I figured now was as good a time as any to talk a little bit about UMass’ first out-of-conference schedule. Without further adieu, here goes: The Minutemen have to travel to UConn, Michigan and Vanderbilt. UMass also hosts the University of Indiana for its first FBS home game at Gillette. Four BCS opponents is tough for any team, and the challenge will be particularly arduous for UMass, a first-year program attempting to find an entirely new identity. At Connecticut: August 30, 2012
(UMass will begin its first FBS season against UConn at Rentschler Field) http://maroonmusket.com/2012/04/first-look-out-of-conference-schedule/ May 14, 2012 First Look: Out of Conference Schedule As I’m sure most of you have already seen, SB Nation said UMass has the toughest out-of- conference schedule in FBS football. The Minutemen have to travel to UConn, Michigan and Vanderbilt. UMass also hosts the University of Indiana for its first FBS home game at Gillette. Four BCS opponents is tough for any team, and the challenge will be particularly arduous for UMass, a first-year program attempting to find an entirely new identity. I figured now was as good a time as any to talk a little bit about UMass’ first out-of-conference schedule. Without further adieu, here goes: At Connecticut: August 30, 2012 Is there a better way to start things off at the FBS level? UConn and UMass have a longstanding rivalry that has more or less dissipated during the last decade. The teams stopped playing in football in 1999 when UConn upgraded its program, and UMass frustratingly stayed behind. As I’m sure many Minutemen fans remember, that last game was pretty special: UMass sent the Huskies packing to the tune of a 62- 20 pounding . (NOTE: UMass also leads the all-time series, 36-33-2) A lot has changed since Todd Bankhead and Marcel Shipp dismantled UConn on that November afternoon. The Huskies moved to the Big East and eventually became a legitimate contender among the heavyweight Northeast football programs. The Huskies’ success came to a head at the 2011 Fiesta Bowl where ticket sale issues and a lopsided loss to the Oklahoma Sooners clouded an achievement that many thought was impossible for a Northeast program not located in Happy Valley. UConn has fallen off a bit since then, and the departure of Randy Edsall may have taken its toll on an otherwise consistent program (from 2004 to 2011, UConn went to five bowl games). Paul Pasqualoni’s first team went 5-7, but the Huskies also held serve in the Northeast and defeated recruiting rivals Syracuse and Rutgers. UConn also did pretty well on the recruiting trail, and picked up a number of three-star recruits , including a few Massachusetts guys that opted for Storrs over
Transcript
(UMass will begin its first FBS season against UConn at Rentschler Field)
http://maroonmusket.com/2012/04/f irst-look-out-of-conference-schedule/ May 14, 2012
First Look: Out of Conference Schedule
As I’m sure most of you have already seen, SB Nation said UMass has the toughest out-of-conference schedule in FBS football.
The Minutemen have to travel to UConn, Michigan and Vanderbilt. UMass also hosts the Universityof Indiana for its first FBS home game at Gillette. Four BCS opponents is tough for any team, andthe challenge will be particularly arduous for UMass, a first-year program attempting to find anentirely new identity.
I figured now was as good a time as any to talk a little bit about UMass’ first out-of-conferenceschedule. Without further adieu, here goes:
At Connecticut: August 30, 2012
Is there a better wayto start things off atthe FBS level?
UConn and UMasshave a longstandingrivalry that has moreor less dissipatedduring the lastdecade. The teamsstopped playing infootball in 1999when UConnupgraded itsprogram, andUMass frustratinglystayed behind. AsI’m sure manyMinutemen fansremember, that lastgame was prettyspecial: UMass sentthe Huskies packingto the tune of a 62-20 pounding.(NOTE: UMass alsoleads the all-time series, 36-33-2)
A lot has changed since Todd Bankhead and Marcel Shipp dismantled UConn on that Novemberafternoon. The Huskies moved to the Big East and eventually became a legitimate contenderamong the heavyweight Northeast football programs. The Huskies’ success came to a head at the2011 Fiesta Bowl where ticket sale issues and a lopsided loss to the Oklahoma Sooners cloudedan achievement that many thought was impossible for a Northeast program not located in HappyValley.
UConn has fallen off a bit since then, and the departure of Randy Edsall may have taken its toll onan otherwise consistent program (from 2004 to 2011, UConn went to five bowl games). PaulPasqualoni’s first team went 5-7, but the Huskies also held serve in the Northeast and defeatedrecruiting rivals Syracuse and Rutgers. UConn also did pretty well on the recruiting trail, and pickedup a number of three-star recruits, including a few Massachusetts guys that opted for Storrs over
This will be a tough hill to climb for UMass. The Minutemen head to Connecticut with a newcoaching staff, a new offense and questions at quarterback, running back and receiver. However,UMass also has this one circled on the calendar. Not only is this the first game at the FBS levelagainst an old rival, it is also a chance for the Minutemen to stake an early claim in the landscape ofNew England football.
Indiana: September 8, 2012
Home sweet home.
The Indiana Hoosiers will go down in UMass football lore as the first FBS team to come to Gillette.The Hoosiers, who are a perennial cellar dweller in the Big 10, are coming off a downright awfulseason where their only win came against South Carolina State, a FCS school. However, UMassfans should not look past the fact that Indiana still takes its football very seriously – evidenced by theextensive coverage the school is giving its spring practice/Spring Game (which comes completewith a pancake breakfast … lucky).
Much like UConn, Indiana raked in a nice crop of three-star recruits – most of which are local boys.
By the time the Hoosiers come to Gillette, they will have had a chance to knock the rust off againstFCS softy Indiana State. The Hoosiers are also returning 16 starters (seven on offense and eight ondefense). Indiana will be looking to get off to a hot start in order to have a chance at a bowl bid. TheHoosiers will likely win against Indiana State, then they have UMass, Ball State and Northwestern ina row. If they win those four games, beat Navy on October 20, and sneak in another, Indiana isgoing bowling.
Now go ahead and count all those ifs for me.
If nothing else, the Indiana game represents the start of something new for UMass. Already fans aretalking about #Operation50K, and Coach Molnar is pushing for a sellout on Twitter. It will be the firstchance for UMass fans to tailgate at Gillette, raise UMass flags in the parking lot and truly show how
(UMass will play Michigan on September 15 at the Big House/AnnArbor.com)
much they care about this program.
at Michigan: September 15, 2012
The Big House, the siteof the greatest loss inUMass football history.
On September 18,2010, UMass took theMichigan Wolverines tothe wire in a 42-37 lossin front of the biggestcrowd to ever watch theMinutemen play anysport, anywhere.UMass faithful travelledby plane, train andautomobile to see agame at MichiganStadium, and by allaccounts the home fanswere welcoming. Noone felt the warmWolverine welcomequite like the UMassMarching Band, whichhad just lost its long-time leader, GeorgeParks. The Pride and Class of UMass put on a show for the ages, and Michigan fans applauded theeffort.
The Minutemen will head back to the Big House this coming season, but many things havechanged. For one, UMass is now a FBS program, and if it pulls off the extremely improbable andwins, it won’t quite be Appalachian State-esque. On Michigan’s end: This Wolverines team is muchbetter, and this squad has Hokeamania.
The Wolverines are coming off an 11-2 season and a Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Michiganis also bringing back a lot and has six returning starters of offense and seven on defense. Oh yea,Denard Robinson is also coming back and now has two more years of experience under his beltsince UMass last saw him.
In case that’s not terrifying enough, the Wolverines’ recruiting class reminds me of a cloudless nightin the Rocky Mountains – lots of stars.
Also, don’t expect to catch Michigan coming out of a summer slumber. The Wolverines take onAlabama in Dallas and Air Force at home before the Maroon and White come to town.
(Side Note: This game will a homecoming for Michael Cox, a running back who transferred fromMichigan to UMass as a postgrad.)
(UMass will have todeal with Vanderbiltand Zac Stacy on
October 27 inNashville/News
Observer)
Aspartof afour-yeardealwiththe
Commodores, the Minutemen will travel to Nashville to play Vanderbilt and get their first glimpse ofSEC football.
Vandy, who is a trendy pick to make some noise in the SEC, is coming off a 6-7 season where itlost to Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl. While Vanderbilt’s record doesn’t appear intimidating, it’simportant to remember how many close calls the ‘Dores had: including a 33-28 loss to Georgia anda 31-28 loss to Arkansas. Vandy also went 5-2 at home.
The Commodores are bringing back nine offensive starters and seven on defense. Included in thatmix is running back Zac Stacy, who UMass fans will come to know very well.
This year Vanderbilt has a pretty soft schedule, and aside from Georgia and Mizzou, all of its “hard”games are home. As I look into my crystal ball for cliche future football stories, I can already see theNashville papers calling UMass a trap game. The Minutemen are uncomfortably sandwichedbetween Auburn and Kentucky – four games into Vandy’s SEC slate.
Vanderbilt killed it on the recruiting trail this year and signed highly rated Brian Kimbrow, who wasbeing pursued by a number of major schools including Ohio State, Notre Dame, Auburn, and instaterival Tennessee. This Commodore revival is all happening under the leadership of James Franklin,a coach who will be getting a lot of looks if he continues to succeed in Nashville.
UMass fans can expect growing pains, and a 1-4 finish against this out-of-conference slate shouldactually be viewed as progress.
Part of that progress is learning from what these programs do off the field. So far, a good amount ofthe information I find on UMass football is through Twitter, deep Google searches and informationbeing sent out from other schools. UMass needs to sell the program better. Each of the above-mentioned schools has a Spring Game Primer and constant updates about the football team.
This is not to say that UMass has done nothing. Already there have been spring practiceupdates and a number of interviews.
However, I think once the NIT hangover wears off, the athletic department needs to recognize that itis always football season at the FBS level.
