To redshirt or not?

Maine linebacker Mark Masterson remains sidelined with an ankle/foot injury, and is using the team's bye week to try and prepare to return against Massachusetts on Oct. 31.

"He's been on shutdown. It's an ankle sprain that was pretty severe," said Maine Coach Jack Cosgrove. "It involves the achilles as well. And hasn't responded."

If the injury doesn't heal soon Masterson, a senior, would be eligible to be a medical redshirt, said Cosgrove, since he never redshirted at Maine.

"We'll see what transpires for UMass and at that point if it's no good we've got to make a decision on what the future would look like," said Cosgrove.

Fullback Jared Turcotte, meanwhile, who has been recovering from abdominal surgery, is not likely eligible for a medical redshirt year, said Cosgrove. Turcotte, the team's leading rusher last year, redshirted his first year at Maine.

"You can appeal," said Cosgrove. "But that generally only works if you get hurt in your fifth year. That happened to (center) Ben Lazarski here."