Between The Hedges

[Old Cage]

http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/at ... 16aaa.html

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Sign me up! This is great!

[njumass08]

Nice! Are we joining the SEC or what? Haha

[TruBluMaroon]

^ Home games in an NFL stadium ( Away treat for SEC opponents) and no shot in hell of winning a game. We must be on their short list for expansion!!

[vanmeter]

I spoke to Coach Whipple at a recent event at UMass Club in Boston.

I mentioned the challenging schedule. His reply was refreshing - something in the lines that by having a schedule such as this years he is able to use it as a recruiting tool. At Florida (Swamp) at South Carolina, at Brigham Young a trip to Hawaii in Gillette against BC Tulane Mississippi State etc - this is the kind of challenge a good recruit is looking for. Much easier that playing Akron, Western Michigan, Buffalo etc.

It is this type of attitude that makes for a winner down the road.

[Not Trigger]

Given the quality of teams scheduled over the next few years, is it crazy to think the team is better off staying independent rather than joining a non-P5 conference?

[cam9219]

Given the quality of teams scheduled over the next few years, is it crazy to think the team is better off staying independent rather than joining a non-P5 conference?

Yes it's crazy. We will need the television and bowl money revenues at some point in the process of becoming a successful FBS program.

[Refuse2Lose83]

I spoke to Coach Whipple at a recent event at UMass Club in Boston.

I mentioned the challenging schedule. His reply was refreshing - something in the lines that by having a schedule such as this years he is able to use it as a recruiting tool. At Florida (Swamp) at South Carolina, at Brigham Young a trip to Hawaii in Gillette against BC Tulane Mississippi State etc - this is the kind of challenge a good recruit is looking for. Much easier that playing Akron, Western Michigan, Buffalo etc.

It is this type of attitude that makes for a winner down the road.

As long as recruits are okay with losing seasons and probably never playing in a bowl game/competing for championships.

[rsox1221]

I spoke to Coach Whipple at a recent event at UMass Club in Boston.

I mentioned the challenging schedule. His reply was refreshing - something in the lines that by having a schedule such as this years he is able to use it as a recruiting tool. At Florida (Swamp) at South Carolina, at Brigham Young a trip to Hawaii in Gillette against BC Tulane Mississippi State etc - this is the kind of challenge a good recruit is looking for. Much easier that playing Akron, Western Michigan, Buffalo etc.

It is this type of attitude that makes for a winner down the road.

As long as recruits are okay with losing seasons and probably never playing in a bowl game/competing for championships.

The team and program will continue to get better, they'll have plenty of chances to play in bowl games and compete for conference championships while at the same time playing a tough schedule.

For right now these are good games to have. They bring in cash and give the program exposure. They also are in our primary recruiting area, a huge sell for potential recruits that we'll be playing close to their homes.

[cox'n]

As long as recruits are okay with losing seasons and probably never playing in a bowl game/competing for championships.

Too many recruits think they're going to the NFL if they get some exposure. UMass will get them more exposure than would riding the bench for four years in a P5 school. Hopefully, they'll come for the exposure and stay for the education which they'll inevitably need when most of them don't make the NFL (just as most players on every team don't make it to the NFL).