University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Football Announces Addition of Georgia Southern to 2020 Schedule
October 08, 2020 | Football
UMass to play the Eagles in Statesboro, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 17
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Athletics announced the addition of a Saturday, Oct. 17 game at Georgia Southern to the 2020 UMass Football schedule on Thursday. The game will be held at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, and will kick off at 4 p.m. on ESPNU. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
"Our team and staff have worked diligently to follow every protocol required of us and to create one of the safest environments to train within, in order to earn the opportunity to play games this fall," said football head coach Walt Bell. "Our players have trained hard in the weight room and in practice, and I'm excited they will now have the opportunity to compete at Georgia Southern in nine days. We cannot thank the administrations at the University of Massachusetts and at Georgia Southern University enough for working together to create this chance to play."
The game at Georgia Southern is the first added to the UMass football 2020 schedule following Massachusetts Athletics' Sept. 21 announcement that the university intends to schedule and play a limited number of football games during the fall 2020.
"I am very excited that our football program will have the opportunity to play football in 2020 and open its season in mid-October, as planned," said director of athletics Ryan Bamford. "Since returning to campus in June, our coaching staff and student-athletes have been vigilant in following the policies and safety protocols instituted by the state, our university and athletics department. Further, they have put in an incredible amount of work both on and off the field for more than three months to prepare for competition this fall. By every measure, they have conducted themselves responsibly throughout this process, and I'm pleased we are able to reward them with games this season."
Football student-athletes and staff returned to campus for team activities in late June, with extensive health and safety protocols in place to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Over the past 15 weeks more than 2,200 COVID-19 tests have been administered to members of the football program with only three positive results. All student-athletes, coaches and support staff continue to be tested multiple times per week and can increase testing to meet additional opponent requirements in order to play games, if necessary.
UMass and Georgia Southern met four times previously, with each team taking home two wins. Massachusetts most recently defeated Georgia Southern at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, 55-20, on Oct. 21, 2017 and previously won the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS National Championship over the Eagles, 55-43, on Dec. 19, 1998.
Additional opponents, game dates and sites for the 2020 season will be announced as they are confirmed and will be scheduled based on the ability to meet campus and state regulations.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
"Our team and staff have worked diligently to follow every protocol required of us and to create one of the safest environments to train within, in order to earn the opportunity to play games this fall," said football head coach Walt Bell. "Our players have trained hard in the weight room and in practice, and I'm excited they will now have the opportunity to compete at Georgia Southern in nine days. We cannot thank the administrations at the University of Massachusetts and at Georgia Southern University enough for working together to create this chance to play."
The game at Georgia Southern is the first added to the UMass football 2020 schedule following Massachusetts Athletics' Sept. 21 announcement that the university intends to schedule and play a limited number of football games during the fall 2020.
"I am very excited that our football program will have the opportunity to play football in 2020 and open its season in mid-October, as planned," said director of athletics Ryan Bamford. "Since returning to campus in June, our coaching staff and student-athletes have been vigilant in following the policies and safety protocols instituted by the state, our university and athletics department. Further, they have put in an incredible amount of work both on and off the field for more than three months to prepare for competition this fall. By every measure, they have conducted themselves responsibly throughout this process, and I'm pleased we are able to reward them with games this season."
Football student-athletes and staff returned to campus for team activities in late June, with extensive health and safety protocols in place to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Over the past 15 weeks more than 2,200 COVID-19 tests have been administered to members of the football program with only three positive results. All student-athletes, coaches and support staff continue to be tested multiple times per week and can increase testing to meet additional opponent requirements in order to play games, if necessary.
UMass and Georgia Southern met four times previously, with each team taking home two wins. Massachusetts most recently defeated Georgia Southern at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, 55-20, on Oct. 21, 2017 and previously won the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS National Championship over the Eagles, 55-43, on Dec. 19, 1998.
Additional opponents, game dates and sites for the 2020 season will be announced as they are confirmed and will be scheduled based on the ability to meet campus and state regulations.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
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