UMass 2006 football schedule released

UMass has released the 2006 UMass football schedule . This is fairly early release for UMass. Often the Athletic Dept waits until late spring to divulge the schedule.

Each year an A10 team plays all the teams in its division and then adds three teams from the other division.

This year UMass rotates from playing Delaware, Richmond and JMU into a South Division schedule of Villanova, Towson and William & Mary.

Oops! Matt Vautour reports in todays (01/11/05) Hampshire Gazette, that the Athletic Dept reversed the first two games on the 2006 football schedule in yesterday's press release. The corrected schedule is below.

The 2006 Schedule:

• 09/02/06 Colgate (NCAA playoff team in 2005)
  
• 09/09/06 @Navy (national TV on CSTV)
• 09/16/06 @Villanova
• 09/23/06 Off
• 09/30/06 AIC (Div II)
• 10/07/06 William & Mary
• 10/14/06 @Towson
• 10/21/06 URI
• 10/28/06 @Northeastern
• 11/04/06 @New Hampshire (NCAA quarter finalist playoff team 2005)
• 11/11/06 Maine
• 11/18/06 Hofstra

UMass Coaching Connections

I have blogged about former UMass Coach Jimmie Reid being appointed head coach at VMI. And I did a blog on former UMass player and coach Ben Albert being hired at Delaware.

I never did a blog about former UMass Defensive coordinator Tom Mesalla being hired as head coach at Fordham. Mesalla did an excellent job as head coach at CCSU and he will make an impact at Fordham.

Buried in the UMass web site is this excellent piece on UMass football coaching connections. Old time UMass fans will recognize many of these names. Interesting stuff!

Here is a image of Coach Mesalla's press conference at Fordham.

Update on UMass Hall-of-Fame Member Jerry Whelchel

In a previous blog , I wrote about former UMass QB Jerry Whelchel being inducted into the UMass Hall of Fame. At that time I was aware that he had passed away, but was unable to provide any details.

A family member has left this link to his obituary. Whelchel passed away on 09/24/04 at the age of 62.

Recruiting Heats Up

Letter of Intent Day is less that a month away. This weekend also ends a recruiting "quiet period".

I've blogged about this before (scroll down to the first post), but UMass fans should check the "ShowingBlitz" web site for news of I-AA signings. Showing Blitz is the only I-AA recruiting site.

Last year, Showing Blitz ranked the recruiting classes of 2005 for running backs. UMass had two of it's 2005 recruits ranked in the top 30 in I-AA. They were Tony Nelson and Chris Zardas.

There has been some interesting UMass recruiting news and I will be blogging on it soon.

UMass finishes #16 in final GPI

I-AA.org has published it's final GPI for 2005. UMass finished #16 (third in the A10 and ahead of several playoff teams.

Over the last couple years the GPI has been the most accurate predictor of playoff selection. Worth a look!

First 2006 I-A transfer Anthony Rouzier

UMass has acquired the first member of its 2006 recruiting Class. Anthony Rouzier 6-0 222 LB has transferred from UConn. Rouzier did well at UConn, including an interception for a TD. Hampshire Gazette writer Jim Pignatiello has an article here (registration required, but worth it).

This article also also mentions Rouzier. Note he is described as "the best player in Western Mass"

Rouzier will be reunited with former Amherst teammate James Ihedigbo who is an All-A10 candidate for UMass at Safety.

Recruiting #10 Jared Brabham

UMass is interested in Jared Brabham a 6-2 295 pd DT from Long Branch NJ. He runs a 5.25 40, benches 325 and squats 480.

Also recruiting Brabham are Maryland, Rhode Island, Temple, Villanova, Maine and New Hampshire.

On the I-AA level, defensive tackles are regarded as perhaps the most difficult position to recruit. Most DT's in the 280-and-up size end up going I-A.

Brabham would be a nice addition to the UMass defense.