University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass travels to Villanova for top-five showdown
October 22, 2003 | Football
Oct. 22, 2003
Game Day Quick Facts The Teams: #5 UMass (6-1, 4-0 A-10) vs. #2 Villanova (6-0, 4-0 A-10) Date: October 25, 2003 Time: 3:30 p.m. Place: Villanova Stadium (12,000) Villanova, Pa. Television: The Football Network (Paul Crane, play-by-play; Jerry Glanville and D'Marco Farr, color; shown locally on Fox Sports New England) Radio: UMass Football Radio Network (Bob Behler, play-by-play; Bob Pickett, color; WRNX 100.9 FM, Holyoke, flagship) UMass Student Radio (WMUA 91.1 FM, Amherst) Villanova Football Radio Network (Joe Eichhorn play-by-play; Ryan Fannon, color; WZZD-AM 990, Lafayette Hill, flagship) Series Record: Villanova leads, 11-9
THE SERIES WITH VILLANOVA: Villanova holds a slim 11-9 lead in the all-time series which began in 1961. In the last meeting, UMass held off a fourth quarter come-back bid and secured a 17-16 victory in Amherst. The teams have split the last six meetings, with the visiting team winning just three of the previous 19 meetings in the series, and none since Villanova's victory in Amherst in 1978. The Wildcats hold an 8-1 advantage in games played at Villanova, winning the last eight straight. UMass' only road win in the series came by a 19-18 score in 1962. (A complete breakdown of the series between UMass and Villanova can be found on page 110 of the UMass football media guide, while scores from each meeting are located on page 116.)
MINUTEMEN OFF TO FAST START: UMass has started the 2003 season with a 6-1 record, its best mark through seven games since 1992. The 1992 Minutemen also began the year 6-1, on their way to a 7-1 start and a 7-3 overall record. This season marks just the 15th time UMass has recorded six wins in its first seven games as it has started 7-0 just once (1975), 6-0-1 four times (1924, 1931, 1963, 1990), and 6-1 on 10 occasions (1901, 1925, 1932, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1986, 1992, 2003). Additionally UMass has won five consecutive contests entering the Villanova game. Most recently, the 1999 team won eight straight, while the school record for most consecutive games with out a loss is 11 games set over two seasons. The 1924 team went 6-1-1 on the year dropping the opener and not losing til 1925 as that team began the season 4-0. Finally, the Minutemen are 4-0 in Atlantic 10 games so far this year, their best start in league play since the 1990 team began Yankee Conference play with seven straight conference wins.
DEFENSE IMPRESSIVE AGAINST THE RUN: The UMass defense has been outstanding against the run this season, ranking sixth in the nation by allowing opponents to average only 88.7 yards per game on the ground. The Minutemen have allowed a total of 621 yards and six touchdowns through seven games this season, but 235 of those yards and four of the scores came against Division I-A Kansas State. In games against Division I-AA opponents, UMass has given up only 386 yards and two touchdowns on 204 carries, for averages of 64.3 yards per game and 1.9 yards per carry. The Minutemen have also shut down two of the Atlantic 10 Conference's top running backs, holding Maine's Marcus Williams (115.7 yards/game) to 67 yards on 17 carries and James Madison's Alvin Banks (100.7 yards/game) to seven yards on four carries. DEMERS IS DA' MAN: Junior Rich Demers (East Boston, Mass.), who has seen time as both a fullback and a tailback this season, turned in another impressive effort this past week against Hofstra. Rushing for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Demers also caught five passes for 21 yards to total 160 yards on the afternoon. That performance comes on the heels of the top game of his Minuteman career against William & Mary. Demers rushed 26 times for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Tribe, while also catching three passes for 26 yards, en route to being named Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet award winner and the Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week. Through seven games so far this year, he now has 402 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries (57.4 ypg), in addition to catching 19 passes for 122 yards and three scores. Demers is in his first season with the Minutemen, after transferring from UMass Lowell, which dropped its football program in the spring. During the 2002 season with the River Hawks, Demers rushed 62 times for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
COSTELLO OFF TO IMPRESSIVE START: Junior cornerback Steve Costello (Kingston, N.Y.) has been one of the leaders of a strong UMass defense so far this season. In the win against Hofstra, he had an interception, a pass break up, forced a fumble and totaled four tackles including three unassisted stops. At William & Mary, Costello recorded seven total tackles with three tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup. In addition, he held the Tribe's all-time leading receiver, Walter Payton Award candidate Rich Musinski (197 career catches, 3,740 yards, 28 touchdowns), to only three catches for 30 yards. That effort earned him Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week honors. In the victory over James Madison, Costello forced a fumble to set up a Minuteman touchdown in the third quarter, while also making three total tackles. In the game at Maine, he had a 35-yard fumble return for a touchdown, in addition to making a pair of tackles. In the Kansas State game, Costello made seven total tackles and recorded a pair of interceptions, to become the first Minuteman to intercept two passes in a game since Jeremy Robinson accomplished the feat at Delaware on Sept. 22, 2001. In the season opener against Central Connecticut State, he led the UMass defense with eight tackles, while recording a sack and intercepting a pass, which he returned for 24 yards. On the season, Costello now leads the team with five interceptions, while also recording 35 total tackles. Over the course of his UMass career, he has 78 total tackles and nine interceptions, to lead all active Minutemen in career picks.
CAIN AMONG NATION'S BEST: Senior All-America linebacker Jeremy Cain (Tamarac, Fla.) is one of the top candidates for the 2003 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by The Sports Network to the top defensive player in the nation. Notching a pair of pass break ups in the win over Hofstra, he also had five tackles including three solo stops, one tackle for a loss and three quarterback hurries. In the victory over New Hampshire, he totaled eight tackles with a sack for 18 yards and a forced fumble. In the victory at Maine, Cain had 11 total tackles with one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. In the game at Kansas State, he led the team with 14 total tackles, while making two tackles for loss and breaking up a pass. Cain also totaled six tackles with a sack, two tackles for loss and a blocked punt for a safety against Central Connecticut State; made nine tackles with a tackle for loss against James Madison; and had 11 total tackles at William & Mary: notched a pass break up and four tackles including two solo stops and one tackle for a loss in the Hofstra win. On the season, he now has 64 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Last year, Cain led the team with 133 total tackles, including 97 solo stops, 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He easily led the Atlantic 10 Conference in solo tackles (no other player had more than 85), while ranking sixth nationally in Division I-AA with an average of 8.1 solo stops per game. During the 2002 season, Cain reached double figures in tackles eight times, including each of the final six games of the year. At the conclusion of the 2002 season, he was named a second team All-American by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, in addition to earning second team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Over the course of his career, Cain now has 320 total tackles, including 223 solo stops and 38 tackles for loss. He enters this week's game ranked seventh all-time at UMass in career solo tackles, while standing ninth in career total tackles.
WHIPPLE CLIMBS UMASS VICTORY CHART: Now in his sixth season as head coach of the Minutemen, Mark Whipple has a 45-24 mark while on the UMass sideline. With the victory over Hofstra last week, Whipple moved into a tie for second place on the all-time school list for victories. He currently stands next to Dick MacPherson, who posted a 45-27-1 record in seven seasons from 1971-1977. The school record for most wins is currently held by Vic Fusia, who posted a 59-32-2 mark from 1961-1970. Whipple has a career record of 117-57 in 16 years as a collegiate head coach, including six seasons at UMass (45-24 / 1998-present), four years at Brown (24-16 / 1994-97) and six seasons at New Haven (48-17 / 1988-93). In 2000, Whipple became the first Minuteman coach in 20 years to lead his team to three consecutive winning seasons. The last UMass coach to accomplish the feat was Bob Pickett, who led the Minutemen to four straight winning years from 1978-1981. Whipple is also the only coach in school history to win 20 games in his first two seasons.
UMASS ON THE 25TH: In this week's game against Villanova, the Minutemen will be playing on October 25 for the 19th time in school history. UMass enters the game with a 10-8 mark on Oct. 25, including a 3-1 mark in conference games and a 5-4 mark on the road. The last time the Minutemen played on this date was in 1997, when they posted a 40-9 loss to Delaware. The last UMass victory on this date came in 1986 at Boston University, 34-25. The first time UMass played on this date was in 1887 when the Minutemen loss to Amherst College, 10-0.
KROHN LEADS THE WAY ON OFFENSE: Now in his second year as the starting quarterback for the Minutemen, senior All-America candidate Jeff Krohn (Phoenix, Ariz.) has been nearly unbeatable during his time at UMass. He owns an 14-3 record in the 16 games he has played, including an 13-1 mark against Division I-AA foes and an 9-0 record at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Last week against Hofstra, Krohn threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns completing 20 of his 41 passes with no interceptions. At William & Mary, Krohn threw for 242 yards and a touchdown on 23 of 32 passing while against New Hampshire, he threw for a season-high 295 yards and three scores on 18 of 35 passing, including an 82-yard scoring strike to Jason Peebler that was the longest pass in school history. In the win over James Madison, Krohn threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 18 of 34 passing, while at Maine, he notched another pair of TD scores. On the year, Krohn has now completed 125 of 223 passes for 1,517 yards and 13 scores. During the 2002 season, Krohn connected on 152 of 287 passes for 2,032 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also leading the team with 1,957 yards of total offense. He placed sixth on the UMass single season list with 2,032 passing yards, which was also the third-highest mark in school history by a junior. Over the course of his UMass career, Krohn now ranks third in passing efficiency (123.3); fourth all-time in completion percentage (.543), touchdown passes (29), passing yards (3,549) and completions (277); and sixth in yards per attempt (6.96) and attempts (510).
MCKENZIE HAVING ANOTHER BIG YEAR: Fifth-year senior All-America candidate Anton McKenzie (Medford, N.Y.) continues to be one of the top players on the UMass defense from his strong safety spot. In the Hofstra win, McKenzie not only totaled five tackles, a fumble recovery, a pass break up and a quarterback hurry, but also ran for 31-yards on a fake punt marking the first offensive play of his career. In the victory over New Hampshire, McKenzie led the team with 12 total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Against James Madison, he led the team with 13 total tackles, with two tackles for loss and a pass breakup. In the season opener against Central Connecticut State, McKenzie recorded seven total tackles with one sack, in addition to recovering a fumble and returning it five yards for a touchdown. He also totaled six tackles with one tackle for loss and a forced fumble at Kansas State, while making nine tackles with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup at Maine. On the season, he has now totaled 58 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Last year, McKenzie ranked second on the team with 117 total tackles, including 85 solo stops, nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, seven pass breakups and one interception. McKenzie enters this week's game with 272 career total tackles, to go along with 27 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles and 17 pass breakups. He also has two career interception returns for touchdowns, tying the all-time school record.
EXPERIENCED LINE LEADS WAY FOR OFFENSE: The UMass offensive line has had a solid start in paving the way for the Minuteman offense this season, after returning three starters from last fall. The line has allowed the Minutemen to rush for 157.4 yards per game on the year, while supplying pass protection to let UMass throw for 221.7 yards per contest and surrendering only nine sacks through seven games. Leading the way is senior guard Carmen Collins (Syracuse, N.Y.) who has now started 36 career games over four seasons. Other Minutemen with a good deal of experience are junior tackle Rob Kane (Londonderry, N.H.) with 28 career starts and sophomore tackle Colin Stoetzel (Grafton, Mass.) with 14 starts. In addition, redshirt freshman center Alex Miller (Fairfax, Va.) and redshirt freshman guard David Thompson (Norfolk, Va.) have both started the first seven games of the 2003 season. Junior tackle O.J. McBride (Sunrise, Fla.), who has eight career starts, is expected to sit out the 2003 season due to injury.
JAMES HAS STRONG START TO SOPHOMORE SEASON: Sophomore free safety Shannon James (Stratford, Conn.) looks to have another outstanding season in 2003, while teaming with Anton McKenzie to give UMass one of the top pairs of safeties in the nation. He totaled seven tackles including six solo stops in the win over Hofstra, after ranking second on the team with nine total tackles and a pass breakup against James Madison. In the win at Maine, he recorded nine total tackles, in addition to making a key interception in the end zone. James also had nine tackles with one tackle for loss at Kansas State, totaled 10 tackles at William & Mary, and recorded six tackles and a pass breakup against New Hampshire. On the season, James now has 56 total tackles with two tackles for loss and four pass breakups. In 2002, he led the team with 10 pass breakups, while tying for the team lead in interceptions with four. James also ranked third on the team in total tackles with 111, while posting five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Over the course of his UMass career, he now has 168 total tackles, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups and seven tackles for loss.
MINUTEMEN NEAR TOP OF NCAA STAT LEADERS: Five Minutemen are currently ranked among the NCAA Division I-AA statistical leaders, through games of Oct. 18. Cornerback Steve Costello leads the way individually standing sixth in interceptions, while teammate James Ihedigbo ranks seventh with four picks. The rankings:
Category NCAA Rank Player/Team No./Avg. Turnovers Caused 2 UMass 3.7 Interceptions 4 UMass 2.1 6 Steve Costello 0.7 Rushing Defense 6 UMass 88.7 Net Punting 14 UMass 37.0 Turnover Margin 16 UMass +1.1 Receiving Yards 21 Jason Peebler 89.8 Punting 32 Christian Koegel 40.2 Points Responsible For 33 Jeff Krohn 11.4 Total Offense 39 Jeff Krohn 212.6 Rushing Yards 41 Steve Baylark 89.14 Pass Efficiency 45 Jeff Krohn 124.4 All-Purpose Yards 47 Jason Peebler 120.5
MINUTEMEN AMONG THE ATLANTIC 10 LEADERS: Several Minutemen are currently ranked among the Atlantic 10 leaders in various statistical categories, through games of Oct. 18. Cornerback Steve Costello leads the conference in interceptions with five (0.7 picks/game), while wide out Jason Peebler is second in the league in receiving yards (89.8 ypg). Tailback Steve Baylark stands fourth in rushing yards (89.1 ypg), and is also tied for second in scoring touchdowns (6.0 points / game) with teammate Rich Demers. Quarterback Jeff Krohn ranks fourth in passing yards (216.7 ypg) while freshman Lorenzo Perry stands fifth in on kick returns (21.5 ypg). As a team, UMass leads the A-10 in rushing defense (88.7 ypg) and sacks (20, 2.86 per game), has the second-best turnover margin (+8 at 1.14/game) and is third in fourth-down conversions (55.6%) having converted the second highest total, 10, in the conference. UMass is also third in net punting averaging (37.0 yards / punt).
KIMENER SOLID AT LINEBACKER: Senior linebacker Mark Kimener (Oakton, Va.) has developed into one of the top playmakers on the UMass defense, and is on his way to another strong season. Last week against Hofstra he led the team with a season-high 16 tackles including 12 solo stops. He also had a pair of tackles for a loss and forced a fumble en route to being named the Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week. In the win at William & Mary, he led the team in total tackles with 14, including one tackle for loss. In the victory over New Hampshire, Kimener ranked second on the team with nine total tackles, while also recording a pass breakup, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. In the win over James Madison, he made seven total tackles, and also posted his second interception of the season. Previously, Kimener totaled eight tackles with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup at Maine, while making nine total tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception at Kansas State. On the year, he now has a team-leading 66 total tackles, including six tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. Last season, Kimener ranked fourth on the team in total tackles with 93, including 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also recorded two pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two key interceptions. Kimener was also one of UMass' top defensive players in 2001 with 83 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks, and he is the only Minuteman to record over 80 tackles in each of the last two seasons. Entering this week's game, Kimener has career totals of 246 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, eight sacks and five interceptions.
MINUTEMEN AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: UMass took on its first Division I-AA ranked opponent on Sept. 20, downing No. 16 Maine 24-16 on the road and will face its second ranked opponent of the season as it travels to Villanova. The Minutemen played three games against ranked foes in 2002, defeating No. 2 Maine 20-10 and No. 4 Villanova 17-16, while falling at No. 18 Northeastern 42-17. UMass faced four ranked opponents during the 2001 season, defeating No. 15 Rhode Island 24-7, and falling 35-7 at No. 23 Delaware, 36-6 at No. 12 Hofstra and 37-7 at No. 20 Maine. Since the beginning of the 1998 season, UMass now stands 13-12 against ranked opponents. The Minutemen concluded the 2000 season with a 1-2 record against ranked opponents, while going 2-3 against ranked teams in 1999 and 6-3 in 1998. UMass' six victories over ranked opponents in 1998 set a school single season record. The Minutemen also stand 8-10 against ranked teams at home over the last 10 years, including a 3-8 mark against top 10 teams at home. Prior to last year's back-to-back victories over Maine and Villanova, UMass had lost eight straight home games to top 10 opponents, since a 43-29 win over No. 7 Delaware on Oct. 23, 1993. BROWER CONTINUES TO SHINE: Senior All-America defensive tackle Valdamar Brower (Florence, Mass.) looks to once again be among the nation's premier defensive linemen in 2003. In the win over Hofstra, he had six tackles including five solo stops, two tackles for a loss and a sack. In the victory at William & Mary, he recorded 10 total tackles, with a sack and two tackles for loss. Against New Hampshire, Brower made six tackles with two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. On the season, he now has 33 total tackles with seven tackles for loss, three sacks and eight quarterback hurries. Last year, while playing through injuries and facing constant double and triple teams, Brower recorded 53 total tackles, including 39 solo stops, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six pass breakups, 16 quarterback hurries and three blocked kicks. At the conclusion of the 2002 season, he was named a second team All-American by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, in addition to earning first team All-New England and second team All-Atlantic 10 honors. In 2001, Brower earned All-America honors from The Sports Network, the Associated Press, and Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, after leading the team and the Atlantic 10 with 10 sacks for 70 yards, to go along with 57 total tackles and 24 tackles for loss. Brower enters this week's game with 25 career sacks, to rank fifth all-time at UMass. He needs one more sack to tie Matt Tulley for fourth place.
VILLANOVA HEAD COACH ANDY TALLEY: Andy Talley is in his 19th year at the helm of the Wildcat football program. He sports a 131-73-1 record during his time at Villanova, including 14 winning seasons in his first 17 years. The all-time winningest coach in Villanova history, Talley led the Wildcats to a 12-1 record in 1997, and has guided his team to six NCAA I-AA playoff appearance in the last 14 years. Last year his squad advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament before losing to McNeese State, 38-29. Talley holds a 159-91-2 overall mark in his 24th year as a head coach at the collegiate level, including five seasons at Division III St. Lawrence.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS: Villanova enters this week's game with an overall record of 6-0 and a 4-0 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Wildcats are coming of their second bye week of the season, and are off to their best start since a 11-0 regular season campaign in 1997. Offensively, Villanova is led by sophomore quarterback Joe Casamento who has completed 143 of 199 passes for 1,481 yards (A-10 leading 246.8 ypg), 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Sophomore running back Martin Gibson has rushed 61 times for 426 yards (71.0 ypg) including four touchdowns. Gibson also leads the conference on kick return average (31.1 ypg). Junior Noble Champen, has 30 receptions for 359 yards (59.7 ypg) and four touchdowns, while sophomore J.J. Outlaw has totaled 33 receptions for 457 yards (76.2 ypg). Defensively, Villanova is led by sophomore linebacker Brian Hulea who leads the team with 77 tackles including 52 solo stops and a sack. Junior defensive back Raymond Ventrone is also a defensive force with 49 tackles including 34 solo stops, three tackles for a loss and a sack. As a team the Wildcats lead the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense (13.0 ppg), passing defense (151.8 ypg), passing offense (260.0 ypg), total offense (460.3 ypg) and total defense (285.3 ypg).
MINUTEMEN PUSH RECORD OVER .500 ALL-TIME: With the victory over James Madison on Sept. 27, UMass moved its all-time record over the .500 mark. The Minutemen enter this week's game with an all-time record of 493-489-51. Prior to now, the last time UMass had an overall record over .500 came following a 17-10 victory over Williston Academy on Oct. 8, 1887, which made its all-time mark 11-10-3. In fact, UMass was once 87 games under .500 (218-305-46) in its all-time record, following a 20-6 loss to Boston University of Oct. 31, 1959. Since then, the Minutemen have posted an impressive 275-184-5 record to get back over the .500 mark. (Thanks to Eric Gemunder of the I-AA College Football Weekly Preview for his input on this note.) FOURTH AND GO: Since the beginning of the 1998 season, UMass has made a habit of going for it on fourth down, So far this season, UMass stands 10 for 18 on fourth down (56.0%) including a season-high five conversions against Hofstra. The Minutemen converted 13 of 24 (.542) fourth down attempts in 2002, including three out of five at North Carolina State and two of three against Hofstra. In 2001, UMass converted 11 of 27 (.407) fourth down attempts, while it was successful on 23 of 34 (.676) tries in 2000, 23 of 37 (.622) attempts in 1999, and 21 of 37 (.568) tries in 1998. UMass has now been successful on 59.7 percent (101 of 169) of its fourth down conversions since the beginning of the 1998 season. By comparison, UMass opponents have converted on only 47 of 114 fourth down attempts over the last five years, good for 41.2 percent.
MINUTEMEN LOOK FOR BACK-TO-BACK EIGHT WIN SEASONS: UMass enters the 2003 season looking to post eight or more wins for the second straight season and the fourth time in the last six years. The Minutemen have only had eight or more victories in back-to-back years on three occasions in school history. The 1963 team posted an 8-0-1 record, followed by a 8-2 mark in 1964, while UMass posted an 8-3 record in 1977 and then advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA championship game with a 9-4 mark in 1978. The last time the Minutemen had consecutive eight win seasons came in 1998 (12-3 and the NCAA Division I-AA title) and 1999 (9-4 with a trip to the quarterfinals). All told, UMass has won eight or more games in a season 13 times in its history.
EXTRA POINTS: Villanova is the first of two UMass opponents who enter their contest against the Minutemen coming off a bye week. The other is next week's opponent, Northeastern who is idle Oct. 25th ... Redshirt freshman defensive back James Ihedigbo (Amherst, Mass.) was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week, after securing a pair of interceptions including one with 54-second remaining thwarting Hofstra's potential game-winning drive. Ihedigbo also totaled eight tackles including six unassisted stops, one pass break up and ranks second on the team with four picks on the year ... The Minutemen have scored 35.1 percent of their points in the second quarter and outscored their opponents 73-37 ... Against I-AA opponents, the Minutemen have allowed just 624 yards on the ground (64.3 yards / game) and two touchdowns. UMass has also allowed opponents to convert just one fourth-down opportunity while converting 10 ... UMass has registered at least one sack, one fumble recovery and one interception in each game this season ... Former UMass head coach Dick MacPherson, who led the Minutemen to a 45-27-1 record from 1971-1977, has been named the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's 2003 Man of the Year. MacPherson will be honored at the club's annual NFL Alumni Charity Dinner on Oct. 23 ... Senior linebacker Jeremy Cain, senior quarterback Jeff Krohn and senior strong safety Anton McKenzie are serving as the tri-captains of the 2003 Minutemen ... UMass has scored in 99 straight games since a 34-0 loss to Rhode Island on Sept. 30, 1995 ... The Minutemen have scored in 112 consecutive home games since a 17-0 loss to Holy Cross on Sept. 17, 1983.
