University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass to Collide With Rams
October 19, 2006 | Football
Oct. 19, 2006
It's Homecoming Weekend - alumni from all over the country will make their way to the University of Massachusetts campus for a nostalgic trip through Amherst.
They'll grab some Antonio's pizza, some wings from The Hangar, visit the bars in town, and stop by the Massachusetts football game on Saturday against URI.
Marching bands, cheerleaders, old friends, parents - all will be in attendance for Saturday's festivities. There's also a football game in the mix. Distractions are paired with the perks of Homecoming Weekend, but UMass coach Don Brown isn't concerned with the circus surrounding the game.
"We get isolated on Friday so I'm not worried about people being around," Brown said. "It'll be a good crowd on Saturday and to this point our guys have reacted any time we've been in front of a big crowd."
The Minutemen (5-1, 3-0 Atlantic 10) lost a 21-20 heartbreaker in front of a 30,000-plus crowd at Navy on Sept. 9. Quarterback Liam Coen came out of the gate firing and led UMass down the field for a touchdown on the first drive of the game.
So the weekend's potential distractions, Brown said, shouldn't be an issue, and the coach is looking forward to seeing some of his graduated players.
"All the guys that have worked for you over the years, it's good to see them," Brown said. "We will share some memories, and shoot the breeze a little bit. That's certainly a positive."
The Minutemen have not faced a stiff test in a while. Back-to-back 48-7 wins and a 35-0 blowout precede this weekend's matchup. UMass has outscored its last three opponents - Stony Brook, William and Mary, Towson - by a combined score of 131-14. The UMass defense is averaging a slim 10.5 points per game, the nation's third-best scoring defense, and will face URI's option offense this weekend.
"We've been really working hard, striving for balance, and taking care of the ball on offense," Brown said. "Defensively, I think the first quarter is the big challenge. If we can have a good first quarter, we should be in good shape for the football game."
The last time UMass faced an option offense was at Navy, when the Minutemen allowed 21 points against a high-powered running attack.
"[URI is] very similar in structure to Navy," Brown said. "[Rhode Island] tends to get a little creative with their sets and they throw the ball with more frequency. So you really have to pay attention to the pass time and spend a little more time getting your guys ready for the play-action pass."
Going on the road to face a Division I-A with one of the best running games in the country is a potent test for any defense. But Brown, true to form, isn't relying on experience to get his team through this week.
"You still have to go out and have a great week of preparation," Brown said. "[URI] can utilize that Navy tape as well to see what they perceive as weaknesses. You have to be ready to adjust from their scenario as well."
UMass leads the Atlantic 10 in six categories. The Minutemen lead in total offense and total defense, and they rank in the Top 10 in the nation in several categories. Coen leads the nation's seventh-best scoring offense. Coen also leads the nation in pass-efficiency rating at 184.78.
The Minutemen also lead the nation in kickoff returns - averaging 29.23 yards per return - and net punting with a 37.33 average. Although punter Christian Koegel leads the nation in net punting, he does not have enough punts to qualify for the statistical leaderboard. The UMass offense has simply been too good.
