Saturday, March 30, 2013

Recruiting 2013--KJ Williams

Matt Smith image
A number of recruiting services say UMass has offered to KJ Williams, a 6-2 190 pound WR from Bethlehem  PA.

ESPN page here.

Rivals four-star player.

This article from November 2012 features Williams.

Hudl.com has highlight video.

Williams holds double-digit offers from many top college programs.

Saturday--March 30, 2013

Athlon Sports has a feature on the top assistant coach hires in 2013. Assistant coaches with UMass connections are Don Brown, Neal Brown and Ted Roof.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Football Scoop has a look inside our OOC opponent Vanderbilt's Spring drills.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SB Nation looks at five things from Kent State's Spring football.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer breaks down basic defensive sets for fans who never played the game.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've talked a lot about helmets recently. Now chrome helmets are spreading.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phil Steele discusses toughest schedules for 2013.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Network says the end of FCS football as we know it may be coming.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, March 29, 2013

Recruiting 2013--Robert Martin

Image credit unknown
Several recruiting sources say UMass has offered to Robert Martin, a 6-0 195 pound RB from Harrisburg, PA.

Rivals page here.

This NJ.com article from yesterday features Martin.

This article the Patriot-News talks about his recruiting.


Besides UMass, Martin holds offers from Rutgers, West Virginia, Temple, Toledo and Old Dominion.

Friday--March 29, 2013

The UMass All-Access page has Day #2 of Spring practice.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UMass Daily Collegian says UMass lacks experience at the playmaking positions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MassLive says Tajae Sharpe has the lead at the receiving positions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matty V. says Stacey Bedell is looking to make an impact at running back (paywall).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's Spring football at Buffalo too and Bulls WR Fred Lee is hoping to continue the great play he had against UMass and Bowling Green.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A West Virginia newspaper wonders if the MAC would be a better fit for Marshall.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A football writer picks 16 top upset alerts for the 2013 season and MAC teams figure in two of them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our opening OOC opponent Wisconsin, has a lot of options at quarterback.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Josh Samuda was one of the Dolphins players to visit the Miami Childrens Hospital.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Daquan Worley

Worley #4/ Tom Kelley IV image
Several recruiting sources indicate UMass has offered to Daquan Worley, a 5-10 170 pound CB from Coatsville, PA

Worley's ESPN page here.

Recently picked up an offer from Georgia Tech.

This article from December features Worley.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Besides UMass, Worley has offers from Rutgers and Georgia Tech.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday--March 28, 2013

From the Minutemen Club Newsletter:


As loyal and dedicated Minutemen Club members please mark your calendar now and plan to join us on Friday, April 26th to celebrate the groundbreaking events for the Football Performance Center and the Champions Center.

The schedule for events on Friday, April 26th is:

10:00-11:30am Groundbreaking ceremony at McGuirk Stadium for the Football Performance Center. 


1:30 - 3 pm Groundbreaking ceremony for the Champions Center.

More details to follow. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Coach Molnar's Football e-mail updates:


Our fifth MINUTEMAN UPDATE highlights Massachusetts

Great, Robert "Bob" Foote, '62.

Bob played for the University of Massachusetts first Yankee Conference Championship Team 1960, and was also honored by being named 1st team All-American.

After graduation, Bob stayed in Northampton, where he spent 45 years in the building supply business. In 2007, he sold his business and retired.

Bob's continued his passion for sports, as he enjoyed 20 years of coaching youth football and baseball in Northampton.

The Foote family has kept the football tradition:

His son Robert played football at Amherst College, earning Division III All American, coaching and teaching at Cushing Academy.

Football runs through the Foote Family:

Son Brian played at Hobart College

Grandson Thomas played at Amherst College, and now teaches and coaches football at Suffield Academy.

Grandson McCallum plays QB for Middlebury College, where he has set NESCAC passing records, and was New England Offensive Player of the year, and Division III All East.

Grandsons Tucker and Hunter Newman currently play football for Suffield Academy.

Bob's granddaughters are also athletes:

Katharine Foote currently at Boston College Law School.

Reilly Foote currently at Yale University.

Donovan Foote at Cushing Academy.

Emma Newman at Greenfield Community College.

Bob and his beautiful wife, Marianne (UMass '77) are enjoying retirement and love having the opportunity to spend time with all 8 grandchildren.  

The Foote’s are snowbirds, spending their winters in Naples, Florida. Bob stays in touch with a number of classmates and teammates who also live there.


Go UMass! 

Charley Molnar, Head Football Coach

University of Massachusetts

Note that I've been redacting the player's e-mail address included in Coach Molnar's posts to foil spam-bots.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry Plumer has a story about UMass' three QB's vying for the top spot in Spring practice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've been talking about offensive lines a lot recently. This article from Central Michigan previews the Chippewas' OL and notes it helped beat UMass.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESPN says there will be a big impact from the NCAA's pending revision of recruiting academic standards.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer has an essay on how Army and Navy got pushed out of college football relevance. Army would be an excellent addition to the MAC.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday--March 27, 2013

UMass starts construction on the new UMass football facility. The link also has some new artists renderings of how the facility will look including the new press box.

Athletic Dept image
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's a UMass video report on the first day of spring practice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry Plumer of MassLive has more on the deletions of Marken Michel, Jamie Casselberry and Michael Boland from the UMass roster.

The UMass Daily Collegian has an article on the start of Spring practice.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matty V. has a story about the first day of QB competition in 2013 (pay wall).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESPN says multiple sources say Tulsa will get the nod as 12th member of the football Big East. It was just too early in UMass' development cycle for the Minutemen to be considered. We need five or so years in the MAC and some winning seasons to get serious consideration to a BCS league.

I expect conference realignments to continues. The ACC could be the next league to be raided.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer picks Kansas State to have one of the easiest OOC schedules in 2013.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Connelly continues his series on the MAC. He says when it comes to recruiting, Toledo is on a different level than the rest of the MAC.

He also says when it comes to Ohio, boring is good.

Conference champion NIU will return all five of their starting offensive linemen in 2013.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More from Football Scoop about the Sunbelt Conference adding four teams including Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday--March 26, 2013

Yesterday I mentioned I would have some UMass historical scans on today's blog. I'm going to push that back a day or so as I have some material to work with today. A football blogger in March or April is always scratching for any scrap of news.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass Spring practice starts today. Harry Plumer says UMass is going back to fundamentals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matty V has a story on Spring Practice here (paywall, but you can register and get five views a month). News includes offensive linemen Michael Bowland and Jamie Casselberry have left the team for health reasons. Marken Michel has also left.

The offensive line was major problem for the Minutemen in 2012 and looks like it will be trouble again this year. The Minutemen simply do not have many bodies at that position. UMass may again be playing at least one true freshman, a circumstance that make most OL coaches shudder.

Gone from 2012:

Returning or added this Spring:
OL recruits arriving in Fall:
  • Terrell Correia 6-7 280 ESPN two-star recruit
  • Tyshon Henderson 6-7 315 ESPN two-star recruit
  • Fabian Hoeller 6-3 301
  • Jordan Page 6-5 300 ESPN two-star recruit
  • Rich Queen 6-3 275 ESPN two-star recruit
Freshman bios are in the recruiting page.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Former UMass QB Scott Woodward has been named offensive coordinator at Fairleigh Dickinson. Scott has been QB coach at Westfield State for the past three years. The news report is in the Monday section of Football Scoop.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ball State opens their Spring practice with a “Anything, Anytime, Anywhere” attitude.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Old FCS foes Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are moving to the Sun Belt conference according to this report.

This report asks what will happen to FCS if more of the top teams leave?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twelve of the 64 teams in the NCAA March Madness do not have football. Three of those teams made the Sweet Sixteen this year. Marquette was a three seed, but Witchita State and LaSalle were #9 and #13 seeds respectively.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Former UMass coach Bob Shoop says run defense is the key to championships.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday--March 25, 2013

UPDATE: The UMass 2013 Spring roster is up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The McGill Daily (Canada) talks about the "Redmen" logo and says UMass used the argument the name reflected the color of the UMass jerseys. I was there in 1972 and I don't remember that. With Metawampe and "The Hatch and Pipe" it seemed the Native American affiliation was explicit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Toner was inducted into Swampscott's Hall of Fame. One of five Toner brothers to play for the Minutemen, Toner lettered in 1974, '75 and '76. He was Captain in his senior year.

There's an image of Toner in the "Historical Scans' section of the blog.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Orlando Sentinel, linked here many times, says college football could use a dose of March Madness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Portland Press-Herald reports on Maine's Pro Day. The Black Bears, our 2013 FCS OOC opponent used to provide more NFL players than any team in FCS. Thirty four Maine players have made it to the NFL.

The Giants Blog "Big Blue" has an article on various Pro Days around the nation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CBS Sports has more on the Giants $7 million offer to Victor Cruz.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but MassLive has a story about George Mason joining the A10.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll have some UMass football historical scans for the blog tomorrow.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Billy Ray Mitchell

247Sports Image
Several recruiting services have indicated UMass has offered to Billy Ray Mitchell, a 6-4 275 pound OL from Paramus, NJ.

Mitchell's ESPN page here.

247Sports page here.

Mitchell also has an offer from Tulane.


Sunday---March 24, 2013

Twin brothers from East Long Meadow, one of whom drew interest from UMass will attend prep school next year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wisconsin, one of UMass' OOC opponents will switch from the 4-3 to 3-4 this year. This article (in the middle) talks about Badgers DL.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spring Football at Northern Illinois.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know you've been holding your breath, but reportedly, the Giants have offered Victor Cruz $7 million.

More here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another article on Brandon London's three-year deal with the Larks.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Travis Tripucka gets a mention in this NY Jets article.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Takhi Turner

Turner Family image
NJ.com reports UMass is interested in Takhi Turner, a 6-0 200 pound free safety from Harrisburg, PA

NJ.com article here.

Rivals page here.

This Patriot-News article features Turner.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass, Turner has interest from Maryland, BC, Temple, Toledo, Rutgers and Old Dominion.


Saturday--March 23, 2013

A UMass football game----some time ago,  was the inspiration for a recent verbal to the Minutewomen's field hockey team.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Connections. Our potential rival for a Big East football slot, Tulsa, has an new AD and he comes from Eastern Michigan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A judge threw the book at an Alabama fan who poisoned Auburn's iconic Toomer's Corner oak trees.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

An ESPN Blog has a question-and-answer session with Temple's Matt Rhule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Giant RB David Wilson hopes Victor Cruz gets a contract "he can't refuse."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeromy Miles is expected to return to the Bengals.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Josh Samuda helped out with a Dolphins Make-a-Wish auction.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, March 22, 2013

Recruiting 2013--Jordan Keli'inui and Zac Orcutt

UMass has added two preferred walk-ons to the Minutemen's 2013 recruiting class.

The Minutemen have added RB/LB Jordan Keli'ini and QB/S Zac Orcutt, both of Mashbee.

The Boston Herald has a story about both signing with UMass.

ESPN Boston also has a story about the duo joining the Minutemen squad.

Orcutt/ image credit unknown
Keli'inui/ Ron Schleob image

Friday-- March 22, 2013

UMass will host a Coaches Clinic April 4-6.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Football Scoop has Neal Brown miked up for Spring practice.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Victor Cruz is getting plenty of support from his teammates as another Giant said he would restructure to help keep him in New York

CBS New York says the Giants have good reason to be concerned about Cruz.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer looks at the Safety position for the Ravens including James Ihedigbo.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

My old school at UMass, the Isenberg School of Business has cracked Business Week's Top 50 for the first time. UMass officials note that the school is ranked #20 nationally in public universities.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

MAC Conference champ Akron played VCU in their opening game of the NCAA and ended up on the wrong end of a record setting 46 point loss.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Andy Katz says don't cry for the Atlantic 10.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Recruiting 2014-- Andrew Ford II

J. Cleezy image
I've blogged before on Andrew Ford, a 6-3 180 pound pro-style QB from Cedar Cliff HS in PA.

This article from the Patriot News talks about his recruiting situation. There is also another article that covers Ford.

Ford has offers from Temple and UMass.

Thursday--March 21, 2013

An NFL.com blog has some stats from UMass' Pro Day on Stephane Milhim, Michael Cox and Darren Thellen.

Milhim gets some coverage in a Atlanta Falcons mock draft.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Business Daily interviews John Martin, who's a graduate of UMass' Sports Management program. UMass' school is nationally known and a big asset to the Minutemen's Athletic Dept.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Michigan is the latest MAC team to be reviewed by SB Nation's Bill Connelly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eli Manning says "I want Victor Cruz back with the Giants."

Manning is willing to rework his deal to keep Cruz. Hope that works out better than the Tom Brady--Wes Welker thing.

Cruz visited two New Jersey schools and urged students not to quit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer says college football's bowl season is still better than March Madness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Recruiting 2014--- Kevin Bronson II

I've blogged about Kevin Bronson, a 6-3 235 pound ILB/DE before.

This article mentions Bronson at the Miami Nike Camp.

Bronson has offers from UMass and UCF.

Recruiting 2014-- Sharieff Rhaheed

Treasure Coast Palm reports that Sharieff Rhaheed, a 6-4 215 pound LB from Fort Pierce HS in Florida committed to LSU.

Rhaheed had an offer from UMass as well as from Mississippi, North Carolina State, Penn State, South Florida, Tennessee and UCF.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday--March 20, 2013

Canadian Press image
Brandon London signed a three year deal with the Alouettes.

London has high goals for 2013.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to know why college football is driving realignment, this article from Football Scoop shows the reason money is in football.

From the article:

"College football was the No. 1 or 2 highest-rated television programs for 14 consecutive Saturday nights this fall, taking the top spot on seven occasions."

FBS college football is the place to be.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIU Football wants to be even stronger in 2013.

Toledo's goal remains the same, win the MAC in 2013.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MetroDailyWest has a feature about Boston College's Spring football.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT:

Kentucky was one-and-done in the NIT.

The Courier-Journal says Coach Calipari may be one player away from the greatest recruiting class in the history of college basketball.

Could the Siena Saints be joining the A10?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Recruiting 2015-- Brad Mayes II

I've blogged about Brad Meyes, a 6-1 180 pound QB from Berkeley Prep before.

Mayes gets a mention in this article on a Nike Training Camp in Orlando.

Sophomore highlights here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday--March 19, 2013

Virginia coach Mike London appears to take a shot at Jimmie Reid in this story by Football Scoop. More on the Cavs new defensive coordinator from the Daily Progress.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Connelly continues his series on the MAC with a preview of Central Michigan. UMass had offensive line problems in 2012.

Connelly's article notes that a number of MAC teams will be rebuilding their OL in 2013.


Ball State is replacing four multi-year starters, including two all-conference picks. Kent State is replacing three three-year (at least) starters, including two all-conference picks. Miami is replacing three multi-year starters, including a four-year guy.

And now you've got CMU, looking at replacing four guys who combined for 124 career starts. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bowling Green is ready to make the next step in the MAC race according to USA Today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Raiders website has a story about the top offensive tackles in the 2013 NFL draft. Mentions Stephane Milhim and CMU's Eric Fisher.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another what-if-college-football-had-a-64-team-playoff article this time by SB Nation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Giants co-owner says Victor Cruz is worth more than Wes Welker.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but there is a printable NIT bracket here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's some UMass Football recruiting news, but I'm on a short leash today to the storm and a couple of medical appointments.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 18, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Anthony Khalife

247Sports image
Recruiting services say UMass is showing interest in Anthony Khalife, a 6-4 235 pound DE from Wilkes-Barre PA.

Rivals page here.

247Sports page here.

Visited UConn recently.


Khalife does not have any offers at this time.

Monday--March 18, 2013

I've set up a Picasa web album with 29 images from UMass' Night of Champions. It's here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SB Nation's Bill Connelly continues his Spring preview of MAC teams, this time with Ball State.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer looks at a 64-team college football playoff.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Giants co-owner says Victor Cruz is going to cost the Giants big money.

ESPN says the Giants want to keep Cruz.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James Ihedigbo has been re-signed by the Ravens for one year.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Josh Samuda and some other Dolphins' players help under privileged kids.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but UMass will host Stony Brook 24-7 Wednesday at Home. Ticket info here.

Stony Brook swept America East awards. MassLive has game time and more.

UPDATE:  The Washington Post says UMass will host Iowa if both advance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Sunday--March 17, 2013

The Monsignor Farrell football program is going to retire the #45 jersey worn by former UMass DE John D'Amato (1976, 1977, 1978).

D'Amato was First Team All-Yankee Conference in 1977 and 1978.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The BCS committee asked 31 Bowl Committees to submit applications to bid on hosting one of the three access bowls for 2013.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Big East's lawyers have registered the domain name America12.org as well as variations of America12.com.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maryland, ----- but not Rutgers will receive a big travel subsidy from the Big Ten.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass hoops played a valiant game yesterday against VCU. The Minutemen out-rebounded VCU (always a sign of good effort) and played strong defense. One symptom of  fatigue in basketball is poor shooting and UMass missed lots of shots. I still think UMass is one of the top 68 teams in the nation, but probably will have a first round NIT game at home.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Thomas Holley III

I've blogged about Thomas Holley, a 6-4 290 pound DT from Abraham Lincoln HS a couple of times before.

Holley just added offers from Alabama and Notre Dame.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Saturday--March 16, 2013

The Maroon helmet was the favorite of 64% of the responders in the blog poll in the side bar. I voted for the white helmet, but after seeing the maroon helmet in person, I like that one too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Athlon Sports has a Spring preview of  UMass' 2013 BCS OOC opponent Vanderbilt.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Illustrated looks at burning questions for the non BCS leagues in the Spring of 2013.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All's quiet with the Victor Cruz negotiations, but the Giants are hoping Cruz's agent change will help.

Victor is mingling with the movers and shakers again.

Rant Sports says San Diego should give the Giants a first round pick for Cruz.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UConn is adding temporary seating to it's 40,000 seat stadium for Michigan's visit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After watching UMass beat NCAA-bound Temple last night, can anyone deny UMass is one of the top 64 teams in the nation? The Minutemen should be in the tourney.

UPDATE: MassLive has the TV coverage channels for today's UMass-VCU game.

BTW, Temple has a basketball/football blog.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Adonis Jennings

Matt Boyle image
Several recruiting services say UMass has offered to Adonis Jennings, a 6-2 185 pound WR from Erial, NJ.

Jennings ESPN page here.

247Sports page here.

Jennings team won the South Jersey Championship.

This 247Sports article features Jennings.




Jennings holds offers from Pitt, Rutgers, Temple and UCF.

Friday-- Ides of March 2013

The UMass All-access video port has some highlights from the UMass "Night of Champions" event.

Some more images of the event from me. Click on the image and Blogger displays a full-rez version.

First team to 100 reps at 305 wins

Robert Kitching sets up for a 600 pound squat

Anthony Dima did 32 reps at 225!!!

Randall Jette goes above the rim
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Vandy Blog "Anchor of Gold" has a post about favorite uniforms and helmets and features an image from the UMass game.

ESPN football says Vanderbilt (who will visit Gillette next year) is looking more like a SEC team.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESPN looks at more names for the new Big East football league.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but Chaz Williams left a freakin' vapor trail in his coast-to-coast drive and layup in the last minute of UMass' win over George Washington last night.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but there is limited TV coverage of tonight's UMass-Temple game. Some papers say the game will be on CBS sports Network, but it's not listed on my Dish Network programming guide.

UPDATE: The A10 has an expanded list of cable stations carrying the UMass-Temple game. It's available on Fox Sports Midwest channel 418 on Dish network. I'm watching St. Joe's VCU now.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, March 14, 2013

More on the new UMass helmets

At the football event last night the team displayed mannequins with the new uniforms and helmets. If my math is right three different colors for helmets, jerseys and pants gives 84 distinct combinations.

Click on the images below and Blogger displays a full-rez version.

One one day left to vote in the poll on helmet colors!






Note the metal-flake finish on the white helmet


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday --March 14, 2013

Hey, yesterday's UMass Night of Champions was a hoot! Next year you've got to go. Tons of energy from the team. I had a great time.

I'll try to have an Picassa album up in a couple of days. The Gazette has a story here about the event (paywall, you can get five views/month by registering).

Click on the images below and Blogger displays a full-rez version. It sure got me amped up for the coming season!

Khary Baily-Smith can sky!
Brandon Potvin goes for reps
QB Mike Wegzyn squats 400+

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In MAC conference news: Ohio led the league in football and basketball attendance.

SB Nation's Bill Connelly continues his MAC teams review, this time with Kent State.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How should the Big East divy up $100 million in exit fees?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESPN says Wes Welker's deal not good for Victor Cruz.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

OT but there will be TV coverage for tonight's A10 first-round game between UMass and GW. MassLive has the channels for Comcast, Direct TV and Dish Network.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Recruiting 2014--James Hendren

Mass Prep Stars image
Several sources state UMass has offered to James Hendren, a 6-7 305 pound OT from Brookline, MA.

This article from NJ.com features Hendren.

Hendren's Rivals page here.


Sophomore highlights above.

Hendren holds an offer from Ohio and a number of Ivy League teams.

Wednesday-- March 13, 2013

Hope to see a lot of UMass football fans at tonight's Evening of Champions. It's a chance to be a little involved with Minutemen football during the off season.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


Former UMass player E.J. Barthel gets a mention in this video. Barthel's Wikipedia page. His UMass bio.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephane Milhim's NFL Draft Scout's page with his stats from UMass' Pro Day.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

WEEI says the Pats are unlikely to make a run at Victor Cruz.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

In conference news, Bowling Green wants to take it to the next level in 2013.

Toledo held their Pro Day recently.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

College football playoffs won't have a title sponsor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

OT: The Big East votes to let Notre Dame leave for the ACC in 2013-14 school year.

With Maryland leaving the ACC for the Big Ten, IMHO the ACC could be the next league to cherry picked (in football) by other leagues. That could end up providing UMass with an opportunity in the future.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Recruiting 2014--- Tyrone Washington II

Vin Canchietta image
I've blogged about Tyrone Washington before. Washington is a 6-2 185 pound athlete/WR/DB from Paramus Catholic in NJ.

NJ.com has a feature article on Washington.

Washington helped win the state title for Paramus in December.

Washington attended the UMass Junior Day a couple of weeks ago.

Washington holds offers from UMass and Rutgers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Tuesday--March 12, 2013

Get away from the March blahs and attend tomorrow's UMass football Evening of Champions. I'll be there and I hope to see some more of the Minutemen football die-hards.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UMass All-Access page also has a new update on the facilities upgrade at McGuirk. The new training center and new press box should make a big impact on recruiting. In addition, it will allow UMass to move some games back to campus.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Connelly of SB Nation continues his series on prospects for 2013 MAC teams, this time with Miami (Ohio).

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Orlando Sentinel has five MAC games to watch in 2013.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Giants have given Victor Cruz first-round tender and he's changed agents.

CBS Sports says the Giants are hoping to keep Cruz for years.

More Cruz trade rumors from the Giants Blog "Big Blue".

------------------------------------------------------------------

Will Fox Sports give ESPN a challenge in college sports? It would nice if the MAC could improve its TV package.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 11, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Juwann Winfree

Winnfree family image
Several recruiting services say UMass has offered to Juwann Winfree, a 6-2 180 pound athlete from Englewood, NJ.

ESPN page here.

247Sports page here.

This article from November 2012 features Winfree.

NJ.com also has an article on Winfree.


Winfree has multiple FBS offers including Boston College, Cincinnati, Georgia, Maryland and more.

Monday--March 11, 2013

A Bleacher Report writer picks Victor Cruz as one of the top NFL Free Agents.

The Giants Blog "Big Blue" says Victor could really cash in.

The Examiner.com says Cruz is receiving a "ton of interest".

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Catholic Seven depart the Big East June 30th.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Why Notre Dame won't miss Gunner Kiel.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

OT, but Temple won their last regular season A10 basketball game. A10 hoops is not going to be the same without the Owls.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

UConn releases their 2013 football schedule. Four wins maybe?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Recruiting 2014--Andrew Ford

Chris Knight image
Several recruiting services have indicated UMass has offered to Andrew Ford, a 6-2 181 pound pro-style QB from Cedar Cliff HS in PA.

ESPN page here.

247Sports page here.

This article from September features Ford.

Threw for seven TD's in one game in 2012.


Ford also holds an offer from Temple.

Sunday--March 10, 2013

Rant Sports says several MAC schools would be a good fit for Gunner Kiel.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Big East completes the Basketball-Football divorce.

The Big East wants $2.5 million from Notre Dame for the Irish's exit.

Philly.com says the Big East and the A10's tourneys will never be the same.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

What college coaches really look for in recruits.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Boston Herald says Victor Cruz and Wes Welker are among the premier WR free agents.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Saturday--March 9, 2013

Shane Waldron/Twitter
Harry Plumer has an article about possible new helmet colors for the 2013 Minutemen. I think most UMass fans felt that the all-black uniforms did not work very well.

I liked the white helmets. Maroon helmets with maroon jerseys will make us into Temple clones. Maroon w/white travel jerseys would probably be OK.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Connelly continues his series of previewing the 2013 MAC. This time is Akron.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick Underhill of MassLive wonders if Victor Cruz would leave the Giants.

A Giants blogger says there is a lot of interest in Cruz from other teams possibly including the Patriots because "you can't put it past them to try this"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I missed this article from March 5th from the Boston Herald "NFL scouts check out UMass seniors".

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer has the biggest Spring headache for all 127 FBS head  coaches including UMass.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A commenter here expressed interest in UMass getting Gunner Kiel. I dunno. His next stop will be his fourth. We are no longer FCS, so he would have to sit out a year. Given his history, a year off would likely end badly. Probably a FCS team like Eastern Washington, Montana or Sam Houston would be his best bet. A Bleacher Report writer picks Kiel's five best options.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, March 08, 2013

Recruiting 2014---Jared Coker

Hudl.com image
This article says UMass has offered to Jared Coker, a 6-4 285 pound OL/DL  from Brian Woods HS, VA.

Coker is featured in this article from February.

All-District First Team Offense in 2012.



Coker holds offers from UMass and Bowling Green. Transitional FBS team Old Dominion and FCS VMI have also offered.

Friday--March 8, 2013

SB Nation continues a March review of the MAC with Eastern Michigan.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The NCAA adopts a number of rules changes for 2013 and pauses to reconsider recent changes in recruiting regulations.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike Blaudschun says the new Big East football schools want a bigger piece of the pie. He also thinks the league should be re-branded as the "Big Metro Conference".

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bleacher Report writer says Kansas State's 2013 meeting with two-time FCS National Champion North Dakota state will be a "cake walk" and UMass will be "easy".

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The mercurial Irish QB Gunner Keil is going to transfer according to ESPN.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom Coughlin says he wants Victor Cruz to be a Giant forever.

-------------------------------------------------------------------