Nick Rolovich leaves UMass football for Nevada job

AMHERST - Nick Rolovich's football coaching tenure at the University of Massachusetts appears to have been a short one.

The former Hawaii offensive coordinator, who was hired to fill the same role at UMass, is reportedly leaving the Minutemen for Nevada, according to the Sacramento Bee.

'Best feeling of my life' for Victor Cruz as Giants' Super rally again beats Patriots

INDIANAPOLIS - Victor Cruz got to salsa. James Ihedigbo could do nothing but pack up his name plate and a couple of other mementos from a game whose result he'd rather forget. The two former University of Massachusetts players left Lucas Oil Stadium on opposite ends of the Super Bowl experience. Cruz, the second-year wide receiver for the Giants, caught four passes for 25 yards and the first touchdown of the game while the Patriots and safety Ihedigbo once again fell victim to late-game heroics by quarterback Eli Manning in a 21-17 Giants victory in Super Bowl 46.

• Related story: Eli Manning again rallies Giants

James Ihedigbo vs. Victor Cruz in Super Bowl end of an era for Minutemen

The next Victor Cruz might come from Maine or Northern Iowa. The next James Ihedigbo might list McNeese State or Montana as his alma mater. The dueling improbable stories with roots in Amherst coincidentally mark the end of an era for the University of Massachusetts, because going from the Minutemen to the NFL likely won't be an unusual occurrence anymore.

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Super Bowl 46 shapes up to be a thriller

Former coach Ron Lashway 'immensely proud' of Patriots safety James Ihedigbo

Of all the Patriots fans hoping for a Super Bowl victory on Sunday night, there will be at least one spectator in Amherst with a personal connection to the field. Former Amherst Regional football coach Ron Lashway has kept track of the professional career of New England safety James Ihedigbo, who starred for the Hurricanes from 1999 through 2002. "I'm just so immensely proud of James and everything he's accomplished," Lashway said. "He's never given up fighting for his dream, and now he's playing in the Super Bowl."

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Victor Cruz's Super Bowl run inspires Paterson, N.J.

PATERSON, N.J. - The word VICTORY is spelled out in the windows of Paterson's School 21, along with the phrases "Go Giants" and "Cruz Control."

It's a tribute to Victor Cruz who, in addition to being a star wide receiver on New York's Super Bowl-bound team, is also a School 21 graduate.

UMass football coach Charley Molnar announces his first class of 24 players

Amherst - New University of Massachusetts football coach Charley Molnar announced Wednesday his first signing day class of 24 players who are part of a new era for the Minutemen and can look to past stars Victor Cruz and James Ihedigbo for inspiration.

Colorado and potentially Wisconsin in UMass football's future

The University of Massachusetts football program is about to announce a football series with one marquee opponent and a game with another could be on the horizon.

According to a source close to UMass, the Minutemen are expected to announce shortly that they will begin a three-game series against Colorado. Two games will be in Boulder with the other coming at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Dates for the series have not yet been determined.