Looking ahead to 2014 season

Berkman · Post by **Berkman** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:20 am

This was in this mornings Springfield paper.

http://www.masslive.com/umassfootball/i ... cart_river

gosox22 · Post by **gosox22** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:05 am

Very excited to see the 3 and 3 split between Gillette and McGuirk. Best of both worlds. No more excuses from either the eastern side of the state or the western side!

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:10 am

Oh there will be plenty of excuses... they always exist.

UMass02 · Post by **UMass02** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:11 am

Hopefully it is the first step in bringing back four games to McGuirk in 2015.

gosox22 · Post by **gosox22** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:15 am

I know. I'm trying to be optimistic, which I realize probably doesn't work in this situation. But you'd be hard pressed to find a better compromise between the 2 sides than 3 games in each location. If people still want to complain, that is rather sad.

UMass02 · Post by **UMass02** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:22 am

gosox22 wrote:I know. I'm trying to be optimistic, which I realize probably doesn't work in this situation. But you'd be hard pressed to find a better compromise between the 2 sides than 3 games in each location. If people still want to complain, that is rather sad.

I'm really curious to see how this works out. Which side of the state will draw more fans? Odds are stacked in Gillette's favor since it will host BC, Colorado, and one other MAC contest. McGuirk will get the rest of the MAC slate, maybe including a midweek game - tougher draw. Students could help make a big difference in attendance at those games.

I'm also curious to see how tickets and seating are handled. I'm certain there will be Gillette-only and McGuirk-only packages as well as complete season tix. I recall reading somewhere that the MAC doesn't want students sitting on the visiting side of the field, perhaps shoehorn them on each side of the season ticket holders as well as around the band? Turn the visiting side into game-day GA tix and visiting tix?

Sheck · Post by **Sheck** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:33 am

I wonder how McCutcheon was able to work this out. I thought the NCAA only permitted one home game to be played away from the designated home stadium, so a 3 and 3 split would not be possible regardless of whether you considered Gillette or McGuirk to be the designated home stadium.

Either way, happy to see games return to Amherst. Hoping these 3 games aren't going to all be midweek games though. I'm sure we'll have one or 2, but hoping to spend at least one Saturday in the Valley next fall.

UMass02 · Post by **UMass02** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:46 am

Sheck wrote:I wonder how McCutcheon was able to work this out. I thought the NCAA only permitted one home game to be played away from the designated home stadium, so a 3 and 3 split would not be possible regardless of whether you considered Gillette or McGuirk to be the designated home stadium.

Either way, happy to see games return to Amherst. Hoping these 3 games aren't going to all be midweek games though. I'm sure we'll have one or 2, but hoping to spend at least one Saturday in the Valley next fall.

This has been discussed multiple times on this board. 3 and 3 is OK with the NCAA, but 3 and 2 is NOT OK.

I doubt all three McGuirk games would be midweek, but you never know...

photoman · Post by **photoman** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:59 am

Just catching up on things regarding the 3-3 split. Thought about it while....and decided I like it! Hope they can maintain this plan well into the future.

Dickie Dunn · Post by **Dickie Dunn** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:08 pm

The MAC schedule won’t be released until early 2014, but home opponents would include Bowling Green, Buffalo and Ohio.

This can't be 100 percent verified at this point, because at some point Kent State has to cycle into the schedule as a MAC East opponent. Which team gets knocked out is anyone's guess.

Big10Land · Post by **Big10Land** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:07 pm

How about convincing our new OOC pals Temple to play on campus. Though only a two game series right now, we should make a travelling trophy and figure out how to make this an annual game.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:30 pm

The Cosby Cup! We can exchange a really bad 80's sweater as the annual trophy.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:18 pm

As absolutely crazy as that sounds, it's actually a very very very good idea.... and one that multiple entities could profit off of.

hatsoff · Post by **hatsoff** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 7:06 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote:As absolutely crazy as that sounds, it's actually a very very very good idea.... and one that multiple entities could profit off of.

Like.

Berkman · Post by **Berkman** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:09 am

This mornings article.

http://www.masslive.com/umassfootball/i ... cart_river