University of Massachusets Athletics
LIVE BLOG FROM FOOTBALL VS. ALBANY
August 30, 2008 | Football
Aug. 30, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - UMassAthletics.com is blogging live from McGuirk Alumni Stadium for today's football season-opener vs. Albany. The Minutemen enter the game ranked No. 5 in the preseason poll, while the Great Danes recieved votes.
4:55 P.M.
PREGAME NOTES
Albany at #5 UMass
Aug. 30, 2008 * McGuirk Stadium
Welcome to the 2008 season opener for both Albany and Massachusetts. Kickoff is set for 6:05. The teams have met once before on Sept. 17, 2005, a UMass 40-0 win.
This is the first game under permanent lights at McGuirk Stadium, previously UMass has hosted four night games under lights and five games with lights (including 2006 NCAA Second Round vs. UNH at 2:30 p.m.) UMass is 5-0 in those games.
Tonight's is Heroes Night honoring all uniformed personnel. A postgame fireworks display will take place.
Weather 78 degrees, Partly Cloudy, 30 percent chance of rain Wind WNW 2 mph; 63 percent humidity
Two-Deep Changes
Albany At wide receiver, 17 Jason Smith starts in place of 1 Tim Bush At tight end, 89 Dan Archer starts in place of 82 Marcus Miles Backing up starting ILB 51 Chris Simpson will be 57 Chris Wilk The starting Punt Returner MAY BE 26 Justin Gannon (in place of 11 Daniel Bocanegra)
UMass The offensive line has been altered to this starting line-up At LT 72 Vladimir Ducasse (no change) At LG 61 John Ihne (from back-up) At C 63 Sean Calicchio (first career start at center) At RG 71 Rob Getek (from RT, first career start on OL) At RT 77 Ben Coblyn (from LG, third career start)
5:13 P.M.
Tough news for a couple of former Minutemen. The New York Daily News is reporting that Brandon London has been cut by the New York Giants and the East Valley Tribune is reporting that the Arizona Cardinals have cut Steve Baylark.
It looks like James Ihedigbo might be safe as the New York Jets announced several cuts today and he was not among them.
5:25 p.m.
While the teams continue to warm-up and the fans file into McGuirk Stadium from what looked like a pretty good tailgating scene, a few games involving CAA teams have gone final.
The Maine Black Bears took one on the chin at FBS Iowa, 46-3, while Rhode Island started its season on the right foot, defeating Monmouth, 27-24.
5:32 p.m.
The pride of the Minutemen, the UMass marching band has just made its arrival here at McGuirk Stadium. The band, hundreds-strong as usual, has been practicing day and night on the lower Boyden fields for the last week (as anyone who lives in the area already knows).
On another note, 1,000-yard reciever and UMass' leader in TD catches a season ago, Rasheed Rancher, is in attendance to cheer on his former teammates.
5:43 p.m.
It's Heroes Night here at McGuirk, as UMass is honoring local police, firefighters, EMTs, and military. About 20 UMass ROTC students are down on the field now in uniform after rolling up in humvees.
Besides Rancher, several other former UMass players are down on the sidelines for today's game. We'll try to ID them and pass that on to you.
5:50 p.m.
If you're looking to multitask while watching tonight's game here on UMassAthletics.com, you can also scout the Minutemen's Oct. 4 opponent, Delaware, as it takes on Maryland on ESPN. The Terps lead right now, 7-0, late in the third quarter.
The teams hae finished warming up and have headed back to the locker rooms. The band is now taking over on the field to entertain the ever-growing crowd.
6:00
A late injury update, UMass wide receiver Joe Sanford is out for today's game.
Former Minutemen Tracy Belton and Brandon Freeman are down on the sidelines cheering on the Minutemen.
The UMass bench side of the stands are jammed backed now. UMass President Jack Wilson is here in the Chancellor's Box, joining new Chancellor Dr. Robert Holub.
6:04 p.m.
The teams have now re-taken the field and the captains are meeting at midfield. Three military members are conducting the coin toss.
A noticeable difference this year at McGuirk is the new sound system that has been installed. The PA and music is crystal clear and seems much louder.
6:15 p.m.
The 2008 season is now underway! Armando Cuko's kickoff bounced into the endzone and Albany will start at its own 20.
UMass is in its maroon jerseys with white letters and white pants, while Albany is doing their best LSU impression in yellow pants and helmets, with white jerseys with sporting purple letters and striping on the shoulders.
Maryland is now up on Delaware, 14-0, early in the fourth quarter.
On second and eight at their own 48 yard line, Great Danes quarterback Vinny Esposito swung a screen pass out to running back David McCarty, who cut back against the grain and picked up a couple good blocks to take it 52 yards for a touchdown. Extra point is good and Albany takes a 7-0 lead.
UMass FB Emil Igwenagu just saw the first action of his career on the kickoff, returning the ball 17 yards.
6:20 p.m.
The new lights are now on at McGuirk Stadium as some cloud-cover rolls in.
We have just received word that James Ihedigbo has indeed been cut today by the New York Jets.
UMass was forced to punt on its first offensive possession of 2008.
Albany's touchdown was the Great Danes' first points ever vs. UMass, as the 2005 game was a 40-0 shutout for the Minutemen.
6:27 p.m.
A crazy play here as Albany punted. Sean Smalls was hit just as the ball got to him at the 18-yard line and the ball popped backwards where it was kicked twice out the back of the end-zone by Anthony Rouzier.
After the referees talked for about five minutes, they ruled the play a safety. The Great Danes now lead 9-0 and UMass will kick from the 20.
6:30 p.m.
The UMass-Albany series, of which this is only the second game, has now seen four safeties. UMass had three safeties in its favor in the first match-up in 2005. That night also happened to be Public Safety Night at McGuirk Stadium.
6:35 p.m.
Albany just missed a 37-yard field goal and the Minutemen will take back over.
6:40 p.m.
Delaware closed the gap on Maryland, 14-7, but the Terps are trying to run out the clock as it is now under two minutes left.
As the first quarter ends, UMass is now in Albany territory for the first time today as Jeremy Horne makes a first down catch at the 44-yard line.
This is the first time the Minutemen have been shutout in the first quarter since the Villanova game last season (10/13/07). UMass won that game in four overtimes.
6:45 p.m.
Running back Brandon White just picked up four yards on his first career carry.
Liam Coen just scrambled for a first down as the Minutemen are now inside the Albany 15-yard line.
6:50 p.m.
Liam Coen to Ian Jorgensen for UMass' first touchdown of the season! Coen rolled out and found Jorgensen near the back of the end-zone for a two-yard score. It was Jorgensen's seventh-career TD catch and the 67th TD pass of Coen's career.
Albany 9, UMass 7 with 11:33 left in the second quarter.
6:55 p.m.
Jeromy Miles intercepted a tipped ball at the Albany 35-yard line for his fifth-career pick, third at UMass.
Chris Zardas just kept the crowd ignited by taking a screen pass and hurdling a defender on his way to a 17-yard pick up.
6:58 p.m.
Korrey Davis just got his first carry, three-yard pick-up. He is a true freshman. No true freshmen played last season for UMass.
UMass calls its final timeout of the half facing second and goal at the seven-yard line with 7:34 left in the half.
The stands behind the Albany sideline are now almost completely full and there isn't a seat empty on the UMass side.
7:04 p.m.
Another 2-yard touchdown pass for Liam Coen as he finds Tony Nelson on fourth down for Nelson's first-career receiving touchdown. Cuko's extra point is good and the Minutemen take the lead, 14-9 with 6:38 left in the half.
7:20 p.m. An Esposito 16-yard scramble just took the ball down to the UMass 1-yard line with just under three minutes left. A false start backed the Great Danes up five yards, the defense stuffed the ensuing running play, and an Esposito pass went out the back of the end zone to make it third and goal at the one with 2:09 left in the half. The defense came up big two more times, stuffing back-to-back running plays to turn the ball over on downs and send the game into the half with the Minutemen leading, 14-9.
7:38 p.m.
The UMass band just performed its halftime routine that as I mentioned before they have been practicing for day and night over the last week. As usual, they didn't disappoint.
It is still very warm and very humid and from the looks of the flags there isn't any wind. UMass sideline reporter Adam Frenier says he expects there might be some cramping in the second half and that conditioning will surely be a factor in the second half.
Frenier is part of the UMass Sports Network, led by new "Voice of the Minutemen" Josh Maurer. Maurer is doing play-by-play of the game along with former UMass player Matt Goldstein on color commentary. They can be heard on our flagship WRNX 100.9 FM.
7:48 p.m.
It didn't take Tony Nelson long to strike in the second half. After gaining five yards on first down, Nelson busted one 64 yards for the touchdown, putting UMass on top 21-9 with 14:01 left in the third. It was UMass' first run over 60 yards since Matt Lawrence's 62-yarder at Maine on 9/22/07. The longest carry of Nelson's career is also UMass' longest since R.J. Cobbs had an 84-yarder vs. Delaware on 11/2/02.
7:56 p.m.
For those of you that are still in baseball-mode, here are a few scores from around the majors:
Boston 5, Chicago 1, Bot 2
Tampa Bay 10, Baltimore, Final
Toronto 7, Yankees 6, Final
Mets 2, Florida 0, Bot 2
Albany just came up short on a third and nine in its own territory. A personal foul for a late hit was assessed against the Great Danes, forcing them to punt. UMass takes over after the punt at its own 43. Sean Smalls was slow getting off the field.
Josh Jennings now has 12 tackles for the Minutemen.
8:05
Brian Ellis and Josh Jennings both had to be helped off the field by athletic trainers Jen Brodeur and Bob Kuzmeski after 43 yard pass by the Great Danes. The Albany receiver, Marcus Miles was then called for a rare offensive facemask penalty. First and 10 Albany at the UMass 39.
8:10 p.m.
Courtney Robinson just sacked Esposito on a corner blitz. The All-CAA cornerback had 1.5 sacks last season.
The attendance at tonight's game has been announced at 15,112. It is the second-highest season-opening crowd at UMass. Only the crowd of 16,405 in 2004 for the opener vs Colgate, who was coming off a National Championship game appearance, was bigger.
It is also the fourth largest crowd Albany has ever played in front of.
8:22 p.m.
Albany takes over at its own 45-yard line after a 37-yard punt by Brett Arnold with 3:17 left in the third.
I have to mention that the food spread here in the press box is outstanding as usual. We started out pregame with some clam chowder, burgers, and barbeque chicken. Now the hot dogs, cheese & crackers, fruit, and of course the giant chocolate chip cookies have been brought out. You always eat good at McGuirk. The way things smelled out in the parking lot on my way in here this afternoon, I probably should have checked out some of the tailgating fare.
OK enough about food, Kurt Filler, a juco tranfer from the College of San Mateo, just made a tackle on third and 13 short of the stakes, but Esposito completed a fourth down pass to give Albany a first down at the UMass 24.
David McCarty just took the next play into the end zone on a sweep to the right. Flags flew everywhere on the play, but the call was on UMass. Extra point is good, cutting the lead to 21-16 with seven seconds left in the third.
8:30
Liam Coen just completed a 20-yard pass to Julian Talley on third and seven to take the ball down to the Albany 32-yard line. It was the first-career catch for Talley.
8:35 p.m.
Liam Coen did it again on third down, finding Jeremy Horne in the end-zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass. It was Horne's fourth-career TD grab after transferring to UMass from Syracuse. PAT is good and UMass is on top, 28-16, with 11:12 left. The Minutemen are now 5-for-10 on third down conversions in the game.
8:41 p.m.
Josh Jennings just picked off Esposito on a crossing route on third down. It's the first-career interception for Jennings, and gives UMass the ball its own 45-yard line with under eight minutes to go.
Jennings also has 13 tackles now, a career-high. Jeromy Miles is up to 10 tackles, his second-career double-digit tackle game.
8:56 p.m.
Tony Nelson's debut as the feature back for the Minutemen has been a hgue success. He is now up to 171 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown and has also caught two passes for 12 yards and another score.
Albany's David McCarty has rushed for 125 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown and has added 72 receiving yards and another touchdown.
Coen is now taking a knee as the Minutemen are running out the clock.
9:00 p.m.
With zeros on the clock, the final score is UMass 28, Albany 16. The Minutemen have now won 15-straight home games. They are also 5-0 in night games at McGuirk Stadium.
The lights have gone out at McGuirk as a fireworks display sponsored by UMass Athletics is entertaining the crowd. So I guess its time for the lights to go out on this blog as well, thanks for watching, listening, and reading. Good night.
