University of Massachusets Athletics
Battle For Massachusetts Pits Unbeatens: UMass at Boston College
September 24, 2007 | Football
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#2/2 FCS UMASS (4-0) at #12/11 FBS BOSTON COLLEGE (4-0)
Saturday, September 29, 2007 • 1 P.M.
Alumni Stadium (44,500/FieldTurf)
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
ESPN360 (Frank Giardina & Ron Brown)
Radio: WRNX (100.9 FM - Flagship)
WCRN (830 AM), WATD (95.9 FM) • UMASSATHLETICS.com
Battle For Massachusetts Pits Unbeatens: UMass at BC
• In what may be the biggest game between Massachusetts commonwealth opponents, a pair of 4-0 teams meet on Saturday when UMass makes the 90-minute trip east to take on Boston College. The Minutemen are ranked No. 2 in both FCS polls of the Sports Network (media) and the FCS Coaches after a 38-7 beating of Maine last Saturday in Orono. The Eagles are ranked No. 12 in the AP writers poll and No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll after a 37-17 win over Army last Saturday. In facing Boston College, UMass is facing its second-highest FBS-ranked team ever. The Minutemen lost at No. 7 Kansas State in 2003.
• The teams will kickoff for the 22nd time in history, just after 1 p.m. on ESPN360 with Frank Giardina and Ron Brown calling the action. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the UMass Sports Network with Bob Behler returning for his ninth year as "Voice of the Minutemen." Former kicker Matt Goldstein will handle the color commentary. The pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m. on WRNX (100.9 FM), the flagship of the network. The game can also be heard live online at UMassAthletics.com. Fans wishing to listen to the game at the stadium, can tune into 96.5 FM to hear the UMass audio feed.
• The Minutemen are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1986. The Minutemen lost their fifth game that season, 41-13 to Delaware. The last time UMass was 5-0 to start the year was 1975, when the Minutemen began 8-0. UMass is off to the best offensive start in school history, scoring more than 35 points in each of the first four games for the first time in the 125 years of UMass football. Only once before, in 1931, did UMass scored more than 30 in each of the first four games.
UMass Vs. FBS Teams
• The game marks the eighth time in nine years UMass has taken on n Football Bowl Subdivision (former Division I-A) team. In each of the last two years, UMass has played a service academy, losing close games on both occasions. The Minutemen dropped a narrow, 21-20 game at Navy last Sept. 9, 2006. In 2005, the Minutemen battled Army to the very end before they dropped a 34-27 decision to the Cadets on Nov. 12. In 2004, UMass traveled across state to face Boston College and fell to the Eagles, 29-7 on Oct. 2, 2004. Four seasons ago, the Minutemen traveled to then-No. 7 Kansas State and lost 38-7 on Sept. 13, 2003. In 2002, UMass dropped a 56-24 decision at No. 17 NC State, while in 2001 it played at Marshall, falling 49-20. In 1999, the Minutemen played at Toledo, when they lost 24-3. Prior to that, UMass had not played a I-A school since Sept. 17, 1988, when it dropped a 44-17 decision to Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
• Since FCS (Division I-AA) was formed in 1978, UMass has a record of 8-18 against I-A foes, with the last victory being a 26-10 triumph over Ball State on Sept. 1, 1984, at home at McGuirk Stadium. Every game the Minutemen have played against Division I-A schools since the beginning of the 1978 season is listed in the chart. (Note: Dartmouth, Harvard, Holy Cross and Villanova are former Division I-A members which now compete in Division I-AA).
Big Crowds Watch UMass
• With a sellout crowd of 44,500 at Alumni Stadium, this week's game should feature the third-largest crowd ever to witness a UMass football game.
• The current record stands at 51,221, set on Sept. 28, 2002, at NC State. The second largest crowd to see the Minutemen play came in 2003 when 46,102 watched the game at Kansas State. Third on the list came in 2004 when 43,262 watched the UMass at Boston College game in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Fifth on the list is 30,846, which came on Nov. 19, 1977, at Boston College.
Brown's Wins Over FBS Teams
• UMass coach Don Brown has defeated two FBS teams -- both as head coach at Northeastern. He led the Huskies to a 30-27 over UConn on Sept. 23, 2000. Brown also coached Northeastern to a 31-0 win at Ohio University on Sept. 7, 2002.
FCS Teams Picking Up Wins Over FBS
• 2007 certainly has been a year of the upset for the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). Through the first four weeks, there have been seven upsets of Football Bowl Subdivision teams, most notably Appalachian State defeating then No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor, 34-32 on Sept. 1. That marked the first time an FCS team defeated a ranked FBS team. UMass could become the second team to pull off such a momentous feat. From the CAA Football conference, New Hampshire defeated Marshall two weeks ago, 48-35 on Sept. 15.
• In 2007, FBS teams are 51-7 against FCS teams. The other wins by FCS teams over FBS teams in 2007 are: Nicholls State over Rice (16-14), Northern Iowa over Iowa State (21-13), Southern Illinois over Northern Illinois (34-31), McNeese State over UL-Lafeyette (38-17) and last weekend North Dakota State over Central Michigan (44-17).
• The CAA (formerly Atlantic) has at least two wins over FBS teams in four of the last five years. UMass is seeking to join New Hampshire in 2007.
• Last season, six FCS teams beat FBS teams: New Hampshire (beat Northwestern), Montana State (beat Colorado), Portland State (beat New Mexico), Cal Poly (beat San Diego State), Southern Illinois (beat Indiana) and Richmond (beat Duke) pulled off the feats. In 2005, the only win for FCS came as Northwestern State beat La-Monroe, 27-23 on Sept. 1, 2005.
• Back in 2004, three FCS teams beat FBS teams including two from the powerful Atlantic 10 (now CAA). Maine beat Mississippi State, 9-7 and New Hampshire beat Rutgers, 35-24. The other win for an FCS school was Eastern Illinois, who beat Eastern Michigan, 31-28.
The Series UMass Vs. Boston College
• Boston College holds a 16-5 lead in the all-time series with UMass which dates back to 1900. Boston College includes a game in 1899 which is not accounted for by UMass records. The Eagles have won the last five games and 10 of the last 11 overall.
• The Eagles have won all nine games at Alumni Stadium including the last game, a 29-7 victory on Oct. 2, 2004. Prior to that, the teams had not played since 1982, when BC captured a 34-21 decision on Nov. 6, 1982. UMass last beat BC in 1978, winning 27-0 in Amherst. The teams played every season from 1966-1982.
Connections Of Note Between UMass/BC
• With two teams separated by 90 miles there are several connections between the teams.
• UMass cornerback Reshaude Goodwin (Natick, Mass.) transferred from Boston College during training camp this past summer. Goodwin redshirted at BC last season and has played on special teams in three games this season.
• UMass Athletic Director John McCutcheon worked at Boston College for 12 years from 1980-92 in a variety of roles before leaving his post as Associate Athletic Director for business operations to take over as the Athletic Director at Cal Poly in 1992. McCutcheon returned to Massachusetts, taking over the Minutemen's operation in 2004. His daughter Molly is a freshman at Boston College.
• Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo graduated from Springfield College in 1973, just south of UMass' campus in Amherst. He is a native of Northampton, just across the river from Amherst. Additionally, he has ties to UMass men's basketball coach Travis Ford, having worked at Kentucky during Ford's playing career, as an Associate Athletic Director.
• Boston College's linebackers coach Bill McGovern coached at UMass as defensive coordinator in 1992-93 and as the secondary coach from 1987-90.
• UMass quarterback Liam Coen has connections to BC as his grandfather Philip Coen played football for the Eagles from 1947-51.
Coen On Payton List; Hatchell On Buck List
• UMass junior quarterback Liam Coen and senior linebacker Jason Hatchell are among the top candidates for the most prestigious awards in Football Championship Subdivision in 2007. Coen is one of 16 candidates for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the former I-AA level. Hatchell is one of 16 candidates for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player.
Coen Re-Writing UMass Record Book
• Junior quarterback Liam Coen has emerged as one of the top signal callers in the nation. The three-year starter is in the midst of re-writing the UMass passing record book. After just two seasons with the Minutemen, Coen was listed on more than 30 passing lists for career, single-season and single-game.
• Coen is UMass' career leader in pass efficiency (151.55), completion percentage (65.0), yards per attempt (8.53) and total yards per play (8.53). Through four games, Coen is 67-of-98 for 814 yards with nine touchdowns and a 68.4 completion percentage. Over his last two games, Coen is completing passes at a 78 percent clip (31-of-40). With his 272 passing yards against Holy Cross (9/1) in the opener, Coen moved to second in career passing yards and now has 6,005 to become UMass' second 6,000-yard passer. Coen needs 1,013 yards to set the all-time mark held by Todd Bankhead (7,018). Coen also moved to second in career completions vs. Holy Cross. He now has 459. Only Bankhead (561) has more.
• With his nine TDs this season including his second-career four-TD game at Colgate (9/8), Coen is second on the career TD passing list. Bankhead tops that list as well with 51.
• When looking at the career numbers among all active NCAA quarterbacks, Coen ranks in the top eight in eighth categories. He is second in career total offense yards per play (7.61), fourth in career pass efficiency (151.55), fourth in completion percentage (65.0) and seventh in passing yards per game (207.1).
• This season, Coen ranks third in the CAA and 11th in the NCAA in passing efficiency with a 160.28 mark. He was sixth last year in the NCAA after leading most of the season.
• The Rhode Island native has started the last 28 games in a row with UMass holding a 23-5 record in those games since he drew his first start against Albany on Sept. 17, 2005.
• Last year, Coen was 217-of-334 for 3016 yards with 26 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in 15 games. He had a sparkling 65.0 completion percentage. His season marks ranked on the UMass all-time single-bests as follows: completion percentage (first), pass efficiency (first), yards (third), completions (fourth), touchdowns (third).
• Coen tied the UMass record for TD passes in a game with five at Towson (10/14). He completed 21-of-27 for 303 yards. His huge game led to numerous honors: New England Football Writers Golden Helmet, A-10 Offensive Player of the Week and the I-AA.org Weekly All-Stars of the four best players in the nation.
A Defense That Won't Be Denied
• UMass has had one of the nation's top defense over the last two seasons. Over 26 games in 2005-06 the Minutemen allowed just 13.3 points per game. UMass ranked first in the nation in scoring defense for most of last season until the NCAA final, when they gave up 28 points to National Champ Appalachian State. UMass finished fifth in the country in scoring defense in 2006 after being first in 2005.
• Since week one (when they allowed 30 points to Holy Cross), UMass has allowed just 37 total points (12.3 per game). After a slow start to begin 2007, UMass buckled down starting with the second half at Colgate (9/8) of Week 2. The Minutemen allowed just seven points and limited the Raiders to just 82 total yards in the final 30 minutes. Most impressively, Colgate's All-American tailback Jordan Scott was held to just 11 yards in the second half after 92 in the first 30 minutes.
• In the win over Towson (9/15), UMass limited the Tigers to just 22 yards on the ground while piling up five sacks and three interceptions.
• Again at Maine (9/22), the defense was stellar with its best defensive showing, limiting the Black Bears to just seven points and a total of 243 net yards. Through the air, Maine only had 67 yards passing. It was the seventh time in 19 games, that UMass held an opponent to single-digits.
• Last season, six of UMass' 15 opponent were held to single-digits, most recently allowing nine against Maine (11/11). UMass blanked Towson, 35-0, on Oct. 14, for the first shutout by the Minutemen in over a year, when they beat Northeastern on Oct. 8, 2005. UMass posted a 7-0 win at Northeastern on Oct. 28 for their second whitewash of the season. It is the first time since 1979 that UMass had shutouts of two conference games during the season. The Minutemen allowed just seven points in three games last season, against Colgate (9/2), Stony Brook (9/23) and William & Mary (10/7).
• Until the NCAA final, UMass did not allow any team to score more than 21 points in a game last season. Navy and Villanova scored 21 in back-to-back weeks in September. Until the final on Dec. 15, only New Hampshire in the regular-season on Nov. 4 scored 20 points.
• Over UMass' record 12-game win streak in 2006, the Minutemen dominated those 12 opponents, winning by a combined score of 338-144 (an average score of 28-12). That streak included back-to-back 48-7 wins over Stony Brook on Sept. 23 and William & Mary on Oct. 7, both at McGuirk Stadium. UMass outscored the 12 opponents 235-87 in the first half alone (average 20-7).
Senior Captain Linebackers Lead D
• Senior linebackers Jason Hatchell and Charles Walker are once again atop the UMass' tacking chart in 2007. Hatchell, who has led the team with more than 100 in each of the last two years has 33, just behind Walker, who has a team-best 34 tackles.
• Hatchell has been one of the top tacklers in the nation over the last two years. He has 10 or more tackles in two of the four games this season (Holy Cross and Maine). He has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in 18 of the last 30 games. In 2006, he racked up 134 tackles, second in the conference. He ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game at 8.93 and 44th in the nation.
• Hatchell is currently sixth in career assisted tackles with 157. Next on the list is Patrick Doran (163). In his career, Hatchell has 278 total tackles. He is 47 away from 10th on UMass' career list where Matt Tulley had 325 from 1988-1991.
• Walker teams with Hatchell for a dynamic 1-2 punch. Walker has 258 career tackles with a team-high 34 stops this season. He has led the team in two of four games, giving him six career games with double-figure tackles. Walker was honored as the Co-UMass Athlete of the Week after the Colgate (9/8) game where he topped the team with 10 tackles along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery as Colgate drove to UMass' 1-yard line and a TFL. In 2006, he had 131 last season, third in the conference. Walker had 94 assisted tackles last season to rank as the fourth-best single-season mark. Walker tied UMass' single-game tackles record with 24 against Delaware in 2004.
Defensive Line Creates Chaos
• UMass' defensive line prides itself on creating chaos and it has done that very well in 2007. Playing with a senior leader in David Burris along with three sophomores (Brandon Collier, Michael Hanson and Kyle Harrington), UMass is second in the CAA in sacks with 14, which ranks tied for 11th in the nation. UMass also has 26 TFLs in just four games.
• The major tackler for loss on the defensive side is Burris, who makes his name with stops behind the line of scrimmage. Burris leads the CAA with 5.0 sacks and in TFLs with 7.0 this season. He began 2007 with a career-high three sacks against Holy Cross including a pair in the fourth quarter. Burris now has 37.0 career TFLs and 18.5 career sacks, ninth all-time at UMass. Coming into 2006, he was the leading returning tackler for loss in the conference with 16 for 69 yards last season. He was the top player in terms of returnees in sacks with eight. Burris has 37 career tackles for loss of his 171 career stops (22 percent of his tackles).
UMass Turns To Lawrence & Nelson
• With the graduation of Steve Baylark, UMass is using a tandem in the backfield to replace the four-time 1,000-yard rusher who is now on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad. The Minutemen are looking to senior Matt Lawrence and sophomore Tony Nelson. The duo has taken to calling themselves "Thunder & Lightning." They have combined for 768 yards (192.0 per game) in the first four games including the first UMass game with two 100-yard rushers since 2003 (at Maine - Lawrence 176, Nelson 104).
• Lawrence has piled up 517 yards in his first four games as the starting tailback with more than 100 in three of the first four games. He is second in the CAA in rushing and eighth in the nation with 129.3 per game. Lawrence had a career-best 176 yards at Maine (9/22) as he scored a career-high three touchdowns. He was named the UMass Athlete of the Week for his performance which included a career-long run of 62 yards. He broke out for 153 yards in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1). He also scored two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career on runs of 1 and 28 yards. At Colgate (9/8), Lawrence gained 113 yards on 19 carries. Lawrence played most of last season as a fullback and will be used in the area again at times this season. Lawrence had 174 rushing yards last season and entered his senior year with 450 yards, a mark he should pass in three games.
• Nelson has been a great early on gaining 251 yards on 41 carries, a 6.1 yard average. He has his first-career 100-yard game with 104 at Maine (9/22). That included a career-best 61-yard run in the fourth quarter. At Colgate (9/8), he picked up 70 yards on seven carries. Nelson gained 55 in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1) on nine carries. Last season, Nelson played in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2006, as he gained 235 yards overall in 47 carries. Nelson had a career game against William & Mary with three touchdowns on Oct. 7, 2006 as he was named the conference Rookie of the Week.
Moore Catches For J.J.
• UMass returns two of its top receivers from last season in seniors J.J. Moore and Rasheed Rancher. Moore is currently second in the CAA and 24th in the nation in yards per game with 84.0 with 336 yards on 25 catches through four games. He had a great receiving game in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1), as he had a career-best 163 yards on nine catches. The 163 receiving yards ranked as the seventh-best single-game yardage total in UMass history. He was awarded the New England Writers Golden Helmet after that big day.
• After picking up 71 yards on seven catches at Maine (9/22), he moved to third on the career receptions list, passing Arizona Cardinal Marcel Shipp (126) and Jason Peebler (123). He also moved to fifth in receiving yards with 1656. Chip Mitchell is next with 1680.
• Moore had a strong season in 2006 with 46 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns. Moore was off to the best start in the nation in 2005 before breaking his ankle in the fifth game. He was tops in the nation with 26 catches in the first four games.
• Moore set a UMass record when he caught 13 passes in the loss at Colgate in 2005. Moore broke the record of 11 set by Tim Berra (Yogi's son) in 1973 and later tied by Jimmy Moore in 1998 and twice by Adrian Zullo in 1999.
• Rancher is second to Moore in catches and yards in 2007 with 11 receptions for 213 yards. He reached 1,000 yards in receiving at Maine (9/22). Against Towson (9/15), he made an amazing bobbling circus catch for a 35-yard touchdown, which Coach Brown called one the best he's seen in 30 years of coaching. Rancher had 22 catches for 362 yards last season. He is the holder of the second and third longest catches in UMass history, 89 yards vs. Stony Brook in 2006 and 84 yards at Delaware in 2005.
More Moore History
• J.J. Moore returned a punt 58-yards for a touchdown at Colgate (9/8) in Week 2 for the first punt return for a score by a UMass player since Kory Blackwell in 1996 against UConn. It was a nice comeback for Moore who had a pair of fumbles on punt returns against Holy Cross (9/8) in Week 1.
• A third-team all-conference punt returner in 2006, Moore ranks ninth in career punt return average with 8.8 per return with his eight returns for 92 yards in 2007. He had 30 returns for 244 yards last season.
Robinson Makes History In Opener
• Courtney Robinson said all training camp that he was, "Going to take one to the house!" Well he made good on his kickoff return of the season when he brought a kick back 100 yards just 24 seconds into the second quarter against Holy Cross (9/1). Robinson had UMass' first kickoff return for a touchdown since Richard Jenkins had a 97-yarder at Maine on Oct. 16, 1982. Robinson's 100-yard return tied for third longest return at UMass. Noel Reebenacker (1951 vs. Springfield) and Dennis Dent (1978 vs. Morgan State) had 102-yard returns for scores.
• Robinson, who was an All-Conference second-team kickoff returner last season, can tie the UMass career and season records for kickoff returns for scores in a season with one more as Dent had a pair in 1978 as did Phil DeRose in 1964.
• Robinson has 244 yards in 2007 added to 489 as a sophomore in 2006, giving him 733, just shy of a top 10 career kickoff return yardage in UMass history. No. 10 is Ken Kezer with 765 yards from 1960-62. Robinson could reach that mark in just his 20th game with the Minutemen at Boston College.
Keep On Kicking Koepplin
• Senior Chris Koepplin continued his great success in 2007. He started with his first kick in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1), as he tied his career-long with a 48-yard field goal on his first try of the season (also tied himself for the third-longest field goal in UMass history).
• Koepplin has not missed a kick of any type this season with five field goals and 18 PATs on as many attempts.
• He has boomed kickoffs for a tremendous 64.9 yard average including eight touchbacks from the new 30-yard line kickoff mark.
• In his first year at UMass after being a junior college transfer from Nassau C.C., Koepplin was an all-conference second team kicker. He tied the school record for field goals in a season with 16, set the school record for point after touchdowns with 51 and set the record for kick scoring in points with 99.
• In his final year at UMass, Koepplin ranks on several career charts with just one-plus season under his belt. Koepplin stands fifth in career field goals with the single-season tying 16 last year and five more this year for 21. Next on the list is Eric Oke with 26.
• His career field goal percentage of 75.0 (21-of-28) ranks second all-time to Doug White (77.1). He is also fourth in career PATs with the 69 (51 last year and 18 this year). Koepplin is also first in career PAT percentage with a mark of 98.6 percent (69-of-70). He passed George Papoutsidis, who was 96.9 percent (31-of-32).
• Koepplin has eight field goals at UMass of 40 or more yards after the 48-yarder vs. Holy Cross, a 40-yarder against Towson (9/15) and 45-yard kick at Maine (9/22).
5 Strong: O-Line Of Protection
• UMass lost two mainstays on the offensive line in All-American Alex Miller and all-conference guard David Thompson heading into 2007. But the Minutemen figure to not miss a beat on the offensive line as all five starters this year saw action last season.
• Senior All-American Matt Austin anchors the line, he has 34 career starts in 38 games overall. Austin has started in four different positions on the line: right tackle, left tackle, left guard and center. In 2007, he started once at left guard and the last two games at center. Austin has been part of an offensive line that has led of been tied for the league lead in fewest sacks allowed in each of the last three years. UMass allowed just 16 sacks in 15 games in 2006, 1.07 per game, tops in the league, 14th in the nation.
• After six sacks this season, UMass has allowed just 43 sacks in 41 games since 2004.
• Along with Austin, UMass is looking to senior Nick Diana, giving UMass a pair of preseason all-conference performers. With Austin moving to center, he swapped with Diana, who returned to left guard after playing the Holy Cross game at center. Diana, a second-team all-conference player last year is joined by senior Chris Hopkins, a former tight end, who started the final 14 games of 2006. Junior Sean Calicchio mans right tackle, where he started in 2006, but broke his arm in the first game of the season. After missing 11 games in a row, Calicchio returned in the NCAA Quarterfinals and played in the final three playoff games. Sophomore Vladimir Ducasse, who played in three games in 2006, is starting at left tackle.
Transfer Of Power, I-A Players Join
• UMass has 16 players on its roster who transferred into the Amherst school after beginning their careers at I-A/FBS schools. The Minutemen have continued to add talented players giving the team incredible depth at all positions. Here is a rundown of the transfers: senior FB E.J. Barthel (Rutgers), junior DB Keiron Brown (Toledo), graduate FB Breyone Evans (Syracuse), sophomore TE Rob Getek (UConn), redshirt freshman DB Reshaude Goodwin (Boston College), sophomore WR Jeremy Horne (Syracuse), junior Chauncey Incarnato (Indiana/Notre Dame), redshirt freshman DL Andrew Krevis (Eastern Michigan), senior RB Matt Lawrence (UConn), senior TE Brad Listorti (Rutgers), junior SS Michael Meggett (West Virginia), sophomore FS Jeromy Miles (Navy), junior DB Spencer Ridenhour (Penn State), junior CB/KR Courtney Robinson (UConn), sophomore LB Anthony Rouzier (UConn) and sophomore athlete Joe Sanford (Virginia).
Syracuse Impact
• Playing just 45 minutes from where they began their college careers at Syracuse, transfers Jeremy Horne and Breyone Evans scored UMass' first two touchdowns in the win at Colgate (9/8). Horne, who is a redshirt sophomore after two years with the Orange had a 25-yard touchdown catch to open the scoring. Evans, is a graduate student after four years -- playing three at `Cuse -- and scored on a 4-yard catch in Week 2.
McGuirk Magic
• UMass has been tough to beat in the friendly confines of McGuirk Alumni Stadium since the start of the 1998 season. The Minutemen have gone 45-11 (.804) at home over the last seven years, improving their all-time record at McGuirk to 153-72-2 (.675). UMass went a perfect 8-0 at home in 2006, setting the school-record for best record at home, set in 2003.
• Since 1992, UMass has had a losing record at home only once, while posting a home mark of 65-23 (.738) during that span. In 2003, UMass went 7-0 at home to set the former record for most home victories in the 40-year history of McGuirk Stadium.
• UMass has won 14 of its last 15 games at home after dropping the 2005 home regular-season finale to New Hampshire on Oct. 29. They have won 21 of the last 24 dating to 2003.
Quartet of Captains In 2007
• UMass will have four team captains in 2007. On the offensive side of the ball, the Minutemen will be led by senior offensive lineman Matt Austin and senior wide receiver J.J. Moore. On defense, the leaders will be senior linebackers Jason Hatchell and Charles Walker.
Looking Back At 2006
• UMass reached the 2006 National Championship game where they lost to defending national champion Appalachian State, 28-17, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Minutemen finished with a school-record 13 wins as they finished ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Minutemen went a perfect 8-0 in the Atlantic 10, the first team to go undefeated in league play since Villanova in 1997. UMass also went 8-0 at home, to set a record for home wins in a season.
• The UMass football team captured the 2006 Lambert Trophy, symbolic of the team top team in the East, presented by the ECAC. The Minutemen were the winners in the I-AA/FCS Division.
• To advance to the NCAA final, UMass topped Lafayette, 35-14 in the first round; conference rival New Hampshire, 24-17 in the NCAA Quarterfinals and won at hostile Montana, 19-17 in the NCAA Semifinals.
Preseason Polls
• The Minutemen were ranked No. 3 in the first poll of the FCS Coaches for 2007. Head coach Don Brown is a voter in the poll. UMass is also No. 3 in the Sports Network poll of the media and sports information directors.
UMass Favorite To Win CAA
• Massachusetts, which returns 12 starters off last year's squad that advanced to the NCAA FCS National Championship game, is picked to capture the inaugural CAA Football Championship in 2007 according to a vote of the league's 12 head coaches and selected media. Along with the Minutemen, New Hampshire's senior quarterback Ricky Santos and James Madison's senior safety Tony LeZotte were each selected as Preseason All-CAA Football Players of the Year. The results of the poll, along with the 2007 All-CAA Football Preseason squad, was announced during Wednesday's CAA Football Media Day at the ESPNZone in Baltimore, Md.
• The Minutemen, who earned a record 20 All-Conference honors in 2006, placed a total of seven on the Preseason All-Conference squad this season. Offensive linemen Matt Austin and Nick Diana, join tight end Brad Listorti to represent UMass on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive lineman David Burris, as well as Charles Walker and preseason All-American Jason Hatchell, both linebackers, represent UMass in the defensive front. Cornerback Sean Smalls is the seventh Minuteman selected to the preseason squad.
