by Mike Gibson

What Were They Thinking?

As long as the Owls don’t let the hype get to their heads, this game should be over by halftime.

Sometimes, quoting a Deity sums everything up in a nice tight box with a ribbon on top: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Or, at least in this case, write.

Under the “what were they thinking” comes this little prediction from a University of Massachusetts’ fan named Daniel Malone disguised as a journalist: “I think the fan turnout at Gillette will be strong, helping UMass earn its first home win of the year.”

First off, even though the article was written a month ago, going off what he knew from last year it doesn’t make any sense. UMass was 3-9 last year in a weaker conference. Temple was 6-6 and a “strong” fan turnout at Gillette is about 12,000 spaced out in a 70,000-seat stadium. That faux “crowd” didn’t figure to intimidate anyone even then.

Knowing what we know now, though, it will hardly would phase a Temple team that played in front of a near-capacity bandbox of nearly 40,000 fans in Cincinnati a week ago.

Not very much thought went into this pick, obviously.

Secondly, much has changed in the first two weeks. The Owls have pummeled a Big 10 team, Penn State, that many had winning 10 games before the season started. Then they had a 34-12 lead into the fourth quarter over a Cincinnati team that was the consensus preseason favorite to win the AAC. As a point of reference, last year, a 6-6 Penn State team beat UMass, 48-7. Other than Penn State, the two teams had one common opponent a year ago, Vanderbilt. The Owls handled Vandy, 37-7. UMass lost to Vandy, 34-31.The Minutemen lost to Boston College (30-7), the fake Miami (42-41), Akron (30-6) and Buffalo (41-21).

UMass lost its only game of this season to Colorado, 48-14.

Yes, a strong fan turnout will be the difference in this one.

Not.

Tomorrow: A one-word game plan.

Saturday: ESPN Gameday and Depth Charts

Sunday: Game Analysis

Monday: Photo Essay

5 thoughts on “What Were They Thinking?”

Steve McQueen
September 17, 2015
9:46 am

That article was written in August.

Reply
- Mike Gibson
  September 17, 2015
  11:09 am
  
  yes, I know, still doesn’t make sense that a 3-9 MAC team would beat a 6-6 aac team based on a faux “crowd.”
  
  Reply
  - Ben S.
    September 17, 2015
    5:33 pm
    
    Hope the crowd doesn’t have to use the restroom at once. Might create an echo in the stadium.
captain ship (@ShipJduvich)
September 17, 2015
6:43 pm

I look forward to the depth charts

Reply
- Mike Gibson
  September 17, 2015
  9:18 pm
  
  you are not the only one.
  
  Reply

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