What will it take in 2026?

[ZooMass84]

Does anyone at the State House care that the flagship school of the state is an embarrassment? In Louisiana, the Governor is picking the head coach of the football program. The institutional support for many of these state schools is off the charts. I think most legislators in Massachusetts care more about Harvard or BU

Does anyone at the State House care that the flagship school of the state is an embarrassment? no. And I think the worse part is that they are actually happy/vindicated/etc at what's going on. The only thing keeping us going is the Board of Trustee Karam and others who want the football team to do well.

[ZooMass84]

I always hope for the best and stay FBS of course but I will be happy with ONE win whether it be 9/12/2026 Sacred Heart or 9/4/2027 Stony Brook. The Buffalo game did give me some hope. I disagree with Coach Joe for sending Bailey to the locker room after the INT. forget which game. You don't punish a player for making a great play.

[ZooMass84]

Agreed... unless the staff gets really lucky and hits on some gems, 2 mil will probably field a team at the bottom of the MAC again. We are starting from such a bad position they have to spend much bigger.

you mean a KLA type???

[ZooMass84]

One thing i will say is that i disagree with the thought that people do not care about college football in this area. Sure, it isnt on a 50k in stadium level, but there is no doubt we could sell out our current stadium if the team was good. There is no doubt in my mind (assuming there isnt a WW3 or we wont have to be fighting robots by 2028 like in Terminator) that the stadium will be getting an upgrade to the 25k capacity with possibility of further expansion.

Next year I just want to see a semblance of a competitive team with wins over Sacred Heart and 2-3 in the MAC. 2027 bowl game. 2028 9 wins and 2029 12th seed...there is no ceiling

I will be ecstatic with a win over Sacred Heart. not joking.

[doubledribble]

^ People care, Eldon, we're just sick of talking about what is so obvious. At least, that's the way I feel.

I’m with ya !

[ZooMass84]

I agree it has to be on field performance improvements. Contrary to what UMass admin/broadcast/media might want- this was not a reset. The last 13 years all count. We don’t pretend they didn’t happen and they don’t get any more time to turn things around.

Team needs to beat Sacred Heart, be competitive in G4 OOC games, and win at least two conference games-one at home and one on the road. That’s my bar.

Sacred Heart is an actual FCS team. They beat LIU who beat Eastern Michigan. I am so beaten down that I will take ONE win as earth shaking.

[econalum]

Folks, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

UMass now holds a laughable WORST FBS brand label. In addition, we need many more millions in NIL $$ to compete. Last, even if some decent players come for the pay, there is ZERO guarantee that they will stay due to the transfer portal, aka "Where the grass always looks greener".

What's the point?

[Steve81]

Folks, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

UMass now holds a laughable WORST FBS brand label. In addition, we need many more millions in NIL $$ to compete. Last, even if some decent players come for the pay, there is ZERO guarantee that they will stay due to the transfer portal, aka "Where the grass always looks greener".

What's the point?

To befuddle econalum, who doesn't acknowledge the importance of football for alumni connections etc. Sports almost never make money in the current setting, the goal is to be among the top 25% of Group of 6 teams, to compete for conference championships. 12 years of missteps has to STOP. Will be listening to tonight's zoom call.

UMass Football Family,

Join us on Monday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m. for a look at how Massachusetts Football plans to attack the offseason. Hear from Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, Head Coach Joe Harasymiak and Senior Deputy AD & Chief Administrative Officer Thorr Bjorn, on topics including:

McGuirk Alumni Stadium Renovations
2026 Recruiting Update
Roster Planning/New Transfer Portal Window
Script U Scholarship Society & Gridiron Club

[ZooMass84]

Folks, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

UMass now holds a laughable WORST FBS brand label. In addition, we need many more millions in NIL $$ to compete. Last, even if some decent players come for the pay, there is ZERO guarantee that they will stay due to the transfer portal, aka "Where the grass always looks greener".

What's the point?

that is without a doubt the dumbest thing I've ever seen posted on this board!!!!!!!!! that's right, econalum, we're going to do just like Idaho effective immediately and just return to FCS and withdraw from the MAC and go to the NEC or something..........

[ZooMass84]

Folks, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

UMass now holds a laughable WORST FBS brand label. In addition, we need many more millions in NIL $$ to compete. Last, even if some decent players come for the pay, there is ZERO guarantee that they will stay due to the transfer portal, aka "Where the grass always looks greener".

What's the point?

To befuddle econalum, who doesn't acknowledge the importance of football for alumni connections etc. Sports almost never make money in the current setting, the goal is to be among the top 25% of Group of 6 teams, to compete for conference championships. 12 years of missteps has to STOP. Will be listening to tonight's zoom call.

UMass Football Family,

Join us on Monday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m. for a look at how Massachusetts Football plans to attack the offseason. Hear from Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, Head Coach Joe Harasymiak and Senior Deputy AD & Chief Administrative Officer Thorr Bjorn, on topics including:

McGuirk Alumni Stadium Renovations
2026 Recruiting Update
Roster Planning/New Transfer Portal Window
Script U Scholarship Society & Gridiron Club

I don't know who is worse: econalum or @DumbUserName (#D_U_N)...........it's creepy the way they are fixated on returning to FCS.......of course UMass football is a total basket case/joke.............

even if some decent players come for the pay of course they come for the pay.............no they come for the Southwest dining commons chicken hockey pucks

[ZooMass84]

I'll say this: I don't know if UMass football ever wins another game; maybe yes; maybe no, But I'm still a fan. Has Bamford fucked things up? yes of course. Why do you get rid of the one head coach who had us competitive???? Whip had us 4-8, 4-8.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Folks, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

UMass now holds a laughable WORST FBS brand label. In addition, we need many more millions in NIL $$ to compete. Last, even if some decent players come for the pay, there is ZERO guarantee that they will stay due to the transfer portal, aka "Where the grass always looks greener".

What's the point?

Your war on football is so damn pointless. You should stick to the lax forum.

[Juice Stand]

... Will be listening to tonight's zoom call.

UMass Football Family,

Join us on Monday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m. for a look at how Massachusetts Football plans to attack the offseason. Hear from Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, Head Coach Joe Harasymiak and Senior Deputy AD & Chief Administrative Officer Thorr Bjorn, on topics including:

McGuirk Alumni Stadium Renovations
2026 Recruiting Update
Roster Planning/New Transfer Portal Window
Script U Scholarship Society & Gridiron Club

I'm not important enough to get an invite to the meeting. Does anybody want to go rogue and post the zoom link here so the peons can listen in. Otherwise, we'll have to wait for scraps as the news dribbles out.

[Jack]

Looking forward to moving forward positively for success in 2026. What it will take is dedication, commitment, planning, financing and implementation. Ignore the quitters, the dividers and the nattering naybobs of negativity. Support all of our student athletes and coaches to represent our amazing University - the best public University in New England !!! Go UMass !!! Let's move forward in unity.

[doubledribble]

... Will be listening to tonight's zoom call.

UMass Football Family,

Join us on Monday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m. for a look at how Massachusetts Football plans to attack the offseason. Hear from Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, Head Coach Joe Harasymiak and Senior Deputy AD & Chief Administrative Officer Thorr Bjorn, on topics including:

McGuirk Alumni Stadium Renovations
2026 Recruiting Update
Roster Planning/New Transfer Portal Window
Script U Scholarship Society & Gridiron Club

I'm not important enough to get an invite to the meeting. Does anybody want to go rogue and post the zoom link here so the peons can listen in. Otherwise, we'll have to wait for scraps as the news dribbles out.

Likewise.. wish someone would share the link.