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#7 UMass Hosts #25/23 Fordham In NCAA First Round
Nov. 19, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
2007 NCAA FIRST ROUND
#7 UMass Hosts #25/23 Fordham In NCAA First Round The Minutemen captured their 22nd conference title with this year's crown, the first awarded by the CAA. UMass shared the title with Richmond after the Minutemen downed then-No. 22 Hofstra, 27-5 on Long Island last Saturday. UMass has won the conference title in three of the last five years. UMass previously won conference crowns 21 times: Yankee Conference (1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990) and Atlantic 10 Conference (1998, 1999, 2003 and 2006). The game will be broadcast live on the UMass Sports Network with Bob Behler returning for his ninth year as "Voice of the Minutemen." Former kicker Matt Goldstein will handle the color commentary. The pregame show begins at 11:30 a.m. on WRNX (100.9 FM), the flagship of the network. The game can also be heard live online at UMassAthletics.com. An in-stadium feed can be heard on 102.7 FM. Gametracker will be available on UMassAthletics.com. UMass In The NCAA Tournament Last season, UMass advanced to the NCAA Championship game but lost defending No. 1 Appalachian State, 28-17 in Chattanooga. The Minutemen advanced to the final with wins over Lafayette (35-14), New Hampshire (24-17) and Montana (19-17). UMass is 9-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament games including one in 1977, when the Minutemen were classified as Division II. In 15 NCAA FCS (I-AA) games, UMass is 9-6, winning eight of the last 11 dating to 1998. Including two bowls games, UMass is 10-8 in postseason play. This year UMass is unseeded. But last year, the Minutemen were the No. 3 seed, marking the first time UMass was seeded in the NCAA Tournament. In hosting Fordham, UMass is serving as a host for just the third season (not including the D-II game in 1977). The Minutemen are 3-0 all-time in FCS home playoff games. Last year, UMass hosted two games, winning both. The other home UMass tournament game came in the 1998 Quarterfinals, when UMass beat Lehigh, 27-21 to reach the Semis. Prior to last year, UMass last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2003, when the Minutemen dropped a heart-breaking 19-7 decision at Colgate in a snowy blizzard. Before to that, UMass played in the 1999 tournament, winning a first-round game at No. 8 Furman, 30-23 in overtime to run the Minutemen's post-season wins streak to five games. But UMass fell in the quarterfinals, 38-21 at Georgia Southern in a re-match of the 1998 title game. On the way to the national championship in 1998, UMass defeated McNeese State (21-19) in the first round on the road, Lehigh (27-21) at home and Northwestern State (41-31) on the road again before beating and Georgia Southern (55-43) in the title game. The Minutemen advanced to the first ever Division I-AA championship game in 1978, defeating Nevada (44-21) in the semifinals before falling to Florida A&M (35-28) in the title game. UMass also took part in the tournament in 1988 (falling to Eastern Kentucky, 28-17) and in 1990 (losing to William & Mary, 38-0). The Minutemen played in the 1977 Division II playoffs, where they hosted Patriot League team Lehigh in a 30-23 loss. As the Redmen, UMass won the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl, 35-14 over UC Davis and lost the 1964 Tangerine Bowl to East Carolina, 14-13. Brown Returns To NCAA's Brown's greatest run in the NCAA Tournament came as the defensive coordinator with the 1998 and 1999 UMass teams. Brown headed up the defensive corps for those two seasons as UMass went 5-1 in the post season in capturing the 1998 title. Brown is 35-13 in four seasons at UMass and has a chance to tie for the fourth-winningest coach in UMass history with a victory in the NCAA First Round. Brown is currently tied with Mike Hodges with 35 wins in Amherst. Next on the list are Bob Pickett (36-28) and Jim Reid (36-29-2). Vic Fusia (59-32), Mark Whipple (49-26) and Dick MacPherson (45-27) top the list. Brown is now 8-2 while on the sidelines at UMass in NCAA Tournament games. He was the head coach at Plymouth State in leading the Panthers to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 1994, reaching the quarterfinals and in 1995, falling in the first round. UMass' Maroon Platoon
Familiar Faces On Fordham Sidelines Of UMass' current roster, three redshirt seniors played for Masella on defense including linebacker Charles Walker -- the only current Minutemen to play in 2003. Defensive end David Burris and linebacker Jason Hatchell took redshirt seasons in 2003 as true freshmen under Masella. From UMass' current staff, defensive line coach Sean Spencer worked with Masella while he was at UMass in 2002 and 2003. Fordham defensive coordinator Frank Forcucci was an assistant coach at UMass for five seasons from 1999-2003 working with defensive tackles and linebackers including a season with Don Brown, in 1999. Ram special teams coordinator and defensive line coach Mark Michaels was UMass' linebackers coach in the NCAA title season of 1998, also working with Brown. Super Senior Class Prior to last season, twice before UMass had 31 wins in a four-year span done from 2002-05 (31-16), 1998-2001 (31-19).
17 UMass Players Honored With A-10 Honors The first team included: senior offensive lineman Matt Austin, senior defensive end David Burris, senior wide receiver J.J. Moore, junior cornerback Courtney Robinson, junior cornerback Sean Smalls and senior linebacker Charles Walker. Both Austin and Hatchell were first-team all-conference picks last year. Burris and Smalls were second-team selections in 2006. The second team featured: junior offensive lineman Sean Calicchio, junior quarterback Liam Coen, senior tailback Matt Lawrence and senior wide receiver Rasheed Rancher. Coen was a third-team pick in 2006. On the third team were: sophomore defensive end Brandon Collier, senior offensive lineman Nick Diana, senior kicker Chris Koepplin, sophomore safety Jeromy Miles and Robinson as a kickoff returner. Last year, Diana, Koepplin and Robinson were on the second team.
UMass Dominating FCS & CAA Foes The Minutemen finished at 7-1 in the CAA and were the last undefeated team in league play prior to the loss to Rhode Island. The Minutemen are 15-1 in conference games over the last two seasons. After going 8-0 in conference last season (becoming the first undefeated team in league since Villanova in 1997).
Coen On Payton List; Hatchell On Buck List
Coen Re-Writing UMass Record Book Coen became UMass' career passing leader with 191 yards vs. New Hampshire (11/10). He now has 7,442 entering the Fordham game. He passed Todd Bankhead (7,018) with an 8-yard pass to Ian Jorgensen in the third quarter of the New Hampshire. Coen became UMass' career touchdown passing leader on Oct. 27 in the 48-34 win at William & Mary. He tossed four scoring strikes at Hofstra (11/17) to give him 59 in his career, passing Bankhead's 51. Coen took over as the all-time completion leader at Hofstra with 22 moving him to 572, ahead of Bankhead's 561.The only mark he doesn't hold a career attempts as Bankhead holds a the lead 933-889. Coen is UMass' career leader in pass efficiency (150.26), completion percentage (64.3), yards per attempt (8.53) and total yards per play (7.4). Through 11 games, Coen is 180-of-281 for 2251 yards with 23 touchdowns and a 64.1 completion percentage. This season, Coen ranks third in the CAA and 12th in the NCAA in passing efficiency with a 150.53 mark. He was sixth last year in the NCAA after leading most of the year. Coen leads the CAA in touchdowns with 23. That marks ranks tied as the fourth-best single season in UMass history. Tim Day also had 23 in 2003. Coen's 2006 season is next on the list at 26. Bankhead holds the record with 34 in 1998. With three TDs at William & Mary, Coen became UMass' career leader in touchdown passes, breaking Todd Bankhead's mark of 51. Coen has 55 to-date including his second-career four-TD game at Colgate (9/8). Coen entered several other single-season passing lists. He is No. 7 on the passing yardage list with 2,251. Coen's 2005 season is eighth with 2,175. Next on the list are No. 6 Matt Guice (2,266 in 2001) and No. 5 Tim Day (2,481 in 2004). Coen is seventh on the single-season the completions list with 180. He is just himself for eighth, when he had 175 in 2005. Next on the list is Guice's 192 in 2001 and Day with 194 in 2004. Coen has two 300-yard games this season giving him six in his career. He had 309 in the regular-season finale at Hofstra (11/17). Coen had his fifth-career 300-yard passing game with 355 against Villanova (10/13). For his performance, he earned his third career New England Football Writers Golden Helmet, which he received on Oct. 16. When looking at the career numbers among all active NCAA quarterbacks, Coen ranks in the top 10 in eight categories. He is third in career total offense yards per play (7.45), eighth in career pass efficiency (150.26), sixth in TD passes (59), eighth in passing yards (7,442), and eighth in completion percentage (64.33). The Rhode Island native has started the last 35 games in a row with UMass holding a 28-7 record in those games since he drew his first start against Albany on Sept. 17, 2005. Of those seven losses, three games been to FBS teams, so Coen is 28-4 against FCS teams. A Defense That Won't Be Denied After a slow start, UMass' defense has risen to the top of the CAA, standing first six defensive categories. UMass leads in scoring defense, giving up just 16.36 points per game, which ranks 11th nationally. UMass is also leading the CAA in total defense (287.0) to rank eighth in the NCAA; rushing defense (102.91 per game), which is ninth nationally; pass efficiency defense with a mark of 102.62 which is ninth nationally; sacks with 3.55 per game, which is third in the nation and tackles for loss at 7.7 per game, which is 16th in the country. Since week one (when they allowed 30 points to Holy Cross), UMass has allowed just 150 total points (15.0 per game). After a slow start to begin 2007, UMass buckled down starting with the second half at Colgate (9/8) of Week 2. The Minutemen allowed just seven points and limited the Raiders to just 82 total yards in the final 30 minutes. Most impressively, Colgate's All-American tailback Jordan Scott was held to just 11 yards in the second half after 92 in the first 30 minutes. Scott is now first in the NCAA in rushing with 170.45 per game. His lowest rushing game (103), came against UMass. In the win over Towson (9/15), UMass limited the Tigers to just 22 yards on the ground while piling up five sacks and three interceptions. Again at Maine (9/22), the defense was stellar with its best defensive showing, limiting the Black Bears to just seven points and a total of 243 net yards. Through the air, Maine only had 67 yards passing. It was the seventh time in 19 games, that UMass held an opponent to single-digits. Playing against FBS team Boston College (9/29), UMass held the Eagles to their fewest points of the season to-date in a 24-14 decision (BC was limited to 14 points in a win at Virginia Tech on Oct. 25). UMass also limited the Eagles' Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Ryan to a season-low 204 passing yards. In the second half against Northeastern (10/20), UMass blanked the Huskies, giving up just 90 yards. The Minutemen held tailback Maurice Murray to just 89 yards, as he came into the game averaging more than 120 per game. In the hurricane conditions, UMass held Rhode Island (11/3), which ranked in the top five in the nation in rushing yards per game to just 109 yards on the ground, a season-low. The defense was stout against New Hampshire (11/10) posting eight sacks, the most since tying the school-record with 11 against American International in 2002. UMass held UNH to just 44 rushing yards and limited Walter Payton Award winner to just 221 passing yards. UMass held Hofstra (11/17) to eight first downs and only 39 rushing yards and 168 total yards.
Senior Captain Linebackers Lead D Hatchell has been one of the top tacklers in the nation over the last three years. He has 10 or more tackles in four of the 11 games this season (Holy Cross, Maine, Northeastern and Rhode Island). He has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in 21 of the last 37 games. In 2006, he racked up 134 tackles, second in the conference. He ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game at 8.93 and 44th in the nation. Hatchell has 14 career 10-tackle games, and UMass is 10-4. Hatchell is currently fourth in career assisted tackles with 196. Next on the list is Vito Perrone (199). In his career, Hatchell has 341 total tackles to stand tied for seventh with Shannon James on the career tackles list. He moved onto the top-10 chart with a season-best 16 tackles at Rhode Island (11/3). Next on the list is Justin Riemer (358 in 1993-96). Walker teams with Hatchell for a dynamic 1-2 punch. Walker has 328 career tackles with 104 stops this season. He is 11th in career tackles in UMass history. He has led the team in stops in five of 11 games, with 10 career games with double-figure tackles. He racked up a season-best 14 tackles against Villanova (10/13). Walker was honored as the Co-UMass Athlete of the Week after the Colgate (9/8) game where he topped the team with 10 tackles along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery as Colgate (9/8) drove to UMass' 1-yard line and a TFL. In 2006, he had 131 last season, third in the conference. Walker had 94 assisted tackles last season to rank as the fourth-best single-season mark. Walker tied UMass' single-game tackles record with 24 against Delaware in 2004. Sophomore Josh Jennings has been a monster of late as he piled up a career-high 12 tackles against Villanova (10/13) and added 10 more at Rhode Island (11/3). After a slow start, Jennings has moved to fourth on the team in tackles with 60 tackles. Giving UMass' linebackers three of the top four spots.
Defensive Line Creates Chaos The major tackler for loss on the defensive side is Burris, who makes his name with stops behind the line of scrimmage. Burris leads the CAA with 9.0 sacks and is second to Hanson in TFLs with 12.5 this season. He ranks tied for 12th in the nation in sacks per game (0.82) and tied for 54th in tackles for a loss per game (1.14). Burris is third on UMass in tackles with 62 in 2007. Burris has moved to sixth in career sacks with 22.5. With his 9.0 sacks this season in eight games he is already tied for 10th-most sacks in a single-season. Four others have 9.0 sacks. Todd Rundle had 9.5 in 1985 while three others had 10.0 to rank sixth. Burris has three sacks in a game twice this season, most recently vs. Northeastern (10/20). He began 2007 with a career-high three sacks against Holy Cross including a pair in the fourth quarter. Burris now has 42.0 career TFLs and 22.5 career sacks. Coming into 2006, he was the leading returning tackler for loss in the conference with 16 for 69 yards last season. He was the top player in terms of returnees in sacks with 8.5. Burris has 42.0 career tackles for loss of his 200 career stops (21 percent of his tackles). Burris has a career-high nine tackles in each of the last two games vs. Northeastern (10/20) and at William & Mary (10/27). He racked up his 200th career stop at W&M. Hanson has emerged of late as well. He is now second in the CAA in tackles for a loss with 15.0 after he had 2.5 against New Hampshire (11/10). Hanson is tied for 29th nationally with 1.36 tackles for a loss per game. He racked up 3.5 TFLs including 2.0 sacks at William & Mary (10/27). His 10-yard sack on fourth-down late in the game, effectively ended the Tribe's chance at a comeback. Hanson had a career-high 13 tackles against Villanova (10/13). He is fifth on the team in tackles with 56. Collier has more than 10 tackles in two of the last six games with a career-high 11 at Rhode Island (11/3). He originally set a new career-high with 10 tackles vs. Villanova as did Harrington with nine. Collier recovered two fumbles against Northeastern (10/20). Collier has 52 tackles for the season.
UMass Turns To Lawrence & Nelson CAA Second-Team selection Lawrence has piled up 1,306 yards in his first 11 games as the starting tailback with more than 100 in eight of the first 11 games. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career at Rhode Island (11/3) with 83. Lawrence gives UMass a 1,000-yard rusher for six straight seasons. With 1,306 yards, Lawrence already has the seventh -best single-season rushing total in UMass history. 2007 UMass Hall of Famer Rene Ingoglia is sixth with 1,505. Lawrence is fourth in the CAA in rushing and 16th in the nation with 118.7 per game. He has gained over a 100 in three games consecutive games (Oct. 13-27) with an average of 134.0 in that trio. Lawrence was named the Bill Knight MVP of the New Hampshire (11/10) game after he gained 139 yards and scored touchdowns against the No. 14 Wildcats. He piled up a career-high 186 at William & Mary (10/27) including 75 in the decisive fourth quarter, when he scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning TD. He scored all of his TDs in the final 16:30 of the game. He was named the UMass Athlete of the Week for the second time. Prior to big game at W&M, he had 110 vs. Northeastern (10/20). Lawrence was big in the 4OT win over Villanova (10/13). After a slow start, he gained 45 yards in the overtime sessions and scored two touchdowns. He redeemed himself, after he fumbled to end the first extra session. Lawrence had a career-best 176 yards at Maine (9/22) as he scored a career-high three touchdowns. He was named the UMass Athlete of the Week for his performance which included a career-long run of 62 yards. He broke out for 153 yards in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1). He also scored two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career on runs of 1 and 28 yards. At Colgate (9/8), Lawrence gained 113 yards on 19 carries. Lawrence played most of last season as a fullback. Lawrence had 174 rushing yards last season and entered his senior year with 450 yards, a mark he passed in three games. Nelson has been a great in gaining 486 yards on 91 carries, a 5.3-yard average. He has his first-career 100-yard game with 104 at Maine (9/22). That included a career-best 61-yard run in the fourth quarter. At Colgate (9/8), he picked up 70 yards on seven carries. Nelson gained 55 in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1) on nine carries. Moore Catches For J.J. Moore has risen to second in career catches in UMass history with 170. He moved past former teammate Brandon London (who was in the UMass locker room to congratulate him) with seven catches against Northeastern (10/20). Moore also passed London on the career receiving yardage list at William & Mary (10/27). He has 2,214 heading into the Fordham game. Next is Jason Peebler with 2,395. Moore's 65 catches this season are the fourth-most in a season at UMass. His 891 yards are the sixth-most in a season. Moore finished the regular-season with a huge game going for 155 yards (second of his carer) on 11 catches at Hofstra (11/17). The 11 catches are the third-most in a game in UMass history. Moore and London hold the record of 13. Moore had a great receiving game in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1), as he had a career-best 163 yards on nine catches. The 163 receiving yards ranked as the seventh-best single-game yardage total in UMass history. He was awarded the New England Writers Golden Helmet after that big day. Moore also gained 100 yards against Villanova (10/13) with 138 on seven catches vs. the Wildcats. He also caught the two-point conversion in the fourth overtime to give UMass to 32-24 win. Rancher is second to Moore in catches and yards in 2007 with 36 receptions for 666 yards. Rancher is in ninth place on career receiving yards with 1,453. Next on the list is Tim Berra (1,486). Rancher had a career day with new highs of eight catches and 155 yards vs. Villanova (10/13). He reached 1,000 career yards in receiving at Maine (9/22). Against Towson (9/15), he made an amazing bobbling circus catch for a 35-yard touchdown, which Coach Brown called one the best he's seen in 30 years of coaching. Rancher moved to ninth in career touchdown catches with a pair at William & Mary (10/27). He now has 13 after one at Hofstra, just behind Moore and Chip Mitchell with 14. More Moore History A third-team all-conference punt returner in 2006, Moore ranks 10th in career punt return average with 8.5 per return with his 23 returns for 201 yards in 2007. He had 30 returns for 244 yards last season.
Robinson Makes History In Opener 2007 CAA All-Conference Third-Team pick Robinson, who was an All-Conference second-team kickoff returner last season, can tie the UMass career and season records for kickoff returns for scores in a season with one more as Dent had a pair in 1978 as did Phil DeRose in 1964. Robinson has 423 yards in 2007, as he closes in on the top 10 single-season list. No. 10 is Tim Berra (1971-73) with 431. With 423 this year added to 489 as a sophomore in 2006, giving him 912, making him eight in career kickoff return yardage in just 25 career games. Next on the list is Garry Pearson with 952 in 1979-82.
No Smalls Feat This season, Smalls is third in the CAA in passes defended with nine, on eight pass break-ups and one interception. Smalls has 43 tackles, as teams have been tenative in throwing at him. Smalls scored his first career touchdown on a 90-yard interception return for a score against Towson (9/15). Joining Smalls in the secondary is junior strong safety Michael Meggett, who is starting for the first time in his career and has the most tackles amongst the DBs with 55. He also has seven passes defended with his first career interception against Northeastern (10/20). He added his second pick against New Hampshire (11/10). At free safety, sophomore Jeromy Miles has been impressive in his first season as a transfer starter from Navy as he earned CAA Third-Team accolades. Miles has 53 tackles and nine passes defended. He is second in the CAA in that category behind Smalls. He leads the league in fumbles forced with four with his most recent one at William & Mary (10/27). Miles picked off his first pass while at UMass against No. 14 New Hampshire (11/10). Miles had his best game against Villanova (10/13) in the 4OT thriller. He made four pass break-ups, all in the end zone, preventing Wildcat scores.
Keep On Kicking Koepplin Koepplin has missed just five kicks of any type this season with 9-of-13 on field goals and making 38-of-39 PATs for 65 points. He started his great year with his first kick in the opener against Holy Cross (9/1), when tied his previous career-long with a 48-yard field goal on his first try of the season (also tied himself for the now fourth-longest field goal in UMass history). He has boomed kickoffs for a tremendous 65.3 yard average including 18 touchbacks from the new 30-yard line kickoff mark. He leads the CAA in kickoff yardage and touchbacks. Koepplin is now 10th in career points at UMass with 164. In his first year at UMass after being a junior college transfer from Nassau C.C., Koepplin was an all-conference second team kicker. He tied the school record for field goals in a season with 16, set the school record for point after touchdowns with 51 and set the record for kick scoring in points with 99. In his final year at UMass, Koepplin ranks on several career charts with just one-plus season under his belt. Koepplin stands fifth in career field goals with the single-season tying 16 last year and seven more this year for 25. Next on the list is Eric Oke with 26. His career field goal percentage of 69.4 (25-of-36) ranks second all-time to Doug White (77.1). He is also third in career PATs with the 86 (51 last year and 35 this year). Koepplin is also first in career PAT percentage with a mark of 98.9 percent (86-of-87). He passed George Papoutsidis, who was 96.9 percent (31-of-32). Koepplin has nine field goals at UMass of 40 or more yards after the 48-yarder vs. Holy Cross, a 40-yarder against Towson (9/15), 45-yard kick at Maine (9/22) and the 51-yarder vs. New Hampshire. 5 Strong: O-Line Of Protection Senior All-American and CAA First-Teammer Matt Austin anchors the line, he has 41 career starts in 45 games overall. Austin has started in four different positions on the line: right tackle, left tackle, left guard and center. In 2007, he started once at left guard and the last five games at center. Austin has been part of an offensive line that has led of been tied for the league lead in fewest sacks allowed in each of the last three years. UMass allowed just 16 sacks in 15 games in 2006, 1.07 per game, tops in the league, 14th in the nation. After 15 sacks this season in 11 games, UMass has allowed just 52 sacks in 49 games since 2004. Along with Austin, UMass looks to senior and CAA Third-Teammer Nick Diana, giving UMass a pair of preseason all-conference performers. With Austin moving to center, he swapped with Diana, who returned to left guard after playing the Holy Cross game at center. Diana, a second-team all-conference player last year is joined by senior Chris Hopkins, a former tight end, who started the final 14 games of 2006. Junior CAA Second-Teammer Sean Calicchio mans right tackle, where he started in 2006, but broke his arm in the first game of the season. After missing 11 games in a row, Calicchio returned in the NCAA Quarterfinals and played in the final three playoff games. Sophomore Vladimir Ducasse, who played in three games in 2006, is starting at left tackle. With some injuries of late senior Matt Stolte, a converted defensive lineman started three games at left guard (Oct. 13-27) and has had success. Juniors Biff Gotthrer and Ben Coblyn also also filled in admirably.
McGuirk Magic Since 1992, UMass has had a losing record at home only once, while posting a home mark of 68-23 (.747) during that span. In 2003, UMass went 7-0 at home to set the former record for most home victories in the 40-year history of McGuirk Stadium. UMass has won 17 of its last 18 games at home after dropping the 2005 home regular-season finale to New Hampshire on Oct. 29. They are 24-3 dating to 2003.
Transfer Of Power, I-A Players Join
Syracuse Impact
Quartet of Captains In 2007
Looking Back At 2006 The UMass football team captured the 2006 Lambert Trophy, symbolic of the team top team in the East, presented by the ECAC. The Minutemen were the winners in the I-AA/FCS Division. To advance to the NCAA final, UMass topped Lafayette, 35-14 in the first round; conference foe New Hampshire, 24-17 in the Quarterfinals and won at hostile Montana, 19-17 in the Semifinals.
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