Just Take A Minute: Sept. 8-12

Sept. 8-12, 2008

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PODCAST: This Week In UMass Athetlics (Sept. 8)

Friday, Sept. 12

Happy Friday! The end of the week is here and UMass is getting ready for a slew of big games this weekend. The #3 football team takes on #7 James Madison in Virginia on Satuday at 3:30 p.m. The field hockey team hosts #5 UConn on Friday at 6 p.m., at Garber Field. The defending A-10 conference champion men's soccer team travels to the highly-competitive ODU STIHL Classic at Norfolk, Va., where the Minutemen face the host Monarchs Friday at 7 p.m. Sunday features home games for field hockey against Harvard and women's soccer vs. Holy Cross at 2 p.m.

The Springfield Republican's Jeff Thomas has a nice feature on UMass two-sport student-athlete Travis Tripucka. The football team's new long snapper has a long legacy of athletes in his family. Check out this great and informative story.

Mike Barber of the Daily-News Record has a feature story on UMass quarterback Liam Coen.

The latest on James Madison has star running back Eugene Holloman out for the game against UMass on Saturday. Holloman has a quad injury leading to Jamal Sullivan being the starter for the Dukes. The Daily-News Record has this story with the latest on Holloman citing that he won't even suit up for the game.

Armando Cuko was featured halfway down the page on MooreStuffOnline with photos from his game-winning kick vs. Holy Cross.

Looking ahead to next week's football opponent Texas Tech, the Raiders will be playing their game against SMU as planned on Saturday at 6 p.m. The threat of Hurricane Ike is not to hit near Lubbock, which is in the northwest corner of Texas. The game will air on XM Radio with the re-shuffling of the several other college games.

The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro has a column lede on field hockey captain Mary Shea. It quotes head coach Justin Sowry calling Shea: "She has the greatest work ethic that I have seen - she's the driving force behind this program."

Men's basketball foe Vanderbilt released its schedule. The Commodores will come to UMass for the first time on Jan. 3 in a game that will be shown on CBS College Sports.

The cross country seasons get underway for the UMass men's and women's team this weekend at Dartmouth and The Daily Collegian has a preview. It cites the teams' outstanding young talent.

The Collegian also has a preview of the women's soccer game against Holy Cross on Sunday at 2 p.m. (which was moved from 1 p.m.).

From earlier this week, UMass lacrosse alum Paul Manesis was drafted by the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League which is the pro indoor league.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: We have been informed that the photo order form for the various photo galleries on the site was not working. We now it is, please download this PDF to order your favorite UMass photos.

Don't miss this: With UMass football out of the state of Massachusetts for the first time this season, be sure to listen is on the UMass Sports Network including 100.9 FM WRNX, 830 AM, 95.9 FM or here on UMassAthletics.com. Listen in to the broadcast trio of Josh Maurer, Matt Goldstein and Adam Frenier starting with the pregame show on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be shown on CN8.

Thursday, Sept. 11

First off, please take a moment to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. This is a day that changed our lives forever ... In looking at today's news on UMass' teams, there are various stories on the UMass-James Madison football game. Tonight be sure to check out the Bud Light UMass Football Radio Show at the Hangar Pub & Grill in Amherst, starting at 7 p.m. You can also listen live online and 100.9 FM WRNX. Send your questions for Coach Brown. Tonight's guests are expected to be two of the heroes from the win at Holy Cross: kicker Armando Cuko and receiver Jeremy Horne.

The Western Mass Sports Journal has a lengthy feature on Amherst native and football offensive lineman Ben Coblyn. It is online via Masslive.com.

From down in Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch has a feature on the quarterbacks in Saturday's clash looking at Liam Coen and JMU's Rodney Landers.

The JMU Student paper The Breeze, also writes about the football game.

In basketball news, The Republican's Ron Chimelis has a feature on native son Travon Wilcher and how he is maturing.

In Andy Katz' blog, he mentions John Calipari and UMass assistant Vance Walberg will hold their Dribble Drive Motion coaching clinic again in Tunica, Miss., on Sept. 19-21. Calipari said that 400 coaches went to hear about the offense last year, and he's expecting a similar turnout.

The Daily Collegian has its preview of the UMass-James Madsion game and has a story on UMass' defense looking to rebound against James Madison.

The Sports Network takes a look at the world of FCS football with several mentions of UMass.

Coverage of women's soccer's first win of the season is also in the Collegian.

Women's soccer senior Vanessa Patry's stellar home-opening performance vs. New Hampshire was mentioned in her hometown newspaper, the Albany Times Union.

The Collegian previews the men's soccer team's trip to Old Dominion and has a story on the men's soccer team reserves and how important they are to the Minutemen's success.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out:. You can get UMass basketball season tickets for a low at $125 for the 100th Anniversary Season. Call 1-866-UMASS-TIX.

Don't miss this: Look for some news on a new UMass Sports Network radio affiliate before the end of the week.

Wednesday, Sept. 10

The UMass Sports Luncheon takes place this afternoon at the Campus Center at 12 Noon. There will be three guest speakers: women's swimming coach Bob Newcomb, men's soccer coach Sam Koch and football coach Don Brown. Co-UMass/Dinn Brothers Athletes of the Week Liam Coen and Katie Kelly will be honored at the luncheon. Just Take A Minute has more stories on UMass' big battle with James Madison on the gridiron on Saturday.

More from down at James Madison as the big game against the Minutemen nears. Mike Barber of the Daily-News Record takes a look at UMass' potent passing attack led by Coen. He also writes about the Dukes are not looking past UMass with their rematch with Appalachian State set for next week. Television station WHSV has a report on JMU's Eugene Holloman possibily being out for Saturday's back, but Jamal Sullivan and Darrieus Ramsey were back at practice on Tuesday.

From Tuesday, the Salem News has a feature on Armando Cuko, from Beverly, Mass. Mike Grenier writes about how Cuko has waited his time since last kicking as a regular in 2005.

The NFL Draft Bible has a snipet on Liam Coen and his big week against Holy Cross. Josh Buchanan writes: "Most NFL scouts consider Coen a free agent value but due to his experience in a pro style offense and the ability to light it up through the air should have many scouts taking notice early this year."

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The UMass football roster now features updated player profiles and statistics for the 2008 season.

Don't miss this: The UMass women's basketball schedule will be released today including all of the Atlantic 10 conference games. Also, don't forget to join us at the Campus Center for the Weekly Sports Luncheon.

Tuesday, Sept. 9

The #3 UMass football team is prepping for a Top 10 match-up down at #7 James Madison on Saturday at 3:30. The game will air on CN8 up and down the east coast. Liam Coen continues to pile up honors from all over. Former UMass alums are in the news in various venues from Shannon James playing football in Canada, Rashaun Freeman getting ready to play hoops in France and KJ Kelley getting hired to coach softball at Vermont.

In news from down in James Madison country, Dukes head coach Mickey Matthews said on Monday that JMU's tailback Eugene Holloman is "doubtful" for the UMass clash on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Daily News-Record has a column by Chris Simmons on the JMU-UMass clash.

The Sports Network has its weekly poll update. UMas has moved to No. 3 in the FCS Media Poll. The media outlet also honored Liam Coen as its National Offensive Player of the Week.

In the FCS Coaches Poll, UMass is No. 5. In the SME Broadcasters poll, UMass is up to No. 3.

In his Monday press conference Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano spoke about UMass alum Brandon London. Here is a transcript of his media briefing from the Florida Sun-Sentinel He said: " (Brandon) London went out there, played 20 plays in the game and played pretty good on special teams. He did a nice job down there on special teams." London wore No. 17 in the Dolphins' 20-14 loss to the Jets.

UMass alum and former American International Athletic Director Bob Burke is being honored by the ECAC with the James Lynah Distinguished Service Award. He is one of four honorees. A native of Holyoke, Mass., Burke earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Massachusetts in 1965. At UMass, Burke was a member of the most recent undefeated football team in school history when the then-Redmen went 8-0-1 in 1963. He went on to earn All-Yankee Conference First Team honors as an offensive tackle as a senior.

Up in Canada, here's a check on some former football stars. The Calgary Stampeders and Shannon James beat the Edmonton Eskimos, 38-33. The UMass All-American had seven tackles, an interception, a sack and a forced fumble. It was his first pick of the year and he returned the ball 27 yards for a touchdown. James is in the top 20 in the CFL in tackles with 39 for the year. The Calgary Herald called James, "Mr. Everywhere, Mr. Everything, Stampeder defensive back Shannon James."

The Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 34-31, as Anton McKenzie had three tackles on Sunday. Keron Williams and his Montreal Alouettes beat the Toronto Argos, 45-19, as he had two tackles and a sack.

UMass All-American softball player KJ Kelley has been named an assistant coach at the University of Vermont.

Former UMass basketball star Rashaun Freeman has moved up to the A Division in France. He will be playing for the BCM GRAVELINES DUNKERQUE GRAND LITTORAL (which means GRAVELINES DUNKIRK GRAND COAST) after leading Nantes in scoring and rebounding in 2007-08. Gravelines plays its first game on Oct. 5 against Dijon.

The iewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89713&SPID=10721&DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=1577623">Toledo Rockets released their men's basketball schedule which includes a visit by UMass. The game on Dec. 3. against the Minutemen will be the first in the newly-refurbished Savage Hall.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The great photo gallery from the UMass 45-42 win at Holy Cross is posted by Thom Kendall. Check out shots of the winning field goal and various players. You can purchase the photos with the online form.

Don't miss this: Look for the UMass women's basketball schedule to be released this week. The non-conference portion is set.

  Monday, Sept. 8

Another exciting (and perfect!) weekend for UMass Athletics is in the books. Football, field hockey, and men's soccer combined to put up an impressive 4-0 record over the weekend. The wins included football's last-second 45-42 win over Holy Cross and a late goal by Chris Brown to give men's soccer a 1-0 victory over Siena. Field hockey added a pair of wins, over Dartmouth and Northeastern. In fact, UMass teams haven't lost in eight games, dating 10 days back to Aug. 29! Along with the action-packed weekend of games, Friday was also highlighted by men's basketball working out at the southwest horseshoe. Check out Monday's Just Take A Minute for articles from a variety of media sources. Mid Day Update: UMass football has jumped to #3 nationally in the Sports Network FCS College Football Poll

The Daily Hampshire Gazette, Springfield Republican, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Worcester Telegram & Gazette all had game stories on Saturday's thrilling 45-42 win over Holy Cross. The International Herald Tribune also ran the Associated Press article on the game.

Be sure to read Jeff Thomas' Springfield Republican Holy Cross notes section and his Sunday follow-up on Saturday's performance.

The UMass-Holy Cross game was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle as a great ending with special mentions of Armando Cuko's game-winning 42 yard field goal and Liam Coen's clutch performance on the final drive.

Coen was named Boston Herald's Offensive Hero on Monday.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette also included Monday football follow-ups regarding the team's explosive offense and clutch field goal kicking.

The Gazette ran a wrapup of field hockey and men's soccer.

Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican covers men's soccer's home-opening in_the_games.html"> 1-0 win over Siena on Saturday with a game story on the team's first game at Rudd Field since last year's 2-1 win over Illinois-Chicago in the National Quarterfinals.

The Springfield Republican features UMass Hall of Famer and former field hockey and women's lacrosse standout Judy Strong, focusing on her time at UMass along with her 1984 Olympic experience.

ESPN's Andy Katz's blog about former Minutemen men's basketball coach John Calipari and the Memphis Tigers includes a number of UMass connections with mentions of Derek Kellogg, the newest member of Calipari's staff Jason Walberg (son of current UMass assistant Vance Walberg), and more.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Kids, be sure to sign up for the Kid's Club for a ton of benefits including a free t-shirt, free and discount admission to select athletic events, opportunities to meet your favorite UMass athletes, and more!

Don't miss this: The This Week in UMass Athletics podcast will be posted during the day on Monday. Also, look for some honors to be bestowed on football players, like Liam Coen!

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