UMass gets another 1A transfer

[a12jay]

Football: Ridenhour selects UMass
By KEVIN DEVANEY JR.
THE JOURNAL NEWS


(Original publication: July 21, 2007)
Since the moment Spencer Ridenhour decided to transfer out of Penn State two weeks ago, he's wanted his search for a new school to end as soon as possible.

With football practice starting in less than a month, Ridenhour knew he was pressed for time. But even with the process accelerated, the former White Plains High standout is certain he has chosen his new home carefully.

Ridenhour, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound strong safety, committed this week to play at the University of Massachusetts, one of the nation's top Division I-AA programs.

"It's a relief that it's all over," said Ridenhour, who'll have two years of eligibility remaining. "UMass had a great atmosphere. It's a wonderful program with a great tradition, and the coaching staff had a real emphasis on family. It's not just about football there."

Ridenhour had offers from over a dozen schools but narrowed his choices to UMass, Hofstra and Delaware, all of which are I-AA.

By transferring to a I-AA school, Ridenhour will not be required to sit out the season, which was the primary reason he didn't consider another I-A program.

UMass is right up there with some I-A schools. The Minutemen lost to Navy by a point last season before reaching the I-AA national title game. They were ranked 59th in the country in the Sagarin ratings - ahead of 63 I-A schools.

Ridenhour, who decided to leave Penn State after three seasons over a lack of playing time, should vie for a starting job immediately. UMass graduated its two starting safeties from last season.

The UMass players are expected to report on Aug. 3, but Ridenhour plans to arrive early to get acclimated to the school and his new coaches and teammates.

"The situation is that I'll be able to earn a starting position. 'Earn' is the key word," Ridenhour said. "I'm not going to think that just because I'm coming from Penn State that I'll automatically play. I've got to go out and earn it."

Ridenhour redshirted a year at Penn State before appearing in 24 games the last two seasons. As a linebacker and special-teams player in 2004, he recorded 14 tackles, then moved to safety last season.

UMass, the reigning Atlantic 10 champion, opens its season on Sept. 1 against Holy Cross. The Minutemen play at Boston College on Sept. 29 and finish the season at Hofstra on Nov. 17.
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I think he's is the 4th or 5th BCS player we've gotten so far...Go Umass

[Big Green Tribe]

This guy hardly played for three years...he may be the greatest thing to hit our league since sliced bread, but odds are he's a malcontent who'll add nothing to UMass.

[Uncle Buck]

1A transfers are always a crap shoot. We haven't been as lucky in years. I remember a QB that came from Louisville who was supposed to be great, and all he did was get kicked off the team. Then again, you never know.

[MasonCAA]

UMass is suppose to run away with the CAA this year, seems as if the power has transferred from CAA South to the North over the past few seasons.

[Shogun48]

I remember when Hofstra got a transfer RB from Penn St. and the guy did not even make it for the start of football season. We also got royally screwed with the transfer of a RB from UVA, that one still kind of pisses me off.
UMass certainly looks really strong, but this is the CAA, where the unexpected is the norm.

[TribeNomad]

A transfer at UMASS--no headline there---I watched a bit of the JMU-UMASS "mudbowl" a couple of years back, and almost every time a UMASS player got his name called by the announcer it was "....JoeSmith...transfer from Syracuse....BC...or whatever. I assume that has not changed.

[HyperDuke]

A transfer at UMASS--no headline there---I watched a bit of the JMU-UMASS "mudbowl" a couple of years back, and almost every time a UMASS player got his name called by the announcer it was "....JoeSmith...transfer from Syracuse....BC...or whatever. I assume that has not changed.


I drove through the night to watch that game. What a sad finish.

[olddawg]

1A transfers are always a crap shoot. We haven't been as lucky in years. I remember a QB that came from Louisville who was supposed to be great, and all he did was get kicked off the team. Then again, you never know.
....We had a little bit of luck with a transfer quarterback from Louisville!!! But I know what you mean. We've had some pretty high profile guys come over from VT and UVA who never panned out and barely played..some even quit. Always a crapshoot but very tough to turn down...PS, if there are any LBs from a BCS school that are frustrated with a lack of playing time, JMU has only about 5 LBs on the entire roster and only one with any real experience.

[Charm City Duke]

This guy hardly played for three years...he may be the greatest thing to hit our league since sliced bread, but odds are he's a malcontent who'll add nothing to UMass.





;D haha great comment