UMass Dartmouth 2005 football preview story

UMass Dartmouth Corsairs return 12 starters in

pursuit of fourth consecutive post season invitation

(Dartmouth, MA) -- The UMass Dartmouth Corsairs enter the 2005 football season with 12 returning starters back from a 7-4 team which extended the Corsairs’ string of post season appearances to three in a row last season. UMass Dartmouth made its first NCAA appearance in 2002 and followed that with a pair of ECAC post season bowl bids the last two seasons.

Despite losing the ECAC Northwest Bowl game to Ithaca College, 36-19, at the end of the 2004 season, the Corsairs return the core of its offensive line among the five returning starters on offense and have seven starters back on defense.

"We have enjoyed quite a bit of success in recent years and that is something that we hope to build on this season," said Corsair head coach Bill Kavanaugh, who is entering his 16th season at UMass Dartmouth with a 94-55 career record.

Coming off their fifth consecutive winning season in 2004, the Corsairs enter the 2005 campaign with another solid defensive unit led by senior co-captain Mike Bleakley (Westminster, MA), along with returning veterans junior Greg Anzaldi (Stow, MA), senior Adam Hood (Merrimack, MA) and senior Jack Dolonbony on the front line. Bleakley and Eric Meza (Leominster, MA) will lead the linebackers, while defensive back and another Corsair senior co-captain Derek Bealby (Peterborough, NH) and sophomore John Waldron (Lynn, MA) are the veterans in the defensive backfield. Making the move into the defensive backfield this year will be sophomore Derek George (Taunton, MA) who saw some action as a wide receiver last season.  Also returning is sophomore defensive tackle Chima Nwanesidu (Boston, MA) who moved into the starting lineup midway through last season.

“It seems like once again we have some speed on the defensive side of the ball,” said Kavanaugh. “We have a very good blend of youth and experience on defense and with some of the moves we’ve made, I think we have more depth than we’ve had in the past.

On offense, the Corsairs will have several new people at the skill positions but will have a very experienced offensive line. Led by senior co-captain and tackle Mike Millar (Norwood, MA), the Corsairs’ one-back shotgun offense will rely heavily on the work of junior center Andrew Milian (Plymouth, MA), junior guard Rob Cunningham (Melrose, MA) and sophomore tight end Charlie Gryska (Medfield, MA).

The Corsairs will have a new look on offense with junior Sean Sullivan (Waltham, MA) moving from defensive back and taking over at quarterback this season.  Another switch of positions moves three-year starter on defense and senior co-captain Manny Lopes (Norwood, MA) from linebacker to the slot back position. Junior tailback Jamison Humphries (Longmeadow, MA), last year’s leading rusher with 790 yards on 190 carries (74.9 yard per game average, 9 TDs) will return to the backfield along with sophomore Bobby Sullivan (Dudley, MA) who saw limited action last season (20 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD).

Sullivan’s targets in the passing game are almost all newcomers among them freshman Alex Garro (Mattapoisett, MA), sophomore Chris Cheney (Foxboro, MA) and freshman Brendan Bryne (Wakefield, MA). Lopes and sophomore Kyle Richardson (Hyannis, MA) will line up in the slot position.

"We are going to be looking at a couple of our incoming players to fill in some key spots, especially on offense," Kavanaugh added. "But we feel good about our offensive line. We just have to be patient with the development of some of our skill position as they gain experience through the season.”

Kavanaugh welcomes three new assistant coaches this season to work along side returning veteran assistants Chuck Allaire, Dan Starkie and Roger Saraiva. Joining the Corsairs’ coaching ranks are former Taunton High head coach Dennis Cunningham, Nick Mitcheson and a former Corsair football player from last season, Mike White.

The Corsairs will open the season by hosting Division II Merrimack College at Cressy Field in Dartmouth on Sept. 3 before travelling to Plymouth State on Sept. 10.  UMass Dartmouth will host Bridgewater State in the third annual Shriner College Football Classic on Sept 17, before opening New England Football Conference Bogan Division action against two-time defending champion Curry College in Milton on Sept. 24.