(UMass quarterback Mike Wegzyn attempts a squat during the UMass football team’s “Night of Champions” at the Curry Hicks Cage/Daniel Malone)
by Daniel Malone, Special to the Maroon Musket
Looking to drum up support as the program moves into its second season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, UMass hosted its first-annual “Night of Champions” strength and skill competition on Wednesday.
Held in the Curry Hicks Cage, the event featured a number of Minutemen competing in different weightlifting exercises — bench press, dead lift and and squat — as well as a slam dunk contest and tug-of-war. The turnout was about what you’d expect for a football-related event in March, but UMass also reached out to several local high school teams to come check out the team up close.
Minutemen coach Charley Molnar and his staff thought up the “Night of Champions” as a way of introducing the team to the community (and perhaps plant the UMass seed in future Western Mass. recruits’ minds), while also finishing up some leftover offseason strength testing.
“We do tests as the end of the winter work out program to see where our guys are at,” Molnar said. “And so we thought, ‘Why not do it in front of the crowd?’ We do have some really strong football players, and we thought it would give them a chance to show off in front of a crowd.”
“Maybe the fan support would help them set new personal and school records, and I think we had some guys that had some phenomenal lifts.”
The two most impressive feats of strength came courtesy offensive tackle Anthony Dima, who completed 34 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, and defensive lineman Galen Clemons, who free-squatted 515 pounds, a new personal record.
For reference, Dima’s performance on the bench would’ve been good for ninth overall and fifth-best among offensive linemen at this year’s NFL Combine.
“We had a quarterback squatting almost 425 pounds, we had a lineman trying to squat 700-plus pounds, so those are really phenomenal numbers,” Molnar said. “We just wanted to invite the high school coaches and players and give them a chance to see just how just how strong a college football player is and what they need to do to prepare.”
The most exciting event of the night was the high-flying dunk contest, which was won by defensive back Khary Bailey-Smith. Though he wasn’t able to set up what would have undoubtedly been the show-stopping slam he was planning for the final round against wide receiver Derek Beck, the athletic freshman still wowed the crowd with his performance.
“Last week, we had like a little team dunk contest just for fun,” Bailey-Smith, who high jumped seven feet in high school, said. “They told me about the Night of Champions, and they said there was gonna be a dunk contest in it. It’s only a fun game, so I just came out and had fun then ended up winning.”
Added Molnar, “He’s phenomenal. He’s a super athlete, he’s got great elevation and next year he’ll be even better.”
Former Minuteman Valdamar Brower, head coach at Springfield Central High School and a standout defensive lineman at UMass from 1999-02, thought the “Night of Champions” is important event for his players as they start to think about the next level of competition.
“It’s great,” he said. “Hopefully it’s inspirational to understand how important the weight room is and to understand college is a good experience. Obviously, they had good time and (saw that the UMass players are) just guys like them.”
Before closing out the night, Molnar addressed the crowd in hopes of drawing more fans to UMass’ annual spring game at McGuirk Stadium on April 20. He said the team’s hoping to get 5,000 people to the game.
“I think we’re developing a fan base, slowly but surely, not only in the community but also on campus,” he said. “Anytime that our fans get a chance to meet our players and support them, I think it’s a great thing for UMass.”
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Check out some photos from the “Night of Champions”
Here are some videos from the slam dunk contest:
Speaking of season tickets I got my renewal form today in the mail and was pretty excited to see free tickets to a MAC away game, anybody have suggestions for which stadium to go visit?
-Mike section 109
I know a lot of my friends have talked about buffalo, yeah the stadium might suck but it’s the closest and is in a city. Also a good chance to see a win.
would love a projected starting line up from anyone out there
go umass
kill bc 2014
Colter Johnson might be the only sure thing as of right now, and Blanchflower.
Boris
You asked so I will offer a best guesstimate.
WR’s (3 starters and top reserve) Mikel 4, Sharpe 1, Beck 89 & we are going to offer a different one to consider Carini 34 as a slot back. We offer a positions switch w/ Brandon Hill 16 going to WR. The freshman Woods is supposed to be something to watch out for too.
TE’s this is easy Blanchflower 87 (all conference n more), with Cyr 86and Foesel 85 getting some time too.
LT Dima 70 backup Westcarr 79
LG Casselberry 76 (hope he is physically ok) or Boland 71
C Sparks 78 w Freshman Green as the backup. This position needs stability as much as any OL position.
RG Boland 71 w/ Leneus 64 as a back up or Tyrell Smith 69 but word is his shoulder may be an issue
RT Bruns or Mock both new OL’s from Junior colleges.
***Freshman who will be playing OL’s Zeff OT, Henderson OT, Page OG
QB Doyle 15/ Wegzyn 11 w/ two good sophs Stafford and O’Connor battling it out for the backup QB position
RB This will be a committee: Broadnax 28, Carini 34 if he is still a RB, Bedell 23, Wilson 22 and the Freshman Lorenzo Woodley, Daquan Mack.
FB Really like FB’s and we hope he is still with us and is used more often Campbell 25
P Colter Johnson 91 w/ freshman Laurent backing him up. you heard it here first Colter Johnson will be involved in a offensive TD scoring play this year 2x.
K Blake Lucas 98 and the back up is to be determined
LS Barton 48 and either Brandt 37 or Odegard backing him up.
Returns Broadnax
DE Andre 35 and we think that Clemons 49 should move from DT to DE w/ Seals in the rotation. We are going out a little and project some freshman as backups Angeh, Correia and Tyo with Bieren soph in the mix too. Krizanovic 57 might be a LB to DE convert as well. Also some talk that Andre may be a MLB if the DE position is being better played
DT Byrne 93, Maynes 97, Kitching 75 and we hope to see the freshman from Germany Holler, Asante and Wilkinson all getting some time as DT’s.
Both DL positions need to be recruited up for the future.
OLB Messiah 90 and Jovan Santo-Knox 50 (aka JSK) w/ Brandt 37, Casali and Ngobidi getting in time as well. Messiah may be headed to being a DE.
MLB Robinson 42, O’Connor 53 and McKenna 59 w/ Krizanovic 57 if he is still a LB and not a DE and the freshman Huber and we think the freshman walk on Ellis may be in the mix too.
CB Jette 17 and Tharpe 2 w/ Williams 13, Dudley Giles 20, Harris 31 and Brown 42. We have lots of CB’s who have played available this year. The freshman Porter should get some time too.
SS Colton 46 and Saint Vil 6
FS Bailey Smith 21, freshman Williams and Collins 32
We will need some DB’s upcoming but not as much as we need DL’s.
Not meant to say we know all or have any inside knowledge. This is just some guesstimates for the sake of discussion. We are really looking forward to seeing how the DT Holler does.
Talked with someone who played at Holy Cross and who then played semi pro in Germany and he knew of him and said he could be really something here but will have to wait n see how he handles the competition here because in Germany he was a man amongst boys most of the time.
Larry sec 109
When this team is good in a few years, I will be proud to say that I was there at the beginning and saw the transformation from a mediocre FCS team to a respectable, hardworking FBS school. Seeing a team come from nothing to win is the best part about sports. I very much look forward to the next couple of years.
J
I absolutely agree with you. For those who endured last season ups (few) and downs (many) when things get going in a season or two this will be all the more sweet.
Hope to see you at the spring game.
Going to see if Bob can bring the Maroon Musket banner as a rally point for the bloggers to come too at McGuirk.
Larry Sec 109
Ok let me give one person’s opinion on how this off season is going. My rowmates will certainly chime in later on.
This staff has been out and has turned in what pretty much everyone is saying as a good to pretty good recruiting class made up of not only good football players but good students and people too.
From last fall to now – when the staff came upon some players or prospective players who were not doing what is necessary to be a scholarship athlete – the team and the player have either parted ways or the player has come back on board after getting back on course and has publically said the staff was right they screwed up and were glad to be back.
Some players have left due to injuries and we wish them well and hope everything works out for them. Do not mean to belittle what happened to any player and hope everything works out for each of them.
Others have apparently either not been going to class or not doing what they need to do to be considered a scholarship athlete and then have been dismssed from the team after being given chances to get back on course.
The team has been involved in the school wide events (eg – March on Mullins) and showcased how they are doing regarding fitness and weight training. The coaches are putting on a coaching clinic in April.
And the bad or not so good part in all of this is where?????? Sure it would not take much to keep sitting back and waiting for slip ups and mistakes OR if you are reading this you can get on board and support an up and coming team.
Yes last season did not go well in the wins and losses department but it sure seems like the team from the head coach down to the last team member is working hard to be better.
Overall – and in sec 109 we pretty much always see the glass as half full so excuse our optimism – we like a whole lot of what we see happening.
Not saying we are going bowl-ing soon but it may be sooner than many of the negative nancy’s (see no further than statements from our dubious idiot faculty senate blowbags) say it will be.
For all team members keep doing what you are doing in and out of the classroom. These lessons will help you for quite a while.
We see 4-5 wins THIS YEAR. (Yes – optimism reigns supreme in section 109).
Persistance is an admirable trait.
Larry sec 109
4 wins this year and bowling in 2014 Larry, book it.
$$$$ I like your thinking – even if you sit up in the Whine n Cheese section 209.
Larry- Optimism reigns supreme in anyone who went to games last season and will renew tickets for this upcoming season. If we weren’t optimistic there’d be no reason to be there at all.
Andy
I apologize if my post was less than clearly stated.
Sometimes my optimism clouds my ability to articulate in the manner a proper CASIAC grad should be expected to exhibit.
Was trying to aim this post at most of those who come on here and whine or put down the program or the coaches or most anything else. I have never been able to appreciate where some come from who went to and graduated from UMass and still look at this whole experience in such a down sort of way.
For me and my row mates we are proud to have graduated from UMass and hope more will come on board to support this team.
Hope to meet many of the bloggers at the spring game.
I am still hoping to meet the very, very, very enthusiastic member of sec 109 who sat in row – I think – 25. He is about 30 around 5’10 medium build and wears glasses. Made my enthusiasm look minor league and it was all I could do to keep up with him. His appreciation of my daughters enthusiasm was something too.
Larry sec 109
I’m section 109 row 15 and meet that description but I don’t think it’s me.
Sleepy
If you know how to yell “First Down” it could be.
If not you can certainly join the chorus.
Larry Sec 109
Did he happen to walk up in down the isle at times and try to pump up the crowd? A lanky sloth like individual? Also, would he point (when we got them) with your daughter for the first down? If so, I sit with him (so do others on this site) and he will love the medium build comment because hes been trying to get back in “game” shape every morning. He loves to let Facebook know when he goes to Planet Fitness.
Umike
You sound like you have his description down to a T.
Whatever he may be lacking in the physical category he more than makes up for with his enthusiasm.
“lanky sloth like individual?” Wow – hate to hear your description of him on a bad hair day.
Larry sec 109
Funny stuff, well, I’m glad he was appreciated more than hated.
“where are we in a church?”
UMike
LO – How many times does he let loose w/ that line on the not-yet-up-to-D1-cheering-standards type fans?
Can you share his first name? He is something to be around.
Larry sec 109
Larry, that’s me. And Mike is right, I’m glad my cheering was appreciated rather than bothersome. Also glad to have befriended your daughter as a cheering companion. “Sloth” is more of an inside joke amongst my UMass brethren, so while I don’t cherish it, I take no offense. Also, for the record, I’m 6’2″, and stocky is generous. And you can count on me to continue to do my best to pump up the crowd.
As to the subject matter of this post, during last season, Mike, myself and a few others were talking about the importance of garnering local high school and youth football support for UMass. Gain younger fans and you can keep them for life, build an enthusiastic fanbase. So I’m glad to see this type of event catered to high school footballers. I hope they build on it and host some kind of youth/high school football day during one of the home games. All in all, I’m happy with Molnar’s efforts thus far.
UM Sauce
Good to hear from you.
I know a few in the oh so optimistic sec 109 are still learning how to be D1 football fans. Though these few may not find this to be fun just yet and may have thought they were in church – rest assured many more enjoyed your fine leading of the cheers.
Keep at it Guy.
We have sent in our requests for same tix same location and hope you, UMike and the others will be in attendance as well. You missed out on the Central Michigan game – we played pretty well for a half and then we got a full load of their RB Zoltan the Hammer and he just smashed us.
It was not pretty and even with your presence it still likely would have ended the way it did. CMU having a Top 10 draft pick at OT sure helped too.
Hope to see you at the Spring Game. We will be there if at all possible.
Sorry if my description of you was a little off. Hard to say what anyone looks like while trying to keep an eye on the game too.
Larry sec 109
It’s a shame you didn’t notice the ruggedly good looking 5’11 fella next to the medium-built sloth.
Dang Bob
R U in sec 109 as well w/ Sauce n Mike?
I notice a lot of folks but was not always so sure some liked what I was selling. Still trying to get used to those around me/ us.
Been to games at Penn State at Michigan and some other college football locations and at least for now the Foxboro crowds are going to have to work on continuingto improve their cheering abilities.
Sauce (aka Sloth) sure can bring the “A” cheering game though. Hearing him yell out “What’re we . . . in Church?????” Always makes us laugh since we agree some around us seem to have not yet grasped the idea of being a fan and all we can do to help our team.
Larry sec 109
Opening kick off vs Indiana Sauce and I were told to sit down. #OurFanbase
I like the old white and maroon shirts that were worn during the event. Shouldn’t do away with them so quickly. Is there a chart available as to individual performances?
We are not FCS anymore, it’s like talking about your ex-gf while your on your 2nd date. Move on.