University of Massachusets Athletics
Interviews & Photos All Around On UMass Football Media Day
August 14, 2007 | Football
Aug. 14, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass football team held its annual media day on Tuesday. Close to 40 members of the local and regional media were on hand to interview and take photos and shoot video with the defending conference champions and national finalists. The Minutemen debuted their new adidas uniforms as they took group and individual photos.
Coach Brown met with the media and here are his comments.
Coach Brown on following up last season's success:
We talked about it in our preseason meeting, nobody really cares about last year anymore, especially if you're an opponent of ours. Just as a year ago, if you live in the past, you die in the present when we came off the loss at Hofstra. It's the same thing now but the reverse side of the coin. If you live in the past and keep reading your press clippings, then you're going to die in the present. Kind of a reverse way of doing it but the reality is that last year is over. This is a new team trying to form its own identity, its own chemistry. I'm getting UMass effort, and as long as we're getting that I think we will be successful.
Coach Brown on position battles:
We are trying to solidify our offensive line, who is going to be that fifth guy. We've got some new faces in the receiving corps and trying to let that shake itself out. They are all talented guys and a lot of guys with experience as well. That's kind of an exciting piece. We are trying to work out our safety position on the defensive side of the ball. I think we have some very capable guys from a talent perspective. We are trying to find two replacements up front on the defensive line. Obviously special teams, a lot of jobs open there. Those go to guys that give great effort and pay attention to detail. So there's a lot to work out. The one spot that's very interesting and tough to overlook because he was around us for so long is Christian Koegel, our punter. Life was pretty good when Koegel was here. We've got Ryan Logan and Brett Arnold as the two punters and they are both in the battle for that job and getting better every day.
Coach Brown on how he evaluates and decides who starts:
I'm a big believer that roster comes from zero to 90. So I think it's just a matter of let the guys compete and the best player plays.
Coach Brown on the competition for the fifth starting offensive line spot:
I would have to say that Vladimir Ducasse would be one guy. We also have several young guys and to put one in front of the others would be a little early to say so. Vladimir is getting the first shot at it and we're hoping he is going to solidify it, but when you have young guys that are competing, Josh Samuda, Justin Sawicki, Brian Ostaszewski, and Tim Nolan, you never know. Those guys could get better by leaps and bounds, but if you pick one position in Division I Football that's hard to play as a freshman, it's offensive line.
Coach Brown on how this off-season was different:
Shorter. We lost some lifting time in the month of December when you are normally getting back into it. The academic rigors on the kids are much more difficult because they didn't have that month of December to catch up on back-work and those things. So there was a lot more pressure on the guys in the spring semester to do well.
Coach Brown on recruiting this off-season:
The recruiting, believe it or not, wasn't as much fun as you might think. A lot of kids commit by Christmas and we hadn't even been on the road. So it made our job a little more difficult. I thought the staff really addressed it well and we were able do get done what we needed to get done and fill the holes that we needed to fill. We are fortunate that we have several recruiting streams in I-AA Football and we try to use them all.
Coach Brown on transfers:
Jeromy Miles (Navy) was with us in the spring. He is playing really well. He is a big explosive guy, had a great summer. He stayed here all summer. Michael Meggett is an upper-classman that has ridden through the system and at one time was a transfer from West Virginia. He is playing really well. Spencer Ridenhour (Penn State) joined us just two weeks ago. He is a great kid and a great athlete. He is in the mix at strong safety and battling with Michael Meggett. Chris Pollard (Fort Scot C.C.) is also there. We got Keiron Brown from Toledo, who is a corner. He took a big step today. On the offensive side, we have Breyone Evans at fullback from Syracuse. He's much in the same mold as Tim Washington. I just think he is going to find a way to help us win. He can block, he can run a little bit, he's a pretty good pass-catcher, he's going to play all special teams. He said to me, "Coach, I just want to help you win." He's a graduate student and a very intelligent young man and a great role-model for some of our younger guys. Probably the most explosive transfer is Jeremy Horne (Syracuse), who is a receiver. I think you are going to hear his name quite a bit. He has a chance to be an explosive kick-returner. I'm kind of looking at him and Courtney (Robinson) back there and getting really excited. Chauncey Incarnato is another transfer, an offensive lineman by way of Notre Dame and Indiana. The jury is still out on him because it's early.
Coach Brown on life after Steve Baylark:
Steve Baylark's career here speaks for itself. Matt Lawrence is a little bit different, a little bit more of a home run-hitter with 4.4 speed. He showed it yesterday on a toss play where there wasn't a soul that was going to catch him. Tony Nelson is not as tall in stature, probably five-ten, about 217. He's a little bit more of a straight line, power guy. Between the two of them I think they complement each other well. We'll probably go as far as Matt and Tony are going to take us.
