2026 Season

[ZooMass84]

Why did they add Stonehill if he wanted a bye? 9/26 might be a bye before MAC schedule starts. That is week four of the season. UConn is scheduled in the middle of October.

I'm not certain. I think Stonehill was a replacement for another team that got pushed into a future year. Hawaii is weird because if you play Hawaii, you can play 13 games. They want to push Hawaii into a season where they can play them in week zero (late August), which still allows the team to have a bye. That isn't possible in 2026 as we're playing Rutgers.

The unwind of the Independent schedule was mostly accomplished but Hawaii has been resistant to unwinding our home and home. Think it may have been UCF that provided September slot. Thorr is now responsible for football scheduling and the Stonehill game is a win win. We get a very winnable game during September, generally nicer weather and could be a homecoming game. To Rolling Ridge repeating the scheduling spin from the sports luncheon that I appreciate. We had a MACtion game last year and practicly speaking could not have that and Hawaii in the same week with Thanksgiving. UConn is also scheduled in October, sans of the old independence scheduling. Making it difficult to have a bye near the middle of the season. If we get rid of the Hawaii game, it opens that week back up for a MACtion game and the MAC more flexibility in giving us a bye earlier in the season

the Stonehill game is a win win after 2018 season, no game to me is a "win win". After KLA/Billy Wooden/Cole Garcia went away, I can't with any degree of certainty say UMass football can win a game at any level (maybe some D3/NAIA).

[ZooMass84]

Still don't know why Bamford shitcanned Whip after the 2018 season. It's a shame that the only head coach we have ever had who had a clue about running an offense had to get fired. Whip had more screens and one screen set up the next. We were subject to a "kid-ult" in Coach Gomer who had 9 TV's in his house and not one book. Then Don Brown who had a couple big wins on the road (NMSU and Army) but looked very tired and worn at the end. Can anyone explain to me why Coach Joe sent that kid who had an interception to the locker room in a very public way???? Was he excited (yes, he was 19 years old and had every right to be). Yes, lets get rid of all the good players who give a damn.

[Quann]

That drive from Mullins to McGuirk has to be a full mile

Why are you here, disrespecting the football forum with your dissatisfaction with our AD. You know Thorr has hands on running football. Take your fight against the AD to the other sports forum or any other sport. Football has Thorr running point for football.

Steve you are something else! Maybe you can volunteer to be Bamford's chauffer from Mullins to McGuirk?

[InnervisionsUMASS]

That drive from Mullins to McGuirk has to be a full mile

I still think it is wild that he said that outloud. Unreal.

[Steve81]

Why are you here, disrespecting the football forum with your dissatisfaction with our AD. You know Thorr has hands on running football. Take your fight against the AD to the other sports forum or any other sport. Football has Thorr running point for football.

Steve you are something else! Maybe you can volunteer to be Bamford's chauffer from Mullins to McGuirk?

Don't worry, I' ll call out your 8th grade childish antics and disrespecting the football forum. This is a thread on the season and there are threads about the AD.

Laugh all you want for your self pleasures, I've dealt with real stuff and will look forward to tomorrow and the season in 7 months. Shouldn't you all be traveling to a basketball game 2nite.

[Quann]

^^^^^
You’re one odd duck Steve. I’m optimistic and think we can get 4 W’s.

[ZooMass84]

^^^^^
You’re one odd duck Steve. I’m optimistic and think we can get 4 W’s.

4 W's? in one season or 4??? by the way, concerning our great AD: Bam made $ 912,225.68 last year!!!! trust me, he's not going ANYWHERE

[ZooMass84]

That drive from Mullins to McGuirk has to be a full mile

I still think it is wild that he said that outloud. Unreal.

$ 912,225.68 is unreal close to a million a year is unfucking believable. for the shitty results on the football field. UMass football is an embarrassment to college football. How Bamford keeps his job is beyond me.

[minutefanjsf]

I'm not certain. I think Stonehill was a replacement for another team that got pushed into a future year. Hawaii is weird because if you play Hawaii, you can play 13 games. They want to push Hawaii into a season where they can play them in week zero (late August), which still allows the team to have a bye. That isn't possible in 2026 as we're playing Rutgers.

The unwind of the Independent schedule was mostly accomplished but Hawaii has been resistant to unwinding our home and home. Think it may have been UCF that provided September slot. Thorr is now responsible for football scheduling and the Stonehill game is a win win. We get a very winnable game during September, generally nicer weather and could be a homecoming game. To Rolling Ridge repeating the scheduling spin from the sports luncheon that I appreciate. We had a MACtion game last year and practicly speaking could not have that and Hawaii in the same week with Thanksgiving. UConn is also scheduled in October, sans of the old independence scheduling. Making it difficult to have a bye near the middle of the season. If we get rid of the Hawaii game, it opens that week back up for a MACtion game and the MAC more flexibility in giving us a bye earlier in the season

the Stonehill game is a win win after 2018 season, no game to me is a "win win". After KLA/Billy Wooden/Cole Garcia went away, I can't with any degree of certainty say UMass football can win a game at any level (maybe some D3/NAIA).

The Stonehill game is not a win win. It is a lose lose, IMO. It can’t count toward bowl eligibility, and STH will have to pay full price for it. Hopefully, they play 13 games and don’t drop Hawaii.

[Jack]

As a STH I don't mind paying full price for UMass football games. It's been a slog but I believe that bringing in Thorr as SDAD and CAO was a critically important and correct move for UMass Football. These decisions should have been made 10 - 15r yrs ago but the program is heading in a winning direction and if playing Stonehill is part of that journey I'm 100% all in. Go UMASS !!!

[Steve81]

The reason playing Stonehill is a win-win because they are Div I, like playing UMass Lowell in the early days. Helping another Massachusetts program and an easy win for us. It will likely be a homecoming game with alumni and faculty all present and getting them on board with UMass Football. There is no negative, unless if we lost, which seems very unlikely.

Season tickets have a small discount. Not all games carry the same price and vary between G6, P4, and FCS games.

[ZooMass84]

The reason playing Stonehill is a win-win because they are Div I, like playing UMass Lowell in the early days. Helping another Massachusetts program and an easy win for us. It will likely be a homecoming game with alumni and faculty all present and getting them on board with UMass Football. There is no negative, unless if we lost, which seems very unlikely.

Season tickets have a small discount. Not all games carry the same price and vary between G6, P4, and FCS games.

an easy win after the Bryant game last year; there are NO "easy wins". i hope I'm wrong and this year's team is a real team but I wouldn't be surprised if we lose. the last actual wins were NMSU and Army. Last year: Massey Ratings Sacred Heart #212; UMass #225; Stone Hill #242.

[ZooMass84]

I can't believe how this program has tanked since Mark Whipple "left". Did Bamford not renew his contract or was he fired? 2017 and 2018 we were competitive 4-8 4-8 and Whip had us in close games against P5 teams as soon as he was hired i.e. Vandy and Colorado in 2014. Hoping we are competitive against Rutgers this year and beat both Sacred Heart and Stonehill but I don't know what to expect. the only saving grace in all this is if we go 0-13 or 0-12, then we get put on notice by the MAC and might get booted.

[stevemaz]

I can't believe how this program has tanked since Mark Whipple "left". Did Bamford not renew his contract or was he fired? 2017 and 2018 we were competitive 4-8 4-8 and Whip had us in close games against P5 teams as soon as he was hired i.e. Vandy and Colorado in 2014. Hoping we are competitive against Rutgers this year and beat both Sacred Heart and Stonehill but I don't know what to expect. the only saving grace in all this is if we go 0-13 or 0-12, then we get put on notice by the MAC and might get booted.

Everything has changed..not gonna say 6 or 7 wins next year although it is possible, but will say there will be enough wins to build momentum into recruitng. Coach H and his staff did very well coming off the worst season in FBS history.

[UMass1991]

I can't believe how this program has tanked since Mark Whipple "left". Did Bamford not renew his contract or was he fired? 2017 and 2018 we were competitive 4-8 4-8 and Whip had us in close games against P5 teams as soon as he was hired i.e. Vandy and Colorado in 2014. Hoping we are competitive against Rutgers this year and beat both Sacred Heart and Stonehill but I don't know what to expect. the only saving grace in all this is if we go 0-13 or 0-12, then we get put on notice by the MAC and might get booted.

He was fired