College – New England Football Journal®

Former ORR standout Ryon Thomas pursuing NFL dream after stellar D3 college career

January 20, 2025

Image courtesy of Sherry Backus Saccolitti Ryon Thomas was used to playing for a smaller school after his days as an Old Rochester Regional Bulldog. Attention and recognition were earned every step of the way over in Mattapoisett. So, when he went to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham, New Jersey four years ago – not the D1 version, but the D3 school – Thomas was fully prepared for the less-than-ideal……

Funke chooses O’Brien & BC staff with early commitment despite current NIL landscape

January 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of @FunkeDominic In a day and age where trying to get every last dime and opportunity out of a school is the main goal for many recruits during the courting process, Dominic Funke went the opposite route. Still in his junior year of high school, Funke officially committed to Boston College on Wednesday evening. Funke is coming off a Division 1 Super Bowl title – Xaverian’s second in…

UMass officially names Mike Bajakian offensive coordinator

January 15, 2025

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In a release sent out by the program on Wednesday afternoon, new UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak officially announced his new offensive coordinator. Mike Bajakian is the new man charged with building the Minuteman offense. He’s got plenty of local ties and more importantly, experience at every level of football and proven success everywhere he goes. Bajakian was at the University of Utah last year and ended the season as…

Sluka joining Chesney & Kennedy again at JMU

January 15, 2025

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Two of the most important figures in the last 50 years of Holy Cross football are teaming up again in what feels like a perfect situation for everyone involved. On Tuesday, numerous reports stated that Matt Sluka was heading to James Madison to join head coach Bob Chesney’s squad after spending a tumultuous few months at UNLV this past season. Sluka becomes just the latest player or staff member to…

Dan Curran’s son Ty joining Holy Cross

January 10, 2025

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Image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics It’ll be a family affair in Worcester starting in 2025. Holy Cross head coach Dan Curran will have a familiar face in his meeting rooms and on the sideline next year as his son Ty – who played at Ball State this past season as a freshman – announced he was joining the Crusaders recently. “I want to thank Coach New and the entire…

Bill O’Brien talks BC, Belichick, Pats head coaching vacancy & more

January 9, 2025

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On Thursday morning, Bill O’Brien had his weekly appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. While the staff is in the midst of putting the pedal to the metal on recruiting, there’s a coaching vacancy in this area that is getting all the attention on both radio stations and every channel. Of course, O’Brien’s name is going to come up every single time (or close to it) there’s an opening…

Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska 20, Boston College 15 – Eagles’ late surge comes up short

December 29, 2024

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BRONX, NY – 15 years and counting. The eight-win season drought for Boston College will last at least another year as the Eagles dropped a 20-15 game in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on a raw Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Missing some key pieces and playing with a makeshift offensive line, the Eagles’ offense struggled until late. BC did make things interesting in the final four minutes, but…

Fenway Bowl: UConn 27, North Carolina 14 — Huskies earn first bowl win since 2009

December 28, 2024

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By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff BOSTON — The drive wasn’t long for many fans of the UConn Huskies on Saturday morning and it showed. In front of 27,900 strong at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, the Huskies took care of the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-14 to win the 2024 Wasabi Technologies Fenway Bowl. With a mostly UConn-dominated crowd backing them, it felt like from the first snap this team had……

Fenway Bowl Four Down Preview: North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6) vs. UConn Huskies (8-4)

December 27, 2024

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Image courtesy of UConn Athletics By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: The third annual Wasabi Technologies Fenway Bowl kicks off on Saturday morning between the UConn Huskies and North Carolina Tar Heels in a match-up more typically found on the basketball court. While the Huskies are on the prowl for their first nine win season since 2007, the Tar Heels are hoping to impress future head coach Bill Belichick from afar…

Highlights from UConn & UNC at Fenway Bowl Media Day

December 27, 2024

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By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff The third annual Wasabi Technologies Fenway Bowl may be the most intriguing match-up in this bowl game’s young history. Even before the UConn Huskies (8-4) and North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6) take the field on Saturday morning at historic Fenway Park, several story lines have already been generated due to the intriguing duo. Despite these two schools being more known for their dominant basketball programs,…

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