UMass - Richmond Official Game Thread

[Col Hogan]

Less than 200 minutes till kickoff...the tail gating is underway at McGuirk Alumni Stadium...

Big game...the Spiders come in rank just above or just below the Minutemen (depending on the poll)...

It's Homecoming...and the 1998 National Championship team is being honored at halftime...

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50001

I, personnaly, will be here in front of the big screen watching every minute...got some food shopping to do to prepare for the afternoon...

Anyone else out there yet getting pumped for this game?????

[Col Hogan]

Less than 90 minutes to game time...

Boston Globe preview (http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2008/10/18/shining_son_cant_burn_london/)

[Cleets]

This game must be updates regularly (please) xpeacex



xbowx

[Col Hogan]

This game must be updates regularly (please) xpeacex



xbowx

I will...I will...

Hope it's good news to update...xrotatehx :) :)

[Jackman]

Game will be streamed on www.cn8.tv.

[Col Hogan]

Game will be streamed on www.cn8.tv.

I forgot that...xthumbsupx

[Col Hogan]

UMass wins the coin flip...defers to second half

[Col Hogan]

Vaughn for one on the first offensive play

[Col Hogan]

Vaughn busts a 46 yard run...to the UMass 20...

Live by the blitz...die by the blitz

[Col Hogan]

First & Goal UR

[redspider]

Way to go Vaugh he is running hard and showing he wants to go to the playoffs!

[Col Hogan]

3rd & goal from the 5...

[Col Hogan]

4th & Goal from the 5...

UR going for the FG

[Col Hogan]

UR 3 UMass 0

10:38 in the first

[Col Hogan]

UMass ball on the 29...

[Col Hogan]

Nelson for 5

[Col Hogan]

1st down...completion to Horne

[Col Hogan]

3rd & 8 for UMass

Nelson is working, but UR speed so far holding

[Col Hogan]

Coen sacked...gonna punt

[Col Hogan]

UR Ball on the 35

[Col Hogan]

UMass got ripped...that was a fumble!!!

[Col Hogan]

Vaughn is running the ball well for UR

[Col Hogan]

4th and 2...UR going for it

[Col Hogan]

Time out UMass

[Col Hogan]

TD UR

[Col Hogan]

UR 9 UMass 0

PAT No Good

1:36 in the 1st

[Col Hogan]

Damn...nice catch and run by Cruz...but Horne hit with an illegal block...

[Col Hogan]

1st down UMass

Coen to Horne...

End of the 1st

UR 9 UMass 0

[Col Hogan]

Horne carries 4 guys for a great catch and run...

[Col Hogan]

Nelson to the 23...

2nd and 7

[Col Hogan]

TE Silver to the 18

3rd & 1

[Col Hogan]

Nelson stopped...

4th & 1

UMass is going for it

[Col Hogan]

Nelson on a quick outside flip...GREAT CALL

1st and Goal

[Col Hogan]

Nelson to the 5

3rd & goal

[Col Hogan]

Great D play by Yorke...stops Horne on the 5...

FG Try

[Col Hogan]

UR 9 UMass 3

9:41 in the second

[Col Hogan]

Damn...give them a good start...

UR ball on the 40

[Col Hogan]

Vaughn get 8

[redspider]

Vaughn is running the best I have seen him all year.

[Col Hogan]

UR continues to move the ball...UMass D to step up

[MacThor]

Richmond is owning time of possession.

[Col Hogan]

UR 1st & Goal at the 2

[Col Hogan]

TD UR

[MacThor]

Wow straight-up QB sneak from 2 1/2 yds for TD.

[Col Hogan]

UR 16 UMass 3

3:11 in the second

[redspider]

The O-LINE is doing a great job not just at run but also pass protection!You are right the time of possension is also killing UMASS.

[MacThor]

These commenters keep harping on UR missing Tim Silver. Maybe Silver's not really hurt, he got benched for getting PF's on two consecutive plays last week, the second forcing UR to kickoff from the 15 in the 4th qtr.

[spdram]

Didn't like seeing Ward limp off of the field after the TD. Radio announcer said earlier he twisted his ankle.

Glad to see Howard come back after his first miss of an EP in his career.

[spdram]

No Silver is out, likely his career is over. Knee injury

[Jackman]

Everyone this season is beating our blitz (except Delaware). I wish they'd stop it, we're playing better defense when we don't blitz.

[Col Hogan]

UMass in the 2 minute drill...

[MacThor]

UMass in the 2 minute drill...

And UR in the prevent. I HATE the prevent D.

[MacThor]

No Silver is out, likely his career is over. Knee injury

Well the O-Line looks the best I've seen.

[Col Hogan]

Coen to Tally...

:54 seconds left

[Jackman]

TD Victor!!

[Col Hogan]

TD UMass

Coen to Cruz

[MacThor]

UMass TD. Did I mention I HATE the prevent D?

[Col Hogan]

UR 16 UMass 9

Bad snap on the PAT

:47 in the second

[MacThor]

Two missed PATs in one half.

[Jackman]

Let's keep trying that stupid kick until Richmond gets a TD return.

[MacThor]

London looks po'd. Too dominant to only be up a TD.

[Col Hogan]

Kickthe ball...this kicking game is killing us

[Col Hogan]

55 yard FG attempt by UR



No Good

Half ends

[Jackman]

Lucky to get out of the half without giving up more points. We've got the ball in the 2nd half.

[MacThor]

Holding call cost UR big.

[MacThor]

UR hasn't punted yet.

[spdram]

London was po'd about two things, first thought UR lost about 3 secs on a TO call and second said in physical game like this could call holding on every play picked the wrong time to call it (clearly a hold) if just trying to make a point, ie should have called it earlier to set the tone.

[Col Hogan]

Lucky to get out of the half without giving up more points. We've got the ball in the 2nd half.

If the O line holds off the Spiders a little more...they will control the ball more...

[dennisdent]

UR can run on UM, and UM can pass on UR...Should be an interesting 2nd half. Brown needs to find a kicker who can kickoff.

Looks like a great crowd!

[Col Hogan]

Can someone else post the second half...I'm cooking dinner and watching the game...can't post as much...

[Jackman]

Guess the missed interception evens up the missed fumble recovery. We need instant replay.

[MacThor]

Richmond just got jobbed on an interception call. They called the pass incomplete and it never came close to hitting the ground.

The refs missed a fumble for UMass in the first half, so I guess they're even.

IR is needed.

[Jackman]

Matching 3 & outs to start the second half. Richmond to punt to UMass.

[spdram]

Better D by UMass this series, good mix of stacking the box and the blitz. We'll see what adjustments will be made on second series for each team.

[Jackman]

UMass at the Richmond 40, still 16-9.

[Jackman]

UMass 1st down at the Richmond 29.

[Jackman]

UMass 44 yard FG is good.
Score is Richmond 16 UMass 12.

[MacThor]

Sullivan AND McBride are out? 2/3 of UR's LB corps, does not bode well for the remainder of the season.

FG UMass, UR Leads 16-12.

[Jackman]

Why are we doing these kicks with the wind at our back??

[Jackman]

Big sack for UMass forces another 3 & out!

[Jackman]

UMass goes 3 & out. :(

[Jackman]

Aaaaaand Richmond blocks the punt.

[tribe_pride]

What the hell was that formation on the punt?

[Jackman]

TD Richmond, they beat another blitz. Stop f'ing doing that!

[dennisdent]

Coen just doesn't look the same this season...

[Jackman]

We look like clowns right now. Starting on our 6.

[redspider]

Great job on the block punt! What a momentum shift and i will say it again great job Oline and great job Vaughn!

[dennisdent]

Run it up the middle--stupid...

[spdram]

UR 23-12 2;35 Iin 3rd

[Jackman]

UMass defense holds on 4th down. We gotta turn it around this possession.

[Jackman]

Coen is hurt. Doesn't look good.

[spdram]

Looks like left elbow, he was out in the flat with no protection and Sidbury just nailed him as he let go of the ball. Don't ever want to see anybody hurt.

[Jackman]

End of the 3rd quarter, Richmond up 23-12.

[Jackman]

FUMBLE! UMass ball!

[smcwildcat]

comonn richmond

[Jackman]

I thought Richmond played pretty flawlessly up until that point.

[smcwildcat]

how bad is coehn

[Jackman]

Coen is trying to come back in, but they're holding him out.

[Jackman]

So far Woodward has attempted two terrible looking passes.

[Jackman]

Make that 3 terrible passes.

[Jackman]

UMass 39 yard FG good.
Richmond up 23-15.

[Jackman]

Coen is taking snaps on the sideline, but holding his left arm a lot.

[Jackman]

Another one of those dumbass kickoffs that gives them better field position than just kicking it out of bounds. Unbelievable.

[Jackman]

May as well do onsides kicks.

[Jackman]

UMass defense forces a punt a midfield.

[Jackman]

UMass ball at the 20. 10:27 left in the 4th quarter.

[Jackman]

Coen coming back in.

[Jackman]

UMass at midfield after a facemask penalty.

[dgreco]

time?

[Col Hogan]

8:12 left in the 4th

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

UMASS showing some heart here.....8:12 left in 4th.......UR 23 UMASS 15

[Jackman]

Coen's two pass attempts don't look good. 4th down. Looks like we're going for it.

[Jackman]

First down Victor!

[Jackman]

UMass at the Richmond 30.

[Jackman]

4th down at the 26.

[Jackman]

43 yard FG into the wind... no good. Don't like the call.

[Jackman]

Only 6:12 left. We needed a TD anyway.

[UNHWildCats]

Only 6:12 left. We needed a TD anyway.
you're down by 8, a 2pt conv isnt a guarantee, you needed that FG.

[redspider]

Way to go Vaughan he just seems to not want to go down he is the key in this game and if we finish this out he will be the key.

[Jackman]

you're down by 8, a 2pt conv isnt a guarantee, you needed that FG.
It wasn't a high percentage FG into the wind. The way it's going right now we're not going to get the ball back.

[Jackman]

We're late getting the calls in over and over.

[smcwildcat]

yes babay umass 3rd loss

[Jackman]

TD Richmond, game over.
Good game by Richmond, they did little wrong and deserved to win.
Crappy coaching job on the UMass side.

[UNHWildCats]

It wasn't a high percentage FG into the wind. The way it's going right now we're not going to get the ball back.
fine, but to write it off as undeeded isnt right, it was needed

[dennisdent]

Hats off to the Spiders!xthumbsupx Fast, tough team. This year's UMass team just doesn't have it. They fought hard, but....

[spdram]

Thanks Jack, your guys never gave up, Coen doesn't get hurt and who knows! We're fairly dinged up now, glad we have Georgetown at home next week then a bye and we need it. Still believe we need to win out to guarantee the playoffs.

[smcwildcat]

cruz gets ejected

[Col Hogan]

Congrats Spiders...

[Tribe4SF]

Spiders reestablish themselves with a big win. Vaughn was devastating on the last drive. UMass joins the Spiders with little room for error now.

[smcwildcat]

is that right?

[Jackman]

We like to finish every other game with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It's what we do.

[redspider]

Wow great win Richmond looks like this time has finally come together on offense and defense in a key game that is what we needed. There goes the 16 game win streak and I hope now we have shown enough to go to the playoffs. That is of course assuming no bad losses the only one I can see being really bad on our schedule is W&M who is playing really well now and is our rivals.

[DTSpider]

Richmond played very well again today. Injuries are really starting to pile up though on the defense. Good time for Georgetown & the bye week.

[Uncle Buck]

Just got a call from my buddy who drove up to the game. He said it seemed like UMass just had no real fight in them when they needed it. Looked like the game was a close battle for most of it until UR broke it open.

[umassfan]

Just got back from the game... our playcalling was bad our D was worse and our special teams even toped the D. On offense... who knows what our O Coord was doing out there with the plays. We were so predictable. This is the worst I have seen a UMass team play in years. I give zero credit to Richmond because they should have killed us. Its going to be a long season to finish if we dont fix our issues. Coens father stated he had a jamed shoulder. It is his non throwing shoulder. I think reguardless he should be playing the rest of the season. I still think Cruz is a special player. He was contained alittle by Richmond today but still had some nice plays... like that TD catch.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

Just got back from the game... our playcalling was bad our D was worse and our special teams even toped the D. On offense... who knows what our O Coord was doing out there with the plays. We were so predictable. This is the worst I have seen a UMass team play in years. I give zero credit to Richmond because they should have killed us. Its going to be a long season to finish if we dont fix our issues. Coens father stated he had a jamed shoulder. It is his non throwing shoulder. I think reguardless he should be playing the rest of the season. I still think Cruz is a special player. He was contained alittle by Richmond today but still had some nice plays... like that TD catch.

We came to get a 'W', not your credit. We succeeded.

[bkrownd]

Just got a call from my buddy who drove up to the game. He said it seemed like UMass just had no real fight in them when they needed it. Looked like the game was a close battle for most of it until UR broke it open.

A LOT of dumb mistakes by umass. They should have run away with this one, and still had a chance to tie more than halfway through the 4th, but just didn't get it done. It was always within reach, but mistake after mistake snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The kicking game was bad on an epic scale, and could easily be blamed as the sole cause of the loss. That final grinding time-eating drive by Richmond was the final nail in the coffin, and was set up by the Minutemen's failure to score a TD (or even FG) just before when the margin was only 8.

Two observations:
1) they needed to start the game about an hour earlier. The students weren't dressed for the weather after sunset, and left in droves at the start of the 4th quarter when their women couldn't handle the cold anymore. The game was still close at that point. (Nice sunset, tho)
2) Amherst can't handle this level of traffic. It took 35 minutes of orbiting the maze of tiny downtown parking lots to find a parking space in town afterwards!

[LehighFan11]

Must have win for Richmond. Their schedule basically comes down to @ WM for a playoff berth at the end of the year. Richmond is a very dangerous team, glad to see them bounce back and win @ umass.

[UNI Pike]

I was able to watch the first half - UR looked to be in control of all aspects of the game. They look to be a tough draw for anyone, as I did not see an obvious weakness.

[jlcharles]

UR 16 UMass 9

Bad snap on the PAT

:47 in the second

Thanks. The boxscore shows a two point conversion failure and I was trying to figure out why the hell UMass would try a 2 pt conversion down 7. Stupid ESPN.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=282920113&confId=48

[gomer]

nice win...thought you guys would win this one soundly...again congrats i loved you guys +4....after seeing both teams play...you guys are a very dangerous team...

[ur2k]

Great win today on the road in the CAA. Keeps us in the discussion for the playoffs.

We get Georgetown next week then a much-needed bye week.

[bkrownd]

Two observations:
1) they needed to start the game about an hour earlier. The students weren't dressed for the weather after sunset, and left in droves at the start of the 4th quarter when their women couldn't handle the cold anymore. The game was still close at that point. (Nice sunset, tho)
2) Amherst can't handle this level of traffic. It took 35 minutes of orbiting the maze of tiny downtown parking lots to find a parking space in town afterwards!

oh, I forgot:

3) College vocabulary is now primarily composed of "Dude!", "No Way!", "Yo!" and "F--k!", glued together with a small set of other random words of little apparent importance.
4) College towns are absolutely overflowing with incredible numbers of mind-bendingly beautiful women. Dang, I forget about that when I'm stuck out there in the ho-hum existance of the Real World. It just isn't fair... xmadx

[Col Hogan]

oh, I forgot:

3) College vocabulary is now primarily composed of "Dude!", "No Way!", "Yo!" and "F--k!", glued together with a small set of other random words of little apparent importance.
4) College towns are absolutely overflowing with incredible numbers of mind-bendingly beautiful women. Dang, I forget about that when I'm stuck out there in the ho-hum existance of the Real World. It just isn't fair... xmadx

Well, I'll get to check it out next weekend...I could not make it to homecoming, but there is a WMUA reunion next weekend, and I'm attending...hope to see the Minutemen start a new home winning streak against Bryant...xthumbsupx

[MacThor]

4 TD + 1 FG vs 1 TD + 3 FG, not really that close.

[Minuteman87]

UMass defense can't tackle. Vaughn slipped 2 or 3 every time he touched it.
UMass offense too predictable (Nelson up the middle for 1 yard on 1st down, Nelson up the middle for 2 yards on 2nd down, Coen pass on 3rd and long, which was right in the hands of a receiver who then dropped it).
Cuko can't boot a kickoff longer than 40 yards.
We started our first 2 drives of the 2nd half inside UR territory and got 3 points.
Spiders were the better team. Bottom line.
Seeing all the guys back from '98 was cool though!
Best of luck UR the rest of the way.

[Old Cage]

87 - Cuko has plenty of leg. The previous week he kicked two high and long just short of the goal line that Northeastern couldn't even get to the 20 on their return.

I don't know what was up yesterday, but just maybe he was doing what he was told.

[ur2k]

87 - Cuko has plenty of leg. The previous week he kicked two high and long just short of the goal line that Northeastern couldn't even get to the 20 on their return.

I don't know what was up yesterday, but just maybe he was doing what he was told.

I didn't quite understand that strategy. UMASS didn't avoid Justin Rogers, they just gave him the ball at the 15 or 20 with a running start.

[th0m]

I heard the UR coach got a cooler dumped on him following this win? xlolx

[Minuteman87]

87 - Cuko has plenty of leg. The previous week he kicked two high and long just short of the goal line that Northeastern couldn't even get to the 20 on their return.

I don't know what was up yesterday, but just maybe he was doing what he was told.

Then blame the coach who told him to short leg it.
I too was at the Northeasten game, which made this "strategy" all the more perplexing (if indeed Cuko was told to kick short).
What makes better sense, I ask you? Having Cuko use his full leg strength and kick off to the 5 and allowing a 20 or 25 yard return to the 25 or 30, or having Cuko kick off to the 30 and allowing a 10 or 15 yard return to the 40 or 45? I'll take the former every time.

This short-kick "strategy" didn't work in the first half, why did they keep doing it in the second?

Methinks coaches sometimes outsmart themselves.

Well, this team has so many issues right now (see my post above), the kickoffs are a relatively minor problem. I've seen 4 games this season and actually thought kick coverage was pretty good. But the coaching staff apparently doesn't trust the coverage team.

The good news is, as poorly as I thought UMass played, they were in it until UR's final TD with 1:22 left. I still have hope. :)

See you next week

Go UMass!

[YoUDeeMan]

Great win today on the road in the CAA. Keeps us in the discussion for the playoffs.

We get Georgetown next week then a much-needed bye week.

Congrats UR! xthumbsupx Hate to see a good team miss the playoffs so I hope you guys continue to win. xnodx

After your bye, you get UD. What is up with teams having their bye and getting rested before their game with UD? UMass had a bye. Maine had a bye. UR will have a bye. Heck, even Maryland had a bye week before playing us. ;)

It's not as though anyone needs the extra time to prepare for our 3 play offense. On second thought, if our OSU TE continues to play QB, your DBs will need extra time working on their pass catching techniques. xlolx

[Jackman]

Perhaps that kickoff recovery against Northeastern made us a bit optimistic about using the 'bunt' kicks. It was particularly stupid when we had the wind at our back.

[Bull Fan]

Just got a call from my buddy who drove up to the game. He said it seemed like UMass just had no real fight in them when they needed it. Looked like the game was a close battle for most of it until UR broke it open.

That be me, folks.

I was really looking forward to this tilt, thought it may have been a shootout. I never felt that UMass threatened, or would have, even pulling within 8. UMass couldn't seem to get a running game going, and I credit Richmond's defense. Passing, UMass had some bad drops.

Someone posted up, Richmond did nothing to lose the game, and I think that hits it right on the head. UMass, on the other hand, had some suspect special teams (blocked punt) and some bland offensive gameplanning. Talent is surely there for both teams.

Either way, it was a nice trip up from LI to see two fine teams go at it. As a jaded Hofstra fan, I was able to enjoy a game without the frustration of needing to needle my own rooting interest.

Good luck the rest of the way to both schools...

[spdram]

It's not as though anyone needs the extra time to prepare for our 3 play offense. On second thought, if our OSU TE continues to play QB, your DBs will need extra time working on their pass catching techniques. xlolx

LOL, but I will never expect a UD team to be an easy game.

[bkrownd]

Well, I'll get to check it out next weekend...I could not make it to homecoming, but there is a WMUA reunion next weekend, and I'm attending...hope to see the Minutemen start a new home winning streak against Bryant...xthumbsupx

Heh, and keep your eyes open for the shiny new Aston Martin that was tooling around Amherst on Saturday. xeekx

[URMite]

Congrats UR! xthumbsupx Hate to see a good team miss the playoffs so I hope you guys continue to win. xnodx

After your bye, you get UD. What is up with teams having their bye and getting rested before their game with UD? UMass had a bye. Maine had a bye. UR will have a bye. Heck, even Maryland had a bye week before playing us. ;)

It's not as though anyone needs the extra time to prepare for our 3 play offense. On second thought, if our OSU TE continues to play QB, your DBs will need extra time working on their pass catching techniques. xlolx

Actually it is GT, Bye, HU, UD and I still worry about both HU & UD finding a solution to their problems before we get a chance to play them.

But I'm overly cautious!

[KAUMASS]

I've been biting my lip since the game. I have to tip my hat to Richmond, as they are a tough team and if they make the playoffs, will be a dangerous first round opponent, even if they have to travel.

My thoughts on UMass this year are this. They are a top 15-20 team this year, but havn't had all the horses running at one time, especially against top 10 calibur teams. They are a couple of players short of where they were the last two years. UMass hung around Richmond, but Richmond controlled the game with the help of our special teams, especially the GD kickoffs with those pouches to the 35 yard line and returns out to the 50 all day long...WTF? Kick the ball deep and let the returner beat you if he can. Cuko has the leg..

When the offense scores, the defense gives up long drives. When the D comes up with big plays, the offense stalls. UMass will have to win out their next 5 games to make the playoffs. I predicted they would be 8-4 on the season. Bryant won't count towards a win, as they are transitional this year. UMass would be 9-3 if they win out, 8-4 with another loss and only 7 DI wins-not enough this year.....UMass has lost to JMU, Richmond, & Texas Tech. Not bad losses per say considering their rankings. I would say 50/50 chance at UMass making the playoffs this year, pending the injury to Coen. He may be able to play, but another couple hard hits to his shoulder( he injured non throwing), he might be out of there.

Anyhow, I'm starting to ramble, but congrats to UR on a nice road win.

[bkrownd]

Richmond also produced a nice little pocket of fans on the visitor's side, considering the distance and Amherst's rural location.

[bkrownd]

Perhaps that kickoff recovery against Northeastern made us a bit optimistic about using the 'bunt' kicks. It was particularly stupid when we had the wind at our back.

Those were softies on purpose?!?! Bonehead move!! I wonder if the blocked punt, muffed XP and missed FG might have had something to do with the kicker being distracted and/or demoralized by the consistently poor kickoff results??? Yeesh! xnonono2x

[EmeryZach]

I have not understood this season at all for UMass. I am very confused about everything. Very frustrated, very.

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

I have not understood this season at all for UMass. I am very confused about everything. Very frustrated, very.

UMASS did not play JMU or Richmond last year so you did draw two tough opponents this season.

UMASS will need to run the table to be in the best possible position for a bid.

[ur2k]

Richmond also produced a nice little pocket of fans on the visitor's side, considering the distance and Amherst's rural location.

Shh ... don't tell the JMU fans. Remember, they think we have the worst fans in all of sports.xrotatehx

[mcveyrl]

Shh ... don't tell the JMU fans. Remember, they think we have the worst fans in all of sports.

I don't think you have the worst fans...xconfusedx

At a certain point you perpetuate the conversation by constantly bringing it up. I know that we have fans just as guilty of this, but if we'd just leave it alone I'd be much happier. And at the end of the day, we should all be concerned about my happiness.

[Jackman]

UMASS did not play JMU or Richmond last year so you did draw two tough opponents this season.
It's not who we're losing to, it's how we're losing. We're getting pushed around. UMass fans expect certain bad things to happen on a weekly basis: dumb penalties and getting fooled by clever plays, for example. We don't expect the other team to just line up, snap the ball, and shove us 4 yards downfield on a quarterback sneak (twice). We're supposed to be the more physical team. The other side is supposed to beat us by having more complex schemes and being better disciplined. That was the deal. But that's not really how James Madison and Richmond did it, the biggest reason they won was they just plain out-muscled us. That's demoralizing. It's not likely that we're going to reinvent ourselves as the plucky, less athletic team that somehow finds a way to win. We need to get nastier. Old school Oakland Raiders. Rediscover our inner bully.

[MacThor]

We don't expect the other team to just line up, snap the ball, and shove us 4 yards downfield on a quarterback sneak (twice).

Yeah that was surprising. QB sneaks are supposed to gain 1 yard.

[dennisdent]

Jackman—couldn't agree with you more. Most UMass fans expected the “d” to be a strength—full of jr/sr who've been in the program for a few years. In all my years of watching UM football the teams haven't always been athletic or talented, BUT always played tough, hard nosed football. This year's group is just plain soft. Brown is trying to recruit “athletes” instead of football players (this was told to me by the father of a graduated LB...), and try to coach them into football players—its not working this season...This year's d takes plays off (couple of DL&LBs)—unlike players like Burris who went 100% on every play.

[bkrownd]

This year's d takes plays off (couple of DL&LBs)—unlike players like Burris who went 100% on every play.

One memory I have from the game is of a defender (DB?) that saw the pile coming toward him and turned his back to the ballcarrier and let the pile bump him out of the way. Didn't want to get involved at all. Huh?!? xoopsx

[Jackman]

Well, I can sort of understand Don trying to create that rarest of creatures: a northeast football team with speed. I'd guess nothing makes a coach feel as powerless as when the other team can just run away from you if you make the slightest mistake. My theory on team speed though is that you need to be around other fast players to improve and maintain game speed. The nature of the speed game is that you really only need to be a step faster than the second-fastest guy on the field, then the priority switches to stamina and conserving energy. Boston College always brought kids up from the South to play for them, but they never seemed to turn into the eye-poppingly fast players you see in the SEC. The problem is we get them up here, and then they're practicing against our slow-footed scout teams and Northeast competition. They can still run their 40s, but their game speed doesn't keep up.

We need to maintain our core of Masshole players who have a bit of a mean streak. Especially if we're going to keep playing this Leeroy Jenkins defensive scheme, we need players who are a little scary. We miss guys like James Ihedigbo on defense and Steve Baylark on offense. Not that Tony Nelson isn't playing great, you could argue he's been the hardest playing member on the team up to this point. He plays hard, but I'm not sure he plays mean. We're missing that. Every single opponent this season has taken their opening possession and marched down and scored. Only one has been held to a field goal. One way to look at that is the defense isn't excited enough about starting the game and hitting people. We need more guys who want to hit people.