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University of Massachusets Athletics
#15 UMass Hosts Stony Brook On Band Day
September 22, 2009 | Football
Complete Release in PDF Format
#15/15 UMASS (2-1) vs. STONY BROOK (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 • 6 p.m. ET
McGuirk Stadium, Amherst, Mass. (17,000/FieldTurf)
Streaming Audio & Gametracker: UMassAthletics.com
Radio: WRNX (100.9 FM); WCRN (830 AM), WMUA (91.1)
UMass Hosts Stony Brook & Band Day, Sat., At 6 p.m.
• After another well-rounded team win last Saturday, the UMass football team seeks its third win in a row as its finishes a three-game homestand this Saturday vs. Stony Brook. The Minutemen moved to 2-1 after a 30-10 win over Rhode Island last week in the conference opener for both teams. The Seawolves (1-2 overall) make their second-ever visit to McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
• Saturday's game will feature three of the biggest promotions of the season headed up by Band Day, where more than 4,000 band students will be on hand for the game and to perform. The game is also the backdrop for Family Day on campus and Kids Club Day, where the players will sign autographs following the game.
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 5:30 p.m. on WRNX (100.9 FM) in Western Massachusetts, the flagship of the network. WATD (95.9 FM) reaches the South Shore. The game can also be heard live online at UMassAthletics.com.
Havens Earns Multiple Honors
• Junior quarterback Kyle Havens earned numerous accolades after his big game in the win over Rhode Island. He was named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, New England Gold Helmet winner as the top player in all of New England and the UMass Athlete of the Week. He completed 22-of-30 passes for a career-best 329 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-10 win. The Concord, Calif., native was nearly perfect in the first half against the Rams, completing 15-of-17 attempts for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The Diablo Valley College transfer completed passes to eight different receivers and was responsible for two big plays in the game including a 50-yard toss to Julian Talley and a 51-yarder to Victor Cruz.
Dominating Defense Blanking Foes
• UMass' defense has been stellar all season. The Minutemen have posted some of the most impressive numbers in the nation. Check these out:
- UMass has not allowed a point in the first or fourth quarter this entire season through three games.
- UMass has allowed points in just two of four quarters this year (28 in the second quarter and 10 in the third quarter).
- UMass has shutout opponents in nine of 12 quarters this year. Just one quarter in each game this season has each opponent scored points.
- UMass has outscored its opponents 91-38 overall, 20-0 in the first and 30-0 in the fourth.
- UMass has not allowed a fourth-quarter point in five games, dating to last season's New Hampshire game on Nov. 15, 2008.
- UMass' defense has not allowed a touchdown in the second half this season (Rhode Island scored its third-quarter touchdown last week on a returned fumble).
- UMass has allowed offensive touchdowns in just the second quarter this season (four).
- UMass has held its opponents to just one offensive touchdown over its last 10 quarters.
- UMass is ranked 11th in the NCAA and second in the CAA in scoring defense (12.7).
- UMass ranks 10th in the NCAA and second in the CAA in pass efficiency defense (92.43).
- UMass has forced nine turnovers in three games, seventh-best in the NCAA.
Band Day Tradition Continues
• What started as three bands coming together at a UMass game in 1985 has grown into a huge event. The 2009 version of Band Day will feature more than 75 bands and over 4,000 musicians joining the UMass Marching Band at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The bands come from all corners of New England and the northeast, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
UMass/Stony Brook Series
• The Minutemen and Seawolves meet for the second time in football. UMass pounded the Seawolves back on Sept. 23, 2006, winning 48-7 at McGuirk Stadium. The Minutemen scored on their first seven drives of the game as Steve Baylark scored three touchdowns. Rasheed Rancher had an 89-yard touchdown pass from Liam Coen, the third-longest play in UMass football history.
UMass/Stony Brook Connections
• There are several connections between the schools. UMass head coach Kevin Morris served as the offensive coordinator at Stony Brook in 1999, the school's first in Division I-AA after moving up from Division III.
• Morris coached against Stony Brook with UMass in 2006 as an offensive coordinator and as an assistant coach at WPI in 1989 and 1990, winning all three games.
• UMass associate athletic director Jason Yellin and assistant athletic director Garrett Waller and are both graduates of the Long Island-based school. UMass' associate athletic director of development Tim Kenney also worked at Stony Brook for nine years in the late 1990s and early 2000s until coming to UMass in 2004.
• Despite being located just 120 miles apart if you travel via the Long Island/Brigdeport Ferry, there are no Long Island natives on the UMass roster. Stony Brook has one Bay State native is freshman linebacker Craig Richardson (Revere, Mass.).
McGuirk Magic
• UMass has been tough to beat in the friendly confines of McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Minutemen have won 21 of their last 23 at home, dating to 2006 for a 91.3 percent win mark.
• The Maroon & White opened 2009 season with a pair of convincing wins: 44-7 over Albany (9/12) and 30-10 over Rhode Island (9/19).
• 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 56-13 (.812) at home over the last 12 years, improving their all-time record at McGuirk to 162-74-2 (.686).
• Since Kevin Morris came to UMass with the majority of the coaching staff in 2004, UMass is 27-5 at home, 84.4 win mark. Since 2003, UMass is 34-5 at home (87.2).
Under The Lights
• UMass played its second-ever "night" game under the permanent lights at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in the 2009 opener, a 44-7 win over Albany (9/12). 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 is a perfect 6-0 in night games, all starting after 5 p.m. at McGuirk Stadium. The Minutemen host one more night game this season against Stony Brook, at 6 p.m.
• 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.
UMass Football History Thumbnail
• This is the 127th season of UMass football. UMass has an all-time record of 542-510-51 (.515) in 1,103 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 over the last decade, since 1998. UMass has a 82-43 record with a 65.6 win percentage.
• 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 In The Polls
• UMass, ranked No. 15 this week by the Sports Network, has been ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 57 of the last 58 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 32-7 record since the start of 2006, in games against FCS teams for a 82.1 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 the 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 32-11 overall, with four losses to FBS teams (Navy, Boston College, Texas Tech and Kansas State).
• The Minutemen are 20-5 in conference games over the last three seasons (80.0 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).
For Openers
• With the 44-7 win over Albany, the Minutemen have won their last eight home openers in a row and are 11-1 over the last 12 openers. Last year, UMass beat Albany after beating Holy Cross in 2007. In 2006, UMass opened with a 28-7 victory over Colgate. Four years ago, UMass routed Albany, 40-0 on Sept. 17, 2005. Since 1997, UMass has lost its home opener just once, a 31-10 loss to William & Mary in 2001.
• With the 44 points in this season's opener, UMass had its most points in a home opener since 2003, when the Minutemen crushed Central Connecticut, 51-7.
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.
• Havens has been sensational over the last two games and earned numerous honors after his big game against Rhode Island (9/19). In UMass' two wins, he has completed 42-of-62 (67.7 percent) for 613 yards and fourth 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 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year. His team averaged 425 yards of offense per game and 36 points per game. He was ranked by Scout.com as the 18th-best junior college quarterback prospect in the nation.
Nelson Carries The Load Again
• 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. 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 2,386 yards entering the Rhode Island game. 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 451. Next on that list of longtime NFL quarterback Greg Landry (485).
• 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.
Ducasse Leads O-Line Of Protection
• Protecting Kyle Havens and leading the way for Tony Nelson will be 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.
• 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 three sacks this season, UMass has allowed just 62 sacks in 64 games since 2004.
• In Ducasse's 27 games over the last four seasons, UMass has allowed only 24 sacks and UMass has had a 100-yard rusher in 18 of those 27 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. 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 several returning players in junior center John Ihne along with sophomores Josh Samuda and Brian Ostaszewski. Senior Jared Chivers has added stability with his versatility playing guard and center this season.
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 11 different players make a reception this season.
• Cruz and Talley top the charts this season. Cruz ranks third in the CAA and 30th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (87.0) with team-best 261 yards in three games on 14 catches. Talley is second on both catches (11) and yards (177). Sanford is third in both with six catches for 107.
• Cruz had his fourth-career 100-yard game 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). With his 1,351 career receiving yards, Cruz has moved to 12th all-time at UMass. No. 11 on the list is DeShon Hardy with 1,359. He also needs six catches to move into a tie for 12th in career receptions as Jimmy Moore and Dominique Stewart each have 92.
• 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).
• Sanford has three catches in each of the last two games. He had career bests in catches (3), yards (76) and long reception (42) in win over Rhode Island (9/19).
• Horne has had a slow start with five catches for 66 yards in the first three games.
• Cruz finished 2008 with 1,064 yards on 71 catches and was named a First-Team All-CAA selection. He became the sixth 1,000-yard receiver in UMass history. His marks for yards and catches ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in UMass single-season history. Cruz had the greatest day for a UMass receiver all-time with 13 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns at James Madison in his third game as a starter last year.
• Horne was a third-team CAA selection last season with 50 catches for 895 yards and a team-best eight receiving touchdowns. He finished third in the CAA in catches and compiled four 100-yard games.
• Talley, who was a CAA Rookie of the Week selection in September, made 18 catches for 234 yards. Sanford, a former quarterback, hauled in 20 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown.
Captain Miles Heads Defensive Corps
• UMass lost two All-Americans in the secondary in Courtney Robinson (Philadelphia Eagles training camp) and Sean Smalls, but returns 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.
• He is third on the team with 20 tackles this season along with an interception and forced fumble 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). He made five tackles vs. URI (9/19).
• The secondary has received contributions from various players this season including senior Corey Davis, sophomore Shane Viveiros, junior Ke'Mon Bailey and redshirt freshman Kumar Davis.
• The rover has been manned by Viveiros, who grew from a walk-on into a starter in just two seasons. Viveiros racked up 36 tackles in 2008, drawing several starts late in the season. In the opener at K-State (9/5), Viveiros racked up eight tackles and three pass break-ups. He tops UMass with four pass break-ups in his two games.
• The secondary also 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 12 tackles in his defensive debut season.
• In his first season of action Kumar Davis has 13 tackles, second among DBs including seven at Kansas State (9/5) and four against Albany (9/12) in his first-career start.
Experienced Defensive Line Creates Chaos
• UMass' defensive line prides itself on creating chaos which it is continuing to do this season. The UMass defensive line returns four seniors and a lot of big game experience to a unit that had 18 sacks and 57 TFLs a season ago. 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 leads UMass with 4.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks along with 16 tackles in three games. 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.
• Harrington has 17 tackles this season, fourth-most on the team. 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 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.
• Junior Bob McLaughlin is also pressing for a starting job after earning four nods last season. McLaughlin had 20 tackles in 2008. Redshirt freshman Chas Thompson and sophomore Courtney Jackson will be key players to watch, as each is expected to emerge this season.
Linebackers Seek To Back It Up
• UMass new linebacker corps has been sensational early on as they have been pressed into action. The linebackers came into the season opener at Kansas State with ONE combined career start (by Tyler Holmes in last season's finale) and they were tremendous against the FBS Wildcats on Sept. 5 as well as the two home games against Albany (9/12) an Rhode Island (9/19).
• True sophomore Tyler Holmes continues to show his amazing ability at MIKE, as he leads UMass with 26 tackles (8.7 per game) and two interceptions (one in the first two games). 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). He stopped six vs. Rhode Island (9/19).
• New starter at SAM senior Kurt Filler is second on the team in tackles with 21 including 1.5 TFLs and his first-career interception. 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.
• 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 Eric Dickson 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.
• Heading into the season, UMass was thought to be returning several top players at linebacker. But injuries have played a role in some players missing time including All-CAA First-Team linebacker Josh Jennings. Syracuse transfer Mike Mele, was also pressing for time, but has not played this season due to injury.
• Dickson made 31 stops in 2008 as an edge blitzer from the secondary while Filler made 18 stops. Mele is expected to make an immediate impact after playing two seasons with the Orange, playing against Big East competition. Mele was third on Syracuse in tackles with 72, starting all 12 games a year ago. Big things are also expected from Holmes, who started the season finale last year and piled up 10 tackles and an interception against Hofstra.