Recruiting 2011--Breshad Perriman

According to ESPN College Football, UMass is recruiting Breshad Perriman, a 6-1 180 pd WR out of Lithonia, GA. He's the son of former NFL player Brett Perriman.

His ESPN page is here.

According to this article UCF is in the lead for his services.

Youtube highlight film here.

Also drawing interest from UConn, Florida International and Marshall.

Thursday---Dec 30th, 2010

Matty Vautour has a story about the changing views about head injuries and UMass' response to it.

Matt also has an article about how the FBS bowls are against playoffs for reasons that are not exactly altruistic.
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UMass adds two strength and conditioning coaches.

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Josh Buchanan has the finalists for his Player-of-the-year on both offense and defense. Tyler Holmes is one of them.

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Another UMass legend passed away Tuesday night as Jazz artist Billy Taylor died Tuesday night in New York City. I've been to several of his concerts at UMass and have two or three of his CD's.

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TSN breaks down Eastern Washington prior to the National Championship game.

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Maryland continues to search for a coach. No word on Don Brown yet.

Matt Twine, a LB UMass had offered to, expects to keep his verbal to the Terps.

Speaking of Baltimore, the Blog is real glad it wasn't Matt Lawrence: Sam Koch win the Ravens cornhole championship.

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Recruiting 2011--Matt Ehasz II

I've blogged before about UMass being interested in Matt Ehasz, a 5-11 160 pd K from Kingsland, GA.

Some updated stats from Ehasz's 2010 season:

    * 2010: Special Teams POY - Southeast Georgia (In The Game Sports Magazine)
    * 2010: 1st Team Region 3 5A PK
    * 2010: 2nd Team AP All State PK
    * 2010: Coastal Georgia All Area 1st Team PK

Field Goals:     11/13  Long 42 yards ( Game Winner: 23 yard FG vs. Miami Central w/2.6 seconds in 4th quarter )
                        -  kicked 54 yard field goal in live scrimmage
Extra Points:    64/64  School Record

Recruiting 2011---Jeremiaha Gates

A star-Banner image

Scout.com reports UMass has offered to Jeremiaha Gates a 5-10 205 RB from Trinity Catholic in Ocala, FL.

Scout.com page here.

This article mentions him.

Gates ran for 188 yards and 5 TD's in the Florida class 2B state championship.

He ran for 1,091 yards and 26 TD's in his senior season.

Besides UMass, gates holds offers from Ohio and Eastern Michigan. Drawing interest from Duke, Florida Atlantic, Marshall and Pitt.

Recruiting 2011--Joe Della Vecchia

Image by www.hogfootball.com

UMass is interested in Joe Della Vecchia, a 6-0 170 pdQB from St. Joseph's HS in CT.

Story here.

Della Vecchia holds the CT state TD records (85) as well as the career passing yards total of 7,693.

Drawing interest from Holy Cross, Sacred Heart, Marist, Bentley and Rhode Island.

Tuesday---Dec 28th, 2010

The Springfield Republican counts down the top 10 local stories of 2010. Number ten on the list is the tragic death of UMass Band director George Parks.

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Ron Chimelis points out the fact that FBS football does not protect a school from financial losses as per the story I linked to yesterday.

UConn's lost on the Fiesta Bowl does not tell the whole story. The Huskies will get some of the loss back in increased season ticket sales as well as more support in the state legislature.

Ticket problems are endemic to all bowl teams lately. Even Michigan has not sold all its allotment. This is more a change in technology than anything else. Fans can now buy tickets from sites like StubHub and get a significantly better deal than through the schools. Athletic departments are losing the monopoly on ticket sales. In my view, that means the current bowl parameters may have to be revised. Maybe lower ticket prices, lower guarantees will help. Or less bowls.

Semi-related article: How the Holiday bowl lost its luster.

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The Sports Network beaks down the Hens before the National Championship game.

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Keepers College Football Ratings (on title page) has Delaware by 6.92 over the Eastern Washington Eagles.

Recruiting 2011--Steve Cronan

John Carden image

UMass is recruiting Steve Cronan a 6-2 205 pd athlete from Winnacunnet HS in New Hampshire.

Story here.

Cronan was a finalist for New Hampshire's Mr. Football.

This YouTube segment features him.

Also drawing interest from FCS schools UNH, Maine, Holy Cross, Colgate, Fordham and Marist.

Monday--Dec 27th, 2010

Good morning from snowy Jaffrey. I might as well work on the blog for a while, because it's still snowing...

Conference shifts may leave UNH out in the cold.

Speaking of UNH, UMass had been recruiting Mike DeTroia. He committed to New Hampshire.

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UConn, as well as a number of other schools are having problems selling their bowl tickets.

This problem could be solved with a FBS playoff.

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Recruiting 2011--Dan Foesel II

A NorthJersey.com/Mike Karas image

Another article about 6-4 240 pd TE Dan Foesel committing to UMass.

More information in my previous blog post.

Recruiting 2011--Robert Johnson

Johnson #10, Sean Elliot/The Day image

UMass is interested in Robert Johnson, a 6-4 190 pd WR from Montville, CT.

Article here.

Johnson was First Team All-ECC.

He was also All-State.

Caught eight TD passes in 2010. Honor Roll student.

Also being recruited by UConn, Villanova and CCSU.

Merry Christmas --2010

Mrs Blog and I would like to wish all the blog community a very "Merry Christmas" and a happy holidays.

I hope this year brings you health, happiness and peace.

Recruiting 2011- Matthew Vincent

Miami Herald image

UMass is recruiting Matthew Vincent, a 6-2 185 pd Pro-style QB from Everglades HS in Broward County, FL.

His ESPN page here.

Miami Herald spotlight here.

YouTube highlights here.

This article features him.

Threw for over 40 TDs in the last two years.

Also being recruited by Miami of Ohio, Northern Illinois, Florida International and UCF.

Recruiting 2011--Mike DeTroia

Bill Gross/pressofatlanticcity.com image

UMass has offered to Mike DeTroia a 6-4 196 pd WR from Barnegat, NJ.

His Rivals page is here.

ESPN profile here.

YouTube highlight video here.

This article features him.

DeTroia holds offers from Fordham, Bucknell, Lafayette, Maine, Monmouth, UNH and Penn.

He may hold out for an offer from Boston College.

Thursday--Dec 23rd 2101

Tyler Holmes has been named to two more First Team All-American squads.

The Sports Network's team here.

Phil Steele's FCS All-American team here. Note that Holmes was Steele's Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

Matty V has a story here.

The CAA had 13 Sports Network All-Americans.

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Temple was a failure in the Big East, but the move to the MAC has renewed Temple football. The Owls went 8-4 this year, but lost their coach to Miami.

This article says Temple made a mistake hiring Steve Addazio as HC.

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Recruiting 2011--Dan Foesel

Rivals image

UMass has received its fourth verbal of the 2011 season when 6-4 235 pd TE Dan Feosel from De Paul HS in Lincoln Park,NJ accepted a Minuteman offer.

He's an ESPN three star player and a Top-50 at his position.

Foesel is rated as two stars by Scout.com.

Rivals two-star.

YouTube highlight film here.

NorthJersey.com has the story with references to other local players who did well at UMass.

ESPN recruiting guru Roger Brown has a stubb article about Foesel's signing with UMass. Mentions the possible move to the MAC as one of the reasons for his signing.

Foesel will be UMass first three-star recruit since Quinton Sales signed in 2008.

Foesel chose UMass over Central Florida, Towson, Western Michigan and Youngstown State.

Recruiting 2011--Jordan Broadnax

 Andy Hilton/recruit757.com image

The Virginia Pilot reports that Jordan Broadnax a 5-10 175 pd RB from Landstown, VA has verbaled to UMass.

Story here.

YouTube highlight film here.

Reportedly ran  a 4.3 forty at Virginia Tech.

Also drew interest from Virginia, NC State, East Carolina and Richmond.

Tuesday--Dec 21st, 2010

On a dark and snowy day in Jaffrey, I was wishing Mrs. Blog and I were planning a trip to Frisco, TX.

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Former Lehigh and Elon HC Pete Lembo has been hired as HC of the Ball State Cardinals.

Relevant quote:"As for what drew him to the job, Lembo mentioned the profile of the MAC and his desire to be an FBS coach. "

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Andy Talley says goodbye to a special team.

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This article says the Georgia Southern Eagles are loaded for next year.

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Delaware has sent their team home for the holidays.

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Recruiting 2010--Matt Ehasz

a parisicommunity.com image

UMass is interested in Matt Ehasz, a 5-11 160 pd K from Camden County HS in Kingsland, GA.

Ehasz' Scout.com bio here.

This post has more information about him.

YouTube video highlight film.

Besides UMass, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Troy and UCF are interested. UMass could have a shot as the Minutemen have, in the past, offered scholarships to kickers. FBS schools, despite their 85 scholarships, often make kickers walk on.

Monday--Dec 20th 2010

With one game to go in the 2010 FCS season, UMass is 4 and 5 slots ahead of Eastern Washington and Delaware in total offense.

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The CAA game day has the stats and results from the two CAA semifinal playoffs games.

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Victor Cruz is almost ready to return to the Giants.

Speaking of the Giants, I assume everybody has seen the Eagles run back a punt to beat the Giants last night. I still shake my head that NFL teams can't hire a punter that can kick to the sidelines. If I had a dollar for every time I've seen a NFL punter boom the kick into the endzone, I'd be a rich man.

Christian Koegel and David Sanger would have been a far better choice for the Giants that the guy they had.

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TSN's Craig Haley says the FCS Championship game match-up is well deserved.

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The Baltimore Sun says Maryland's Ralph Friedgen has still not agreed to retire

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Satuday --- Dec 18th, 2010

The Orlando Sentinel recycles the Boston Globe story about UMass moving to the MAC.

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The Hartford Courant football blogger mentions restarting the UMass-UConn rivalry. That would be a nifty and natural consequence of going FBS...

It would also be a indicator on how well UMass does in FBS. UConn will insist on a two-for-one to resume the series. When UMass demands--- and gets--- a home-and-home then we've made it in FBS.

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Don Brown could be impacted as Maryland is expected to buy out the last year of Friedgen's contract.

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James Ihedigbo looks like he will be ready to go for the Jets Sunday game against the Steelers.

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All that travel apparently caught up with the Villanova Wildcats as they lost to the Eastern Washington Eagles 41-31 last night.

Villanova turned the ball over six times (four fumbles and two interceptions) in the loss. Eastern Washington ran out of Wildcat tackles all night and generally looked a lot fresher than Villanova. Even the Wildcat play calling was labored. It took them an eternity to get offensive calls in.

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The Delaware-Georgia Southern game will be at Noon on ESPN2. The Eagles are back running the Triple Option. Who do we root for for in that game????

Friday --Dec 17th, 2010

The Boston Globe says UMass could move the MAC as soon as next month.

A couple of important items from the article. Note that the Kraft family is on board and UMass really needs an "angel" since we do not get much interest from the state legislature.

Second, see this quote from the article :"Increased revenue could also come simply from being an FBS school. UMass received a $550,000 guarantee from Michigan to play in Ann Arbor in September. As an FBS opponent, the Minutemen could very well double that. If they do that for one or two games per season, the financial gain could overcome any potential loss on the field, although UMass nearly pulled off an upset of Michigan this season.

Such payouts are routine. Ohio State, for example, which can bring in as much as $4 million for a home game, paid Navy $1 million to play the Midshipmen to open the 2009 season. Arkansas State got $1 million to play Auburn this season.

UMass could command similar payouts by traveling to Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; or Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Minutemen could also set up games in Foxborough against the other New England FBS schools, Boston College and Connecticut."

Again, the income from playing big time schools is REAL SPENDABLE MONEY, as opposed to accounting dollars that UMass takes out of one pocket and puts in another and then declares a "cost" of football.

We played Michigan tight and received $550,000. Bowling Green (a MAC school) got waxed and received $1.1 Million ----- for no other reason than they were FBS.

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Nice story by 22News about former UMass football and baseball star Doug Clark.

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Thanks to the reader that pointed me to this story about new Miami HC Al Golden's changes to the Hurricanes staff. It appears Mark Whipple will keep his job as OC.

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A story about UConn in the Fiesta Bowl and the effects of going FBS. Relevant quote:

"    Look at where we are athletically, and look at where UMass is,” Tolokan said. “Or look at where Rhode Island is ... thank goodness for John’s decision.”

Read more: http://newsok.com/fiesta-bowl-deja-vu-for-ou/article/3524439#ixzz18NG6ReN9.

 

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Channelsurfing.net is carrying the Villanova-Eastern Washington game as well as ESPN2

 

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Recruiting 2011--Jordan Paul

A Damion Reid image

UMass is recruiting Jordan Paul a 6-2 160 pd QB/DB from New Utrecht HS in Brooklyn, NY.

NY Post story here.

MaxPreps bio here.

YouTube 2010 highlight film here.

A story featuring him here.

Also has interest from Central Michigan, Fordham, Norfolk State, Albany, Stony Brook, Marist and Delaware.

Thursday Dec 16th, 2020

Tyler Holmes has been named First String Associated Press All-American.

UMass news story here.

MassLive has the story here.

Matty V has more here.

ESPN has the complete roster and notes about the team.

The CAA placed eleven players on the list.

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Story about the changing landscape of football may affect teams like Stony Brook. Note that if we stay in the CAA, Stony Brook and Albany would be the top candidates for a reconstituted CAA North.

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Saw this over at Wizard of Odds blog, You know the first down line that TV projects on your screen? An inventor has managed to invent a laser that will project a first down line on the actual field.

Then coaches can really ream out receivers who run routes that are one yard shy of the first down.

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TSN's previews of the Villanova at Eastern Washington game and the Georgia Southern at Delaware game.

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Wednesday---Dec 15th, 2010

MAC officials visited UMass yesterday. Matty V has the info about the visit and possible changes to UMass football.

The MAC football page is here.

If you didn't hear, Temple's Coach Al Golden was appointed HC at the University of Miami Monday.
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UMass loses a recruit to Don Brown.

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For a league with two of the final four, the CAA only had three players chosen for the Walter Camp All-American team.

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Old foe Georgia Southern, is ahead of schedule.

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Keepers College football ratings has Delaware by 6.89 over GSU and Villanova by 4.33 over Eastern Washington (front page).

Recruiting 2011-- Greg Hilliard

According to the Boston Herald, UMass has received its second verbal from Greg Hilliard a 6-4 220 pd TE/OLB from Brockton, MA.

Hilliard's All-Scholastic bio is here.

YouTube video highlights here.

ESPN recruiting guru Roger Brown has a stub article about Hilliard's opting to play a year at Suffield Academy.

Tuesday---Dec 14th, 2010

Nice human interest story about UMass standout Anthony Nelson in the Hampshire Gazette.

Relevant quote by UMass professor john Stifler from the article:"I've almost always been impressed by the UMass football team's attitude toward its students' academic responsibilities. Once or twice I've tried to teach a player who was at UMass only for football and had no clue or no motivation when it came to the classroom. All the others, even if they didn't have Anthony Nelson's academic aptitude, have shown up on time (or early) and contributed to the educational quality of the place. When one like Anthony comes along, it's an extra pleasure."

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This is the fourth straight year the CAA has had two of the final four teams. More info in the CAA's weekly press release.

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The Eastern Washington Eagles game against Villanova just became more difficult as their star running back Taiwan Jones broke his foot in the game against North Dakota State.

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Former UMass football player Dick "Bear" Riley passed away on December 6th. The UMass website has the story here.

According to my UMass press guide Riley won letters in 1958 and 1959.

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Kyle Havens and John Griffin are on Josh Buchanan's latest top 100 FCS NFL prospects list.

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Recruiting 2011--J.J. Hubbard

a TampaBay.com image

According the Rivals.com, UMass has offered to J.J. Hubbard a 5-8 168 pd RB from Tampa FL.

Hubbard's Rivals.com page here.

His Under Armour combine page here.

Hubbard has 1,450 yards rushing and 27 TD's so far in 2010.

Beside UMass, Hubbard has offers from Towson, Bethune-Cookman and Western Kentucky. Drawing interest from South Florida and Eastern Carolina.

Monday--Dec 13th, 2010

Good morning from gloomy Jaffrey.

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The big News is Tyler Holmes has been named the New England Gold Helmet player-of-the-year. UMass' first award since Dennis Dent won in 1978. Congratulations Tyler!

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FCS football gets another prime time slot as Villanova will play Eastern Washington at 8:00 pm on Friday night. The Delaware-Southern Georgia game will be at noon on Saturday. Details from TSN here.

Sporting news has a report from FCS Senior Scout bowl.

Another report from CBS Sports here.

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Nice human interest story about William & Mary RB Jonathan Grimes.

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I was away Saturday and watched the Villanova-Appalachian State game on DVD Sunday morning.

For the second game in a row, I was impressed with the Wildcats defense. When they get ahead they rush three down linemen and drop their linebackers back. They are absolutely lethal when they do that. Despite rushing only three linemen, the Wildcats still developed pressure on many plays. Once they went into that formation, that was the end of Stephen F Austin and Appalachian State...

Sunday---Dec 12th, 2010

NorthJersey.com reports Brian Dowling, UMass' only verbal (that I know of) for 2011, was named All-Passaic County.

I've blogged about Dowling several times before.

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Whoa! Villanova hammered the Mountaineers.

Eastern Washington gave NDSU a "shocking" loss.

And our old enemies, Georgia Southern edged Wofford.

TSN's Craig Haley recaps all the day's playoff games.

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Mrs Blog and I saw our first UMass basketball game of the season last night and UMass was handled by Seton Hall 104-79. That was a Mullins Center offensive record.

Saturday---Dec 11th,2010

New England Soccer Today says if UMass upgrades their football program, it will likely help UMass Soccer .
FBS football would likely help most of UMass' other sports. Although "Old Cage" will tell you that my hockey ignorance is limitless, I believe FBS football would protect what is UMass' currently most popular sports program.

If the Big 10 should get serious about hockey, it would quickly make a big dent in leagues like the Hockey East. Schools like Providence, Lowell and Merrimack could not compete with the resources Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota would bring.

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I watched Delaware dominate UNH in the second half of last night's FCS Quarterfinal game.

The Hens Pat Devlin clearly outplayed UNH's R.J. Tolman, who was erratic in his passing all night.

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Meanwhile, Appalachian State-Villanova is creating a buzz.

The Phidelphia Inquirer says the Wildcats recognize the challenge they will face playing the Mountaineers.

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Mrs Blog and I are going to the UMass-Seton Hall game tonight. I watched the Pirates play Arkansas on ESPN a couple of nights ago and Seton Hall looked like a good team. It would be nice to get a win, especially since the Minutemen did not win any of the basketball games we went to last year...

Friday---Dec 10th, 2010

Four JMU football players have been charged with felonies resulting from an assault last month.

One of the players, Peter Rose has a UMass link. It was UMass that requested Virginia Tech release him from his scholarship back in 2008. My blog post of July 11th, 2008 has more info about Rose as well as a blog reader report on a UMass recruit named Tyler Holmes.

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Jeromy Miles gets some accolades for his work on the Bengals special teams.

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This article mentions Trae Weathers, who is being recruited by UMass.

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UNH is out to clear a big hurdle in the playoffs.

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Oregon police are seeking a Duck fan who set fire to his own stadium's field turf by burning an anti-duck T-shirt.

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Recruiting 2011---Notes

A couple of recruiting notes:

A NorthJersey.com image

Another article about Brian Dowling committing to UMass.

I've blogged about Dowling before.

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UMass lost a recruiting battle to Temple as DB Chris Hutton has verbaled to the Owls.

I blogged in July about UMass recruiting Hutton.

He chose Temple over JMU, UMass and Rutgers.

Thursday -- Dec 9th, 2010

UMas WR Anthony Nelson was named ESPN First Team Academic All-American Team. UMass athletic dept story here.

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This article by the South Bend Tribune talks about the Hurricanes QB situation. Includes mentions of Mark and Spencer Whipple.

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R.J.Tolman will start for UNH against Delaware.

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TSN's Andrew Gaddess picks Delaware and Villanova in this week's review of Saturday's playoff games.

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Wednesday---Dec 8th, 2010

Tyler Holmes

UMass' Tyler Homes has been named to the Coaches FCS All-American team.

A complete roster of the team is here.

MassLive.com has a story here. UMass website has a story here.

UPDATE: It appears that only John Griffin is on the roster of the FCS Senior Scout Bowl. Story from the UMass Athletic Dept here. Sorry about the confusion.

Information about the bowl here.

 From the bowl website:"Fox College Sports Television to Broadcast “FCS Senior Scout Bowl Live” on 12/11/10 on Direct TV channel 617 and on cable systems at Fox College Sports Network ( FCS)".
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Adam Miller of the UMass Daily collegian says the NCAA should combine the FCS and FBS divisions.

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Stephen Anderson, the brother of former UMass star Brad Anderson is starting for Army in their first bowl game since 1996.

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TSN's Craig Haley says Appalachian State and Villanova share more than success.

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The Blog's sister lives in Eugene and they are wild about the 2010 Ducks. This article talks about the Ducks success and how they chose UNH's Chip Kelley to be Oregon's coach.

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Tuesday--Dec 7th, 2010

A UMass Daily Collegian writer comes out in favour of a move to FBS. As the writer points out, if UMass wants to be a top-tier national public university, one component of that would be FBS football.

A new stadium complex could be financed by a bond issue, costing neither the students nor the taxpayers any money. McGuirk was originally built with such a bond issue.

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MassLive.com has short story with video of James Ihedigbo's sack of Patriot QB Tom Brady. Ihedigbo was hurt later in the game. Hope he's OK.

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I've blogged about UMass recruiting Trae Weathers before. He was named to the North Shore Item All-star team.

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The Richmond Times-Dispatch says there's a lot of " Plan A, Plan B" going on in the CAA right now.

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Speaking of the CAA, the league's weekly press release is up covering the three teams still in the playoffs.

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Keepers College football rankings has Delaware a double digit favorite over UNH and Appalachian State by 6.5 over Villanova .

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A an amateur astronomer, I have been remiss in reminding you that Dec 1st to the 8th is Dark Matter Awareness Week. You can be aware of dark matter by----Um, Ah.

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Recruiting 2011--Donald Buie

UMass is recruiting Donald Buie a 6-0 175 pd safety from Gainesville FL.

His Scout.com page here.

2010 highlight film here.

Teammate of Rodney Mills, I've already blogged about Mills.

Buie holds an offer from Wofford. He has interest from a number of FBS schools including Florida, Florida State, Marshall, Georgia and others.

Monday---Dec 6th, 2010

UNh and Delaware drew a prime-time slot for their quarterfinal game.

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A Villanova blogger looks at the ramifications of the Wildcats not accepting the Big East bid.

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An Oklahoma blogger discusses the upcoming Sooners-UConn Huskies Fiesta Bowl. UConn is a big success story, only ten years have elapsed since the Huskies left FCS football.

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James Ihedigbo is no longer a Patriots fan.

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Sunday--Dec 5th, 2010

Well, the CAA won three of four games in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.

New Hampshire survived a terrible second quarter to defeat Bethune-Cookman 45-20.

Delaware crushed Lehigh 42-20.

I watched most of the Villanova-Stephen F Austin game on ESPN3. The contest was even in the first quarter, but after that it was all Villanova, who won 52-24

William and Mary only scored 15 points and was shut out in the second half. The Tribe fell to Georgia Southern 31-15.

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TSN's Craig Haley recaps the day's games and also picks UMass' Tyler Holmes second in the Buck Buchanan poll.

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Recruiting 2011-Luke Chiarolanzio

UMass has offered to Luke Chiarolanzio a 6-4 280 pd OL/DL from Delbarton HS in New Jersey.

Story mentioning the offer here (page two).

He was First Team All-Northwest Jersey.

Video highlights here.

Chiarolanzio also holds offers from UNH, Stony Brook, Lehigh and Holy Cross.

Saturday --Dec 4th, 2010

A Cleavland writer says the MAC hopes to use UMass as some leverage on Temple.

This writer says the Big East was not interested in UMass. That's not surprising, given our current status. If we were a successful FBS program, then that could change.

A Syracuse blogger logs in about UMass joining the Big East. He bases his thoughts on Villanova accepting the bid to join Big East football. Problem is, I think they won't...

I also predict that the Big East will split again in the future with the football schools leaving the Catholic basketball schools. That would be the time for UMass to make a bid for the football Big East, if we were in FBS.

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CAA Game Day here for the CAA teams in the playoffs.

So far, three of the four CAA teams will be on ESPN3.

None of the games are listed on Channelsurfing.net, but their lineup changes frequently.

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The Blog  and Mrs Blog hopes all the UMass Ski Club people who were hurt in the bus crash recover quickly.

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A Wisconsin HS football player was killed lifting weights in his basement.

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Recruiting 2011--Rodney Mills

UMass is interested in Rodney Mills a 6-0 200 pd WR from Eastside HS in Gainesville, FL.

His Scout.com page is here.

A Q&A session with him is here.

Mills has interest from some SEC schools as well a University of Miami, Western Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee State.

Image by Scout.com

Friday--- Dec 3rd 2010

UMass placed three players on the New England All-Star team. Tyler Holmes, Anthony Nelson and Greg Niland all made the team. IMHO, Kyle Havens should have been on the list. All he did is lead the CAA in passing and total offense.

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More on possible conference realignments by AnnArbor.com.

UMass Blogger "Big Dan" weighs in about the possible UMass shift to FBS.

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The CAA has its weekly press release up and is focusing on the four league playoff teams.

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News from the Granite State where I live.

At a Portsmouth birthday party for four-year-olds, police were called when two mothers at the party began fighting.

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Recruiting 2011- Brian Dowling verbals to UMass

A Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com image

UMass has received its first (that I know of) verbal for 2011. Brian Dowling a 5-10 185 pd RB/Athlete from Wayne Hills, NJ has committed to UMass.

I've blogged about Dowling before.

This article by NorthJersey.com has a long article on Dowling's verbal to UMass.

Dowling had 3,293 career yards rushing and 52 TD's. In his senior season he accounted for 2,032 yards of offense. Dowling went 203-1604 and 21 TD's rushing and 28-428 and 8TD's receiving. He also ran back punts and kickoffs.

Welcome to the Minutemen, Brian!

Thursday, Dec 2nd, 2010

Yet more on the move to FBS.

The Boston Globe says UMass is still deciding.

An Atlanta newspaper says "If UMass moves to FBS, what about Georgia State?"

The Toledo Blade says UMass may join the MAC.

The UMass Athletic Dept says the move would not cost more money.

A Boston College blogger does not see any upside for Boston College.

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Delaware says they're not in any rush to leave the CAA.

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Things have been so busy that I have not had time to correct some bad information here.

Back on last Sunday, I blogged about Mark Whipple being fired at the University of Miami. That turned out to be wrong. Gee, bad information on the internet. Who would have thought?

Actually, Coach Whipple has been retained (so far) along with all of the Hurricane's assistant coaches. In fact, it appears Whipple will have an enhanced role under interim HC Jeff Stoutland. See this transcript of Stoutland's press conference.

Wednesday----Dec 1st, 2010

Lots more on the proposed UMass move up.

MSNBC on MAC conference expansion.

Ron Chimelis says its the right move.

UMass would be a football-only member of the MAC.

WWLP22 says UMass is thinking.

NESN says UMass will be playing several games at Gillette.

Matty V says no invitation by the MAC has been extended, but officials will visiting UMass in December.

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More raw data: 2009 NCAA football attendance (.pdf download).

• MAC ave 15,317 (lowest in FBS)
• SWAC ave (12,256 highest FCS league)
• CAA ave 8,523 (8th in FCS.)

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Some comments on yesterday's comments :)

1. As a MAC member UMass could immediately start scheduling Big East or ACC opponents OOC.
2. Neither of those conferences would approach UMass in its current status as an FCS team. If we were FBS , then that could change----try to think a couple moves ahead.
3. The students do not go to the games anyway, so I don't see how they are a factor in any siting discussion.

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UMass is looking up!

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The Boston Herald says UMass is "exploring" the possibility of moving to the MAC.

Relavent Quote: "Patriots spokesman Stacey James would say only, “The Kraft family has been very supportive of football at all levels of competition throughout New England. They are proud to have hosted Pop Warner, high school and college football games at Gillette Stadium. College football has a rich history in New England, and I know that the Krafts would welcome the opportunity to celebrate the college game’s rivalries and traditions at Gillette Stadium.”

If the Kraft family are on board for a UMass upgrade, that would the political and prestege push that could put UMass over the top.

The Blog would like to see ALL UMass games at Gillette. The fan base is in the East. Access to McGuirk is impossible due to the roads. UConn put their stadium near an interstate and Hartford. They knew no one was going to Storrs. The UMass fan base is already trained to use Gillette. Don't spend any money on McGuirk. Instead of a McGuirk upgrade, use the money for a new fieldhouse/training facility that would benefit all UMass sports.

There would be nothing wrong with being the "little brothers" of the Patriots.

Blog News--Nov 29th, 2010

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Dear Blog readers:

I'm changing my ISP later today. My e-mail address will also be changing shortly.

If the blog should go dark for a while, you'll know what's up.

I'll be back tomorrow----hopefully----with some recruiting news.

Monday Nov 29th, 2010

Image by Mary Schwalm

This article is about Ned Deane, a 6-1 200 pd LB from Andover, MA. His father was an All-American at UMass and is still active in supporting the Minutemen.

Ned Deane the Elder won letters for UMass football in 1973, 1974 and was Captain in 1975. He was All-Yankee Conference in 1974 and 1975 as well as being named first team All-American that year.

Ned Deane the Younger is looking at mostly Ivy League schools.


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This story features former UMass star James Ihedigbo, who has become a feature for the NY Jets. Ihedigbo wants to continue his father's legacy of charitable work in Africa.

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Keepers College Football Rankings has UMass finishing the season at #20.

He also Villanova as the lone CAA underdog in Saturday's playoffs.
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When UMass lost at Rhode Island, knocking us out of the playoffs, the UMass contingent took the loss with equanimity. Not so this Boise State fan. WARNING NOT WORK SAFE OR SAFE ANYWHERE.

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Sunday---Nov 28th, 2010

Mark Whipple has been fired as OC at the University of Miami as well as HC Randy Shannon.

Weren't the Hurricanes so short of QB's that they were playing a true freshman? It's a tough world in FBS coaching.

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In the first round of the playoffs:

North Dakota State surges past Robert Morris.

Western Illinois is going to meet Appalachian State.

Georgia Souther ran over South Carolina State.

And Lehigh caged the Northern Iowa Panthers.

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Meanwhile, four CAA teams are waiting.

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Recruiting 2011---A.J. Price

image by Kevin McGuire/Philly Inquirer

UMass has offered to A.J. Price a 6-4 185 pd WR from Dean College in MA.

Scout.com profile page here.

Price was the receiving leader at Dean with: 8 games  23-605  26.3 AVE  7 TD  87 Long  75.6 yards/game.

Price did a short stint at Penn State.

Price also holds an offer from Bowling Green and has interest from numerous FBS teams.

Saturday---Nov 27th, 2010

Former UMass star James Ihidigbo has a mention in this story about the Jets recent win over the Bengals.

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UNH TE coach Brian Barbato is the son for former UMass player Dennis Barbato (letter 1976).

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UMass basketball is playing a game in Curry Hicks Cage. Mrs Blog and I were at the last "Rage in the Cage" game back in '93.

Recruiting 2011-Lance Burlingame

Image by Stuart Cahill

UMass is interested in Lance Burlingame a 6-4 250 pd lineman from New Bedford, MA.

Boston Herald story here.

ESPN player profile here.

Note that he is being coached by former Minuteman captain Nick Salmon. Salmon earned letters in 1986, 1987 and was Captain in 1988. He was a 6-2 258 pd OT for UMass during his playing days.