Rhode Island rammed their way into the FCS victories over FBS column for 2021 with a 35-22 win at Massachusetts.
The Rams got on the board first after a 56-yard punt return left them with an enviable first and goal from the eight. Kasim Hill did the touchdown honors from two yards out on a third and goal quarterback keeper. If Hill’s name rings a bell, it might be because he combined for 11 touchdown passes for Maryland in 2017 and 2018.
The stats of this game were as even as they could be save two turnovers by UMass to none for Rhode Island. Rhode Island outscored UMass 14-0 in the third quarter.
UMass head coach Walt Bell was fired after the game along with the defensive coordinator for the always popular double scapegoating.
After allowing Bell a grand total of 25 games over 3 seasons to put his mark on Minuteman football, Massachusetts decided to officially end the Walt Bell era. The fruits of the Walt Bell experiment were two, a win over a similarly struggling UConn earlier this year and Akron in 2019. Massachusetts only played four games in the ‘Vid season of 2020. That did not help.
Now the Minutemen must soldier-on against the Maine Black Bears. This is now a loaded proposition on multiple fronts. Most notably, Maine just got through dispatching the Rams at Rhode Island 45-24 on October 30. Additionally, this game brings into focus the lurid spectacle of UMass possibly losing three games in a row to FCS opponents. UMass got blasted by Southern Illinois in 2019. Finally, the ESPN power index has Maine slightly favored. The idyll of Amherst will not escape the dark gaze of the Evil Eye this coming weekend.
As it stands, Rhode Island sits firmly in the middle of the Colonial at 3-3 while Maine lags slightly at 3-4. Both of these teams were picked by Lindy’s to be in the bottom half of the Colonial.
Rhode Island must be congratulated for ruining the UMass homecoming.
UMass is in the trio of Independents holding down the bottom with UMass, UConn and New Mexico State all checking in at 1-8 on the season. New Mexico State beat their FCS opponent and finishes the season hosting UMass who plays at Army the week before. To the immortal chagrin of all true hearts, New Mexico State does not play UConn this season. Unless they meet in a bowl. Sorry, not sorry. The Evil Eye just wants, and can get no, satisfaction.
UMass has been mentioned in conference realignment talk mainly by those free and intrepid souls who possess the skill of listing every available team. However, UMass previously left the MAC and a travel triangle of future C-USA travel to New Mexico State and UTEP all the way over to Florida International lacks a certain appeal from the logistics standpoint. At least, UMass would be at the top of the pyramid argue the eternally optimistic.
Additionally, a flutter of little birds from Southwest Missouri say a certain FCS school is surely ticketed for C-USA as a mere way station to the Power Five after what is to be sure domination in basketball by that curious national basketball power that has not been to the NCAA tournament for over two decades. Such are the ways of total domination.
A complicated digression, to be sure. Such are the ways of total derangement.
Mark Whipple was fired by UMass after the 2018 season. While the head man, Whipple made UMass competitive and they took several major programs to the wire. They were respectable and, in the foggy mist of the Evil Eye’s infallible memory, they had lots of offense. He is now the offensive coordinator at Pitt. Whipple had a previous very successful run at UMass, too. This included three A-10 Championships and a I-AA National Championship in 1998. Nevada made three tenures work with Chris Ault. Could a third time be the charm for UMass and Whipple?
The Eastern Whip-poor-will sings its name.
Now, can the pixies do the same?