Chad Kackert – New Hampshire

Senior – Running Back

After four years of experiencing the brutal anticipation for the snow to stop falling, the sun to start shining, or anything that resembled warmth at all, I have recognized a positive. Besides the curtailed school days due to snow and ice, while most teams across the country are padding it up and knocking heads, we have the opportunity to train, prepare, and unite even further. As these days indoors extend all the way into early April, the Wildcats are improving with speed and agility skills, challenging each other in the weight room, and competing in all types of strength and speed contests. The true character of the Blue and White shows in the dead of winter. It’s the New Hampshire way.

Now, looking back after the strain through winter and the first week of Spring Practice, we can see that the hard work is paying off. The competition continues into the Spring as Coach McDonnell implements scoring into each thud, pass game, or one-on-one drill. The boys really buy into the competition. It is a chance for young guys to show what they’ve got and for the older ‘Cats to maintain their position.

Personally, I have been impressed with the way the defense has been flying around. They are making plays on the ball with more speed than I have seen in my four years. The defensive front is showing tenacity in each snap, giving our young offensive line a good chance to get some real experience.

Offensively, we are taking advantage of our time in the meeting rooms and putting it into action on the practice field. The experienced ‘Cats are really giving the younger guys a foot forward with their guidance and leadership. The skill positions are running and catching well and the young line is making progress that is very evident.

Each day is a new day and we are doing our best to leave it all on the field, one stride ahead of where we left it the previous day. The sun is out, the snow is gone, and the ‘Cats are flying around. Just as it was today, yesterday, and the day to come, IT’S A GREAT TO BE ALIVE AND BE A WILDCAT!

Chad Kackert

UNH Football #27

Armando Cuko – Massachusetts

Senior – Placekicker

UMass kicker Armando Cuko and his teammates took time out from their busy schedules to welcome some fourth graders from Sheffield Elementary School in Turners Falls to the UMass campus and McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Cuko writes about the three classes visit a few weeks ago.

In mid-March three fourth grade classes from Sheffield Elementary in Turners Falls, Mass. came to visit us at UMass as part of an initiative started by Principal Elizabeth Musgrave to expose her students to colleges in the surrounding community.

After attending a performance at the Fine Arts Center and eating lunch at Hampshire Dining Hall, the students began their long-awaited trek to McGuirk Stadium. Coach Kevin Morris had arranged for 11 of my teammates to meet the fourth graders at the stadium during the afternoon. The students prepared questions to ask the athletes questions about what it's like being a student-athlete and how hard they had to work to get to this point.

At 1:00, the wide-eyed group of fourth graders arrived at the stadium and was greeted by Coach Matthew Chapman, as well as players Ke'Mon Bailey, Armando Cuko, Brandon Collier, Bryan Fisher, Nick Haag, Kyle Havens, Ray Jones, Stephane Milhim, David Ramsden, Warren Wilson, and Scott Woodward. After breaking into smaller groups and asking the athletes questions for about 30 minutes, the students were surprised with a visit to the locker room. All 70 students filed into the locker room where a table was set up with dozens of posters. The athletes autographed everything from t-shirts and sneakers, to arms and notebooks.

The fourth grade students who once viewed UMass as "that college in Amherst" were soon speaking of their hope to attend UMass when they're older and that they can't wait to go to football games with their families now that they know the players. It was certainly a field trip that these students will never forget.

Matt Hansen – Rhode Island

Junior – Linebacker

This past Saturday, we had a grueling practice with three live-tempo team periods at the end.  Playing in the CAA Football conference, the premiere conference in the country, we know that we will have to be prepared to play in all different types of weather conditions.  The weather this past Saturday helped us prepare for those types of hard-nose defensive battles as the rain was coming down at a fast pace, which made it difficult to keep your footing and make cuts in the mud. 

The strong winds and cold temperatures made the offense stress the importance of ball security.  The linemen battled in the muddy trenches trying to open up holes and the offense worked hard to move the chains despite the weather.  The defense seemed to benefit from the weather and was able to make some quality stops in key situations. 

After the practice, Coach Trainer spoke to the team and told us that there will be a strong likelihood of us playing in similar conditions next season.  It is important for every championship caliber team to be prepared to win when faced with adversity and we can’t use excuses this season if we face tough weather conditions like we did this past Saturday. 

Due to some weather and scheduling conflicts, our team had four practices in four consecutive days this past week, with Saturday’s practice marking the end of the four practice stretch prior to Easter weekend.  It was important to approach every one of those practices with great focus and intensity, and coach put a lot of the responsibility on the senior’s shoulders.  We have been able to focus on practicing a lot of situational football this spring, including third downs, goal line, two minute drills and goal line situations sudden change, down-time, etc.  It is important for every one of our players to have a great understanding of each of these situations because we never know when we might have to face them next season. 

With only four practices left before the Spring Game, our team will be installing some of our final schemes, and continuing to push each other each day to improve. 

Go Rams!

Matt Hansen #20

Michael Brusko - Maine

Senior – Quarterback

There is a saying in sports that goes something like this:  “Every day you either get better or you get worse; you never stay the same.”  After finishing our first five spring practices, the University of Maine football team has experienced both.

There have been days that we’ve been technically sound, executing offensive and defensive schemes respectively.  But there have also been some sloppy practices, something that is almost inevitable when a team gets back on the field for the first time in months.  Our goal is to limit those days and to maximize the number of days that we take steps forward. 

One thing that we always talk about is the ability for everyone to give maximum effort.  Not everyone on this team or in this league has the same skill level, but every single person that plays this game can be a hard worker during every opportunity they get.  Mental mistakes can be overcome by tremendous work ethic and a will to win, but they are only compounded by someone who refuses to exert themselves.  Fortunately, that mentality has been and continues to be established on this team, which leads to intensity and excitement during every practice.

Wednesday morning, we had our first segment of live plays so far this spring.  This was a huge opportunity for everyone to gain experience, especially some of our younger players.  As expected, a number of them stepped right into their newly acquired roles and performed at a high level.  The offense was able to hit a couple of big plays which is extremely encouraging, but the defense was always able to bounce back and did not allow a single score.

There undoubtedly are good things and bad things to take from this film, but the real test is how we respond to them.  How will we deal with success and how will we respond to failure?  How a team answers those questions determines what they will do during the season.

Patrick Weldon - Richmond

Junior – Linebacker

Spring Football has finally come to an end here at the University of Richmond and it was capped off by a very exciting Spring Game at UR Stadium. In front of one of the largest crowds ever for a Spiders’ Spring Football Game, many young players stepped up and displayed their talents for our fans in attendance.

Rising junior wide receiver Max Prokell led the way for the Spider offense by reeling in two touchdown catches. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Hicks connected with Prokell for both scores. Rising junior linebacker Jordan Shoop led the way for the defense with eight tackles. Redshirt freshman defensive back Darryl Hamilton returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown.

The game was played as a controlled scrimmage with the offense getting points for scores and the defense getting points for turnovers and stops. After several big plays from the offense and four turnovers forced by the defense, the Spider offense eventually came out victorious, 45-38. At halftime of the game, rising fifth-year seniors Eric Ward, Seth Williams, Matt McCracken, and Collin McConaghy were named captains for the 2009 season.

The Friday night before the game, friends and family members joined the Spider Football family as the National Championship rings were presented to the team. It was a very amazing experience that no Spider will ever forget.

I have enjoyed talking with all of you this offseason. It is time for another season of Spider football and you can bet we will be ready to defend our National Championship here at the University of Richmond!

Go Spiders!!!

Patrick Weldon #39

Phil Higgins - Northeastern

Senior – Linebacker

Today is the last day of classes here at Northeastern. I am co-oping, but most of the team is preparing to take their finals which start on Thursday. I can't believe how fast the semester went; it seems like yesterday that we were reporting for 2008 fall camp!

I will be finishing my co-op at the Harvard Law school in July and plan to start my summer workouts next month. At least half the team is sticking around Boston for the summer for the workouts. We report to fall camp on August 9th and open our season at Boston College on Sept. 5th. I am looking forward to my senior season of football, but I won’t be graduating until May of 2011 due to my co-op schedule.

Last week, we held our Bone Marrow Drive here on campus. Each guy on our team signed up 12 people to come in and get their cheek swabbed. In all, our school actually registered 413 people that day. We also volunteered at the drive all day which ran from 12-6 p.m. It was a great success for the second year in a row!

Thanks for reading my postings these past few weeks. I hope to see you at a game this year!

Go Huskies!

Phil Higgins #46