UMass Football vs. Bowling Green: Required Reading

The pre-MAC season is over and the UMass Minutemen have come out a bit worse off than expected. At 0-4, the Minutemen find themselves dealing with a pair of blowout losses, a hard-fought game that got away from them, and a downright embarrassing display in a loss to an FCS squad.

However, all of that is now history and Charley Molnar can get his guys focused on a MAC schedule that will also be quite a bit daunting. Their first game will be on the road against a Bowling Green Falcons team that has been on a roll to start the year. Not the best circumstances, but hey, at least it's not Wisconsin again, right?

Now with the game just a day away, get yourself ready by catching up on all of the news and notes put out by the upstanding journalists who cover the team.

Hustle Belt

Your favorite Merry Men of #MACtion keep you up to date.

MAC Football Week 6 Coverage
All things #MACtion for Week 6 here on Hustle Belt.

Paul Pasqualoni's firing from UConn could be a windfall for UMass Football
UMass should be moving in on a pair of UConn commits with offers from the Minutemen, but in the long run this could give UMass a small leg up.

UMass Fans, Alumni Are Upset With Charley Molnar
Our StoryStream that keeps everyone updates on all things Alumni Petition-gate. For the original story, keep scrolling down to Matt Vatour's story in the Daily Hampshire Gazette section.

MassLive.com/Springfield Republican

Dan Malone keeps you on track with the local broadsheet/website combo.

UMass Podcast: Episode 12 - Bowling Green preview with John Wagner
Malone is joined by John Wagner of the Toledo Blade to help preview the University of Massachusetts football team's upcoming game against Bowling Green.

Bowling Green football coach Dave Clawson on UMass' 0-4 start: 'Sometimes record is a function of schedule'
Bowling Green football coach Dave Clawson, whose Falcons are set to host UMass Saturday following the team's week four bye, looks at the Minutemen and sees something beneath the surface.

"I think UMass is an improved football team. I think sometimes you look at a team's record and sometimes record is a function of schedule," Clawson told reporters during the weekly Mid-American Conference coaches teleconference Monday.

UMass football a 25-point underdog in MAC opener against Bowling Green
The University of Massachusetts football team is a 25-point underdog heading into its Mid-American Conference opener at Bowling Green on Saturday, according to a collection of odds on the betting website Covers.com.

UMass football vs. Bowling Green: Tight end Ricardo Miller looking to get back on track after slow start
Instead, [Ricardo] Miller has only two catches and 22 yards. Nevertheless, he says he hasn't gotten frustrated.

"It's not disappointing, but I definitely expect more of myself," he said. "I'm working now, with the bye week and everything, and preparing for Bowling Green this week. I definitely want to get more catches as the season progresses and be able to be that positive impact that I know I can be on this offense."

Kicking competition re-opens after Blake Lucas' early-season struggles
"At the kicking spot, we just want better, we just want more," Molnar said. "I'm very, very confident in Blake's talents, though Blake's performance doesn't match his capabilities. So, if he can't match his capabilities, then perhaps someone else can step up for us and do the job in a winning fashion."

247sports - Maroon Musket

Bob McGovern gives you his always informative takes on UMass football.

Monday Morning Read Option - Why football is awesome
I want to sit in the press box and joke about failed read option plays with my peers, and I want to drive home afterward and think about what I wrote while listening to the soothing sounds of Social Distortion.

Opponent Spotlight: Bowling Green
When discussing Bowling Green, you can't look past its defense, which has been the program's bread and butter – or more fittingly, the meat and potatoes – for the past few years.

It's on U: Phil Elmassian
Heading into Bowling Green, early depth charts indicate that UMass will come back out in the 4-3. If all holds, Clemons, who has been a tough customer in even tougher situations, will benefit from having Daniel Maynes on his shoulder, and the trio of linebackers – Shane Huber, Stanley Andre and Ed Saint-Vil – will get a second chance to show how they work as a unit.

Maroon Musket Podcast: Ep. 3
On this episode, Marc Bertrand and Bob McGovern discuss (and turn the page) on the alumni petition, Bowling Green, what Paul Pasqualoni's firing means for UMass and a little recruiting.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette

UMass football alumni petition Charley Molnar for better treatment of players
Matt Vatour spent much of this week focused on the beginning of basketball season, but he also broke the biggest story of the week with the player mistreatment petition. Kudos to Matt, as always.