Today I thought I'd take a look at MAC returning starters. Figures from the Athlon Sports 2015 College Football magazine
Offense:
3 Miami (Ohio)
4 Akron, Toledo
5 Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan
6 Buffalo, Northern Illinois
7 Kent State
9 UMass, Ohio, Western Michigan
10 Bowling Green, Ball State
Note on UMass: the Minutemen return 10 starters from the end of season two-deep, if you consider Shadrach Abrokah as the starter. I would consider the TB position as the top up-for-grabs position in Summer camp. Whipple could keep Rodney Mills as H-Back or move him to TE. I think he'll do the former unless he thinks there is really no production available from other candidates for TE. Back while I was away, Dan Malone's report on the Spring Game said Lorenzo Woodley's stock was up and TE's were down.
Defense:
3 Buffalo
5 Bowling Green, Central Michigan
6 Akron (five Power Five transfers coming in)
7 Kent State, Western Michigan, Ohio, Ball State, Eastern Michigan
8 Miami (Ohio) Northern Illinois, Toledo
9 UMass
Bonus:
Colorado 6 Offense-9 defense
Florida International 6 offense-8 defense
Temple 7 offense-10 defense
Notre Dame 7 offense 10 defense
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The Mississippi State Blog "For whom the cowbell Tolls" says the Bulldog's series with UMass makes sense.
BTW, I haven't mentioned that Mississippi State fans are the only fans with a dispensation making ringing cowbells legal.
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The CT Post says Syracuse or BC should be UConn's big rivals.
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This article about Chip Kelly mentions former UMass assistant coach Bill McGovern (1987-90, 1992-93) and UMass.
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Football Schedules has a downloadable .pdf MAC helmet schedule here.
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