Saturday, November 02, 2013

Game Day--Northern Illinois

From the UMass Athletic office:


Parking lots open for tailgating: 9 a.m.

Minuteman March at 9:45 a.m. Be sure to join the Minuteman Marching Band and UMass Cheerleaders in Minutefan Park to welcome the team to the stadium.

The Minuteman Club opens at 10 a.m.

The forecast is calling for a seasonably warm day — high of around 62 — and lots of sunshine. It should be yet another gorgeous day for college football.

Tomorrow is Heroes In Action Day at Gillette Stadium. We will honor veterans, active duty service members, and local first responders in a special pre-game ceremony.
Note: Due to the scheduled New England Revolution game tomorrow evening, we ask that you wrap up all post-game tailgating and clear the Gillette Stadium parking lots by one hour after the conclusion of our game.

Go here for broadcast media information and essential game notes.

For complete game notes, click here.

Information on Gillette Stadium, tailgating and activities is available here.

Remember:

  • Gillette Stadium now features WiFi throughout the facility. Bring your devices and follow stats, follow UMass Football social media throughout the game, and share your thoughts, images and video.
  • Tailgate Tent: Join the UMass Amherst Alumni Association at their official tailgate tent, part of Minutefan Park.
  • Patriots Alumni: Each game this season brings a New England Patriots alumnus to the Minuteman Club to sign autographs and talk football with UMass fans. This week, meet Roland James. Drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 1980 NFL draft, Roland represents part of the Patriots' longstanding tradition of drafting and developing the league's best defensive backs. Roland spent his entire 11-season NFL career with the Patriots. He's remembered for a fumble recovery that helped propel the Cinderella 1985 team to a win over the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs. Roland was the Patriots' starting strong safety in Super Bowl XX.

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Many of the old timers here will remember Jimmie Reid. He was an intense guy. Reid was known to chew out opposing players if he felt they were not giving their best effort.  Delaware made visiting teams make a long detour on game day from their locker room to the field. Reid brought bolt cutters to Newark and went through locked gates...

I heard him give a talk to players and fans in a year when UMass was struggling. He said there's always some goals to meet. There's always something to accomplish no matter what the results are.

Today, UMass fans can attend the game and help put the attendance thing to rest. Just being there is a knife in the heart of the anti-football people. Come out and help the team. The Huskies are not that great at defense. Let's score some points and see what happens. Hope to see everyone at the game.

Go UMass!!!!

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The UMass injury report does not look good for today. Byrne, Blancflower, Maynes, Doyle and Wilson are probably out.

Dan Malone says the Minutemen face their toughest test yet against the undefeated Huskies.

Mark Chiarelli of the Hampshire Gazette says UMass is looking for ways to slow NIU QB Jordan Lynch.

The Chacigo Tribune says NIU's offensive line looks at last year's losses as motivation to improve.

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Hustle Belt has Week #10 league coverage.

The MAC Report Online has Week #10 coverage.

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UConn has a bye week.

Boston College gets 6-2 Virginia Tech.

Maine gets Stony Brook.

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