Well, the Blog readers correctly picked seven of the eight first round games in the FCS playoffs. It was close on New Hampshire though. Weber State was all over Cal Poly to ruin most people's brackets.
ESPN has final scores, drive charts and box scores here .
The CAA website has longer write-ups of all the CAA games here .
A couple of articles on the UNH-Southern Ill. game here (from the Saluki's side) and here (from New Hampshire).
CSN has a bracket and more post-first round playoff stuff here .
I think Weber State beats Montana and Villanova upsets JMU in the second round.
Sunday 30 November 2008
Saturday 29 November 2008
Temple 27, Akron 6: The Best Video of the Season
By Mike Gibson
Without a doubt, the best video short of the season.
Gotta love the blocking on Marcellus Griggs' two touchdown runs and the misdirection the Owls used on his second touchdown (vintage Delaware Wing-T).
Also, great catch by Jason Harper, who has really embraced his role as the team's next Bruce Francis. Notice he landed on the 2, but the MAC refs _ in all their infinite wisdom _ marked the ball on the 4.
Great interception by Kevin Kroboth, the surprise of this year's recruiting class. I've got to believe that even Kevin, though, might be second-guessing his path to the goal on the interception because a fat guy, Akron's No. 71, shows up in the picture late. Had Kevin cut it toward the fat guy, he would have been gone.
Love the scoreboard opening and the mugging of the seniors for the camera in it.
All in all, a very good day and a great job by video czar Mike Adkins.
Playoff Saturday 2008
In two different stories, the Salukis remind UNH of UMass here and here .
The game will be streamed for free. Details here .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appalachian State Vs South Carolina State on ESPNU at 12:00 Noon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chuck Burton's CSN column "Feasting on Football"
More FCS playoff notes and facts from CSN.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keepers Football ratings has the following:
- Appalachian State by 18 over South Carolina state
- Cal Poly by 10.75 over Weber State
- JMU by 13.09 over Wofford
- Montana by 17.75 over Texas State
- UNH by 0.41 over Southern Ill.
- Richmond by 31.71 (wow) over EKU
- UNI by 9.81 over Maine
- Villanova by 19.55 over Colgate
Friday 28 November 2008
So much for the MAC "experts"
Temple players, in a classy move, thank the fans after the final game.
By Mike GibsonI dreaded going into the final two games with a loss to lowly Kent State because there's really nothing satisfying to me about finishing with a losing record.
You can say that five wins this year, compared to four last year, is progress but I never really saw it that way.
I expected a win and wanted to taste a win, but I didn't expect to be satisfied walking out of the stadium in a season that has been, to me, mostly disheartening.
Satisfaction is what I got, though.
Not with the season, but with the 27-6 win over Akron. This was a Zips' team which won at Syracuse, 42-28, and lost to Big East power Cincinnati, 17-15.
For the first time since Bruce Arians, the Owls scored more points in a season than they got scored upon them.
For the first time since Jerry Berndt, they won as many as five games.
Muhammed Wilkerson does what the Owls should have done to Drew Willy at Buffalo on the last play: Get in the QB's face.
(Akron Beacon-Journal photo)
The part of me who was disheartened with the season was also heartened by watching the Owls celebrate afterward.
They stood and participated in a raucous rendition of "T for Temple U" only to see Bruce Francis, in my estimation the greatest Temple receiver of all time, sent in the direction of a ladder in front of the band by coach Al Golden.
Francis then climbed to the top rung of the ladder and directed the band for a "T For Temple U" encore.
The team and the thousands of Temple fans who remained afterward to soak it all in went nuts.
I couldn't help but thinking then that these kids deserved much more than 5-7 and played much better, much better, than any 5-7 team in the country. Had their braintrust showed a little better on-the-fly decision-making skills, these team could have been 9-3.
That's all that was needed.
Not luck. Not Devine intervention. Just good, sensible, late-game, decision-making.
I chalk it up to Golden learning on the job.
He's a smart-enough guy that he won't make those same mistakes a second time.
But they came at a hard price for these wonderful kids who represented Temple University so well.
So the win was satisfying for in some respects but nowhere near as satisfying as this:
Almost all of the MAC so-called experts picked Temple to finish fifth in the MAC East.
No one picked Temple to finish second, but that's just where the Owls finished in the final Mid-American Conference standings, in a second-place tie with Bowling Green.
That, to me, was satisfying.
Not as satisfying as a winning season would have been, but satisfying.
Don't expect any of these "experts" to pick Temple to finish above fourth place next year, though. All but one of the MAC beat writers who participated in a pre-season poll picked Temple to finish fifth in the MAC East. (Seems like they were all copying off the other's guys paper.)
Their blinding loyalty to the "old-line" MAC teams and their hatred of newcomer Temple obscures anything close to journalistic integrity.
The fact that they have been exposed as frauds today is, well, satisfying.
There's no other word for it.
Recruiting 2009--Jermaine McDay
A kind Blog reader initially us the link for this story about Jermaine McDay a 6-3 245 pd FB/LB from Keene, NH (just down the road from me).
McDay also made 2008 All-New Hampshire.
Also being recruited by Hofstra and Northeastern.
Image by Correy Perrine.
Recruiting 2009---Martin Hyppolite Part II
I've blogged before about UMass recruiting Wakefield's Martin Hyppolite.
He ran for 218 yards and four TD's in the big Turkey-Day game against Melrose. (mentions UMass)
He ran for 218 yards and four TD's in the big Turkey-Day game against Melrose. (mentions UMass)
Thursday 27 November 2008
Thanksgiving Thursday
Hope all readers are enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday. Truly there is much to be thankful for.
Dave Coulson prognosticates the playoffs .
Bruce Dowd does his weekly CAA Today column here .
Matty Vautour has a link to a video interview with Brandon London.
Recruiting 2010----Justin Silveria
Could Wareham Junior Justin Silveria be a future safety for UMass? He likes the Minutemen. Silveria sounds like Coach Brown's kinda player.
Image by Mike Valeri.
Wednesday 26 November 2008
News November 26, 2008
Mostly FCS playfoffs news on the web.
No TV for the New Hampshire-SIU game .
Maine gets UNI in the dome . No TV for that game either.
ESPNU will air probably the worst matchup in the first round: Appalachian State against South Carolina State.
2008 FCS bracket here .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Miami Dolphins lost one of their top receivers to a knee injury. That may open the door for Brandon London to crack the starting lineup.
Recruiting 2009----- QB Ray Doucette
The Boston Globe has an article about Ray Doucette a 6-3 175 pd pro-style QB from Cambridge & Latin HS in Cambridge, MA.
He has thrown for over 7,000 career yards.
His Rivals.com page is here .
Scout.com page is here .
Recruiting interest by Columbia, Harvard, Temple and UMass.
Ray, take a long look at the UMass receiving corps!
Boston Globe image by Patricia McDonnell.
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Shopping or football? That's a tough one .... not
"This game is the pivotal game of my career. How do I want to leave my legacy? . . . I'm taking this game as if it's the last game I'm ever going to play." _ Bruce Francis
You could either be waiting in line at some department store (left), or having fun watching the Owls scoring defensive touchdowns by switching to an unrelenting blitzing scheme.
By Mike Gibson
Black Friday.
It's usually noted for long, boring lines at department stores created by phony discounts.
For women, Black Friday is looked forward to like guys look forward to Super Bowl Sunday.
If you really want to be "entertained" though, forget the lines and head to Temple's game against Akron on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
If you think you might miss a bargain or two, how about these bargains being offered by the Temple athletic department:
I mean, what school offers its employees an "unlimted number" of tickets for $1?
Temple has 9,789 employees.
If just half of the employees grab four tickets for $1 and sell to it fans for $5, that's a fulfilling afternoon spent at the stadium and at a profit of $20.
At that rate, combined with the usual 20,000 hardcore Temple fans, the Owls should be pushing a big attendance number.
Should be.
Forget that, though, because this is your last chance to support the Owls for nine months and your last chance to see quarterback Adam DiMichele and wide receiver Bruce Francis. I have a funny feeling we will not see the likes of these players ever again at Temple.
That is, unless we can get big-time JUCO QBs like Garrett Barnas (Harper) or Stanley Jennings (Dean) in here before the calendar year ends or players like Vaughn Carraway and Deven Baker live up to their potential.
Plus, don't expect defensive geniuses like Al Golden and Mark D'Onofrio to be fooled two weeks in a row. Golden was a big-time defensive coordinator at Virginia and D'Onofrio has proven to be one of the best defensive minds in the MAC over the last two years, so maybe they'll come up with something Friday.
My guess is that it will be a blitzing scheme that sends the Owls' extremely athletic linebackers and safeties up the middle and shooting through gaps on a combo of run-and-pass blitzes designed to disrupt Akron's running and passing games.
It's just that sort of scheme that can lead to fumbles, interceptions and defensive touchdowns.
That, combined with the Owls' newfound offensive prowess, could lead to a fun afternoon Friday.
Much more fun than shopping.
Imagine just how much you'd be spending at some department store after waiting in line for an hour to buy a couple of things you don't really need.
It's a no-brainer.
See you in Lot K two hours before kickoff.
Or forfeit your man card now.
You could either be waiting in line at some department store (left), or having fun watching the Owls scoring defensive touchdowns by switching to an unrelenting blitzing scheme.
By Mike Gibson
Black Friday.
It's usually noted for long, boring lines at department stores created by phony discounts.
For women, Black Friday is looked forward to like guys look forward to Super Bowl Sunday.
If you really want to be "entertained" though, forget the lines and head to Temple's game against Akron on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
If you think you might miss a bargain or two, how about these bargains being offered by the Temple athletic department:
- Take a Kid to the Game Day! Purchase one regular-priced adult ticket, and receive a kids ticket for only $5!
- Bring a canned food item, and receive a ticket for only $5!
- Temple Employee Appreciation Day! Show your Temple ID at the Lincoln Financial Field Ticket Office the day of the game, and receive an unlimited number of tickets for only $1 per ticket.
Take advantage of the following "Black Friday" ticket discounts:
I mean, what school offers its employees an "unlimted number" of tickets for $1?
Temple has 9,789 employees.
If just half of the employees grab four tickets for $1 and sell to it fans for $5, that's a fulfilling afternoon spent at the stadium and at a profit of $20.
At that rate, combined with the usual 20,000 hardcore Temple fans, the Owls should be pushing a big attendance number.
Should be.
My guess
is that it
will be a
blitzing scheme
that sends the
Owls' extremely
athletic linebackers
and safeties
up the middle
and shooting
through gaps
on a combo
of run-and-pass
blitzes designed
to disrupt Akron's
running and
passing games.
is that it
will be a
blitzing scheme
that sends the
Owls' extremely
athletic linebackers
and safeties
up the middle
and shooting
through gaps
on a combo
of run-and-pass
blitzes designed
to disrupt Akron's
running and
passing games.
Forget that, though, because this is your last chance to support the Owls for nine months and your last chance to see quarterback Adam DiMichele and wide receiver Bruce Francis. I have a funny feeling we will not see the likes of these players ever again at Temple.
That is, unless we can get big-time JUCO QBs like Garrett Barnas (Harper) or Stanley Jennings (Dean) in here before the calendar year ends or players like Vaughn Carraway and Deven Baker live up to their potential.
Plus, don't expect defensive geniuses like Al Golden and Mark D'Onofrio to be fooled two weeks in a row. Golden was a big-time defensive coordinator at Virginia and D'Onofrio has proven to be one of the best defensive minds in the MAC over the last two years, so maybe they'll come up with something Friday.
My guess is that it will be a blitzing scheme that sends the Owls' extremely athletic linebackers and safeties up the middle and shooting through gaps on a combo of run-and-pass blitzes designed to disrupt Akron's running and passing games.
It's just that sort of scheme that can lead to fumbles, interceptions and defensive touchdowns.
That, combined with the Owls' newfound offensive prowess, could lead to a fun afternoon Friday.
Much more fun than shopping.
Imagine just how much you'd be spending at some department store after waiting in line for an hour to buy a couple of things you don't really need.
It's a no-brainer.
See you in Lot K two hours before kickoff.
Or forfeit your man card now.
Tuesday Morning 11/25/08
The UMass Daily Collegian has a Hofstra game article here .
Matty Vautour looks at next year's needs and discusses who will fill the seniors shoes here .
Relavent quote:"He will have plenty of holes to fill as key players depart. Some can be filled from within by redshirts, but Brown and his staff will likely be actively looking at potential junior college and Football Bowl Subdivision transfers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chuck Burton of SCN complains about this year's playoff selections .
CSN continues its series on the best FCS players of the last thirty years (all in pdf):
The Sports Network has its weekly column "Around FCS' here .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matty Vautour looks at next year's needs and discusses who will fill the seniors shoes here .
Relavent quote:"He will have plenty of holes to fill as key players depart. Some can be filled from within by redshirts, but Brown and his staff will likely be actively looking at potential junior college and Football Bowl Subdivision transfers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chuck Burton of SCN complains about this year's playoff selections .
CSN continues its series on the best FCS players of the last thirty years (all in pdf):
The Sports Network has its weekly column "Around FCS' here .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleven Minutemen make All-CAA teams
Eleven UMass players made the 2008 All-CAA teams. The UMass website has an article on the honors here .
First Team:
- Tony Nelson RB. In his first year as a starter, Nelson was 3rd in the CAA with243-1,325 5.5 yards/carry 12 TD 110 yards/game. He also added 19 receptions for 120 yards.
- Victor Cruz WR. A couple of years ago Liam Coen said we "didn't have anybody like Victor Cruz". In his first year as a starter Cruz was the top receiver in the CAA in two categories. He led the CAA in total yards with 71-1,064 6TD 5.92 rec/game. He also led the CAA with 88.7 yards/game.
- Vladimir Ducasse OL. Ducasse started practicing with the first team about three days after he arrived in Amherst. This year he sharply reduced his penalties and with his physical gifts became one the CAA's top linemen.
- Josh Jennings LB. Jennings ended up 7th in the CAA in tackles with 90TT and 8.2 tackles/game despite missing the last two games of the season.
- Courtney Robinson CB. Not many QB's threw in Robinson's direction and he added 18-404 22.4 kick return average.
- Jeromy Miles DB. Miles was second in the CAA amoung DB's with 104 TT 8.8 tackles/game and was 5th in tackles amoung all positions.
- Brett Arnold P. Arnold led the CAA and the nation with 46-2,080 yards and 45.2 yards/punt.
- Liam Coen QB. Despite his ailing arm, Coen threw for 206-2,749 61.7% 24 TD and 229 yards/game. That was the 5th highest single-seasonTDs and 5th highest total yards in UMass history.
- Jeremy Horne WR. Horne was 3rd in the CAA with 50-895 8TD's and 2nd in the CAA with a 74.6 yards/game average.
- Sean Calicchio OL. Calicchio as a fifth year player was a force on the UMass OL.
- Kyle Harrington DL. Harrington was 3rd in the CAA amoung DL with 50 TT 4.7 tackles/game.
Monday 24 November 2008
Temple 55, EMU 52: A short video
This video is only 12 seconds long but pretty much tells the story of how Temple's offense clicked Saturday against EMU in a 55-52 win. As you can see, Adam DiMichele had to run around to make a play before getting hit. He did that on five of his six touchdown throws. The offensive line didn't give him a whole lot of time to throw.
UMass-Hofstra Web album
Click on the image and Blogger displays a much larger view.
A Picassa web album of the UMass-Hofstra game and senior day is here .
Monday Morning November 24, 2008
Jeff Thomas has an article about Coach Brown recapping the season .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shannon James and the Calgary Stampeders won the Gray Cup .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fanhouse has a FCS plsyoff article here .
CSN has an extensive article with a bracket and individual game information here .
The Sports Network also has a long article about the playoff selections here .
Keepers football ratings have New Hampshire a slight favorite against SIU and Maine a nine point underdog to UNI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shannon James and the Calgary Stampeders won the Gray Cup .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fanhouse has a FCS plsyoff article here .
CSN has an extensive article with a bracket and individual game information here .
The Sports Network also has a long article about the playoff selections here .
Keepers football ratings have New Hampshire a slight favorite against SIU and Maine a nine point underdog to UNI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 23 November 2008
CAA gets five teams in the Playoffs
The New Hampshire football Report has details here .
All the traditional websites seem jammed up.
The teams:
Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)
Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)
Texas St. (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)
Weber St. (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)
South Carolina St. (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian St. (10-2)
Eastern Ky. (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)
Maine (8-4) at No. 3 UNI (10-2)
New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Ill. (9-2)
Congrats Maine and UNH.
UPDATE: The CAA website has an article on the selection of five CAA teams (includes audio link to CAA press conference).
All the traditional websites seem jammed up.
The teams:
Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)
Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)
Texas St. (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)
Weber St. (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)
South Carolina St. (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian St. (10-2)
Eastern Ky. (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)
Maine (8-4) at No. 3 UNI (10-2)
New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Ill. (9-2)
Congrats Maine and UNH.
UPDATE: The CAA website has an article on the selection of five CAA teams (includes audio link to CAA press conference).
Sunday-after-the-Hofstra-game articles
Click on the image and Blogger displays a much larger view.
The NY Newsday says Hofstra ends a tough season with a loss .
The Worcester Telegram says Nelson stole Coen's thunder .
WWLP says it was the end of an era for UMass .
Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican said UMass ran past Hofstra .
The Boston Globe said Coen's parting gift to UMass was a victory .
Matty Vautour said 2008 ended with a win.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In case you missed it, UNH beat Maine in the snows of Orono to make the playoffs .
Playing in Hamilton, Holy Cross lost by a point to Colgate to knock the Crusaders out of the playoffs.
And the streets of Lubbock Texas must have been very quiet last night as the Red Raiders were creamed by crimson 65-21.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FCS 2008 playoff selection show is on ESPNU (fixed link) at 6:00 PM. ESPNU is available on Dish Network channel 148.
UPDATE: Charles Burton has an article on the FCS playoff selections here .
Saturday 22 November 2008
Dude! I found my team! UMass 28-14 over Hofstra
Winning makes you warm! UMass made a big comeback from its dismal performance against New Hampshire.
The UMass defense, missing four starters, may have played its most opportunistic game this year as the defenders had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. We did not allow a point in the second half.
Tony Nelson showed again he was the best player on the field with 208 yards and two TD's.
Over 5,000 frozen fans showed up for the final game and a significant number ofseriously demented devoted fans even stayed for the post game concert.
I think the team showed a lot of character and the win was a good way to start building for next year.
Thanks again to the seniors and all UMass players, coaches and fans!
UMass write up here .
Hofstra write up here .
The UMass defense, missing four starters, may have played its most opportunistic game this year as the defenders had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. We did not allow a point in the second half.
Tony Nelson showed again he was the best player on the field with 208 yards and two TD's.
Over 5,000 frozen fans showed up for the final game and a significant number of
I think the team showed a lot of character and the win was a good way to start building for next year.
Thanks again to the seniors and all UMass players, coaches and fans!
UMass write up here .
Hofstra write up here .
No defense for a 55-52 score
By Mike Gibson
I had a glimpse today of what kind of sports fan I would have been had I lived 2,000 years ago.
At the Temple game in the late stages of a 55-52 win over Eastern Michigan, I friend of mine who claims he has been "entertained" all year by the football Owls, turned to me and said:
"C'mon, tell me you weren't entertained by this?"
"No," I said.
Pausing only for a second, I added:
"I would have been entertained by a 55-3 win, but I'm not entertained when I know we can do better than this."
"We're not there yet," my friend said of that kind of dominance.
Well, then, I'll take 55-14.
I loved the win. I loved how my favorite Owl, No. 82, Bruce Francis, abused the Eagles' secondary for four touchdowns. I love the seven touchdowns by my second favorite Owl, Adam DiMichele, six by passes, and one by run.
I was the one guy in the stands yelling for them to throw it to No. 82 on a fairly consistent basis.
(It's not rocket science.)
I love the intimidation factor of our special teams and returner Travis Shelton.
But to be completely entertained, I would have liked to see our No. 1 unit coming into the season play at least to their potential.
Had I lived in the days of the Roman Coliseum and knowing how much I love animals, I might have been entertained by the Lions who killed every murderer, rapist or traitor on a given Roman Holiday.
I probably wouldn't have been as entertained had the bad guys killed a few animals.
That's pretty much how I feel about Temple football these days. I want blood. Bad-guy blood. To me, any team who doesn't wear Cherry and White are the bad guys.
The Owls came into the season with the returning No. 1 defense in the MAC intact.
I expected, no demanded, that they at least repeat that same standard this season as well. Instead, they were ranked No. 6 coming into the game. I know there are some injuries back there, but not for this kind of drop off.
"Adam, disregard Rhule's play call and throw it to No. 82!"
Darryl Rule photo
I did not understand why the No. 1 defense in the MAC was able to give up 41 points to a Kent State team every other MAC team pretty much handled, but I got a clue by watching our defense today.
We weren't attacking. We were reacting.
I come from the school that says the best pass defense is putting a quarterback on his backside.
If you can't get that done with a conventional 4-3 or 5-2 front, then it's time to send a linebacker as well. If you can't get pressure on the quarterback with a conventional front and a linebacker, then send two linebackers. If you still can't get pressure, send linebackers and safeties. Send more than they can block and send them from every conceivable angle.
If you don't know what that looks like, grab a Eagles-Steelers DVD off the NFL network from earlier this season.
Or at least look at how Mark D'Onofrio's defense played last season.
Keep getting in the quarterback's face, put him on the ground and make him feel pain. Or at least make him uncomfortable enough to throw the ball away earlier than he wants to.
I saw none of that against Eastern Michigan quarterback Andy Schmitt, who put the ball up 76 times. Except for the time linebacker John Haley got to him on a blindside blitz, I didn't see Schmitt uncomfortable at all.
"We've need to straighten some things out on defense," Temple head coach Al Golden said late Saturday afternoon. "We're not playing the way we're capable on defense."
Last year, the Owls were an attacking defense, getting in the face of every quarterback they played on a pretty consistent basis.
If Golden is looking at what he can do in five days to improve things, getting back to that core philosophy might be a good place to start.
I had a glimpse today of what kind of sports fan I would have been had I lived 2,000 years ago.
At the Temple game in the late stages of a 55-52 win over Eastern Michigan, I friend of mine who claims he has been "entertained" all year by the football Owls, turned to me and said:
"C'mon, tell me you weren't entertained by this?"
"No," I said.
Pausing only for a second, I added:
"I would have been entertained by a 55-3 win, but I'm not entertained when I know we can do better than this."
"We're not there yet," my friend said of that kind of dominance.
Well, then, I'll take 55-14.
I come from
the school that
says the best
pass defense
is putting a
quarterback on
his backside.
If you can't
get that done
with a
conventional
4-3 or 5-2
front, then
it's time
to send a
linebacker
as well
Don't get me wrong.the school that
says the best
pass defense
is putting a
quarterback on
his backside.
If you can't
get that done
with a
conventional
4-3 or 5-2
front, then
it's time
to send a
linebacker
as well
I loved the win. I loved how my favorite Owl, No. 82, Bruce Francis, abused the Eagles' secondary for four touchdowns. I love the seven touchdowns by my second favorite Owl, Adam DiMichele, six by passes, and one by run.
I was the one guy in the stands yelling for them to throw it to No. 82 on a fairly consistent basis.
(It's not rocket science.)
I love the intimidation factor of our special teams and returner Travis Shelton.
But to be completely entertained, I would have liked to see our No. 1 unit coming into the season play at least to their potential.
Had I lived in the days of the Roman Coliseum and knowing how much I love animals, I might have been entertained by the Lions who killed every murderer, rapist or traitor on a given Roman Holiday.
I probably wouldn't have been as entertained had the bad guys killed a few animals.
That's pretty much how I feel about Temple football these days. I want blood. Bad-guy blood. To me, any team who doesn't wear Cherry and White are the bad guys.
The Owls came into the season with the returning No. 1 defense in the MAC intact.
I expected, no demanded, that they at least repeat that same standard this season as well. Instead, they were ranked No. 6 coming into the game. I know there are some injuries back there, but not for this kind of drop off.
"Adam, disregard Rhule's play call and throw it to No. 82!"
Darryl Rule photo
I did not understand why the No. 1 defense in the MAC was able to give up 41 points to a Kent State team every other MAC team pretty much handled, but I got a clue by watching our defense today.
We weren't attacking. We were reacting.
I come from the school that says the best pass defense is putting a quarterback on his backside.
If you can't get that done with a conventional 4-3 or 5-2 front, then it's time to send a linebacker as well. If you can't get pressure on the quarterback with a conventional front and a linebacker, then send two linebackers. If you still can't get pressure, send linebackers and safeties. Send more than they can block and send them from every conceivable angle.
If you don't know what that looks like, grab a Eagles-Steelers DVD off the NFL network from earlier this season.
Or at least look at how Mark D'Onofrio's defense played last season.
Keep getting in the quarterback's face, put him on the ground and make him feel pain. Or at least make him uncomfortable enough to throw the ball away earlier than he wants to.
I saw none of that against Eastern Michigan quarterback Andy Schmitt, who put the ball up 76 times. Except for the time linebacker John Haley got to him on a blindside blitz, I didn't see Schmitt uncomfortable at all.
"We've need to straighten some things out on defense," Temple head coach Al Golden said late Saturday afternoon. "We're not playing the way we're capable on defense."
Last year, the Owls were an attacking defense, getting in the face of every quarterback they played on a pretty consistent basis.
If Golden is looking at what he can do in five days to improve things, getting back to that core philosophy might be a good place to start.
Game Day-----Hofstra
Well, it's a frosty morning here in New Hampshire. My thermometer says it's 14 degrees right now.
I'm charging my camera batteries and checking my winter clothes to get ready for the game.
The Herald News has a story about Shane Viveiros getting more playing time in the UMass secondary.
Jeff Thomas has a game day article here .
Matty Vautour has a Hofstra game article here .
Matty has another story about Liam Coen's legacy to UMass football. There is a great quote from Coen:
"I'm very loyal to UMass football," Coen said. "I hope people remember me as being tougher than maybe your average quarterback has been. To know how much I cared and how much most of my days went to trying to win games for this program. It's something I care about a lot."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network has its week #13 FCS Preview here .
Chuck Burton has previews of the games of rivalry weekend.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy Cross will meet #21 Colgate for the Patriot League championship and a playoff birth today.
Albany has already won the NEC championship and awaits its opponent in the Dec 6th Gridiron Classic.
And "Oh-by-the-way", Texas Tech meets Oklahoma tonight at 7:00 pm for a BCS game bid.
Image stolen from the Wizard of Odds college football blog----who undoubtedly stole it from someone else. It's not accredited.
I'm charging my camera batteries and checking my winter clothes to get ready for the game.
The Herald News has a story about Shane Viveiros getting more playing time in the UMass secondary.
Jeff Thomas has a game day article here .
Matty Vautour has a Hofstra game article here .
Matty has another story about Liam Coen's legacy to UMass football. There is a great quote from Coen:
"I'm very loyal to UMass football," Coen said. "I hope people remember me as being tougher than maybe your average quarterback has been. To know how much I cared and how much most of my days went to trying to win games for this program. It's something I care about a lot."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network has its week #13 FCS Preview here .
Chuck Burton has previews of the games of rivalry weekend.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy Cross will meet #21 Colgate for the Patriot League championship and a playoff birth today.
Albany has already won the NEC championship and awaits its opponent in the Dec 6th Gridiron Classic.
And "Oh-by-the-way", Texas Tech meets Oklahoma tonight at 7:00 pm for a BCS game bid.
Image stolen from the Wizard of Odds college football blog----who undoubtedly stole it from someone else. It's not accredited.
Friday 21 November 2008
Hofsta Preview
Game articles for Hofstra:
UMass game notes here (html) and here (pdf)
Hofstra's game notes for UMass here (pdf)
Jeff Thomas states that it's a bitter-sweet game for the seniors .
The Springfield Republican says Coen's last game is the end of an era .
Matty Vautour says both Ben Coblyn and Josh Jennings are out of the Hofstra game with injuries.
Bruce Dowd has his weekly "The CAA Today week 12 &13" column here .
The Sports Network has its weekly "Around FCS" column here .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pride is 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the CAA
- Lost to UConn 3-35
- Lost to Albany 16-22 OT
- Lost to JMU 0-56
- Lost to Maine 40-41 (2 OT's)
- Lost to Delaware 0-17
- Lost to UNH 25-45
- Lost to Richmond 14-35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hofstra players to watch are:
Rushing
- Everette Benjamin 119-550 4.6 AVE 4 TDs
- Brock Jackolski (great name!) 75-506 6.7 AVE 8 TDs
- Cory Christopher (QB) 106-272 2.6 AVE 6 TDs
- Cory Christopher 127-190 6 INTs 66.8% 1,163 yards 4 TD's
- Aaron Weaver 66-572 8.7 yards/catch 4 TD's
- Luke Bonus (another great name) 42 UT 48AT 90 TT 6.5-31 TFL 2.5 Sacks 2 FF
- Greg Melendez 27 UT 35 AT 62 TT 2 FF
This could be a tough game for the Minutemen. With Ben Coblyn, Sean Smalls, Brian Ellis and Josh Jennings all out, UMass will be really short on bodies.
Freshman LB Tyler Holmes will get his first start.
Hofstra is a running team and our depleted defense has not done well against running teams this year.
I would look to the UMass offense to win this one. Tony Nelson, Liam Coen and the receivers Victor Cruz and Jeremy Horne should put up good numbers against the Pride. Get out to a good start and keep the defense off the field.
Go UMass!
Thursday 20 November 2008
Senior Day is Saturday
Click on the image and Blogger displays a larger view (much larger on my monitor)Saturday will be the last game for the UMass seniors. Let's turn out for the game and give them a big send off.
Five years of football practices and lifting weights. Five year of running conditioning drills like I talked about when I visited the field in August to check on the lighting project.
Remember Courtney Robinson's interception against Montana .
Remember George Byrd's blocked punt for a TD against Army.
Remember when Liam Coen came in against Colgate in the fourth quarter and led an amazing comeback ?
This Blog has lots of memories of the last five years. It's been a great time for UMass football and the seniors were a big part of it.
Put on the thermal long johns Saturday and come to the game to watch the seniors become the winningest class ever!
Thursday-before-senior-Day
The Daily Collegian says UMass is playing for pride in its last game of the season.
The Collegian states UMass is trying to regain focus .
Marty Dobrow has an article about UMass' QB Liam Coen .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CAA expects a busy Saturday .
David Coulson entitles this week's "Around FCS" column "November Nailbiters"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up in Canada, Keron Williams was named to the All-Canadian Football League team . His UMass bio here .
Meanwhile, Shannon James is going to the Gray Cup.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Collegian states UMass is trying to regain focus .
Marty Dobrow has an article about UMass' QB Liam Coen .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CAA expects a busy Saturday .
David Coulson entitles this week's "Around FCS" column "November Nailbiters"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up in Canada, Keron Williams was named to the All-Canadian Football League team . His UMass bio here .
Meanwhile, Shannon James is going to the Gray Cup.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Wednesday-before-the-final-game-of-the-season stuff
The UMass Daily Collegian has an article on the defense's troubles .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Sporti
ng News has an article about this year's National Championship and a printable playoff bracket here .
CSN is also continuing their series on the history of FCS. They have their picks for the top 30 Offensive Linemen and the top 30 Defensive linemen. (pdf)
Continuing a CSN morning, the latest Gridiron Power Index is here (UMass is #19).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network defogs the playoff picture .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a sad note, Bob McGovern has stopped publishing Between Mullins and McGuirk . He did a great job during the blog's run.
Let's hope some other UMass fan picks up his mantle and starts a UMass basketball or hockey blog (or both!).
In a related note, this is the UMass Football Blog's 2,258th post. I'm still having fun with the blog and I intend to keep it going.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Sporti
ng News has an article about this year's National Championship and a printable playoff bracket here .CSN is also continuing their series on the history of FCS. They have their picks for the top 30 Offensive Linemen and the top 30 Defensive linemen. (pdf)
Continuing a CSN morning, the latest Gridiron Power Index is here (UMass is #19).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network defogs the playoff picture .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a sad note, Bob McGovern has stopped publishing Between Mullins and McGuirk . He did a great job during the blog's run.
Let's hope some other UMass fan picks up his mantle and starts a UMass basketball or hockey blog (or both!).
In a related note, this is the UMass Football Blog's 2,258th post. I'm still having fun with the blog and I intend to keep it going.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
DiMichele, Derenthal, Francis ... as good as it gets
By Mike Gibson
When a bunch of old guys get together to compare players from past eras with the current ones, almost without fail the young guys can't compare.
That's been pretty much true with me over the years, but not this year.
I've been to every Temple home game for the past 37 years and I will go on record right now that there are three players on the current Owl squad who are every bit as good at their position than any former Owl and one guy, Bruce Francis, who is flat-out the best Temple receiver I've ever seen.
Yes, that includes Gerald "Sweet Feet" Lucear and Steve Watson and Pete Righi and Randy Grossman.
This season is sad for a lot of reasons, but none include these wonderful representatives of Temple University.
They deserved a better fate.
They deserve at the minimum to win their last two games. They really deserve to go to a bowl.
The tale of the tape:
ALEX DERENTHAL, center _ Because of the Rimington Watch List hype, I've made it a hobby to point the binoculars at No. 59 as much as I could and go back and watch the tape of the TV games. Alex is good, real good. There's a reason you don't see guys coming right up the middle at Adam DiMichele and his name is Alex Derenthal. He's real good at picking off the loose defender, who might otherwise kill the QB.
Donny Klein of the 2002 team was a great leader as a center and my favorite Owl of that year and so was Dick Beck, the captain of the 1990 team, but Derenthal is in the conversation with those guys and just as good.
ADAM DIMICHELE, quarterback _ The 3-7 record is not his fault. He's a 7-3 quarterback playing on a 3-7 team. Look at it this way: When it was his turn to make a big play at Navy, he did, hitting an incredibly clutch 3d and 6 pass on the dead run for a first down. He was the guy who delivered the bomb right into Travis Shelton's hands that would have made it a 13-3 game against UConn. He was the guy who drove the Owls down the field with 38 seconds left for what should have been the winning touchdown at Buffalo. In my mind, he's better than that "second tier" of Owl quarterbacks that included Tim Riordan, Henry Burris and Matty Baker, three terrific quarterbacks. He might not be as good as Steve Joachim, Brian Broomell or Marty Ginestra but that even could be debated. Joachim, another guy who transferred from Penn State, was named National College Player of the Year by the Maxwell Club for quarterbacking the Owls to a 9-1 record. For my money, though, DiMichele is every bit the leader Steve Joachim was and that's not taking a thing away from Steve.
Broomell and Joachim were more talented, but this kid's heart is just as strong.
BRUCE FRANCIS, wide receiver _ I'm willing to bet a significant amount of my inheritance to anyone who shows up at the tailgate Saturday that Bruce Francis will be on an NFL roster next year. As I have written many times this season, I don't remember ever seeing a Temple receiver who NOBODY ... and I mean NOBODY _ can cover. That includes players like Steve Watson (Denver Broncos), Leslie Shepard (Washington Redskins) and Randy Grossman (Pittsburgh Steelers). Nobody can cover Bruce Francis. If I was the Owls' offensive coordinator, I would play everything off BF. Pitch and catch to BF until the defense puts two guys on him. Chances are Bruce shakes the first guy and scores anyway. Then drop back, pump fake to BF and run the underneath draw to Kee-Ayre Griffin. Roll right, look across the field to BF and hit the tight end over the middle. Or drop back, pump fake to BF and throw across the field to James Nixon. Then reset the whole thing and come back to BF again. The thing that separates him from "Sweet Feet" Lucear was that you could, at times, cover Gerald. This Francis kid is running free through some pretty good seconardies on a consistent basis. Get him the ball.
Despite the fact that Bruce Francis set records this year, he was underutilized. I believed that all season. I believe it now. He would have made the offense so much more effective had everything been run through him.
There are plenty of reasons not to attend the last two games. A lot of fans are disappointed, especially me. But I will be proud to go to support Nos. 59, 82 and 13 for leaving everything they had on the field for this program, the school and the fans.
When a bunch of old guys get together to compare players from past eras with the current ones, almost without fail the young guys can't compare.
That's been pretty much true with me over the years, but not this year.
Saturday
1 p.m.
Temple vs.
Eastern Michigan
TV: None
Radio: 1210AM
Weather: At kickoff,
32 degrees, breezy
and partly sunny;
Ticket specials:
Bring a canned food
item and get
a $5 ticket;
Purchase adult
ticket and get
a child in for
a $5 ticket;
World Series
trophy will be
on display
starting at 11:30
1 p.m.
Temple vs.
Eastern Michigan
TV: None
Radio: 1210AM
Weather: At kickoff,
32 degrees, breezy
and partly sunny;
Ticket specials:
Bring a canned food
item and get
a $5 ticket;
Purchase adult
ticket and get
a child in for
a $5 ticket;
World Series
trophy will be
on display
starting at 11:30
I've been to every Temple home game for the past 37 years and I will go on record right now that there are three players on the current Owl squad who are every bit as good at their position than any former Owl and one guy, Bruce Francis, who is flat-out the best Temple receiver I've ever seen.
Yes, that includes Gerald "Sweet Feet" Lucear and Steve Watson and Pete Righi and Randy Grossman.
This season is sad for a lot of reasons, but none include these wonderful representatives of Temple University.
They deserved a better fate.
They deserve at the minimum to win their last two games. They really deserve to go to a bowl.
The tale of the tape:
ALEX DERENTHAL, center _ Because of the Rimington Watch List hype, I've made it a hobby to point the binoculars at No. 59 as much as I could and go back and watch the tape of the TV games. Alex is good, real good. There's a reason you don't see guys coming right up the middle at Adam DiMichele and his name is Alex Derenthal. He's real good at picking off the loose defender, who might otherwise kill the QB.
Donny Klein of the 2002 team was a great leader as a center and my favorite Owl of that year and so was Dick Beck, the captain of the 1990 team, but Derenthal is in the conversation with those guys and just as good.ADAM DIMICHELE, quarterback _ The 3-7 record is not his fault. He's a 7-3 quarterback playing on a 3-7 team. Look at it this way: When it was his turn to make a big play at Navy, he did, hitting an incredibly clutch 3d and 6 pass on the dead run for a first down. He was the guy who delivered the bomb right into Travis Shelton's hands that would have made it a 13-3 game against UConn. He was the guy who drove the Owls down the field with 38 seconds left for what should have been the winning touchdown at Buffalo. In my mind, he's better than that "second tier" of Owl quarterbacks that included Tim Riordan, Henry Burris and Matty Baker, three terrific quarterbacks. He might not be as good as Steve Joachim, Brian Broomell or Marty Ginestra but that even could be debated. Joachim, another guy who transferred from Penn State, was named National College Player of the Year by the Maxwell Club for quarterbacking the Owls to a 9-1 record. For my money, though, DiMichele is every bit the leader Steve Joachim was and that's not taking a thing away from Steve.
Broomell and Joachim were more talented, but this kid's heart is just as strong.BRUCE FRANCIS, wide receiver _ I'm willing to bet a significant amount of my inheritance to anyone who shows up at the tailgate Saturday that Bruce Francis will be on an NFL roster next year. As I have written many times this season, I don't remember ever seeing a Temple receiver who NOBODY ... and I mean NOBODY _ can cover. That includes players like Steve Watson (Denver Broncos), Leslie Shepard (Washington Redskins) and Randy Grossman (Pittsburgh Steelers). Nobody can cover Bruce Francis. If I was the Owls' offensive coordinator, I would play everything off BF. Pitch and catch to BF until the defense puts two guys on him. Chances are Bruce shakes the first guy and scores anyway. Then drop back, pump fake to BF and run the underneath draw to Kee-Ayre Griffin. Roll right, look across the field to BF and hit the tight end over the middle. Or drop back, pump fake to BF and throw across the field to James Nixon. Then reset the whole thing and come back to BF again. The thing that separates him from "Sweet Feet" Lucear was that you could, at times, cover Gerald. This Francis kid is running free through some pretty good seconardies on a consistent basis. Get him the ball.
Despite the fact that Bruce Francis set records this year, he was underutilized. I believed that all season. I believe it now. He would have made the offense so much more effective had everything been run through him.
There are plenty of reasons not to attend the last two games. A lot of fans are disappointed, especially me. But I will be proud to go to support Nos. 59, 82 and 13 for leaving everything they had on the field for this program, the school and the fans.
UMass-UNH Picasa Web Album
Click on the image and Blogger displays a larger view. The Picasa web album also allows a larger view if needed.
Not much good photography here except for the bonus images by Peter Miller. The Picasa web album is here .
I had my point-and-shoot, and because of the rain and general gloom, I had the ISO set at 800, which Nikon helpfully flashes red to tell you "we really don't want you using this setting". So besides the rain, the images are pretty noisy.
Tuesday-before-the-Hofstra-game articles
The UMass Daily Collegian has commentary on the UMass-UNH game here .
UNH's Matt Parent was named the CAA Defensive player-of-the-week for his performance against UMass.
The Portsmouth Daily News talks about the UMaine/UNH game for a playoff bid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time in a number of years, UMass has been knocked out the the top-25 polls .
We did hang on to 10th in the Lambert Throphy poll.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNH's Matt Parent was named the CAA Defensive player-of-the-week for his performance against UMass.
The Portsmouth Daily News talks about the UMaine/UNH game for a playoff bid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time in a number of years, UMass has been knocked out the the top-25 polls .
We did hang on to 10th in the Lambert Throphy poll.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 17 November 2008
Monday Morning Mulling
Matty Vautour says mistakes doom UMass in painful defeat .
Lost in the defeat were a number of UMass records. Courtney Robinson set the All-Time UMass return yardage record.
Tony Nelson went over the 1,000 yard mark rushing.
Victor Cruz went over 1,000 yards receiving. The UMass season stats page for everybody is here.
Also lost for season is Senior Brian Ellis, who broke his leg against Maine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the FCS score from Saturday are here . The CAA site has a review of all the league games here .
Keepers FCS power rankings are here . His predictions page is here (he has UMass by 10+ over Hofstra).
The week# 12 Bracketology page is here .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll be back this evening with a Web album from the New Hampshire game.
Lost in the defeat were a number of UMass records. Courtney Robinson set the All-Time UMass return yardage record.
Tony Nelson went over the 1,000 yard mark rushing.
Victor Cruz went over 1,000 yards receiving. The UMass season stats page for everybody is here.
Also lost for season is Senior Brian Ellis, who broke his leg against Maine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the FCS score from Saturday are here . The CAA site has a review of all the league games here .
Keepers FCS power rankings are here . His predictions page is here (he has UMass by 10+ over Hofstra).
The week# 12 Bracketology page is here .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll be back this evening with a Web album from the New Hampshire game.
Sunday 16 November 2008
A possible All-American JUCO QB for Temple
GARRETT BARNAS, Harper Junior College _ Has offers from Iowa and Syracuse, but could probably be talked out of those by showing him the Chester Stewart game film against Western Michigan and the promise of immediate playing time.Last year, I wrote that Temple needed three things to improve for the 2008 season: a big-time kicker, a big-time running back and a big-time fullback.
We got one of the three, a big-time running back, but wasted that acquistion by playing him at cornerback for five games. I'm loving the depth at that position with Ahkeem Smith and Eric Reynolds doning redshirts.
I also wrote that if the Owls didn't get those three pieces to the puzzle, Al Golden would pay in terms of bottom-line wins and losses.
I feel the same way this year about a big-time, ready-to-play, no excuses, quarterback.
Right now, we have two quarterbacks, Vaughn Charlton and Chester Stewart, who put up a total of six points in two games as starters against Western Michigan.
It doesn't exactly engender a whole lot of confidence in either one of those guys turning next year's scoreboards into adding machines.
I'm tired of people, especially fellow Owl fans, excusing such performances like Stewart's 10-for-20, 50-yarder against Western Michigan by saying, "well, that was just his first game."
All over the country I see backups stepping into the quarterback position for the first time and performing at a high level.
Temple fans should expect no less. That's what I mean by no excuses.
So, just as a stopgap, even fallback, measure it would be advisable for Al Golden to get a big-time JUCO in here, a guy who can run and make plays with both his feet and arm.
They are out there, searching for D1A schools who can offer a reasonable chance for immediate playing time.
Temple is in a unique position to do just that for the right young man in a major-market city.
Barnas appears to be just such a young man.
Barnas threw for 24 touchdowns last year and rushed for 601 yards and nine more touchdowns. Completed 54.5 of his passes for 2,889 yards. Now that Greg Robinson has been released by Syracuse as of today, Barnes might turn his eyes toward another large Eastern university with an excellent communications program.
Sunday-after-the-UNH-game articles
The Boston Globe said UNH routs UMass .
The Boston Herald phrased it differently: UNH clobbers UMass.
ESPN recaps the game .
The Portsmouth Herald said Parent and the seniors lead rout of UMass .
Foster's Daily Democrat said it was a memorable day for Parent .
The Concord Monitor says the Cats can run .
The Nashua Telegraph and the Union Leader have articles here and here .
The Springfield Republican called it embarrassing .
Matty Vautour said we got buried .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the misery-loves-company category: Delaware had three first downs against Richmond.
Uh-Oh. Hofstra beat Northeastern 42-14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Boston Herald phrased it differently: UNH clobbers UMass.
ESPN recaps the game .
The Portsmouth Herald said Parent and the seniors lead rout of UMass .
Foster's Daily Democrat said it was a memorable day for Parent .
The Concord Monitor says the Cats can run .
The Nashua Telegraph and the Union Leader have articles here and here .
The Springfield Republican called it embarrassing .
Matty Vautour said we got buried .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the misery-loves-company category: Delaware had three first downs against Richmond.
Uh-Oh. Hofstra beat Northeastern 42-14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 15 November 2008
Dude, where's my team? UNH 52-UMass 21
Well, if you were watching it on TV, it wasn't any better in the mist and rain in Durham.
UMass got run over by a better Wildcat team. UNH had 621 total yards and went around, over and through UMass. They averaged 8.6 yards/play and 29.5 yards per completion.
Liam struggled again and he was not helped by a bunch of dropped passes.
Not much went right except for Brett Arnold, who punted 6 times and averaged almost 50 yards a kick. He just crushed the ball all day.
UMass write-up here .
UNH write-up here .
Even a 16-ounce steak at the Steak House in Wells, ME didn't raise my spirits, but I'll be back tomorrow with more articles.
As I said before, win or lose, Go UMass!
UMass got run over by a better Wildcat team. UNH had 621 total yards and went around, over and through UMass. They averaged 8.6 yards/play and 29.5 yards per completion.
Liam struggled again and he was not helped by a bunch of dropped passes.
Not much went right except for Brett Arnold, who punted 6 times and averaged almost 50 yards a kick. He just crushed the ball all day.
UMass write-up here .
UNH write-up here .
Even a 16-ounce steak at the Steak House in Wells, ME didn't raise my spirits, but I'll be back tomorrow with more articles.
As I said before, win or lose, Go UMass!
Game Day New Hampshire
Well, Mrs Blog and I are in southern Maine and we will be leaving for the game in an hour or so. The local weather does not seem promising. They're predicting fairly steady rain in the afternoon.
We drove up yesterday afternoon. Had a great meal at Mike's clam shack.
Jeff Thomas says that UMass is playing to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
The Boston Globe says UNH is ready for UMass .
The Naples Daily News has an article about UMass LB George Byrd.
The Portsmouth Herald News has an article about UNH captains Boyle and Parent .
Matty Vautour says UMass is not ready to quit on a playoff bid just yet.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network has its week 12 FCS preview article up.
I'll be back tonght, if my WI-FI conection keeps working, with a game report.
Go UMass!
We drove up yesterday afternoon. Had a great meal at Mike's clam shack.
Jeff Thomas says that UMass is playing to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
The Boston Globe says UNH is ready for UMass .
The Naples Daily News has an article about UMass LB George Byrd.
The Portsmouth Herald News has an article about UNH captains Boyle and Parent .
Matty Vautour says UMass is not ready to quit on a playoff bid just yet.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sports Network has its week 12 FCS preview article up.
I'll be back tonght, if my WI-FI conection keeps working, with a game report.
Go UMass!
Friday 14 November 2008
UNH Preview
UMass game notes for the UNH game here (html) and here (pdf).
New Hampshire game notes for UMass here (html) and here (pdf).
Recent game articles include:
- There is no love lost between UMass-UNH
- It's an inter-state rivalry
- One from the Concord Monitor
- The Union Leader UNH notebook
- The Nashua Telegraph says UNH needs to bounce back against UMass
Dowd also has an article on the NCAA playoff selections and most of the article is based on an interview with UMass' John McCutcheon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMass-UNH game will be televised on CSNMA and CSNE. That will be channel 435 on Dish Network.
Be sure to check channelsurfing.net if you don't have satellite or cable access. Note that they usually don't list the game until Saturday.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wildcats are 7-2 for the season.
Wins:
- Beat Army 28-10 (perhaps the best FCS win of the year)
- 51-43 over Rhode Island
- 32-24 over Albany
- 42-6 topping Dartmouth
- 31-24 over Northeastern
- 42-14 over hapless Towson
- 45-25 against Hofstra
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statistically, the Wildcat are led by:
Offense
Rushing: Robert Simpson (9 G, 101-540 yards, 6 TD)
Passing: R.J. Toman (9 G, 183-263-7-2188 yards, 21 TD)
Receiving: Mike Boyle (9 G, 49-724 yards, 7 TD)
Defense:
Tackles: Dino Vasso (9 G, 51 solo, 20 assisted, 71 total)
Sacks: Brian McNally (9 G, 2.5-16 yards)
Interceptions: Ryan Hinds (9 G, 4-218 yards)
The Wildcats lost senior tackle Josh Droesch to a knee injury against Villanova. It looks like Senior Chis McClurg will replace him guard and the rest of the line will shuffle.
Well, UMass will be playing for pride this week. There are still plenty of goals for the season. Tony Nelson has a chance for a 1,000 yards rushing. Victor Cruz has a chance for 1,000 yards receiving.
The Seniors need at least one win to go out as the top winning class of all-time.
UNH's defense has given up a lot of yards this year. They are 9th in total defense in the CAA. UMass' offense needs to jump out and control the game and keep UNH's high powered offense off the field.
I think we should try to speed it up and not be too slow in the huddle and in our play calling. This year's offense seems to work better in a hurry. Let's get after the Cats and take one step to winning out .
Go UMass!
Thursday 13 November 2008
Sure Happy it's Thrusday
The Dover Community News says New Hampshire has little room for error .
The Concord Monitor states that UMass is more than just another game for the Wildcats .
The UMass Daily Collegian knows the Wildcats are waiting.
The weather forecast for Durham on Saturday has gone from rain to showers .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maine is playing Rhode Island in Kingston and it will be raining.....
CSN continues its series on the FCS's best players since 1978 when the division began. This section covers the 30 best defensive backs . (pdf)
Bruce Dowd has a long article on last week's UNH-Villanova game .
David Coulson's latest "Around the FCS" column is here .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Concord Monitor states that UMass is more than just another game for the Wildcats .
The UMass Daily Collegian knows the Wildcats are waiting.
The weather forecast for Durham on Saturday has gone from rain to showers .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maine is playing Rhode Island in Kingston and it will be raining.....
CSN continues its series on the FCS's best players since 1978 when the division began. This section covers the 30 best defensive backs . (pdf)
Bruce Dowd has a long article on last week's UNH-Villanova game .
David Coulson's latest "Around the FCS" column is here .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Final two home games: Plenty of (empty) seats available
This could very well be a shot of halftime at the EMU game.
By Mike Gibson
Before the season started, I wrote that it was important for Temple to get off to a good start so that the product on the field reflected the hype off of it.
At the time, I said that a fan base beaten down for so long needed tangible evidence that wins were going to come in the first part of the season so that they could buy into the product for the last part of the season.
And, I said, close losses were not going to cut it.
So where are we after 10 games, after giving up 600 yards of total offense to a 2-7 Kent State team in a 41-38 loss last night?
Three-and-seven, that's where.
That's the bottom line.
This season, in which a lot of Owl fans thought would end in a feast, is pretty much over. All that's left is crumbs.
What this team needs, right now, is a big-time, ready-to-play, no-excuses, All-American JUCO quarterback to replace the great Adam DiMichele next year. It would be nice to find someone with all of the intangible qualities ADM possesses, but I'll settle for someone with half his moxie if he has all of his mobility. Surely, some hotshot can be convinced he can come here and get time right away.
Will we get him?
Let history be your guide:
At the end of last season, I wrote that we needed three things in particular to get better:
- A big-time fullback (I suggested Serra Catholic's Isiah Jackson);
- A big-time kicker (I suggested Hun School's Scott Demler);
- A big-time running back;
Well, we got the running back but we had him playing cornerback until midway through the season.
Hmm. I wonder whose fault was that?
We decided to go without the first two and, much to my chagrin, that probably cost us quite a few valuable points.
Three-and-seven.
This was
supposed to be
a season of
progress, a season
that saw the 4-8
team of a year ago
jump into the 6-,
7- or 8-win
category. Not
an unrealistic
leap of faith ...
supposed to be
a season of
progress, a season
that saw the 4-8
team of a year ago
jump into the 6-,
7- or 8-win
category. Not
an unrealistic
leap of faith ...
An incredible disappointment of a season that will no doubt be punctuated by 60,000 empty seats for the final two home games.
No doubt.
And, quite frankly, I don't blame a single fan for walking away.
I can't do it because I want so badly for Temple to succeed.
So I will drive to the stadium for the final two home games, open the car door and walk into the stadium.
Many more will protest by taking their feet and walking in the opposite direction.
That's their prerogative.
This was supposed to be a season of progress, a season that saw the 4-8 team of a year ago jump into the six-, seven- or eight-win category.
Not an unrealistic leap of faith since said team had 21 of 22 starters returning and, by most accounts, the No. 1 MAC recruiting class for three seasons in a row and a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the MAC was returning intact.
None of the teams Temple would play in the league had 21 of 22 starters back and none of them had the No. 1 recruiting class for three straight years. None of them had the No. 1 defense in the league returning.
Six wins was a minimum and not overly optimistic benchmark given that backdrop.
If this staff could coach at all, that's what they would deliver this win-starved fan base.
If this staff
could coach at all,
that's what they
would deliver this
win-starved fan
base. Tangible
progress in terms
of wins, not
points, not close
losses, not net
yield. Wins.
could coach at all,
that's what they
would deliver this
win-starved fan
base. Tangible
progress in terms
of wins, not
points, not close
losses, not net
yield. Wins.
Tangible progress in terms of wins, not points, not close losses, not net yield.
Wins.
There are plenty of things disappointing about the season, but none more than the head coach's failure to take the blame for anything.
It's ultimately his responsibility that the team lost games, particularly crucial decisions he did or did not make in UConn, Buffalo and Navy games but, to him, it's always someone else's fault.
It's the kid who didn't knock the ball down's fault in the Buffalo game. Never mind that he gave that kid no help when he let the Buffalo quarterback run around for eight seconds before throwing the ball. A jailhouse blitz probably would have ended the game four seconds sooner in Temple's favor. Bruce Arians had the courage to do just that to win a game against Rutgers in 1988.
Geez, it's not his fault that he went for a first down at his own 34 in a tie game against UConn.
And, surely, it wasn't his fault for not punting in the Navy game. It was some 19-year-old kid's fault for not wrapping the ball up.
Going into the Kent game we were told that "I've seen leadership like never before" after the Navy debacle.
Yet where did that leadership get them?
Another loss.
That's some damn good leadership right there.
I'd rather have crappy leadership and more wins, quite frankly.
And at least a coach who might take responsibility for something that didn't go quite right.
Or everything that didn't go right.
I won't hold my breath.
There's only one place to watch Owls tonight
Chickie and Pete's will host a large Cherry and White contingent tonight in South Philly.
Finding the right bar in which to watch Temple football is an art form.
That's because there's a sizeable segment of the population in Philly who thinks you, me and the few thousand other Owl fans are nutjobs for getting all worked up over Temple football.
In every bar in Philadelphia where I can convince the bartender to put the Temple game on, I'm met with derisive yells like: "Florida (vs.) Georgia is on so why are we watching the Temple game?"
That was actually yelled at me several times by an extremely drunk gentleman during the Navy game at a place called Graham's Pub in Roxborough.
"Excuse me," I said, "are Florida and Georgia located in Philadelphia?"
"Let the man watch his Temple game," another drunk gentleman said.
"Let the man watch his Temple game," another drunk gentleman said.
I've had to deal with this stuff all my life, that's why it burns me up when a stupid move like not punting costs us a game, any game.
Tonight will be the first Wednesday night Temple football game in history, but it will be hard to find on your home television (or even computer) if you get either service through the Comcast monopoly. That's because Comcast and ESPN have a major feud going on that only Comcast and ESPN executives can really understand.
The loser in all of this isn't Comcast or ESPN.
It's you and me, the consumer.
That's why we have to go on a Safari now just to find a TV that has a Temple game.
I've found at least one television that has the Kent State game on and it's in South Philly. The one (maybe only) place to be is Chickie and Pete's on Pattison Avenue near the stadium complex.
That's because they'll be a sizeable contigent of Owl fans like you and me.
A support group for addiction, like AA.
Except in this one, drinking is advised.
Recruiting 2008 ---RB Cedric Gonnet
During one of Coach Brown's radio shows, he was asked if there had been any impressive players on the scout team.
One of the players he cited was Cedric Gonnet, a 5-9 180 pd Freshman RB from Passaic, NJ.
Gonnet was Group IV first team All-South Jersey.
Welcome to the Minutemen, Cedric! May you have a great career with UMass.
Middle-of-the-week before the UNH game
The GridIron Power Index is up and UMass is #15.
CSN is doing a series on the FCS Division from 1978 to present time. The first article covers the top 30 wide receivers .
Meanwhile over in the Big Money Divsion, the BCS game and related Bowls (Orange, Sugar and Fiesta) are considering moving the TV rights to ESPN/ABC for .5 $Billion.
UMass has fallen to ninth in the Lambert Cup .
BTW, fellow Western Mass team AIC is undefeated at 9-0 and is ranked #16 in Division II. (pdf) And they're in the DII playoffs.
CSN is doing a series on the FCS Division from 1978 to present time. The first article covers the top 30 wide receivers .
Meanwhile over in the Big Money Divsion, the BCS game and related Bowls (Orange, Sugar and Fiesta) are considering moving the TV rights to ESPN/ABC for .5 $Billion.
UMass has fallen to ninth in the Lambert Cup .
BTW, fellow Western Mass team AIC is undefeated at 9-0 and is ranked #16 in Division II. (pdf) And they're in the DII playoffs.
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