Fall camp is over and the focus of the Wisconsin football team is now on the upcoming matchup with the UMass Minutemen. So, as the team goes so go we here at MTB. Starting our focus on the game ahead will be our famous "Know thy Enemy" feature as we give you the inside scoop on the opponent for each week every Monday.
Joining us to impart some knowledge of what this week's opponent is all about is Bob from Maroon Musket, the 247sports site dedicated to the Minutemen. Make sure to follow them on Twitter @MaroonMusket for all the news you need about this week's opponent.
So, enjoy the first of 12 "Know thy Enemy" features this season….
MadTownBadgers: UMass isn't even a toddler yet in FBS football terms, but how do you assess the transition to the new level so far?
Bob: The Minutemen made the transition from FCS to FBS during a very awkward time for the program.
During the early 2000s, the Minutemen boasted one of the best FCS programs in the nation. Coaches like Mark Whipple and Don Brown consistently brought in high-end talent and tore through lesser New England opponents en route to the playoffs. However, when it became clear that UMass was "never going to move up" Brown left for Maryland, and UMass brought in Kevin Morris – a coach who many figured would be an undertaker for the program.
When news surfaced that Bob Kraft was essentially giving UMass a stadium, and the MAC wanted it as a football-only member, the team was in shambles. It was coming off a losing season and looked poised to sink deeper in the CAA standings. The team UMass brought into year one of its FBS adventure would have had trouble against Delaware, Maine and New Hampshire. With Michigan, UConn and Vanderbilt on the horizon, things were going to get really ugly.
Attendance was down, as the school made a mad dash to market a really bad team in an awkward home game arrangement. However, despite going 1-11 and getting mangled by nearly every team it played, UMass brought in a quality recruiting class under first-year coach Charley Molnar. The 2013 class, dubbed the "best in school history" complemented the 2012 class, which was put together in just a few months. The 2012 freshmen led the team through its maiden voyage and showed signs that it could compete against MAC opponents down the line.
With on-campus stadium improvements coming, and better recruits committing to the program, things are starting to look a little better. UMass will eventually be a player in the MAC. The program has a long and storied history – complete with 22 conference championships, and a national title – and fans do not put up with failure. Multiple sources have said the same thing: When a few MAC coaches heard UMass was joining, the reaction was mixed. On one hand, they were happy to have a name brand join the conference. On the other hand, they knew UMass could out-recruit a good chunk of the teams, based on the campus, geography and its position as a flagship university.
Things should improve in year two, but it won't be easy with teams like Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Kansas State and Northern Illinois on the horizon.
MTB: As with most teams in transition, youth seems to be the theme of the day. So far in camp who is standing out above the crowd and why?
Bob: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Mike Wegzyn has improved a great deal after getting throttled for most of the 2012 campaign. Wegzyn shed some baby fat, learned the entire playbook and seems to have good chemistry with his receivers. Wegzyn's greatest asset is his ability to shake off bad plays and move forward. He should have a better second year under center.
Of the new guys, Lorenzo Woodley is about as good as advertised. The top-rated recruit in UMass' 2013 class is pushing for reps at running back right away, but a lingering foot ailment might slow him down a bit. He and redshirt freshman Stacey Bedell, who chose UMass over an 11th-hour offer from Boston College, should get a lot of reps early, as Jordan Broadnax – tabbed as UMass' starter – is out with a knee injury.
Keep an eye on Kassan Messiah, an outside linebacker who will likely spend some time at defensive end. Messiah led all MAC freshmen in tackles and has added some size and speed in the offseason. By the time Messiah graduates, he may be an all-conference performer.
UMass also picked up a new recruit in Shakur Nesmith, a wide receiver from Pennsylvania who joined the team late in the recruiting process. He has size and speed and seems to be on the same page as Wegzyin – particularly in the red zone.
Freshmen linebackers Shane Huber and Steve Casali are also two guys to watch. UMass coaches have been pleased with their progress.
MTB: 1-11 isn't pretty no matter how you spin it… But it appeared the defense was the most brutal part of it all – who is looked at as a leader and what is the strength (if there is one) of the defense heading into 2013?
Bob: While UMass' defense took a beating, it was actually much further along than the offense. The main problem was that, with UMass' offensive ineptitude, the defense was always on the field. If the offense can put it together a little bit, the defense should be OK in year two.
Middle linebacker Stanley Andre is a huge part of this defense. Due to a very thin defensive line, Andre had to play defensive end last year, but UMass defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian said he was the best Mike backer on the team. Andre and Messiah should do a nice job at linebacker, which looks to be a much-improved position.
On the defensive line, Galen Clemons and Kevin Byrne are seasoned veterans and very rarely get pushed around by opposing offensive lines. Justin Anderson, a big fifth-year transfer from Maryland, is going to give this group a big boost and can play either defensive end or tackle if needed.
The Minutemen have a young and talented secondary, but it remains to be seen who will take control at safety. Darren Thellen held down the deep defense last year and will be missed.
MTB: For those of us uneducated folks… What does being a UMass football fan mean and what is game day like up your way?
Bob: UMass had a small but fervent following throughout its time as an FCS school. When the university allowed tailgating, thousands would show up outside McGuirk Alumni Stadium to drink, eat and mingle. There was a big problem: UMass didn't play anyone worth talking about, so the die-hards would watch, while the students would drunkenly walk back to campus.
The Gillette situation poses a bit of an obstacle. It is 90 miles away from campus, and a lot of students have a tough time motivating themselves to hop on a school bus for a day-long, cross-state adventure. Again, the 10,000 die hards show up no matter what, but the school is hoping to motivate the alumni in the Boston area to come out. Word is traveling, but folks in New England only show up for winners. They hate to hear that, but its true. Even the mighty Red Sox once drew less than 700 fans for a game back when they were down and out in the 1960s. If UMass wins, the fans will come in droves – just like they did in the 1990s when Marcus Camby put the school on the map.
Tailgates at Gillette are enjoyable, and those who do show up tend to arrive early and leave late. Things will be interesting in 2014. That's when UMass comes back home to Amherst for three games in an upgraded stadium. My guess is that the scene will be pretty exciting.
MTB: Apparently there was a faculty vote that fell just one vote short to leave FBS football after one year? What's up with that?
Bob: There is an ad hoc committee at the university, and its job is to keep a watchful eye over the football program.There are professors on this committee who are against the upgrade for a multitude of reasons. Some cite concussions. Some cite finances. Others say the NCAA is a failure. There is no real concentrated argument – it's akin to television static.
Regardless, this committee decided to vote on whether to suggest that the university downgrade the football program. It is literally that convoluted. In essence, if the vote was unanimous, the group would make a completely non-binding suggestion to the powers that be, and the school could take it under advisement. However, the group did not get the requisite votes, so it did not go forward with the non-binding suggestion. MadTown Badgers and this committee have the same power: Both can write a letter to the University of Massachusetts and suggest downgrading the program.
The committee has no real power, but it does create bad PR, which is partially because one of its members has a certain Boston reporter in his pocket. I leave out names because neither deserve the words that have already been written about them.
Bad PR is also caused by ill-informed reporters. Both CBS and a few SBNation blogs reported that, if the vote had gone through, that UMass would be downgraded. That is incorrect and irresponsible reporting. As a professional journalist and a media law attorney, this is the part of the situation that saddens me the most.
MTB: Finish this sentence: 2013 will be a success if…..
Bob: UMass finishes with more than one win and the 2013 class jells in a way that makes 2014 a year to look forward to.
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