UMass opens as a six point underdog to New Mexico State. I wonder when the last time the Aggies have been the favorites against a FBS team.
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MassLive reports UMass is closing in on Don Brown as the next head coach.
ESPN reports sources say it's Don Brown.
Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on Brown's hiring.
I think this would be a good move. UMass probably would have hired a FBS offensive or defensive coordinator or a FCS head coach. Unlike Whipple II, Brown is a current Power Five defensive coordinator. In addition, Brown is a New England guy and understands the area and the constraints it contains.
Brown was Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015. He made an immediate improvement to Arizona's defense. He was a finalist for the Assistant coach of the year in 2016.
From Brown's Wildcat bio:
"Brown, who brings nearly 45 years of coaching experience to Tucson, was a five-time nominee and a 2016 finalist for the Broyles Award that is annually awarded to the nation's top assistant coach. Over the last decade, 29 defensive players who played under Brown have been selected in the NFL Draft. After orchestrating a miraculous turnaround of the Boston College defense over the course of three seasons, Brown was tabbed as the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015.
Under Brown's guidance, the Michigan defense finished among the top 12 units in the nation in total defense four straight years from 2016-19, including a trio of top three performances and a No. 1 ranking in 2016. During that same four-year stretch from 2016-19 the Wolverines defense led the country in pass defense twice (2016, 2017) and combined to make 16 top 25 appearances in total defense, scoring defense, rush defense, and pass defense.
During his tenure in Ann Arbor, Brown coached players who earned 49 All-Big Ten recognitions, including 43-of-44 starters who earned all-conference honors across his first four seasons and 10 players that picked up 14 first team nods."
The UMass program desperately needs to get its feet under itself. Brown has the experience and the skill to get the program stabilized.
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Bill Murray attended the UMass-Army game and did Bill Murray stuff.
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Thanks to a blog reader who pointed out Jack Driscoll is doing well as a starter for the Eagles.
Game balls are a regular thing for the Eagles offensive line.
The Eagles Wire has Driscoll as one of the the biggest surprises from Philly's first ten games.
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