Sunday--November 20, 2011

Another year for my program collection

Well, it was a melancholy end to my 35 consecutive years of season tickets at McGuirk. Hopefully I'll walk back into a renovated stadium in 2014, with a new practice/weight facility and a new press box and watch a FBS/I-A football game.

JMU came into the game leading the CAA in rushing offense and rushing defense. They did just that against the Minutemen. UMass gave up 386 yards rushing and was held to 68 yards (2.7 yards/carry).

Kellen Pagel returned as starting QB and had a poor game. UMass had six first downs in the first half. Pagel threw into coverage all day. One INT was probably not his fault as the DB took a pass away from Gilson, but Pagel narrowly missed INT's on at least three other occasions. It never felt like UMass was going to score enough points to catch the Dukes.

Perry McIntyre, Darren Thellen and Tyler Holmes combined for 45 tackles, but the Dukes made big yardage all day on the outside. The one-play 76 yard TD run in the third quarter more or less finished the game.

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Matty V. said UMass ended FCS play with a loss.

He also said no announcement on Coach Morris before Monday at the earliest.

The Boston Globe said UMass bid farewell to FCS. They also had UMass losing the final game in FCS.

The Boston Herald said UMass misfires.

The Washington Post reports Dae'Quan Scott set the Dukes single-game rushing record.

The Worcester Telegram said UMass left FCS and Amherst on a down note.

MassLive stated UMass was overrun by the Dukes.

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Improbable as it sounds, Towson won the CAA Championship.

It was a bad day for the Maine Black Bears, as they lost the Bryce-Cowell musket, the CAA Championship and probably their first ever home playoff game.

Maine Campus article here.

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UPDATE: The 2011 FCS Playoffs Selection Show airs at 10 a.m. ET Sunday on ESPNU.

UPDATE II: Fordham fires current HC (and former UMass assistant coach) Tom Messela.

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2011 FCS playoff brackets

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