Thanks to the blog reader who pointed me to this USA Today article on assistant coaches salaries.
UMass is near the bottom of the barrel in assistant coaches salaries. This is another reason a league affiliation would help. Of course, not all leagues are in good shape.
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Speaking of the Sun Belt, seven Coastal Carolina players made the All-Sun Belt. If you read the article, a number of Chants players had their best game against UMass...
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In yesterday's Matty Vautour article he mentioned Coach Whipple is looking for some transfer or JUCO help with punting.
During the second half of the season Logan Laurant took over and had a great six weeks. In two of our biggest victories to date he was the key factor in the game. He kicked the game-tying field goal and then the winner in overtime. His three field goals were the difference in the BYU game. In addition, he was booming his kickoffs into the end of the Cougars' endzone all game.
Not counting Laurant, we have four more kickers on the roster:
Mike Caggiano-- JR DNP in 2017. I don't know what happened to him.
Evan Padilla--FR He drew some oblique praise from Whipple, but DNP in 2017.
Theo Young--RSJR. DNP in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.
Michael Schreiner---FR Had a solid start in kickoffs and extra points (10 for 10 in the first three games). Then missed one field goal against Coastal Carolina and three against Temple. Then missed his next extra point against Tennessee.
We've had five-and-half years of terrible kicking and six weeks of outstanding kicking and punting. It's no coincidence those six weeks were the best of our FBS era. A decent punter and kicker should be a priority recruiting goal.
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