College football: Minuteman's Hour

Oct. 25, 2007

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

AMHERST, Mass. -- When a group of UMass football players was asked whether the victory over unranked Villanova in four overtimes on Oct. 13 was exciting or relieving, tailback Matt Lawrence was the first to answer.

"Exciting,'' said the fifth-year senior from Bloomfield as a wide grin stretched across his face.

The year has been just that for Lawrence, who transferred to UMass from UConn in 2005 after two seasons, only to meet more frustration at UMass. But this season, he has 797 yards and eight touchdowns for the Minutemen (6-1), ranked fourth in Division I-AA.

And on a perfectly crisp fall day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Lawrence was having a ball,

scoring two touchdowns in overtime to finally put away the Wildcats, 32-24 . Playing before 16,174, the Bloomfield kid seemed to finally be getting the collegiate glory he had waited so long for.

But it wasn't all fun and games at the start. After a standout career at Bloomfield High, where Lawrence won state championships in football and basketball, he went to Storrs with one thing in mind.

"I came in and wanted to start,'' Lawrence said. "When you come from Bloomfield, you have that type of attitude about football and about how you handle business. I came out and said, 'This is what I have to do, and I will be great.'''

Lawrence was a redshirt candidate in his freshman year before running back Terry Caulley sustained a season-ending knee injury at Virginia Tech on Sept. 27, 2003. Caulley had gained 607 yards and scored seven touchdowns before the injury. That left Lawrence and fellow freshman Cornell Brockington at running back. Brockington went on to gain 643 yards on 131 carries and score 10 touchdowns in 10 games. Lawrence had 150 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries in six games.

Caulley was still not ready to return in 2004 and Lawrence started the first two games, against Murray State and Duke. But Brockington started the final 10 and earned the Big East rushing crown (1,218 yards). In 10 games, Lawrence carried just 28 times.

Lawrence was frustrated.

"I wanted time for people to see who I was,'' he said.

Lawrence decided to leave UConn and chose UMass, which meant he would not have to sit out a season because he was going from I-A to I-AA.

"UMass seemed to be a good fit,'' Lawrence said. "They were a running school, and I just liked the whole outfit.''

Lawrence had once dreamed of playing at Ohio State, but now he was sacrificing the big stadiums, big crowds and television exposure.

"[Division I-A] was all that it was cracked up to be, but, shoot, it's not worth sitting on the bench and looking at 85,000 people without my helmet on,'' Lawrence said. "Football is football. I'll go out there and play in front of nobody.''

The move to UMass was somewhat curious, though. The Minutemen already had a standout tailback in Steve Baylark, also a junior, who led the Atlantic 10 in rushing in 2004. Lawrence expected to at least spell Baylark and use his blocking and return skills to get on the field as much as possible in the 2005 season.

But against Richmond on Sept. 1 -- on his first play from scrimmage -- Lawrence went down with a bone bruise and high ankle sprain on his right leg. After one carry, for 9 yards, he was redshirted.

"You only get to see him for one play,'' UMass coach Don Brown said, "and it makes you sick to your stomach.''

The advantage was that Lawrence was a year behind Baylark in eligibility when he came back.

"[The injury] was a blessing in disguise,'' Lawrence said.

Lawrence watched Baylark compile a third 1,000-yard season in 2005. It was obvious who would start at tailback the next season. So in 2006, as a junior, Lawrence happily adapted to being the team's fullback, blocking for Baylark and carrying only 34 times for 174 yards.

"He's a great teammate,'' Brown said. "He didn't even blink.''

Lawrence (6 feet 1, 210 pounds) helped spring Baylark to a fourth-straight 1,000-yard season.

The Minutemen finished as national runner-up, losing the I-AA title game 28-17 to Appalachian State. Lawrence scored the first touchdown.

After playing sidekick in 2006, and with all the injuries and disappointment behind him, Lawrence was primed and ready this season.

"You've got to wait your turn,'' Lawrence said. "Fifth year, and now I get to play tailback.''

The dedication paid off. In the first game, Lawrence ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Holy Cross. He had 122 yards against Colgate, 176 and three touchdowns against Maine, 106 against Villanova and 111 Saturday against Northeastern. He is fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (A-10 football was absorbed by the CAA this season) in rushing yards per game (113.9).

In addition to racking up yards, Lawrence has been collecting friends at UMass.

"He always has a smile on his face,'' Brown said. "He has the ability to uplift his teammates at practice. Anyone that's around him, you feel like you're infected with his personality.''

Finally, Lawrence is having the time of his life.

"It's a lot of fun,'' Lawrence said. "The most fun I could ever ask for.''