Ihedigbo on "Zoo Mass"

I talked to former Minuteman James Ihedigbo, who'll play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5. There'll be a story up later tonight. 

But one story that didn't make it was him talking about saying "Zoo Mass" during introductions on a Monday Night Football game earlier this season.

On Monday Night Football games, each player states his name and alma mater. Ihedigbo introduced himself followed by “Zoo Mass.”

The school has tried to shed its image as a party school, and some people didn’t appreciate the term and let him know it.

“I have caught a little bit of grief,” he said smiling. “I know what type of school it is. It’s a great school. It’s a fun school and great athletics. For years its been known as that. It’s a funny saying. Some people took it way too serious. I got messages and emails and people got a kick out of it. ... People that know the history of UMass laughed and think it was funny. That’s what it was meant to be.”

NFL Cutdown day: Ihedigbo, Miles, Cain, Cruz and Ducasse make rosters

Not too many surprises for former Minutemen in NFL camps. James Ihedigbo made the Patriots while Jeromy Miles (Bengals), Jeremy Cain (Jaguars), Victor Cruz (Giants) and Vlad Ducasse (Jets) all made their respective team's final 53. 

Matt Lawrence is on injured reserve with the Baltimore Ravens.

John Griffin was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals and will likely receive a practice squad invite, while Jeremy Horne could be on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad after being cut today. Chris Koepplin and Greg Niland were cut earlier in camp.

James Ihedigbo is a Patriot

Former UMass safety James Ihedigbo is changing sides in the rivalry. The former Jet is now a Patriot according to his Twitter account:

Thanks to #jetsfans for all the love an support greatly appreciate it's on to a new chapter.....I'm Officially a New England Patriot!!!!!!

AP: Ihedigbo likely leaving Jets

A person familiar with the situation says the Jets will not re-sign free
agent safety James Ihedigbo, meaning the hard-hitting special teams ace
will be playing elsewhere this season.

James Ihedigbo doesn't like Brady either

Former Minuteman and Amherst high graduate James Ihedigbo talks about Sunday's game with New York CBS:

"We don’t like him," said the Jets safety. "When it comes to, you
know, playing and this game and this rivalry, there's a lot of dislike
on both sides."

IhAUDIO here.

Fan jerseys

I imagine there'll be a Victor Cruz jersey or two joining these guys shortly.

Minutemen in NFL Camps

Victor Cruz caught another TD pass and led the Giants with four catches for 76 yards.

James Ihedigbo had four tackles for the Jets, while Vlad Ducasse also had one.

Jeremy Horne had no catches for the Chiefs.

Ducasse a Jet

Former Minuteman Vladimir Ducasse went to the Jets as the No. 61 pick overall.

"I talked to the coaches before and they showed a lot of interest. I was hoping for them to pick me. I prayed about it too," Ducasse said. "I pretty much can't wait to go now. I'm very excited. They said they were excited for me to be a part of their organization."

Former and future teammate James Ihedigbo was excited to have Ducasse with him.

"I'm happy. It's a good opportunity for him. I'm looking forward to seeing him. He earned it. He worked hard and he's where he is for a reason," said Ihedigbo, who has been with the Jets for three seasons. "He's joining the best offensive line in football with future pro bowlers all over the place. Who better to learn from than the best? It's a great opportunity. I hope he cherishes it and works hard every day."

Full coverage coming the paper and Gazettenet.com.

Ihedigbo hurt

Former Minuteman safety James Ihedigbo, who is currently on the New York Jets, was injured in practice today.

James Ihedigbo's tribute to Tiger Woods.

Ihedigbo lost control (UPDATE)

From an Associated Press story.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets safety James Ihedigbo says he ‘lost control’ when he threw a punch at Buffalo’s Derek Fine, and expects to hear from the league about the incident.
Ihedigbo, who was an All-American at UMass and a standout at Amherst Regional was blocking on the opening kickoff of overtime in the Jets’ 16-13 loss Sunday when teammate Marques Murrell knocked Fine’s helmet off and appeared to strike him in an eye. Ihedigbo then took a swing at Fine,was assessed a personal foul penalty and ejected. Murrell wasn’t penalized.
Ihedigbo said Wednesday he didn’t realize he had thrown a punch until he watched it on replay after the game.
On Monday, coach Rex Ryan cryptically said “you’ll see” when asked if he would take disciplinary action against Ihedigbo.

UPDATE: Ihedigbo was fined $5,000 by the NFL and the Jets are suspending him and Murrell from Sunday's game.

Mr. Ugly?

James Ihedigbo 

From Newsday Tuesday (that's an odd rhyme):

Rex Ryan is bringing a Baltimore tradition to New York - the King Ugly contest.

Originally
started by former Ravens coach Brian Billick 10 years ago, it's a way
for players, coaches and administrators to vote on who they think is
the ugliest person in the franchise. The contest is expected to take
place Wednesday night and it costs a dollar per vote.

From Newsday Friday:

Remember the King Ugly contest I mentioned the other day? Well, the results are in and the winner is (drum roll, please) ....

DB James Ihedigbo.

Second place goes to first-year defensive coordinator Mike Pettine
and RB/KR Leon Washington gets third place, which earns him 75 percent
of the total pot. The other 25 percent goes to Pettine.

Ihedigbo gets nothing because, as Ryan said earlier this week when describing the structure of the contest: "He’s so ugly he doesn’t deserve anything."

UMass has had some ugly players since I've been covering the Minutemen, but I never thought of Ihedigbo as one of them. Jets must be a pretty franchise.

I'm just glad this contest didn't exist on any team I played on.

...two weeks til K-State...

Ihedigbo mixing it up

From today's A.P. story:

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Ding! Ding! Ding!
Punches were thrown while tempers flared at a rough and tumble practice at New York Jets training camp Monday. And coach Rex Ryan couldn’t have been more pleased.
“Hey, we had a little rock ‘em, sock ‘em robots out there,” Ryan said with a grin.
Thomas Jones took a swing at James Ihedigbo and a few Jets players quickly jumped in to break things up early in the practice session.
Round 2 came a few minutes later when Howard Green got into it with Brock Christopher, and several players stood around the skirmish and shouted at each other.
Then came Ahmad Carroll and Nevin McCaskill getting into a shoving match, and Darrelle Revis playfully jumping on the pile.
All that was missing was a ring and an announcer.
“That was interesting,” Ryan said. “It always happens in camp this time of year. You’ve been through a few days and you’re tired of getting hit and you’re tired of doing all this kind of stuff.”

From today's New York Post:

Ryan said S Eric Smith "continues to impress me. He just makes plays. Same thing with (S James) Ihedigbo [who had a couple thumping hits]."

...one day til Rescue Me...