UMass: the walking wounded?
According to this Daily Hampshire Gazette article, several players are trying to heal before Friday night's game with the Griz.
University of Massachusetts football coach Don Brown said his team was a collection of casts, ice and braces on Sunday as the players battled injuries of varying degrees while they prepared for Friday night's Division I Football Championship semifinal game at Montana.
'We looked like a MASH unit on Sunday, but I told the kids by Tuesday make sure that we're unmashed,' Brown said. 'The old adrenaline gets running as the week goes along and I'm sure we'll be ready to go Friday night' at 7:30 p.m
The article also offers some insight from the Sports Network's Matt Dougherty. He says that the offense has definitely improved in these playoffs. I don't think any Griz fan could disagree when he says the play of Josh Swogger has improved and frosh Thomas Brooks-Fletcher has emerged as the Griz's #1 back.
It may have been immediately following a Jamarcus Russel or vintage Daunte Culpepper-esque run but at one point the student section was definitely chanting "Swogger, Swogger, Swogger."
He also talks about what weekends are like in Wash-Griz:
'It's a feeling unlike any other I-AA venue,' he said. 'When I was there they came in with
parachuters before the game, stuff you'll usually only see at NFL stadiums. When the teams are in the north end zone inside the 20, it's unbelievably loud. The seats are very close to the field. People come from all over the state. It's a very lightly populated, but huge state, a lot of people make long drives every week. It's a pretty unbelievable atmosphere.'
If anyone wants a to feel a little of the Wash-Griz atmosphere from the comfort of their laptop, check out the YouTube clip after the jump.
Just so you know....Umass has also done fly-overs and parachute drops in the recent past. Westover Air Force Base, located nearby, has participated in celebrating UMass patriotism and accomplishments. This is nothing new to college football. Good luck to Montana...you will need it.
Just so you know, Linda...nobody asked you.
Wow ya'll must have spent so much money on those lights to keep that field bright. They might be so bright they'll blind the player. Watch out now!