University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rutgers
Football Begins 2019 Season At Rutgers on Friday Night
August 27, 2019 | Football
Minutemen take on the Scarlet Knights at 7:15 p.m. on BTN
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE | |
| Game One | Massachusetts (0-0 overall) at Rutgers (0-0) |
| Date | Time | Fri., Aug. 30 | 7:15 p.m. |
| Location | SHI Stadium; Piscataway, N.J. |
| Series History | Series tied, 2-2 Last: Rutgers 21, Massachusetts 11 • Nov. 4, 1978 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Listen (Online) Listen (Radio) |
105.5 FM WEEIÂ | TuneIn Radio App 560 AMÂ WHYN (Western Mass.), 95.9 FM WATDÂ (South Shore)Â & 830 AM WCRNÂ (Worcester) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIXÂ | UMass Ticket Central | Mullins Center Box Office |
| Television Live Stream |
BTN (Big Ten Network) FOX Sports App |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Rutgers |
| @UMassFootball | @UMassAthletics | @CoachWaltBell | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
TEAM UNVEILS 2019 MAROON AND WHITE UNIFORM COMBINATIONS
• University of Massachusetts football and head coach Walt Bell unveiled the team's 2019 uniforms on its official social media channels (@UMassFootball) on Mon., Aug. 26. The first opportunity to see the home uniforms at McGuirk Alumni Stadium will be Sat., Sept. 7 against Southern Illinois at 3:30 p.m.
• The jerseys feature "Massachusetts" across the chest and are embroidered with the 150 Years of College Football celebratory patch as well as the Adidas logo. Contrasting block numbering is present on both sides, with each individual's last name stitched on the back. Additional contrasting detailing is present on the outside of the pant legs as well as the outside of the shoulders.
• Photos and videos of the jerseys are available on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
TOPPING 10 TACKLES A GAME
• Three current players have at least one game with 10 or more tackles during their UMass careers, with junior defensive lineman Jake Byczko, junior linebacker Chinedu Ogbonna and senior cornerback Isaiah Rodgers combining for four such performances. Byczko did so against Old Dominion (10 tackles) in 2017 while Ogbonna added his name to the list at Georgia Southern (10) in 2018 before Rodgers did so at Ohio (13) later in the season.
RODGERS RUNS IT OUT
• Through the completion of his junior season, Isaiah Rodgers stands in ninth on the all-time list for total kick return yards by a Minuteman with 1,043 yards for an average of 22.7 yards per attempt.
• Rodgers finished his true freshman season in 2016 with the fifth-most kick return yards in one campaign in program history, with 733 over 31 returns (23.6). Rodgers set the team record for kick returns in one game with nine against Mississippi State on Sept. 24, 2016. He also etched his name in the record book for the fifth-most returns and ninth-highest yards per return average in a single-season in program history.
DEGREES IN HAND
• Four Minutemen enter the 2019 season with their undergraduate degree requirements completed, including Jordan Adams, Jarvis Miller, Martin Mangram and Randall West. Adams (West Virginia) and Miller (Penn State) earned theirs prior to transferring in as graduate students.
COOP COMES THROUGH
• Junior kicker Cooper Garcia went 8-for-8 on extra points and made both field goal attempts for a career-high 14 points in the team's 62-59 triple overtime win over Liberty on Nov. 3.
• His eight made extra points rank as the most converted in a single game in program history. His eight attempts are tied for the most tried in one game.
• Garcia's two made field goals came during clutch situations. He converted through the South endzone uprights from 28 yards out as time expired in the second quarter, which tied the game at 24-all. Garcia later added the 22-yard game-winner into the North endzone during the third overtime.
I KNOW HIM FROM WAY BACK
• UMass head coach Walt Bell and assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Luke Paschall are one of only four pairs of high school classmates serving as the head coach and coordinator of an FBS program.
• The duo attended Dickson County High School in Dickson, Tennessee, and graduated in 2002. Additionally, Bell and Paschall played together at Middle Tennessee State (2002-05) and have coached on the same sideline at Oklahoma State (2009), North Carolina (2012-13) and Arkansas State (2014-15).
• Bell and Paschall consider each other as brothers after Paschall permanently moved in to Bell and his parents' home during his youth.
A GROUNDBREAKING ATHLETIC TRAINER
• UMass football is one of 11 programs across FBS with a female primary athletic trainer. Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer Jennifer Brodeur is in her 13th year with the department and 10th as the primary care-giver for football.
• In recognition of her success, Brodeur was named the National Athletic Trainers' Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer in 2019 as well as the Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year in June, 2013. She was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in August, 2017, and is one of only four females in her position as the leader of the sports medicine office as well as the football team's primary athletic trainer.
