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University of Massachusets Athletics
Arnold, Nelson, Robinson Named All-New England Football All-Stars
December 03, 2008 | Football
Dec. 3, 2008
BOSTON, Mass. - Three UMass Minutemen have been named to the 2008 New England Football Writes FCS All-Star Team. Senior punter Brett Arnold, junior tailback Tony Nelson and senior cornerback Courtney Robinson were all named to the team. They will be honored at the annual New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Casa Di Fior in Wilmington, Mass.
Arnold was an All-CAA first-team selection after he finished second in FCS in 2008 in punting average 45.22 just one-tenth behind NCAA leader Robbie Dehaze of Northern Arizona (45.23). Arnold led the CAA in punting. Arnold's season mark of 45.22 set a new UMass single-season record. The former record was 43.3 by Andy Maclay in 1998. Arnold is now first all-time in career punting average with 41.4 at UMass. Record was held by Christian Koegel (40.94). His career mark of 41.4 is fifth among all active FCS punters.
Nelson was also a CAA first-teammer. He finished third in CAA in rushing with 110.4 yards per game, to rank 17th in the nation. He was also third in the CAA in rushing touchdowns with 12. Nelson finished third in CAA with 1,325 yards on 243 carries and 12 TDs. He became the 10th different UMass rusher to gain 1,000 this season, giving UMass a 1,000-yard rusher for the seventh year in a row. His total of 1,325 is eighth-best single-season in UMass history. 243 carries ties for 12th-most in a season and 12 rushing touchdowns also ranks for 12th-best single-season in UMass history. Nelson enters his senior year with a career total of 2,046 ranks as the ninth-most in UMass history with senior season to come. He won the New England Writers Golden Helmet on Sept. 2.
Robinson leaves UMass his 1,388 career kickoff return yardage is first all-time at UMass. He was named first-team All-CAA at cornerback for the second year in a row. He became leader at #13 New Hampshire (11/15), passing Stephen Parnell (1,317). Robinson is fifth in career kickoff return average at UMass 23.8. He had 35 tackles including a sack and 11 pass break-ups this season. Returned 18 kicks for 404 yards (22.4 avg.) as many teams kick short and away from him. Robinson finished tied for second in CAA in pass break-ups with 11.
Here is the official release.
Harvard¹s senior quarterback Chris Pizzotti and Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph lead this year¹s FCS All-New England team as selected by the New England Football Writers.
The team, which represents all 13 schools, will be honored at the annual New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Casa Di Fior in Wilmington, Mass.
Yale¹s Bobby Abare makes his third appearance on the team and four others make their second appearance. There are 30 athletes on the team this year for the second time. The team features 22 seniors, seven juniors and one sophomore. Five conferences are represented with the the Ivy League supplying 12, the Colonial Athletic Association 11, the Patriot League added four, the Northeast Conference added two and the Independent added one.
2008 All-New England Football Team
DEFENSE
DL Don Smith Bryant Jr.
DL Matt Curtis Harvard Sr.
DL Jovan Belcher Maine Sr.
DL David Howard Brown Sr.
LB Bobby Abare Yale Sr.
LB Eric Schultz Harvard Sr.
LB Phil Higgins Northeastern Sr.
LB Matt Parent New Hampshire Sr.
LB Matt Hansen Rhode Island So.
DB Andre Isla Sacred Heart Jr.
DB Andrew Berry Harvard Sr.
DB Courtney Robinson Massachusetts Sr.
DB Ian Wilson Dartmouth Sr.
OFFENSE
QB Chris Pizzotti Harvard Sr.
QB Dominic Randolph Holy Cross Sr.
RB Tony Nelson Massachusetts Jr.
RB James Mallory Central Conn. Jr.
WR Bobby Sewall Brown Jr.
WR Mike Boyle New Hampshire Sr.
WR John Brock Holy Cross Sr.
WR Buddy Farnham Brown Jr.
TE Brian Mandeville Northeastern Sr.
OL Darius Dale Yale Sr.
OL Shane Kelley Brown Sr.
OL Ryan Canary Maine Sr.
OL James Williams Harvard Jr.
OL Josh Droesch New Hampshire Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Matt Partain Holy Cross Sr.
P Brett Arnold Massachusetts Sr.
KR Brett McDermott Holy Cross Sr.