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| Jacob Ford image |
This article from yesterday features Barnard and updates his recruiting.
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Wednesday, August 09, 2017
UMass Football Recruiting 2018-- Cade Barnard III
This article from yesterday features Barnard and updates his recruiting.
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UMass Football recruiting 2018--Owen Thomas II
Owen Thomas, a 6-4 225 pound TE from North Penn, PA has verbaled to Villanova.
I blogged about Thomas back in December 2016. UMass was the first to offer Thomas.
I blogged about Thomas back in December 2016. UMass was the first to offer Thomas.
UMass Football News--August 9th, 2017
Dick MacPherson has passed away. He was head coach at UMass from 1971 to 1979. His 73 games is third on the UMass all-time games coached list. He won five Yankee Conference championships and led UMass to the first FCS Championship.
The UMass administration promptly cut his scholarships the next year and he left for Syracuse where he became a Hall-of-Fame coach.
He was a great guy and boy could he tell football stories.
The Gazette has an AP story about Coach Mac.
Matty Vautour has a post on UMass coaches remembering MacPherson.
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Matty has a story about Bryton Barr, a 6-0 225 pound transfer from Towson. I've blogged about Barr before. With Shane Huber's status uncertain, he'll bring depth to the linebacker position.
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CBS Sports rates UMass dead last in FBS football. Many sports "writers' just go through the motions. If it draws eyeballs, it's OK. They get paid to crank out stuff, that's it.
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A "Chowder and Champions" writer picks UConn to go six-and-six. Note that he picks the Huskies to beat both USF and UCF. USF is a consensus Top-25 pick and Athlon has UCF picked second in the AAC East.
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MASSACHUSETTS, A STATE GRIPPED WITH TERROR
Another underwear-wearing driver crashes his car doing 100-miles an hour in East Bridgewater.
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The UMass administration promptly cut his scholarships the next year and he left for Syracuse where he became a Hall-of-Fame coach.
He was a great guy and boy could he tell football stories.
The Gazette has an AP story about Coach Mac.
Matty Vautour has a post on UMass coaches remembering MacPherson.
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Matty has a story about Bryton Barr, a 6-0 225 pound transfer from Towson. I've blogged about Barr before. With Shane Huber's status uncertain, he'll bring depth to the linebacker position.
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CBS Sports rates UMass dead last in FBS football. Many sports "writers' just go through the motions. If it draws eyeballs, it's OK. They get paid to crank out stuff, that's it.
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A "Chowder and Champions" writer picks UConn to go six-and-six. Note that he picks the Huskies to beat both USF and UCF. USF is a consensus Top-25 pick and Athlon has UCF picked second in the AAC East.
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MASSACHUSETTS, A STATE GRIPPED WITH TERROR
Another underwear-wearing driver crashes his car doing 100-miles an hour in East Bridgewater.
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Tuesday, August 08, 2017
UMass Football News--August 8th, 2017
Matty Vautour has a post on Tyshaun Ingram moving to running back. You remember Ingram averaged 7.3 yards/carry in HS.
Matty Vautour also reports Shane Huber is still dealing with knee problems.
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USA Today predicts the records of all 130 FBS teams including UMass at 3-9. They also pick Ohio, USF and Appalachian State to win their conference divisions.
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Meanwhile, at BYU, Riley Burt and the wonderfully named Squally Canada compete to be the lead back for the Cougars.
Also in the RB mix is KJ Hall who ran for 101 yards against UMass last year.
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Sports on Earth previews the Sun Belt including sections on UMass opponents Georgia Southern, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina.
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Old Dominion opens training camp.
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Maine finds training camp without three of their top players challenging.
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The AAC has become a launching pad for Power Five coaches.
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THE BLOG IS STILL NOSTALGIC FOR THE FIVE COLLEGE AREA
Man in underwear steals Northampton police cruiser.
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Matty Vautour also reports Shane Huber is still dealing with knee problems.
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USA Today predicts the records of all 130 FBS teams including UMass at 3-9. They also pick Ohio, USF and Appalachian State to win their conference divisions.
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Meanwhile, at BYU, Riley Burt and the wonderfully named Squally Canada compete to be the lead back for the Cougars.
Also in the RB mix is KJ Hall who ran for 101 yards against UMass last year.
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Sports on Earth previews the Sun Belt including sections on UMass opponents Georgia Southern, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina.
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Old Dominion opens training camp.
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Maine finds training camp without three of their top players challenging.
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The AAC has become a launching pad for Power Five coaches.
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THE BLOG IS STILL NOSTALGIC FOR THE FIVE COLLEGE AREA
Man in underwear steals Northampton police cruiser.
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Monday, August 07, 2017
UMass Football News--July 7th, 2017
KHON Hawaii says the Warriors DT Van Moala has a chance to be "a real superstar".Hawaii's offense continues to develop withing the system.
The Warriors linebackers provide for an experienced core for Hawaii's defense.
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Tennessee's DT Kendall Vickers joined the Vols in 2013 at 220 pounds; he's now 285 and had 38 TT's 6 TFL 2.5 SACKS and 1 FF in 2016.
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Ohio QB Quinton Maxwell looks to lead the Bobcats offense. Maxwell went 4-1 in games he started in 2016.
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USF QB Quinton Flowers thrives in the face of tragedy.
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Saturday Down South predicts the UMass-Mississippi State game won't be as close as last year's game in Gillette.
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Maine thinks their CB tandem is one of the best in the CAA.
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Sunday, August 06, 2017
UMass Football News--July 6th, 2017
Tarringo Basile-Vaughan of "Chowder and Champions" looks at Andrew Ford and the chances of the 2017 Minutemen.
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Underdog Dynasty looks at the Middle of Appalachian State's 2017 schedule and predicts a 31-14
Mountaineers victory.
Appalachian State had its Media Day yesterday.
The Mountaineers want to go 13-0 in 2017.
Appalachian State is the consensus preseason Sun Belt Champion. In 2016 they were 10th nationally in rushing average (250.9 yards/game). They were also good at defense, ending 9th nationally in scoring defense (17.8 points/game). The Mountaineers return six starters on offense including Jalin Moore, the Sun Belt Offensive player-of-the-Year. Look for Appalachian State to run the rock again in 2017
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Analytics are spreading through college football.
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Georgia Southern got some big plays from their "back-to-the-future" triple option offense in the first scrimmage of training camp.
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Underdog Dynasty looks at the Middle of Appalachian State's 2017 schedule and predicts a 31-14
Appalachian State had its Media Day yesterday.
The Mountaineers want to go 13-0 in 2017.
Appalachian State is the consensus preseason Sun Belt Champion. In 2016 they were 10th nationally in rushing average (250.9 yards/game). They were also good at defense, ending 9th nationally in scoring defense (17.8 points/game). The Mountaineers return six starters on offense including Jalin Moore, the Sun Belt Offensive player-of-the-Year. Look for Appalachian State to run the rock again in 2017
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Analytics are spreading through college football.
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Georgia Southern got some big plays from their "back-to-the-future" triple option offense in the first scrimmage of training camp.
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Saturday, August 05, 2017
UMass Football Recruiting 2018-- Kameron Jones II
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| Hudl.com image |
He just posted his official offer from the Minutemen on Twitter.
Varsity Preps.com lists him as a "Fab 40" member of Mississippi players.
Jones has eleven offers with UMass as the only school from the Northeast.
UMass Football News--August 5th, 2017
Liberty announces the dates of a four game series with UMass. The series begins with two games at McGuirk starting on November 3rd, 2018 and concludes with two games in a row at Liberty.
Michael Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on the Flames-Minutemen series.
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The Greenfield Recorder reports John Sinnett has returned as UMass Sports Information Director and Molly O'Mara is out. Quote from the article:
"A 2004 UMass grad, O’Mara had previously worked in athletic offices at Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas Tech. From this vantage, it was her imperious attitude that helped wear out her welcome in Amherst."
That was certainly my interaction with her. Welcome back John!
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Hawaii moves its best receivers Dylan Collie and John Ursula from the slot to the outside.
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With a veteran team, Old Dominion is in no hurry to start Fall camp.
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A former BYU player discusses the Cougars "Missionary Advantage".
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The Maine Black Bears open Fall camp with three of their top players suspended.
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Michael Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on the Flames-Minutemen series.
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The Greenfield Recorder reports John Sinnett has returned as UMass Sports Information Director and Molly O'Mara is out. Quote from the article:
"A 2004 UMass grad, O’Mara had previously worked in athletic offices at Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas Tech. From this vantage, it was her imperious attitude that helped wear out her welcome in Amherst."
That was certainly my interaction with her. Welcome back John!
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Hawaii moves its best receivers Dylan Collie and John Ursula from the slot to the outside.
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With a veteran team, Old Dominion is in no hurry to start Fall camp.
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A former BYU player discusses the Cougars "Missionary Advantage".
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The Maine Black Bears open Fall camp with three of their top players suspended.
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Friday, August 04, 2017
UMass Football News--August 4th, 2017
Matty Vautour has his first podcast of the Fall season. He interviews UMass QB Andrew Ford.
Matty also has a post about Ford in this article.
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Doesn't look like Syracuse transfer Jordan Fredericks will be playing for UMass this fall.
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BLAKE FROHNAPFEL HAS THE BEST ZINGER EVER.
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Hawaii's first practice in full pads. Lots of ominous music there.
Speaking of the Rainbow Warriors, they are tied for fourth in father-son players.
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USF makes Sports Illustrated preseason Top-25.
Sports Quotient previews the Bulls.
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A Tarheel site previews Old Dominion.
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Matty also has a post about Ford in this article.
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Doesn't look like Syracuse transfer Jordan Fredericks will be playing for UMass this fall.
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BLAKE FROHNAPFEL HAS THE BEST ZINGER EVER.
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Hawaii's first practice in full pads. Lots of ominous music there.
Speaking of the Rainbow Warriors, they are tied for fourth in father-son players.
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USF makes Sports Illustrated preseason Top-25.
Sports Quotient previews the Bulls.
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A Tarheel site previews Old Dominion.
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Thursday, August 03, 2017
UMass Football News--July 3rd, 2017
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| Image by Gavin Young |
Michel's Stamps bio.
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UMass is close to signing a TV package for UMass' home games at McGuirk. It also appears NESN will pick up Eleven Sports' feed.
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247Sports has Adam Breneman the #4 preseason TE in college football.
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Hero Sports lists McGuirk as a "new" stadium for UMass in 2017.
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WHY WOULD OFFENSIVE LINEMEN EVEN CONSIDER ANY OTHER TEAM?
UMass dining named #1 in the nation for the second consecutive year.
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For $50,000, Temple donors can sponsor a player's jersey. Sorta like Shamrock Meats on Rocky's robe.
Speaking of Temple, the Owls get nine returning medical redshirts for Fall practice.
Temple is also looking to replace a four-year starter at QB.
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Wednesday, August 02, 2017
Recruiting 2018--Dennis Osagiede verbals to UMass
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| 247Sports image |
Traini's article here.
247Sports three-star player.
I blogged about Osagiede back on June 2nd.
Osagiede's Twitter post here.
Texas Football ranks Osagiede as a "Top 300" recruit out of Texas.
Osagiede held 20 offers.
UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Zidane Thomas II
Back on July 14th, I blogged about Zidane Thomas, a 5-10 205 pound RB from Peoria, AZ.
He verbaled to Boise State.
He verbaled to Boise State.
UMass Football News--August 2nd, 2017
Fan Sided site "Chowder and Champions" gives a generally positive review of the 2017 Minutemen and predicts four wins.
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KHON TV reports the Hawaii defense has been strong in practice so far.
Hawaii's 2017 hype video has a couple of plays against the Minutemen.
Hawaii football adds an All-American------Volleyball player.
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Coastal Carolina skill players are young, but talented.
The Chants are adjusting to being without their head coach.
Coastal Carolina is confident their $32 million stadium renovations will be completed in time for the UMass game.
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A decade ago the Appalachian State Mountaineers, fresh off a FCS National Championship win over UMass, shocked the football world with a win over Michigan.
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KHON TV reports the Hawaii defense has been strong in practice so far.
Hawaii's 2017 hype video has a couple of plays against the Minutemen.
Hawaii football adds an All-American------Volleyball player.
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Coastal Carolina skill players are young, but talented.
The Chants are adjusting to being without their head coach.
Coastal Carolina is confident their $32 million stadium renovations will be completed in time for the UMass game.
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A decade ago the Appalachian State Mountaineers, fresh off a FCS National Championship win over UMass, shocked the football world with a win over Michigan.
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Tuesday, August 01, 2017
UMass Recruiting 2018--Shatar McClay III
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| Leaf-Chronicle image |
"The UMass commitment is probably the most gifted athlete in the city, and when motivated, McClay can dominate a game"
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UMass Football News--August 1st, 2017
CBS Miami previews college football's independents and predicts three wins for the Minutemen.
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When UMass and Hawaii meet, the Minutemen will have to deal with undersized, but relentless Kaimana Padello. His Hawaii bio.
Another Hawaii player the Minutemen will have to deal with is Warriors QB Drue Brown; he threw for 311 yards and five TD's against the UMass defense last year.
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Coastal Carolina RB Marcus Outlow is a transfer from Boston College. Started three games for the Eagles.
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Roll Alabama grades SEC schedules including UMass opponents Mississippi State and Tennessee.
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Matty Vautour reports via Twitter potential UMass starter Patrick Amara is no longer on the Minutemen roster.
This is a significant setback for the UMass defense. Most sources had Amara penciled in a starter at strong safety.
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Re: the QB competition between Ross Comis and Andrew Ford. I just re-watched the UMass-Tulane game from last year. You remember UMass scored on its first two possessions and then Tulane scored the next 24 points. Adam Breneman did not catch a pass until five minutes left in the third quarter.
Comis came in with about five minutes left in the game an engineered a scoring drive. However, Comis took a huge hit in the process. He got roughed up in every game he played except for Florida. That's why pocket passers in the NFL have long careers and running QB's last about three years.
Comis' legs add a dimension to the UMass offense, but I think he will be a situational QB in the Minutemen offense with Ford as the regular guy.
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When UMass and Hawaii meet, the Minutemen will have to deal with undersized, but relentless Kaimana Padello. His Hawaii bio.
Another Hawaii player the Minutemen will have to deal with is Warriors QB Drue Brown; he threw for 311 yards and five TD's against the UMass defense last year.
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Coastal Carolina RB Marcus Outlow is a transfer from Boston College. Started three games for the Eagles.
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Roll Alabama grades SEC schedules including UMass opponents Mississippi State and Tennessee.
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Matty Vautour reports via Twitter potential UMass starter Patrick Amara is no longer on the Minutemen roster.
This is a significant setback for the UMass defense. Most sources had Amara penciled in a starter at strong safety.
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Re: the QB competition between Ross Comis and Andrew Ford. I just re-watched the UMass-Tulane game from last year. You remember UMass scored on its first two possessions and then Tulane scored the next 24 points. Adam Breneman did not catch a pass until five minutes left in the third quarter.
Comis came in with about five minutes left in the game an engineered a scoring drive. However, Comis took a huge hit in the process. He got roughed up in every game he played except for Florida. That's why pocket passers in the NFL have long careers and running QB's last about three years.
Comis' legs add a dimension to the UMass offense, but I think he will be a situational QB in the Minutemen offense with Ford as the regular guy.
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Monday, July 31, 2017
UMass Football News--July 31st, 2017
Mark Chiarelli of MassLive relates UMass TE Adam Breneman thinks there are some winnable games in 2017.
Mark also reports Andrew Ford and Ross Comis will split time as QB in early camp and Shane Huber was not dressed for the first practice.
Matty Vautour also has a post on UMass opening training camp. He relates UMass has put in a waiver request to have Syracuse transfer RB Jordan Fredricks eligible to play this year. Whipple did not sound too hopeful the NCAA would grant the request.
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Hawaii football tries to connect with millennials.
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Coastal Carolina officially opens training camp.
Coastal Carolina players dedicate the 2017 season to coach Joe Moglia.
The Chants dismiss a promising RB after he is arrested.
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Tennessee opens Fall camp with a QB battle.
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Boston College also opens Fall Camp.
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Sunday, July 30, 2017
UMass Football News--July 30th, 2017
UMass football meeting this morning. First Fall 2017 practice this afternoon.
Last Sunday off for me until LOI Day in February :)
Go UMass!
Saturday, July 29, 2017
UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Javontae Jean-Baptiste II
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| 247Sports image |
247Sports three-star player.
This article from NJ.com updates his recruiting.
More on Jean-Baptiste in this article.
Jean-Baptiste now holds eleven offers including Boston College and Rutgers from the Northeast.
UMass Football News--July 29th, 2017
Coastal Carolina loses their head coach for the 2017 season.
More from Underdog Dynasty.
The Chants say they're ready for their first season in the Sun Belt.
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CBS Detroit previews the Mountain West Conference including UMass opening opponent Hawaii.
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Speaking of Hawaii, they started Fall camp with a spirited 2 1/2 hour practice.
The Rainbow Warriors defense is all about improvement in 2017.
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UMass verbal Shatar McClay gets a mention in this article.
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Wisconsin's Troy Fumagalli wants to be the best TE in the country. Mentions UMass TE Adam Breneman.
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OT, but another graduate of the UMass Sports Management school makes good. Simply the best sports management program on the planet.
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More from Underdog Dynasty.
The Chants say they're ready for their first season in the Sun Belt.
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CBS Detroit previews the Mountain West Conference including UMass opening opponent Hawaii.
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Speaking of Hawaii, they started Fall camp with a spirited 2 1/2 hour practice.
The Rainbow Warriors defense is all about improvement in 2017.
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UMass verbal Shatar McClay gets a mention in this article.
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Wisconsin's Troy Fumagalli wants to be the best TE in the country. Mentions UMass TE Adam Breneman.
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OT, but another graduate of the UMass Sports Management school makes good. Simply the best sports management program on the planet.
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Friday, July 28, 2017
UMass Football News--July 28th, 2017
UMass releases the times for the Home games.
Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on the times.
FB Schedules.com also has a story.
A Statesboro TV station has a post from the Georgia Southern side.
Reading the Tea leaves on the start times:
The UMass Fall calendar shows the first day of classes is 09/05/17 and the first day for freshmen move-in for 09/01. Returning students don't come in until 09/03/17.
So the 6:00 pm start for the Hawaii game is not impacted by student attendance. The 6:00 pm would be a good time for alumni and walk-ins. While having the first game of the 2017 season would have been cool, it was not that cool. A decent attendance would be better than a mostly empty stadium.
The 3:30 games are certainly TV games. The athletic Dept is still working on TV coverage for the home games. I would guess A.D. Bamford is trying for maximum exposure rather than financial income. Any money paid for the games is likely to be minimal anyway. See Conference USA's woes.
Perhaps NESN or one of it's offshoots will televise most of the games. NESN does have a national network.
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Speaking of the Hawaii game, UMass opened as a three-point underdog. That's now moved to one point.
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SEC Country ranks SEC home schedules including UMass opponents Mississippi State and Tennessee.
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How the evolution of TE's has changed college football.
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