UNH v UMass next two games to be played @ Gillette

[GannonFan]

@ UMass this game draws 15-17k in Durham 10-12k

I don't see why 25-30k wouldn't be expected.

Look at the schedule.
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/ ... schedules/
UMass will likely be somewhere from 2-4 to 4-2 coming into that game, and UNH anywhere from 3-4 to 5-2. I don't see 25-30k coming to that game if both teams are around .500. A lot will depend on the record of the 2 teams.

I agree that UMass isn't expected to do very much, but why do you think UNH would all of a sudden drop off the map and be a .500 team? All they've done is be arguably the best and most consistent CAA team over the past 5-6 years - hard to see why they will all of a sudden change from that.

[LastMinuteman]

On the exact same day, Maine is playing at Rhode Island 50 miles down the road from Gillette Stadium. Why not do a double-header?

[COBBLESTONE]

I think both UNH and UMass see this as a way of being seen by a whole new group of fans. Both schools have a ton of alum in eastern Mass. If they like what they see they may start to head north or west on saturdays.

True. There is also a lot more money in eastern Mass. and I think alumns of both schools would be willing to spend it to see their respective alma mater play in a venue like Gillette. Congrats to both schools and credit to Kraft for allowing this.

[COBBLESTONE]

On the exact same day, Maine is playing at Rhode Island 50 miles down the road from Gillette Stadium. Why not do a double-header?

I like it. FWIW I'll make mention of this to Thorr. Not that I have any pull in the AD office but it can't hurt to mention this.

[BDKJMU]

Look at the schedule.
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/ ... schedules/
UMass will likely be somewhere from 2-4 to 4-2 coming into that game, and UNH anywhere from 3-4 to 5-2. I don't see 25-30k coming to that game if both teams are around .500. A lot will depend on the record of the 2 teams.

I agree that UMass isn't expected to do very much, but why do you think UNH would all of a sudden drop off the map and be a .500 team?All they've done is be arguably the best and most consistent CAA team over the past 5-6 years - hard to see why they will all of a sudden change from that.

Most consistent and best are 2 totally different things. UNH has a very good program and great coach, may have been the most consistent CAA team over the last 5-6 seasons, but haven't been the best.
-Last 6 seasons (04'-09') JMU has the best record in league play (37-11).
-Last 5 seasons (05'-09') its still JMU (30-10) followed by UR (29-11) then UMass and UNH (both 28-12). UR has the most overall wins (49-18).
-There's also 5 CAA teams with NC appearances (and 2 of those with multiple semi appearances) and winning records in the playoffs the last 6 years, and UNH isn't one of them.

1st of all one of the reasons UNH has been very consistent is that they've had the luxury of playing in the North those last 6 seasons. For example the South going 11-7, 14-4, 14-4 vs the North the last 3 years. 2ndly I'm not saying they will be .500. I'm saying going into that game they possibly could be going into the UMass game. 3rdly they do lose half their starters from their last game. Look at their schedule BEFORE playing UMAss. Sure they have 3 highly likely Ws in CCSU and URI. But they also have these 4 games:
-@ Pitt
-@ Maine (remember, they only beat Maine by 3 last season in Durham and Maine loses I believe only 3 starters).
-UR
-@JMU

So again, it wouldn't be a surprising at all if going into the UMass game UNH were around 4-3/3-4. They're not going to be 6-1 as they're not playing their usual weak I-A in Pitt, whom I don't see them beating, and no way do they sweep @Maine, UR, @ JMU. Like I said before, they will be anywhere from 5-2 to 3-4 going into the UMass game.

[Keenan]

I bet this game will out draw any NE Revolution game at Gillette!

[JConnolly]

I bet this game will out draw any NE Revolution game at Gillette!

I've been to Revs games before and there are legit less than 2,000 people there. 2 Summers ago, they had a double header with a Revs game, then Brazil vs. Venezuela after, the same 2,000 showed up to the Revs, and then Gillette filled up real quick for Brazil. If I remember correctly, which I should, considering I drove my buddies home after the game, it was a capacity crowd. Me and my 5 white buddies, and 65,000 Brazilians. It was nuts.
I think what they'll do for UNH vs UMASS is to only open the lower seating section, so the Stadium will look more full. It looks better to people that are there, and on TV, and it will also look better for the sponsors that advertise.

[WildCat In The Hat]

I agree that UMass isn't expected to do very much, but why do you think UNH would all of a sudden drop off the map and be a .500 team?All they've done is be arguably the best and most consistent CAA team over the past 5-6 years - hard to see why they will all of a sudden change from that.

Most consistent and best are 2 totally different things. UNH has a very good program and great coach, may have been the most consistent CAA team over the last 5-6 seasons, but haven't been the best.
-Last 6 seasons (04'-09') JMU has the best record in league play (37-11).
-Last 5 seasons (05'-09') its still JMU (30-10) followed by UR (29-11) then UMass and UNH (both 28-12). UR has the most overall wins (49-18).
-There's also 5 CAA teams with NC appearances (and 2 of those with multiple semi appearances) and winning records in the playoffs the last 6 years, and UNH isn't one of them.

1st of all one of the reasons UNH has been very consistent is that they've had the luxury of playing in the North those last 6 seasons. For example the South going 11-7, 14-4, 14-4 vs the North the last 3 years. 2ndly I'm not saying they will be .500. I'm saying going into that game they possibly could be going into the UMass game. 3rdly they do lose half their starters from their last game. Look at their schedule BEFORE playing UMAss. Sure they have 3 highly likely Ws in CCSU and URI. But they also have these 4 games:
-@ Pitt
-@ Maine (remember, they only beat Maine by 3 last season in Durham and Maine loses I believe only 3 starters).
-UR
-@JMU

So again, it wouldn't be a surprising at all if going into the UMass game UNH were around 4-3/3-4. They're not going to be 6-1 as they're not playing their usual weak I-A in Pitt, whom I don't see them beating, and no way do they sweep @Maine, UR, @ JMU. Like I said before, they will be anywhere from 5-2 to 3-4 going into the UMass game.

BDK, hate much?? Threads about the excitement generated by playing at Gilette and you go off on a tangent about UNH only being consistent, but not the best in the CAA? Still sore from having to watch the playoffs last year? How bad was the North last year when you played Hofstra? I like our chances against Maine, Richmond and most definitely the Dukes.

[BDKJMU]

BDK, hate much?? Threads about the excitement generated by playing at Gilette and you go off on a tangent about UNH only being consistent, but not the best in the CAA? Still sore from having to watch the playoffs last year? How bad was the North last year when you played Hofstra? I like our chances against Maine, Richmond and most definitely the Dukes.

Obviously you have a little reading comprehension difficulty. I pointed out that given their schedules going into that game that I saw UMass being anywhere from 4-2 to 2-4 and UNH anywhere from 5-2 to 3-4. As many posters claimed the game would draw 25-30k, I said I didn't see that many coming IF both teams were around .500 coming into that game. GF then stated UNH was the best and most consistent CAA team the last 5-6 years and asked why I thought UNH would be a .500 team. I acknowledged they were the most consistent and had a good program and great coach, but disputed they were the best the last 5-6 years and backed that up with some facts. I then laid out how difficult the UNH schedule was before the UMass game. Heck, according to some of the Patriot and NEC posters on here, even Lehigh and CCSU might be the preseason picks to win their respective conferences. Through the 1st 7 weeks (through Oct 16), UNH probably has the most difficult schedule of all the CAA teams. The only hate is in your imagination.

[grizzaholic]

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