Publicly the SBC seems as if we have shown no interest in UMass.
Is that the way you feel, or would you want them for two to four years, sometime within the next year or two.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-how-long/

Seems like Karl Benson said we would move forward with a 12th member, but seemed to want an all sports member.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-for-now/

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-sun-belt/

The only way UMASS football will be added is if the conference has to add football playing members to survive as a conference. Added as a last resort.

(06-13-2014 02:41 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Publicly the SBC seems as if we have shown no interest in UMass.
Is that the way you feel, or would you want them for two to four years, sometime within the next year or two.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-how-long/

Seems like Karl Benson said we would move forward with a 12th member, but seemed to want an all sports member.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-for-now/

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-sun-belt/

We are still talking about this 71 days before the first game and 6 weeks before fall camp?

DO NOT WANT

(06-13-2014 03:39 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-13-2014 02:41 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Publicly the SBC seems as if we have shown no interest in UMass.
Is that the way you feel, or would you want them for two to four years, sometime within the next year or two.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-how-long/

Seems like Karl Benson said we would move forward with a 12th member, but seemed to want an all sports member.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-for-now/

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-sun-belt/

We are still talking about this 71 days before the first game and 6 weeks before fall camp?

We could talk about Georgia State football if you have something on it. Go ahead. All ears.

Yeth.ears all.

I don't see the benefit of adding them at this point. If a team is needed to get to a championship game? Sure.

Otherwise, though... why? They won't help raise the profile of the conference.

(06-13-2014 10:49 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I don't see the benefit of adding them at this point. If a team is needed to get to a championship game? Sure.

Otherwise, though... why? They won't help raise the profile of the conference.

I hear ya but at this point I am for adding them so we can stop talking about who's next and move on.

(06-13-2014 11:14 PM)Georgia_Power_Company Wrote:  

(06-13-2014 10:49 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I don't see the benefit of adding them at this point. If a team is needed to get to a championship game? Sure.

Otherwise, though... why? They won't help raise the profile of the conference.

I hear ya but at this point I am for adding them so we can stop talking about who's next and move on.

You do have a point. Think the main reason it has changed from many being in favor to against is because of the power ratings and them not showing much. Plus so far out of area, and limited fan attendance, even though that could be explained somewhat.

i think Missouri State and/or Eastern Kentucky still seems to be the primary target.

Personally I think invite NMSU in all sports and tell MOstate and EKU that whoever can get the dough, the backing and support to jump up to FBS level first gets Idaho's spot (and make that an all out invite as well)

(06-13-2014 10:49 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I don't see the benefit of adding them at this point. If a team is needed to get to a championship game? Sure.

Otherwise, though... why? They won't help raise the profile of the conference.

It would give us some publicity in the north east. They would be a good temporary ad.

How many Sun Belt teams recruit that far north?

Their "ranking" doesn't dissuade me, I just don't see an upside for the Sun Belt, aside from some basketball games, which could be good... But only if the entire league is actually gonna commit to improving. The games alone won't help us.

The University of Massachusetts is located in Lowell near Boston, Massachusetts.

Has any of their fans dropped by the board? Umass that is?



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(06-15-2014 07:17 AM)insideualr Wrote:  Has any of their fans dropped by the board? Umass that is?



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Steve has been here.

(06-14-2014 06:43 PM)EaglesDare Wrote:  The University of Massachusetts is located in Lowell near Boston, Massachusetts.

The Lowell campus is one of five campuses for the University. The flagship campus is in Amherst, MA, about 94 miles from Boston.

UMass Campuses

UMass on-campus athletics facilities including McGuirk Stadium are at the Amherst campus. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA is close to Boston. Next season there are three games scheduled for McGuirk Stadium and three scheduled for Gillette Stadium (about 100 miles and around a 2 hour drive from the UMass campus according to Google Maps).

Directions to Athletics Facilities

UMass 2014 Football Schedule

(06-14-2014 06:43 PM)EaglesDare Wrote:  The University of Massachusetts is located in Lowell near Boston, Massachusetts.

U-Mass Lowell is a regional campus. The main campus is in Amherst, in west central Massachusetts. That's probably a 2 + hour drive west of Boston.

(06-15-2014 02:18 PM)LUSportsFan Wrote:  

(06-14-2014 06:43 PM)EaglesDare Wrote:  The University of Massachusetts is located in Lowell near Boston, Massachusetts.

The Lowell campus is one of five campuses for the University. The flagship campus is in Amherst, MA, about 94 miles from Boston.

UMass Campuses

UMass on-campus athletics facilities including McGuirk Stadium are at the Amherst campus. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA is close to Boston. Next season there are three games scheduled for McGuirk Stadium and three scheduled for Gillette Stadium (about 100 miles and around a 2 hour drive from the UMass campus according to Google Maps).

Directions to Athletics Facilities

UMass 2014 Football Schedule

(06-15-2014 02:37 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(06-14-2014 06:43 PM)EaglesDare Wrote:  The University of Massachusetts is located in Lowell near Boston, Massachusetts.

U-Mass Lowell is a regional campus. The main campus is in Amherst, in west central Massachusetts. That's probably a 2 + hour drive west of Boston.

Thanks for the info guys, but I don't care where the main campus is. Think you missed the "obvious" point. UMass is in MASSACHUSETTS. Not in the Sun Belt footprint hence my primary objection to them. Carry on.

Been away, but the must important thing is to open up the ESPN contract with the Sun Belt. The value of the Sun Belt has gone up up but the number of games on the the prime ESPN channels is way too low and so is the peanuts from ESPN. If adding a team and a championship game opens up the ESPN contract then think it should be considered. But would also like to see the season play out, see if we show signs of improvement and could help the tier 2 money as well. Really do not know much about tier 2 money but heard it talked about by a MAC poster.

PS Fully expect to see some improvement on the field and continued improvement with attendance.
Thanks for not forgetting about us, whether or not you like the idea. Personally think you can get some advantages with us. The main one is opening up the look in period to the ESPN contract that runs through 2019.

Also vote yes or no to the title of the thread and did not read the question. So voted wrong. Think 2 years would help if a desired team is ready but think it should be more 3-5 years.
Espn Contract from 2011

(06-15-2014 09:35 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Been away, but the must important thing is to open up the ESPN contract with the Sun Belt. The value of the Sun Belt has gone up up but the number of games on the the prime ESPN channels is way too low and so is the peanuts from ESPN. If adding a team and a championship game opens up the ESPN contract then think it should be considered. But would also like to see the season play out, see if we show signs of improvement and could help the tier 2 money as well. Really do not know much about tier 2 money but heard it talked about by a MAC poster.

PS Fully expect to see some improvement on the field and continued improvement with attendance.
Thanks for not forgetting about us, whether or not you like the idea. Personally think you can get some advantages with us. The main one is opening up the look in period to the ESPN contract that runs through 2019.

Also vote yes or no to the title of the thread and did not read the question. So voted wrong. Think 2 years would help if a desired team is ready but think it should be more 3-5 years.
Espn Contract from 2011

Take it you are only saying that adding a 12th team and a conference championship game that that would open up the ESPN contract. UMass does not have a special relationship with ESPN do they? I know they are fairly close.
The ESPN contract is certainly a sore spot with the Sun Belt members. Particularly getting on par with CUSA money wise.