AMHERST, Mass. - UMass football's quest for the postseason continues on Saturday when the No. 19 Minutemen (6-4, 4-3 CAA) head to Kingston, R.I. to face Rhode Island (4-6, 3-4 CAA) for the 85th time. The 12:30 p.m. game at Meade Stadium closes the regular season and is critical for UMass as it sits in a four-way tie for third place in the CAA standings. The Minutemen have faced the Rams more than any other opponent in program history.
The NCAA FCS Selection Show will be televised on ESPNU on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
UMass had a two-game winning streak snapped last week by No. 2 Delaware, 45-27 on Senior Day at McGuirk Stadium, vaulting the Blue Hens to No. 1 in the polls. The Minutemen had won at No. 15 James Madison and at home against Maine the previous two weeks.
While Delaware sits in first place at 6-1 and William & Mary, who UMass defeated in the seasom-opener on Sept. 4, 27-23, sits in second at 5-2, the Minutemen are in a four-way tie for third with New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova, all at 4-3 in the CAA standings.
UMass dropped five spots and is ranked No. 19 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 this week. The Minutemen held their ground at No. 13 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
STATEWIDE RADIO COVERAGE
Josh Maurer in his third season as "Voice of the Minutemen." He will be joined by color analysts and former Minutemen: Matt Goldstein and Rene Ingoglia. Adam Frenier will man the sidelines.
The game will be carried statewide on flagship 100.9 FM WRNX in Western Mass.; 1510 The Zone in Eastern Mass.; 830 AM WCRN in Central Mass. and 95.9 FM WATD on the South Shore.
The can can also be listened to online at UMassAthletics.com.
IN THE POLLS
UMass is ranked No. 19 this week in both the The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 Poll, a slip of five spots, and in the FCS Coaches Poll, a drop of six spots.
UMass was ranked No. 8 for three-straight weeks (Sept. 27-Oct. 11), its highest ranking since Sept. 8, 2008 when the it was ranked No. 3.
The Colonial Athletic Association owns four of the top 15 spots and six of the top 19 in this week's TSN/Fathead.com Top 25: No. 2 Delaware, No. 6 William & Mary, No. 14 New Hampshire, No. 15 Villanova, No. 18 Richmond, and No. 19 UMass.
UMass has now been ranked for 73 of the last 77 weeks dating to 2005. UMass was not ranked the final three weeks of the regular-season in 2009 and the last regular-season week of 2008.
UMASS VS. RHODE ISLAND: THE SERIES
UMass holds a 47-35-2 lead in the all-time series which began in 1903. The teams have played every season since 1946 after the series was interrupted by World War II.
The Minutemen have won 19 of the last 24 meetings between the two schools, including 11 of the last 13 games. The Rams have won two of the last three at Meade Stadium.
In last season's meeting, on Sept. 19 at McGuirk Stadium, the Minutemen continued to dominate Rhode Island, beating the Rams for the ninth time in a row at home, winning 30-10 on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon. UMass has outscored the Rams 79-10 over the last two meetings. Kyle Havens was sensational in the game as he completed 22-of-30 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. That included a first half where he was 15-of-17 for 206 yards. On the ground, Tony Nelson rushed for 158 yards on 29 carries and a score. It was his ninth-career 100-yard game and second this season.
The teams played at Rhode Island in 2007 and 2008. The Minutemen pounded the Rams, 49-0 in 2008 after suffering a 12-6 loss in 2007. The win in 2008 ended a two-game win streak for the Rams at Meade Stadium. They also won 27-24 in 2004.
The series with Rhode Island is the most played one in UMass history as the teams have met 84 times. Next on the list is UConn, as the Minutemen and Huskies played 71 times from 1897-1999.
UMass' 47 wins are the most against any team as well. The second most wins are against, New Hampshire, as UMass is 43-27-3 against the Wildcats.
At Meade Stadium, UMass is 20-17 overall and 22-17 in games played at Rhode Island. Prior to that Rhode Island win in 2004, UMass won three in a row in Kingston. At McGuirk Stadium, UMass is 17-6 vs. the Rams. Overall in Amherst, the Minutemen (and Redmen) are 25-18-2 in the series. UMass has won nine straight games vs. Rhode Island at McGuirk, last falling in 1991, 17-14.
UMASS AND RHODE ISLAND CONNECTIONS
Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn took over the Rams staff in the summer of 2007 after working at UMass for 13 years in a variety of roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Associate Athletic Director at UMass. Bjorn was a star football player for the Minutemen from 1987-89.
UMass does not have a Rhode Island native on its roster this season. The last Minuteman from Rhode Island was all-time passing leader Liam Coen, a native of Newport, R.I. He graduated in 2008 after setting every career passing record in UMass history. He was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the Ocean State's history passing for 5,335 yards and 66 touchdowns in his prep career playing for his father Tim at LaSalle Academy. Coen is currently the quarterbacks coach at Brown University.
Rhode Island has six players on its roster from the Bay State.
UMass running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Guido Falbo is in his seventh season with the Minutemen after two years as Rhode Island's wide receivers coach (2002-03).
HOLMES GAINS NATIONAL ATTENTION
UMass junior linebacker and Buck Buchanan Award Candidate Tyler Holmes garnered various awards for his performance in the Minutemen's 39-24 victory over Maine on Nov. 6. He was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network, College Sporting News and College Football Performance Awards. Holmes became the first player in all of Division I (FBS and FCS) to return two interceptions for touchdowns in 2010. Holmes was also honored with the New England Gold Helmet as well as the CAA Defensive Player of the week for the third time.
Holmes became the first player in UMass history, and just the 23rd all-time, to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, and the same season as #15 UMass played a happy tune on Band Day with a 39-24 win over Maine on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium. The last player to accomplish the feat was Kellin White, Southeast Missouri State vs. UT Martin on Oct. 30, 2004. The junior became the third player in league history to record two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the same game, and the first since Towson's Allante Harrison did it against Elon in 2004 (Maine's Bill Curry vs. Liberty, 10/10/1992). Not only was Holmes's interception feat a league record, but he was also the first player in major college football this season to turn in such an effort.
Last week against Delaware, Holmes racked up 16 total tackles, 11 of those solo stops, while adding a sack and a fumble recovery. He has 10 or more tackles in six out of 10 games this season, including three out of the last four games when he is averaging 12 tackles per game.
Holmes leads UMass in tackles with 10.7 per game with 107 in 10 games. He is fourth in the CAA and best on the team in tackles-for-loss with 12.0 and is third in the CAA in sacks with 5.0.
SPECIAL RETURNS
Leading UMass' special teams units in 2010 has been the punt return team. The Minutemen rank fourth in the nation in punt return average at 16.93 yards per return.
Julian Talley has handled most of the punt return duties in 2010, averaging 13.3 yards on nine returns.
Anthony Nelson has been electric on only two punt returns in 2010, going for 53 yards at James Madison and for 51 yards last week against Delaware.
PLAYING KEEP-AWAY
UMass ranks 16th in the country and second in the CAA in time of possession with an average of 32:14 per game.
This week is the first time UMass has been out of the top 10 nationally and not led the CAA in time of possession after a season-low 24:33 vs. Delaware last Saturday.
UMass' average of 21.0 first downs per game is 20th-best in the country and is second in the CAA.
UMass had won the time of possession battle in every game this season up until the UNH loss on Oct. 23 when it had the ball for 27:24. The Minutemen's high of 39:13 came vs. Holy Cross.
OFFENSE ROLLING
The strength of this UMass team's offense this season has been the ground game, balanced with a strong passing attack. The Minutemen are averaging 171.9 rushing yards per game (37th nationally, fourth in CAA) and 231.9 yards per game through the air (28th nationally, first in CAA), combining for the 22nd-best nationally and second-best in the CAA ranking in total offense (403.8 yards per game).
The one-two combination of John Griffin and Jonathan Hernandez give UMass depth and options at the tailback position and come into Saturday's game within two yards of each other in rushing this season. Griffin has 816 yards on 158 carries with five touchdowns for an average of 81.6 yards per game. Hernandez has run for 814 yards on 193 carries and seven scores for an 81.4 yards per game average.
UMass has been successful at controlling the ball, winning the time of possession battle with an average of 32:14 to the opponents' 27:46.
Senior quarterback Kyle Havens leads the CAA in passing yardage and ranks 20th nationally with 231.2 yards per game. His passing efficiency rating of 143.96 ranks third in the CAA and 15th in the NCAA.
NELSON AMONG NATION'S BEST
Senior wide receiver Anthony Nelson ranks among not only the CAA's best, but among the nation's best receivers in 2010. The Hofstra transfer ranks first in the CAA in yards per game (70.1) and second in receptions per game (5.70). Those totals are 43rd and 29th in the country, respectively.
Nelson had the best game of his career when he caught 11 passes for 190 yards, both career highs, against New Hampshire on Oct. 23. He had at least five catches in the first seven games of the season.
Nelson's performance against UNH earned him being named to the College Football Performance Awards honor roll.
NELSON AN ESPN ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT PICK
Nelson has been named to the ESPN Academic All-District First Team. He is now eligible for national Academic All-American honors, which will be announced later this year. Nelson, a 3.88 student majoring in Economics, leads the CAA in receptions (52) and receiving yards (657). He is UMass' first Academic All-District pick since linebacker Mark Kimener in 2003, who was also an Academic All-American.
HAVENS HEAVING IT
Senior quarterback Kyle Havens is 194-of-303 passing for 2,319 yards and a 64.0 percent completion rate. He has thrown 18 touchdowns with just six interceptions, a significant improvement over last season's nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Havens' passing efficiency rating is 143.96 in 2010, compared to 115.90 in 2009.
Havens threw for a school-record 450 yards in UMass' 37-13 loss to New Hampshire at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 23. He broke Liam Coen's mark of 421 set against Southern Illinois in 2007. Havens was 32-of-55 passing that game. Both his completions and attempts are the second-most in a single game in UMass history.
This season's totals of 194 completions ranks tied for seventh in a season at UMass. No. 6 is Liam Coen (206 in 2008) and No. 5 is also Coen (217 in 2006). His total of 2,319 is 8th-best single-season passing yardage total, No. 7 is Tim Day (2,481 in 2004) and No. 6 is Coen (2,749 in 2008). His passing TDs mark of 18 is 8th-best in a season. No. 7 is Noel Reenebecker (20 in 1951).
Havens now stands fifth in career completions (340) and sixth in both passing yards (4,227) and attempts (567).
GO FOR IT!
After leading the nation in fourth-down conversion percentage for the first six weeks of the season, converting 10 of their first 11, the Minutemen rank seventh this week at 72.41 percent (21-of-29). Most recently, UMass was a perfect 3-of-5 on fourth downs against Delaware after going 3-of-3 against Maine two weeks ago.
UMass' 21 fourth-down conversions is second-most in FCS behind Murray State (22-of-32).
UMass has already more than doubled its total number of fourth-down conversions and attempts from 2009 when it was 8-for-14.
On third downs, UMass is sixth in the CAA and 44th in the NCAA at 38.93 percent (58-of-149).
DON'T GO FOR IT!
While UMass' offensive is among the nation's best on fourth downs, the Minutemen's defense has been just as good on fourth downs. UMass' fourth down defense is third-best in the country as opponents convert just 20 percent of the time (3-of-15).
Last week, Delaware did not attempt a fourth down conversion. Two weeks ago vs. Maine, the Black Bears were 0-for-3 on fourth downs.
CAA RECORD CROWD AT GILLETTE
Oct. 23's Colonial Clash against New Hampshire in the first-ever college football game at Gillette Stadium set a record for attendance at a CAA conference game (32,848). It broke the previous record that lasted for just a week. Delaware drew 22,567 on Oct. 16 against Rhode Island to set the previous CAA mark.
The Colonial Clash was also the largest crowd to ever watch a UMass game against an FCS opponent. The previous high was in the 2006 NCAA Semifinals at Montana. A crowd of 23,454 watched UMass upset the Grizzlies, 19-17 and advance to the National Championship Game.
The previous largest regular-season crowds to watch UMass in FCS action had all come at Delaware, with Oct. 22, 1988, when 22,301 watch UMass lose at Delaware, 10-7, being the largest.
Overall, the largest crowd to ever watch UMass came earlier this season at Michigan, when 110,187 watch UMass narrowly fall at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 18, 2010.
MICHIGAN BARELY ESCAPES UMASS
After taking a 17-7 first half lead, UMass saw Michigan score 28-straight points before the Minutemen scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns, but Michigan was able to escape with a 42-37 victory on Sept. 18 in Ann Arbor. The Minutemen ranked 16th in FCS Football suffered their first loss of the season while Michigan, 20th in the AP FBS Poll stayed unbeaten.
In front of 110,187 fans, a record to ever see a UMass sporting event, the Minutemen led, 17-7, with just over a minute left in the first half, but the Wolverines scored twice in the final 1:01 to take a 21-17 halftime lead and scored on the opening possession of the second half and again in the third quarter to take a 35-17 lead with 3:37 left in the third.
UMASS RUNS BY #4 WILLIAM & MARY
One area that UMass came into 2010 with depth was tailback and it was on display in the conference opener as the Minutemen downed No. 4 William & Mary, 27-23, before 10,072 fans at McGuirk Stadium on Sept. 4. Senior tailback John Griffin rushed for two touchdowns and junior Jonathan Hernandez gained 201 yards of total offense (132 rushing and 69 receiving) as the Minutemen posted their eighth season-opening win in the last 10 contests.
UMass has now won four of its last five home games against teams ranked No. 4 in the country and the Minutemen are 8-5 in their last 13 games vs. teams in the Top 5, dating to 2002.
UMASS HISTORY THUMBNAIL
This is the 128th season of UMass football. UMass has an all-time record of 551-519-51 (.514) in 1,121 all-time games. The Minutemen have won two of the last four conference championships (2006 and 2007). In 2008, UMass posted its seventh winning season in a row with a 7-5 record. Over the last eight 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 was the winningest program in the CAA a 10-year span from 1998-2008. UMass had an 83-44 record with a 65.7 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.
SEVEN FORMER MINUTEMEN ON NFL ROSTERS
A school record seven former UMass football players have made NFL rosters for 2010. That includes three players from the 2009 team: lineman Vladimir Ducasse, drafted in the second round by the the New York Jets; receiver Victor Cruz and receiver Jeremy Horne, with the Kansas City Chiefs, both undrafted free agents. They join James Ihedigbo (Jets), Jeremy Cain (Jaguars) and Matt Lawrence, who is on the Physically Unable To Perform list with the Baltimore Ravens. Jeromy Miles is also on the Cincinnati Bengals Practice Squad.
The previous high mark for UMass products in the pros came in 1968, when UMass had five players combined between the NFL and AFL, prior to the leagues' merger in 1970. That year, tight end Milt Morin played for the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Greg Landry was a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions, quarterback John McCormick played for the Denver Broncos and halfback Terry Swanson and lineman Ed Toner suited up for the then-Boston Patriots.
Cruz burst on the scene in the first-ever game at the New Meadowlands Stadium as he scored three touchdowns and had six catches for 145 yards for the New York Giants. Even NBA star LeBron James was wowed by Cruz, sending out a tweet about Cruz and UMass. Cruz had four of the Giants' seven touchdowns this preseason.
Ducasse was the Jets' second round pick and 61st overall this past April. He became the highest UMass product to be drafted in 40 years, since Landry was a first-rounder in 1968. 2006 grad James Ihedigbo is also in his fourth year with the Jets.
UMass had eight former Minutemen in NFL Training Camps. Besides the six listed above, Brandon London (2003-06) was with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jeromy Miles (2007-09) was with the Cincinnati Bengals.
PICKETT AMONG HALL OF FAME CLASS
The University of Massachusetts Athletic Department has inducted five new members into the George "Trigger" Burke UMass Athletic Hall of Fame, making up the class of 2010. The legends were honored on Sept. 10 at a dinner held at the Campus Center Auditorium and at the Sept. 11 Holy Cross game.
Among the inductees was the late Bob Pickett, former football coach and administrator from 1971-2003. Also inducted were: Marcus Camby (basketball, 1993-96), Bill Gillin (cross country/track & field, 1971-75), Scott Hiller (lacrosse 1987-90), and Sarah Jones (rowing, 1996-97).
2025 Massachusetts Football - National Signing Day Press Conference | 12.03.252025 Massachusetts Football - National Signing Day Press Conference | 12.03.25
Wednesday, December 03
UMass FB | Coach Joe Harasymiak Post Game Press Conference vs. Bowling Green | 11.25.25UMass FB | Coach Joe Harasymiak Post Game Press Conference vs. Bowling Green | 11.25.25
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