What will it take in 2026?

[eldonabe]

I want to keep this separate from the 2026 Season Thread because IMO is it a little different.

We need to see something / anything that resembles improvement but what is it? I suspect we each have different measures of this - hence my question:

What will it take in the next 12 months for you to honestly believe we are going to attain some level of respectability as an FBS Football Program?




I am skeptical of the Thorr hire at the moment, but not because I don' think he can do a good job.

UMass's problem starts above Thorr and Bamford. The university is just not supportive of Athletics like other major schools. I have seen the stories about how much $$ support they give in comparison to others and it is actually much higher by % than most, but where is the accountability to that spend? Bamford's track record has been horrible at best, yet he is still pulling the AD strings --- how is this possible? Because the administration above him does not really care - AND THAT IS A/THE PROBLEM. They do not have a Sports Culture or anythind that supports a Sports Culture.

You need to be my age at least to know the reference, but this reminds me of a quick hitter from a Steve Martin comedy album - Look I have four Dollars, I think I will just throw it in the street... I can come in here for four dollars? Oh, OK............... What happens?

That sums up our program ..... throw money at stuff without really knowing what happens. Umass has been "fixing and improving" the stadium now since 2012 and is is still a shit hole.

Now Bamford is spouting the same fucking noise... pay coaches, pay staff.... SPEND SPEND SPEND.... Highly paid coaches must be better??? So that will fix this........... This fucking guy can't even get parking right on Band day / Parents weekend for fuck sakes.



My long winded rant aside.... right now, today the only thing that will set my mind at ease about this entire mess is the removal of Bamford. Even though I 100% believe the real root of the problem resides above him, a good strong AD can at least stabilize things - if Bamford was that guy, it would have been stabilized years ago.

If Thorr is being installed now to be ready to take over and they are waiting until the end of this academic season to officially oust Bamford I am good with that. If Bamford stays, I have very little hope for improvement next season and beyond besides staying at #136, but a better #136 than last year.

[Rolling Ridge]

What will it take in the next 12 months for you to honestly believe we are going to attain some level of respectability as an FBS Football Program?

In the next 12 months, nothing short of winning 2-3 games next season and being far more competitive in most of our other games will do much to convince me of anything. That was my benchmark for this season (3 wins and generally more competitive), and that was basically out the door after game 2.

Between now and the beginning of next season, I think the only major things to look at in terms of improvement are what they do with the coaching staff and how recruiting goes. I assume Harasymiak will return, but I’ll be interested to see what they do with basically everyone else. For recruiting, I agree with others who have said we need to focus on building strength and depth in the trenches, OL, DL and LBs. We may be a really boring team next year, but if we have a strong running game and strong defense coupled with a serviceable QB, I’d be perfectly fine with that. It doesn’t need to be sexy. We just need to stop the bleeding.

2025 was a totally lost year. We have to look at next season as year one of the rebuild. That sucks, but it is what it is. I’m hoping whatever went haywire last year gets looked at, addressed, and we can start to see the incremental improvement that I hoped would happen this season. But there’s no measure besides on-field performance that will convince me of anything.

All that said, I haven't lost faith or confidence that we can be respectable in the MAC, and I'm increasing my support of the football program this year.

[jjmc85]

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.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

It all starts with a change at the top of the Department, followed by some clear and evident eye test improvement on the field from both on field talent and coaching.


Agreed with jjmc... there has no been reset. The only way that can be stated moving forward is if the top of the Department changes.

[Sheck]

Need to see the financial commitment from the university. The NIL commitment needs to be there and it may have to be an overspend in the short term to get the players to come here. The second part is an actionable plan on improving McGuirk. Gotta look the part.

Lack of financial commitment has plagued this program the entire time it has been FBS. If we get the commitment that is apparently here (or coming), then I think we'll see this thing turn around. UMass has the highest ceiling of any school in the MAC.

[stevemaz]

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

[TheInsider]

What will it take? Overpaying for some good players... 2 million?? Might have to spend 4-5 to try and flip this... dont go out and get ivy league lineman.. get some legit kids

[vanmeter]

The first order of business is getting a competent coach. I am not saying Joe is not but I have to see considerable improvement to be convinced he is. A minimum of 4 wins should be expected. It should be noted that Whipple got fired for winning consecutive 4 win seasons with far less support from administration and far more challenging schedules.

[eldonabe]

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

Steve any team even in the most remote area will sell out if the team playing there is good.

I am talking about the overall sports culture in this area. As well all know the northeast is a pro sports town…. That is the support I am talking about from the school and state…. They do not prioritize college spots at all. If we have a good season it is in spite of their lack of support not because of it, then if you manage a break out season they will all get their PR points in the moment.

That does not count.

The governor of Louisiana is doing the coaching search for the next FB head coach…. THAT is supports. Even if it is an overreach….

[Steve81]

It all starts with a good recruiting class on Wednesday.

[Berkman]

After a season without a win coach realizes what kind of a team he has and where are the weaknesses. Obviously the offensive line was bad as was the secondary. He knows what he has to do the fix those areas. I agree with an earlier post that we should expect 2 - 3 wins next year.

[5150]

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

[tdmass]

Massachusetts and Louisiana are about as Far apart as you can get, and it has nothing to do with distance!

[Jack]

Long winded rant aside, the question is inherently subjective. However there would need to be substantial improvement as a football team. to get there I submit a modest proposal:

1) replace Bamford w/an AD that has been an AD or AAD for a successful MAC program. 2) Give Coach H all the resources he reasonably needs to substantially improve the program. 3) select a good experienced QB to compete for the starting job. 4) Obtain and develop FBS players for OL, DL & LB... Not FCS transfers we tried that and they got run over. 5) Decide who the starting QB is instead of tinkering w/a rotation for the entire season. 6) beat Sacred Heart and win 2 other games MAC and/or OOC.

7) McGuirk renovation is important. Alot can be done to significantly improve the gameday experience. The sole focus s/b to develop and enable a fan friendly home field advantage.

[stevemaz]

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

Steve any team even in the most remote area will sell out if the team playing there is good.

I am talking about the overall sports culture in this area. As well all know the northeast is a pro sports town…. That is the support I am talking about from the school and state…. They do not prioritize college spots at all. If we have a good season it is in spite of their lack of support not because of it, then if you manage a break out season they will all get their PR points in the moment.

That does not count.

The governor of Louisiana is doing the coaching search for the next FB head coach…. THAT is supports. Even if it is an overreach….

I would consider hiring me to develop a marketing plan based on shaming the sports fans of western mass..