State of the Progam

[TruBluMaroon]

Is there any proof that going from FCS to FBS improves academics?

Just showing the numbers only:

2012 first year of FBS: #94
2025 rankings: #58

UNH: 2012 #101
2025: #109

UConn with much more athletic success:
2012 FBS: #58
2025: #70

UMass is doing something right, regardless of the football program.

https://publicuniversityhonors.com/2015 ... 8-present/

Investment in new buildings over the last decade.

I just went on campus for the first time in 10 years, and I was like whoa.. that's new, oh that's new, oh that's also new, a whole bunch of times.

*
I had no idea there were new apartments on Mass Ave across from Haigis Mall.

*
Very new ……last year or so students moved in.

[devildawg3010]

https://www.onlineathens.com/story/spor ... 302526007/

Good write up by Athens online.com, I posted here bc they interview Bamford and and it's more about the program and not the game.

[dennisdent]

https://www.onlineathens.com/story/spor ... 302526007/

Good write up by Athens online.com, I posted here bc they interview Bamford and and it's more about the program and not the game.

Good article, thanks.

Bamford said players on a roster that includes 14 Power Four conference transfers enjoy these games but “biting off three of them was certainly more than we all desired

Pretty sad when the AD doesn't know how many P4 transfers (29) that are on the roster!

[Floyd]

Who's actually in charge of making the schedules?

[stevemaz]

Who's actually in charge of making the schedules?

Bamford is probably involved but this now a mute pt as we only need 4 non conf games per year and looks like we are set through 2028. I think starting that year we will see 1 FCS, 1 Power 4, and 2 games vs other G5s.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Who's actually in charge of making the schedules?

Probably a combination of the football staff (Rory Pommerening?), one of the Assistant/Associate ADs (likely Tim Silvernail in this case being the specific AAD for Football Admin) and the AD. Names included are current staff members as examples, not necessarily who might have had a hand in the actual schedules of the last bunch of years.

For example, on the bball side, Tim Kenney as an Assistant AD, was always part of the schedule making.

[Quann]

They had a monumentally tough job making a 12 game schedule every season as an independent. Having 8-9 built in conference games makes life way easier for them going forward.

[e_parade]

Who's actually in charge of making the schedules?

Bamford is probably involved but this now a mute pt as we only need 4 non conf games per year and looks like we are set through 2028. I think starting that year we will see 1 FCS, 1 Power 4, and 2 games vs other G5s.

One of those other G5s will hopefully be UConn every year. Rotating FCS game between teams like UNH, Maine, and URI would be best in terms of getting familiar faces in the door (and potentially better attended games). Though I suppose if the Ivies are now going to be participating in FCS playoffs moving forward we might also grab Harvard or Yale in that mix.

[Merlin Samuels]

Only four home games (all MAC) for 2026 and maybe even next fall? Yikes. I hope we can get some of these games switched around.

[Quann]

Only four home games (all MAC) for 2026 and maybe even next fall? Yikes. I hope we can get some of these games switched around.

2025: We have one non con home game against Temple but 4 other away games scheduled. One of those will definitely get canned and maybe we’ll figure out another home game and remove another away game to get to 6 home and 6 away.

2026: I’m sure this will be changed, no way we hold on to 4 non conference away games.

[wmmmfan]

Did the University cancel Senior Day before the UConn game?

[Juice Stand]

Did the University cancel Senior Day before the UConn game?

Yes. Maroon Musket posted the email that was sent to players. You can read it here:

https://x.com/MaroonMusket/status/1859780972348309729

[InnervisionsUMASS]

They are already starting to walk it back:

https://x.com/UMassFootball/status/1859929903501881715


EDIT: I should have said "attempting to walk it back"... we all know the damage is done here.

[Merlin Samuels]

Only four home games (all MAC) for 2026 and maybe even next fall? Yikes. I hope we can get some of these games switched around.

2025: We have one non con home game against Temple but 4 other away games scheduled. One of those will definitely get canned and maybe we’ll figure out another home game and remove another away game to get to 6 home and 6 away.

2026: I’m sure this will be changed, no way we hold on to 4 non conference away games.

Yes, holding onto the Temple game is a must. Maybe we can reschedule one of the other games and replace it with a local FCS to make the pro-FCS contingent here happy!

[Quann]

^^^
I’d love to see UNH or Maine come back to Amherst. I do miss playing both of them every year. I hope we manage to keep UConn on the schedule every year going forward, it’s great for both schools and solidifies our rivalry.