University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Take To McGuirk Stadium To Face FIU Saturday
September 28, 2015 | Football
| University of Massachusetts Football Weekly Release | |
| Game Four | Massachusetts (0-3) vs. Florida International (2-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | McGuirk Stadium (17,000; FieldTurf); Amherst, Mass. | Parking & Tailgating | Directions |
| Live Statistics | GameTracker |
| Watch | Available on ESPN3.com (Alex Faust and Matt Chatham) |
| Listen (Radio) | 105.5 FM WEEI (Western Massachusetts), 830 AM WCRN (Worcester), 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Manchester, Providence) |
| Listen (Online) | WEEI Streaming Player | TuneIn App (mobile devices) |
| Series History | First meeting |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts  | FIU (Available Shortly) | MAC (Available Shortly) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Florida International |
@UMassAthletics  | @UMassFootball | #GoUMass | #BeatFIU | #UMassvsFIU
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| UMass Athletics | UMass Football | |
| Buy Tickets | Available through Ticketmaster or 866-UMASS-TIX |
Minutemen Take To McGuirk To Face FIU
University of Massachusetts football returns to campus for its next game, a Saturday, Oct. 3 meeting with Florida International University, the first football game between the schools.
The Minutemen are in search of their first win of the season facing their third consecutive first-time opponent. Prior to this initial meeting with FIU, the Maroon and White completed their first contests against Temple on Sept. 19 at No. 6 nationally ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 26.
The game will be available on ESPN3.com and MinuteFans can also listen to each game on their radio dials via a UMass Sports Network broadcast. Voice of the Minutemen Josh Maurer serves as the play-by-play broadcaster, UMass alumnus Matt Goldstein fills the analyst role and Mike Antonellis provides updates from the sideline. Fans can tune in locally to WEEI 105.5 FM (Amherst/Springfield) along with affiliates in Boston (WXKS 1200 AM), Worcester (WCRN 830 AM) and on the South Shore (WATD 95.9 FM). Additionally, fans can listen online through the WEEI streaming player or use their mobile devices to catch the game on the TuneIn Radio app (tunein.com/radio). Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
Follow UMass Athletics And UMass Football On Twitter
Instant information on the football program, including an inside look at key points and statistics in each game as well as updates from practice and other team events are available via the Twitter handle @UMassFootball. Follow the Minutemen there and catch information about each University of Massachusetts Athletic Department program through @UMassAthletics.
Sharpe Leaving An Indelible Mark
Three games into his senior season, Tajae Sharpe continues to climb toward the top of the UMass football records listings in receiving yards and touchdowns while simultaneously establishing new top program marks in receptions and catches per game.
In 38 games played with the Minutemen, Sharpe stands atop the list for career receptions with 196 and needs just four more to become the lone receiver in program history with at least 200. He is also first all-time in catches per game and currently averages 5.16 in each contest entering play against FIU. His 2,544 yards receiving ranks second all-time and puts him 349 away from surpassing Adrian Zullo for first all-time (2,892; 1998-2002).
Sharpe's 2014 season was among the most successful for a receiver in UMass history. He notched 1,281 yards (second in program history) on 85 receptions (second) and averaged 7.08 grabs per game (first). On three separate occasions, Sharpe tied the program's single-game record for catches in a contest (13) when he had as many against Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.
In the game against Ball State, Sharpe torched the Cardinals for 239 yards through the air. It marked the 11th-best receiving performance in the history of the MAC and the second-most yards recorded in one game during UMass history.
Young Bursts Onto The Scene
True freshman running back Marquis Young provided 103 yards rushing over only five carries vs. the defense of No. 6 nationally ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 26. The game was Young's first 100-yard performance in college and the first-such by a UMass running back in 2015.
Young leads the Minutemen in rushing yards (175) and yards per attempt (10.9) with 16 carries over the opening three games of his career. He provided an 83-yard touchdown run against the Irish, the longest carry by a UMass true-freshman in the modern era of the program - dating back to 1978 - and also the longest since R.J. Cobb scampered 84 yards against Delaware on Nov. 2, 2002. It was 149 games between Cobb and Young's 80-plus yard carries.
Keeping The Legs Moving
With 16 carries and 90 yards to his ledger in 2015, Jamal Wilson has yet to be stopped in the backfield for a loss during his redshirt-senior season. He is averaging 5.6 yards per carry through three games and scored his first touchdown of the season at No. 6 Notre Dame.
Sharpe Becomes The Go-To Guy
In Tajae Sharpe's freshman and sophomore seasons he provided 886 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 81 receptions (10.9) during 23 appearances for an average of 38.5 yards and 3.5 receptions per game. Since becoming an upperclassman, Sharpe has amped up his production to 1,658 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 115 catches in 15 games, an average of 110.5 yards through the air and 7.7 receptions per appearance.
Freshmen Flashes
UMass has seen five true freshmen take the field in the first quarter of the 2015 season. Running back Marquis Young and defensive back James Oliphant played in the season opener at Colorado and in each game since. Sekai Lindsey earned his first action vs. Temple and scored his first career TD at Notre Dame. Andy Isabella and Mike Caggiano made their debuts in South Bend. Isabella slid in to the kick return spot with six returns for 116 yards. Caggiano was 3-for-3 in point after attempts.
It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint
UMass football is one of six teams nationally that will play 12 consecutive contests during the 2015 season. The other five are Arizona, Colorado, Florida International, Hawai'i and North Texas. Colorado plays 13 games in a row while the rest play one dozen.
Minuteman Debuts
Eighteen current Minutemen played in their first game with the Maroon and White over the opening three contests, including Jarell Addo, Kelton Brackett, Mike Caggiano, Ross Comis, Sharif Custis, Michael Dowe Jr., Jordin Hamilton, Andy Isabella, Dan Jonah, Jake Largay, Connor Lemieux, Sekai Lindsay, James Oliphant, Joe Previte, Jeremy Rodriguez, Charan Singh, Andrew Verboys and Marquis Young.
Brackett (UAB) has previous NCAA Division I FBS experience while Hamilton previously played one year at Scottsdale Community College. The list breaks down to five true-freshmen, seven redshirt-freshmen, one sophomore, two redshirt-sophomores, one redshirt-junior, one senior and one redshirt-senior.
