By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff AMHERST – A frigid November evening in Amherst welcomed a national audience on ESPNU for yet another program defining loss for the UMass Minutemen. At least this highly anticipated midweek MACtion affair had few in-person spectators to witness this 45-3 drubbing from the Northern Illinois Huskies. Before entering tonight’s game, NIU (3-7, 2-4) hadn’t scored more than 21 points in a single game, whereas tonight,……

Image courtesy of ESPN By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen host the Northern Illinois Huskies in their first MACtion home game since 2014. UMass enters this game reeling from a 44-10 loss at Akron hoping to salvage their season and give head coach Joe Harasymiak his first program win. 1st Down: Last week’s loss in Akron wasn’t just viewed by the normal lot of UMass fans, as a national…

By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent AMHERST – Thorr Bjorn was reintroduced on Thursday to the University of Massachusetts in a press conference alongside coach Joe Harasymiak and Athletics Director Ryan Bamford. After nearly 18 years as athletics director with the University of Rhode Island, Bjorn is returning to his alma mater and the place where he spent 15 years with the UMass athletics department as senior deputy athletic director and chief…

Image courtesy of UMass Athletics One night after another embarrassing showing for the UMass football program, the Minutemen made a significant addition. On Wednesday afternoon, the school officially announced that former Minuteman player and longtime URI Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn would become the new Senior Deputy Athletic Director. In a statement, the school says Bjorn will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer and oversee the football program. “I am honored…

Image courtesy of UMass Athletics Another night, another disappointing performance for the Minutemen. UMass had its first true ‘MACtion’ game in the middle of the week on Tuesday night when the Minutemen visited Akron. Unfortunately, the new era in the MAC has led to many of the same results fans have grown far too accustomed to. UMass lost in pretty embarrassing fashion, 44-10, dropping to 0-9 on the year and…

Image courtesy of ESPN By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen (0-7, 0-3) play their final game on a Saturday this season when they travel to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas (4-3, 2-1) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. With weekday MACtion looming around the corner for the month of November, this will be the final game the Minutemen prepare for like a traditional gameweek. 1st Down: After dropping a heartbreaking 28-21…

By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff AMHERST – There aren’t many scripts left in Hollywood that the UMass Minutemen haven’t followed to find a way to lose. In front of 15,239 fans at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Amherst, UMass (0-7, 0-3 MAC) spoiled Family Weekend with a late 28-21 collapse against the Buffalo Bulls (4-3, 3-0 MAC). Leading 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Minutemen were on…

Image courtesy of ESPN By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen (0-6) welcome the Buffalo Bulls (3-3) to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon still in search of their first win of the season. Coming off an embarrassing 42-6 loss at Kent State last weekend, the Minutemen are looking to bounce back from what some considered one of their worst defeats in the FBS era. 1st Down: Sophomore…