UMass gears up for Super Bowl Sunday
The biggest game of the NFL season takes place tonight and the University of Massachusetts Amherst has a case of Super Bowl fever.
The Massachusetts state school has, as one may expect, an abundance of New England Patriots fans. But with East Rutherford, N.J. about a three-hour drive away, Giants fans are well represented too. And they aren’t letting Patriots fans forget about the last Super Bowl matchup between these two teams.
“Everyone from Boston is passionate about their sports teams and so are people from New York,” said Matt Strong, 22, a UMass student and Garden City native. “We won the last Super Bowl, we have that over Pats fans. It adds fire to the rivalry.”
Pats fan Ryan Sheehan, 21, is looking forward to seeing the matchup between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
“It’s a huge game for both teams and it’s huge for both quarterbacks’ legacies,” he said.
While Brady and Manning have dominated the game’s national headlines, two UMass alums have stolen the local spotlight. Their names have been plastered everywhere from the Daily Hampshire Gazette and Springfield Republican to larger media outlets such as the Boston Globe, New York Times and SI.com.
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and Patriots safety James Ihedigbo both played for UMASS and were teammates during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Despite both going undrafted, Ihedigbo and Cruz have developed into key NFL players.
In 2011, Cruz was named second-team All-Pro, tied the record for the longest touchdown reception in NFL history (99 yards) and set the New York Giants single season receiving yardage record with 1,536 yards.
The significance of the game to UMass has led University officials to send out emails in preparation for a possible post-game riot.
“I want to write to all of you and ask that you continue representing the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the same positive manner that you have demonstrated throughout this academic year,” wrote Jean Kim, vice chancellor of student affairs and campus life. “Super Bowl XLVI promises to be an exciting game, especially for the UMass Amherst community. Please enjoy the game in a manner that reflects well on this great university.”
Student Government Association President Yevin Roh addressed the student body as well.
“As students we are accountable to multiple sets of regulations – Town Bylaws, The Code of Student Conduct, and also Massachusetts General Law,” he wrote in an email. “Please be aware of all the rights and responsibilities you have as you celebrate, and keep in mind that our behavior reflects on the entire Student Body. As always, please abide by any dispersal orders police may issue.”
Strong recalled in fall 2008 when UMass students rioted in Southwest residential area after the Boston Red Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series.
“It was crazy and that wasn’t even the World Series,” he said. “This is a hated rivalry (so) there’s going to be a massive riot either way.”
Sheehan said that if he didn’t live off-campus he’d be participating as well.
“(It will be) a large gathering of students climbing up the tallest objects they can find,” he said. “If I was there, I’d definitely want a front row seat of what was going to happen.”
Even UMass Dining has gotten into the Super Bowl spirit. Ken Toong, executive director of auxiliary services, made a bet with Owen Moore, assistant vice president for business development in campus services at New York University.
If the Patriots win, Moore will make a dinner for six for UMass, and the opposite will happen if the Giants win.
Chris Shores is a Spring 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about him here.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.