Whatever UMass does with its football program, all this secrecy is unnecessary
Published: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 1:03 PM Updated: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 2:14 PM
By Ron Chimelis, The Republican
Follow Tweet
Share
4 Share close
Google Buzz

Digg

Stumble Upon

Fark
Share Email Print

Photo by J. Anthony RobertsThe UMass football team could keep playing opponents like New Hampshire, shown above, or move up to the Mid-American Conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Give me credit for trying.

Faithful readers may recall that two weeks ago, I wrote that the University of Massachusetts would do their fans a service by declaring their intentions about a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, which the more clear-thinking among us still prefer calling by its maiden name, Division I-A.

The story of shared interest between UMass and the Mid-American Conference broke in November. At the time, UMass athletic John McCutcheon was understandably cautious, but left no doubt it might really happen this time.

This week, I asked McCutcheon what was happening. Was it yes, no or maybe so?

"About as much as I can is that it's an active, ongoing conversation,'' McCutcheon said.

"It would be premature to say anything more.''

I don't agree. It might be premature to say, "We'll be kicking Toledo's butts by 2013,'' but a status report, even one that leaves all options open, is not too much to ask.

By nature, McCutcheon is a cautious man. In his job, he must be; if he says too much, he's in trouble with his bosses.

When this story first broke, I called the chancellor's office, hoping to shrewdly circumvent the tight-lipped AD and get the real inside scoop.

I was referred to the athletic director's office. As they say in the NBA: Rejection!

State universities all across America often forget that their sports teams, like everything else about them, belong to the public. Notre Dame can do what it wants because it's private, but not State U.

Let a politician try to say, "We'll tell you when we tell you,'' about some project, and you can imagine the outcry.

Why I am pressing this point? It is because while I think this is an important decision, I think the facts have been out there long enough to warrant a final answer, unless the MAC is getting cold feet about it.

UMass has had 15 years to decide if this is worth it. Moving up is a gamble, because it requires a cash outlay, some of which might have to come from the state budget.

Maybe that's the holdup, but staying put is a gamble, too. Division I-AA football may be drying up; besides, UMass will continue to lose up to $3 million per year with the status quo.

But everybody knows all of this. UMass is beginning to look like the poker player, hedging on whether to play or fold while the other players (in this case, UMass fans and taxpayers) sit patiently by but want to say, "Well?''

"I know folks would love to know every in and out, but it's not one of those things we can put in the public forum,'' McCutcheon said.

I respect that he is in a delicate position. But even if the public is not entitled to know every in and out, but I don't see why it needs to be shut out of the entire process.

Why would a little candor be so harmful?