(05-17-2016 01:09 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Beyond shocked you guys did not jump all over us for first expanding seating on the cheap, temporary seating. We are just pragmatic and need to prove in 2017 that we need the expanded capacity so a true stadium expansion can be completed by 2019-20.

Last year's game against Temple killed us on a final extra point turnover to a safety. Then some really bad games on campus against Kent State and Miami set us back. Have my maroon glasses on and think will over come that this year and make a push in 2017 to showing a true need for stadium expansion.

There is a major flaw in your logic. Basically it is a chicken of the egg scenario. It is very difficult to build a consistent winner when your facilities stink. Though it is hard to build facilities if you have no support. If Umass is serious about playing big time football and moving into the AAC then you have to step up and invest. Look at Tulane, we would have had no shot at an AAC invite if we didn't commit $100mm to facilities. Houston's fanbase has been pretty poor but they stepped up and built a big time stadium cause they have aspirations to move up in conference.

(05-17-2016 02:47 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(05-17-2016 02:13 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  So this confirms my original thoughts....that UMass has no plan for football.

In the spring of 2011, they announced they would be going to FBS and join the MAC.

3 years later, they announced they would leave the MAC after the 2015 season and become Indy.

In the meantime, they played games at Gillette and built a new locker room and football facility. And press box.

No bathrooms, no concessions, no conference.

Does this look like they thought this out?

To this in 2014 with added concessions items as suchi, lobster rolls, etc from the #2 food services department in the nation:

Honestly, this is the most interesting thing in this whole thread. Umass gets sushi and lobster rolls. Memphis gets barbecue nachos and hot dogs...

(05-17-2016 10:31 PM)GreenWave16 Wrote:  

(05-17-2016 10:25 PM)DUPERGREENIE Wrote:  I'm not sure why this agreement was put in place. Personally I don't see how it benefits either team. Both schools have small fan bases which will be hard to travel to the other city and it would be silly to start some sort of rivalry. I am in no way shape or form saying that Tulane is 'above' UMASS but at this stage in both programs a victory is like EH.

I would say we are above UMASS, check the conference we are in.

UMass is in the same conference as Notre Dame, BYU and Army.

(05-17-2016 01:09 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Beyond shocked you guys did not jump all over us for first expanding seating on the cheap, temporary seating. We are just pragmatic and need to prove in 2017 that we need the expanded capacity so a true stadium expansion can be completed by 2019-20.

Last year's game against Temple killed us on a final extra point turnover to a safety. Then some really bad games on campus against Kent State and Miami set us back. Have my maroon glasses on and think will over come that this year and make a push in 2017 to showing a true need for stadium expansion.

new stadium or bust

Tulane at Umass...on main campus. Probably best. I was looking at shots of campus where they can play the game (you won't need the little stadium they have due to low fan interest). Looks like you could probably do the game right here in this green space (see below). Perfect spot.

Maybe get a popcorn cart and a guy with an ice chest for cokes. Fans can sit/stand near the water side for a nice game experience. If you market this correctly (flyers around campus) you can probably get 30-50 students to turn out. Think it over.

(05-18-2016 09:16 AM)muffinman Wrote:  

(05-17-2016 02:47 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(05-17-2016 02:13 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  So this confirms my original thoughts....that UMass has no plan for football.

In the spring of 2011, they announced they would be going to FBS and join the MAC.

3 years later, they announced they would leave the MAC after the 2015 season and become Indy.

In the meantime, they played games at Gillette and built a new locker room and football facility. And press box.

No bathrooms, no concessions, no conference.

Does this look like they thought this out?

To this in 2014 with added concessions items as suchi, lobster rolls, etc from the #2 food services department in the nation:

Honestly, this is the most interesting thing in this whole thread. Umass gets sushi and lobster rolls. Memphis gets barbecue nachos and hot dogs...

From this image, the best campus food rating was from the Princeton Review.

^^^ Best Campus Food #2?!

lol I doubt this is really going to help you get into any conference...but good for you guys. Glad your campus food is #2 in the nation...smh

It doesn't hurt with recruiting, considering we have no conference, no bowl tie-ins and not a stella win record and we had the #80 best recruiting class. With my maroon glass on, imagine the recruiting class possibilities being in the AAC. Granted getting in the AAC is years away, we need to improve both football performance and the stadium. We had a real shot of beating Temple last year. Hopefully we start turning the corner in the next few years.

Anyhow, started this thread trying to gain access to yogwf and renamed the thread when saw some stadium tidbits in the article of moving the game on campus.

(05-18-2016 08:25 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  It doesn't hurt with recruiting, considering we have no conference, no bowl tie-ins and not a stella win record and we had the #80 best recruiting class. With my maroon glass on, imagine the recruiting class possibilities being in the AAC. Granted getting in the AAC is years away, we need to improve both football performance and the stadium. We had a real shot of beating Temple last year. Hopefully we start turning the corner in the next few years.

Anyhow, started this thread trying to gain access to yogwf and renamed the thread when saw some stadium tidbits in the article of moving the game on campus.

If you guys were serious about shooting for an AAC invitation I’m surprised not to see more AAC teams on your football schedule. I know last season you were limited because of the MAC scheduling but moving forward I see only a game or 2 scheduled against AAC opponents for the next 3 seasons. IMO you guys should go all in scheduling AAC teams in both football and basketball as much as possible.

What better way to prove you can compete than playing 4 or 5 AAC teams per season?

(05-17-2016 01:15 PM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

This.

(05-18-2016 07:41 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  ^^^ Best Campus Food #2?!

lol I doubt this is really going to help you get into any conference...but good for you guys. Glad your campus food is #2 in the nation...smh

(05-19-2016 08:18 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 08:25 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  It doesn't hurt with recruiting, considering we have no conference, no bowl tie-ins and not a stella win record and we had the #80 best recruiting class. With my maroon glass on, imagine the recruiting class possibilities being in the AAC. Granted getting in the AAC is years away, we need to improve both football performance and the stadium. We had a real shot of beating Temple last year. Hopefully we start turning the corner in the next few years.

Anyhow, started this thread trying to gain access to yogwf and renamed the thread when saw some stadium tidbits in the article of moving the game on campus.

If you guys were serious about shooting for an AAC invitation I’m surprised not to see more AAC teams on your football schedule. I know last season you were limited because of the MAC scheduling but moving forward I see only a game or 2 scheduled against AAC opponents for the next 3 seasons. IMO you guys should go all in scheduling AAC teams in both football and basketball as much as possible.

What better way to prove you can compete than playing 4 or 5 AAC teams per season?

I completely agree with this. It also would give them a chance to build relationships with some of the AAC schools so when and if the time comes they are able to leverage those relationships. I feel like UMass needs to look at UConn and do some of the same things to build their programs. Invest in facilities etc.. so there is no doubt when the American needs to look for more teams. I mean ECU could use a good b-ball school to play so do so help them out and maybe they can fill out your football schedule. Works for everyone. Same could be said for other teams as well. I think you guys have some heated history with Temple as well. Makes sense IMO.