18   Paul Tupa
	Class: Senior Hometown: Rolla, N.D. High School: Rolla H.S. Height / Weight: 5-11 / 185 Position: Wide Receiver

Will compete for playing time as a backup at wide receiver … Key contributor on special teams … Has played in 33 career games … Also plays for the UMass baseball team.

2000: Played in nine games on special teams … Made four tackles on the season … Had a pair of solo tackles against Villanova … Made one tackle against both Hofstra and Maine … Returned a kickoff for six yards against New Haven … Missed the William & Mary and Richmond games while recovering from off-season knee surgery.

1999: Saw action in nine games on the season … Played mainly on special teams, while also seeing action as a backup receiver against New Hampshire and Northeastern … Made a pair of unassisted tackles at Richmond … Had a tackle against Rhode Island … Made one tackle at Maine … Had three tackles at Toledo … Made one tackle against both New Hampshire and Villanova.

1998: Played in every game of the season, with all of his action coming on special teams … Made 17 tackles on special teams, including 13 solo stops … Had four solo tackles against Georgia Southern in the NCAA championship game … Made two tackles in NCAA quarterfinal game against Lehigh … Had two solo tackles in NCAA first-round game at McNeese State … Made two tackles against Maine … Had a pair of tackles on special teams at Rhode Island … Returned a punt for three yards at New Hampshire … Named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the fall semester.

1997: Redshirted.

UMass Baseball: Serves as a backup catcher for the Minutemen … Saw action in four games in 2001, going one for five at the plate … Missed the 2000 season due to injury … Did not see any game action in 1999.

Before UMass: Played linebacker, running back and punter for coach Steve Dunrud at Rolla High School … Named All-State, All-Region and All-Conference during his sophomore, junior and senior years … Team most valuable player as a junior and senior … Named to the 1997 Montana-North Dakota All-Star team, and the 1997 North Dakota Shrine All-Star team … A finalist for the 1997 National Power Bar Optimal Performer Award … Also lettered in baseball, basketball and track … Earned All-District and team most valuable player honors in basketball during his junior and senior years … Hit .470 during his senior season for the baseball team … Captained both the football and basketball teams as a senior.

Personal: Full name is Paul Anthony Tupa … Son of Lowell and Loie Tupa … Born November 7, 1978, in Rolla, N.D. … Majoring in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration.