Let's get this started with signing day coming up. UMass gets a huge re-commit in Shane Huber.
http://maroonmusket.com/2013/01/umass-re-commit-shane-huber/
http://maroonmusket.com/2013/01/umass-re-commit-shane-huber/
Franklin Fanatic said:Looked like a nice turn out at the youth football clinic at Gillette yesterday. Such a great way to help build up the fan base by giving back to the community. Spring game set for 4/20.
I re-newed by season tickets yesterday. I'm really looking forward to making the trip to Madison and Camp Randall Stadium on 8/31!
This time last year, UMass boasted three two-year starters on the line, which looked like a potential strength for an offense in need of one. The unit was still pretty awful, however (especially in run blocking), in part because of injuries. Nine players started at least one game, including four freshmen/redshirt freshmen. The pass protection was not horrible, but UMass was the worst in the country at opening holes on standard downs.
And now the Minutemen must replace their three most experienced starters.
Big Anthony Dima returns to anchor what will still be one of the younger lines in college football. UMass returns 31 career starts, 11 of which came from players who are now sophomores. This isn't a recipe for improvement, but with a load of sophomores and a new offensive line coach (former Cincinnati assistant Dave Johnson), things certainly look pretty good for 2014 and beyond. That's something.
Red(s)HawksFan said:This seems like the best place to ask. Has anyone been to a UMass game at Gillette? I ask because I'm looking into getting tickets for their game against the old alma mater, and it seems that only a few sections are available for sale (107-112). Just wondering if that's just standard policy for UMass games to essentially concentrate the crowd or do they open up other sections at some later date?
Seems ridiculous to use Gillette for the seating capacity then only make about 1/3 of the lower bowl available for seating. Close off the upper decks, fine, but why not sell tickets for the opposing sideline, at least?
BigMike said:
No idea, but there are things like concessions, and security/ushers and other support staff that come into play when you spread the crowd out across the whole facility.
If you are dealing with a crowd that can only fill less than 1/3 of the lower bowl, then maybe it does make sense to keep them all together in one place
Red(s)HawksFan said:This seems like the best place to ask. Has anyone been to a UMass game at Gillette? I ask because I'm looking into getting tickets for their game against the old alma mater, and it seems that only a few sections are available for sale (107-112). Just wondering if that's just standard policy for UMass games to essentially concentrate the crowd or do they open up other sections at some later date?
Seems ridiculous to use Gillette for the seating capacity then only make about 1/3 of the lower bowl available for seating. Close off the upper decks, fine, but why not sell tickets for the opposing sideline, at least?
berniecarbo1 said:How long till they end this experiment? It has been handled all wrong, way too quick. I really was hoping they could do this, but I really have my doubts now. Is it the coach?, Is it the business plan?, Something else? Very discouraging. You can't lose to FCS schools and hope to have or keep any momentum.
Kremlin Watcher said:Not to mention the cost. Most FBS programs lose money; bumping up from FCS has to cost a fortune and unless Kraft is giving them use of Gillette for nothing, one has to imagine that the cost of running that program has increased dramatically. And with attendance of 15k, they're going to need to play a lot of away beatdown games against top-25 teams to make any decent money. How long can UMass afford to lose hundreds of thousands or even millions on a football program that will almost certainly be a consistent loser? Five years? 10? Does anyone in Massachusetts value having an FBS team enough to withstand that much red ink?
RedSoxFan said:
UMass is not paying anything to use Gillette. Kraft keeps all of the money from concessions and he gets a % of the ticket sales, but he is also covering game day costs. I believe this move was made because UMass was hemorrhaging money at the FCS level. At least with playing in the MAC they get a portion of the TV revenue the conference gets as well as a portion of the bowl revenue. If a MAC team makes it to a BCS bowl (or whatever they are going to be calling it), UMass gets a portion of that payout. They missed out last year because it was their first year in the MAC. However, UMass got $900,000 to play at Wisconsin and is receiving $750,000 to play at Kansas State on Saturday. UMass played @KSU a few years ago when they were in FCS and received only $350,000. I hope that this is enough to withstand these lean years. I can't see dropping the program back down to FCS as a viable option, so it's either going to be stay the course or drop the program entirely. I gotta think that UMass can at least recruit and/or coach up players well enough to compete in the MAC in the near future.
WayBackVazquez said:UMass is a 3-point favorite against an equally putrid Miami (OH) this week. Probably the first time the Minutemen have been favored against an FBS team.
BigMike said:Congrats to UMass on their first win.
Kind of funny that they are now tied for 3rd place in the MAC division
It can only go up. But as currently constructed, it is a terrible job that I cannot imagine will attract a large pool if good candidates.RedOctober3829 said:Where does the program go from here?