)
Date: November 6, 1999
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: University of Richmond Stadium (21,319), Richmond, Va.
TV: None
Radio: UMass Football Radio Network (Bob Behler, play-by-play,
Bob Pickett, color, WHMP 1400 AM, Northampton, flagship)
UMass Student Radio (WMUA 91.1 FM, Amherst)
Richmond Radio Network (Bob Black, play-by-play, Ray Tate, color,
WRNL 910 AM, Richmond, flagship)
Series Record: UMass leads 9-6
Last Meeting: UMass 22, Richmond 17 (Sept. 12, 1998, Richmond, Va.)
THE SERIES WITH RICHMOND: UMass holds a 9-6 lead in the all-time series with Richmond, which began in 1984. UMass posted six consecutive victories over Richmond from 1988-93, but the Spiders have taken three of the last five games. The Minutemen have an all-time record of 4-3 against the Spiders in Richmond, including a 22-17 victory last season. UMass and Richmond met in the first game in Atlantic 10 Football Conference history on Aug. 30, 1997, with the Spiders posting a 21-6 win in Amherst. Today?s game is a non-conference contest, and the result will not be included in the Atlantic 10 standings.
SERIES QUICK FACTS
Overall UMass, 9-6 Whipple vs. Richmond 1-0 Most UMass points 51 (Sept. 19, 1987) Most Richmond points 52 (Sept. 19, 1987) Fewest UMass points 6 (Aug. 30, 1997) Fewest Richmond points 9 (Nov. 3, 1990) Largest UMass margin 28 (42-14, Nov. 9, 1991) Largest Richmond margin 17 (24-7, Oct. 13, 1984) In overtime Tied, 1-1
DEFENSE MAKES MORE PICKS: The UMass defense has forced opposing quarterbacks into a number of mistakes this season, making 22 interceptions in eight games. The Minutemen enter the Richmond game leading the nation in interceptions, and have a chance to break the school single season record of 30, set in 1978. During last week?s victory over Rhode Island, UMass picked off three passes. Sophomore free safety Jeremy Robinson (Syracuse, N.Y.) made the first pick, intercepting a Vince Nedimyer pass in the end zone late in the second quarter to halt a Ram scoring drive. Junior strong safety Brian Smith (Wilmington, Del.) added an interception in the third quarter, while junior defensive tackle Paul Bolden (Edison, N.J.) made the first pick of his career during the fourth period. Earlier in the season against Northeastern the Minutemen made six interceptions, tying the school single-game record set against Nevada-Reno in 1978. Redshirt freshman linebacker Corey Potter (Doylestown, Pa.) led the way with a pair of interceptions in the game, while senior linebacker Matt Dawson (Pepperell, Mass.), Robinson, senior cornerback Willie Hemmer (San Diego, Calif.) and junior defensive back Bill Barry (Bedford, N.H.) all had one interception each. The UMass defensive backfield also had a big day in the season-opener against New Hampshire, coming up with four interceptions. Senior cornerback Jerard White (Fort Washington, Md.) led the way with a pair of picks, while Hemmer and Robinson had one interception each. For the season, Robinson leads the team with six interceptions, while White stands close behind with five.
BANKHEAD BREAKS MORE RECORDS: Last week, senior All-America quarterback Todd Bankhead (Escondido, Calif.) became the all-time UMass leader in career passing yards and attempts. Bankhead completed 16 of 27 passes for 322 yards against the Rams, giving him career totals of 5,637 yards and 769 attempts. He broke the records of Dave Palazzi (1985-88), who threw for 5,402 yards and attempted 766 passes during his career. Two weeks earlier against Maine, Bankhead broke the all-time UMass record for completions. He now has a career total of 450, breaking Palazzi?s record of 409. Earlier in the season, Bankhead took sole possession of first place on the all-time UMass list for career touchdown passes. He hit Marcel Shipp with a 39 yard scoring strike at Villanova for the 39th touchdown pass of his career. He now has 45 career scoring strikes, breaking the old record of Peil Pennington, who tossed 38 touchdown passes from 1971-73. Bankhead also ranks first all-time at UMass in completion percentage (.585) and second in total offense (5,453 yards). For the season, Bankhead has connected on 147 of 244 passes for 1,718 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games.
DEFENSE BECOMES DOMINANT: During UMass? current four-game winning streak, the play of the defense has been the key to UMass? success. In the last four games, the Minutemen have allowed an average of only 11.3 points per game, while giving up an average of only 228.3 yards. No team has scored more than 19 points against UMass in the last four games, with three of the four teams being held under 250 yards of total offense. In addition, the Minutemen have forced 17 turnovers over the last four weeks, an average of 4.3 per contest. The UMass defense has been particularly dominant in the second half of recent games, shutting out three of its last four opponents in the second stanza. Delaware, Maine and Northeastern were all held scoreless after the intermission, while Rhode Island could manage only six second half points. During the three games in which it posted second half shutouts, the UMass defense allowed an average of zero points, 67 yards and one drive into Minuteman territory during the second half. For the season, UMass is allowing opponents 17.6 points and 321.5 yards of total offense per game, with a pass efficiency rating of 87.8.
WYNNE NAMED NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SCHOLAR ATHLETE: On October 28, senior offensive guard Mike Wynne (Somerdale, N.J.) was named a National College Scholar Athlete by the National Football Foundation. The distinction is reserved for the 15 best and brightest college football playing seniors in the nation at all levels. Wynne is the first UMass football player to ever receive the award, while also being only the third player in Atlantic 10 history to be so honored, and one of only three Division I-AA players to earn the award this season. Wynne will be awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and will be honored at the Foundation?s 42nd Annual Awards Dinner, held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on Dec. 7. Earlier this year, Wynne was named a Division I-AA College Football Scholar Athlete by Burger King. In honor of Wynne?s outstanding athletic and academic achievements and his commitment to mentoring the community?s youth, Burger King donated $10,000 to the University of Massachusetts general scholarship fund in his name. An official presentation was made to Wynne prior to UMass? game against Hofstra on October 2. A three-year starter on the offensive line for the Minutemen, Wynne carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.93 in Accounting, and will graduate in December.
ROBINSON CONTINUES STRONG PLAY IN SECONDARY: Sophomore free safety Jeremy Robinson is having another big season in the UMass secondary. Last week against Rhode Island, Robinson recorded an interception for the fifth straight week, picking off a pass in the UMass end zone to halt a Ram drive late in the first half. He also made eight tackles in the game and broke up three passes. The previous week at Delaware, Robinson made six tackles to go along with one pick. The interception was a key one, as it set up a field goal on the final play of the second quarter to help UMass to its come-from-behind victory. Robinson had four tackles and an interception at Maine, and made a team-high five tackles to go along with an interception in the win over Northeastern. He ranked second on the team in tackles against both Hofstra (10) and Toledo (12), while also making 12 tackles in the victory over New Hampshire. For the season, Robinson ranks third on the team in tackles with 66, including 40 solo stops. He has also made five tackles for loss, to go along with six interceptions and five pass breakups.
AYI CONTINUES TO PLAY WELL IN THE MIDDLE: Junior Buck Buchanan Award candidate Kole Ayi (Nashua, N.H.) continues to be the top tackler on the UMass defense and in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Against Rhode Island, Ayi led the team with 17 tackles, including two sacks for 21 yards and four tackles for loss. His performance against the Rams marked the seventh time this season he has led the team in tackles and the seventh time he has reached double figures. He also picked up 21 yards on an interception return against Rhode Island, after Paul Bolden intercepted a pass and lateraled to him. Following the game, Ayi was selected as the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week. A week earlier at Delaware, he led the team with 11 tackles, while also making a key interception in the third quarter to set up the field goal which gave UMass the lead at 20-19. Earlier this year, Ayi recorded 13 tackles at Maine, 14 stops against Hofstra, 15 tackles against Toledo, 15 stops at Villanova, and a season-high 17 tackles in the season opener against New Hampshire. He has reached double figures in tackles 15 times in his last 23 games. For the season, Ayi has totaled 104 tackles, including 76 solo stops. He has also moved into fifth place on the all time UMass list for solo tackles, with 221 during his career as a Minuteman. Ayi is only the fifth player in school history to make over 200 career unassisted tackles.
THE LAST TIME ? UMASS 22, RICHMOND 17 (9/12/98): Quarterback Todd Bankhead completed all five of his passes in the final drive, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Moore with 1:01 remaining, to lead the Minutemen to a 22-17 win over the Spiders in front of 10,219 at UR Stadium. It was another record-setting day for Bankhead, who completed 26 of 43 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first quarterback in UMass history to throw for over 300 yards in back-to-back games. UMass took a 13-3 lead into the half on a 38 yard touchdown pass from Bankhead to Adrian Zullo with no time left on the clock. In the second half, Richmond came back to take a 17-16 lead with 5:04 remaining. UMass went three-and-out on its next possession, giving Richmond the ball back on its own 47 with 3:45 remaining. That was when the UMass defense stepped it up. Khari Samuel stripped the ball from TyRonne Turner, and Jeremy Robinson recovered to set up UMass? final scoring drive. Several Minutemen had big days in the win. Kerry Taylor set career highs in receptions (nine) and yards (98) while Jimmy Moore caught six passes for 84 yards, including the game-winning touchdown. Adrian Zullo had another big day, collecting 131 all-purpose yards, including four receptions for 77 yards (and the 38-yard touchdown catch) and three kickoff returns for 53 yards (a 17.7 yard average). Marcel Shipp led the UMass ground attack with 99 yards, while also catching a 26-yard touchdown pass. On the defensive side, sophomore Kole Ayi recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including two tackles for loss and an interception. Richmond was led by wide receiver Muneer Moore (9 catches, 120 yards) and TyRonne Turner and Jasper Pendergrass who recorded 75 and 74 yards rushing respectively. Defensive tackle Marc Megna had a monster game for the Spiders with 3-1/2 sacks and four tackles for loss.
POTTER MAKING BIG PLAYS AS A STARTER: Redshirt freshman linebacker Corey Potter, a starter in each of the last four games, has come through with a number of big plays for the Minutemen. Last week against Rhode Island, he made eight tackles with a sack for 10 yards and a forced fumble. A week earlier at Delaware, Potter ranked second on the team with a career-high tying 10 tackles, including three sacks for 20 yards. All three of his sacks came in the fourth quarter, helping UMass come from behind for the victory. Following the game, Potter was honored as the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week and the ECAC / Budget Division I-AA Rookie of the Week. In the Maine game Potter totaled a career-best 10 tackles, while against Northeastern he recorded a pair of interceptions, while also coming up with one tackle. Potter?s second interception against the Huskies came late in the third quarter, when he picked off Jason Quinlan and ran the ball back 37 yards for a touchdown. Following the Northeastern game, Potter was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week. For the season, Potter now has 36 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
UMASS ON THE SIXTH: The Minutemen have an all-time record of 6-5-1 in games played on November 6. UMass won its last game on this date, defeating Richmond at McGuirk Alumni Stadium 29-24 in 1993. That contest also marks the only time the Minutemen and the Spiders have ever met on Nov. 6. In road games played on Nov. 6, UMass? all-time mark is 1-2. The lone road win came in the last away contest for the Minutemen on this date, with UMass downing Holy Cross 21-14 in Worcester in 1976. The last time the Minutemen lost on Nov. 6 came during the 1982 season with a 34-21 setback against Boston College, while the last road loss on this date came against Springfield College in 1926 (9-0).
UMASS AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: The Minutemen have faced three ranked teams so far this season, defeating No. 18 Delaware 26-19 and falling to No. 22 Villanova 26-21 and No. 6 Hofstra 27-14. Since the beginning of the 1998 season, UMass now stands 7-5 against ranked opponents. Last year, the Minutemen posted wins over No. 5 Hofstra (40-35), No. 20 Villanova (36-26), No. 6 McNeese State (21-19), No. 13 Lehigh (27-21), No. 2 Northwestern State (41-31) and No. 1 Georgia Southern (55-43). The 1998 losses to ranked teams were against No. 3 Delaware (33-30), No. 15 Connecticut (44-41 in overtime) and No. 9 Connecticut (28-27). UMass? six victories over ranked opponents in 1998 set a school single-season record.
ZULLO CONTINUES TO LEAD UMASS RECEIVERS: Sophomore wide receiver Adrian Zullo (Pompano Beach, Fla.) has been the top receiver for the Minutemen all season. Last week against Rhode Island, he caught four passes for 96 yards, while also running 49 yards for a touchdown on a reverse. The previous two weeks, Zullo had a team-high seven receptions for 83 yards at Delaware and four receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown at Maine. His performance against the Black Bears marked his second straight 100-yard game and third of the season. Against Northeastern, Zullo caught seven passes for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while in the Villanova game he had 11 catches for 125 yards, tying the school single-game record for receptions. The record was originally set by Tim Berra with 11 catches against Holy Cross in 1973, and was tied by Jimmy Moore with 11 receptions at Hofstra last season. Zullo also had a big day against New Hampshire in the season opener, catching five passes for 92 yards and four touchdowns. With the four scoring catches, he tied the UMass single-game record which was set by Jimmy Moore last season at Connecticut. Through eight games, Zullo has totaled 44 receptions for 689 yards and seven touchdowns, while also rushing five times for 102 yards and another touchdown.
SHIPP CONTINUES STELLAR PLAY: Walter Payton Award candidate Marcel Shipp (Paterson, N.J.) had an impressive performance two weeks ago at Delaware. Shipp rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 44 carries. The 44 rushing attempts are the second-highest single game total in school history (behind only Garry Pearson?s 45 against American International College in 1982), and also set a Delaware Stadium record. A week earlier at Maine, Shipp ran 30 times for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including an impressive 152 yards on only nine carries in the fourth quarter as UMass put the game away. The rushing performance marked the sixth 200-yard game of Shipp?s career, and his third-highest single game total. Following the Maine game, Shipp was named the Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Week, the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week and the WHMP / UMass Athlete of the Week, while also receiving the Coca-Cola Gold Helmet as the Division I Player of the Week in New England. Shipp had another 200-yard performance earlier this year, running 30 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns against Hofstra. For the season, Shipp has now totaled 1,144 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 236 carries, while also catching 35 passes for 190 yards and another score. He leads the team in rushing, all-purpose yards (1,334 yards) and scoring (84 points on 14 touchdowns), while ranking second in both receptions and total offense (1,144 yards).
SHIPP IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Only a junior, Marcel Shipp is closing in on the all-time UMass record for career rushing yards. Shipp enters this week?s game against Richmond with 4,442 yards during his three years with the Minutemen, needing only 183 more yards to pass all time leader Rene Ingoglia (4,624 yards / 1992-95). Three weeks ago at Maine, Shipp broke the all time UMass record for all-purpose yards, amassing 263 yards in the victory. He now has 5,520 career all-purpose yards, breaking the record of Garry Pearson, who totaled 5,277 yards from 1979-82. Shipp also had a school-record streak of 19 consecutive 100-yard games which began against Buffalo last year and was snapped during the win over Rhode Island. In addition, Shipp ranks first all-time at UMass in rushing yards per game (134.6), second in rushing touchdowns (35), third in carries (803) and fifth in yards per carry (5.5).
SMITH MAKES BIG PLAYS IN SECONDARY: Junior strong safety Brian Smith continues to show why he is one of the top defensive backs in the Atlantic 10. Last week against Rhode Island, he made 10 tackles while also recording his first interception of the season. The previous week, Smith had two tackles for loss among his three tackles during the victory over Delaware, while at Maine he totaled seven tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Against Hofstra, Smith ranked third on the team in total tackles with eight, while also blocking an extra point. He also ranked second on the team in total tackles against Toledo (12), Villanova (12) and New Hampshire (a season-high 14). For the year, Smith stands second on the team in total tackles with 69, including 48 solo stops. He also has seven tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and two pass breakups.
THE CLASS OF THE ATLANTIC 10: Since Mark Whipple took over as the head coach of the Minutemen prior to the start of the 1998 season, UMass has been the top team in the Atlantic 10 Conference. During the Whipple era, the Minutemen have an overall record of 17-6 (.739) and a 11-3 (.786) mark in conference games. For that time period, UMass leads all Atlantic 10 schools in victories and winning percentage, for marks including both conference and overall records. In addition, the Minutemen have scored 768 total points and 486 points against league foes over the last two years to lead all Atlantic 10 schools in scoring.
MINUTEMEN AMONG THE A-10 LEADERS: Several Minutemen rank among the A-10 leaders through games of Oct. 30. Marcel Shipp stands second in both rushing (143.0 yards/game) and scoring (10.5 points/game), and fourth in all-purpose yards (166.8 yards/game). Adrian Zullo is second in receiving yards (86.1 yards/game) and fourth in receptions (5.5 catches/game), while Todd Bankhead stands fourth in passing yards (214.8 yards/game) and fifth in both total offense (212.1 yards/game) and pass efficiency (124.4 rating). Jeremy Robinson leads the conference in interceptions (0.8 picks/game) with Jerard White ranking third (0.6 picks/game), while freshman Doug White (Claremont, Calif.) ranks first in extra point percentage (100.0). Kole Ayi leads the conference in tackles (13.0 tackles/game), while senior defensive end Chris Price (Boxboro, Mass.) leads the league in tackles for loss with 13. As a team, UMass leads the Atlantic 10 in pass efficiency defense (87.8 rating) and scoring defense (17.6 points/game), while ranking second in scoring offense (30.5 points/game) and turnover margin (+1.4 turnovers/game), and standing third in total defense (321.5 yards/game) and rushing defense (134.2 yards/game).
WHITE CONTINUES TO LEAD DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Senior cornerback Jerard White registered his fifth interception of the season two week?s ago at Maine, while also recording four tackles and setting a career high with four pass breakups. Last week against Rhode Island, White once again broke up four passes, breaking the UMass career record for pass breakups in the process. He now has 37 in his UMass career, shattering the old school record of 34 held by Garrick Amos (1986-89). Earlier this year, White made two interceptions against New Hampshire, while also picking off passes against Villanova and Toledo. His second interception in the UNH game was named the Compaq National Interception of the Week. White currently leads the team pass breakups (12), while ranking second in interceptions (five) and seventh in tackles (35).
ROBINSON, WHITE AND SHIPP NEAR TOP OF NCAA STAT LEADERS: Jeremy Robinson, Jerard White and Marcel Shipp head a list of seven different UMass players who are ranked in the NCAA Division I-AA statistical leaders through games of Oct. 30. Robinson leads the country in interceptions, White ranks fifth in interceptions and Shipp stands eighth in the nation in rushing.
Category NCAA Rank Player/Team No./Avg.
Interceptions 1 Jeremy Robinson 0.8
5 Jerard White 0.6
Turnover Margin 5 UMass +1.4
Pass Efficiency Defense 6 UMass 87.8
Rushing Yards 8 Marcel Shipp 143.0
All-Purpose Yards 11 Marcel Shipp 166.8
48 Adrian Zullo 124.5
Scoring 12 Marcel Shipp 10.5
Scoring Defense 16 UMass 17.6
Receiving Yards 18 Adrian Zullo 86.1
Receptions 28 Adrian Zullo 5.5
Total Offense 35 Todd Bankhead 212.1
Punting 35 David Sanger 39.6
Punt Returns 36 DeShon Hardy 9.6
Pass Efficiency 46 Todd Bankhead 124.4
UMASS IN THE RANKINGS: The Minutemen are currently ranked 20th in the nation by The Sports Network and ESPN / USA Today, and 15th by Don Hansen?s Football Gazette. UMass has now been ranked in at least one national poll every week since Oct. 5, 1998, when it broke into the rankings for the first time since the 1995 season. The Minutemen finished last year on top of the Sports Network, ESPN / USA Today and Don Hansen?s Football Gazette polls, marking the first time the Minutemen had ever been ranked No. 1. Here is a look at where UMass has been ranked so far this season:
Poll Sports Network ESPN / USA Today Don Hansen Preseason 2 2 1 Sept. 6 2 no poll 1 Sept. 13 2 2 1 Sept. 20 9 11 11 Sept. 27 16 16 14 Oct. 4 ? ? 24 Oct. 11 25 ? 20 Oct. 18 24 ? 19 Oct. 25 20 20 15
MINUTEMEN BRING IN ACADEMIC HONORS: A number of UMass players earned academic honors last season, led by offensive guard Mike Wynne, who was a GTE / CoSIDA second team Academic All-American. In addition, both Wynne and strong safety Brian Smith were named to the 1998 GTE / CoSIDA Academic All-District I team and the Division I-AA Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. Wynne and Smith were also joined by quarterback Todd Bankhead, junior wide receiver Steve Ley (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior defensive end Dan Schneider (Fitchburg, Mass.) on the Academic All-Atlantic 10 team, while a total of 27 Minutemen had grade point averages of 3.0 or higher during the spring 1999 semester. This year, Bankhead, Wynne and Smith should all be top candidates for Academic All-America honors. Bankhead entered the fall semester with a 3.33 grade point average in Sport Management, while Wynne has a 3.93 grade point average in Accounting and Smith carries a 3.31 grade point average in Computer Science.
MINUTEMEN TIE SCORING RECORD AGAINST HUSKIES: UMass tied the school single game records for both points scored and margin of victory in the win over Northeastern. The 77-0 victory over the Huskies matched the marks set in a 77-0 win over Wagner on Nov. 14, 1931. The Minutemen tied a school record with eight rushing touchdowns, equaling the mark set against Wagner in 1931 and tied against Cooper Union on Sept. 24, 1932. UMass also set a school record for most extra points made by kick with 11. In addition, four Atlantic 10 Conference records were broken in the game. The Minutemen set new records for points scored and margin of victory in a conference game, breaking the marks held by Connecticut in a 71-6 win over UMass on Oct. 13, 1956. UMass also set new league records for touchdowns and extra points with 11 of each. The old mark of nine touchdowns was shared by New Hampshire (vs. Maine on Sept. 25, 1993), Delaware (vs. Maine on Oct. 28, 1995) and Maine (vs. Boston University of Oct. 18, 1997), while New Hampshire and Maine shared the record of nine extra points from those same games.
ZULLO CLOSES IN ON RECORD FOR RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: Adrian Zullo, who is only midway through his sophomore season, has a chance to break the all-time school record for career touchdown receptions this week. Zullo enters the Richmond game with 15 career scoring catches, needing only one more to tie the record of 16. Jimmy Moore set the record last season, when he caught 16 touchdowns during his only season with the Minutemen. In only 22 games with UMass, Zullo now has career totals of 73 receptions for 1,168 yards, while also totaling 2,279 all-purpose yards.
LAST-MINUTE MEN: In its 23 games since the beginning of the 1998 season, UMass has seen the outcome decided in the closing minute or overtime 10 times. The Minutemen are 6-4 in those games, all of which were decided by six points or less. Last year, UMass defeated Richmond 22 17, downed Hofstra 40-35, topped James Madison 28-26, knocked off New Hampshire 27-26, beat McNeese State 21-19 and defeated Lehigh 21-19. The Minutemen fell at Delaware 33-30 and to Connecticut twice (44-41 in overtime on the road and 28-27 at home) last season, and lost 26-21 at Villanova earlier this year.
DEFENSE DOMINATES NORTHEASTERN: The UMass defense turned in one of its finest performances of all-time in the victory over Northeastern. The Minutemen shut out the Huskies while allowing only 72 total yards on the day. In fact, the Huskies managed to cross midfield only once in the game, advancing to the UMass 47-yard line on their second possession of the game. But on its only snap inside UMass territory, Northeastern was forced to punt. The Minutemen also intercepted six passes in the game, while forcing the Huskies into eight total turnovers. Thanks to those turnovers, the offense had an average starting field position of the Northeastern 47-yard line. The shutout was the first by the Minutemen since Sept. 16, 1995, when UMass downed Holy Cross 51-0 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The 72 yards of total offense are the third fewest the Minutemen have ever surrendered, ranking behind only a 27-0 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 13, 1982 (67 total yards) and a 42-0 victory over American International College on Nov. 9, 1963 (70 total yards). UMass also held the Huskies to -11 rushing yards and an average of -0.65 yards per carry, the fourth lowest average rushing gain the Minutemen have ever allowed (the record of 1.48 was set against Maine in 1963 and matched against North Carolina Central in 1979). In addition, the six interceptions tied the school record set against Nevada-Reno on Dec. 9, 1978.
UMASS FOOTBALL ON THE RADIO: All University of Massachusetts football games can be heard live on the UMass Football Radio Network, with WHMP 1400 AM (Northampton) serving as the flagship station. Bob Behler has taken over as the play-by-play announcer this season, while former UMass head coach Bob Pickett is in his second year as color analyst. The list of affiliates on the UMass Radio Network includes WXKS 1430 AM (Boston), WGAM 1520 AM (Greenfield), WUHN 1110 AM (Pittsfield) and WNEB 1230 AM (Worcester). In addition, WMUA 91.1 FM, the UMass student station, will carry most Minuteman football games during the 1999 season.
THE MARK WHIPPLE SHOW: Head coach Mark Whipple?s weekly radio show, ?The Mark Whipple Show,? is on live from Rafter?s Sports Bar & Restaurant in Amherst each Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. during the season on WHMP 1400 AM. Bob Behler serves as the show?s host. The show is open to the general public.
COACH?S CORNER WITH MARK WHIPPLE: Every Sunday night at 11:30 p.m., the Coach?s Corner with Mark Whipple can be seen on WGGB TV, channel 40 in Springfield. The short segment, which runs at the tale end of the Sunday night news, features highlights from Saturday?s game and a look ahead to the next week?s opponent. The show will run through the end of UMass? season.
UMASS FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: The Minutemen are making a total of five television appearances during the 1999 season. The final television appearance will come against UConn, with CPTV carrying the game in Connecticut. UMass? first four televised games this year came against New Hampshire, Hofstra, Maine and Delaware. The New Hampshire game was carried by the Atlantic 10 Television Network and was shown on Fox Sports New England and WBGN TV (Pittsburgh, Pa.), while the Hofstra game was carried by Fox Sports New York. The Maine game was shown on WABI TV (Bangor) and WPME TV (Portland) in Maine, and the Delaware game, which was carried by the A-10 Network, was shown by Fox Sports New England, Comcast SportsNet, Home Team Sports, WBGN TV (Pittsburgh) and WDRL TV (Roanoke, Va.). The Minutemen have a record of 7-1 in televised games since the beginning of the 1998 season. Last year UMass defeated Hofstra, Rhode Island, Lehigh and Georgia Southern.
ABOUT THE SPIDERS: Richmond enters this week?s game with an overall record of 5-3 and a 3 3 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Spiders are currently on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Rhode Island (41-38), Hofstra (31-21) and Connecticut (28-21). Richmond has one of the top rushing attacks in the Atlantic 10 Conference, ranking third in the league with an average of 196.9 yards per game. Senior quarterback Jimmie Miles leads the balanced ground attack with 146 carries for 552 yards and 10 scores, while junior tailback TyRonne Turner has rushed for 425 yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries. Miles has also completed 105 of 195 passes on the year for 1524 yards and 16 touchdowns with only six interceptions, and ranks second in the conference in pass efficiency rating at 140.4. The top receiver for the Spiders has been senior Dwaune Jones, who has caught 42 passes for 619 yards and eight scores. Sophomore strong safety David Giles leads the Richmond defense with 77 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups, while junior linebacker Mac Janney ranks second on the team with 74 tackles.
RICHMOND HEAD COACH JIM REID: Former UMass head coach Jim Reid is in his fifth season at the helm of the Richmond football program. The 1995 Yankee Conference Co-Coach of the Year and 1998 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year, Reid sports a 29-23-1 mark during his time with the Spiders. Last year, he led Richmond to the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA playoff appearance, posting an overall record of 9-3. Prior to his time with the Spiders, Reid coached at UMass for 19 years and served as head coach from 1986-91, compiling a 36-29-2 record in that span and leading the Minutemen to three Yankee Conference titles and two NCAA playoff appearances. He served as defensive coordinator at Boston College in 1994 and at Richmond in 1992 and ?93. Reid was an assistant at UMass from 1973-85 under Dick MacPherson, Bob Pickett and Bob Stull. He sports an overall mark of 65-52-3 in 11 years as a collegiate head coach.
THE UMASS-RICHMOND CONNECTION: In addition to head coach Jim Reid, several other Richmond staffers have close ties to the University of Massachusetts. Richmond defensive ends and outside linebackers coach Ben Albert was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Minutemen (1991-94), earning first team All-Yankee Conference and second team All-ECAC honors at defensive tackle. He was a team co-captain in 1994 and recorded 187 tackles and 14 sacks during his career with the Minutemen. The Spiders? tight ends coach, Bill Durkin, was a four-year letterwinner (1989-90, 92-93) at offensive guard for UMass and also served as a co captain in both 1992 and ?93. A member of the Yankee Conference?s 50th anniversary all-time team, Durkin earned All-America honors in 1993 and was named All-Yankee Conference twice. In addition, Richmond offensive coordinator Larry McElreavy served as tight ends coach at UMass in 1990 and ?91.
MINUTEMEN TAKE ON I-A FOE FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER 10 YEARS: When UMass faced Toledo earlier this year, it marked the first game for the Minutemen against a Division I-A foe since the 1988 season. Prior to the 24-3 loss to the Rockets, UMass? last game against a I-A team came when Ball State posted a 44-17 victory over the Minutemen in Muncie, Ind., on Sept. 17, 1988. Since Division I-AA was formed in 1978, UMass now has a record of 8-12 against I-A foes, with the last victory being a 26-10 triumph over Ball State on Sept. 1, 1984, at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
EXTRA POINTS: The Richmond game marks the first of two straight weeks in which junior tailback Troy Lockman (Newport News, Va.) will play in his home state of Virginia. Lockman attended Denbigh H.S. ? UMass has an all-time record of 6-7 in games played in Virginia ? Redshirt freshman linebacker Corey Potter and redshirt freshman tight end Greg Ward (Doylestown, Pa.) attended the same high school (Central Bucks West) as three Richmond freshmen: running back David Edwards, offensive lineman Joe Wilson and tight end Jon Wilson ? The Minutemen have fumbled nine times this season, and only lost the ball three times. UMass has not fumbled at all in its last two games, and has not lost a fumble in its last five games ? A number of UMass players saw game action for the first time in their collegiate career during the victory over Northeastern on Oct. 9. Two players who made the most of their appearances were sophomore defensive end Joel Sarapin (East Brunswick, N.J.) and junior defensive back Bill Barry. Sarapin recorded three sacks during the final quarter of the game, while Barry came up with an interception on the game?s final play.
