Was Judy MacLeod there?

SNOW at BOTH MACtion games last night and it's just Oct. 31st.

MAC or CUSA choice for UMASS--which has better weather?

Do you want midweek night games in November in Amherst plus away games on snowy MAC fields?

OR October nights at home and CUSA away in the South and West?

(10-31-2023 10:49 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Was Judy MacLeod there?

No, but with Army, long time proponent of Independence going to a conference, felt it more than just interesting that the UMass President and Chancellor traveled to Army and probably heard first hand why, independence is no longer a good option.

Could be why the broadcasters made these statements.



CUSA has more pluses, better depth in basketball, multiple east coast schools, better fan support and growing population. The MAC does have better travel and the ability to build rivals. There is no program that I hate like Buffalo.

You can look at CUSA and it's rebuild as an up and coming league and the MAC cannot offer that outlook.

The basketball depth is probably very important to some of our basketball fans and AD, as we hire South Carolina's Frank Martin for 8.5M over 5 years.

Know a lot of people made comments about the 8.4M in donations, but I'd expect every program to grow it's donation base. You can not expect the state government to help out as needed. Nor is it right to raise student fees. Our student athletic fee has not gone up for a very long time, pre FBS days.

Cold Water in the FACE time.

All this hypothetical UMASS talk has been nice BUT...

UMASS Football

2024>>12 games scheduled

2025>> 10 games scheduled

UNLESS you have a BOATLOAD of Money---2024--getting out of SIX FBS games with LESS than one year's notice will be impossible (Wagner and Liberty would be easily moved, conf. scheduled, respectively).

2025 would NOT be much easier--more time-slightly fewer games--but still DIFFICULT.

2026>> 7 games (plus Liberty)

(11-01-2023 11:24 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Cold Water in the FACE time.

All this hypothetical UMASS talk has been nice BUT...

UMASS Football

2024>>12 games scheduled

2025>> 10 games scheduled

UNLESS you have a BOATLOAD of Money---2024--getting out of SIX FBS games with LESS than one year's notice will be impossible (Wagner and Liberty would be easily moved, conf. scheduled, respectively).

2025 would NOT be much easier--more time-slightly fewer games--but still DIFFICULT.

2026>> 7 games (plus Liberty)

The later next year, seems like a 2025 move. I'll be late but you guys are important.
The return MAC games should be easy to get out of as we will give them the home game in 2024, Army, Liberty np.

2024
08/31 - Eastern Michigan
09/07 - at Toledo
09/14 - at Buffalo
09/21 - Wagner
09/28 - at Miami (Ohio)
10/05 - at Northern Illinois
10/12 - Missouri
11/02 - at Mississippi State
11/09 - Army
11/16 - Liberty
11/23 - at Georgia
11/30 - UConn

2025
08/30 - Temple
09/06 - at Boston College
09/13 - Buffalo
09/27 - Troy
10/04 - Bowling Green
10/18 - at Missouri
11/01 - at Liberty
11/15 - at Iowa
11/22 - at Army
11/29 - at UConn

Definitely 2025 AND that will still be Difficult.

All hypothetical about moving to CUSA anyway--BUT Question.

Since UMASS is INDY in FB--would they be able to bring Everything but FB in Fall 2024 and then FB one year later?

What are-- If any--- Exit fees for the A10???

Another Hurdle for UMASS.

Please do NOT bring up religion or politics or this thread may get locked.

UMASS---pretty "liberal" state and university

Liberty--- conservative religious school

IMO people have a right to be on Either end or in the middle of this spectrum.

We should all respect each other.

But... some think that the UMASS admn. will have to be convinced to be in a league with Liberty.

It certainly is not a cultural fit--not to mention other Southern members.

WILL THIS be the "unspoken" aspect that derails this move by UMASS??

I asked UMass AD, Ryan Bamford, if there was interest from UMass in joining CUSA. His answer, “UMass will always entertain opportunities that help our football program find a conference home.” It was typical AD speak, but hey, he responded. I think if CUSA asks they will come, with or without Delaware. I hope it’s with. There appears to be genuine interest from both.

(11-02-2023 02:09 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Another Hurdle for UMASS.

Please do NOT bring up religion or politics or this thread may get locked.

UMASS---pretty "liberal" state and university

Liberty--- conservative religious school

IMO people have a right to be on Either end or in the middle of this spectrum.

We should all respect each other.

But... some think that the UMASS admn. will have to be convinced to be in a league with Liberty.

It certainly is not a cultural fit--not to mention other Southern members.

WILL THIS be the "unspoken" aspect that derails this move by UMASS??

I believe the answer is no. We regularly play UMass in football now and seem to have a good working relationship.

(11-02-2023 02:56 PM)army56mike Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 02:09 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Another Hurdle for UMASS.

Please do NOT bring up religion or politics or this thread may get locked.

UMASS---pretty "liberal" state and university

Liberty--- conservative religious school

IMO people have a right to be on Either end or in the middle of this spectrum.

We should all respect each other.

But... some think that the UMASS admn. will have to be convinced to be in a league with Liberty.

It certainly is not a cultural fit--not to mention other Southern members.

WILL THIS be the "unspoken" aspect that derails this move by UMASS??

I believe the answer is no. We regularly play UMass in football now and seem to have a good working relationship.

Will add, when Liberty won against the NCAA to be FBS Indy, no one rush to schedule them. UMass was the first and then Liberty started getting others to schedule. Of course Liberty's AD was a former UMass AD.

Liberty and UMass share one common value: They both like $$$.

(11-02-2023 04:07 PM)R40 Wrote:  Liberty and UMass share one common value: They both like $$$.

Think you put too much emphasis on our donations. The football program has 1M less support from the administration then we were FCS. We play multiple body bag games to pay the bills. How many Power 5 schools do you regularly play? This year 2, next year 3 including George, Mississippi State and a home game with Missouri. We sponsor 21 sports, some expensive ones as hockey, but the point we are rich is just not the case. We are battle for the football program to be adequately funding and you keep saying we are rich. Guess everything is relative. Our Athletic budget is 10M less than Liberty. The cost of living and expenses are higher in the NE as well.

(11-02-2023 04:39 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:07 PM)R40 Wrote:  Liberty and UMass share one common value: They both like $$$.

Think you put too much emphasis on our donations. The football program has 1M less support from the administration then we were FCS. We play multiple body bag games to pay the bills. How many Power 5 schools do you regularly play? This year 2, next year 3 including George, Mississippi State and a home game with Missouri. We sponsor 21 sports, some expensive ones as hockey, but the point we are rich is just not the case. We are battle for the football program to be adequately funding and you keep saying we are rich. Guess everything is relative. Our Athletic budget is 10M less than Liberty. The cost of living and expenses are higher in the NE as well.

You are definitely rich. As I have said, your commitment to football has been low. You got $8 million in athletic donations. That is pure revenue. They don't have any shortage of money and that will go up when they pitch playing in a conference and getting committed to football.

(11-02-2023 04:47 PM)R40 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:39 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:07 PM)R40 Wrote:  Liberty and UMass share one common value: They both like $$$.

Think you put too much emphasis on our donations. The football program has 1M less support from the administration then we were FCS. We play multiple body bag games to pay the bills. How many Power 5 schools do you regularly play? This year 2, next year 3 including George, Mississippi State and a home game with Missouri. We sponsor 21 sports, some expensive ones as hockey, but the point we are rich is just not the case. We are battle for the football program to be adequately funding and you keep saying we are rich. Guess everything is relative. Our Athletic budget is 10M less than Liberty. The cost of living and expenses are higher in the NE as well.

You are definitely rich. As I have said, your commitment to football has been low. You got $8 million in athletic donations. That is pure revenue. They don't have any shortage of money and that will go up when they pitch playing in a conference and getting committed to football.

Ok, then who funds the athletic department, sports revenue, conference revenue, state government and no donations??? In FBS 8.4M is small, your FBS and a it's different landscape, norms and budgets. Don't believe in the least common denominator, it water downs everything. Will play, if your budget is near 30M, ours 40's M and Liberty is 50's M, we are middle class. Your budgets will grow, ours was 27M before FBS. Fund raising, marketing and other things will play a roll. Best wishes and with time your budget will grow.

(11-02-2023 05:31 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:47 PM)R40 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:39 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(11-02-2023 04:07 PM)R40 Wrote:  Liberty and UMass share one common value: They both like $$$.

Think you put too much emphasis on our donations. The football program has 1M less support from the administration then we were FCS. We play multiple body bag games to pay the bills. How many Power 5 schools do you regularly play? This year 2, next year 3 including George, Mississippi State and a home game with Missouri. We sponsor 21 sports, some expensive ones as hockey, but the point we are rich is just not the case. We are battle for the football program to be adequately funding and you keep saying we are rich. Guess everything is relative. Our Athletic budget is 10M less than Liberty. The cost of living and expenses are higher in the NE as well.

You are definitely rich. As I have said, your commitment to football has been low. You got $8 million in athletic donations. That is pure revenue. They don't have any shortage of money and that will go up when they pitch playing in a conference and getting committed to football.

Ok, then who funds the athletic department, sports revenue, conference revenue, state government and no donations??? In FBS 8.4M is small, your FBS and a it's different landscape, norms and budgets. Don't believe in the least common denominator, it water downs everything. Will play, if your budget is near 30M, ours 40's M and Liberty is 50's M, we are middle class. Your budgets will grow, ours was 27M before FBS.

Yes, it is small. But it is massive for CUSA. It is not like you can't compete in the Big 10 or the ACC if given the chance.

A low football budget just means a bigger profit for the U when you are playing low level football. Why should they care? But they do seem to start to care and whether it is just the head coach or a bigger commitment through NIL, they are definitely getting better and having more aspirations.

UMASS currently has some longer trips in the A10:

--St. Louis

-- Chicago

--Davidson, NC

-- Three trips to VA

--Dayton, Ohio

It's not all close trips in their current league as some would think.

But, of course there would be More travel in CUSA.

(11-03-2023 05:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  UMASS currently has some longer trips in the A10:

--St. Louis

-- Chicago

--Davidson, NC

-- Three trips to VA

--Dayton, Ohio

It's not all close trips in their current league as some would think.

But, of course there would be More travel in CUSA.

Perhaps George Washington, G-dub should be included. Western New York, Olean and Pennsylvania, Duquesne - Pittsburgh - Dukes are a haul as well.

UMASS defeats fcs Merrimack for third win.

AT Liberty---Nov. 18th.

Home for UCONN-- Nov. 25th.

(11-05-2023 05:26 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  UMASS defeats fcs Merrimack for third win.

AT Liberty---Nov. 18th.

Home for UCONN-- Nov. 25th.

Thanks. It is now tradition after every football game for tweets to the AD asking about a conference home. Some don't care and will post an example of the tweets and the poll Shizzle started but a least two people posted they want an option of any conference and did not vote.

IMO some kind of statement in the next 3-5 weeks.

Possibilities:

Happy where we are but keeping options open...

Or

We are looking at an all-conf. home (studying).

Or

A CUSA or MAC announcement.