Independent – COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOUR

September 21, 2024October 13, 2024

UMASS – MCGUIRK ALUMNI STADIUM

Amherst, Massachusetts lies about 100 miles west of Boston in the northeast’s open country. Founded in 1863, UMass identifies a bit more as a basketball school than a football school. Action between the endzones began in 1879, and they joined the FBS in 2012. While not widely known as a football school, the Minutemen did capture a national title in 1998 while members of the FCS, and the flag commemorating that title flies proudly atop McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Despite a history deprived of consistent football glory, one thing stands out: Whether hardwood or gridiron, the fan base for UMass is an enthusiastic bunch.

November 25, 2023November 29, 2023

Game #348: #17 Notre Dame @ Stanford

The Fighting Irish and Cardinal battle annually for The Legends Trophy, one that Stanford acquired last year with a stunning upset over Notre Dame in South Bend. This year’s Irish, led by transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, have been a formidable force. Stanford has struggled this season under their new coaching regime. However, notable wins over Colorado and Washington State keep the possibility of an upset in play.

November 11, 2023November 16, 2023

Game #346: UConn @ #21 James Madison

A slow start for James Madison turned into an explosive day for quarterback Jordan McCloud who threw for a career high 457-yards and led the Dukes to a 44-6 flattening of Connecticut. Purple and gold streamers colored the skies above Bridgeforth Stadium especially in the second half as JMU outscored the Huskies 31-3. The Dukes moved to 10-0, but a bigger fight lies ahead.

October 7, 2023November 2, 2023

Game #340: Boston College @ Army

Torrents of rain crept into West Point canceling much of the pregame pomp that traditionally precedes kickoff. But, soggy turf and slick stands didn’t keep the sizable crowd from filling Michie Stadium for Boston College’s visit to Army. Even though favored to win, the Black Knights would require a formidable effort against the scrappy Eagles.

October 1, 2022October 6, 2022

Game 321: UMass @ Eastern Michigan

Homecoming in Ypsilanti had parking lots filled with green-clad Eagle fans eager to celebrate a victory. Hopes have grown in these parts with a shocking win over Arizona State just two weeks earlier. Couple that with a team that has seen more recent post season action, the expectation to win more frequently is soaring.

September 17, 2022September 21, 2022

Game 319: New Mexico State @ Wisconsin

Washington State’s upset over Wisconsin last weekend exposed the Badgers and their predictable rushing-based offense. Four-star QB recruit, Graham Mertz, seemed to only have one or two stars lit on the field. Overall, the defense played well, but the offense had many errors to correct, especially when it came to fundamental execution. While this outcome was phenomenal for the visiting Cougars, it was probably the worst case scenario for this week’s opponent, the New Mexico State Aggies. Wisconsin would come out well-practiced and angry. The Aggies were the punching bag.

October 16, 2021October 20, 2021

Game 308: Army @ Wisconsin

Two one-dimensional offenses clashed for a laborious slogfest. Both teams relied on their run games and stubborn defenses. Occasionally, a forward-pass page in the playbook would be dusted off. But, these teams knew their strengths and had no intent on entertaining the packed house in Madison. Every play had fans seeking a recline function on their seat backs.

September 25, 2021October 1, 2021

Game 306: #18 Wisconsin vs. #12 Notre Dame

Meeting in the middle in Chicago, Notre Dame battled Wisconsin for the first time since 1964. The headlines leading up to this matchup circulated around the quarterback matchup. Senior Jack Coan, Notre Dame’s signal caller, just had transferred from Wisconsin where current freshman quarterback, Graham Mertz, had just nudged him out of the starting position. The drama surged with discussions of which quarterback would prove himself more worthy. In the end, inexperience would be the difference as Wisconsin literally threw the game away.

September 28, 2019October 11, 2019

LIBERTY – WILLIAMS STADIUM

For a university that wasn’t in existence when Bo and Woody began their ten-year war in 1969, Liberty has the gameday experience figured out. It’s an atmosphere that is uniquely their own and embodies traditions that have taken strong roots. Its prosperous run as an FCS member in The Big South Conference has transitioned them smoothly into their current position as a budding force in the FBS.

September 28, 2019October 11, 2019

Game 291: New Mexico @ Liberty

“The game went nothing like what I thought it was going to go,” remarked Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze during the postgame press conference. “I went for it on 4th and 2 on the 40-yard line to start it because I just had my mind made up that this thing is going to be 45-41 shootout type game.”

It wasn’t. This was a slugfest between two schools that can light up the scoreboard. A frustrating fact for the Flames was that they had nearly 500 yards of offense in a 17-10 victory. But, a win is a win and that means everything to a team that is eligible to earn its first bowl game in program history.