UMASS FOOTBALL THE RIGHT WAY

I believe the move up to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) was the right move for UMass Football. Why not? The beautiful and spacious flagship campus of the State of Massachusetts University system in Amherst, MA with a very high population of students. In addition it has a record that has shown that UMass could potentially play on the big stage in football. The current head coach, Mark Whipple, is an excellent choice having previously taken UMass to a National Championship in Division I-AA, along with NFL coaching experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Cleveland Browns. With Pittsburgh he coached quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, to a Super Bowl Championship. He also helped to put the offense back into Miami University as the offensive coordinator. In addition he has the prevailing attitude that in order to be the best, you play the best. This year alone he has shown the ability to be competitive against prominent teams such as Florida, Boston College, and Mississippi State. This will pay off in the long run.

So what is the problem and why is the football program constantly in question? I believe that the problem rests with the UMass Athletic Department Administration. There appears to be a deep seated culture that has remained over the years, even with changing Athletic Directors. Until this changes UMass will find it difficult to continually excel in any sport. The culture is one of arrogance and elitism and they seem to lord it over many of the fans and people who could help and support them. Oh, don't get me wrong, they treat the large donors and big organizations just fine...it is with the everyday fans where the problems lie and with the students. I had a business on the common in downtown Amherst for 8 1/2 years and believe me when I say that I heard an earful. This included UMass students, alumni, faculty members, other members of the UMass administration, local fans, small business owners and more. Suffice it to say that they weren't happy with the UMass Athletic Department Administration.

Nowhere is all of the above more exemplified than with the move of the football program to Division I FBS. Their arrogance and elitism showed through with the move to schedule their home games at Gillette Stadium, some 95 miles away. Some of their stated reasoning was that the biggest base of alumni lived in the Boston area. Only one problem, many of these alumni did not regularly attend and support UMass sports. In the meantime they deserted college football's biggest fan base...the students* who are the heart, soul, and spirit of any college sports program. (*The current UMass student population in Amherst is approaching 30,000.) They also deserted their local fan base that had supported them over the years and local businesses. One Boston newspaper referred to this as the longest home game distance of any college in the country. This was a sure recipe for failure. At the time of the decsion I relayed my thoughts and warnings as to what would happen to the Athletic Dept. Oh, another trait...they don't listen. (These thoughts, warnings, and predictions were published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and the Amherst Bulletin. Go back and look.)

So now where are we? Good and competitive football played on the field, a credit to Coach Mark Whipple, his staff, and the team. The rest has been an embarrassment specifically due to the plans of the Athletic Dept. Crowds at Gillette Stadium have been averaging about 13,000 in a stadium that holds over 67,000. (Attendance at nationally prominent Mississippi State was only 13,074.) As one sportswriter noted.."It is like playing in an echo chamber". In attempting to regain some sense of the whole thing the Athletic Dept. is trying to regroup and circle back to have home games played in Amherst and that is the right thing to do.

But what about games in Amherst? Instead of taking pride in the beautiful flagship campus and the massive 30,000 student population they seem embarrassed by it and their failure to do what is necessary with McGuirk Stadium. We should all be proud of it and do what is necessary with the stadium. There have been various reports that over $20 million has been spent, another that it received a $34.5 million "facelift". Let's look at what has been done...a brand new press box, and luxury sky box for the big donors, a new turf field (good), and a new Football Performance Center for the players, coaches, etc. (also good). But what about the fans, what about the students, what about the everyday people who support the team? The seating capacity is only 17,000...isn't that what it was before?

Enough ! Here is what needs to be done:

1) We need to bring all home games back to Amherst and be proud to do so, with perhaps an occasional game at Gillette.

2) A full commitment needs to be made for the football stadium to bring it up to Division I FBS standards for competing at the highest level. No more of a losing "toe in the water" approach.

3) The UMass Athletic Administration needs an "attitude makeover" that extends into the deep seated culture that currently exists.

* They have to listen and not take the approach that they already have all the answers.

* It is all how you treat people...from the big donor, all the way down to the everyday fan...including the students. Treat everyone with respect. Accommodate and help people instead of arrogantly trying to show authority, lording it over them, and rebuffing people.

*The Athletic Department needs to embrace the students, 30,000 strong...the heart, soul and spirit of the program.

* Fully embrace the Amherst community and small businesses, they can help. Remember that the Greater Springfield area are also fans...there is a new "campus" in Springfield.

* Be proud of and fully support the UMass Marching Band...one of the best marching bands in the country.

The football program at UMass has the opportunity to become second to none. All the elements are there. There needs to be a change in the way that the UMass Athletic Department Administration conducts itself.

There needs to be a final commitment by the University of Massachusetts to do what is necessary with the stadium.

Finally, what seems to be lost is that the University of Massachusetts is a taxpayer funded public university. This needs to be reminded and re-embedded into the minds of all UMass administrators.

UMass McGuirk Stadium

(Photo by Alfredo)

Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service