2024 Game 3: @ Buffalo

[Steve81]

Think we will win tomorrow on national TV, CBSSN.

[eldonabe]

I have already done so privately, but my public apologies to Dennis.


I am unbelievably frustrated with this athletic department and after 13 years of FBS existence someone/anyone putting a "one of the most important in our FBS existence" for a game like this really pisses me off frankly. Not the fact that the statement was made, but the fact that it is actually sort of true.

A fucking September game against another really bad FBS team is THAT important at this stage in Umass' FBS "transition" ... fuck me.....

I do not lump myself into the "this ruined Umass Basketball" group as Steve sort of did with me. In fact, that has nothing to do with my overall disagreement with the football decision. The two sports can and should stand on their own merits as much as they can, and also benefit from each other's success wherever possible - UConn is a good example.


My problem with football is and always has been that I knew Umass would fuck this up. The sales pitch they made with the Gillette occupancy and the estimates they made for attendance were pure fantasy - everybody here knew it too. The only people who had no clue that would be a disaster were the people in charge of making the decision. Molnar's "Big-Boy football" presser put the nail in the coffin before it was even opened as he all but outright insulted the students/fans with his tough-guy speech - what a fucking imbecile.

Secondly, the administration was all in except for that one minor detail of the capital spending needed to do it right. This has been one giant clusterfuck with a bunch of mini clusterfucks mixed in along the way.



It sounds like Monday morning Quarter Back but I have been calling this for years and every time I hear a "this time it's different" I get even more pissed because of how many times it has been Wash, Rinse, Repeat.





I promise that I will lay off after I hit send on this until the end of the season - it is cathartic for me, but it is a drag on you all here. I know everyone is sick of hearing/reading my negativity. I do hope Umass can find a way to win this week, they need it desperately.

[Steve81]

eldonabe, many of us share in your frustration for the past 13 years. We are turning the corner after low budget funding and 9 years without a conference. There will be a new dawn on UMass football and don't expect it to be sudden but gradual and then a jump.

Regarding Saturday's game, it's on national TV, CBSSN. It is against peer institutions academically and sports budget wise. We are slated as the logic rival in the new conference, so it is important. Every game is important and like to see improvements and few injuries.

This is Buffalo's fan thread and important to them as well. Notice the Amherst Championship Week thread title.
https://ubfan.com/bb/index.php?/topic/1 ... ship-week/

Then the reference to the Powder Horn Trophy.
https://www.ubbullrun.com/2015/11/24/97 ... power-horn

[dennisdent]

Eldon's apology was accepted. We are real people behind these screen names (I've met some of you in-person) and have been here for over twenty years. Like Eldon, I'm frustrated with how the program has done over the years but I try hard to stay somewhat positive that things are getting better.

I saw a lot of improvements last week and hopefully we see even more tomorrow. Brown is making a lot more money than Pete Lembo at UB (900k to 500k--bonuses if reached $725k). Time to put up or shut up!

[Floyd]

I will say, Dennis & eldon are passionate about UMass athletics, and that's a good thing. Better than not giving a shit

[photoman]

I will say, Dennis & eldon are passionate about UMass athletics, and that's a good thing. Better than not giving a shit

^This. This board is mighty quiet. I sometimes come on to see the most recent post, and it tends to be a few days old. I can understand it though. 13 years is a long time to wait for positive results. The fact that 4 wins is the "goal" for a season tells you just how bad it's been. We're just worn down from it. When they lost the first game of the season to EMU, a game that was circled as one of the "winnables" it really took the air out of the tires. 2-10 becomes a real possibility if they lose to Buffalo. Hoping it doesn't happen.

[Quann]

Yeah but Eldon pisses on the program regularly just to do so, I don’t understand being a fan and doing that. I like competing at the top level of FBS even if it’s been a rough go since its inception. FCS playoffs were fine but ultimately they are like competing for the NIT, it’s a runner up tournament.

[eldonabe]

Yeah but Eldon pisses on the program regularly just to do so, I don’t understand being a fan and doing that. I like competing at the top level of FBS even if it’s been a rough go since its inception. FCS playoffs were fine but ultimately they are like competing for the NIT, it’s a runner up tournament.

For the record it is not "just to do so". I am not a troll, nor do I want Umass to suck. As I told Dennis I have invested 1,000's of hours and 10's of thousands of dollars over 40+ years, and the number of really great / exciting things can be counted on two hands and 6 of those were that basketball run - according to my rough math that is about 3 or 4 other things over 35 or so years.

In this day and age you cannot fake it until you make it... you may have been able to do that 20 or 30 years ago, but you cannot get away with that today. These schools that you/they aspire to be competitive with spend multiples more on infrastructure (and players) than Umass is willing to.

I am OK with them paring things down because of the economics, but FFS stop pissing on us and tell us it's raining.

[ZooMass84]

Guys, Eldon, DD, Steve(s), Quann: everybody chill. We're still FBS, we're going to be in the MAC in a few short months. Forget Charley Molnar: the guy is a dud. He's coaching high school or something now. It was a bad hire by an AD who was out the door.

[kd68]

I am also amazed how quiet this board is. Need to start winning again.

[ZooMass84]

I have already done so privately, but my public apologies to Dennis.


I am unbelievably frustrated with this athletic department and after 13 years of FBS existence someone/anyone putting a "one of the most important in our FBS existence" for a game like this really pisses me off frankly. Not the fact that the statement was made, but the fact that it is actually sort of true.

A fucking September game against another really bad FBS team is THAT important at this stage in Umass' FBS "transition" ... fuck me.....

I do not lump myself into the "this ruined Umass Basketball" group as Steve sort of did with me. In fact, that has nothing to do with my overall disagreement with the football decision. The two sports can and should stand on their own merits as much as they can, and also benefit from each other's success wherever possible - UConn is a good example.


My problem with football is and always has been that I knew Umass would fuck this up. The sales pitch they made with the Gillette occupancy and the estimates they made for attendance were pure fantasy - everybody here knew it too. The only people who had no clue that would be a disaster were the people in charge of making the decision. Molnar's "Big-Boy football" presser put the nail in the coffin before it was even opened as he all but outright insulted the students/fans with his tough-guy speech - what a fucking imbecile.

Secondly, the administration was all in except for that one minor detail of the capital spending needed to do it right. This has been one giant clusterfuck with a bunch of mini clusterfucks mixed in along the way.



It sounds like Monday morning Quarter Back but I have been calling this for years and every time I hear a "this time it's different" I get even more pissed because of how many times it has been Wash, Rinse, Repeat.





I promise that I will lay off after I hit send on this until the end of the season - it is cathartic for me, but it is a drag on you all here. I know everyone is sick of hearing/reading my negativity. I do hope Umass can find a way to win this week, they need it desperately.

Charley Molnar............he's now at "Carroll College in Montana" NAIA level and before that "New Mexico Highlands" D2 and before that Idaho and before that US!!!! The highlight of his career was OC at Notre Dame and then John McCutcheon who didn't give a fuck hires the moron and then our AD basically retires. There's always "Coach Gomer" 2019 - 2021. First game we were beating Rutgers 21-7, then Coach Gomer thought we scored enough points and we go on to lose to 2-10 Rutgers 48-21. After we got blown out by SIU at home I called him "Coach Gomer (Pyle)".
2015 we had a blocked PAT and Temple goes on to score the winning FG with 1:20 to go in the game. 2017 we lose to Hawaii in the 4th qtr after a muffed punt return. OK it's cathartic for me too. But the wrap around by Travigno to Wait to beat UMD minnesota duluth in OT made it all go away

[ZooMass84]

I am also amazed how quiet this board is. Need to start winning again.

If you can wait a week, we're 82% favored to beat Central Connecticut State.

[umassbaseball]

Looks like no Mazzoti or Simpson. Had a few tight ends and receivers step for catches last week. Let's go fellas, gotta get this done on the road

[LS71]

I am also amazed how quiet this board is. Need to start winning again.

If you can wait a week, we're 82% favored to beat Central Connecticut State.

Oh no… a trap game!

[JoleonLescottsHair]

^