The Massachusetts Daily Collegian: September 8th, 2016

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UMass football looks to enter year one as an Independent with core group of young talent By Kyle DaLuz Collegian Staff

T

he Massachusetts football team is heading into uncharted territory. In their first season as an FBS independent, the Minutemen will face a challenge like no other the program has faced before. Their schedule is loaded with superior opponents, they have lost talented players in the inevitable roster turnover and they are without a conference to receive revenue from for the first time as an FBS member. Life as an independent is challenging. UMass (0-1) went from competing in the Mid-American Conference making $1 million in shared conference revenue to a college football outsider, joining Army, Notre Dame and Brigham Young University. But that won’t stop the Minutemen from playing in 12 games against difficult opponents, as Mississippi State, South Carolina and Boston College ready to face UMass at different points during the season. The Minutemen opened their season last Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida, with the nation expecting them to get pummeled by the Gators. UMass surprised all – trailing by three points heading into the final 15 minutes in a game they were 37-point underdogs in. They dropped the season opener in an ultra-competitive 24-7 affair, which is what Minutemen fans can hope to see out of the team for the remainder of the season. Ross Comis opens up the season as UMass’ starting quarterback, beating out transfer Andrew Ford. Comis was 9-of-17 with 141 yards against Florida and rushed in the lone UMass touchdown in the second quarter. Comis posted a quarterback rating of 122.6 in his first game as a collegiate starter. “I thought Ross showed some toughness and some ability there,” Whipple told the Daily Hampshire Gazette following Saturday’s defeat. “He was really amped up as all the guys were. But he hung in there and did some things.” Offensively, the Minutemen need to show improvement. Gaining just 187 yards and 12 first downs, UMass was in the game largely due to the penalty yardage and miscues by the Florida defense. The Gators gifted the Minutemen 80 yards in penalties with UMass coming away with just seven points. Receivers Andy Isabella, Bernard Davis, Shakur Nesmith and Jalen Williams, along with tight end Adam Breneman, are the weapons Comis will need to utilize in the passing game to score more points for the Minutemen offense this season. Breneman, a redshirt junior, is a transfer from Penn State who hopes to provide an instant impact in the UMass offense. Isabella has already developed some chemistry with Comis, racking up 95 receiving yards in the opener on three receptions, including a 53-yard connecsee

INDEPENDENT on page A5


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