2023 Season
- InnervisionsUMASS
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 17729
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:32 am
- Location: Milford, MA
- Contact:
2023 Season
2022 is over, onto 2023. Discuss.
Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades
Re: 2023 Season
not sure you all can handle the truth.. LOL
6 wins or bust!
6 wins or bust!
Re: 2023 Season
Jesus H.... I posted this elsewhere (2 times) earlier, but it is MOST appropriate here:
I think most know (whether they agree or not is an entirely different question) that Umass is not dumping FBS unless the NCAA makes that decision for them. I will continue to root for this team and school - but I will also continue to criticize as I feel necessary.
That said, I do not have unreasonable expectations. If this team can win between 3-7 games a year consistently, that is plenty and arguably over achieving. In the current landscape, Umass is not going to be able to attract game changing talent to elevate them more than that. Between the NIL deals and the lack of conference affiliation (among other things) expecting more than that 3-7 win total is simply out of reach as they stand today.
I can already see the "I told you so" posters prepping for next year. 2 or 3 wins is an obvious improvement, but that in no way allows for an "I told you so" in and of itself.
- They MUST beat Merrimack (1 win)
- They have 2 body bag games (Penn St and Auburn). They need a respectable performance in those (but 0 Wins)
- They have 4 games against the bottom 30 (NM, NM st, Ark St, E Mich) (need 2 of these)
- They have 3 games against 75-100 (Toledo, Uconn and Army) (they need to win 1 of these)
- Remaining 2 games are not likely to be a win (Liberty, Miami) But both are at home....
Given that schedule and the expectation of a similar defense as this year and virtually ANY improvements on offense they need to win more than 3 games next year for anyone to crow about "improvements". Otherwise it is more making chicken salad out of chicken shit.
Winning only 3 games with one being an FCS school and the other 2 against the bottom 25, would still leave them around 125-128 in the country.
I think most know (whether they agree or not is an entirely different question) that Umass is not dumping FBS unless the NCAA makes that decision for them. I will continue to root for this team and school - but I will also continue to criticize as I feel necessary.
That said, I do not have unreasonable expectations. If this team can win between 3-7 games a year consistently, that is plenty and arguably over achieving. In the current landscape, Umass is not going to be able to attract game changing talent to elevate them more than that. Between the NIL deals and the lack of conference affiliation (among other things) expecting more than that 3-7 win total is simply out of reach as they stand today.
I can already see the "I told you so" posters prepping for next year. 2 or 3 wins is an obvious improvement, but that in no way allows for an "I told you so" in and of itself.
- They MUST beat Merrimack (1 win)
- They have 2 body bag games (Penn St and Auburn). They need a respectable performance in those (but 0 Wins)
- They have 4 games against the bottom 30 (NM, NM st, Ark St, E Mich) (need 2 of these)
- They have 3 games against 75-100 (Toledo, Uconn and Army) (they need to win 1 of these)
- Remaining 2 games are not likely to be a win (Liberty, Miami) But both are at home....
Given that schedule and the expectation of a similar defense as this year and virtually ANY improvements on offense they need to win more than 3 games next year for anyone to crow about "improvements". Otherwise it is more making chicken salad out of chicken shit.
Winning only 3 games with one being an FCS school and the other 2 against the bottom 25, would still leave them around 125-128 in the country.
-
- Senior
- Posts: 1907
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 7:18 pm
- Location: Too close to the Beltway
Re: 2023 Season
Xavier Graham, who started at guard the 2nd half of the season, announced he's in the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. Most likely ends up at an FCS school.
Delvin Attafah, who played sparingly, also in the portal.
Max Longman gone.
Could be a lot of players moving on in the transfer portal.
Delvin Attafah, who played sparingly, also in the portal.
Max Longman gone.
Could be a lot of players moving on in the transfer portal.
-
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2839
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:17 am
Re: 2023 Season
Numbers of players leaving are not as important as who the players are. More kids leaving could be beneficial because each player in the portal can be replaced with a recruit.dennisdent wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 5:36 pm Xavier Graham, who started at guard the 2nd half of the season, announced he's in the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. Most likely ends up at an FCS school.
Delvin Attafah, who played sparingly, also in the portal.
Max Longman gone.
Could be a lot of players moving on in the transfer portal.
-
- Senior
- Posts: 1907
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 7:18 pm
- Location: Too close to the Beltway
Re: 2023 Season
No shit! Two of them are starters but they aren't Jack Driscoll going to Auburn and the NFL level losses. The O line needs a makeover.minutefanjsf wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:18 pmNumbers of players leaving are not as important as who the players are. More kids leaving could be beneficial because each player in the portal can be replaced with a recruit.dennisdent wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 5:36 pm Xavier Graham, who started at guard the 2nd half of the season, announced he's in the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. Most likely ends up at an FCS school.
Delvin Attafah, who played sparingly, also in the portal.
Max Longman gone.
Could be a lot of players moving on in the transfer portal.
-
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2839
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:17 am
Re: 2023 Season
Longman was angry a lot on the sidelines this year....He was a captain though. Watch him end up at BC or UConn.....dennisdent wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:57 pmNo shit! Two of them are starters but they aren't Jack Driscoll going to Auburn and the NFL level losses. The O line needs a makeover.minutefanjsf wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:18 pmNumbers of players leaving are not as important as who the players are. More kids leaving could be beneficial because each player in the portal can be replaced with a recruit.dennisdent wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 5:36 pm Xavier Graham, who started at guard the 2nd half of the season, announced he's in the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. Most likely ends up at an FCS school.
Delvin Attafah, who played sparingly, also in the portal.
Max Longman gone.
Could be a lot of players moving on in the transfer portal.
-
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 4453
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:12 am
Re: 2023 Season
Casula been fired yet?? If not, it's going to be a tough sell to convince guys in the portal to come play for the architect of the worst offense in FBS.
Re: 2023 Season
Too bad about Longman, he's been a good player on a bad team.
Re: 2023 Season
Exactly. If they are going to do it, DO IT NOW!TheInsider wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:38 am Casula been fired yet?? If not, it's going to be a tough sell to convince guys in the portal to come play for the architect of the worst offense in FBS.
Re: 2023 Season
To quote the Rolling Stones, "I've got no expectations". Had them for this season and that didn't work out. Maybe when I see who's coming and going among players and coaches, but not now.
- Cahoonaville
- Senior
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:59 pm
- Location: Northampton
-
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 4453
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:12 am
Re: 2023 Season
Just saw a quote from DB on how excited and committed he is to turn this around. Also how much he loves his staff... Casula ain't going nowhere.
-
- Senior
- Posts: 1907
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 7:18 pm
- Location: Too close to the Beltway
Re: 2023 Season
Wouldn't be so sure of that. Bamford is in charge of hiring/firing all coaches, not DB.TheInsider wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:25 am Just saw a quote from DB on how excited and committed he is to turn this around. Also how much he loves his staff... Casula ain't going nowhere.
-
- Hall of Fame
- Posts: 4453
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:12 am
Re: 2023 Season
Yes but if DB likes Casula he can spin it as a total lack of talent at QB and some other deficiencies on offense. And he wouldn't be wrong. I'm with you and I'd like to see them move on but you're gonna have to up your budget to get anyone. Plus unless there is off the field issues it could get a little ugly if the AD is telling the HC who he should and shouldn't have on his staff.