Gillette will be thrill for Hudson's Duggan.

PositionSPORTS

Byline: Jennifer Toland

COLUMN: COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Playing at the Big House earlier this season was a lifelong dream come true for UMass senior fullback Scott Duggan of Hudson. Tomorrow's game against New Hampshire at Gillette Stadium, home of the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, also will likely rank right up there among Duggan's most memorable moments.

"It will definitely be close," Duggan said. "Being a Massachusetts kid, I grew up a Patriots fan, and getting to play in my pro team's stadium is definitely special, and I have a lot of family and friends coming down, so that means a lot."

The Colonial Athletic Association matchup between No. 12 UMass and No. 10 UNH is being billed as the "Colonial Clash," and it will be the first college football game at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. The game is the first in a two-year, home-and-home series for the schools to be played at Gillette Stadium. UNH is the home team this year, UMass next year.

Gillette Stadium has hosted Eastern Mass. high school Super Bowl games since 2007. The hope is to have an annual college game at the venue as well.

Tickets are $25, parking is free, and lots open for tailgating at 12:30.

The last time UMass played at an NFL stadium was Nov. 2, 1991, when the Minutemen beat Northeastern before a crowd of 4,620 at the old Foxboro Stadium.

"This is going to be a big game," said UMass captain Emil Igwenagu, the former Holy Name standout. "Any kid growing up around here, the Patriots are the team they look at. To play in their stadium, it's going to be a good thing."

The Minutemen will conduct a walk-through and take part in a media session at Gillette Stadium this afternoon. Other than that, preparations for the game against the rival Wildcats have been business as usual.

"I think the walk-around will get all the nerves settled and help us get used to the environment," Duggan said. "Once the whistle blows, it's still a football game, and all my focus will be on that."

Duggan, who graduated from Hudson High and prepped at Worcester Academy, was 3 years old when he started cheering for the University of Michigan, so you can imagine the thrill of playing at Michigan Stadium last month. UMass took it to the Wolverines before falling, 42-37.

There were extended pregame festivities in Ann Arbor that day, and Duggan said the teams stood on the field for about 10 minutes waiting for kickoff.

"That whole time I was pretty much soaking up the crowd...

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