(03-26-2014 04:03 PM)GFlash68 Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:23 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:19 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  The UMass basketball scheduling thing has been terminated immediately. They will no longer play MAC schools.

Thankfully this come to an end.

I believe that the BB scheduling part of the membership will continue through 2015.

No, unfortunately.

(03-26-2014 02:35 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:31 PM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:16 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:14 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Interesting. Seems like the MAC did not want to expand anyway, but looks
like you guys would invite JMU.

If we didn't want to expand, why did we just invite UMass?

Because of Temple. The MAC wanted the Philly television market to be part of their footprint, and because of an historical connection, UMass and Temple were part of a package.

No, I mean why did we just invite UMass to join for all sports? Just last month? What does that have to do with Temple, which is ancient history now?

It was one of the options in the contract. MAC did not just want to say "leave" and they would need a reason anyway. This forced UMass to make the decision. I have said many times that the MAC will not do less than full memberships in the future. MAC now has the option to stay at 12 or add two that will add market appeal.

Email I just got from UMass. Not what I wanted to read :(

Quote:Hello Football Ambassadors!

The season preparation is underway, and we will certainly be relying on you again to help generate support, enthusiasm, and broadcast the messages of UMass football! In an effort to keep you informed and prepared for questions you may encounter, the university just announced a moment ago that they will be leaving the MAC conference after the conclusion of the 2015 season. Please see the attached talking points, and you can read an article about it at http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-f...4aaa.html. Thanks for your work, and I look forward to working with you again for the upcoming season!

Thanks,
Kevin

I like UMass and their fans so on a personal level I'm sorry to see them go and wish them the best. But on a business level, this move is what's best for the MAC and I'm glad it happened.

(03-26-2014 04:13 PM)jjmc85 Wrote:  Email I just got from UMass. Not what I wanted to read :(

Quote:Hello Football Ambassadors!

The season preparation is underway, and we will certainly be relying on you again to help generate support, enthusiasm, and broadcast the messages of UMass football! In an effort to keep you informed and prepared for questions you may encounter, the university just announced a moment ago that they will be leaving the MAC conference after the conclusion of the 2015 season. Please see the attached talking points, and you can read an article about it at http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-f...4aaa.html. Thanks for your work, and I look forward to working with you again for the upcoming season!

Thanks,
Kevin

(03-26-2014 04:25 PM)TARDledo Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 04:13 PM)jjmc85 Wrote:  Email I just got from UMass. Not what I wanted to read :(

Quote:Hello Football Ambassadors!

The season preparation is underway, and we will certainly be relying on you again to help generate support, enthusiasm, and broadcast the messages of UMass football! In an effort to keep you informed and prepared for questions you may encounter, the university just announced a moment ago that they will be leaving the MAC conference after the conclusion of the 2015 season. Please see the attached talking points, and you can read an article about it at http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-f...4aaa.html. Thanks for your work, and I look forward to working with you again for the upcoming season!

Thanks,
Kevin

I noticed that too. Confirming the MAC did the right thing.

Yeah, won't be missed by the MAC Conference.

It made at least some sense to add a 14th school with Temple, but that didn't pan out so it now makes sense to part ways. UMass would have been stupid to join the MAC for all sports, but it wasn't really ever going to happen anyway. That clause was a way for both sides to end it painlessly. Both sides now acting in their own best interests.

(03-26-2014 02:48 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  True, but many on here have said that the MAC wanted a better TV package. Losing UMass can't help there.

Doesn't hurt much, though ... its not a high college FB penetration area compared to much of the country, and being FB-only waters down the interest in the MAC even further. If Temple had not received a reprieve from an old Big East desperate to shore up numbers, the pair of Temple/UMass FB-only with the additional BBall games would have been of some benefit ...

... but without, its not so clear that its superior either to the 12 without UMass, or to every other prospective pair out there.

Anyway, this explains why the buzz regarding JMU was leaning toward JMU all-sports ... a 14th school FB-only would have rested on UMass saying yes, which was always highly unlikely.

(03-26-2014 04:56 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:48 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  True, but many on here have said that the MAC wanted a better TV package. Losing UMass can't help there.

Doesn't hurt much, though ... its not a high college FB penetration area compared to much of the country, and being FB-only waters down the interest in the MAC even further. If Temple had not received a reprieve from an old Big East desperate to shore up numbers, the pair of Temple/UMass FB-only with the additional BBall games would have been of some benefit ...

... but without, its not so clear that its superior either to the 12 without UMass, or to every other prospective pair out there.

Anyway, this explains why the buzz regarding JMU was leaning toward JMU all-sports ... a 14th school FB-only would have rested on UMass saying yes, which was always highly unlikely.

If the MAC wanted JMU football only it wouldn't have exercised the option, and would have kept UMass football only.

It's official: Steinbrecher is reading this board.

(03-26-2014 04:53 PM)axeme Wrote:  It made at least some sense to add a 14th school with Temple, but that didn't pan out so it now makes sense to part ways. UMass would have been stupid to join the MAC for all sports, but it wasn't really ever going to happen anyway. That clause was a way for both sides to end it painlessly. Both sides now acting in their own best interests.

Why does it take the MAC so long to figure these things out?

Well, this actually serves two purposes, as now we know EMU won't be going anywhere! Can't see the MAC going to 11...lol!

Now, if we could just win the conference title before we leave.

(03-26-2014 06:01 PM)EmeryZach Wrote:  Now, if we could just win the conference title before we leave.

(03-26-2014 06:01 PM)EmeryZach Wrote:  Now, if we could just win the conference title before we leave.

Or more than one conference game.

UMass brimming with confidence after bball team earns first bid to the tournament in 15 years.

(03-26-2014 05:57 PM)wleakr Wrote:  Well, this actually serves two purposes, as now we know EMU won't be going anywhere! Can't see the MAC going to 11...lol!

Now there's a football program that should drop down to FCS....oh, wait. They can't beat those schools either.........

(03-26-2014 05:27 PM)JSF Wrote:  It's official: Steinbrecher is reading this board.

Yep, he's been working on the MAC Kickoff Classic since yesterday too.

(03-26-2014 05:31 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  Why does it take the MAC so long to figure these things out?

So they exercised the option in the same athletic year that it became available, and you are complaining about the MAC foot dragging? That sounds like a demand that they exercise the option before it was available.

The Temple & UMass move had more value than the individual pieces, both because of the pair being worth more than the teams individually, because of the divisional benefit and, of course, the other new East division schools would be happy to play every year on the East Coast.

And therefore the option to terminate the affiliation agreement two years after one of the pair left, with two years to either join all sports or just leave. Which the MAC exercised. Two years after Temple left.