Stepping down as coach but staying on board for 6 months according to this source. Mark Blaudschun

Quote:As one source familiar with the situation as it was unfolding said, ""He (Whipple) helped a lot of kids and did a lot of things for a lot of people, if he didn't win enough games, so be it.''

What was being worked on Wednesday afternoon was a compromise where Whipple "resigns'' as coach but will be kept on the UMass payroll for another six months in a transitional role with the administration.

Whipple is expected to return to Amherst on Thursday, talk to his team on Friday and then head back to his home in Arizona.

Once things are worked out with Whipple, UMass officials will work hard to find a replacement quickly since recruiting season is about to begin.

https://collegesportsmaven.io/tmg/api/am...kQEm6IE3A/

Unique situation for UMass and a highly regarded coach. He may have been more successful had UMass made the move in the early 2000’s.

This season didn’t pan out, but I think the QB getting hurt didn’t help. We’ll see if replacing Whipple pays off.

UMass should bring in someone like Al Golden or Greg Schiano. Both took dumpster fire programs and made them competitive. And both are from New Jersey and have had success recruiting the mid-Atlantic area.

I would take either of those guys in a heartbeat. Instant credibility, but I don't know if Umass has the budget to afford either of them?

Al Golden would be perfect. Hell, Rutgers or Maryland might go after him.

AD Ryan Bamford sent out an email to donors yesterday saying he will be doing the football coach search in-house.

It's worked pretty well for hockey (#3 in the nation currently): https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2018/...5#comments

The big issue for the new coach is UMass being Indy. Hard to recruit for an Indy program except for Notre Dame.....just look how BYU has tumbled since going Indy.

UMass hires Walt Bell:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2018/12/...coach.aspx

(12-04-2018 12:38 AM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  UMass hires Walt Bell:

https://umassathletics.com/news/2018/12/...coach.aspx

Art Bell went from late night AM radio talking about UFO’s to FB Coach

Well MWC Tex, by all accounts, Walt Bell is a very good recruiter. Feeling much better about this hire after receiving some thoughts and information from Arkansas State fans. Appreciate them taking some time in sharing.

UMass WR Andy Isabella named Consensus All-American
https://247sports.com/college/massachuse...126273960/

Our first Consensus All-American since 1972.

1952 Tony Chambers E
1961 Bob Foote LT
1963 Paul Gorham T
1964 Milt Morin TE
1965 Milt Morin TE
1967 Greg Landry QB
1971 Bill DeFlavio MG
1972 Steve Schubert WR

(12-13-2018 01:41 PM)McKinney Wrote:  UMass WR Andy Isabella named Consensus All-American
https://247sports.com/college/massachuse...126273960/

Our first Consensus All-American since 1972.

1952 Tony Chambers E
1961 Bob Foote LT
1963 Paul Gorham T
1964 Milt Morin TE
1965 Milt Morin TE
1967 Greg Landry QB
1971 Bill DeFlavio MG
1972 Steve Schubert WR

this kid can flat out play. Congrats!

The draft is tonight!

UMass will probably be looking for a conference for years. Don't expect our win loss to change much from the last two seasons 4-8 records, but the optimism on the field gives encouragement on the future and good first impressions of Walt Bell as a new HC.

https://www.gazettenet.com/Spring-practi...a-25071329

Quote:Here are the four major takeaways from the spring as UMass transitions into the summer and prepares for training camp in three months.

CULTURE SHIFT — There is a different energy surrounding the program, which is to be expected when there’s a coaching change. The coaches want to make their mark on the program and sometimes are overexuberant in installing their systems. Meanwhile, the players feel like they have a fresh slate to impress and are working extra hard to earn playing time this upcoming season.

Yet the changing dynamic at UMass is more extreme than the typical transformations that occur during a coaching switch. There is a sense of optimism that can be felt in and around practice and a new belief that there are brighter days ahead for the Minutemen. That is not a knock on Mark Whipple and the way he ran the program, but a commentary on how well Bell and strength coach Matt Shadeed have infused their ideas into the fabric of the new team.

The players have embraced and taken on Bell’s personality, and it has resulted in a new edge in all facets of the team from the weight room to the classroom. Everyone is holding each other accountable and the team chemistry has improved as a result.

SPEED IT UP — The offense ran at a good pace last season and was in the middle of the pack nationally in terms of plays per game, but that’s a snail’s pace compared to the tempo the Minutemen will have this year.

UMass should be near the top of the country in offensive tempo in 2019 thanks to the quick-paced play calls Bell utilizes. There won’t be much time from when the ball is marked ready for play and when the quarterback is starting his cadence and catching the snap. Whatever was seen at practice was probably still a step or two slower than the speed the Minutemen will play with on game day, but practices were still quicker than most teams last season.

The system puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback and skill position players to be on the same page because one miscommunication can result in a negative play. If the quarterback is expecting one route and the receiver is running a different one, there isn’t much time for the quarterback to adjust to the actual route being run, especially if the receiver is the first read. It’s a quick-strike offense that depends on timing and rhythm, two things that depend a lot on communication and building trust with the other 10 players on the field.

DEPTH AN ISSUE — The very fact UMass didn’t hold a traditional spring game is proof enough that Bell needs healthy bodies more than anything else. The reinforcements are coming when the freshmen and other late additions to the roster arrive this summer, but it was a skeleton crew to begin with this spring.

Even if everyone was healthy enough to practice, UMass still isn’t particularly deep at important positions like the offensive line and running back to absorb one or two injuries. The only groups with enough players seem to be the quarterbacks and receivers with every other position room in some need of help to boost their numbers.

It will be a gradual process as Bell recruits his type of player and builds the roster with those guys. In the meantime, though, the Minutemen have little margin for error on the injury front before lineups start to get interesting in Amherst.

DEFENSE IS ALRIGHT — After losing so many critical pieces of last year’s defense, there were rightfully questions about the talent the Minutemen had on that side of the ball. The addition of Penn State transfer Jarvis Miller helped, but it did little to ease concerns about how UMass was going to replace seven starters on that side of the ball.

There won’t be one player who is ready to step into the shining role, but the younger players on the roster showed a lot of promise with their play during the spring practices. The Minutemen have a lot of versatile players who can both line up with a hand in the ground as a defensive end or stand up near the line of scrimmage as a edge rusher or outside linebacker. The bevy of redshirt freshmen cornerbacks held their own when healthy against a talented group of wide receivers.

The results might not be pretty and the defense might not be dominant, but the personnel fits the scheme new defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is installing. The Minutemen are fast, athletic and strong enough to fly to the ball and deep enough at the right spots that there can be enough substitutions to keep the energy high and legs fresh.

(04-25-2019 10:10 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  The draft is tonight!

UMass will probably be looking for a conference for years. Don't expect our win loss to change much from the last two seasons 4-8 records, but the optimism on the field gives encouragement on the future and good first impressions of Walt Bell as a new HC.

https://www.gazettenet.com/Spring-practi...a-25071329

Quote:Here are the four major takeaways from the spring as UMass transitions into the summer and prepares for training camp in three months.

CULTURE SHIFT — There is a different energy surrounding the program, which is to be expected when there’s a coaching change. The coaches want to make their mark on the program and sometimes are overexuberant in installing their systems. Meanwhile, the players feel like they have a fresh slate to impress and are working extra hard to earn playing time this upcoming season.

Yet the changing dynamic at UMass is more extreme than the typical transformations that occur during a coaching switch. There is a sense of optimism that can be felt in and around practice and a new belief that there are brighter days ahead for the Minutemen. That is not a knock on Mark Whipple and the way he ran the program, but a commentary on how well Bell and strength coach Matt Shadeed have infused their ideas into the fabric of the new team.

The players have embraced and taken on Bell’s personality, and it has resulted in a new edge in all facets of the team from the weight room to the classroom. Everyone is holding each other accountable and the team chemistry has improved as a result.

SPEED IT UP — The offense ran at a good pace last season and was in the middle of the pack nationally in terms of plays per game, but that’s a snail’s pace compared to the tempo the Minutemen will have this year.

UMass should be near the top of the country in offensive tempo in 2019 thanks to the quick-paced play calls Bell utilizes. There won’t be much time from when the ball is marked ready for play and when the quarterback is starting his cadence and catching the snap. Whatever was seen at practice was probably still a step or two slower than the speed the Minutemen will play with on game day, but practices were still quicker than most teams last season.

The system puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback and skill position players to be on the same page because one miscommunication can result in a negative play. If the quarterback is expecting one route and the receiver is running a different one, there isn’t much time for the quarterback to adjust to the actual route being run, especially if the receiver is the first read. It’s a quick-strike offense that depends on timing and rhythm, two things that depend a lot on communication and building trust with the other 10 players on the field.

DEPTH AN ISSUE — The very fact UMass didn’t hold a traditional spring game is proof enough that Bell needs healthy bodies more than anything else. The reinforcements are coming when the freshmen and other late additions to the roster arrive this summer, but it was a skeleton crew to begin with this spring.

Even if everyone was healthy enough to practice, UMass still isn’t particularly deep at important positions like the offensive line and running back to absorb one or two injuries. The only groups with enough players seem to be the quarterbacks and receivers with every other position room in some need of help to boost their numbers.

It will be a gradual process as Bell recruits his type of player and builds the roster with those guys. In the meantime, though, the Minutemen have little margin for error on the injury front before lineups start to get interesting in Amherst.

DEFENSE IS ALRIGHT — After losing so many critical pieces of last year’s defense, there were rightfully questions about the talent the Minutemen had on that side of the ball. The addition of Penn State transfer Jarvis Miller helped, but it did little to ease concerns about how UMass was going to replace seven starters on that side of the ball.

There won’t be one player who is ready to step into the shining role, but the younger players on the roster showed a lot of promise with their play during the spring practices. The Minutemen have a lot of versatile players who can both line up with a hand in the ground as a defensive end or stand up near the line of scrimmage as a edge rusher or outside linebacker. The bevy of redshirt freshmen cornerbacks held their own when healthy against a talented group of wide receivers.

The results might not be pretty and the defense might not be dominant, but the personnel fits the scheme new defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is installing. The Minutemen are fast, athletic and strong enough to fly to the ball and deep enough at the right spots that there can be enough substitutions to keep the energy high and legs fresh.

Up-tempo makes sense considering their nickname!

On a side note, the script U needs to come back. That was iconic. Their uniforms were cool last year, but "UMass" font looks like a run of the mill team these days.

(04-25-2019 11:03 AM)esayem Wrote:  Up-tempo makes sense considering their nickname!

Ha! Love it.

(04-25-2019 11:03 AM)esayem Wrote:  On a side note, the script U needs to come back. That was iconic. Their uniforms were cool last year, but "UMass" font looks like a run of the mill team these days.

There's a reason it looks generic.
http://www.phoenixdesignworks.com/collegiate.html

Pretty much every logo that comes out of that shop has italic block font, beveled edges, and an overly complicated color palette. Just in general looks cartoonish.

It's not just this shop. Lots of them do it. I think a lot of graphic designers feel the need for a collegiate brand to be somewhere between a high school mascot and a minor league baseball team.

I wish UMass had a simple mark they could use for both academic and athletic purposes. But the "Power U" is just too cartoony for the academics, and we're not going to be putting the university seal on our football helmets.

Say what you want about Nike GIG, but it's apparent there was a lot more thought and care that went into this: http://www.goarmywestpointrebrand.com/

(04-25-2019 04:49 PM)McKinney Wrote:  

(04-25-2019 11:03 AM)esayem Wrote:  Up-tempo makes sense considering their nickname!

Ha! Love it.

(04-25-2019 11:03 AM)esayem Wrote:  On a side note, the script U needs to come back. That was iconic. Their uniforms were cool last year, but "UMass" font looks like a run of the mill team these days.

There's a reason it looks generic.
http://www.phoenixdesignworks.com/collegiate.html

Pretty much every logo that comes out of that shop has italic block font, beveled edges, and an overly complicated color palette. Just in general looks cartoonish.

It's not just this shop. Lots of them do it. I think a lot of graphic designers feel the need for a collegiate brand to be somewhere between a high school mascot and a minor league baseball team.

I wish UMass had a simple mark they could use for both academic and athletic purposes. But the "Power U" is just too cartoony for the academics, and we're not going to be putting the university seal on our football helmets.

Say what you want about Nike GIG, but it's apparent there was a lot more thought and care that went into this: http://www.goarmywestpointrebrand.com/

We you see them all together like that it's pretty awful.

Wow, so many generic and soulless logos there. IMO, the “power U” as you call it, was classic. I remember seeing the font on the basketball uniforms back in the day thinking it was cool. That was back when teams really just had the classic block lettering, script, or some sort of western/circus font.

Your rivals there at UConn have an Adobe Illustrator logo now...ugh. I read somewhere that people liked the Cleveland Indians logo because it was hand drawn. All logos used to be that way, now they’re all computerized and sterile. It’s like analog vs. digital, man. :puts joint down:

(04-25-2019 09:48 PM)esayem Wrote:  Wow, so many generic and soulless logos there. IMO, the “power U” as you call it, was classic. I remember seeing the font on the basketball uniforms back in the day thinking it was cool. That was back when teams really just had the classic block lettering, script, or some sort of western/circus font.

Your rivals there at UConn have an Adobe Illustrator logo now...ugh. I read somewhere that people liked the Cleveland Indians logo because it was hand drawn. All logos used to be that way, now they’re all computerized and sterile. It’s like analog vs. digital, man. :puts joint down:

The 90's Calipari era logo is known as the "Script U". Not 100% sure that's the official name though. And you're right, it's a classic. Beloved by many alums and fans, if only because of the era it represents. Speaking of "soul", rumor is it was designed by Cal himself. I believe this was also the first time UMass used "UMass" in its primary mark. Previous uniforms used an interlocking UM, a block M, or just Massachusetts (sometimes either Mass., Mass. State, or Mass. Aggie depending on the time period and sport).


In 2003 UMass contracted out Phoenix to design this. I don't think this has a name, but I call it the "Staircase" because the ASS is smaller and the M is smaller than the U. I also think this was the first and only time the primary mark featured a mascot. Previous secondary marks featured Metawampe or Sam the Minuteman. But no primary marks to my knowlege.


The current logo first appeared on the football helmets when UMass moved up to FBS in 2012. It is officially called the "Power U". That's what our athletic dept calls it. Why? I have no idea. It was also done by Phoenix Design Works.

(04-25-2019 10:32 PM)McKinney Wrote:  Previous secondary marks featured Sam the Minuteman. But no primary marks to my knowlege.

Most notably on some pretty baller football helmets from 1974-84.

(04-25-2019 10:10 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  The draft is tonight!

UMass will probably be looking for a conference for years. Don't expect our win loss to change much from the last two seasons 4-8 records, but the optimism on the field gives encouragement on the future and good first impressions of Walt Bell as a new HC.

Its just one sport for UMass to have to headache over indy.

All you can do really is keep throwing down facilities and investing in coaches. At some point the players will follow.