Tomorrow is the Spring Game!The Spring Game starts at 4:00 pm. There are other events related to UMass football and the game. The UMass website has details.
Weather is looking good.
With all the Sturm und Drang from the move to FBS, even the athletic dept stopped giving updates on spring practice. I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to see how the team looks tomorrow.
Matty V. has an article with quotes from Brandon Hill, who has been hobbled with an injured foot. Football has a design defect----the QB handles the ball on every play. Therefore, poor QB play has a disproportionate effect on offense. Unlike 2009, when we had QB problems all year, UMass now has five QB's on the roster. It would be nice if more than one of them looked sharp tomorrow. Hill, Bowling Green transfer Kellen Pagel and 2010 JUCO transfer Ian Shultis should be the top three.
Probably the position UMass was hit the hardest in graduation was WR. Julian Talley should be the "X" receiver in 2011. It will be interesting to see where JUCO Chase Danska will line up. Will he be the "Y" or in the slot?
Hofstra transfer Anthony Dima was listed as the backup for All-New England LG Greg Niland last year. Who will be in Niland's spot?
UMass has had many FBS transfers. Some did nothing, some were average and some, after achieving little in their FBS careers, became some of the top players in nation with the Minutemen. Jimmy Moore (1998) and Brad Listorti (2006) come to mind.
Pitt transfer Chris Burns does not have much return on his football career so far (31-78 1 TD). It will be interesting to see if he looks like he will make an impact with UMass.
On defense, we have a whole new scheme. Usually, the 3-4 requires a 6-2 305 pd squatty guy at NT. In 2003 we had Indiana transfer Colin Christopher make All-A10. Do we have a guy like him on the DL?
The 3-4 requires four LB's. We lost MLB Mike Mele to graduation. Courtney Jackson and Shane Viveiros have been moved to LB.
With Viveiros out of the defensive backfield, we need to see who starts there. Mississippi transfer Ryan Campbell should help.
Hope to see a lot of UMass fans tomorrow.
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The Amherst Bulletin and the Hampshire Gazette offer editorials supporting move to FBS. Both are thoughful pieces and are worth reading.
Derek Gentile of the Berkshire Eagle weighs in on UMass' move.
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