Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

UMass notebook: Minutemen announce scheduling agreements, Frohnapfel eyes improvement

(Maria Uminski/Daily Collegian)
(Maria Uminski/Daily Collegian)

The Massachusetts football team announced a host of scheduling agreements through 2022 Wednesday, officially laying the groundwork to operate as an Independent after its agreement with the Mid-American Conference ends in 2015.

In total, UMass announced 19 new games – which includes nine games in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons – and several multi-year agreements with prominent national programs.

UMass announced four-year series with both Brigham Young University and Army. The series with Army will extend as far as 2022. The Minutemen will also face Troy in 2016, as well as BYU, Hawaii, Old Dominion and Appalachian State in both 2016 and 2017. UMass is scheduled to face Tennessee and Ohio in 2017.

The Minutemen will officially play 2016 and 2017 as an independent while they look for a new conference home. All scheduled home games could be played at either Gillette Stadium or McGuirk Stadium.

 

Frohnapfel eyes weekly improvement

 

 When UMass coach Mark Whipple revisited tape following his team’s 48-7 loss to Penn State, he came away impressed with his quarterback Blake Frohnapfel.

Despite steady defensive pressure from the Nittany Lions, Whipple said Frohnapfel made some “NFL throws” under duress. Whipple didn’t want to contemplate where UMass would be this season if it didn’t have Frohnapfel under center.

According to Frohnapfel, he’s measuring his personal growth this season on a weekly basis.

“The game to game improvements that I was looking for, it was almost like the theme of the week,” Frohnapfel said. “It feels good to have that vote of confidence from your coach but there are still plays I need to make and games we need to win.”

Through four games, Frohnapfel’s completed 49.6 percent of his passes for 882 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Entering conference play, his hope is that UMass’ diverse offense will catch opposing defenses off guard and result in increased production.

“A lot of (MAC) teams are pretty similar with spread looks and it’s good that when teams face us, they’re going to face more of a multiples set and it will cause problems for them,” Frohnapfel said.

 

Abrokwah returns

 

Sophomore running back Shadrach Abrokwah is eligible to play Saturday against Bowling Green after being ineligible for the first four games this season due to a “non-disciplinary, non-football” issue.

“Let’s just say it’s been four games too long,” Abrokwah said with a smile after Tuesday’s practice.

Abrokwah appeared in two games as a freshman and ran for 203 yards on 51 carries. Whipple said Abrokwah would receive in-game reps and should play a role in the running game moving forward. His emergence comes at a time when UMass could desperately use a boost at running back. The Minutemen haven’t had a rusher go over 47 yards this season and ran for just three total yards against Penn State.

 

Wylie remains starter

 

Whipple also noted Wednesday that freshman kicker Matthew Wylie would still handle kicking duties against Bowling Green.

Wylie – who supplanted original starter Blake Lucas after three games – missed his first collegiate field goal attempt against the Nittany Lions. Wylie didn’t make strong contact on his 39-yard attempt, pushing it wide to the right.

But Whipple isn’t giving up on Wylie yet.

“He missed one,” Whipple said. “It’s not a career. A lot of guys have missed one.”

Wylie and Lucas competed for the starting spot in training camp and continue to do so each week in practice. Lucas will handle kickoff duties Saturday.

 

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.

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