Well now, if you ask me about the Maine vs. UMass football game, I’ll tell you it’s like a good ol’ fashioned tussle, one of those where you just don’t know who’s gonna come out on top till the very end. Now, Maine, they got themselves some mighty fine football players, but let’s not forget ol’ UMass. They been around for a long time, sure, but they sure been having a hard time lately. Let me tell ya, it ain’t been easy for them Minutemen, that’s for sure.
Let’s go back to November 13th, 2021. Now, that was a day that Maine really showed their strength. The Black Bears, led by Joe Fagnano, they came out and threw a couple of touchdowns. A real show-off move, if you ask me! And then there was Elija Barnwell, that fella ran for two scores too. Mighty impressive, I reckon. UMass? Well, they just couldn’t get their feet under ’em. They were on a losing streak, and here came Maine, ready to add another one to the pile. Maine handed them their second straight loss, and I’m sure that didn’t sit too well with the Minutemen fans.
Now, UMass, they’ve been around since 1879, a long time in the game, but ever since they moved up to the big leagues in 2011, things ain’t been going their way. They made the transition to FBS and started playin’ bowl eligible in 2013. But for the past 12 years, they been havin’ a real rough go of it. Their win percentage? It ain’t too pretty. It’s somethin’ like 17.6%. When you look at it like that, it’s no wonder they’re down in the dumps sometimes.
Here’s the thing though, they didn’t just give up. No sir, they still got that fighting spirit, even though it ain’t always been enough to win them games. Now, Maine, they’ve been sittin’ pretty for a good while in their own right. But when you stack up UMass and Maine side by side, it’s like a tale of two teams, both trying to find their way in a world of football.
UMass, for a while, was in the MAC, but they weren’t exactly what you’d call a powerhouse in the league. They went 8-40 overall and 7-25 in conference play. Then, after their time in the MAC, they tried their luck as an independent team. But things didn’t really turn around for ’em. So, when they face a team like Maine, you can almost feel the weight of their struggles. You can see the difference in how they play.
But now, things are changin’. UMass is gonna rejoin the MAC in 2024, and I reckon they’re hopin’ for better luck this time around. No more divisions, so maybe that’ll help ‘em out. Who knows? They could surprise us all, but one thing’s for sure—they sure got a lot of work to do.
Now, talkin’ about the Maine team, you gotta respect how they’re growin’ in the game. They’ve got themselves a solid quarterback in Joe Fagnano, and the man can throw the ball like nobody’s business. Then there’s Barnwell, who’s got the legs to run the ball like a deer. When these two get in the groove, UMass ain’t got much of a chance, that’s for sure. But it’s not just these two—Maine’s got a whole team of players who know what they’re doin’. They’ve got the heart and the grit that can take down even the biggest opponents.
All said and done, the game between Maine and UMass is always gonna be one for the books. Sure, Maine won that day in 2021, but who knows what the future holds. UMass might just get their act together and start turnin’ things around. They got the history, they got the players, but it’s gonna take a lot more than that to get ‘em back to where they once were.
Final Thoughts: When it comes to these two teams, it’s clear Maine’s been the stronger side lately. UMass is still tryin’ to find their way, but who knows? Football’s a funny game, and anything can happen. But if you ask me, Maine’s got the edge for now. Let’s see how it all shakes out come next season.
Tags：[Maine vs UMass football, FCS vs FBS, Maine Black Bears, UMass Minutemen, College football, Joe Fagnano, Elija Barnwell, UMass football struggles, 2021 football game, football rivalry]
