This continues to be a very fine board for all MAC fans and now we await UMass to officially become a member of the MAC family (assume the deal should be done early next year. Correct?).
In the years I have been on these various boards, I've awaited and welcomed Marshall, UCF, Temple, and now UMass. Kind of like a family which awaits a new child.
Unlike the Big Ten, which adds members to its family, but never loses a member, we gain members and lose members.
I hope both Temple and UMass will be around for a long time and make significant contributions to MAC football.
And lets kick some butt in the two MAC bowl games ahead...
Steve
I'll certainly be cheering for Toledo and Miami, though it will still be a couple years until UMass is an official MAC member. Gotta do our 2 years in purgatory where we're neither playoff eligible nor bowl eligible.
(12-24-2010 11:34 AM)LastMinuteman Wrote: [ -> ]I'll certainly be cheering for Toledo and Miami, though it will still be a couple years until UMass is an official MAC member. Gotta do our 2 years in purgatory where we're neither playoff eligible nor bowl eligible.
Yikes, I forgot that during those two years UMass is literally a man without a country so as to speak.
Literally a 2-season 'engagement'.
We'll be following your efforts to build your program as you convert from I-AA rules to I-A rules.
I don't know how long you've been following college football but I remember what we'd call 'green shirting' for Marshall.
They'd stock up the year or two before they went from I-AA to I-A with a number of immediately eligible I-A transfers. I believe Randy Moss was immediately eligible after transferring from FSU, I think.
Do you know how many open dates on the UMass '11 schedule there are?
(12-24-2010 11:53 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ] (12-24-2010 11:34 AM)LastMinuteman Wrote: [ -> ]I'll certainly be cheering for Toledo and Miami, though it will still be a couple years until UMass is an official MAC member. Gotta do our 2 years in purgatory where we're neither playoff eligible nor bowl eligible.
Yikes, I forgot that during those two years UMass is literally a man without a country so as to speak.
Literally a 2-season 'engagement'.
We'll be following your efforts to build your program as you convert from I-AA rules to I-A rules.
I don't know how long you've been following college football but I remember what we'd call 'green shirting' for Marshall.
They'd stock up the year or two before they went from I-AA to I-A with a number of immediately eligible I-A transfers. I believe Randy Moss was immediately eligible after transferring from FSU, I think.
Do you know how many open dates on the UMass '11 schedule there are?
Id much rather UB dropped its FCS games for the next couple of years and got UMass on the schedule... I am sure some other MAC Schools (like Temple) feel the same way.
(12-24-2010 11:53 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ] (12-24-2010 11:34 AM)LastMinuteman Wrote: [ -> ]I'll certainly be cheering for Toledo and Miami, though it will still be a couple years until UMass is an official MAC member. Gotta do our 2 years in purgatory where we're neither playoff eligible nor bowl eligible.
Yikes, I forgot that during those two years UMass is literally a man without a country so as to speak.
Literally a 2-season 'engagement'.
We'll be following your efforts to build your program as you convert from I-AA rules to I-A rules.
I don't know how long you've been following college football but I remember what we'd call 'green shirting' for Marshall.
They'd stock up the year or two before they went from I-AA to I-A with a number of immediately eligible I-A transfers. I believe Randy Moss was immediately eligible after transferring from FSU, I think.
Do you know how many open dates on the UMass '11 schedule there are?
Unless we cancel some agreements, there's only 1 open date on our 2011 schedule. Maybe 2 if we can immediately go to a 12 game schedule (FCS usually has an 11 game regular season.) We have Boston College, Holy Cross and 8 CAA games locked in, including one game at Gillette Stadium against New Hampshire, who beat Ball State and Marshall a couple years ago. We'll definitely do some "maroon shirting", since we're only playing for pride the next 2 years.
In 2012, UMass will likely try to schedule several MAC teams, since we're required to play a certain minimum number of FBS teams in the second transition year. That is, of course, only if we do make the FBS move. I'm trying not to jinx it, but everyone I know at UMass says this is 80-90% done.
Umass gets a recruiting advantage because transfers don't have to sit out and don't have to finish their career at a lower level. This makes them appealing to the top transfers in the country. Hopefully they take advantage of this fact.
(12-24-2010 01:54 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]Umass gets a recruiting advantage because transfers don't have to sit out and don't have to finish their career at a lower level. This makes them appealing to the top transfers in the country. Hopefully they take advantage of this fact.
Absolutely.
They probably already have Yahoo maps from Chestnut Hill --> Amherst ready.
UMass would seem a good choice for Big East kids from the northeast wanting to transfer.
I can especially see BC, UConn, and some others like 'Cuse and maybe Pitt.
Merry Christmas to all fellow MACsters.
Stay warm, stay safe and enjoy the holidays.
Thanks emu steve and definitely looking forward to a few more bowl wins for our fellow MACsters. This seems to be a very good fit for a long relationship. Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth!