Could UMass be headed back to FCS?

Well, this isn't how Charley Molnar and the UMass football program wanted to begin its week.

After one season as football-only members in the Mid-American Conference, the Minutemen could be facing the ultimatum become all-sports member of the conference or renounce their participation in MACtion completely. Should they choose the latter, UMass could find itself in College Football No Man's Land.

When UMass' addition to the MAC was announced in April 2011, the Minutemen joined with the mutual understanding that they would be offered a full membership after two seasons of partial membership, with the option to commit full-time or see their football membership kicked to the curb. As Mark Bladuschun writes, "When UMass went to the FBS level a few years ago, the MAC took them in the way they accepted Temple, which allowed basketball to remain in the Atlantic 10. But both sides have escape clauses and the word may be that the MAC is ready to tell UMass, if you want to stay in the MAC in football, you have become a full member in all sports, which would mean UMass leaving the rising in stature A10."

UMass would have to leave the Atlantic 10, a conference it joined in 1976 and makes much more geographic sense than the Ohio-and-Michigan-centric MAC. The Minutemen could take their chances on the open market, hoping for a lifeline from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA or maybe even the Sun Belt, try to navigate life as an FBS independent or drop back down to FCS. 

There's no indication which way the UMass administration is leaning among those hard choices should the MAC decide to force a day of reckoning. But it's another example that, while the money may be good, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the conference realignment fence. 

Video: Tim DeRuyter reminds players why they train so hard

Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter sent out this tweet a few minutes ago with a video of their top 12 plays from last fall to help remind his players why they train so hard. 

Our players are back in town for summer conditioning here's a reminder of why we train so hard: https://t.co/mGiLli2LyG #GoDogs

— Tim DeRuyter (@TimDeRuyter) June 3, 2013

Pay special attention the the hit the quarterback Derek Carr puts on a defensive player on a reverse at about the 1:43 mark.

I think we're all ready for fall to be here already.

Video: Butch Jones explains why he left Cincinnati

Butch Jones won two Big East titles during his three years in Cincinnati, including 19 games over his last two seasons, and had the program rolling in the right direction. Then other opportunities came knocking.

First Colorado inquired, then it was Tennessee. After weighing all the options, the facilities in Knoxville and Neyland Stadium were too much for Jones to pass on.

After three years with the Bearcats, where he forged friendships with athletic director Whit Babcock and University president Santa Ono, Jones felt like the players finally understood the expectations of the program. But as he says in the clip, "when you get into this coaching profession everything is about timing and opportunities. I wasn't going to just leave to leave. I wasn't looking to leave."

Coach Jones explained that he looked at other opportunities in the interest of his family, but had made the decision to stick at Cincinnati until the opportunity at Tennessee presented itself.

"There's not very many 'Tennessee's'. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity at a very storied football program, and I think everyone understands that. When that opportunity presented itself, sometimes you have to make decisions for your career and your family. I leave behind a lot of great friends, but those friends will last a lifetime."

Ellis Johnson shares his regrets from last season at Southern Miss

Ellis Johnson walked into an excellent situation at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles were coming off a 12 win season, including a bowl win over Nevada and the excitement in Hattiesburg was at an all time high.

That excitement quickly dwindled as Southern Miss lost all 12 of their games in 2012. As a result, Johnson was let go, but quickly landed on his feet at Auburn as Gus Malzahn's defensive coordinator.

In a piece we came across on AL.com, Johnson looks back on his time at Southern Miss and talks about what he may have done differently if he could go back and change things. One of the things he regrets was stepping away from what got him the head coaching job, which was running the defense.

"I chose not to run the defense or the offense as a head coach. I think when you do that, it takes a little time to adjust. Where do you put all that energy and that time you were using to break down film and call defenses or offenses, etc.?"

"Hindsight, maybe I should have done that. Maybe we would have had a little bit better transition, but I felt like I wanted to be a head coach of everybody and not just one side of the ball."

Johnson, who's coached at powerhouses like Alabama, Clemson, Mississippi State and South Carolina, added that the environment at a non-BCS school was much more different that he originally thought it would be in today's world of college football.

"They probably have more money than they had then, but what's happening in college football today, sadly, is the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The conferences that are not automatic BCS schools, they're just struggling to be competitive, if you will, on a week-in, week-out basis. It was a very, very different environment, obviously. I should have realized, some of it I did realize, but on a grander scale I should have realized how different it was."

According to the article, the environment at Auburn has revitalized Johnson and he's back to doing what he does best, breaking down offensive tendencies and scheming defensively. 

Take a look at the full article here.

Video: Miami breaks down how to throw the deep ball

Here's MIami's first episode of "Mind Games", where they feature players and coaches explaining what is going through their heads during pivotal moments of a game.

This one focuses on the finer points of throwing the deep ball from the perspective of quarterback Stephen Morris. Expect this clip to be a big hit with both recruits and fans.

UCF fans are turning to the White House for all black uniforms

"We the People" is a website aimed at giving people a voice in government decisions, allowing people to start petitions on things as serious as murder investigations, to things as silly as what uniforms to wear on a Saturday in the fall.

Yes, you read that right.

Since head coach George O'Leary has been vocal about his disdain for the black on black look, UCF fans have taken to the popular website to try go over O'Leary's head to get the black on black uni combination. Apparently, if the petition gets enough signatures, it is then forwarded to the appropriate White House personnel, where they then give an official response.

From the looks of the petition mid way through the day on Sunday (screenshot pictured below), they've got a long way to go if they want to see the all black look come fall. Only 99,923 more e-signatures needed, and when we checked on Friday, the petition had just one signature.

Progress is being made, but coach O'Leary has got to be feeling pretty confident at this point.

*Note how the petition is comically listed under "Innovation" as the issue category.

This Clemson video gives recruits the total package

Last week we posted a great game day video from Clemson. When you hear a quote like "We're modern-day gladiators, playing football in Death Valley", as a recruit, you've got to know more about Clemson at that point.

Now, Dabo Swinney takes the chance to talk directly to Mom and Dad on this virtual recruiting visit. With shots of campus, Memorial Stadium and everything in between packed with Tigers fans both young and old.

Dump in these testimonials from current Tigers, and this one will pull at your orange-and-purple heartstrings:

"Go to any store and people recognize you, even if you're the fourth person coming off the bench," says wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. "It's just a family feeling. Everybody makes you feel at home and welcome."

"I think it's more than just inside football, I think it's the whole community. Everybody reaches out to you," adds linebacker Stephone Anthony. "It's just a loving, caring place. If you're one of those small-town guys, this is your place."

This video was produced by Bluechip Media Group.

Very creative 2013 hype video from North Texas

The first Saturday of the 2013 college football season is 91 days away. That means North Texas is 91 days away from taking the field as a member of Conference USA. 

While Dan McCarney and his staff are hard at work getting their troops ready to move up in competition level - with 15 starters returning, our money is on "yes" - one thing is certain. The Mean Green's video department is already prepared to compete at a BCS championship level.