University of Massachusets Athletics
#19 UMass Football Heads To Maine For CAA Clash
October 27, 2009 | Football
Complete Release in PDF Format
#19/23 UMASS (4-3, 2-2) at MAINE (3-4, 2-2)
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET
Alfond Stadium, Orono, Maine (10,000/FieldTurf)
TV: Comcast SportsNet (Gary Tanguay, Andy Gresh)
Streaming Audio & Gametracker: UMassAthletics.com
WRNX (100.9 FM); WCRN (830 AM), WATD (95.9 FM), WBIX (1060 AM)
#19 UMass Heads To Maine For CAA Clash On Comcast
• The #19 UMass football team will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday at Maine as the Minutemen and Black Bears battle in a pivotal CAA game at 3:30 p.m. The game will be aired up and down the East Coast on Comcast SportsNet with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh calling the action. The Minutemen stand at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the CAA after dropping a 34-12 decision at No. 1 Richmond last Saturday in a rain storm. The Black Bears are coming off a bye week and stand at 3-4 overall, and also 2-2 in the CAA North.
• UMass has one of the most well-balanced teams in the CAA ranking second in total offense with 383 yards per game while allowing 302 yards per game, fourth-best in the league. The Minutemen top the league in passing offense throwing for 246 yards per game.
• The Minutemen have used a two-headed attack at tailback with senior Payton Award candidate Tony Nelson and sophomore Jonathan Hernandez. Each has gained more than 100 yards in two games apiece this season. Nelson has been hampered by an injury for the last several weeks playing just one series, vs. UNH.
• Receiver Victor Cruz leads the CAA in yards per game with 77.3 along as he has made 33 catches for 541 yards. Cruz is moving up the all-time charts at UMass for receiving yards (1,631) and receptions (105) standing seventh on both.
• On defense, UMass has the CAA's second-leading tackler in true sophomore linebacker Tyler Holmes, who comes off a career-game at Richmond in his state homecoming. Holmes is second in the league with 10.14 tackles per game. He racked up a career-high 17 stops against the top-ranked Spiders including 4.0 TFLs, a sack and an interception. Fellow linebacker Eric Dickson is sixth in the CAA with 9.3 tackles per game including double-figures in each of the last two games.
• On special teams, senior placekicker Armando Cuko is on his way to a record setting season. He leads the NCAA in field goals per game with 2.5 and ranks second overall in points per game (10.7). Cuko has made 15-of-18 field goals this season, with his conversions ranking one behind the single-season UMass record of 16. He is also flying up the career charts in terms of made field goals (27) ranking tied for third. Redshirt freshman punter Caleb Violette lis third in the CAA in punting with a 41.0 average and has dropped 10 of his 26 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Radio Broadcast Information
• Saturday's game will be available with streaming video, audio and gametracker on UMassAthletics.com. Fans can listen to the UMass Sports Network carrying the game statewide with "Voice of the Minutemen" Josh Maurer calling the action and former Minutemen Matt Goldstein and Rene Ingoglia on the color commentary. The pregame show begins at 3 p.m. on WRNX (100.9 FM) in Western Massachusetts, the flagship of the network. WBIX (1060 AM) will join the game at 5 p.m., while WCRN (830 AM) reaches Central Mass and WATD (95.9 FM) hits the South Shore. The game can also be heard live online at UMassAthletics.com.
UMass-Maine Series History
• UMass holds a 40-14-1 lead in the all-time series which began in 1909. The 40 wins are the third-most against any team after Rhode Island (48) and New Hampshire (43).
• In the last six years, four of the games have been decided by eight points or less, including three by one point.
• Maine ended UMass' six-game series win streak last season with a crushing 21-20 win at McGuirk Stadium on Nov. 8, 2008. That game played a large roll in propelling the Black Bears to the NCAA Tournament as they finished the regular-season with a 8-4 record while UMass finished at 7-5.
• Last year's game was the third straight at McGuirk Stadium decided by a missed extra points in Amherst. In 2004 and 2006 UMass won games by a point on Black Bear misses. Last season, UMass returned the favor missing a kick that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter in the 21-20 defeat.
• Prior to last year, the Minutemen had defeated the Black Bears six years in a row. UMass has won nine of the last 11 games in the series overall.
• In the last game in Orono, UMass pounded the Black Bears, 38-7 on Sept. 22, 2007. UMass built a 21-0 lead just 5:07 into the game. Current Baltimore Ravens running back Matt Lawrence ran for three touchdowns and 176 yards. Tony Nelson had his first-career 100-yard game with 104 yards on 18 carries.
• In 2006, No. 3 UMass topped No. 19 Maine to clinch the conference championship with a 10-9 victory in Amherst on Nov. 11, 2006. Maine's kicker Devin McNeill missed an extra point after the Black Bears scored to make it 10-9 with 1:44 left in regulation. Chris Koepplin kicked the decisive 35-yard field goal just five seconds into the fourth quarter giving UMass a 10-0 lead. It was the second time in three years the UMass-Maine game was decided by an extra point miss by the Black Bears. In 2004, UMass blocked an extra point in overtime for a 35-34 victory. Those games sandwiched by a UMass 35-14 win in Orono in 2005.
• UMass holds an 18-10 advantage for games played in Orono, with wins in four of the last five games. All-time UMass is 18-9 at Alfond Stadium.
• UMass holds a 22-4-1 advantage for games played in Amherst with five wins in a row until last season's defeat. At McGuirk Stadium, UMass is 18-4 vs. Maine.
• From 1991-96, every game between the Minutemen and the Black Bears was decided by eight points or less, then from 1997-2001, the closest game was decided by 21 points.
• Kevin Morris will be coaching against Maine for the first time as the head coach, but UMass was 4-1 in the previous five years when he was the offensive coordinator for the Minutemen. Maine's head man Jack Cosgrove is 6-10 vs. UMass.
Connections Between UMass and Maine
• UMass does not have any players from the state of Maine. But Maine has six players from the Commonwealth sophomore fullback Conor Keating (Milton, Mass.), sophomore kicker Brian Harvey (Wayland, Mass.), freshman linebacker Derek Pratt (Glocester, Mass.), freshman tailback Terrel Walker (Taunton, Mass.), freshman lineman Stephen Russo (Topsfield, Mass.) and freshman lineman Joe Hook (Westfield, Mass.)
• The Minutemen do have three players who went to Bridgton Academy for a prep season in Maine including senior receivers Joe Sanford and Victor Cruz along with redshirt freshman linebacker Nick Haag.
• UMass' director of football operations and former head coach Mike Hodges is a 1967 graduate of Maine and lettered in football twice helping the Black Bears to the 1965 Yankee Conference title.
UMass Football History Thumbnail
• This is the 127th season of UMass football. UMass has an all-time record of 544-512-51 (.514) in 1,107 all-time games. The Minutemen have won two of the last three conference championships (2006 and 2007). Last year, UMass posted its seventh winning season in a row with a 7-5 record. Over the last seven years, UMass has made three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2007, UMass went 10-3, going 7-1 in the inaugural season of the CAA.
• UMass has the winningest program in the CAA since 1998. UMass has a 84-45 record with a 65.4 win percentage. Over the last 10 years (since 2000), UMass has the best win percentage as well with a 65.0 mark and a 75-41 record.
• The Minutemen have won 22 conference championships the last two coming in 2007 and 2008. All-time UMass has eight NCAA Tournament appearances winning the 1998 title and also playing in the championship game in 2006 and 1978.
• UMass has three current NFL players: former linebacker Jeremy Cain (UMass 2000-03) with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a long snapper, safety James Ihedigbo (UMass 2003-06) with the New York Jets, running back Matt Lawrence (2005-07) with the Baltimore Ravens.
UMass In The Polls
• UMass, ranked No. 19 this week by the Sports Network, has been ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 62 of the last 63 weeks. The last regular-season week of 2008 marked the first time since the first week of the 2005 season that UMass was not ranked. The Minutemen were just one of five programs in the nation to have been ranked every week since that point (Montana, New Hampshire, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois).
UMass Dominating FCS & CAA Foes
• UMass has a 34-9 record since the start of 2006, in games against FCS teams for a 79.6 win percentage. UMass was 7-5 last season overall and 7-4 vs. FCS teams. The Minutemen finished 2007 at 10-3 overall, 10-2 vs. FCS opponents. Prior to a loss at Rhode Island on Nov. 3, 2007, UMass had won 17 games in a row against FCS teams in regular-season games from 2006 through 2008.
• Overall since the 2006 opener, UMass is 34-12 overall (75.0), with four losses to FBS teams (Navy, Boston College, Texas Tech and Kansas State).
• The Minutemen are 21-7 in conference games over the last three seasons (75.0 win percentage). The Minutemen finished at 7-1 in the CAA in 2007 and were undefeated in league in 13 games in a row prior to a loss to Rhode Island on Nov. 3, 2007. UMass went 8-0 in conference in 2006 (becoming the first undefeated team in league since Villanova in 1997).
McGuirk Magic
• UMass has been tough to beat in the friendly confines of McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Minutemen have won 23 of their last 25 at home, dating to 2006 for a 92.0 percent win mark.
• The Maroon & White opened 2009 season with three convincing wins: 44-7 over Albany (9/12), 30-10 over Rhode Island (9/19) and 44-17 over Stony Brook (9/26). UMass followed up with a 23-17 win over #4 New Hampshire (10/17) to pick up its biggest win of the season.
• UMass went undefeated at home in 2006 (8-0) and 2007 (6-0) before a 4-2 mark last season. Before losing at home to Richmond (10/18/08), UMass' 16-game home winning streak was the second-longest in FCS as only San Diego (28) had a longer one. In all of Division I football, it was tied for the third-longest streak, also behind Oklahoma (21).
• Since the start of the 1998 season, the Minutemen have gone 58-13 (.816) at home over the last 12 years, improving their all-time record at McGuirk to 164-74-2 (.688).
• Since Kevin Morris came to UMass with the majority of the coaching staff in 2004, UMass is 29-5 at home, 85.3 win mark. Since 2003, UMass is 36-5 at home (87.8).
UMass Turns To Havens
• Junior Kyle Havens has taken over as the starting signal-caller after the graduation of all-time great Liam Coen. Coen finished at UMass as the all-time leading passer in every category. Coen is first in career yards (11,031), attempts (1,303), completions (830), completion percentage (63.9), passing efficiency (152.92), yards per attempt (8.47) and touchdowns (90). Havens was named the starter on Aug. 29 after competing with senior Scott Woodward and sophomore Octavious Hawkins.
• In first seven starts at UMass, Havens has thrown for 1,534 yards and eight touchdowns and completed 54 percent (114-of-211).He ranks fifth in the CAA in total offense (212.9) and ninth in passing efficiency (115.3).
• In UMass' three consecutive wins (Sept.12-26), he has completed 54-of-86 (63 percent) for 872 yards and four touchdowns. Versus URI, he threw for 329 yards on 22-of-30 and two TDs. Was 15-of-17 for 206 in the first half alone. That performance earned him the New England Gold Helmet as the region's top player, CAA Offensive Player of the Week and UMass Athlete of the Week.
• Havens had a great game in his home debut against Albany (9/12) as he threw for 284 yards on 20-of-32 with two touchdowns. Havens hit Victor Cruz for two scores including a 67-yard bomb. In his debut Havens threw for 102 yards with a touchdown to Andrew Krevis.
• Havens was a star quarterback at Diablo Valley College in California for the past two seasons as he was named to the NorCal All-Conference team. Havens was named an Academic All-American after throwing for 301.7 yards per game along with 27 TDs and 13 interceptions last year. His team averaged 425 yards of offense per game and 36 points per game.
Nelson Up For Payton Award
• UMass continues to produce 1,000-yard rushers as Walter Payton Award candidate Tony Nelson returns for his second season as the primary back for the Minutemen. He has been banged up recently and played just one series against New Hampshire (10/17) and missed the Richmond (10/24) and Stony Brook (9/26) games.
• Last year, Nelson was an All-CAA First Team Selection gaining 1,325 yards and 12 touchdowns. UMass has had a 1,000-yard rusher for seven years in a row with R.J. Cobbs in 2002, Steve Baylark from 2003-06 and Matt Lawrence in 2007.
• Nelson has moved to sixth in career rushing yards with 2,421 yards. He passed Jerome Bledsoe (2,216) with 77 yards against Albany (9/12). He passed Kevin Smellie (2,148) at Kansas State with his 107. With another 1,000-yard season, we could move to No. 5 on the all-time list. Nelson is also tied for 11th in career rushing touchdowns with 18 (two this season). He is also eighth in career carries at UMass with 468. Next on that list is longtime NFL quarterback Greg Landry (485).
• Nelson was first in the CAA in rushing yards per game prior to the New Hampshire (10/17) game when he gained just two yards in limited action. He slipped to third in the CAA with a mark of 75.4. Jonathan Hernandez is right behind with 64 yards per game.
• Nelson had his ninth-career 100-yard rushing game against Rhode Island (9/19) with 158 yards on 29 carries. It was also his sixth-career game with more than 150 yards on the ground.
• In the opener at Kansas State (9/5), Nelson became the first UMass back to gain 100 yards against a I-A/FBS team in 10 years with 107 yards on the Wildcats' defense. Back in 1999, Marcel Shipp gained 111 at Toledo. It was also his eighth-career 100-yard game at UMass.
• Nelson is a preseason All-CAA pick in addition to being a College Sporting News Third Team Preseason All-American.
• Nelson gained 110.4 yards per game last season including seven career 100-yard games. He finished last season with a career-high 204 yards against Hofstra (11/22/08), his sixth game of the year with 100-plus yards.
Hernandez Runs Wild With Opportunity
• The Minutemen have developed a top-level compliment to Tony Nelson in sophomore Jonathan Hernandez. The Leominster, Mass., product has emerged in his increased playing time this season. He has played in all seven games and has 87 carries for a team-best 445 yards and six rushing touchdowns, most on the team.
• Making the most of his opportunity, Hernandez was named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week honors after helping #18 UMass to a 23-17 upset win over visiting #4 New Hampshire, 23-17. The sophomore was also named the game's Bill Knight MVP after garnered a career-high 166 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against New Hampshire's league-leading defense. He scored the game-winning touchdown on a 42-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter. Hernandez added to his fourth-quarter rushing total of 104 yards when he broke loose on a 34-yarder with just under two minutes left to play, to set up what proved to the be the game-icing field goal for UMass.
• In first-career start vs. Stony Brook (9/26), rushed for career-high 140 yards on career-high 29 carries and three touchdowns. He became first UMass player with 3 TDs in a game since Matt Lawrence in 2007.
• In first extended playing time had nine carries for 88 yards vs. Albany (9/12), scored first two career touchdowns including a career-long of 58 yards.
Ducasse Leads O-Line Of Protection
• Protecting Kyle Havens and leading the way for UMass' duo of Tony Nelson and Jonathan Hernandez is one of the top offensive lines in the nation. The line is led by one of the top lineman in the nation regardless of division in senior captain left tackle Vladimir Ducasse. The Haitian native is a preseason consensus First-Team All-American and is rated as a top NFL prospect by many services.
• This year UMass' has allowed just eight sacks in seven games for 1.14 per game, ranking 17th in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed and second in the CAA (Richmond 1.0).
• Last season with Ducasse as the anchor, UMass was second in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed with just six in 12 games (0.50 per game). The Minutemen led the CAA in fewest sacks allowed, marking the fourth year in a row that UMass was a the top of the league in fewest sacks allowed.
• With giving up six sacks in 12 games last season and seven sacks this season, UMass has allowed just 67 sacks in 68 games since 2004 when the majority of the current coaching staff arrived.
• In Ducasse's 31 games over the last four seasons, UMass has allowed only 30 sacks and UMass has had a 100-yard rusher in 20 of those 31 games. This year, Nelson has two games with 100 or more yards: 158 vs. Rhode Island (9/19) and 107 at Kansas State (9/5) in the opener. Along with that Jonathan Hernandez had 166 yards vs. New Hampshire (10/17) and 140 yards vs. Stony Brook (9/26). Nelson gained 100 yards in six of 12 games last season.
• A 2008 All-American, Ducasse is a preseason All-CAA First Team and First-Team All-American by nearly every outlet.
• Ducasse is flanked by several returning players in sophomores Josh Samuda and Brian Ostaszewski. Senior Jared Chivers has added stability with his versatility playing guard and center this season. UMass has used many different combinations up front all season including junior John Ihne, redshirt freshman Stephane Milhim and junior Brandon Flanagan. UMass has started four different players at right guard (Chivers, Flanagan, Ihne and Milhim).
Dynamic Receivers Flying High
• Last season, one of the biggest question marks coming into the season was who would catch the balls thrown by senior quarterback Liam Coen. This season it was flipped, who would throw the balls to UMass senior wide receivers? That question has been answered with Kyle Havens.
• UMass returns two of the top wideouts in the nation in All-American Victor Cruz and All-conference pick Jeremy Horne. A year after questions surrounded an inexperienced receiver corps, UMass has one of the most experienced groups in the nation with its top four wideouts returning. Along with Cruz and Horne, senior Joe Sanford and sophomore Julian Talley give UMass a very talented and dynamic bunch.
• Overall, UMass has had 12 different players make a reception this season.
• Cruz and Talley top the charts this season. Cruz ranks FIRST in the CAA and 27th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (77.3) with team-best 541 yards on 33 catches. Talley is second on both catches (20) and yards (271). Horne is third in both with 16 catches for 246 yards.
• With his 1,631 career receiving yards, Cruz has moved to seventh all-time at UMass. No. 6 on the list is Chip Mitchell with 1,680 (1986-89).
• Cruz became the ninth player in UMass history with 100 catches in UMass history with his fifth catch of the game against New Hampshire (10/17). He is currently seventh in career catches with 105 with Mitchell. Next on that list at No. 6 is Bob Simeone (108).
• Cruz has two 100-yard games this year with 118 yards on eight catches at Delaware (10/10) and against Albany (9/12) with 121 yards on six catches and two touchdowns. He had a big day with 96 yards on six catches against Rhode Island (9/19).
• Talley had career-highs of five catches and 86 yards in the win over Albany (9/12). Talley added three catches for 69 yards including career-long 55 yarder vs. Rhode Island (9/19).
• Horne, who had a slow start, busted out for his fifth-career 100-yard receiving game against Stony Brook (9/26) with five catches for 124 yards. Overall, he has 10 catches for 190 yards.
• Sanford had three catches in back-to-back games in mid-September. He had career bests in catches (3), yards (76) and long reception (42) in win over Rhode Island (9/19). For the year, he has eight catches for 149 yards.
Captain Miles Heads Defensive Corps
• UMass lost two All-Americans in the secondary in Courtney Robinson (Philadelphia Eagles training camp) and Sean Smalls, but returned one of the best safeties in the nation, All-American Jeromy Miles. The senior from Sicklerville, New Jersey heads into his final college season as a team captain leading the defensive side of the ball.
• As the starting free safety, Miles led UMass in tackles last season with 104 stops. He also intercepted three passes, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. Miles was an All-CAA First-Team selection and led all league defensive backs with 8.7 tackles per game. He also led the team with 56 solo stops including five TFLs.
• This year, he is third on the team with 43 tackles this season along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Miles opened the season with eight tackles at Kansas State (9/5). He had seven stops and his eighth-career interception against Albany (9/12).
• The secondary has received contributions from various players this season including senior Corey Davis, sophomore Shane Viveiros, junior Ke'Mon Bailey and redshirt freshmen Kumar Davis and Darren Thellen.
• The DBs have received a boost from the converted wide receiver Bailey, who had six tackles, three for a loss, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in his first-ever game on the defensive side of the ball at K-State (9/5). He has 29 tackles in his defensive debut season along with five passes defended.
• In his first season of action Kumar Davis has 25 tackles, including seven at Kansas State (9/5) and four against Albany (9/12) in his first-career start. Kumar Davis made the game-sealing interception in the end zone as time expired in the huge 23-17 win over #4 New Hampshire (10/17). Corey Davis has 13 tackles along with a team-best six passes broken up. Thellen has 18 tackles this year.
Linebackers Back It Up!
• UMass new linebacker corps has been sensational this season. The linebackers came into the season opener at Kansas State with ONE combined career start (by Tyler Holmes in last season's finale) and have been tremendous.
• True sophomore Tyler Holmes continues to show his amazing ability at MIKE, as he leads UMass with 71 tackles (10.2 per game) and three interceptions (one in the first two games and one at Richmond). He ranks second in the CAA in tackles per game and tied for fourth in interceptions per game (0.43). Holmes had the best game of his young career in his state-homecoming at Richmond (10/24). Against the top-ranked Spiders he piled up a career-best 17 tackles including 4.0 TFLs, his first-career sack and his fourth-career interception. Holmes had 13 stops at Delaware (10/10). He piled up 12 tackles and his second career interception at Kansas State (9/5). He tallied eight tackles and an interception for the third game in a row against Albany (9/12).
• Senior Eric Dickson has been a tackling machine all season playing at WILL. In his six games, he is risen to second on the team with 56 stops (9.3 per game). Dickson has double-figure stops in each of his last two games with 10 at #1 Richmond (10/24). He had a team-best and career-high 18 tackles in the upset win over #4 New Hampshire (10/17). After missing the opener, he returned to action in the home opener against Albany (9/12) and began his season with a bang. He racked up a team-best nine tackles and a 7-yard sack. It was Dickson's first-career start and first-career game at linebacker. He tied for the team-lead in tackles against Rhode Island (9/19) with seven stops.
• UMass has had two freshman named CAA Rookie of the Week, both playing from the linebacker spot, demonstrating the bright future.
• True freshman Perry McIntyre was named the CAA Rookie of the Week after the Stony Brook (9/26) game after racking up a team-best eight tackles. McIntyre has 30 tackles overall this season. He posted a career-high 10 tackles in the win over #4 New Hampshire (10/17).
• Redshirt freshman D.J. Adeoba was stellar in his first college game with seven tackles and a return of a block punt for a 26-yard touchdown. He was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for his performance. He was also was named to the Boston Herald's Honor Roll as the top defensive player in New England.
• Senior Kurt Filler was third on the team in tackles with 21 prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury against Stony Brook. He had his most impactful game vs. Rhode Island (9/19). He had a key interception (first of career) to end a URI drive in the first quarter. He also made six tackles including one on a fourth-down to end another URI drive in the UMass red zone. Filler drew his first start with the Minutemen and racked up nine tackles and 1.5 TFLs at Kansas State (9/5). He also had six tackles against Albany (9/12). The junior college transfer saw just limited action last season.
Experienced D-Line Creates Chaos
• UMass' defensive line prides itself on creating chaos which it is continuing to do this season. Three starters from 2008 are back including All-CAA third-team selection senior Kyle Harrington. Veteran starters and seniors Brandon Collier and Michael Hanson, also return, each of whom were plagued by injuries last season. Senior Anthony Monette, who has been a back-up, is starting in his final college season.
• Hanson is tied with Monette for the team lead with 7.0 TFLs along with 2.5 sacks. He has made 33 tackles, fourth on the team and most among the linemen. In the opener at Kansas State (9/5), Hanson returned to his form of two years ago with seven tackles including 1.5 TFLs and a 13-yard sack. He also recovered a fumble and returned it eight yards. Hanson had a big game at Delaware (10/10) with nine solo tackles, a sack, two TFLs and a forced fumble. Hanson continued his strong play with six tackles and his first-career interception in the win over #4 New Hampshire (10/17).
• Harrington has 29 tackles and 5.0 TFLs this season. He tied for the team-lead with seven tackles vs. Rhode Island (9/19) including 2.5 TFLs. That came on the heels of the Albany (9/12) game when he was named the Game MVP by the coaches, finishing with seven stops.
• Monette, has emerged as a solid performer as he leads UMass in sacks with 3.5 for 21 yards in addition to being tied with Hanson for first on the team in TFLs with 7.0. Monette has 25 overall tackles.
• Harrington was the line's top tackler in 2008 with 56 stops, which is the third most among, all returning defensive players. The 6-3, 285-pound Salem, Mass., native also had 2.5 sacks. Collier, a 2007 All-CAA selection, racked up 36 tackles last season after posting a career-best 62 as a sophomore. Hanson, also mired with injuries last season, had 33 stops last year after a break-out sophomore campaign with 61 tackles. Hanson was second in the CAA in 2007 with 16 TFLs to go along with seven sacks. He will look to return to that form in his senior campaign.
Cuko Kicks The Record Book
• Senior kicker Armando Cuko has emerged as a great weapon for the Minutemen this season. He leads the NCAA in field goals per game (2.5) and is second in points per game (10.7).
• Cuko is also moving up the record books with what has started off as a record-season in just six games for the Albanian native. He has made 15-of-18 field goals and all 19 PAT attempts. His 15 made field goals already ranks third-most in a season. The record of 16 is held by Sandro Vitiello (1978) and Chris Koepplin (2006).
• On the all-time charts, he ranks tied for third in career made field goals with 27. He is even with Koepplin and Doug White. The all-time record is in reach with Silvio Bonvini making 30 from 1985-88. He is also fourth in career made PATs with 91. Next on list is White with 97.
• Cuko has 10 career field goals of more than 40 yards (six this year). It included his career-long of 51, tied for third-longest at UMass, which he kicked at Delaware (10/10).
• He made multiple field goals in the first five games he's played this season and three field goals in four of his games. He had three games in a row with three field goals, all tying his career high for makes in a game. He hit from 30, 42, 35 vs. Stony Brook (9/26); 22, 37, 42 vs. Rhode Island (9/19) and 47, 37, 40 against Albany (9/12).
Under The Lights
• UMass is a perfect 7-0 in night games, all starting at 6 p.m. at McGuirk Stadium.
• UMass played two night games under the permanent lights at McGuirk Alumni Stadium this season with a 44-7 win over Albany (9/12) and 44-17 over Stony Brook (9/26). The lights were installed prior to the 2008 season at a cost of roughly $1.8 million. Last season, UMass hosted Albany for its first game under the lights on Aug. 30, 2008 and the Minutemen posted a 28-16 win. Later in the season, UMass played several games that started at 3:30 p.m. where lights were used, but they were not true night games.
• UMass played four night games under temporary lights at McGuirk and won all four games. The first game under the lights came in the 2000 opener, a 36-16 win over William & Mary on Aug. 31. That game was also the only other football game in UMass history played in August.
• The Minutemen played the 2004 home opener under the lights a 30-20 win on Sept. 11, 2004. UMass played two home games under the lights in 2005, beating Albany, 40-0 on Sept. 17 and Rhode Island, 14-6 on Sept. 24.
• Lights were also installed for the 2006 NCAA I-AA Playoffs for UMass' 24-17 win over New Hampshire on Dec. 2. That game kicked off at 2:30 p.m. and the lights did not take effect until the second half of the game. The game technically by NCAA rules doesn't count as a night game.
