Besides Michigan, there is only one other team really upset it was so close...
... and that's Bowling Green. Week 3, after beating UConn and ND in such fashion, was the time to get this team by surprise. UMass did a great job taking advantage of all things sluggish and non-fundamental.
Something tells me B.G.S.U. will not catch UM sluggish and error-prone next week.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
I'm pretty sure UMass is more talented than BGSU anyway. I'm guessing (hoping) that this one turns out like Delaware State last year
September 18th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^
looked superb. I'd take them to win the MAC, no problem.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
Thank goodness Freddie Barnes had his 4 years.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
September 18th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^
I was really thinking that Wisconsin was allergic to offenses led by Steven Threet
September 18th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^
Sure, but those are all somewhat respectable programs. Nothing on par with an FCS team.
Fine, not Minnesota, but the rest of them.
September 18th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
After all that has happened this season and the last few seasons, you're still going to denigrate the top echelon of FCS? You give me a ranked FCS team against a MAC, Sun Belt or WAC team, and I'll give you an FCS win almost every time. And if any of those teams should happen to beat M or another BCS team, it's definitely an upset, but it is NOT epic.
September 18th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^
UMASS was 5-6 last year. So yes, a loss to a mediocre FCS team would be epic.
September 19th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
And UM was 5-7 last year, what's your point? UMass is a damn fine team and they showed it yesterday. UM came out flat as hell. A young team learned an important lesson yesterday, even while getting the win.
September 19th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
UMASS was 5-6 last year. So yes, a loss to a mediocre FCS team would be epic.
Apparently you missed the discussion during the game about the players that have transferred TO UMass this year from D1 or from other FCS programs where they were starters? In other words, UMass being 5-6 last year has literally no bearing on the quality of the team this year. That UMass team is better than about 40% of the teams in D1 this year.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
September 19th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
is what enabled michigan football acceptance for a few seasons of mediocre 8 and 4s and the departure of LC. third year of RR and second year of GERG there is no pass for a FCS team a MAC, WAC or any other lesser conference team. no let down (unless there is a real scientific explanation in the body) for a high one week and not being physically and/or mentally prepared the next. App St. is too close, toledo is too close. there should be no taking for granted or unpreparedness! we are the leaders and best with the all time wins record. to me this is speaking truth. on the other hand for me, i also have FAITH that we will learn and practice hard this week and get better (each week) to hopefully not just beat BG but dominate them! i have FAITH that we will be a 'Good' team with a 'Good defense' this year!
September 18th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
BGSU scared me before this game because they seem to play tight games and won't be afraid of playing UM. That hasn't really changed for me after today, though I agree that UM will not overlook BGSU.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
We won this game. Close game we have led in the second half have often gone against us. Simply winning when playing poorly with no emotion is a plus. I dont want to see it every week, but winning the let down games havent come easy the last decade. Its a W.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^
BG has scored 28 on Marshall at half. They're not bad.
September 19th, 2010 at 5:06 AM ^
they had 2 pick 6's and 2 more picks for the whole game.
September 18th, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
If you looked at all the players that transferred from a FBS school to UMass, they are essentially a FBS school.
September 18th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Great points in the OP and in all the comments. Like OSUMC said, it is a W. As long as we take care of BGSU, people will forget about this game for the most part. If we put together a nice little run to start off this season, I don't think anyone's gonna say, "but but but they almost lost to UMass!" At the end of the fall, wins are wins.
September 18th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
It heals.
Actually losing causes the scar that never goes away.
Agree completely, at the end of the season, wins are wins.
September 18th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
It is unfortunate that it wasn't the overall performance people look for; however, Marvin Lewis' wisdom remains intact.
September 18th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
That's actually Herm Edwards...
September 18th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
But I keep seeing the ESPN ticker, stating that "MICHIGAN AVOIDS UMASS UPSET BID". Not seeing the tagline "MICHIGAN UPSET AGAIN BY FCS HALF MILLION TASTYCAKE" (plus a bunch of me favorite cocktails) really does take the sting out of this early afternoon.
September 18th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
We're gonna beat on BGSU like a rented mule.