2024 Game 1: vs. Eastern Michigan

[kd68]

Also happy to see site back up. I did post earlier that I was disappointed with the start to the season, and disturbed by posts that Umass made a lot of mistakes at crucial times that I hope the coaching staff addresses before their next game.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

That was rough... shot ourselves in the foot over and over again.

[eldonabe]

Not a lot of good things to pull from that effort. Items of note

- If Puma gets hurt, they may not have 200 YDs of offense in a game the rest of the season except CCSU and Wagner.
- Two missed FGs in a reasonable distance - YUK

Umass should have won that game, especially at home. EMU is not good

[DanaDingle3]

Brutal. Their QB could toss it, but I couldn't believe how open their receivers were all afternoon. It didn't look like a personnel issue, but a schematic one, which is disappointing given Don's background.

I thought in year 3 under DB, football would be finding its footing. Obviously only one game, but that was maybe the most winnable FBS game on the schedule and EMU controlled the entire game.

Frank Martin has talked about not wanting to go backwards, heading to the MAC. I'm really curious what the Chancellor and AD presented to him as the plan.

[photoman]

Not a lot of good things to pull from that effort. Items of note

- If Puma gets hurt, they may not have 200 YDs of offense in a game the rest of the season except CCSU and Wagner.
- Two missed FGs in a reasonable distance - YUK

Umass should have won that game, especially at home. EMU is not good

Two wins against FCS teams will be exactly what's needed to fire up this program.... Watched the EMU game start to finish and overall it was a pretty ugly affair. A healthy Puma means very little with bad o-line play, and of course our non-existent defensive pass rush letting opposing qb's set up plays.

[RagingCager]

It’s a shame that all the game time and immediate post game comments have been lost. People wrote from the heart and were very emotional and passionate at the time, myself included. To say long suffering fans were upset and fed up would be a gross under statement. As D Dingle alluded to, this was much more than a mere opening day game or home opener, this was yet another new beginning in a long line of failed attempts of establishing a legit, successful Div 1A program…. the entire athletic dept was revamped in favor of putting all of the eggs in a MAC basket - to the detriment of some of the other teams, especially the basketball program. Of course I’m not foolish enough to think an entire season is made or broke after 1 game ( a couple days ago I was), but as we all know, after over 10 years of futility and disappointment, patience and 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chances have left town a long time ago.

As I had written earlier, everything before and leading up the the game was great…. good crowd, great weather, more students than one would have expected in August, re connecting with friends and family, all with re newed hopes yet again! After all, this was the respected coach’s 3rd season and his talented, now healthy QB was returning as well. Surely the team was ready to come out and make a statement in appreciation of the support! Well, after embarrassing myself at the end of the half by screaming and using some poor choice language ( defenseless defensive backs getting fried left and right, a beyond stupid conduct penalty, followed by a missed FG, capped off by pissing away the last play of the half by not even sending anyone downfield), I looked at my wife and at the freshly laid big fat egg lying on the field at halftime and suggested, maybe we should leave…. of course, it wasn’t without thought that a great Journey tribute band was playing at the festival in Ludlow, so that’s where we went to salvage the evening! Sometimes I wonder if following UMass Football is not unlike Charlie Brown handing Lucy the ball yet again, the Ben Aflac, Jennifer Lopez relationship of Div 1A football …. same thing over and over, hoping for different results!

Enough from RagingCager….time to move on…. get em next week boys!

[Floyd]

C'mon RagingCager, you know when it comes to UMass athletics you're singing " I'm forever yours, Faithfully"

[RagingCager]

You got that right, Floyd…. I’ll be listening or watching again next week! And who knows, maybe we’ll be singing “ Don’t Stop Believing” when it’s over!

[kdogg8173]

He wasn't terrible per se but I wasn't impressed with Puma. He didn't seem comfortable in the pocket and his awareness was lacking. First game of the year but this is his 6th year of college football. No more excuses. Also where was Ladson for the game?

[DrG]

The defense is still way too soft. It seemed on many possessions that the EMU offense had 5 yards on us before the play even took shape. To offset this, we need to score a lot of points, and that starts with the offensive line. I will say there appeared to be some improvement there in the second half.

[69MG]

He wasn't terrible per se but I wasn't impressed with Puma. He didn't seem comfortable in the pocket and his awareness was lacking. First game of the year but this is his 6th year of college football. No more excuses. Also where was Ladson for the game?

Agree on Puma, I thought he would be better. Ladson is hurt and may not play this year.

[DougW]

He wasn't terrible per se but I wasn't impressed with Puma. He didn't seem comfortable in the pocket and his awareness was lacking. First game of the year but this is his 6th year of college football. No more excuses. Also where was Ladson for the game?

Agree on Puma, I thought he would be better. Ladson is hurt and may not play this year.

That's a shame about Ladson. There were high expectations for him this season.