Last week, KSU loses to (then) MAC West leader Toledo 30-20. This week, KSU loses to the MAC East Champs BGSU 30-20.

(11-12-2014 11:00 PM)John52168 Wrote:  David Letterman U is on their way to being the first west team to lose to an east team.

EMU has dropped a couple to the East already.
UMass will finish the season with a winning record against the West, although obviously not against all the West's best.

(11-12-2014 11:53 PM)thanksjim Wrote:  Last week, KSU loses to (then) MAC West leader Toledo 30-20. This week, KSU loses to the MAC East Champs BGSU 30-20.

You know, as bad as Kent State's record is, they have been playing pretty competitive in their MAC games. Signs of a young team, is this true?

(11-13-2014 12:10 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 11:53 PM)thanksjim Wrote:  Last week, KSU loses to (then) MAC West leader Toledo 30-20. This week, KSU loses to the MAC East Champs BGSU 30-20.

You know, as bad as Kent State's record is, they have been playing pretty competitive in their MAC games. Signs of a young team, is this true?

Indeed it is. They have started 20 Freshmen or Sophomores at some point this season. They also lost to NIU 17-14 and were marching on their final drive before having TWO quarterbacks knocked out of the game.

I have said it on the KSU board, but I am extremely proud of this team, maybe even more proud than their magical 2012 season. It's just very rare to see 1-9 teams still fighting.

(11-12-2014 11:57 PM)LastMinuteman Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 11:00 PM)John52168 Wrote:  David Letterman U is on their way to being the first west team to lose to an east team.

EMU has dropped a couple to the East already.
UMass will finish the season with a winning record against the West, although obviously not against all the West's best.

You know, thank you fthe correction, I should know never believe something someone on a message board says without first checking the facts.

Fear Fro may be done for the season, but it was so nice to be on campus with a great student turnout.

Attendance for a mid-week game 13,374

Going to post a picture from the Springfield paper,which ahs 4 articles and only going to post the article from the Boston papers, since every one says Boston is a pro town and will not cover UMass.



Boston Globe

Quote:AMHERST — Mark Whipple returned to the University of Massachusetts with the stated intention of delivering championships. That’s what he told an adoring assemblage during his coronation-like reintroduction on campus back in January.

An 0-6 start to the season made it evident, however, that Whipple would not be making the same splash he had back in 1998, when his initial stint on the UMass sideline began with a Division 1-AA national title.

That’s not to suggest that Whipple 2.0 has failed to deliver, though. He’s brought something palpable to those who followUMass football: entertainment.

The Minutemen put on a performance Wednesday night that, while flawed, had stretches of prime-time worthiness. Junior receiver Tajae Sharpe fueled the high-test offense with a record-tying night and the defense got into the act courtesy of a spotlight showing by linebacker Trey Seals, as UMass won for the third time in its last four games, 24-10, before 13,374 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

But victory came at a cost. Blake Frohnapfel, the showstopping quarterback who leads the Mid-American Conference in passing yards and touchdowns, injured his right leg on a scramble late in the first half, limped his way through the third quarter, and finally left the game with 10 minutes to go and was carted to the locker room. Whipple offered no injury update after the game, saying only, “I don’t think it’s good.”

Frohnapfel (28 of 44, 424 yards, 2 interceptions) was replaced on the next possession by redshirt freshman Austin Whipple, the coach’s son. The Minutemen led by a touchdown at the time, and Seals had just made the defensive play of the game — or at least one of his defensive plays of the game. After already having forced one fumble, recovering another, and producing a drive-halting sack, the redshirt junior picked off a pass by Jack Milas (23 of 37, 210 yards, 2 interceptions) at the Cardinals’ 42 with 8:42 left and returned it to the 36.

“Trey Seals was immense,” said Whipple.

From there, the UMass offense consisted of Shadrach Abrokwah running, Lorenzo Woodley running, and Whipple . . . handing off. The Minutemen went 36 yards on six plays — the final one a 7-yard scoring run out of the wildcat by reserve Elgin Long — to make it 24-10. Later they killed off the game’s final 4½ minutes with a 10-play drive consisting of all runs.

“It was on the offensive line,” said Whipple. “They knew the situation.”

Woodley finished with 87 yards — 34 on eight carries during the final drive — and a touchdown, Abrokwah had 54 and a score.

The big numbers on this night were Sharpe’s, though, and his show started early. It took UMass (3-7, 3-3 MAC) all of 62 seconds to raise the curtain, as Frohnapfel connected with Sharpe for 8 yards on the game’s first play, then 61 on a deep post to put the ball on the Ball State (3-7, 2-4) 3-yard line. From there, Abrokwah ran it in to put the Minutemen ahead barely a minute into the game.

By night’s end, Sharpe would have 13 catches to match a UMass record he already shared with three others. His 239 receiving yards were a career high, and he surpassed Victor Cruz for fifth place on the school’s career list with 2,015 yards.

“Tajae had a great game,” said Whipple.

Will he see the ball, though, when UMass faces Akron Tuesday night? With Whipple — he of the 0 for 0 stat line — expected to be under center, UMass will likely be more grind-it-out than air-it-out.

“I don’t think we’ll throw for 420,” said Whipple the coach. “Froh is a special guy. But our guys will rally behind whoever’s back there.”

Will quote the game day piece from the Boston Herald and a link to the article about the game.
UMass right at Home - Boston Herald

Minutemen in Prime Time - Boston Herald

Quote:The UMass football team and the Mid-American Conference will be on the national stage tonight when it hosts Ball State at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst.

The Minutemen (2-7, 2-3 MAC) face the Cardinals (3-6, 2-3) in a game televised on ESPNU (8 p.m.), the second of their three contests at McGuirk. UMass’ previous home games this season against Boston College, Colorado and Eastern Michigan were played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

The Minutemen last played on Oct. 25 at Toledo, where they lost a 42-35 shootout. UMass coach Mark Whipple said the Minutemen are rested and ready for the first midweek night game in program history.

“They are excited to be home, actually back on campus in Amherst,” Whipple said yesterday. “If we can finish the season and have a big game Wednesday night, I think there will be some excitement from the campus.

“We had a good crowd for our homecoming against Bowling Green, and hopefully we can put that together on Wednesday night. . . . We got some guys healthier and there is a little more bounce in their step. Our guys have practiced hard, and we had little scrimmages, so were ready for a good Ball State team.”

The adventure of playing a midweek game in prime time had a particular appeal for inside linebacker Stanley Andre, a redshirt senior from the Grove Hall section of Dorchester.

“It’s going to be really cool to play on Wednesday night at McGuirk,” Andre said. “I think it is going to be awesome coming out and putting on show for them, and it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Andre has endured the many incarnations of the UMass program during his tenure. He’s played for three coaches and helped transition the program from the Colonial Athletic Association to the MAC and from the Division 1-AA level to 1-A.

“That’s the game of football, and you have to adapt,” Andre said. “You are going to have new coaches that expect new things, and you just have to be prepared and be motivated.

“But it’s been a journey being in my fifth year and going through multiple coaches, but you learn to adapt.”

Andre endured consecutive 1-11 seasons under Charley Molnar, so everything in 2014 with Whipple feels like an upgrade. Andre commands the huddle, calls the defensive plays in UMass’ 3-4 schemes and sets the tone with his punishing physical play.

Tonight, Andre will make his 34th consecutive start, the longest streak of any player on the roster, and he is enjoying his finest season. He started with 12 tackles against Boston College and made a career-high 19 against Bowling Green.

“He’s been a really solid player, and he’s a solid leader,” Whipple said. “He’s the only senior in our program that was part of what’s been happening here at UMass over time.

“I think he’s playing better than he ever has. He’s gotten quicker and solid in the middle. He calls the signals, and I think he’ll show up and play really well Wednesday.”

I don't think it's a shocker to say that the Saturday afternoon games will always be better for attendance. No MAC team can lure in locals and children to these 8pm weeknight starts. They will show up on the weekend afternoon. The only exception would be a mid-week game vs. a "big name" opponent from a bigger conference.

(11-12-2014 11:12 PM)thanksjim Wrote:  23-20 Bowling Green. KSU misses the PAT.

FUgly game.

BG's special teams coverage after their last FG score was AWFUL. Players just walking or standing around.

(11-12-2014 04:32 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 03:57 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Any idea on attendance tonight?

I was interested because its one of the first if not THE first prime time MACtion games they are hosting at their real home field. When its fresh it was exciting for a fanbase.

(11-13-2014 12:10 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 11:53 PM)thanksjim Wrote:  Last week, KSU loses to (then) MAC West leader Toledo 30-20. This week, KSU loses to the MAC East Champs BGSU 30-20.

You know, as bad as Kent State's record is, they have been playing pretty competitive in their MAC games. Signs of a young team, is this true?

I wouldn't be surprised about that next year but I thought that would be the case for Akron this year but it didn't work out.

I don't know how ya'll sell 'em. One home weeknight game a year you can market as an event but now with ESPN dumping so many on ESPNU (we get some of those) the magic is gone because it isn't a rare special event any more.

(11-13-2014 12:10 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I don't know how ya'll sell 'em. One home weeknight game a year you can market as an event but now with ESPN dumping so many on ESPNU (we get some of those) the magic is gone because it isn't a rare special event any more.

MACtion vs MACtion on a weeknight is not a good marketing plan.

(11-13-2014 12:10 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I don't know how ya'll sell 'em. One home weeknight game a year you can market as an event but now with ESPN dumping so many on ESPNU (we get some of those) the magic is gone because it isn't a rare special event any more.

With us having weeknight games in November since 2004 it is no longer an event. On top of that add a windchill of 20 and the game available in HD in the students rooms and its not attractive to many past the students who are big fans. Same thing goes for the Alums who have to take off of work early to sit in that weather for the 4+ hours then drive home 1hr+ (most are within 90min).

I did not fully recover until this AM (Thursday) from the Tuesday night game.

I don't think it being on ESPNU vs ESPN2 or ESPN would matter much for the fans in the stands or potential fans who are thinking about attending.

That being said if NIU wins vs Ohio or Toledo loses vs BGSU then I will definitely will be at the final game at WMU.

Would it be too much to ask for ESPN to move midweek MACtion to late September though late October?

MACtion will go away at some point just like BracketBusters.

For someone that doesn't live near Kent, I love having the games on TV. But I emphasize with the fans who really want to go to these games, but it just doesn't make any sense because of life commitments.

(11-13-2014 01:21 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  Would it be too much to ask for ESPN to move midweek MACtion to late September though late October?

Yes, it's called baseball.

(11-13-2014 01:21 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  Would it be too much to ask for ESPN to move midweek MACtion to late September though late October?

October is for the Sun Belt.

Though I really would not be surprised if in the MACs new TV contract if we agreed to extend our MACtion season into October for that extra money ESPN is spending on us.

(11-13-2014 01:33 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(11-13-2014 01:21 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  Would it be too much to ask for ESPN to move midweek MACtion to late September though late October?

October is for the Sun Belt.

Not dismissing RWT's comment, but wouldn't it make more sense to air October MAC games and Nov SBC games?

(11-13-2014 07:27 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Fear Fro may be done for the season, but it was so nice to be on campus with a great student turnout.

Attendance for a mid-week game 13,374

Going to post a picture from the Springfield paper,which ahs 4 articles and only going to post the article from the Boston papers, since every one says Boston is a pro town and will not cover UMass.



Boston Globe

Quote:AMHERST — Mark Whipple returned to the University of Massachusetts with the stated intention of delivering championships. That’s what he told an adoring assemblage during his coronation-like reintroduction on campus back in January.

An 0-6 start to the season made it evident, however, that Whipple would not be making the same splash he had back in 1998, when his initial stint on the UMass sideline began with a Division 1-AA national title.

That’s not to suggest that Whipple 2.0 has failed to deliver, though. He’s brought something palpable to those who followUMass football: entertainment.

The Minutemen put on a performance Wednesday night that, while flawed, had stretches of prime-time worthiness. Junior receiver Tajae Sharpe fueled the high-test offense with a record-tying night and the defense got into the act courtesy of a spotlight showing by linebacker Trey Seals, as UMass won for the third time in its last four games, 24-10, before 13,374 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

But victory came at a cost. Blake Frohnapfel, the showstopping quarterback who leads the Mid-American Conference in passing yards and touchdowns, injured his right leg on a scramble late in the first half, limped his way through the third quarter, and finally left the game with 10 minutes to go and was carted to the locker room. Whipple offered no injury update after the game, saying only, “I don’t think it’s good.”

Frohnapfel (28 of 44, 424 yards, 2 interceptions) was replaced on the next possession by redshirt freshman Austin Whipple, the coach’s son. The Minutemen led by a touchdown at the time, and Seals had just made the defensive play of the game — or at least one of his defensive plays of the game. After already having forced one fumble, recovering another, and producing a drive-halting sack, the redshirt junior picked off a pass by Jack Milas (23 of 37, 210 yards, 2 interceptions) at the Cardinals’ 42 with 8:42 left and returned it to the 36.

“Trey Seals was immense,” said Whipple.

From there, the UMass offense consisted of Shadrach Abrokwah running, Lorenzo Woodley running, and Whipple . . . handing off. The Minutemen went 36 yards on six plays — the final one a 7-yard scoring run out of the wildcat by reserve Elgin Long — to make it 24-10. Later they killed off the game’s final 4½ minutes with a 10-play drive consisting of all runs.

“It was on the offensive line,” said Whipple. “They knew the situation.”

Woodley finished with 87 yards — 34 on eight carries during the final drive — and a touchdown, Abrokwah had 54 and a score.

The big numbers on this night were Sharpe’s, though, and his show started early. It took UMass (3-7, 3-3 MAC) all of 62 seconds to raise the curtain, as Frohnapfel connected with Sharpe for 8 yards on the game’s first play, then 61 on a deep post to put the ball on the Ball State (3-7, 2-4) 3-yard line. From there, Abrokwah ran it in to put the Minutemen ahead barely a minute into the game.

By night’s end, Sharpe would have 13 catches to match a UMass record he already shared with three others. His 239 receiving yards were a career high, and he surpassed Victor Cruz for fifth place on the school’s career list with 2,015 yards.

“Tajae had a great game,” said Whipple.

Will he see the ball, though, when UMass faces Akron Tuesday night? With Whipple — he of the 0 for 0 stat line — expected to be under center, UMass will likely be more grind-it-out than air-it-out.

“I don’t think we’ll throw for 420,” said Whipple the coach. “Froh is a special guy. But our guys will rally behind whoever’s back there.”

Will quote the game day piece from the Boston Herald and a link to the article about the game.
UMass right at Home - Boston Herald

Minutemen in Prime Time - Boston Herald

Quote:The UMass football team and the Mid-American Conference will be on the national stage tonight when it hosts Ball State at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst.

The Minutemen (2-7, 2-3 MAC) face the Cardinals (3-6, 2-3) in a game televised on ESPNU (8 p.m.), the second of their three contests at McGuirk. UMass’ previous home games this season against Boston College, Colorado and Eastern Michigan were played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

The Minutemen last played on Oct. 25 at Toledo, where they lost a 42-35 shootout. UMass coach Mark Whipple said the Minutemen are rested and ready for the first midweek night game in program history.

“They are excited to be home, actually back on campus in Amherst,” Whipple said yesterday. “If we can finish the season and have a big game Wednesday night, I think there will be some excitement from the campus.

“We had a good crowd for our homecoming against Bowling Green, and hopefully we can put that together on Wednesday night. . . . We got some guys healthier and there is a little more bounce in their step. Our guys have practiced hard, and we had little scrimmages, so were ready for a good Ball State team.”

The adventure of playing a midweek game in prime time had a particular appeal for inside linebacker Stanley Andre, a redshirt senior from the Grove Hall section of Dorchester.

“It’s going to be really cool to play on Wednesday night at McGuirk,” Andre said. “I think it is going to be awesome coming out and putting on show for them, and it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Andre has endured the many incarnations of the UMass program during his tenure. He’s played for three coaches and helped transition the program from the Colonial Athletic Association to the MAC and from the Division 1-AA level to 1-A.

“That’s the game of football, and you have to adapt,” Andre said. “You are going to have new coaches that expect new things, and you just have to be prepared and be motivated.

“But it’s been a journey being in my fifth year and going through multiple coaches, but you learn to adapt.”

Andre endured consecutive 1-11 seasons under Charley Molnar, so everything in 2014 with Whipple feels like an upgrade. Andre commands the huddle, calls the defensive plays in UMass’ 3-4 schemes and sets the tone with his punishing physical play.

Tonight, Andre will make his 34th consecutive start, the longest streak of any player on the roster, and he is enjoying his finest season. He started with 12 tackles against Boston College and made a career-high 19 against Bowling Green.

“He’s been a really solid player, and he’s a solid leader,” Whipple said. “He’s the only senior in our program that was part of what’s been happening here at UMass over time.

“I think he’s playing better than he ever has. He’s gotten quicker and solid in the middle. He calls the signals, and I think he’ll show up and play really well Wednesday.”

I hope Fro is OK. Great game he played last night. Great kid as well. I wish he was still with the Herd. Umass got a good one. Good luck the rest of the way to Blake and the Minutemen.

A colonoscopy is a relatively rare event...that really doesn't make them seem any more appealing.

Playing mid week football at night in November is just a bad idea all around. Fall term is heading into the final stretch so the pressure to study is greater than it is earlier in the season. It's frigging cold outside and people who live any appreciable distance form the stadium can't attend because who in the blue hell wants to get home form a football game at 1am or later?

We've whored ourselves out to ESPN for chump change....