When Coach Solich arrived many years ago, he mentioned that his scheduling philosophy was to schedule a money game, a I-AA team and two games that give you a 50/50 chance of winning. That is why Marshall, Umass, N. Texas, Wyoming, UC, Kansas, etc. are on the schedule. UMASS won four games and improve alot at the end of the season. Are they as good as Florida State? Of course not. Saul probably is thinking that same way in basketball. Ohio played at Maryland, but have scheduled Coppin, Alabama A@M , Prairie View, NW Ohio, Urbana, Sam Houston, Tenn Tech and Bryant the past few years. As a fan I would love to see the teams that NI is playing in football. Of course my job doesn't depend on winning those games either.

Is this real? I hope you're saying that tongue-in-cheek.

They have 14 wins in the last 6 years

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/massachusetts /

I know they're only 6 years into going FBS ... and they did win 4 games (their most since returning) ... but they're still one of the worst teams in FBS ... 108/130 in avg computer ratings this year and that's their best year ever.

Check your facts ... you are actually short-changing yourself.

They beat App State and BYU ... they didn't lose to them.

Beat App State 30-27 and beat BYU 16-10

Yes ... UMass is better than say, Texas State. But I still wouldn't classify them as a quality out-of-conference game.

I really wish this would have happened a handful of years back when we had VT in the 3/1 deal. I have no idea how many $50 tickets we could have sold but I guess we'll never know.

But a VT home game would be a great way to debut turkey legs at the concession stands.

My bet is we could have sold a bunch. The folks at Mem Aud have been able to crack the $50 a ticket level and bring in increasingly good talent. I bought 4 tickets for Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin this past Monday for $55 a seat. Bring in the right good talent and people will pay reasonable prices. Saw Lyle a couple years ago with Robert Earl Keen and it was well worth $55.