UMass Announces Intention To Play Football in Fall 2020

[Drew]

How UMass is improvising a season, and inside UCF’s penalty problem: G5 Drive

After opting back into the fall season in September as an independent, UMass is becoming the “in case of emergency, break glass” opponent.

theathletic.com

Bamford felt Georgia Southern worked as a matchup because the teams played each other in 2017 and 2018, and UMass officials are familiar with travel to Statesboro, Ga. Within 24 hours, Bamford and Benko had an agreement. UMass had been working on a game with another school for this weekend, but that will move to November once it’s finalized.

“In the last week, we’ve penciled in four games total,” Bamford said. “Maybe a fifth game, but based on the dates, we’re probably looking at four games for the remainder of the fall.”

Those all are likely to be road games. In some cases, it could be better financially for UMass to play on the road and get a paycheck — though Extra Points’ Matt Brown reports the payout is only $60,000 from Georgia Southern — and UMass would not be allowed to host fans for home games anyway.

 

[Steve1981]

Game has been moved to ESPN2 - Still 4PM
UMass Game Notes

Why playing is so important to us and surprised it's 59 scholarship players.

• UMass football features 59 different student-athletes across its preseason offensive, defensive and special teams depth charts. Of those 59 Minutemen, 38 are in their first or second seasons at UMass (64.4 percent). It includes 17-of-28 on the offensive depth chart (60.7 percent) and 19-of-26 on the defensive (73.1 percent). Additionally, two of the five specialists (40.0 percent) are in their first or second year, which is not including offensive and defensive position players.
• Of the 59 total student-athletes featured on the depth chart, 19 are true-freshmen and three are redshirt freshmen.

 

[Exit 4]

Game has been moved to ESPN2 - Still 4PM
UMass Game Notes

Why playing is so important to us and surprised it's 59 scholarship players.

• UMass football features 59 different student-athletes across its preseason offensive, defensive and special teams depth charts. Of those 59 Minutemen, 38 are in their first or second seasons at UMass (64.4 percent). It includes 17-of-28 on the offensive depth chart (60.7 percent) and 19-of-26 on the defensive (73.1 percent). Additionally, two of the five specialists (40.0 percent) are in their first or second year, which is not including offensive and defensive position players.
• Of the 59 total student-athletes featured on the depth chart, 19 are true-freshmen and three are redshirt freshmen.

Wow and I bitch about us having 5 to 8 open scholarships at any given time.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

Everyone lining up to smash these guys now

 

[gioff2323]

We’re sitting home pulling our pud and you guys are taking shots at UMass? Wtf

 

[hardcorehusky]

We’re sitting home pulling our pud and you guys are taking shots at UMass?

Yes- they deserve it. For many reasons

 

[gioff2323]

Perhaps. But not from us.

 

[Husky68]

Yes- they deserve it. For many reasons

UConn, committed to winning practice every day. UMass, going out there undermanned and competing.

 

[hardcorehusky]

UConn, committed to winning practice every day. UMass, going out there undermanned and competing.

Let's see-they are losing money - playing programs that don't move the needle. Sounds like the old Yankee Conference to me.

 

[hardcorehusky]

UConn, committed to winning practice every day. UMass, going out there undermanned and competing.

No one wanted to see Houston, UCF, SMU, Temple, etc. Playing CUSA and Sun Belt is somehow a badge of honor? Not to UConn - to UMass maybe but not UConn.

 

[huskysupporter]

Yes- they deserve it. For many reasons

we are no different than UMASS

 

[CL82]

UConn, committed to winning practice every day. UMass, going out there undermanned and competing.

There's the problem. Back when Diaco was here we were committed to winning breakfast and, as you know, it is the most important meal of the day.

 

[Exit 4]

Ryan Bamford reeling in 100k to hit the road for another drubbing.

 

[BugsyCT]

At best UConn could have done what UMass is doing now if they committed to it (4 or 5 games, most all on the road), but the debate will go on forever here on whether it is/was worthwhile.

Our schedule got nuked early on. The options sucked.

 

[Adios]

The optics will favor us. We don't need to prove we are committed, our future schedules speak to that.

UMass doesn't have 20+ national championships. So them playing goes to show they are trying.

Some people...

 

[billybud]

Well...a 0-41 drubbing by Georgia Southern was still football... I guess.

 

[dvegas]

Did anyone else catch this re: UMess? UMass penalized for hoops, tennis violations

 

[huskysupporter]

The optics will favor us. We don't need to prove we are committed, our future schedules speak to that.

UMass doesn't have 20+ national championships. So them playing goes to show they are trying.

Some people...

the only difference between our football programs is that our administration left us high and dry, UMASS football had no choice. Both are equal programs that are now relegated to offering games to the highest bidder.

it’s hysterical that some think we are somehow better than UMASS as a program.

as to playing this year, UCONN made the right call.

 

[Slick]

Let's see-they are losing money - playing programs that don't move the needle. Sounds like the old Yankee Conference to me.

Not really as good as the old Yankee conference.

 

[Zissou]

UConn weighed the costs, risks, and benefits and made a reasonable decision.

UMass did the same and came to a different conclusion, but is just trying to do its best in a crazy year.

Neither decision on this year playing or not playing matters much to the coming years for these two programs.

Applaud UConn for thinking critically and being decisive. Applaud UMass for giving it the college try. It's just filler until basketball season anyway.

 

[Adios]

the only difference between our football programs is that our administration left us high and dry, UMASS football had no choice. Both are equal programs that are now relegated to offering games to the highest bidder.

it’s hysterical that some think we are somehow better than UMASS as a program.

as to playing this year, UCONN made the right call.

It's hysterical people go emo over a game.

I am pretty sure our football future schedules are more desirable than UMass' future schedules. You can become a UMass fan instead.

Us starting FBS football when we did, as members of the Big East and AAC so far, is equal to UMass, everyone! Their stadium is how large? God Almighty. It's just a game.... it's not a vital industry to sustain life.

 

[huskysupporter]

God Almighty. It's just a game.... it's not a vital industry to sustain life.

Agreed.

 

[Bongo Fury]

the only difference between our football programs is that our administration left us high and dry, UMASS football had no choice. Both are equal programs that are now relegated to offering games to the highest bidder.

it’s hysterical that some think we are somehow better than UMASS as a program.

as to playing this year, UCONN made the right call.

UConn supports athletics and particularly football more than UMass.

 

[Waquoit]

Are people really lamenting the fact that UConn is not involved in this nonsense?

 

[Rosebud70]

So let’s be one of three teams to punish these kids by not letting them play? And they wonder why kids are still leaving