(12-05-2017 07:18 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-05-2017 07:12 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(12-05-2017 06:48 PM)SC-KNIGHT Wrote:  UMASS should try and get a scheduling arrangement with the AAC for 4 to 6 games a year and a shot at one of their low end bowls especially if the AAC can't fill the slots for their contracted bowls. They can then fill in other slots with Liberty, Army, NM ST, and BYU while waiting for a conference opening. Add a couple of money games, some old MAC partners, and some local P5 schools that will play them in Gillette for their half of home and home scheduling and UMASS could go on indefinitely as an independent if it can't get into a conference for football in the near future.

What do we gain from that?

Nothing that I can see. Throw in a BBall scheduling agreement (a la the MAC agreements with Temple & UMass) ... and it's still no clear gain, since the AAC teams can get those games if they want.

Throwing some basketball games in would help too and also some other Olympic sports to cut travel. It would help the NE and Mid Atlantic AAC schools with heavy travel costs to Florida and Texas. UConn and Temple are already scheduling UMASS for football. The tie in might help Navy, Cinn, and even ECU too. Of course UMASS gets the major gain in this deal but the AAC gets a look at UMASS and its commitment to facilities upgrades for the next round of realignment when the current GOR's expires down the road. It is more of a win for UMASS but I was looking at this more from the UMASS side anyway to stay relevant until a conference picks them up and the AAC seems to be their target conference of choice.