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McMurphy just texted that UMass is leaving the MAC after 2015. They apparently were offered full membership, turned it down, and therefore have to exit in 2 years. Wonder if they are dropping back down.

The Mid-American Conference and University of Massachusetts reached an agreement forcing UMass to leave the league as a football-only member after the 2015 season, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

UMass had been a football-only member of the MAC the past two seasons and primarily a member of the Atlantic 10 in its other sports.

Last month, the MAC offered full membership to UMass, but the school declined, sources told ESPN. Per UMass' agreement with the MAC, if it turned down full membership from the MAC, the school would only be able to remain a football-only member for two more seasons, sources said.

In each of the Minutemen's first two years in the MAC, in 2012 and 2013, they were 1-7 in MAC play and 1-11 overall.

UMass will remain in the MAC East Division in 2014 and 2015.

In 2016, the MAC will be a 12-team conference consisting of Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio in the East; and Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan in the West.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...er-sources

Official press release: http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...tball.aspx

Makes sense for UMass and for the MAC. Everyone can move on in peace.

Sooo..... Slumbelt?

So no James Madison to the MAC. If that was in the pipeline, they would have kept UMass.

(03-26-2014 02:16 PM)bullet Wrote: [ -> ]So no James Madison to the MAC. If that was in the pipeline, they would have kept UMass.

What makes you say that? I strongly doubt that just adding JMU would make UMass want to move their basketball team to the MAC.

(03-26-2014 02:20 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:16 PM)bullet Wrote: [ -> ]So no James Madison to the MAC. If that was in the pipeline, they would have kept UMass.

What makes you say that? I strongly doubt that just adding JMU would make UMass want to move their basketball team to the MAC.

I think he means that if the MAC wanted to go to 14 members for football UMass would've stayed put and JMU would have been added. So, apparently the MAC is happy at 12.

Time table wise it would be about right for the American to bring UMass in. Navy joins in 2015, get a deal where Army and UMass join for 2016 season with UMass in all-sports.

If/when a split of the top conferences occurs, a northeastern based conference on par with the MAC/CUSA/etc. makes a lot of sense with UMass, Delaware, JMU, Stony Brook, and those sorts involved. If that occurs, the MAC will have some good options to the south and west with schools like Southern Illinois, Murray State, Missouri State, and the like, especially if Buffalo shifts to that potential northeastern conference. A bit more of a cultural and geographical fit for those next tier conferences wouldn't hurt.

(03-26-2014 02:26 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Time table wise it would be about right for the American to bring UMass in. Navy joins in 2015, get a deal where Army and UMass join for 2016 season with UMass in all-sports.

that's my dream scenario for the AAC. Sure UMass and Army football are terrible but that's the best possible (balanced) thing to happen for the TV deal and hoops probably. Helps out UConn and Temple a LOT for travel and natural rivals as well.

(03-26-2014 02:26 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Time table wise it would be about right for the American to bring UMass in. Navy joins in 2015, get a deal where Army and UMass join for 2016 season with UMass in all-sports.

Interesting long-range possibilities.

But UMass needs to get their stadium issues worked out, first. And UMass and Army both need to reach the point of being better-than-horrible in terms of competitiveness.

(03-26-2014 02:25 PM)blunderbuss Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:20 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:16 PM)bullet Wrote: [ -> ]So no James Madison to the MAC. If that was in the pipeline, they would have kept UMass.

What makes you say that? I strongly doubt that just adding JMU would make UMass want to move their basketball team to the MAC.

I think he means that if the MAC wanted to go to 14 members for football UMass would've stayed put and JMU would have been added. So, apparently the MAC is happy at 12.

Again, if they were happy at 12, why did they just try to add UMass to get to 13 in all sports?

I think people are misinterpreting this move. UMass' contract with the MAC states that the MAC has the right to invite UMass for all sports whenever they so choose, and if UMass declines then they have 2 years to find a new home.

To me, that says that the MAC was trying to add UMass and another to get to 14, and UMass said no so now they have to leave.

This is a sign that the MAC is actively trying to expand.

(03-26-2014 02:31 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]Again, if they were happy at 12, why did they just try to add UMass to get to 13 in all sports?

I think people are misinterpreting this move. UMass' contract with the MAC states that the MAC has the right to invite UMass for all sports whenever they so choose, and if UMass declines then they have 2 years to find a new home.

To me, that says that the MAC was trying to add UMass and another to get to 14, and UMass said no so now they have to leave.

This is a sign that the MAC is actively trying to expand.

The decision to bring UMass in for football was made at a time when Temple was in the MAC and was expected to remain. So the MAC could reasonably look forward to a period of 14 teams in football. Once Temple bailed out, having a 13th team seemed less attractive. Especially once the MAC realized that there really wasn't any other good-option for #14.

(03-26-2014 02:30 PM)Native Georgian Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:26 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Time table wise it would be about right for the American to bring UMass in. Navy joins in 2015, get a deal where Army and UMass join for 2016 season with UMass in all-sports.

Interesting long-range possibilities.

But UMass needs to get their stadium issues worked out, first. And UMass and Army both need to reach the point of being better-than-horrible in terms of competitiveness.

We all know 2 years is an eternity in college realignment game, but it just looks like AAC is where UMass ends up IMO. I think they will get stadium issues resolved and head there. With the league sitting at 11 all sports members and it would be the easiest add and a nice blow to the A-10, I think they will do it.

(03-26-2014 02:20 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:16 PM)bullet Wrote: [ -> ]So no James Madison to the MAC. If that was in the pipeline, they would have kept UMass.

What makes you say that? I strongly doubt that just adding JMU would make UMass want to move their basketball team to the MAC.

They aren't going to add James Madison to get to 13 again.
If they had a #14, they would have let UMass keep a partial.

I wouldn't be surprised if CUSA approaches both UMass and Delaware for full membership.

An eastern division of Charlotte, Delaware, UMass, Old Dominion, Marshall, WKU, FAU and FIU

A western division of MTSU, UAB, Southern Miss, La Tech, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UTEP

UMass and Delaware would be the type of institutions CUSA would want, offer more east coast exposure, and more markets.

(03-26-2014 02:37 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:30 PM)Native Georgian Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-26-2014 02:26 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: [ -> ]Time table wise it would be about right for the American to bring UMass in. Navy joins in 2015, get a deal where Army and UMass join for 2016 season with UMass in all-sports.

Interesting long-range possibilities.

But UMass needs to get their stadium issues worked out, first. And UMass and Army both need to reach the point of being better-than-horrible in terms of competitiveness.

We all know 2 years is an eternity in college realignment game, but it just looks like AAC is where UMass ends up IMO. I think they will get stadium issues resolved and head there. With the league sitting at 11 all sports members and it would be the easiest add and a nice blow to the A-10, I think they will do it.

I don't think the American adds UMass without Army FB. That would make it 12/14...that's the only way I see UMass joining the American.

(03-26-2014 02:38 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote: [ -> ]I wouldn't be surprised if CUSA approaches both UMass and Delaware for full membership.

Delaware?

(03-26-2014 02:38 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote: [ -> ]I wouldn't be surprised if CUSA approaches both UMass and Delaware for full membership.

An eastern division of Charlotte, Delaware, UMass, Old Dominion, Marshall, WKU, FAU and FIU

A western division of MTSU, UAB, Southern Miss, La Tech, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UTEP

UMass and Delaware would be the type of institutions CUSA would want, offer more east coast exposure, and more markets.

But it stretches their geography. I think if they expand, they will stay between Huntington, Norfolk, Miami and El Paso.