McGuirk Upgrade

[Juice Stand]

Let the Band Play - The band is much much better than the DJ - that costs nothing to fix.

I agree 100%. While it is a matter of opinion about what sounds better (DJ vs Band), I don't think there's any question that a band adds something uniquely "college football" to the atmosphere while a DJ just makes it sound like any generic sporting event. At the games I've been to, the use of the DJ seems like the idea of an out of touch older administrator who's trying to figure out what those hip young kids are into. The band never goes out of style. Let them play.

[minutefanjsf]

Let the Band Play - The band is much much better than the DJ - that costs nothing to fix.

I agree 100%. While it is a matter of opinion about what sounds better (DJ vs Band), I don't think there's any question that a band adds something uniquely "college football" to the atmosphere while a DJ just makes it sound like any generic sporting event. At the games I've been to, the use of the DJ seems like the idea of an out of touch older administrator who's trying to figure out what those hip young kids are into. The band never goes out of style. Let them play.

yes! I’ll also add in we need to bring back the cannon boys! It’s not just a UMass thing; the piped in music at Penn State was virtually the same exact play list as McGuirk. Some piped in music is okay. (Hype kick off, jeopardy theme for reviews, hype entrance-look at VT, etc.) It’s like they are trying to make the live game feel like a video game with a soundtrack. Doesn’t work.

[eldonabe]

I go to games and donate.

The Stadium is one thing that can be and must be fixed - I agree with everything previously said - it's essential to develop a home field advantage and that means closed end stadium and m moving the stands MUCH closer to the field. What is the University doing to get this done?

The Gameday Experience has been terrible: First off the idiotic DJ abusing the fans w/horrendous music blaring incessantly at every play stoppage should be eliminated immediately - that costs nothing to fix. Let the Band Play - The band is much much better than the DJ - that costs nothing to fix. Hire a Professional PA Announcer who knows how to announce a football game - RIP Jack O'Neil - UMass Football still misses Jack O'Neil and has never replaced Jack.

WTF is going on here Jack, you and I are agreeing A LOT lately

[e_parade]

Let the Band Play - The band is much much better than the DJ - that costs nothing to fix.

I agree 100%. While it is a matter of opinion about what sounds better (DJ vs Band), I don't think there's any question that a band adds something uniquely "college football" to the atmosphere while a DJ just makes it sound like any generic sporting event. At the games I've been to, the use of the DJ seems like the idea of an out of touch older administrator who's trying to figure out what those hip young kids are into. The band never goes out of style. Let them play.

yes! I’ll also add in we need to bring back the cannon boys! It’s not just a UMass thing; the piped in music at Penn State was virtually the same exact play list as McGuirk. Some piped in music is okay. (Hype kick off, jeopardy theme for reviews, hype entrance-look at VT, etc.) It’s like they are trying to make the live game feel like a video game with a soundtrack. Doesn’t work.

Being a cannon boy was possibly the most fun thing I did while at UMass.

[DeeDeeBee]

RE: a sound system fix: relatively simple (not cheap!). Place speakers around the stadium so the volume required to reach everybody doesn't
require the ear piercing, obnoxious volume coming from one source (cheap)!
...and since this is the McGuirk Upgrade thread, I'll rant again about the "new" restroom buildings....ONE DOOR!!!....6 urinals, each!!!
I really hope the folks that designed these will not be involved in a substantive upgrade of the stadium. Go Umass! 6 wins

[Juice Stand]

...and since this is the McGuirk Upgrade thread, I'll rant again about the "new" restroom buildings....ONE DOOR!!!....6 urinals, each!!!
I really hope the folks that designed these will not be involved in a substantive upgrade of the stadium. Go Umass! 6 wins

One win for each urinal. How poetic.

[eldonabe]

...and since this is the McGuirk Upgrade thread, I'll rant again about the "new" restroom buildings....ONE DOOR!!!....6 urinals, each!!!
I really hope the folks that designed these will not be involved in a substantive upgrade of the stadium. Go Umass! 6 wins

One win for each urinal. How poetic.

I assume you mean as a prediction for this year and not what they actually accumulated over the last 4 seasons.

[DeeDeeBee]

Correct.....Harasymiak is the real deal!

[Steve81]

Since a good chunk is related to the stadium will copy a post from csnbbs and post it here and bold the specific McQuirk upgrade 8 minute segment.
AD Ryan Bamford was a guest on Episode #18

* Knew we had success but framing it, we had 3 Elite 8 Teams last year with men's soccer and hockey and women's field hockey and some women's sports being funded at the P4 level.

* Stadium upgrades approx. 8:30 to 16:30: includes a 256 page document and moving dorms closer as Southwest Residential area needs to be replaced. Including having the dining commons over looking the stadium and double as a suite during game day.

* Schedule was nex.t through 21:30+ minute mark

* Football turn around, staff, players, special teams, sports performance, resources to win and MAC move. The rebirth of UMass 2.0 going into the MAC and donor base, student, faculty support through 25:30 mark

* NIL commitment, phased in growth, house settlement, budget growth and be over 60M in a few years. Support, message to trustees, Script U and scholarships fund to grow from 12.5M to 17M in two years. Higher Ed coming under pressure. through 34 minute mark

* Engagement starting with students, faculty and staff. Market initiatives and engaging western mass. through 38+ minute mark

* Conference realignment, what it means for G5 in 10 years and 12 schools is a really good number. Position for the MAC and future, and loving to see Rhode Island in the league and rivals.

* Basketball complaining about MAC teams related to the A10, NCAA expansion and access to championships through 42 minute mark.

https://youtu.be/3WgerTrJmcg Youtube Vdieo

[Old Cage]

URI will move its games to Pawtucket while Meade Stadium undergoes a $42M renovation. Argh!

[eldonabe]

URI will move its games to Pawtucket while Meade Stadium undergoes a $42M renovation. Argh!

Cool we are spending that kind of dough too - over the next 5-10 years! I sure hope they get hand blowers int the bathrooms

[InnervisionsUMASS]

URI will move its games to Pawtucket while Meade Stadium undergoes a $42M renovation. Argh!

Cool we are spending that kind of dough too - over the next 5-10 years! I sure hope they get hand blowers int the bathrooms

Yep. Isn't it lovely?

[Floyd]

IV, that a Stevie Wonder reference?

[InnervisionsUMASS]

IV, that a Stevie Wonder reference?

Always.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Bamford jumped into Coach Joe's weekly press conference today and announced they are going to start some renovations to McGuirk:

Fight Massachusetts @FightMA247
·
1h
UMass AD Ryan Bamford say down with reporters at the weekly football media availability today to talk about UMass' need to overinvest in the football program to try and turn it around

Mentioned was a $25-30M 3-phase project to improve McGuirk Stadium

https://x.com/FightMA247/status/1970169341590282656

Direct link to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHdqO8TY4rE



This news isn't really news... the U had already stated that there was an upcoming plan to do some sort of renovation to McGuirk, and it was something in this $ ballpark that we heard today. Might have been a bit higher, I can't remember. What's interesting is the timing of the announcement. It comes on the heels of the URI news last week, the brutal start to the season, loud noise from the faithful, and seemingly out of the blue in a press conference meant for the head coach to discuss the next game. Seems like someone finally put some pressure on the Department and Ryan to get this thing moving along.