Just Take A Minute: Aug. 18-22, 2008 - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Boomer bytes

  Friday, Aug. 22

The end of summer is here at UMass. This week concludes the final week without any regular-season games as the women's soccer team begins action with a "real" game on Sunday at Binghamton. Next week will see the start of the men's soccer, field hockey and football regular-seasons. Only one game will take place in Amherst as the football team hosts Albany under the lights at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Various media outlets wrote about UMass' official addition of David Gibbs, the dynamic guard from Connecticut. Gibbs has starred at the Master's School in Connecticut. The UMass roster has been updated here on UMassAthletics.com to also reflect that bigmen Trey Lang and Papa Lo are no longer going to be playing for the Minutemen.

2007 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Stephane Lasme is looking good for a spot on the Miami Heat. The Florida Sun-Sentinel has a story about the signing of Dorell Wright which includes Lasme as one of 13 players with guaranteed contracts for next season.

On NESN.com, there are several video interviews with the UMass football team. Among the features on the right hand-side of the page are profiles with Head Coach Don Brown, Courtney Robinson, Liam Coen, Tony Nelson, Sean Smalls and Sean Calicchio.

In the Springfield Republican, Jeff Thomas writes about UMass' football offensive line and how the Minutemen are looking to many newcomers on the line.

In the Andover Townsman, there is a feature on the Durkin brothers. Ryan ran track for the Minutemen and aspires to be a Marine. Ryan and his brother Brad have overcome personal adversity.

UMass alum Brandon London returned to action with the New York Giants on Thursday after suffering a shoulder injury on Monday. According to several reports, he is on track to return to action for the Giants preseason game against the Jets and fellow UMass classmate James Ihedigbo.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: In looking forward to the start of the seasons at UMass. You can view entire monthly calendars for the rest of the season online.

Don't miss this over the weekend: The field hockey team hosts Boston University in its lone preseason exhibition. The game begins at 6 p.m. and will allow fans to see the new bleachers at Garber Field, which are nearly completed. Also, Major League Lacrosse holds its Championship Weekend at Harvard. UMass alums Jeff Zywicki and Jack Reid play for the No. 1 seed Rochester Rattlers. The two semifinal winners will advance to the NB ZIP MLL Championship Game at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 24. Saturday's first semfinal game (featuring Rochester), as well as Sunday's Championship Game will air live on ESPN2

  Thursday, Aug. 21

What a wonderful Thursday in Amherst. It is expected to be a beautiful sunny day weather-wise. The UMass fall teams continue their training for the regular season which gets underway with a women's soccer game at Binghamton on Sunday, Aug. 24.

In the Springfield Republican, Jeff Thomas writes about the men's soccer team. Head coach Sam Koch talks about the pressure and expectations after reaching to the NCAA College Cup last season.

On ESPN.com, soccer writer Maria Burns-Ortiz picks UMass as her No. 8 preseason team. She writes: "With 21 returning letter-winners (including eight starters), the team brings back almost all of its scoring power from last season along with goalkeeper Zack Simmons. "

Former UMass assistant basketball coach Mike Connors has been promoted to associate head coach at Drexel University. Connors has worked under former Minuteman bench boss Bruiser Flint since Flint was the head coach at UMass from 1996-2000. Connors spent eight years on the staff at UMass.

InsideLacrosse.com has a profile of the top-seeded Rochester Rattlers, who feature two former UMass lacrosse stars Jack Reid on defense and Jeff Zywicki at attack. Reid is featured in a large photo at the top of this feature. The Rattlers are seeking their elusive first post-season win as they face the Barrage in the NB Zip Championship weekend at Harvard.

Former UMass baseball player Brent Tarasiuk tossed the first 4.1 innings for the Swampscott Sox, who advanced to their 20th North Shore Baseball League (NSBL) final in the 24 years of the league's existence with a 3-1 best-of-five series victory over Andover.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Photo Galleries of the fall teams' head shots have been posted. Check out and purchase the pictures of your favorite members of the football, men's soccer, women's soccer and field hockey teams. Click here for the order form.

Don't miss this on Thursday: The football team will hold its second and final scrimmage as they prepare to open the season against Albany on Aug. 30 under the lights at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Don't forget to buy your tickets now.

  Wednesday, Aug. 20

Happy Wednesday from Amherst, just 10 days from the football opener against Albany on Aug. 30. Don't forget to get your tickets. The season opener under the lights is Heroes Night and will feature fireworks following the game against the Great Danes.

Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican writes about how the UMass men's basketball schedule is expected be released within the next two weeks. He focuses on the fact that Springfield will be hosting a game at the Mass Mutual Center, likely in January.

New basketball coach Derek Kellogg will be on hand for the UMass Basketball Court Club Golf Outing and Meeting on Sept. 15. Be sure to sign up and support the Minutemen.

UMass football is ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network preseason media poll. Coverage in the Republican and Daily Hampshire Gazette.

In an article from Newsday on Long Island, former UMass star and current Giants WR Brandon London talks about how disappointed he was to get injured against the Browns on Monday night.

Soccer goalkeeper Zack Simmons has been named a Third Team Preseason All-American by College Soccer News. Last season, he was an NSCAA Third-Team All-American. The Minutemen began its preseason with a 2-0 win over the University of Montreal on Tuesday.

In lacrosse, UMass great Kevin Leveille was named to the Major League Lacrosse All-Pro team. Leveille stars for the Chicago Machine and had more than 30 goals for the third time in his career.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The link to UMass Wallpaper for your desktop features a new version with the 100 Seasons Of Basketball Logo.

Don't miss this on Wednesday: Derek Kellogg will be at Sheriff Michael Ashe's Picinic held in Agawam at the Six Flags. It is expected that Governor Deval Patrick and many other dignataries will be on hand for the event.

  Tuesday, Aug. 19

Here's Tuesday's update on your UMass sports.

In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour wrote about UMass football seniors needing to step it up in their final seasons as part of the UMass football notebook.

Howard Herman of the Berkshire Eagle posted his season preview on the Minutemen. Herman wrote about the high expectation on quarterback Liam Coen and the Minutemen.

All-time UMass football great RB Marcel Shipp was signed by the Houston Texans after being released by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month. Texans starter Ahman Green has been sidelined for two weeks with a groin injury and will not play in Friday's preseason game at Dallas.

College Chalk Talk has listed Ricky Harris as the coming into 2008-09. They will release their Top 5 which Chris Lowe is expected to be a part of.

The Atlantic 10 has posted a video interview with new commissioner Bernadette McGlade. She spoke about joining the A-10 and her challenges with the league.

The CAA posted its UMass Football Preview. It features Sean Smalls and includes videos from media day and CN8.

In Monday Night Football, UMass alum WR Brandon London was taken to the locker room for X-rays on his shoulder in the Giants 37-34 win over the Browns. He did not have any catches prior to his injury.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The new desktop communicator is a free download with a UMass theme featuring up-to-date news and videos on your dekstop. It also has notifiers when new content arrives as well as current weather and forecasts for your zip code.

Don't miss this on Tuesday: The Sports Network will release its FCS Preseason Top 25. This poll by media members and sports information directors across the nation is the most-used poll in FCS. Look for a Top 5 ranking for the Minutemen.

  Monday, Aug. 18

Welcome to Just Take A Minute ... Each morning be sure to check out this page for information on all UMass teams in about a minute or so. We will feature quick hits and information updated daily. We will include links to UMass coverage in the media and other interesting bits for UMass fans.

UMass' lone FBS football opponent this season Texas Tech is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 released over the weekend. The Raiders are No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Last season, UMass faced Boston College when the Eagles were ranked No. 12. Texas Tech has a good chance to come into the UMass game on Sept. 20 at 3-0 and ranked in the top 10. Back on Sept. 13, 2003, UMass fell at No. 7 Kansas State, 38-7.

In the Boston Globe, Marvin Pave takes a look at some local players who are trying to earn more playing time on the football field this fall for UMass.

On Sunday, Jeff Thomas of the Republican wrote about UMass defensive line and how they are looking to improve upon last season when they were among the best in the nation.

In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour wrote a column about the UMass men's soccer team and how the Minutemen will have a Bull's Eye on them in the 2008 season after reaching the 2007 NCAA College Cup.

Check out the video on ESPN.com where Mel Kiper Jr., draft expert lists UMass' cornerback Sean Smalls as the top "sleeper pick" for the 2009 NFL Draft. Kiper speaks about Smalls, 3:15 into the video segment, saying Smalls "has awareness and ball skills to make him a draftable player."

The Hockey News has ranked the teams in college conference by logo. The Minutemen are third in Hockey East after No. 1 Boston College and No. 2 Boston University. THN says about UMass: "A classy modern take on the minuteman mascot, plus good colors."

Here's a look at former UMass football players in preseason NFL action over the weekend. With the Jets, DB James Ihedigbo had a 16-yard interception and three tackles in the Jets 13-10 loss to the Redskins. RB Steve Baylark had four carries for 13 yards in the Cardinals' 27-17 win over Kansas City. If you missed it RB Matt Lawrence was waived by the Chicago Bears last week and TE Brad Listorti was released by the Atlanta Falcons.

Speaking of Matt Lawrence, he is pictured in the weekly advertisment for Circuit City. The CAA and the electronics company are both based in Richmond, Va., and have an agreement to use picture of former CAA football players in some advertising.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Download all of the UMass athletic team schedules into Microsoft Outlook Express. Add the schedules to your Outlook.

Don't miss this: On Monday night, check out UMass alum Brandon London, as the New York Giants face the Cleveland Browns at 8 p.m. on ESPN. London has seen extended time and looks to earn a spot on the Giants regular-season squad after being on the practice squad last year.

University of Massachusets Athletics

Related News

Related Videos