UMass Football: Can the Minutemen improve in year two under Don Brown?

Can Don Brown lead UMass football back to respectability?

The Massachusetts Minutemen have quite the resume of futility since returning to major college football in 2012. UMass football spent four years in the MAC and promptly went 7-25. Independence has not treated the Minutemen much better.

UMass has had four double-digit losing seasons since 2016 and consecutive one-win seasons (2022 and 2023). The Minutemen have had no winning seasons and nothing close to a winning season in 11 years back in FBS. UMass football has not had a winning season in FBS since 1901. That is quite a resume of futility.

Ironically, the Minutemen were a powerhouse in FCS. They won an FCS National Title in 1998. Don Brown went 36-19 during his first run in Amherst from 2004-2008.

This job is like Sisyphus pushing the boulder uphill in Tartarus. The Minutemen are in one of the worst recruiting footprints in the country. Brown is attempting to build a competitive roster, which will take time. So, how do you view a program like UMass?

This might sound cliche, but you must look beyond the win column to see progress. The administration and fans must be patient with Brown and his staff — trust them enough to put a winner on the field eventually.

There were signs of being more competitive, despite winning just one game. They played Eastern Michigan, New Mexico State, and Arkansas State tough. The Texas A&M game was not a complete embarrassment either.

What will happen in 2023? Here is a preview of UMass football.