The Massachusetts Daily Collegian: September 8th, 2016

UMass football looks to enter year one as an Independent with core group of young talent

By Kyle DaLuz Collegian Staff

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he Massachusetts football team is heading into uncharted territory.

In their first season as an FBS independent, the Minutemen will face a challenge like no other the program has faced before.

Their schedule is loaded with superior opponents, they have lost talented players in the inevitable roster turnover and they are without a conference to receive revenue from for the first time as an FBS member.

Life as an independent is challenging. UMass (0-1) went from competing in the Mid-American Conference making $1 million in shared conference revenue to a college football outsider, joining Army, Notre Dame and Brigham Young University.

But that won’t stop the Minutemen from playing in 12 games against difficult opponents, as Mississippi State, South Carolina and Boston College ready to face UMass at different points during the season.

The Minutemen opened their season last Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida, with the nation expecting them to get pummeled by the Gators. UMass surprised all – trailing by three points heading into the final 15 minutes in a game they were 37-point underdogs in.

They dropped the season opener in an ultra-competitive 24-7 affair, which is what Minutemen fans can hope to see out of the team for the remainder of the season.

Ross Comis opens up the season as UMass’ starting quarterback, beating out transfer Andrew Ford. Comis was 9-of-17 with 141 yards against Florida and rushed in the lone UMass touchdown in the second quarter. Comis posted a quarterback rating of 122.6 in his first game as a collegiate starter.

“I thought Ross showed some toughness and some ability there,” Whipple told the Daily Hampshire Gazette following Saturday’s defeat.

“He was really amped up as all the guys were. But he hung in there and did some things.”

Offensively, the Minutemen need to show improvement. Gaining just 187 yards and 12 first downs, UMass was in the game largely due to the penalty yardage and miscues by the Florida defense. The Gators gifted the Minutemen 80 yards in penalties with UMass coming away with just seven points.

Receivers Andy Isabella, Bernard Davis, Shakur Nesmith and Jalen Williams, along with tight end Adam Breneman, are the weapons Comis will need to utilize in the passing game to score more points for the Minutemen offense this season.

Breneman, a redshirt junior, is a transfer from Penn State who hopes to provide an instant impact in the UMass offense. Isabella has already developed some chemistry with Comis, racking up 95 receiving yards in the opener on three receptions, including a 53-yard connecsee

INDEPENDENT on page A5

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

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TIME TO SHINE Ross Comis has waited long enough.

After two years as a backup, he’s ready to take center stage.

By Andrew Cyr Collegian Staff

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here are 80,000 people staring at Massachusetts quarterback Ross Comis.

The Minutemen are playing arguably their biggest game since taking the leap of faith to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012, a matchup on NBC with one of college football’s most historic and popular programs, Notre Dame.

With the game well out of reach, Comis trots onto the field in one of college football’s greatest cathedrals: Notre Dame Stadium. Hesburgh Library sits quietly in the distance on the crisp, fall afternoon in South Bend, Indiana, as the famous mural of “Touchdown Jesus” calmly looks over the greats who donned the forever classic navy-blue jersey, gold pants and the slick, metallic, all-gold helmets that haven’t changed over the years – except in luster.

Trailing 62-20 with eight minutes, 34 seconds remaining, Comis takes command of the offense.

Despite being considered undersized for a quarterback, he certainly looks the part and carries the swagger of a starting college quarterback.

Despite leading by six touchdowns, the Notre Dame faithful are still heavily invested in the game, as football is king in South Bend. The fans, decked out in navy, gold and green proudly display shamrocks and leprechauns, their roars still echoing through the stadium as Comis stands behind his offensive line.

After sitting behind Blake Frohnapfel for the past two years, and with the quarterback job up for grabs the following season, UMass fans themselves were wondering if the highly-touted Comis was in fact the heir to Mark Whipple’s pro-style offense, and more importantly, the future of football in the Pioneer Valley.

The moment might have

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

Ross Comis (2) made six appearances for the Minutemen in 2015 serving as the backup quarterback. He completed 15-of-21 passes for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns during those games. been brief and short-lived, but Comis made the most of it. During that time, Whipple, his coaching staff, the Minutemen and their fans got a glimpse of what the future would be like – and it was optimistic.

“He’s a gamer, 100 percent,” quarterback coach Scott Woodward said. “He’s definitely a guy that shines under the pressure. When everyone’s watching he’ll definitely step up and make plays for you.”

What Comis did next was stunning. After UMass struggled to generate any sort of offense in the second half, the Minutemen’s offense suddenly came to life with him running the show. Comis connected on a check-down to his running back, Lorenzo Woodley, for a seven-yard

gain to get the drive moving, and more importantly, finding his rhythm.

He then completed his next six passes to cap off a 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended in a perfectly-thrown ball 33-yards downfield to wide receiver Shakur Nesmith, who was running a go-route down the left sideline.

Comis finished a perfect 8-for-8 on the afternoon for 69 yards, scoring the Minutemen’s lone touchdown of the second half.

“He didn’t flinch,” Whipple said. “He drove the team (down the field), it might have been Notre Dame’s two’s, but we couldn’t recruit those guys he’s going against.

Especially in front of 80,000 people, he called the right plays and got all the guys

tunity to shine, he would make the most of it.

“For some reason when the pressure is on, I’ve always been able to perform at my highest,” he said. “I have confidence in Ross Comis, my abilities. I trust what I UMass quarterback can do as a player.”

But for Comis, that going the right way.” quarterbacks who are just moment almost never Frohnapfel, however, (plain) quarterbacks, and came. already knew what Comis they aren’t real football was all about. He had seen players. Ross is one of the “It was a glimpses of promise in him guys who is a true foottough process” during summer camp and ball player, who just hapin the preseason, but it was pens to play quarterback,” With two weeks to go against Notre Dame when Frohnapfel added. “There until signing day, Comis Frohnapfel became com- are just some guys who can was still without an offer pletely sold. pick up anything and be from any Division I school.

“There was no doubt good at it, and he is one of It didn’t seem real. How Ross had the talent from those guys.” could the player that the first day he stepped on Confidence is never almost single-handedly campus,” Frohnapfel said something that Comis rewrote the West Virginia in an email interview with lacks when he’s under censtate high school football the Daily Collegian. ter, and he’s always known “There are a lot of that when it was his oppor- see COMIS on page A5

“For some reason when the pressure is on, I’ve always been able to perform at my highest. I have confidence in my abilities, I trust what I can do as a palyer.”

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BOSTON COLLEGE PREVIEW

Thursday, September 8, 2016

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BRAGGING RIGHTS SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 GILLETTE STADIUM FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS

Minutemen, Eagles reignite Massachusetts rivalry

By Adam Aucoin Collegian Staff

The last time the Massachusetts football team beat Boston College, UMass coach Mark Whipple was a 21-year-old college student quarterbacking a Brown team to a second place finish in the Ivy League.

The year was 1978 when the Minutemen went on to beat the Eagles 27-0.

Since that day nearly four decades ago, the series has been all BC. The Eagles have won the past eight meetings between the two schools that are separated by a mere 93.7 mile drive.

The next matchup between the in-state rivals will come this Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

Both teams come into Saturday having dropped their season openers. BC (0-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) started its season in Dublin, Ireland losing to ACC foe Georgia Tech, 17-14. UMass (0-1) comes off a 24-7 loss to Florida in what was one of the most inspired performances the team has had in quite some time.

The Minutemen were down just 10-7 to the heavily-favored Gators going into the fourth quarter, when

Florida tacked on a touchdown and a pair of field goals to close out the contest on a 14-0 run.

Running back Marquis Young carried the ball 19 times for 59 yards last Saturday. He believes the team played well, but won’t put too much stock into their play.

“We played really well during that game, but we don’t want to say it gives us momentum to play better because obviously we wanted to win that game,” Young said. “We’re really not focused on Florida anymore. We’re just focused on whatever we can do to get the (win).”

A major bright spot from the Florida game was the play of wide receiver Andy Isabella. The sophomore totaled three receptions for 95 yards, highlighted by a game-high 53-yard connection with quarterback Ross Comis.

Isabella is hoping to bring similar play into the game against the Eagles.

“I’m really thankful Coach Whipple gave me the opportunity to play and hopefully he will give me more opportunities,” Isabella said. “They’re try-

“We haven’t won a game against Boston (College) since 1978 .This game is real big for us. It’s rivalry week, so we’re just trying to do something big.”

Marquis Young, UMass running back ing to use my speed the best they can. I still have a lot of things to learn at receiver, just learning how to work my routes, but I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Comis was the guy finding Isabella in open space.

He’s been impressed with his teammate early on.

“He’s just a guy who works hard, stays quiet and leads by example,” Comis said. “He’s always doing the right thing and always knows where to be. That’s really how you gain trust with a quarterback and Andy’s one of those guys I trust on the field, especially on game day.”

Much like the Florida defense they faced last week, UMass will have a tough task on its hands trying to produce offensively against a tough BC defense.

The Eagles had the best total defense in the nation last season, giving up 254.3 yards per game. The master-

mind behind the productive unit, Don Brown, is no longer with the team – becoming the defensive coordinator at Michigan.

Regardless of who is manning the sidelines for the Eagles defensively, BC still returns a strong core – led by linebackers Ty Schwab (nine tackles) and Connor Strachan (eight tackles, four tackles for loss) who impressed in Saturday’s contest with the Yellow Jackets last week.

Young has chosen not to focus on the BC defense, but instead on how his team is preparing for the game.

“It’s not really about them, it’s really about us,” Young said. “We really just have to focus and stay tuned in practice and get better every day in practice. If everyone is one the same page we should be fine. The defense has been doing a pretty good job, so we just have to make some plays on offense.”

Coming into Saturday’s game, the marketing campaigns have

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Saturday’s game between UMass and Boston College will be the second version of the “Battle of the Bay State.” The Minutemen haven’t beaten BC in 38 years. deemed the game between the two Massachusetts-based schools the “Battle of the Bay State.” You hear it on sports talk radio, see it online and see it plastered around the Minutemen’s campus. Some may view it as a rivalry game, but Whipple has a different thought.

“It might become a rivalry if we can get a win,” Whipple said.

“Right now I don’t know how much of a rivalry it is, but it’s important to our guys. It’s Boston College and it’s the next game, so we’ll see here in the next few days how we prepare.”

The players seem excited for the opportunity to take on the Eagles and possibly have bragging rights within the state.

“We haven’t won a game against Boston (College) since 1978,” Young said. “This game is real big for us. It’s rivalry week, so we’re just trying to do something big.”

Isabella and his teammates seem ready for the challenge.

“We have a bunch of stuff in the locker room about what they are saying about us,” Isabella said. “We’re 17-point underdogs.

I think that’s a little disrespectful, so we’re already motivated.”

Kickoff is set for noon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Adam Aucoin can be reached at aaucoin@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @aaucoin34.

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S TAT U S O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S F O O T BA L L

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Minutemen’s young core critical to program’s future

ast year was supposed to be the year.

Coming off of a 3-9 record in 2014 in Massachusetts football coach Mark Whipple’s return season at UMass, with a core group of returning seniors and a somewhat favorable schedule, 2015 had all the makings to be Andrew the year the Cyr Minutemen turned the corner in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Former quarterback Blake Frohnapfel was returning for his second and final season at UMass, after turning heads with a 3,345yard, 23-touchdown performance in 2014. USA Today even deemed Frohnapfel “the best quarterback you’ve never heard of.”

with UMass football. And it usually doesn’t end well for the Minutemen, or their fans.

The future is even murkier for football in the Pioneer Valley with UMass leaving the Mid-American Conference and now is one of only four Independent teams in FBS. Only time will tell how long the Minutemen can survive as an independent, and they don’t exactly have the resume to jump in the fast-pass lane with the other teams vying to join major conferences.

But before anyone can begin to discuss a new conference for UMass, we need to go back to last Saturday’s game against at the time-No. 25 Florida down in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or as most people call it, “the Swamp.”

Not many people expected the Minutemen to pull of the upset against the 37-point favored Gators. But what we

Steele and Fox Sports each ranking the Minutemen 125rd. USA Today ranks the Minutemen at No. 127, ahead of only Charlotte.

Which is exactly why UMass’ performance against Florida means so much to the program, and its fans. No one is giving the Minutemen any shot, but if they can compete in games against better competition, and maybe even win a few games here and there, it will go a long way.

There’s a lot of young talent on this team. Ross Comis and Marquis Young have solidified themselves as two of the biggest playmakers on offense, while sophomore Andy Isabella already showing signs of promise as Whipple gives him a bigger role in the offense.

Defensively, the Minutemen look faster and

“UMass football’s win-loss record probably won’t ‘wow’ anyone in 2016, but if it wants to remain relevant for the future, the Minutemen’s young core needs to give the fans something to look forward too. ” Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe and tight end Rodney Mills were back to aid the offensive attack, while the Minutemen’s defense returned nine starters, including multi-year starts in Jovan Santos-Knox, Trey Seals, Kassan Messiah, Randall Jette and Joe Colton.

Heck, just last year I wrote how the Minutemen were destined for a bowl game in 2015.

None of that happened.

Reality set back in, and UMass found itself once again 3-9 for the second straight season, and 8-40 overall since the jump to FBS since 2012.

So how does that relate to the 2016 Minutemen?

Well, you see, anyone who’s followed this team closely over the past few years knows one thing: You never know what to expect

did see was stunning.

“We had a chance. There were 10 minutes, 11 minutes to go in the game and we’re only down three,” Whipple said on his weekly conference call. “We certainly would have taken that. I would have been pleased with that.”

Whether Whipple realized it or not, he hit the nail on the head to describe the Minutemen’s upcoming season: Be competitive.

Unlike last year, no one is expecting big things from UMass in 2016. In fact, many of the major media outlets are barely giving the Minutemen a shot at all.

CBS Sports, Campus Insiders and the Washington Post all ranked the Minutemen 128th out of 128 total FBS teams. ESPN.com FBI has UMass ranked the highest at 123rd, with Phil

more aggressive than in years past and it was on display in Gainesville. Teddy Lowery, Shane Huber, Steve Casali and Da’Sean Downey all looked solid at linebacker against the Gators in the opener. With a deeper and bigger defensive line, and the pair of sophomore cornerbacks in James Allen and Lee Moses, UMass’ defense is building for the future with a mixture of veteran leadership.

UMass football’s win-loss record probably won’t ‘wow’ anyone in 2016, but if it wants to remain relevant for the future, the Minutemen’s young core needs to give the fans something to look forward too.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

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NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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Will college football ever thrive in New England?

here has long been a wait for college football in Massachusetts—or anywhere in New England— to have a seat at the table with the professional teams of the region.

If you turn on Comcast SportsNet or NESN, or tune into WEEI or 98.5 the Sports Kyle Hub, you DaLuz won’t find much chatter about your Massachusetts football team, Boston College or Harvard.

The desire and appetite for it is just not there, it would appear.

The Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics have dominated the region since the turn of the century.

With the Patriots, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick absorbing so much of the football attention in town, it’s tough to make a case for the Minutemen.

There hasn’t really been much of an effort to change that narrative.

Until recently.

UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford has ramped up his effort to draw attention to his football program. The University and the athletics program started a ‘Unite the Masses’ campaign to try and aid the Commonwealth in coming together to support its flagship campus football team.

Signs are seen all over campus. McGuirk Stadium is coated with

banners calling on the student body and state to rally around its state university football program.

Minutemen coach Mark Whipple is even getting in on the action. Whipple went on ‘Zolak and Bertrand’, the midday show on 98.5 the Sports Hub, last week to spread the word about his program and answer questions about his team heading into 2016.

There’s been an even stronger adver tising push for what is essentially UMass’ game of the year this Saturday when they host Boston College at Gillette. The ‘Battle of the Bay State’ has been plugged by UMass on sports radio and TV stations across the state and there’s an advertisement on the team’s athletics social media account with Sam the Minuteman and Baldwin, the Boston College Eagle, beeping at each other in the parking lot of Gillette Stadium.

The term has even generated into a Twitter hashtag.

UMass and Boston College are the main two teams that should be in the conversation with the professional teams in town that the locals should care about.

Not only has there been minimal effort to try and engage the Commonwealth and its students until recently, but the lack of interest and attendance is a direct result of the team’s less than stellar performance.

Since becoming an FBS program, the Minutemen have struggled mightily— posting an 8-41 record in

that span starting in 2012.

Boston College has been better than the Minutemen in the win-loss department, but that’s not saying much. The Eagles have gone 19-31 in the same stretch and have failed to win an Atlantic Coast Conference game in their last 10 tries.

The formula to success and an interested fan base is to win, or at least be competitive.

UMass nearly pulled off a shocking upset in the season opener when it trailed the No. 25 team in the nation Florida last Saturday night by three points after three quarters, only to submit to a 24-7 defeat by the Gators.

Yet the fact that the Minutemen were even in the game surprised so many. The campus was a buzz about the team and how competitive the game was. A team that was ranked 128 out of 128 in the Division 1 rankings from the Washington Post didn’t look so putrid after all.

Which sets up Saturday’s contest at Gillette, where both of Massachusetts’s biggest college football programs are vying for relevancy and victories at a time where college football in the area has reached its low begs the question— will the success ever come, and when it does, will it be enough to generate a discussion about the state’s teams?

Kyle DaLuz can be reached at kdaluz@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Kyle_DaLuz.

Andrew Cyr can be reached at arcyr@umass.edu, and followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.

BOSTON COLLEGE PREVIEW

UM defense looks to build off Florida, stop Hillman

By Kyle DaLuz Collegian Staff

The defense of the Massachusetts football team took a strong first step in its season opening debut Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Underdogs by nearly 40 points, UMass (0-1) went into the Swamp and gave the then-ranked No. 25 Gators the feeling that so many Southeast Conference teams faced in the opening weekend – fear.

The Minutemen gave Florida everything they had before the overall talent and depth of the Gators took over, but not before UMass put the thought of defeat in the minds of Jim McElwain’s unit.

The 24-7 loss on the Minutemen’s schedule may look like a failure to muster any offense in a Florida road game, but considering the opening line of the game and the prognostications of doom heading into Gainesville, the UMass defense impressed not just on paper, and is far superior than originally anticipated.

Edge linebacker Da’Sean Downey made several impact plays in defeat – highlighted by a strip sack of Gator quarterback Luke Del Rio and a critical fourth-andone stop inside the Minuteman five-yard line.

A high quality performance against a top-25 program in their house is not something that can be understated, especially for a program looking to find its identity as a non-affiliated independent.

“I thought they played hard,” coach Mark Whipple said of his defense Wednesday night following practice. “They played how they’ve been practicing. They did every-

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Outside linebacker Da’Sean Downey (kneeling) recorded six total tackles against the Gators, including a sack, tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Prior to the start of the season, Downey had 21 career appearances (eight starts) during his first two years with the Mintuemen. thing really well and we just ran out of a little gas. We had the ball on the ground, we just didn’t get on it. That’s the next step. That’ll really bring a change of momentum – that’s what we need.”

“They played well enough to win the game. I see a real bounce in their step the last two days,” Whipple added.

“It definitely gave us confidence,” Downey said. “We were disappointed because we wanted to go down there and get the win,

that’s the main objective. We just took a step and played competitive. We’re happy with the way we competed and now it’s on to BC this week.”

He added: “I think it helps a lot. I don’t think there’s a better environment to play in college football then playing in the Swamp honestly. Playing there in that environment and playing a top-25 team regardless it’s always going to set you up as a team to see where you’re at instead of playing a cup-

over to BC.” “Florida’s big, strong and fast.

BC’s the same way – they’re a physically football team. The main thing we have to focus on is ourselves.

Having a great week of practice like coach (Whipple) wants us to do and just being prepared for it.”

Boston College opens up as 16.5-point favorites this Saturday coming off a three-point loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland last weekend – falling for the 10th consecutive time in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

It wasn’t all bad for the Eagles, though. Running back Jon Hilliman rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries, including a long 73-yard touchdown scamper in the 17-14 defeat. It is more probable than not that the ground game will being a talking point for Whipple and his coaches during their preparation for BC this week.

A Massachusetts rivalry between the state’s premier programs has not been as such in recent years, with the Minutemen failing to best the Eagles for nearly 40 years – the last coming in 1978.

When asked if BC is just another game, Downey said, “I think there’s a little more to it. I know they don’t see it as a rivalry or whatever, but we’re ready. It’s a just a game but we’re ready. That’s all that needs to be said” “They’re real physical. That’s what they want to do, they want to wear you down. We’ve been preparing. We’re going to let the play talk on Saturday.”

cake team.”

Fellow linebacker Steve Casali is confident that his unit can take what was gained from the opener and apply it to the coming week’s contest.

“It helped our confidence, but we built our confidence this summer,” Casali said of playing in Gainesville. “We just had a really good camp. We had that confidence going into the game. Personally as a defense we felt we could have Kyle DaLuz can be reached at kdaluz@umass. played better but we’ll carry that edu and followed on Twitter @KyleDaLuz.

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COMIS

Thursday, September 8, 2016

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record book and had video game-like statistics still not be without an offer?

“It was a tough process,” Comis said. “I only had preferred walk-ons two weeks before signing day.”

Comis attended Weirton Madonna High School, a small, private Catholic school located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia settled inbetween Pennsylvania and Ohio, where he competed in football, basketball and baseball. Despite showing serious abilities both on the basketball court and baseball diamond, Comis stuck with his gut and chose football.

As a senior with the Blue Dons, Comis led Madonna to a perfect 14-0 season that completed their redemption as the West Virginia Class A state champions. A year prior, they had lost in the championship game in a heartbreaking 43-42 overtime loss against Wahama.

Comis finished with 276 totals yards and accounted for all six touchdowns in defeat. He was named MVP of the game each year.

Comis ended his decorated career at Madonna with 9,255 total yards and 121 touchdowns. His 4,839 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns make him the all-time in West Virginia record books in those categories. His 2,037 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns his senior year also set state records for quarterbacks.

However, standing only 6-feet tall, weighing no more than 200 pounds, many Division I coaches were skeptical of his size, concerned that his frame wouldn’t support his frenetic play style.

Then came Whipple.

After the Minutemen got off to a disastrous 2-22 start as an FBS school under Charley Molnar, the then-athletic director John McCutcheon pulled the plug on Molnar just two seasons into his tenure, opening the door for Whipple’s return to Amherst. Whipple won the 1-AA championship with UMass as a Football Championship Series team back in 1998 before leaving the college ranks to become a quarterback’s coach in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“UMass ended up calling me when Mark Whipple got hired, he called me on the phone and they ended up offering me,” Comis said. “They were my first offer, I visited there, and I kind of just fell in love with the campus.”

But after returning home to West Virginia following his trip to Amherst, another Mid-American Conference team came searching for Comis; this time, to play much closer to home. Toledo became the second team interested in him, with the Rockets’ campus less than a twohour drive from Weirton.

Comis had always wanted to stay close to home, which made his decision

JUDITH GIBSON-OKUNIEFF/COLLEGIAN

Comis finished his high school career with 9,255 total yards and 121 touchdowns.

INDEPENDENT tion in the second quarter.

Marquis Young should carry the bulk of the work in the backfield. The Fairpoint, New York native appeared in all 12 games last season, rushing for 960 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the team.

Elijah Wilkinson, Raquan Thomas, Fabian Hoeller,

even more difficult.

After much deliberation with family and friends, Comis finally put his trust in the quarterback guru with a Lombardi Trophy to his name. Just two weeks after Whipple was hired as head coach, he committed to UMass.

“I think it was the biggest thing that coach Whipple was the first guy that really trusted me.

To put a scholarship out, even though it was about my height and this and that, and what I look like,” Comis said.

“He saw a guy that’s a competitor and winner that goes out and makes plays for his team and wins games.”

Learning the ropes Before Comis could prove his ability on the field, he first needed to take a step back and learn the system. With Marshall transfer Blake Frohnapfel also joining the team the same year, Comis redshirted his freshman season after Frohnapfel won the job in camp that was formerly held by A.J. Doyle, a Molnar recruit.

Rather than being disappointed by Whipple’s decision, Comis became a student of the game, learning the ins-and-outs of the prostyle offense that Whipple ran with the Minutemen.

As a high school standout, Comis had the ability to run circles around defenses who simply weren’t fast enough to catch him. But at the college level, Comis would have to learn to stay in the pocket and take snaps under-center, something he rarely did in high school.

That’s when Frohnapfel took Comis under his wing – and nest.

“Coming to UMass, we were both new and in a way we were both in the same boat in terms of figuring out how we fit with the team, our way around campus and learning a pretty dense playbook,” Frohnapfel said.

“We grew close because of that and because I was someone who had gone through that before, I think I was able to make the process a little easier for him. On the field, it’s hard as a freshman, but as he became more comfortable, we were able to have more in depth conversations about the game to the point we would be constantly talking about details about the opponent. Off the field, he was a roommate and we were with each other all the time.”

“The thing that helped me the most with Blake

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the ball over on downs. In the fourth quarter, Downey slipped past the Gator offensive line and strip sacked Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio on third down to what looked like pushed the Gators out of field goal range before kicker Eddy Pineiro nailed a 49-yard field goal.

in check.

The Minutemen held the No. 25 ranked team in the country to just 10 points through three quarters, eventually permitting 14 points in the fourth quarter. That’s a bit of an improvement from the 31.4 points per game scored against them last sea-

“It may be unrealistic to expect UMass to win many games with a daunting independent schedule, but it is not reaching to say the Minutemen should compete hard in most contests like we saw Saturday night. ” Michael Boland and Jack Driscoll will be the men up front protecting Comis from left-to-right.

Defensively, the Minutemen have already shown improvement from last season with a valiant effort in Gainesville.

Edge linebacker Da’Sean Downey made a critical stop on fourth-and-one at the UMass five-yard line to turn

Downey, junior college transfer Teddy Lowery, Shane Huber and Steve Casali will be the linebackers in the Minutemen defense, with Sha-Ki Holines, Ali Ali-Musa, and Peter Angeh rushing the passer up front.

James Allen, Lee Moses, Khary Bailey-Smith and Jackson Porter will be the UMass secondary, hoping to keep opposing passing games

son, including allowing more than 47 points four times.

It may be unrealistic to expect UMass to win many games with a daunting independent schedule, but it is not reaching to say the Minutemen should compete hard in most contests like we saw Saturday night.

Kyle DaLuz can be reached at kdaluz@umass.edu.

was that I lived with him and whenever I had a question that came up after football or before football, I was able to ask him at home. And that stuff came with me,” Comis said.

“He’s taught me so much in the film room, more so than (on the field). He did a lot for me and I learned from him.”

“I took a side of his game and a side of my game and I kind of combined them.,” Comis added. “I’ve been able to stay in the pocket and like pro-style quarterbacks do, I also have the ability to make plays when a play breaks down with my feet. I’ve learned to not get out of the pocket too soon, but when I have to make a play I’ll do that.”

But as helpful as watching Frohnapfel was to the development of his game, Comis and the rest of the coaches couldn’t account for one thing that Frohnapfel had; his size. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 238 pounds, Frohnapfel had the ideal build for a quarterback running a pro-style offense.

So Comis and the coaches had to make an adjustment and find new players he could model after.

Thankfully, there just so happened to be a pair of NFL quarterbacks, who like Whipple, had a Super Bowl ring on their resume, and fit Comis’ size more accordingly.

“When you think of pro-style, you’re thinking about the prototypical body, like Blake Frohnapfel,” Woodward said. “Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are pretty good fits for pro-style offenses too. Ross and I sat down and watched some Wilson and Brees tapes because they have to do things a little bit differently than say a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.”

Woodward added: “He understands that he’s only six-feet-tall, and he under-

stands that and he plays as tall as he can. He does a lot of good things that Blake couldn’t do, and there are some things he can’t do that Blake could do. He makes the most of his ability and does a good job with it.”

“You see guys in the NFL like Russell Wilson and people think that small guys can’t stay in the pocket. There’s never a time when I can’t see the field. There’s never a time when I have trouble seeing over the linemen,” Comis said. “That’s another thing, as a small guy you have to find lanes to throw the ball in, and being out here with these guys for three years, I’ve developed that and that’s helped me a lot.”

Becoming a leader Once Frohnapfel took his final snap against Buffalo on the final week of the 2015 season, Comis knew that it was his time to take the wheel of the offense.

By nature of the position, Comis had always been a leader in the UMass locker room. But once his friend and mentor in Frohnapfel left, he knew he had to establish himself as the guy for the Minutemen.

“Last year, as a backup, you’re still a leader, but you take a backseat to the starter because he’s the guy in charge,” Comis said. “But this year, from day one, I’ve been more vocal. When I talk, their eyes are on me and they trust me.”

“When you’re a backup, people listen, but it’s different,” Comis added.

“From day one you can see a different change in the way people look at me and they trust me behind center.”

Comis took all firstteam reps during the Minutemen’s spring practices, and was eventually

named the starter in camp over transfer Andrew Ford, a decorated four-star recruit from Pennsylvania who had been selected to the Elite-11 before transferring from Virginia Tech to Lackawanna Community College. “(Experience is) what separates himself from Andrew (Ford),” Whipple said. “He’s heard all the things, knows all the things and how we do everything. He’s had to sit and wait, but its his time and we’ll see how he does.

He’s done a good job.”

“I really haven’t had a guy since Ben Roethlisberger who’s been in a system for three years.”

“When guys look for a leader, they turn to Ross, especially on the offensive side of the ball, Woodward added. “He controls the room and he controls the meetings, and he does a great job with that.”

Although his collegiate career as a starter got off on the wrong foot, Comis played well against No. 25 Florida on the road, finishing 9-of-17 for 141 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run making a pair of Gator defenders whiff as he scampered into the end zone at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

But despite the Minutemen’s 0-1 start to the season, Comis knows he’s in the best possible situation to help him find success on the field.

“I just felt like coach Whipple always had a plan for me. I trusted him and he’s trusted me as well,” Comis said.

“I knew I made the right decision to come here, and I hope it just plays out well this year.”

Andrew Cyr can be reached at arcyr@umass.edu and followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.

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A6

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MEN’S SOCCER

O’Leary finds connection with youth B y N ick Souza Collegian Staff

Massachusetts men’s soccer coach Fran O’Leary began his tenure with UMass in 2015, and he was taking over a program that had experienced a fair amount of futility in recent years.

In the three years prior to O’Leary’s arrival, the Minutemen were a combined 12-38-4 (7-17-2 Atlantic 10). With his work cut out for him, the Dublin native set forth with a vision to rebuild this program the way he has for several other programs in his 25 years as a collegiate coach.

Recruitment has been a major strength of O’Leary throughout his career, and his stint with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, as Director of Recruitment in the two years prior to taking the job at UMass, serves as evidence.

His knack for acquiring the right talent for his squad has been on display this year with nine new players coming into the program either via transfer or as a freshman. The newcomers join a roster with nine returning starters from last year.

During the preseason, O’Leary was optimistic about how the team was meshing together with the influx of new players.

“The returning players have done a great job of helping the new guys become acclimated,” O’Leary said. “They should provide some fresh energy and competition for the team this season.”

O’Leary expected the competition to bring out the most in both the new players as well as the returners, but when asked in the preseason about whether he expected any of the newcomers were standing out or challenging to overtake

the returning starters, he didn’t want to get ahead of himself.

“They’ll have to fight to oust the current players,” O’Leary said. “They’ve all done very well up to this point in the preseason, but I’ll be able to better answer that question in a couple of weeks.”

Young Talent While Coach O’Leary hesitated to name any standouts early in the preseason, as time went on it was clear that some of the new arrivals were ready to carve out a spot on the starting line sooner rather than later.

Of the nine new additions to the Minutemen, four are freshmen – three of which have started logging serious minutes for UMass. Forward Andrew Bar rowman, defender Ryan Saul, and midfielder Christian Labeck have all played in all four games with Saul and Barrowman both earning starts.

Barrowman was recruited out of Marshfield and had the chance to develop his skills under the New England Revolution Academy as well as playing for five other club teams in both Chicago and overseas in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I know Fran (O’Leary) is a great coach, he’s positive and wants to do a lot of big things with the program,” Barrowman said.

“He’s also coached at a really high level before, and not many programs have that.”

Bar rowman ar rived in the preseason with a Minuteman team that had a solid back line, but was lacking in the middle and up front and it was there he began to make his mark.

“I came into to the preseason and just worked really hard,” Barrowman

JUDITH GIBSON-OKUNIEFF/COLLEGIAN

UMass men’s soccer coach Fran O’Leary has a career record of 5-16-2 since taking over as head coach for the Minutemen in 2015. said. “(O’Leary) said that the playing time would be there if I worked for it.”

With three starts in the first four games, O’Leary has clearly been impressed with how the young freshman has stepped up early in the season.

“He has a terrific mentality and I love his appetite for the game,” O’Leary said following the seasonopener against Syracuse.

“He has a lot to learn, but that will come with time.”

Despite the amount of playing time and starts that he has earned so far, Barrowman has been going through a learn-as-yougo process against some pretty tough opponents.

He admits that the college game is a little different.

“I’m still adopting same as the other guys are,”

NFL

Barrowman said. “I’m used to a more technical game in my experience with the academy, where in college the game is a lot more physical.”

Searching far and wide O’Leary did not limit the talent pool when looking for new faces to improve the program.

Konrad Gorich from E b e r b a ch , G e r m a ny and sophomore transfer Stephen Ravazzoli from Ohio State have also made major contributions to the team in the form of six combined starts and nearly 500 combined minutes played in the first four games.

For Gorich, the decision to transition not only into the college game, but to do

so overseas came down to a couple of simple reasons.

“Fran (O’Leary) was the biggest impact for me, I think he’s a great coach,” Gorich said. “Also, I think especially in America you have a great opportunity to not only play at a high level but further your education as well.”

The center back played at the club level in Germany before deciding to come to UMass, and as expected the playing style deviates from what he is used to here at the college level.

“It’s a huge difference, I would say that in Germany the game is more technical with the ball on the ground more where as here the game is a lot more kick and rush,” Gorich said.

Being an international player, Gorich also had to

adjust to both a change in playing style as well as adjusting to the culture.

When asked about how he’s adjusted with his new American teammates he only had positive things to say.

“The team is great,” Gorich said. “Everyone here is a good guy, and they treat me well and have welcomed me in.”

With so many new and young players making an impact this early in the season, it is clear that what O’Leary is doing is working, and it is resonating with the rest of the team. Despite the tough start to the season – dropping three of the first four games – the Minutemen have not shown any signs of a weakening morale.

Nick Souza can be reached at njsouza@umass.edu.

NFL

New England, Philadelphia Rematch of Super agree on Eric Rowe trade Bowl 50 kicks off 2016

Eagles to receive 2018 pick in return

By Zach Berman The Philadelphia Inquirer

After nearly 24 hours of speculation, the Eric Rowe trade became official on Wednesday morning.

The Eagles traded Rowe to the New England Patriots for a 2018 fourth-round pick. No other players were involved in the deal despite early reports that offensive lineman Josh Kline would be coming to the Eagles.

The fourth-round pick could become a third-rounder if Rowe plays at least 50 percent of the defensive snaps in either of the next two seasons, according to a league source.

“He’s like for us possibly the fourth corner, fifth corner right now going into the season and this gives him an opportunity to play,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said.

Rowe was the Eagles’ second-round pick in 2015, but the new coaching staff clearly did not value him as much as Chip Kelly’s staff did. When asked if Rowe

deserved more time to develop, Pederson said there’s “some validity” to that argument.

“You have to look at where you currently are and where that player is currently and you have to address the whole – the big picture of everything,” Pederson said.

“This is such a can-you-winnow mentality and you’re always constantly shifting and moving your roster around that this definitely gives him an opportunity to go play and potentially be a starter there and compete and do some good things.”

By Jonathan Jones The Charlotte Observer

A seven-year veteran, Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman knows what it’s like to play in Denver’s home stadium.

Coleman has played there twice _ once as an Eagle and once as a Chief _ and has been dispensing advice for Panthers players new to Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

“I just felt as though you have to constantly drink water,” Coleman told the Charlotte Observer this week in between sips from a water bottle. “I’ve been telling a lot of the guys, and especially what I’m telling myself is, stay hydrated throughout this week so that when I do get out there I feel as though my body is hydrated.”

Denver’s stadium sits about 5,280 feet above sea level, the highest such stadium in the NFL. Charlotte, by contrast, is about 750 feet above sea level.

The altitude in Denver means thin air, and playing an intense, three-hour football game in thin air can affect players who aren’t

used to it.

The Panthers have not played a game in the preseason or regular season in Denver since 2004. Thomas Davis, the longest-tenured Panther on the roster, was drafted the following season.

So the Panthers will rely on their training and advice from teammates, such as Coleman, who have played there before.

Coleman likened playing in the altitude to running on a brisk day and getting the feeling of cottonmouth. He said the feeling was more in his head than affecting his actual performance.

Players who run more will be more affected by the air. Running back Jonathan Stewart said he wasn’t concerned about the thin air because it’s simply part of the deal of playing in Denver.

There’s nothing he can do about it but play.

But for the past two years, Stewart has trained occasionally with an altitude mask. The black mask simulates training in a higher altitude.

“What it does for me is

it just trains your recovery of breath,” said Stewart, who has not been seen using the mask this week.

“When you’re tired, usually you just need to learn how to regroup. Using the mask last year and coming into this year has definitely helped with going into different plays, whether it’s on a long drive or a long run just being able to regroup and go to the next play.”

New Panthers punter Andy Lee has played in Denver twice, once in 2006 and most recently in 2014.

One of the best punters in league history in terms of net and gross punting averages, Lee said he doesn’t know of much of an advantage that punters get in Denver.

Lee, a 13-year veteran, doesn’t want to get caught up in the thin air and the excitement of the primetime game, though.

“As far as going into the game and preparation, you don’t want to get too amped because you’ll overswing or overhit the ball,” Lee said.

“And it ends up not being not as good of a situation as

see

REMATCH on page B1

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REMATCH

Gano’s career long is 59.

He last kicked in Colorado in a game during his college days at Florida State, and he’s never been to Mile High Stadium.

He’s heard that some kickers like to back up as far as they can to set personal records for themselves during warmups. Gano doesn’t anticipate doing that Thursday.

“My approach is going to be the exact same,” Gano said. “I’m not going to back it up too far; just stick with my normal approach.

Realistically you’re not going to get those super long field-goal opportunities unless it’s a perfect situation. If that situation aris-

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GOLF

continued from page A6

you hoped. I think you go in there looking to be smooth knowing that the ball is going to fly and just treat it as a normal game and the extra you get out of it _ altitude is only a positive.”

Both Lee and kicker Graham Gano said the air is more of a factor on kicks than punts. The ball should fly through the air on kickoffs, so some of the shorter kickoffs we’ve seen in the preseason likely won’t take place in Denver.

Three of the top five longest field goals in NFL history have come in Denver.

The longest _ a 64-yarder

by Matt Prater – was kicked at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in 2013.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

es, I’m just going to hit the same ball that I usually hit.”

There’s at least one Panther that doesn’t think the thin air will be a factor at all, though.

Fullback Mike Tolbert played in Denver once a year when he spent his first four seasons with AFC West rival San Diego. At 5-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Tolbert said the thin air doesn’t bother him.

“Not bad at all,” Tolbert said. “I don’t do as much running as the receivers, but the altitude doesn’t bother me. I got big lungs.

“Do you see how big I am? Got a whole lot of lung capacity in here.”

Tiger Woods eyes return to PGA tour in October

By Mike Rose Newsday

Tiger Woods announced on his website Wednesday morning that he hopes to return to competitive golf next month, starting with a tournament in Napa, Calif.

Woods, who has been recovering from two back surgeries in 2015, said he hopes to start the 2016-17 season with three events.

The first event would be the Safeway Open from Oct. 13-16, in Napa. Woods then plans to play in the Turkish Airlines Open from Nov. 3-6, in Antalya, Turkey. His final event of 2016 would be the Hero World Challenge from Dec. 1-4, at Albany in the Bahamas. The Hero World Challenge is run by Woods’ foundation.

“My rehabilitation is to the point where I’m comfortable making plans, but I still have work to do,” Woods said. “Whether I can play depends on my continued progress and recovery.

My hope is to have my game ready to go.

“I’m looking forward to going to California for my foundation event and

Safeway. I’m also excited to return to Turkey and Albany. It could be a fun fall.”

Woods also is planning to participate in the Tiger Woods Invitational on Oct. 10-11 on the Monterey Peninsula.

Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, told GolfChannel. com in an email in July that Woods wouldn’t play at all during the 2015-16 season and would continue to rehab and assess when to return during the 2016-17 season.

Woods, 40, last played in August 2015 in the Wyndham Championship.

He played in all four majors in 2015, missing the cut in the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.

Woods, who has won 14 majors, missed four straight majors for the first time in his career in 2016.

“It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn’t rush it,” Woods said. “It was great spending time with my children Sam and Charlie,

and also working on a lot of projects including golfcourse design, the upcoming 20th anniversary of my foundation and my book about the 1997 Masters. But I missed competing.

“I want to thank all the fans for their kindness and concern. I’ve been a pro about 20 years, and their support has never waned.”

Woods missed the 2014 Masters and U.S. Open because of his ailing back.

He missed the 2011 U.S. Open and British Open because of an injured left leg. Woods missed the 2008 British Open and PGA Championship after ACL surgery on his left knee.

Woods won the U.S. Open in 2008 at Torrey Pines in California while playing on his injured knee, the last major victory of his career.

Woods will return to the golf spotlight later this month as a vice captain for the U.S. team in the Ryder Cup, which is scheduled from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

LABEL

DAVID T. FOSTER III/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Cam Newton is the reigning NFL MVP after scoring a combined 40 touchdowns (35 passing, five rushing) in 2015.

MLB

Yankees finish sweep of Jays Red Sox now alone atop the AL East

By Pete Caldera The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) NEW YORK — Scoreboard watching wasn’t supposed to be a Bronx pastime this September.

But the Yankees couldn’t be faulted for glancing at the big board while completing a sweep of the first-place Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

All of the Yankees’ wildest October dreams remained in play after their 2-0 win at the Stadium, a victory that pushed them to within 2 { games of the Orioles, currently in control of the final AL wild-card spot.

Making first start of the year, Bryan Mitchell (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings and Luis Severino followed with three sharp relief innings.

Starlin Castro blasted his 20th home run of the year, a two-out solo shot during a two-run third inning against Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman.

After giving up the homer to left on a 1-1 pitch, Stroman (9-7) yielded a double to Didi Gregorius and a walk to Mark Teixeira. Designated hitter Brian McCann followed with an RBI single to right.

Mitchell exited after Devon Travis’s leadoff double in the sixth, and Severino retired Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista (strikeout) to end the threat.

After Troy Tulowitzki’s one-out double in the seventh,

the Yankees’ successfully challenged an infield hit by Michael Saunders; the review denied Toronto of having runners at the corners and one out.

In the eighth, Encarnacion’s two-out bid for a game-tying, two-run homer ended in Aaron Judge’s glove at the right field warning track.

Tyler Clippard got the save, filling in for the over-worked Dellin Betances, who had been used in each of the previous three games.

And with their fourth straight win, the Yankees (7365) temporarily moved to within four games of first place in the AL East. Toronto (77-62) and Boston began the day tied atop the division; the Red Sox played late Wednesday night at San Diego.

Before the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was informed that the website Fangraphs had calculated the Yankees’ chances at earning a wild-card bid at just a 4.7 percent.

To illustrate his lookon-the-bright side opinion, Girardi used the 2016 NBA Finals as an example.

“What were the chances the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to win down 3-to-1?”

Girardi said of the Cavs’ comeback against the Golden State Warriors. “Not good. But it happened.”

Nathan Eovaldi’s season-ending elbow surgery, the trade of Ivan Nova to Pittsburgh last month and Chad Green’s recent elbow injury created an opportunity for Mitchell.

The right-handed Mitchell performed impressively in spring training this year, and was expected to be a valuable swingman on Girardi’s staff _ similar to the role Adam Warren filled in 2015. And then in the last week of camp, Mitchell took a bad step while covering first base in an exhibition game.

Diagnosed with a fracture, Mitchell missed five months and made just four minorleague rehab starts before being summoned to rejoin the Yankees’ rotation for Wednesday’s series finale.

“We loved where he was at in spring training,” Girardi said of Mitchell’s command of his cutter, fastball and curveball. “Would we have liked him to make another minor-league start? Yes. But we need him and we need him to come up big for us.”

Mitchell came through during an 80-pitch performance against a potent Toronto lineup, including his inducing two double-play grounders over the first three innings.

After walking No. 8 hitter Melvin Upton Jr. and No. 9 hitter Kevin Pillar to open the third, Mitchell got Travis to rap into a double play started by third baseman Chase Headley. Then, he retired Donaldson on a grounder to keep the game scoreless.

All told, Mitchell yielded four hits and two walks, with two strikeouts. And the Yanks need Mitchell to continue to fill the rotation void and help to keep their playoff dreams alive.

Kaepernick to donate jersey sales in wake of controversy 49ers QB jumps to top of sale list

By Matt Barrows The Sacramento Bee

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

— Colin Kaepernick, who last week pledged to donate the first $1 million he earns this season to organizations that support his cause, said Wednesday he would donate all the money he gets from jersey sales as well.

Kaepernick’s No. 7 jersey has become the top seller at both the 49ers team store and on NFLShop.com since he explained why he will not stand during the national anthem in order to bring attention to racial inequality and police issues in this country. Sources said a top-selling jersey like

Kaepernick’s could earn the player roughly $300,000$500,000.

Wrote Kaepernick on his Instagram account, which has 1.4 million followers: “I want to thank everyone who has shown me love and support, it truly means a lot! I wasn’t expecting my jersey sales to jump to number one because of this, but it shows the people’s belief that we can achieve justice and equality for ALL! The only way I can repay you for the support is to return the favor by donating all the proceeds I receive from my jersey sales back into the communities! I believe in the people, and WE can be the change!”

The post included eight photos of people wearing Kaepernick’s jersey, from a toddler to rapper J. Cole.

Kaepernick has not said

which groups will receive his donations.

Kaepernick’s stance, which became public Aug. 27, has been a national story since. President Barack Obama recently commented that the 49ers quarterback was exercising his right of expression. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump suggested Kaepernick try to find a better country.

He also has begun to receive support from other athletes. Safety Eric Reid kneeled beside Kaepernick in the team’s preseason finale last week. Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane sat during the anthem prior to his team’s game the same night.

U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe kneeled before her team’s most recent match.

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

News@DailyCollegian.com

So much room for activites

UMass informed of student death Sam Suchovic died on Sept. 1

By Stuart Foster Collegian Staff

KATHERINE MAYO/COLLEGIAN

Students learn about campus RSOs, such as UMass Sailing, during the Activities Expo at the Hagis Mall Wednesday afternoon.

National Residence Hall Honorary and Campus Sustainability initiatives including New2U.” “We extend our sincere condolences to Sam’s family and friends,” Vaillancourt said in the email.

An obituary published by the William J. Leber Funeral Home of NJ said her visitation will be held on Sept. 9, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St Luke Parish in Long Valley, NJ. Her funeral service will be held on Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at the same location. The obituary welcomed mourners to make donations to Habitat for Humanity.

U n ive r s i t y of Massachusetts student Samantha Suchovic died on Sept. 1, according to an email sent by Senior Associate Dean of Students David Vaillancourt.

The email said that Suchovic, of Lebanon Township, NJ, died off campus. Suchovic was a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in education.

Suchovic worked as a resident assistant and at UMass Dining Services, the email described her Stuart Foster can be reached at as “active in Habitat stuartfoster@umass.edu or followed for Humanity, the on Twitter @Stuart_C_Foster.

Clinton answers UMass Dining looks ahead after top military forum ranking in Princeton Review

By Chris Megerian and Michael Finnegan Los Angeles Times

Hillary Clinton faced repeated questions during a military forum Wednesday about her use of a private email server while secretary of state, an issue that has dogged her campaign and raised voter concerns about her judgment.

Nearly half of Clinton's time during the primetime town hall was devoted to how she handled classified materials during her four years as the nation's top diplomat.

Clinton, who took the stage before Republican nominee Donald Trump, repeated her regret about using a private account and her insistence that she did not compromise national security.

"There is no evidence my account was hacked," she told Matt Lauer, the "Today" show co-anchor who moderated the forum.

When traveling abroad, Clinton said, she took precautions including ducking into a portable tent to view classified materials to ensure no cameras were snooping.

"I take it very seriously," she said. "Always have, always will."

Trump was to appear later at the hourlong event organized by the nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. It was held aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid, now home to a museum on the Hudson River in New York.

Clinton was also asked about her vote for the Iraq war while she was a U.S. senator from New York. She pointed out that she's admitted her regret about the decision, while Trump still insists he was opposed to the invasion, despite evidence to the contrary.

"I have taken responsibility for my decision," Clinton said. "He has refused to take responsibly for his support."

Clinton reiterated her support for the nuclear deal with Iran, saying

enforcing the agreement would give her a freer hand to deal with the country's ballistic missile tests and support for terrorism.

"I would rather be dealing with Iran on all of those issues, without having them racing to a nuclear weapon," she said.

Clinton pledged to hold weekly meetings in the Oval Office to ensure veterans were receiving adequate health care, but said she would oppose any attempts to privatize hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"There is an agenda out there ... to do just that," she said. "I think that would be disastrous for our military veterans."

Both nominees spent the run-up to the town hall gearing up for the forum, previewing proposals and attack lines.

In a speech earlier in the day in Philadelphia, Trump detailed his plan to restore hundreds of billions of dollars in military budget cuts. Though it also includes a pledge to build new warplanes and enhance missile defense and cybersecurity systems, he did not provide a price tag, and he offered only scant details on how he would pay the costs.

"It is so depleted," Trump said of the military, describing a Navy that has fewer ships, an Air Force that flies old planes and other perceived shortcomings. "We will rebuild our military."

In Tampa, Fla., a day earlier, Clinton criticized Trump for saying he knows more about fighting Islamic State terrorists than military generals.

"His whole campaign has been one large insult to those who have worn the uniform," she said at a rally.

At an event with retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, one of his supporters and advisers, Trump promised to do more for veterans who have struggled to get health care see

ELECTION on page 2

Guests brought in to speak to chefs Lia Gips Collegian Staff

The University of Massachusetts’ Dining Services were selected as the best in the country, based on students’ responses to Princeton Review surveys. Separate from the Princeton Review, UMass surveys students each semester to understand what they want from on-campus food options.

“Every year we have higher standards for classes of entering students, so it makes sense that we would continue to raise the bar for dining,” said Director of Residential Dining and Sustainability Garett DiStefano. “There’s a clear link between students’ diets and their academic performance.”

DiStefano attributes a bulk of this improvement to Ken Toong, the executive director of auxiliary enterprise. Toong oversees campus businesses such as the campus store, dining services, retail food, Hotel

UMass, UMass trademark and licensing, and the Campus Center/Student Union complex.

UMass has been steadily rising as one of the Princeton Review’s top dining colleges in the last four years. In 2012, the university was ranked tenth, but has been in the top three since 2013. This is the first year UMass has been ranked number one.

DiStefano said that a big part of this change has been bringing in guest speakers to help managers of dining services understand how to better appeal to students. One such guest was June Jo Lee, a food ethnographer who specializes in creating “strategic frameworks” which food industry clients can use to improve their businesses.

“She taught us that time is the student’s most important asset. That motivated us to make food more accessible to the students’ schedule,” said DiStefano.

Other famous speakers like Alice Waters and Michael Pollan have helped the university’s dining services to expand

with food trucks, delivery and to find a variety of ways to attract students to on-campus food options.

UMass dining services have been working to expand the diversity of the foods available to students. As the university has grown to accept more international students, Toong said he has tried to increase the diversity of options through Blue Wall and integrating more international cuisine in the dining commons. In the future he is planning to add more Mediterranean and Korean food.

“Last year was already good,” said Mingfei Zhao, a graduate student of Epidemiology. “I don’t know how they could make it better.” Zhao said she primarily eats at Blue Wall, she mostly wants Chinese food and likes her options.

“This ranking is also a tribute to our students, whose high expectations drive our team to excel,” said Toong.

A variety of student groups and individuals on campus have pushed for UMass dining to eliminate

the use of antibiotic-treated meats, and to source meat and vegetables from more local and humane farms.

DiStefano says that 80 percent of the meat dining services serves is humane, and 76 percent is local. He also reports that 90 percent of UMass students say they eat more fruit and veggies than they did before eating in the dining halls.

Dining services’ surveys have found that 70 percent of students said that food was an important factor in choosing UMass.

“We’ve been engaging with students to build cocurricular learning about food and the environment,” said DiStefano.

One of DiStefano’s major efforts working under Toong has been to reduce waste by dining services with the lean path program, which weighs discarded food to understand how the kitchens can prepare food in a more efficient way. According to both men, the program saved dining services see

DINING on page 2

JESSICA PICARD/COLLEGIAN

Students wait in line at the University of Massachusetts UFest on Sunday. UFest was catered by UMass Dining, which the Princeton Review recently ranked as the best collegiate dining service in the country.

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THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

Thursday, September 8, 2016

THE RU N D OW N ON THIS DAY...

In 1974, U.S. President Gerald Ford granted an unconditional pardon to former U.S. President Richard Nixon.

AROUND THE WORLD

Obama and Philippines’ Duterte, who promised to curse him, briefly meet VIENTIANE, Laos — President Barack Obama and controversial Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte bumped into each other while attending a dinner of world leaders here Wednesday, exchanging niceties after Obama canceled an earlier sit-down because of vulgar comments Duterte directed toward him in public.

The encounter “consisted of pleasantries” between the two before the gala dinner of the Association of South East Asian leaders meeting here this week, according to a White House official.

The description of a toned-down encounter diverted from their exchanges from afar earlier in the week.

Ahead of what would have been their first meeting, Duterte anticipated that Obama would press him on violent crackdowns on narcotics trafficking in the Philippines as well as charges of extrajudicial killings.

Duterte declared in an interview that he would curse Obama if he dared to bring up the matters in their private encounter. “Son of a bitch, I will swear at you,” promised Duterte, whose history of crude remarks gained notice internationally after he was elected this year.

Obama said shortly afterward that he did plan to discuss his concerns about Duterte’s record on human rights, a subject he almost always broaches with other world leaders. Obama then decided that in light of Duterte’s comments, the two probably couldn’t have a “productive” discussion during his final presidential trip to Asia and canceled the meeting.

The meeting with the leader of a key American ally in the region had been intended in part to remind the Chinese government that the U.S. has strong relationships in Southeast Asia, all part of Obama’s strategy of providing a strong counterbalance to the rising Chinese power on the continent.

After Obama canceled the meeting, Duterte retreated, telling journalists that he regretted his words. White House aides said later that the two might bump into each other in the halls at the ASEAN summit instead, a bit of choreographed diplomatic theater that lowers the stakes for a possibly fraught encounter.

Indeed, Obama had a “brief discussion” with Duterte on Wednesday in a private room where world leaders mingled outside the view of the press before they entered the gala, according to an Obama administration official.

The conversation between the two was private. But as far as U.S. officials are saying, no foul words were uttered.

Tribune Washington Bureau Distributed by MCT Information Service

DINING

continued from page 1

“Every year we have higher standards for classes of entering students, so it makes sense that we would continue to raise the bar for dining. There’s a clear link between students’ diets and their academic performance.”

Garett DiStefano, Director of Residential Dining and Sustainability $750,000 last year.

Dining services has put in effort the last few years to demonstrate awareness of waste, encourage students to take just as much food as needed and decrease the use of disposable containers.

Dining services has a policy of not letting anyone go hungry, DiStefano said, regardless of whether they are out of meal swipes.

“A lot of times if I forget my wallet but they still let me in,” said Walker Raber, a BDIC major. “I hadn’t realized that was just how things worked.”

However, Raber criticized the way meal swipes are priced.

“The university can

use the fact that students are here and on meal plan to price gouge,” Raber a senior studying plant, soil, and insect science with a focus on food systems’ sustainability said. “I don’t usually eat here because I could go downtown and pay less than the nine dollars for dinner.”

“Our employees work tremendously hard, and take so much pride in their work,” said DiStefano.

“We all wanted number one so bad, every staff has worked harder to better serve,” added Toong.

Lia Gips can be reached at lgips@ umass.edu

ELECTION

DailyCollegian.com

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after leaving the military.

"You're going to get taken care of and the government is going to pay your bill," he said in Virginia Beach, Va. Some of Trump's most high-profile controversies have centered on the military and veterans. Near the beginning of his campaign last year, he insulted Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who spent five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, by saying he prefers veterans who "weren't captured."

Trump refused to endorse McCain against a primary challenger last month who was a vocal Trump

supporter.

Trump also lashed out at the family of Humayun Khan, an Army captain who died in Iraq, after his father criticized Trump during a highly emotional moment at the Democratic National Convention.

Trump's repeated attacks on the Khan family were widely criticized and came amid a stretch of behavior so erratic, even by the standards of his unorthodox campaign, that top Republicans were said to be exploring alternatives should he leave the race.

Since then, Trump has overhauled his campaign

leadership and appears to have moved on from the Khans and begun sticking to his core issues of immigration and trade on the campaign trail.

Nonetheless, polls show Trump has more support from the military community.

Trump leads 55 percent to 36 percent among veterans and active-duty service members, according to a new NBC/SurveyMonkey poll. The same poll showed Clinton with an overall lead among registered voters, 48 percent to 42 percent.

Johnson threatens backlash

By Arit John Bloomberg News

NEW YORK — As the deadline to qualify for the first presidential debate draws closer, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson said he believes the Commission on Presidential Debates will face public pressure if he is excluded.

“I think that there will be a lot of heat that will go along with not putting us in the debate,” Johnson said during an interview Wednesday on Bloomberg TV’s “With All Due Respect,” where he appeared with his running mate, former Massachusetts Republican Gov. Bill Weld.

Johnson and Weld need to average 15 percent in national polls approved by the commission in order to be included in the presidential and vice presidential debates. Johnson currently

averages 9.2 percent based on the most recent versions of the five approved polls.

Johnson said that he doesn’t think the 15 percent threshold is too high, but argued that pollsters don’t consistently place him in the top line question as an option to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

“If we were on the top line tomorrow we’d be at 20 percent, minimum,” Johnson said.

To boost his profile, Johnson this week launched a $174,000 television ad buy in seven western states, and New Hampshire, where the campaign has gained some traction. Asked why the campaign decided to focus on sparsely populated western states instead of launching a national campaign, Weld noted that they’re currently polling over 15 percent in

those states.

“The Republican cochair of the commission on debates has said that maybe running well above 15 percent in swing states would be good,” Weld said.

According to a Washington Post-Survey Monkey 50-state poll released Tuesday, Johnson would reach or exceed the 15 percent threshold in 15 states.

In New Mexico, where he served two terms as governor, Johnson polls at 25 percent.

Asked if they would sue the commission if they are excluded from the debates, Weld said that their campaign could point out to the IRS that the commission is not acting in a nonpartisan way. However, Weld said he would focus on pressuring the commission to honor its mission of educating voters.

Initially denied the honor, World War II female pilot laid to rest at Arlington

By John Fritze The Baltimore Sun A R L I N G T O N NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. — Even in death, Elaine Harmon challenged convention.

The Baltimore native, one of some 1,000 Women Airforce Service Pilots who flew noncombat missions for the United States during World War II, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday after her family successfully fought a decision to deny her the honor.

With P-51 Mustangs buzzing overhead and a bugler in the distance sounding taps, Harmon’s final wish was realized - and her family celebrated the conclusion of an improbable campaign that took them all the way to the White House.

“When the Army desperately needed them, these trailblazing women stepped up to the task,” said Terry Harmon, Elaine’s daughter.

“America and the world loves these women.”

The WASPs delivered war planes, ferried cargo and towed targets for other pilots during the war.

Harmon, who learned to fly as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, signed up for the job in 1944 - over her mother’s objections.

Since the war, the women and their descendants have had to fight for recognition - in part because the official record of their effort was classified for decades. The group was not granted veteran status until President Jimmy Carter signed legislation in 1977.

Harmon was at President Barack Obama’s side in 2009 when he signed a law awarding the pilots the Congressional Gold Medal.

She died last year believing she would be inurned

at Arlington. The ceme- off the closet shelf where the pilots died in the line of ing tennis at Druid Hill tery’s superintendent had her family stored them dur- duty. They were not grant- Park, they said. approved the honor for the ing the ordeal and carried ed military funerals then. After the WASPs proWASPs more than a decade by an honor guard of Air Their families were respon- gram ended, Harmon earlier.

Force airmen in dress blue sible for bringing their bod- returned home to Silver But Harmon did not uniforms to a spot in the ies home.

Spring, where she lived know that the Secretary southeast corner of the Less than 100 WASPs with her husband, Robert of the Army at the time, cemetery. are still living, a fact that Harmon, a patent attorney, John McHugh, overturned The airmen held the McSally said gave a sense whom she married in 1941. the decision about a month flag over Harmon’s padauk of urgency to the effort to He died in 1965. before she died at 95. wood urn during a brief open the cemetery’s gates.

Her family described McHugh, concerned ceremony.

Harmon graduated in Harmon as an adventurabout shrinking available A rifle team fired three 1936 from Eastern High ous soul who continued to space at the cemetery, ruled volleys under an almost School. She studied bacte- fly in her later years, even the WASPs were eligible cloudless sky. There were riology at the University of as she doted on children for burial only at cemeter- tears, but also a sense of Maryland, joined the Civil and grandchildren. Never ies run by the Department celebration among the fam- Aeronautics Authority timid, she decided to go of Veterans of Affairs. ily.

Program and learned to fly bungee jumping in New Arlington is run by the “If the WASPs were Piper Cubs at College Park Zealand when she turned Army. good enough to fly and risk Airport.

80.

The decision drew out- their lives for our country, Harmon completed her It was that spirit, they rage. they’re good enough for training in 1944 at Avenger said, that inspired their “I couldn’t believe it,” Arlington,” Mikulski said Field and was stationed at determination. said Rep. Martha McSally, in a statement. “This is an Nellis Air Base near Las “It seemed like a very big an Arizona Republican who honor Lieutenant Elaine Vegas. She flew the AT-6 obstacle in the beginning,” flew A-10 Warthogs over Harmon and the WASPs Texan, the PT-17 and BT-13 said Erin Miller, a grandIraq and Kuwait. have earned and deserve.” trainers, and co-piloted the daughter who became the “These were feisty, The WASPs logged 60 B-17 Flying Fortress. public face of the cambrave, adventurous, patri- million miles flying mis- Her family noted her love paign, and is now writing a otic women,” said McSally, sions across the United of Baltimore and Maryland. book about the effort. “But a retired Air Force colonel. States between 1942 and She often recalled child- my grandmother never “The airplane doesn’t care 1944, when the program was hood memories of roller would have taken ‘no’ for if you’re a boy or a girl; they disbanded. Thirty-eight of skating in alleys and play- an answer.” just care if you know how to fly and shoot straight.”

McSally introduced a bill in the House to overturn McHugh’s decision.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, sponsored similar legislation in the Senate.

The bill moved through Congress with unusual speed, winning approval less than five months after introduction. The votes came so quickly, Terry Harmon said, that people thought the family had hired “a big time K Street firm.”

In May, Obama signed the legislation, which allows the ashes of the women to be inurned above ground alongside those of other service members. The rules surrounding who may KIM HAIRSTON/BALTIMORE SUN/TNS be buried are more strict.

And so on Wednesday, Left, Terry Harmon, stands with family members and friends as members of the U.S. Air Force honor guard folds the Harmon’s ashes were taken U.S. flag over the remains of her mother, Elaine D. Harmon on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

DailyCollegian.com

Thursday, September 8, 2016

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Mass. AG begins Calif. state poiticians pass ambitious gun maker probe bill for reducing carbon emissions

By Paul Barrett Bloomberg News

NEW YORK — Trouble is brewing in New England for gun manufacturers.

The Massachusetts attorney general has launched an innovative investigation of major firearm makers based on her state’s expansive consumer-protection law.

The probe targets at least two companies _ Glock Inc. and Remington Outdoor Co. _ and possibly others.

The investigation came to light because of lawsuits the gun companies recently filed seeking to block or narrow the Massachusetts safety investigation, calling it overly intrusive.

The defensive litigation stated that Attorney General Maura Healey is demanding that Glock and Remington surrender a wide range of internal documents, including safety-related complaints from customers.

Glock is Austria-based and controlled by its founder, 87-year-old Gaston Glock. Beginning in the mid-1980s, the company’s pistols revolutionized the handgun market with their large ammunition capacity and lightweight, mostly plastic frame. Remington, 200 years old and based in Madison, N.C., is part of Freedom Group, which, in turn, is owned by a New York private equity company by the name of Cerberus Capital Management.

Since the Glock was introduced in America 30 years ago, critics have said its design makes it more likely than other handguns to fire accidentally. For example, the Austrian gun fires with relatively little pressure from the shoot-

er’s index finger, and it has an unconventional safety mechanism built into its trigger, which some detractors say is ineffective. The company has responded that with proper training and careful technique, users will avoid accidental discharges.

Remington has had safety issues of its own. The company recently recalled two lines of rifles manufactured from 2006 through early 2014 because of accidental discharges. The recall notice stated to owners that “any unintended discharge has the potential for causing injury or death.

Immediately stop using your rifle until Remington can inspect it to determine if the XMP trigger has excess bonding agent used in the assembly process, which could cause an unintentional discharge.”

The Boston Globe, which broke this story on Sept. 1, reported that, in her court filing responding to Glock’s suit, Healey argued that the manufacturer’s pistols are “prone to accidental discharge” and that the company may have been warned about the problem by customers but still failed to act. “Responding to Glock’s lawsuit,” the Globe added, Healey referred to “news stories about a sheriff’s deputy accidentally firing a Glock pistol in San Francisco’s Hall of Justice, a Los Angeles police officer who was paralyzed from the waist down after his 3-year-old son accidentally fired his Glock pistol, and a Massachusetts man who was dancing at a July 4th party when his Glock handgun fired while it was in his pocket.”

Schumer eyes liberal SCOTUS

By Niels Lesniewski CQ-Roll Call

WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles E. Schumer is making no secret that he’s preparing to do what’s necessary to make sure the Supreme Court tilts to the left next year.

“My number one goal, should I become majority leader with your help, is to get a progressive Supreme Court,” the New York Democrat told a policy conference hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Wednesday morning.

“A progressive majority on the Supreme Court is an imperative, and if I become majority leader, I will make it happen,” Schumer said. “I will make it happen.”

Since the 2016 Senate electoral map would likely only yield Democrats a narrow majority under their most optimistic circumstances, the comments are an early indication that Schumer could be open to making procedural changes to enable confirmation of a more outwardly progressive Supreme Court nominee.

Under current precedents, Supreme Court nominations still require 60 votes to overcome filibuster threats, since they were not included in the changes pushed through by thenMajority Leader Harry Reid in November 2013.

“This community knows better than any other how important the progressive Supreme Court is,” Schumer told the African-American audience.

“When the Congress turned its back on this community - Democrats and Republicans - there was only one group that stood firm, and that was the U.S. Supreme Court,” Schumer said.

The office building in which Schumer was speaking was named for Richard Russell, a Georgia Democrat and leading opponent of civil rights.

Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, on Tuesday said that he was going to invoke a provision of the Senate’s rules to curtail the amount of committee business that may take place. The move came as the latest protest of the Senate GOP’s agenda, and the decision not to take up the Garland confirmation.

In an interview with the New York Times over the August recess, Reid suggested that a new Democratic majority (led by Schumer) may need to ponder further cutting down on filibusters.

Reid said if Republicans were to lose the majority and not change course on the use of delay tactics, “the Senate is going to have to wind up being a democracy.”

By Chris Megerian and Melanie Mason Los Angeles Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For California Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, global warming conjured images of stricken polar bears on melting ice sheets, a problem with little relevance to his arid Inland Empire district.

But at the United Nations conference on climate change in Paris last year, he was struck to hear people talking about helping the world’s poor, polluted communities _ places that sounded a lot like his own district.

“I don’t consider myself a climate change activist,” the first-term Democrat said. “I consider myself an advocate for my community.”

Returning to Sacramento, Garcia teamed up with Sen. Fran Pavley, a Los Angeles County Democrat from the kind of wealthy, white, coastal area that has dominated environmental conversations in the state.

Their alliance turned out to be key: Lawmakers passed and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would set a more ambitious target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving the state’s international reputation for fighting global warming while grounding it in local concerns over jobs and health.

“That’s exactly the discussion we needed to have,” Pavley said. “How can we make the benefits of reducing carbon pollution relevant to everyone?”

Her partnership with Garcia helped broaden political support for climate change policies and provided a potential road map for future environmental battles.

The victory didn’t come easy. Supporters waged an insurgent campaign that faced opposition from oil companies, hesitance from Democratic leaders and deep divisions among environmentalists. But, just one year after industry opposition had buried or watered down other high-profile proposals, Brown is poised to sign measures to spur more investments in clean technologies and cut pollution from refineries and other facilities.

In the end, the legislative odd couple of Garcia and Pavley became what Senate leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, called “the partnership of the future. We’re bridging that gap within the environmental community.”

A longtime environmental champion, Pavley had written the 2002 law that became a national standard for reducing vehicle emissions.

Another landmark measure she wrote four years later set a 2020 target for reducing emissions to 1990 levels and became the legal foundation for many of the state’s climate programs.

For her last year in office, Pavley had an even more ambitious goal - setting a new target for slashing emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

She asked Jake Levine, a Los Angeles native working for an energy company in Washington, D.C., to join her in Sacramento to help pass the legislation. He jumped at the chance, assuming Democratic-dominated California would continue embracing the kind of policies he had watched stall in Washington’s partisan gridlock.

But Levine discovered a different political reality when he arrived.

Pavley’s proposal, SB 32, had been in limbo since it was rejected the previous year, and it was strongly opposed by oil companies, which already had torpedoed a proposal to reduce gasoline use for transportation.

Most of all, Levine was

puzzled by what he called the “heated and emotional rift” within the environmental community, a divide that reflected the complexity of California’s climate politics.

The state has more solar power and electric cars than any other, and national environmental groups have hailed the state’s policies, hoping they could spark much broader, international action to slow global warming.

But those advances weren’t always evident in poorer parts of California, with some of the worst air quality in the country.

Communities dotted by refineries and carved by freeways have felt left behind, and community organizations known as environmental justice groups argue that state regulators should focus more on local concerns.

That divide also had a racial component: Whites were often leading the push for new regulations, while blacks and Latinos were more likely to suffer the consequences of pollution.

“There wasn’t enough communication and trust” between different environmental groups, Levine said.

He partnered with Carlos Gonzalez, the policy director for Garcia, and an informal group of advocates.

Jena Price, a lobbyist for the California League of Conservation Voters, contributed her political instincts for the Capitol; Alex Jackson, a lawyer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, provided the legal perspective from a more traditional environmental group; and Parin Shah, a senior strategist at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, spoke for low-income communities harmed by pollution.

Their strategy discussions at an office near the Capitol were a microcosm of larger debates that have divided Democrats and environmentalists. How much unilateral power should regulators have? Where should the state focus its efforts? What’s the best way to win over skeptics?

“We learned from the old fights,” Shah said. “We don’t need to relive them.”

The group’s dialogue helped produce AB 197, which Garcia introduced as a companion to Pavley’s proposal for a new emissions target.

It was designed to address lawmakers’ long-standing concerns about the power of the California Air Resources Board, the leading agency for state climate policy.

The legislation calls for a new oversight committee and limits how long board members could serve without needing reapproval from lawmakers. It also prodded the board to focus on local pollution concerns when implementing climate regulations.

Concerns about jobs and health resonate in Garcia’s district, which stretches from Joshua Tree National Park to the Mexican border. One in five residents lives below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate of 24 percent is four times the statewide figure. In one county he represents, children visit emergency rooms with asthma problems at twice the state rate.

But Garcia’s legislation, with its push for more regulator oversight, was on a collision course with the governor, who has chafed at attempts to rein in his administration’s authority.

In addition, Garcia’s legislation did not address capand-trade, the centerpiece of California’s climate policy.

The program requires companies to buy permits in order to release greenhouse

GARY CORONADO/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

California state Sen. Fran Pavley (D- Agoura Hills) and Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D- Coachella) teamed up to help pass ambitious new climate change legislation this year, outside the State Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. gases into the atmosphere, providing a financial incentive to clean up their operations. But some activists believe the program doesn’t do enough to curtail pollution.

Brown was focused on safeguarding cap-and-trade from a lawsuit over whether it amounts to an unconstitutional tax. Bulletproofing the program _ and the revenue it generates for projects such as the bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco _ would require a two-thirds vote, the threshold needed for approving taxes and fees.

That was a steeper challenge than the majority vote needed for Garcia’s and Pavley’s legislation, and the governor’s office was negotiating directly with oil companies in hopes of laying the political groundwork for a deal.

Administration officials were agitated that Garcia and his allies were pushing forward with their own legislation while talks were ongoing.

Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said the governor was prepared to battle the oil companies if necessary but wanted the chance to work on “a potential peace treaty.”

“It’s important to put down your weapons and negotiate in good faith,” Westrup said.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, new to his post, feared that the legislation wouldn’t pass and suggested Garcia hold off until next year.

“I wasn’t sure he was listening,” Rendon recalled.

“He nodded his head and kept pushing forward.”

When the last month of the legislative session began, Brown, De Leon and Rendon held a series of tense meetings to determine the fate of climate legislation.

Afterward, the governor’s office and Rendon issued statements suggesting it could wait.

But De Leon was silent.

He was the most eager to push forward, and had even chatted with President Barack Obama’s advisor, Valerie Jarrett, during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in hopes of getting the White House on board.

Garcia’s office had prepared a statement saying it would hold its climate legislation until next year. But Gonzalez took De Leon’s silence as a sign of hope, and he didn’t hit Send.

“We felt that there was a chance,” Gonzalez said.

Despite widespread belief that climate legislation was dying, a lobbying operation was whirring to life.

Supporters believed they were roughly 10 votes short of what they needed in the Assembly, and they knew passage would require making climate change relevant to lawmakers who had opposed the previous year’s effort. Because of term limits, there had been an almost complete turnover in the chamber since 2006, when the state set its original emissions target. Pavley was one

of the only ones left.

During last year’s battle over a failed proposal to reduce oil use, both sides had taken a scorched-earth approach that left emotions raw.

Environmentalists accused lawmakers of being in the pocket of oil companies, while the industry warned that Californians wouldn’t be allowed to gas up their minivans if the legislation passed.

This year, supporters pursued a more nuanced campaign.

Health groups lobbied Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, an emergency room doctor, about the benefits of reducing air pollution. Executives at San Francisco Bay Area businesses such as SunPower and Salesforce pitched Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell.

Clean-energy companies also played a more central role in the lobbying. One trade group distributed fact sheets listing the number of jobs that could be gained in each district, and another flew in an out-of-state investor to dangle the possibility of millions of dollars in new projects.

The effort hinged on picking off a few business-aligned Democrats who had united to block previous climate proposals, and advocates carefully crafted their appeals.

Their targets included Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, who said last year that the people pushing climate policies were “outside environmentalists saying what’s best for my district.”

But this year he connected with a business building a massive new biofuel facility in his district and decided that supporting climate legislation was “the right thing to do for my area.”

Garcia and his allies eventually secured enough support to convince Brown and Rendon that they were within striking distance.

“The timing was right and the politics aligned,” Westrup said, and the governor worked with top lawmakers for the final push.

The oil industry was caught flat-footed as supporters rushed the legislation to a vote. Just weeks after it appeared dead, Pavley’s bill was approved by the Assembly. The lobbying had paid off, and the 42-29 vote included a dozen yes votes from lawmakers who had abstained or opposed her proposal the previous year.

Garcia’s bill passed the following day.

Shortly after the vote, Pavley and Garcia hugged outside the Assembly chamber. His eyes were wet as congratulatory text messages streamed in from his colleagues.

Although there will be more battles over the future of the cap-and-trade program, Pavley said she was ready to hand the baton to Garcia, a decade after passing her first legislation for setting emissions targets.

“He’ll be in the same place I am in 10 years,” she said.

“It’s a relay race.”

Opinion Editorial THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN

“A zebra does not change its spots.” - Al Gore

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Editorial@DailyCollegian.com

American flag not only symbol of patriotism

Understanding Zionism through personal loss This past semester I had the her Jewish identity was largely great privilege to study abroad in based around Jewish persecution Barcelona, which allowed me to because she was not afforded the luxury that many of us New York Isaac Simon Jews have: a community. She very clearly understood that as a Jew in travel all over Europe. Although I the diaspora, she was always the was away, my heart remained in “other.” the United States, where two elderly By the 1940s, Martha’s devotion relatives who informed my outlook to Zionism, debatably one of the on life passed away. The two never most successful and influential met and were on different sides of movements in history, was very my family, but both powerful women clear. She lead a strong local effort inspired my Jewish identity that I to raise money for a Jewish state in am proud of today. the British Mandate of Palestine, Religion played a big part in my or as Jews have referred to it for upbringing, from attending high- 3,800 years, Israel, the birthplace holiday services, lighting Hanukkah of Jewish civilization. It is in fact a candles, helping to run my syna- great point of pride of the Zionist gogue’s homeless shelter in middle movement that Israel was born out school – where preparing pastrami of indigenous liberation; a broken and turkey sandwiches became an people finally allowed to come home. almost daily task – or being encour- And it became clear that this goal, aged to travel to Israel on summer and the pride Martha took in her trips. I was constantly given the Jewish activism, was not striving for opportunity to have new, shared some abstract concept; it was real. experiences. And whether it was going to public school or attending Hebrew school, I was constantly surrounded by other Jews who shared my steadfast commitment to Judaism and social justice.

In the summer time my family goes on an annual road trip across the Midwest, where we make stops along the way until we reach the north woods of Minnesota. Our first stop would Martha Gelb passed away in March. always be my cousin, Martha, who She was 102 years old. On the other lived in Indiana. Martha was an side of my family, her vision was immigrant from Austria who came shared by my grandmother, Rosalie to this country in 1938 right before Berger, a first generation JewishNazi Germany annexed the country. American born in Saint Louis.

Shortly after Martha’s parents put Rosalie understood the trials and her on the train headed for Western tribulations that came with living Europe, they were sent to Bergen- in Missouri. Although Missouri had Belsen concentration camp, where a strong Jewish community, with they were gassed to death at the kosher butchers and bakeshops, hands of the Nazis. It is easy for a anti-Semitism was not far away. A Jew who lost half of his ancestors to combination of elements from the grow up in the mentality of victim- Jim Crow-era south created tension hood, but luckily, due to the move- for her while growing up. Although ment of Zionism, a movement that she thankfully always felt safe, being is guided by principles of empower- Jewish wasn’t always respected by ment, perseverance and social jus- other members of her community. tice, I’ve had a different experience Her parents helped raise money for a Jewish state, and their strong relidue in part to Martha.

Raising a family in Indiana gious background combined with posed challenges for Martha. She their shared values allowed them experienced instances of deep anti- the act of fulfilling Tikkun Olam, or Semitism and was surrounded by repair of the world. non-Jews for most of her life. Her Rosalie may have been lightempowering commitment to a home skinned, but she never really felt for the Jewish people motivated her white. In fact, considering her every move. Unfortunately, though, grandparents were killed by white

supremacist Nazis, she would most likely have been extremely offended by this superimposed identity.

Thanks to Rosalie, I now know that my ancestors were Jews indigenous to the Middle East, a Semitic people who were uprooted from their home by the Romans thousands of years earlier, and sold into slavery.

The apparent success or “wealth” of American Jews was not earned through privilege, or lack of persecution and hardships. It was achieved through dedication, hard work and once again the tremendous empowerment provided by Zionism.

Rosalie’s dream of a safe haven for Jews along with Martha’s vision came true in 1948. Like Moses and Herzl, Rosalie’s parents did not get to see the promise land she worked so hard to secure.

Sadly, my beloved grandmother was taken from me this past June.

In light of these recent passings it seems only fitting that I continue to carry on the work they helped start. Despite centuries of religious oppression along with forceful attempts to exterminate the Jews, we somehow survived and maintained our identity. Today, as American Jews, our identity is scattered between religion, culture, ethnicity and race. But it was really a national identity, Am Yisrael, or the Nation of Israel, that has kept us together as a people in the Diaspora.

Zionism gave expression to this realization of Jewish development, of returning to one’s roots and decolonizing our identity, as well as our land from foreign British rule.

Zionism has come to stand directly in the face of the oppression brought upon by the Russian pogroms in the 1880s, the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s and the Arabs in the 1950s and 1960s. The unstoppable hatred against the Jews forced us out of our complacency and allowed us to declare our freedom, and strive for the return of our authentic Hebrew roots. Although people’s lives expire, such as Martha’s and Rosalie’s did, the values they stood for do not.

They live on in me and in other Jews all over the world. This spirit, the plight of the Jewish people, is something that will never die.

A national flag is a symbol of a country’s history. In the United States, the 13 red and

Michael Agnello white stripes represent the former colonies that revolted from Britain and the stars represent our country’s 50 states. In essence, our flag helps to reaffirm the values of our country: liberty, and justice for all.

But during the two weeks of the presidential conventions, the flag was used as a source of separation, rather than its original call to unity. On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, a sole American flag was positioned slightly off stage, prompting a tweet from Republican nominee Donald Trump on July 27

“Sadly, my beloved grandmother was taken from me this past June.

In light of these recent passings it seems only fitting that I continue to carry on the work they helped start.”

What kind of a message is being sent to the population from such analysis? That you have to visibly display your loyalty to America or else be chastised?

Additionally, the mere attempt to convince the American people that one party is more patriotic than another because of a visible display on one night grossly undermines all the patriotic acts that members of the criticized party have done. Are Secretary of State John Kerry and Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton, both veterans, not patriotic because their party’s convention stage didn’t have a hundred American flags displayed?

Of course not.

Patriotism involves faithfulness, but it is expressed by

“Patriotism involves faithfulness, but it is expressed by action.” that read, “Not one American flag on the massive stage at the Democratic National Convention until people started complaining – then a small one. Pathetic.”

This was quickly proven illinformed, but Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich found new reasons to complain, writing on July 28, “The woman who wants to be the next president of the United States is not wearing an American flag lapel pin tonight.” Both comments were meant to suggest that the Democratic party is antiAmerican, and in turn make the GOP seem more concerned for the status of the country.

While that seems like a classic ploy to win votes in a campaign season that has featured highly divisive rhetoric, these claims cut deeper. They blur the lines of how patriotism should be demonstrated, and subsequently threaten the continued success of our nation by furthering gridlock in Washington and separation among citizens.

Isaac Simon is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at isimon@umass.edu.

action. People who enlist in the armed services because they believe in protecting their country’s interests, who vote because they understand the importance of the democratic process or who stand up for the inherent rights of individuals demonstrate more patriotism than someone who is dressed in red, white and blue on the Fourth of July. That might be obvious. But we can’t allow ourselves to forget that the flag only exists because people before us took action to demonstrate their beliefs.

If we want to truly display the flag, we should follow their footsteps and seek the best for our community and nation, sincerely acting on behalf of others and selflessly striving for a positive future.

The substance of one’s character is how a patriot should be defined, not how many flags they fly or pin to their lapel.

Michael Agnello is a Collegian contributor and can be reached at magnello@umass.edu.

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The Massachusetts Daily Collegian is published Monday through Thursday during the University of Massachusetts calendar semester. The Collegian is independently funded, operating on advertising revenue. Founded in 1890, the paper began as Aggie Life, became the College Signal in 1901, the Weekly Collegian in 1914 and the Tri–Weekly Collegian in 1956. Published daily from 1967 to 2014, The Collegian has been broadsheet since January 1994. For advertising rates and information, call 413-545-3500.

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Swivel chairs are the most superior chairs.

Beanbags are a close second. Recliners a distant third.

Before you insult someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then when you say it, you’ll be a mile away, and have their shoes.

Technically, all machines travel through time.

Your microwave is a time machine.

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Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

You know, from the movies, I thought college was going to be way more hijinks and shenanigans than actual schoolwork.

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Some days you’re Marky Mark, while other days you’re just the Funky Bunch.