Thursday--June 19th, 2014

Good morning! I'm still playing catch up with the blog. Today Mrs Blog and I are going out to Monhegan Island and we'll be gone all day. I'll try again this evening to report some recruiting news.

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I've blogged about the 2014 offensive line before. Dan Malone has a post about the offensive line's potential in the fall.

Unless he gets injured, I would again think Liam Porter would instantly challenge for a starting spot. In the Spring Game, Dave Solazzo's smaller DL stood up the offensive line all game.

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Mark Whipple discusses the improvements in the UMass environment that brought him back to Amherst.

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Whopple is looking forward to bringing football back to the UMass campus.

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Rob Blanchflower comments on the Steelers rookie program.

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Colorado's football coach is simply a matter of time.

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Bitcoin sponsors a bowl game.

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A New Orleans newspaper reports on the explosion of offers to recruits.

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Wednesday--June 18th, 2014

A Bleacher Report writer looks at all the new faces on the Steelers, including Rob Blanchflower.

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Penn Live has a short post mentioning Spencer Whipple's transfer to UMass.

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A couple of posts from Phil Steele:

Two deep class breakdown. UMass does not have many seniors so you know we're going to be low on that list.

Combined experience chart. Ditto.

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Fox Sports ranks the MAC 9th in quarterback talent.

Football.com wonders if NIU is still a national power.

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Football Scoop looks at a study that reports small college players make excellent FBS coaches.

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USA Today ranks BC #81 on their preseason report.

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ESPN says WR Nelson Spruce is Colorado's most important player. Spruce's Buffs bio.

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I'm going to try to catch up some recruiting news soon, perhaps this evening.

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Monday--June 17th, 2014

Special thanks to "Mark" a blog reader and internet ninja who found a link to the Brandon London's stats in the Larks exhibition game.

London went 7-87 to lead all receivers. London's receptions fell off a cliff last year as did all of Montreal's offensive statistics. I watched a number of his games and they didn't throw his way much.

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Dan Malone has a story about Spencer Whipple transferring to UMass. I would think he would have to sit out a year as his is FBS to FBS transfer.

Jesse Allen of "Hustle Belt" also comments.

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The BC blog "Soaring to Glory" says there will be more BC fans at Gilllette than UMass ones in Foxborough.

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The Calgary Sun has another article on Jeremy Horne joining the Stamps.

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USA Today updates the 2014 college football TV schedule.

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al.com wonders why a player can't actually major in college football.

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Fansided releases their bowl predictions for 2014.

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Monday--June 16th, 2014

Mrs Blog and I will be up in Boothbay Harbor, ME for a week starting today. The house we rented supposedly has Wi-Fi, so I'll try to keep the blog going. Should there be some defugalty, the blog will be back on the 24th.

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The Boston College Blog "BC Interruption" says the betting line on the UMass-Eagles should be BC minus eleventy billion.

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The Old Rochester Regional Athletic Hall of Fame announces its 2014 hall-of-fame inductees. One is former UMass player Peter Borsari. Pete was a four year letter winner at UMass 1982, '83, '84 and '85..

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The Giants blog "Big Blue View" wonders if there will be a roster slot for Michael Cox this year.

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The Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the Larks in an exhibition game. I can't find any box score, but Brandon London had at least two catches.

Both images from the Alouettes web site

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USA Today previews #94 Akron.  The Minutemen play @ Akron on 11/18. Last year UMass lost by one point.

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USA Today also previews #79 Buffalo. That will be the Black Friday game at McGuirk.

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Saturday---June 14th, 2014

Single game tickets for Boston College, Colorado and Eastern Michigan at Gillette are now available.

Parking is FREE at Gillette. Grab somebody and go.

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The Penn State Blog "Black Shoe Diaries" reports, citing numerous sources, that Spencer Whipple will transfer to UMass.

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OOC opponent Vanderbilt is looking at a six-man quarterback competition to start in the fall.

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This article by the Enterprise mentions UMass walk-on Joe Previte.

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Sporting News looks at if the non-BCS leagues need their own playoff structure.

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James Ihedigbo is building chemistry in the Lions backfield.

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Fan Sided looks at the running backs, including Michael Cox,  battle to make the 2014 Giants squad.

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The CFL has a new team this year: the Ottawa RedBlacks (no I don't know what it means either). Former UMass standout Anton McKenzie will play for them.

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Friday--June 13th, 2014

UMass has a special season ticket offer: buy four season tickets and receive four complimentary tickets to the UMass hoops opening game. Deadline is today at 5:00 pm. Call 1-866-UMASS-TIX.

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Dan Malone has a post on Jeremy Horne joining the Calgary Stamps.

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While UMass is raising private funding for the McGuirk upgrades, the Massachusetts legislature approves $1 billion dollars for an upgrade to the South Boston Convention Center.

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Sports Chat Place previews the 2014 Minutemen.

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Black Shoe Diaries says UMass has absolutely no shot at winning when we play at Penn State.

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Mr. SEC thinks if the Power Five split from the NCAA, UConn has the best chance of the non-power schools to be picked up by a Big Five conference.

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BC Interruption says the Boston College brain trust is taking the UMass game seriously.

Speaking of the Eagles, USA Today previews BC and thinks they'll win five games in 2014.

BTY, BC is #128th in the FBS nation in % of offensive yards returning.

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A Bleacher Report writer thinks UMass and UConn will finish last in both their conferences.

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Syracuse has offered 188 players scholarships for the 2015 recruiting class.

The Orange coaching staff sent one recruit 64 letters in a single weekend.

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Recruiting 2015-- Joe Parsons II

Earlier I blogged about Joe Parsons, a 6-5 285 pound OL from Xaverian Bros HS verbaling to UMass.

ESPN Boston has a story about Parsons joining the Minutemen.

Hustle Belt also has a short post on Parsons.

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Thursday--June 12th, 2014

UMass AD John McCutcheon is interviewed by Ron Chimelis and sees hope and progress.

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FWIW, I see definite progress in UMass football. Remember, Coach Whipple has only been here for about five months. Yesterday, it was reported the Minutemen signed perhaps the highest rated player ever to commit to the Minutemen---- and he's going to be playing (Insh'allah) in August.

Assistant coaches are saying with the program. Former players who left the program have returned. The  train-wreck offense has added two FBS transfers and five JUCO's ---- one of whom is a former four-star recruit. That's a lot of progress in five months.

Sometimes it's tough to ignore the sour commentary coming from the press, but we're going to be OK.
Go UMass!

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Mrs Blog and I have flipped sides. We've been in Section 6, Row I every year since 1976. Yesterday, I called the Ticket Office and said we would switch over to the other side. The past was FCS; 2014 is a new beginning.

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Former UMass player Jeremy Horne has joined the Calgary Stampeders.

Horne's Stamps bio here.

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Fox Sports previews Vanderbilt.

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Anthony Dima who had been released by the Browns, has been added to the Houston Texans squad.

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A Bleacher Report writer power ranks conferences by coaching stability.

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Recruiting 2014---Drew Harris & Lukas Kolter

247Sports image

Dan Malone, channeling Maroon Musket, reports UMass has added two players to its 2014 recruiting list.

Drew Harris, a former Rivals four star recruit, is probably the highest ranked recruit ever to sign with the Minutemen.

247Sports page here.

Scout.com page here.

This article from 2013 features Harris.

The other player is Lukas Kolter a 6-3 310 pound DT from Germany. With UMass switching to the 3-4 this year, a big nose tackle would help. The only player that has typical nose tackle size currently on the roster is 6-1 300 pound Robert Kitching. In Spring ball, Daniel Maynes, 6-2 285 was the first string NT.

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Wednesday---June 11th, 2014

You may have been following the seating change comments over the last few days. I received a letter from the Athletic Dept yesterday detailing the optional changes.

They want to move the team, the band and the UMass fans to the opposite side because, unlike in the past, the November 12th game against Ball state, a Wednesday night game and November 28th, Friday game against Buffalo will be nationally televised.

They want the cameras showing the UMass band and UMass fans rather than the nearly empty visiting stands. The November 28th game is particularly problematic as that's the dreaded Black Friday Afternoon Game. It's Thanksgiving, so the students will be gone.

The previous Black Friday game at Gillette drew a two-year season low of 6,300 fans. I doubt McGuirk will draw any more.

Mrs Blog and I have been in Section 6, Row I seats 19-20 since 1976. We have a lot of attachment to those seats, but we'll probably move to be with UMass fans and help the team. Perception is reality for many, so we need to look good if we want to get picked up by a conference.

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Dan Malone reports a NFL.com writer thinks the UMass-Colorado matchup will be the worst in FBS. To me the game is not "puzzling" at all. The Buffs have fared poorly recently. They need wins. UMass gets one game at Gillette and Colorado gets two at their place. The series starts at Gillette. How puzzling is that?

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Dan also has a story on the possibility the Minutemen will have to play as an independent at least for a few years. Everyone knows this is not viable long term, but with the decision not to go all-sports in the MAC, it was a possibility when the decision was made.

Comcast Sports Net New England says UMass braces for life as an independent.

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Jesse Allen of Hustle Belt looks at the running back situation for UMass in 2014.

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Elijah Robinson, a New Jersey QB with a UMass offer, verbaled to BC yesterday.

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Tostitos drops the Fiesta Bowl.

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Recruiting 2015--- Joe Parsons verbals to UMass

NCSA image

UMass picked up its second 2015 verbal yesterday when Joe Parsons, a 6-5 285 pound OT from Xaverian Brothers HS committed to the Minutemen.

Dan Malone has the story.

Parsons' NCSA recruiting profile here.

ESPN Boston reports on Parsons verbal.

Parsons was not rated by any recruiting service I could find.

Tuesday--June 10th, 2014

As UMass continues to search for a conference, the Minutemen could play  temporarily as an independent.

UMass' affiliation to the MAC runs out in two years. That's a short time to build a FBS winner even for Whipple. As the article says, it would be prudent to have a plan "B" if nothing is set by that time.

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Hustle Belt comments on former UMass HC Charlie Molnar's hiring at Idaho. I haven't seen any announcement yet by the Vandals.

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The Register and Democrat reports former UMass legend Rene Ingoglia has been named to the Frontier Hall-of-Fame.

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One the the TE's ahead of Rob Blanchflower on the Steelers roster was injured during last week's practice.

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Like UMass, OOC opponent Vanderbilt is looking for a quarterback.

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ESPN Boston says Boston College toughest stretch in its 2014 schedule will be in November.

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Meanwhile, back in FCS, the Towson cheerleading squad is in trouble after an incident involving beer and adult diapers.

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Recruiting 2015---Dhany Dye

Scout.com image

Several recruiting services report UMass has shown interest in Dhany Dye, a 6-3 330 pound NT from Coral Gables HS in FL.

Hudl.com has Junior video highlights.

Scout.com page here.

This article from October of 2013 features Dye.

Besides UMass, Dye is getting contacts from Georgia, Purdue, South Carolina, South Florida and Utah.

June 9th, 2014

The Boston Herald has an article on walk-on Joe Previte. The Brockton High graduate played OL and DL in high school. At 6-2 285 it would appear Previte would be a better fit at DL in college.

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gmenhq.com does a feature on Victor Cruz that mostly features his time at UMass.

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The Montreal Gazette says Brandon London is out to prove himself after a bad year in 2013.

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The Advocate says autonomy for the "big five" will increase their domination over the rest of college football.

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Besides Rob Blanchflower, the Steelers have another MAC draft choice, Dri Archer.

Speaking of Rob Blanchflower, SportsMedia.com looks at the TE's ahead of him on the Steelers roster.

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UConn's leading rusher, Lyle McCombs has left the team. In our first game in FBS on August 12th, 2012 McCombs ran for 89 yards on 23 carries and scored one TD.

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Vanderbilt's new coach wants to make the Commodores into a national brand.

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Saturday--June 7th, 2014

Kick off times and TV coverage has been announced for several of the 2014 games.

Dan Malone has more.

The MAC conference website has schedule updates for all the league teams.

The 3:00 pm starting times for the first two Gillette should be pretty sweet. Arrive at Noon and tailgate until kickoff. There should be a big turnout for the BC-UMass game. If we get good weather for 2014 games, UMass could lead the MAC in attendance.

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The Worcester Telegram has a story about local players included in the eight walk-ons announced by UMass yesterday.

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The Sentinel & Enterprise has an article on UMass legend Milt Morin.

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News OK comments on the SEC's OOC schedule including Vanderbilt-UMass.

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College Football Schedules looks at college football teams who don't leave their home state until October.

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The Tribune has a Q&A session with new Bowling Green HC Dino Barbers. The Falcons play at McGuirk on September 27th.

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The Independent says autonomy for the big five conferences is a game-changer in college football.

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NAIA Campbellfull will has a DB back recruit who's a little unusual.

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Friday--June 6th, 2014

Dan Malone reports UMass adds eight walk-ons to the Minutmen 2014 class.

ESPN Boston also did a story about the additions.

Five of the eight are from Massachusetts, which will keep the Bay State percentage up. Included are:

Alfred Adarkwah---WR-6-4 175 pounds from Worcester. I've blogged about Adarkwah before.

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J.T. Kelley--WR 6-6 215  pounds from St. Johns HS

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Hudl.com image

Basit Dennis--OL/DL 280 pounds from Worcester Academy. ESPN Boston reports on him walking on for UMass

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Andrew Libby--Athlete-6-0 195 pounds Saco Maine. I've blogged about Libby several times in the past.

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NCSA image

Jon Lucier--TE--6-6 215 pounds from Holden, MA. ESPN reported on Lucier's committing to UMass back in February. NCSA recruiting profile here.

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John Previte --OL/DL 285 pounds from Brockton, MA. Was All-State on defensive line. Previte was named All-New England in the fall of 2013 for Northfield Mt. Hermon.

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East Coast Prep image

Jeremy Rodriguez--DB 6-2 205 Hillsdale, NJ. East Coast Prep bio here (scroll).

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Matthew Wylie--K 6-5 190 pounds Dipping Springs TX. I've blogged about Wylie before.

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Just as a WAG, I'd speculate Adarkwah and Wylie have the greatest chance of playing as true freshman in 2014...

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Dan Malone reports former UMass head coach Charlie Molnar will join Idaho as a position coach.

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OT, but Sports Illustrated reports John Calipari has signed a contract with Kentucky that SI calls "jaw dropping"

The Montgomery Advertiser  says Tony Barbee might rejoin Calipari at Kentucky.

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Thursday--June 5th, 2014

UMass announces the renaming of the 100 yard club. What ever it is called, it's the primary fund raising and support group for Minutemen Football. Please join. the lowest level is $100 and you will receive:

• Special Event Invitations
• Minutemen auto decal
• Minutemen Club E-newsletter
• Priority ticket points
• In-season Gridiron Club Newsletter

Higher levels of giving get more perks. If $100 is too rich, they'll take any donation. Even a $10 donation helps. It also supplies an important element in the culture wars. You'd be listed as a contributor;  the total number of people interested in UMass football really helps establish a constituency for UMass football. That's important.

Gridiron Club brochure. (.pdf download)

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The cost of Big Ten opponents keeps rising. UMass will receive $850,000 for its game at Penn State. MAC schools will receive between a high of $1.1 million for Miami (Ohio) at Michigan to a low of $500,000 for Purdue-Central Michigan.

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Boston College picks up a verbal from Sharrieff Girice, a 6-1 190 pound RB from CT. He had offers from UMass, Rutgers, UNH and Albany.

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On May 26th, I blogged about Malik Henderson, a 6-0 174 pound DB from FL. Yesterday, he verbaled to Pitt.

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Athlon Sports ranks Penn State #22 in its pre-2014 rankings.

Athlon also ranks Mark Whipple as #104 coach in FBS.

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2014 OOC opponent Vanderbilt adds a QB transfer from LSU.

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NJ.com says Victor Cruz will love the Giants new offense.

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Recruiting 2015--Gary Mccrae

McCrae #4/ image credit unknown

Several recruiting sites report UMass has offered to Gary McCrae, a 6-4 220 pound OLB from Cuthbert, GA.

247Sports page here.

YouTube junior highlights here.

Besides UMass, McCrae has offers from Cincinnati, Southern Mississippi and Temple.

Wednesday--June 4th, 2014

Tickets for Gillette Stadium go on sale June 6th! Mrs Blog and I already have our season tickets and friend will be joining us this year. Grab somebody and take them to Foxborough; you'll make a convert.

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The UMass website has a post about Phil Steele picking four Minutemen to his preseason All-MAC teams.

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Steelers Depot says not all of Pittsburgh's draft picks will make the team (but thinks Rob Blancherflower has a good shot).

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Athlon Sports predicts the MAC in 2014.

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Berry Tramel ranks the ACC's OOC schedule UMass and Maine get a mention in BC's ranking.

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CBS Sports ranks the SEC's OOC schedule and opines Vanderbilt's is the weakest in FBS.

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Chris Cullum of Hustle Belt wonder if the MAC should get rid of its divisions.

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The NFL muscles in on Thursday night college football games.

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James Ihedigbo improves the chemistry of the Lions secondary.

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Tuesday--June 3rd, 2014

Dan Malone reports Phil Steele has four Minutemen on his preseason All-MAC teams.

Trey Dudley-Giles was named 1st team kick returner and 3rd team punt returner. In 2013 Dudley-Giles went 12-147 12.2 AVE 30 LONG in punt returns. For kick returns he totaled 30-669 22.3 AVE 41 LONG.

Dudley-Giles tied for 3rd in the MAC in kick return average.

Tajae Sharpe was named 3rd team as a wide receiver. Sharpe was 9th in the MAC in receptions per game. His totals were 61-680 4TD's 38 LONG 56.7 YARDS/Game 5.1 REC/GAME.

Randall Jette was named 3rd team at cornerback. Jette was 6th in the MAC in passes defended with 11 BKUP and 1 INT. He was also 9th in the league in FF and 3rd in fumbles recovered.

Stanley Andre was named to the 4th team All-Preseason at LB. Andre tied for 6th in the MAC with 42 UT 69 AT 111 TT 9.2 AVE/G and 1 INT.

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Athlon Sport ranks UMass as #121 in the FBS universe for 2014. It's a mostly positive review focusing on the newcomers to the offense.

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The Orlando Sentinel has ten MAC players to watch in 2014.

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a chat that mentions Rob Blanchflower.

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Get set for the inaugural MAC-affiliated Boca-Raton Bowl

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The new playoffs may force changes in college football officiating.

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OT, but former UMass cheerleader Jenny Dell and NESN have parted ways.

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