Man...UMass is awful

[Ian]

I thought I'd take the family to Gillette today since it's cheap for the 4 of us to see a UMass game (4 tix = 1 Pats Ticket) and I had never been to a college game before and had heard college games were quite an experience. Gotta say, I was disappointed.

Aside from getting beat convincingly 24-14 (one week after getting destroyed 45-0 by Wisconsin - and the score makes it look far closer than it really was since Maine knelt on it instead of scoring again at the end) the crowd was flat and the lower half of the stadium (the home side) was sparsely populated and the upper levels excluding the club seats were closed (so they were empty) and the fans that were there weren't very lively. That was quite different from the atmosphere in the lot when we first got there and people were tailgating, people were pretty upbeat, etc...I thought it was going to be a crazy scene...I was wrong.

As for Maine, they had only two sections on the visitors side filled (although it seemed the stadium staff later allowed them to spread out a little by opening a couple other sections) and the group they had were way more into it. Much louder, much better intensity.

Then again, that's probably due to the fact Maine came ready to play while UMass played with zero urgency and the play calling was certainly a little questionable. Fans weren't happy and were finally vocal at the end as the team was leaving the field toward head coach Charley Molnar...and it was a little ugly. They're definitely a mess

 

[TriplecHamp]

Pretty sure UMass isn't the best place to get a real saturday college football experience

take the trip down to Rutgers/Penn State (for a real CFB experience in the north east). Nothing like a big SEC game though.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

umass was 1-11 last year aganst the spread...and gave 30+ points almost every game.

Made a ton of $$ off of them last year and will do so again this year. They are brutally bad

College games are intense...big programs ect. Went to 2 Penn St games in Penn a few years back..was simply amazing.

But when people know your team will be lucky to win 1 game a year..it's much different

 

[Keyser Söze]

love it

go UNH!!!!!

 

[Ian]

Here was the view from across the field (I was in Section 108):

Not quite what I was expecting

 

[Big-T]

...at least they can fall back on knowing that they aren't the Jets?

 

[Soadisthebest]

Here was the view from across the field (I was in Section 108):

Not quite what I was expecting

Looks like a Jaguars game.

 

[fnordcircle]

NE is generally a bad college football area because there are so many colleges.

Where I have moved there are 2 big programs and they are HUGE out here, people get super excited about it and you see merchandise and bumper stickers more than you see NFL or any other major sport's merchandise.

I used to wonder why I couldn't get into college ball but being out here it's easy to get excited for it.

 

[weswelker#83]

Boston College Eagles are a decent football team.

 

[fnordcircle]

Boston College Eagles are a decent football team.

Yeah but they're a distant like, 8th, in terms of area teams that garner interest from natives.

When you go some place where the college team is as big or bigger than the NFL team then it's a grand old time.

 

[shmessy]

Yeah but they're a distant like, 8th, in terms of area teams that garner interest from natives.

When you go some place where the college team is as big or bigger than the NFL team then it's a grand old time.

In New England, college is for....you know.... college.

 

[Mike the Brit]

In New England, college is for....you know.... college.

Not sure the Harvard basketball players that got caught cheating had that message, though.

 

[shmessy]

Not sure the Harvard basketball players that got caught cheating had that message, though.

When it happens at Harvard, it is a huge scandal.

When it happens in Alabama, it is called "Tuesday".

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Here was the view from across the field (I was in Section 108):

Not quite what I was expecting

About the size crowd at a Tufts game

 

[tonyto3690]

As for the crowd bit, it's because the board decided it was a great idea to have all the home games an hour and a half away from the school. And on top of that join a conference they clearly were not going to be able to compete in.

Far away home games + inability to compete = awful football atmosphere.

 

[Water Boy]

I think UMass made a mistake going to the MAC. They were a very good Division I FCS team. Now they are absolutely atrocious.

 

[Gwedd]

When it happens at Harvard, it is a huge scandal.

When it happens in Alabama, it is called "Tuesday".

I understand that folks driving past Harvard are cautioned to roll up their windows. It keeps the University Officials from throwing a degree in on your front seat.

ROLL TIDE!

 

[shmessy]

As for the crowd bit, it's because the board decided it was a great idea to have all the home games an hour and a half away from the school. And on top of that join a conference they clearly were not going to be able to compete in.

Far away home games + inability to compete = awful football atmosphere.

1) Yeah, like it is hard to find UMass alumni in......Massachusetts.

2) Huge obstacle for a tiny school.

3) Hard to "compete" against Maine??? Maybe UMass should rethink playing football at all.

What do you tell yourself when high schools play in Gillette and draw double what UMass drew this weekend?

 

[FCB02062]

NE is generally a bad college football area because there are so many colleges.

Where I have moved there are 2 big programs and they are HUGE out here, people get super excited about it and you see merchandise and bumper stickers more than you see NFL or any other major sport's merchandise.

I used to wonder why I couldn't get into college ball but being out here it's easy to get excited for it.

You obviously weren't around here when Doug Flutie was at BC and about 10 years later when Glenn Foley was quarterback. Both of those teams were in the discussion for national championships late in the season. Thusly, both led local sportscasts and sports radio at the time...

 

[ewg_gestalt]

Nothing like a big SEC game though.

On the other hand, I don't think I'd want to bring young(ish) kids to an SEC game. The "hydration strategies" of the attendees are a little too aggressive to make it a fun family atmosphere.