(07-12-2014 10:20 AM)MJG Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:31 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  As a UMass fan look at these announcements with interest. It seems a bit interesting that the FCS game would be announced in Sept, but that could probably be worked out as URI AD is a UMass guy and was an acting AD at UMass. There is another team that I've heard about, so the independent schedule is still alive.

"After opening the 2016 season at perennial national powerhouse Florida of the Southeastern Conference, UMass will host the Huskies (UConn) on Sept. 10, travel to Boston College on Sept. 17, then host Rhode Island on Sept. 24. Kickoff times will be announced at a later date." (So 2 out of 4 are old Yankee Conference foes.)
...
"UMass’ conference affiliation with the Mid-American Conference ends after 2015. It is currently searching for a new league, but athletic director John McCutcheon acknowledged earlier this month that the Minutemen could spend time as an independent if an opening wasn’t found in time. If UMass finds a conference for 2016, its nonconference slate is complete for that season. If not, then four of the 12 games have been filled."

http://www.gazettenet.com/sports/umasssp...nd-in-2016

PS On vacation in White Mountains with poor internet so please note could not use typical URL and quote tags.

Thought you guys will get a rise out of posting our former football conference name and we have never, except for a very short time the A10 took over the Yankee Conference, had basketball and football in the same conference.

Interesting that the Rode Island game is at Gillette .
Hard to figure why UMass did not add some cheap end zone seats to get to twenty thousand. maybe it is not as important as I think but being under twenty thousands seats has a stigma. I would think Umass could draw well against some local FCS schools in Amherst. One of those games a year plus two G5 teams. Maybe one North Easter P5 at Gillette a year.

I would hope NMSU and Idaho try to schedule you guys if independent. Idaho spent 27 million adding luxury suites and new press box . Most of the money went to safety upgrades. The football operations center we already had . MSU just spent forty million upgrading athletic facilities . Removing the track and replacing stands in football.

So three schools spent a combined 100 million and did not add any seats. Idaho actually lost seats because of the premium seating. Two of the three are FBS and one wants to be confusing. Idaho can host WSU if an expansion occurs . The WSU A.D. has stated such so plenty of incentive. UMass wants to play the majority of its games on campus.
MSU has great potential because of only one current in state FBS.
From a fans perspective it makes no sense maybe they no something we don't.

Thanks MJG for the hope in scheduling. Molnar was terrible at calling plays. If this guy sub in it was a running play, if that one it was a passing play, plus getting the plays in very late. Hopefully returning to be an assistant, he will be very good for you guys. Let us know.

Regarding URI there are two things. One Thor Borjn was a UMass Football player, assistant AD and acting AD before taking the job as AD at URI. So we have a strong connection there and URI is closer to Gillette. The other thing, 2016 is the last year of the Gillette contract and requires a certain number of games to be played there.

One other AD connection is Bob (Nascar) Marcum, who I hate for what he did to the basketball program. But he was AD while Mark Whipple was our Football Head Coach and sure that is why we were able to get Blake Frohnapfel. He should be our QB for the next two years.

Good luck to you all.