Rolovich leaves 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.

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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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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.

Victor Cruz savors his Super Bowl experience

INDIANAPOLIS - Well before the New York Giants came out to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium Tuesday for Super Bowl 46 media day, the crowd swelled around the podium set up for Victor Cruz. The second-year wide receiver from the University of Massachusetts, he of 99-yard touchdown receptions and salsa dancing in the end zone, soaked it all in.

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.

James Ihedigbo prepares for 'ultimate experience of being Super Bowl champs'

INDIANAPOLIS - Artrell Hawkins was in the twilight of his career in 2007. After nine seasons in the NFL, including the previous two as a safety with the New England Patriots, Hawkins was going to take a run at season No. 10 with the New York Jets.

Behind Hawkins on the depth chart was an undrafted player named James Ihedigbo.

Ex-UMass coach Don Brown will root for two Minutemen in Super Bowl

In August, Connecticut defensive coordinator Don Brown will spend countless hours devising a game plan to defeat the University of Massachusetts, the school he used to coach, as the Huskies prepare to open the 2012 season against the Minutemen on Aug. 30. But on Sunday as he watches the Super Bowl, Brown will be rooting for the Minutemen one more time as two of his former players - New England's James Ihedigbo and New York's Victor Cruz - square off. "Who would have thought two guys from UMass would both be starting in the Super Bowl?" Brown asked last week.

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No-gimmick Giants arrive

More verbal commitments for UMass football before signing day

AMHERST - Verbal commitments continue to arrive for the University of Massachusetts football program in anticipation of Wednesday's National Signing Day.

New England Patriots safety James Ihedigbo honored to be in Super Bowl

FOXBOROUGH - For James Ihedigbo, it's always been about just getting an opportunity. Give him an opportunity to walk on and the Amherst Regional standout not only earned a scholarship at the University of Massachusetts, but All-American honors too. Give him an opportunity to participate in training camp and the UMass alum not only made the squad, but first became a special teams standout for the New York Jets and then a starter for the New England Patriots. He'll have another opportunity on Feb. 5 when the Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl 46.

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Victor Cruz, James Ihedigbo a match made at UMass

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Victor Cruz has had a season full of improbable moments, and the Super Bowl is set to be another.

In less than six months, the obscure second-year wide receiver from the University of Massachusetts has set a single-season receiving record for the Giants and become one of the most popular athletes in the New York area.

James Ihedigbo, Victor Cruz inspire two Minutemen NFL hopefuls

Somewhere in Bradenton, Fla., two University of Massachusetts football alums will find a TV to watch two other UMass football alums play in the Super Bowl. Julian Talley and Tyler Holmes who both finished their college careers in November, are working out at Athletic Edge Sports, a training center on Florida's Gulf Coast where many athletes go after their college careers to prepare for what they hope will be a chance at a professional career. They'll take time out on Feb. 5 to root for New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, their former UMass teammate, and New England Patriots safety James Ihedigbo, another former Minuteman.

John Robinson of Springfield commits to UMass football

New University of Massachusetts football coach Charley Molnar's latest recruit will have the shortest trip to campus of all his current commitments.

Springfield native John Robinson, who played linebacker and running back at Worcester Academy this year, committed to UMass on Tuesday.

Emil Igwenagu of UMass raises profile by taking hit in East-West Shrine Bowl

Nobody likes to get hit the way Emil Igwenagu did in Saturday's East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla. But the University of Massachusetts senior tight end/fullback may have gotten a boost in the eyes of scouts because of it.

Football recruit changes direction, now headed to UMass

New University of Massachusetts coach Charley Molnar made good on his promise to convince recruits, who'd previously committed elsewhere, to go to UMass.

D'Metrius Williams, a defensive back from Virginia Beach, Va., who had previously verballed to Western Michigan, now plans to attend UMass according to his Twitter account.

Hawaii offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich reportedly joining UMass staff

AMHERST - The offensive coordinator who helped Hawaii become one of the most productive offenses in Football Bowl Subdivision is reportedly joining Charley Molnar's staff at the University of Massachusetts. According to coachingsearch.com, Nick Rolovich will be the Minutemen's new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. With Rolovich leading offense in 2010, the Warriors became the second squad in NCAA history with a 5,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers.

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Vondell Langston of Everett gives verbal commitment to UMass football

Vondell Langston of Everett reportedly has verbally committed to the University of Massachusetts football team, the start of what new coach Charley Molnar predicted last week would be an avalanche of commitments coming soon.

Langston, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker-tailback told ESPNBoston.com on Sunday that he is headed to Amherst.

New UMass football coach Charley Molnar sets high standards, goals

AMHERST - It sounded almost like a stump speech, a politician's plea for votes. As new University of Massachusetts football coach Charley Molnar spoke at the school's weekly sports luncheon Wednesday at the Campus Center, Molnar worked the room like a candidate. He's already got the job, but he's chasing support nonetheless and he seems to be picking up some every time he gets a hold of a microphone. In addition to encouraging fans to buy tickets and donate to the program, he laid out his plans and philosophies, tweaked Boston College and Connecticut, two schools he hopes will be future rivals, and even criticized the previous administration.

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