Former UMass WR known for salsa dance on Giants TDs

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Victor Cruz would like to dance his way to a Super Bowl win -- the Giants wide receiver and former University of Massachusetts Amherst player is known for his celebratory salsa dancing.

Six-foot, 200-pound Cruz loves to Salsa. The 25-year-old New Jersey native played at UMass after attending a prep school in Maine. Cruz’s coach at UMass, Kevin Morris, said Cruz would have cost his college team penalties for his showboating.

“We had to calm down a little bit on dance moves back then. We just wanted to get in the end zone, he certainly did that,” said the Former UMass football coach. “The NFL allows the dance moves.”

Cruz tied an NFL record when he got a 99-yard touchdown reception over the Jets in Week 16 -- and he celebrated.

“He seems like a nice guy. I’ve heard some interviews with him. He’s a good player, he’s a nice guy. The fact that he comes out of UMass Amherst is nice too, to see a local guy succeed like that,” said Neil Bailey, a Patriots fan.

Cruz won’t be the only UMass alum on the field Feb. 5 -- he’ll be facing off against former teammate and current Patriots safety, James Ihedigbo. Ihedigbo graduated from UMass in 2007.

“Very, very exciting, especially with Victor being a wide receiver and James being a defensive back -- a lot of Vic’s catches have been over the middle and James is playing safety, he’ll be controlling that area, so it should be a great matchup,” said Morris.

Cruz is a late bloomer in the football world -- he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Giants. Cruz got kicked out of UMass twice, he violated team rules and didn’t study according to one account. Sources said after his father died, Cruz got his act together and started to play well and study.

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