(07-09-2015 01:43 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:22 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

Quote:...The Mid-American Conference works for football, but a majority of UMass fans bristle at the idea of having other sports travel to Michigan and Ohio to play directional schools.
...

Dear "Majority of UMass Fans",

*** you, get over yourself. You're not better than us.

Love,

"Directional Schools from Ohio and Michigan"

Let me know when MAC BB has national respect. For instance getting an at-large bid to either Big Dance or NIT.

UMass may as well just drop football then. Being Indy in football is going to be worse than when you were FCS.

(07-09-2015 01:43 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:22 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

Quote:...The Mid-American Conference works for football, but a majority of UMass fans bristle at the idea of having other sports travel to Michigan and Ohio to play directional schools.
...

Dear "Majority of UMass Fans",

*** you, get over yourself. You're not better than us.

Love,

"Directional Schools from Ohio and Michigan"

Let me know when MAC BB has national respect. For instance getting an at-large bid to either Big Dance or NIT.

Let us know when your football team is actually relevant.

Signed,

Everyone who doesn't give a **** about UMASS

On July 25th we invite recruits to a clam bake. Hopefully some verbals will follow. Going independent may have some effect, but think we'll be OK. We have a number coaches with NFL experience. That along with playing some games at Gillette is a good draw. Sure Coach Whipple's super bowl ring makes some impression with recruits and their families.

Dropping down to FCS or football all together is not an option. We desire the AAC but as the article states, AAC, CUSA, and the MAC will be considered.

(07-09-2015 12:49 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 12:37 PM)steve81 Wrote:  

(06-22-2015 09:56 PM)2Buck Wrote:  

(06-22-2015 06:44 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(06-22-2015 12:59 PM)2Buck Wrote:  UMass is at a crossroads. They haven't been dominant in basketball since the 90's and only one (?) NCAA appearance since then? It doesn't seem they've been benefiting from the multiple NCAA invites in the A-10 so if their hope is to improve football so their "whole package" is appealing to the AAC they're going to have to build up football in a lesser G-5 conference. C-USA is probably a better fit than MAC not only regionally (Marshall, ODU, and Charlotte would be better rivals) but I think C-USA has better basketball and more likely to get at-large bids.

Just like UCONN basketball alone is a tough sell to get UCONN into the P5 without football stepping up, I don't think UMass basketball is enough to get it into AAC without football stepping up. Pay your dues UMass, and you'll be better positioned for it. Something JMU's admin desperately needs to learn as well.

You think Marshall, ODU and Charlotte are a better fit for UMass geographically?

- Buffalo is closer than ODU
- Marshall and Ohio are the same distance
- 10 MAC schools are closer than Charlotte

now add in 3 teams from TX, 2 teams from FLA, etc. There is no way you can argue CUSA is better for UMass than the MAC in regards to travel distances.

I wasn't referring to the travel distances of all the members. I referring to building more "regional" rivalries with schools their students, alumni and fans would recognize and respond to. Buffalo is closest but what sort of history does UMass even have with them? Charlotte and UMass already have some history from A-10 and I don't have the time to research but I'd suspect they've played against Marshall and ODU in various sports over the years more than they did against the vast majority of MAC teams. The reason I'm pointing those few schools out is because they need to drive fan interest and the more schools their fans have an emotional engagement with the better.

It's not a knock against the MAC, it just seems that historically East Coast teams tend to play each other frequently up and down the coast compared with going across time zones. I may be wrong, but I'd tend to believe their fan base would be more familiar with more C-USA schools. But more so than that I think C-USA offers them a better opportunity to build basketball vs MAC and Sun Belt.

Top teams yes, Charlotte and Marshall. We do think more about up and down the the east coast more. Yes, C-USA offers us a better opportunity to build basketball vs MAC and Sun Belt.

That said we have more history with teams in the AAC, UConn and Temple.
UMass Opponent Series Page

BB Games by Conference
187 AAC
22 C-USA
19 MAC (includes 12 games that was part of the conference affiliation contract)

Why would CUSA make it easier for UMass to build basketball? It's weaker than the MAC now in basketball.

Weaker on avg. maybe but there's better programs in the CUSA. It's certainly closer to being a multi-bid league.

Not sure why you're speaking of UMass and C-USA in the same sentance. With UAB staying; we're all full up.

(07-09-2015 02:28 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 12:49 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 12:37 PM)steve81 Wrote:  

(06-22-2015 09:56 PM)2Buck Wrote:  

(06-22-2015 06:44 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  You think Marshall, ODU and Charlotte are a better fit for UMass geographically?

- Buffalo is closer than ODU
- Marshall and Ohio are the same distance
- 10 MAC schools are closer than Charlotte

now add in 3 teams from TX, 2 teams from FLA, etc. There is no way you can argue CUSA is better for UMass than the MAC in regards to travel distances.

I wasn't referring to the travel distances of all the members. I referring to building more "regional" rivalries with schools their students, alumni and fans would recognize and respond to. Buffalo is closest but what sort of history does UMass even have with them? Charlotte and UMass already have some history from A-10 and I don't have the time to research but I'd suspect they've played against Marshall and ODU in various sports over the years more than they did against the vast majority of MAC teams. The reason I'm pointing those few schools out is because they need to drive fan interest and the more schools their fans have an emotional engagement with the better.

It's not a knock against the MAC, it just seems that historically East Coast teams tend to play each other frequently up and down the coast compared with going across time zones. I may be wrong, but I'd tend to believe their fan base would be more familiar with more C-USA schools. But more so than that I think C-USA offers them a better opportunity to build basketball vs MAC and Sun Belt.

Top teams yes, Charlotte and Marshall. We do think more about up and down the the east coast more. Yes, C-USA offers us a better opportunity to build basketball vs MAC and Sun Belt.

That said we have more history with teams in the AAC, UConn and Temple.
UMass Opponent Series Page

BB Games by Conference
187 AAC
22 C-USA
19 MAC (includes 12 games that was part of the conference affiliation contract)

Why would CUSA make it easier for UMass to build basketball? It's weaker than the MAC now in basketball.

Weaker on avg. maybe but there's better programs in the CUSA. It's certainly closer to being a multi-bid league.

Not even sure about that. Not anymore. Doesn't seem the fact that the top of the MAC has more parity should be an indication that it's not as good. And a couple of the worst MAC teams have gotten better recently. NIU e.g. was horrible but they're improving. Ball State's a little better, Toledo was bad but they're at least decent now. The MAC East, where UMass would have been, would give them all they would want, as that's the better of the 2 divisions in basketball.

Anyway, I don't see UMass going anywhere in basketball unless AAC gives them an invite. They better get that soon because I think independence is going to hurt the football team, which can't afford it.

(07-09-2015 02:23 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:43 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:22 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

Quote:...The Mid-American Conference works for football, but a majority of UMass fans bristle at the idea of having other sports travel to Michigan and Ohio to play directional schools.
...

Dear "Majority of UMass Fans",

*** you, get over yourself. You're not better than us.

Love,

"Directional Schools from Ohio and Michigan"

Let me know when MAC BB has national respect. For instance getting an at-large bid to either Big Dance or NIT.

Let us know when your football team is actually relevant.

Signed,

Everyone who doesn't give a **** about UMASS

Okay, we will.


So much hostility here.

I am pulling for U Mass I think the SBC should invite them with Coastal. Gives U Mass time to build same for Coastal.

The SUN Belt gets a championship game more CFP money and more exposure. For a conference with almost no exposure that would be beneficial.

(07-09-2015 04:39 PM)MJG Wrote:  I am pulling for U Mass I think the SBC should invite them with Coastal. Gives U Mass time to build same for Coastal.

The SUN Belt gets a championship game more CFP money and more exposure. For a conference with almost no exposure that would be beneficial.

one flaw in your theory; 2 more mouths to feed when CFP/Conference disbursments come around each year, for little to no additional value.

Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

Quote:Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

I think that's pretty much it. Plus their plans going wacky in terms of a new stadium, etc hurt their cause of building. They are on their way up, but not enough evidence that they'll get over that hump into 6+ wins land year to year.

UMass joining SBC to help give it two divisions? Well, a lot of Travel for that, but OK. What's good for Idaho is good for any potato. They'd only do that for football-only.

To join CUSA they'd have to join in Basketball which would be a solid step Down on that, and that's their bread and butter sport. Not going to do that.

They could go Independent, which would garner a Tough schedule to help build the team -- and then join the MAC football-only if the MAC had uneven numbers after a few years. But the MAC would still say that after, say, 4-5 years, they'd re-convene again to see if it was still kosher @football-only.

But going Independent could end up being OK for them to try and join the AAC. IF they time it right, they could get their team built thru Tough schedules, where AAC would be looking for someone, and with UMass' basketball program, they'd join with UConn and some others still there. It'd be a win-win that way.

(07-09-2015 01:43 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:22 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

Quote:...The Mid-American Conference works for football, but a majority of UMass fans bristle at the idea of having other sports travel to Michigan and Ohio to play directional schools.
...

Dear "Majority of UMass Fans",

*** you, get over yourself. You're not better than us.

Love,

"Directional Schools from Ohio and Michigan"

Let me know when MAC BB has national respect. For instance getting an at-large bid to either Big Dance or NIT.

lol. MAC schools have earned as many at-large bids to the tournament since 1998 as UMass. Let me know when the national opinion of UMass comes anywhere close to what its fans perceive it to be.

(07-09-2015 04:57 PM)Okielite Wrote:  Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

Actually, the were given the chance to become a full member in a mid-major conference.

But, UMass seems too worried about their basketball program. That is their problem, worrying about bball when the realignment and conferences are concentrating on football. Which is why go FBS then if they never wanted to leave the A-10?

Quote:But, UMass seems too worried about their basketball program. That is their problem, worrying about bball when the realignment and conferences are concentrating on football. Which is why go FBS then if they never wanted to leave the A-10?

They left too early. They figured by 2013 or so, they'd be a MAC power or something, to help launch them in the Big East/AAC with their strong basketball team. They came too early, which was their setback.

Camby and Calipari were a long time ago, and Julius ERving was a long time before that. UMass is acting as if they had Xavier's basketball program or Temple's, so that a move to the MAC would damage the program the way people worry about the AAC bringing down UConn. (Calm down, UConn will be fine, but there are those who disagree.)

Meanwhile they seem to have no idea of the commitment everyone else moving up to FBS is putting into FBS. They're acting like they aspire to be the Idaho VAndals or NMSU or ULM or EMU.

They talk about what conference they'd prefer to be in (AAC / MAC / CUSA / Sun Belt) when it's doubtful any FBS conference wants any part of them. UMass has been a free agent for over a year, while the Sun Belt is sitting at 11 for football, and there doesn't seem to be any interest.

The demand for live football tickets in NEw ENgland was wildly overestimated, and I don't think UMAss knows what to do now.

(07-09-2015 05:27 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

I think that's pretty much it. Plus their plans going wacky in terms of a new stadium, etc hurt their cause of building. They are on their way up, but not enough evidence that they'll get over that hump into 6+ wins land year to year.

UMass joining SBC to help give it two divisions? Well, a lot of Travel for that, but OK. What's good for Idaho is good for any potato. They'd only do that for football-only.

To join CUSA they'd have to join in Basketball which would be a solid step Down on that, and that's their bread and butter sport. Not going to do that.

They could go Independent, which would garner a Tough schedule to help build the team -- and then join the MAC football-only if the MAC had uneven numbers after a few years. But the MAC would still say that after, say, 4-5 years, they'd re-convene again to see if it was still kosher @football-only.

But going Independent could end up being OK for them to try and join the AAC. IF they time it right, they could get their team built thru Tough schedules, where AAC would be looking for someone, and with UMass' basketball program, they'd join with UConn and some others still there. It'd be a win-win that way.

"Bread and butter sport"? If that is true, then UMass should just drop sports altogether. They are wasting everybody's time and money.

(07-09-2015 04:57 PM)Okielite Wrote:  Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

Northeasterners love football ... The Patriots, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Bills, Steelers, Ravens, and Redskins.

College football has a solid following, but the NFL rules by a mile.

(07-09-2015 05:59 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 04:57 PM)Okielite Wrote:  Pretty sad when a flagship school in a state with a huge population can't even get in a mid major conference. But that is New England. Lots of people with money but no football fans.

Northeasterners love football ... The Patriots, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Bills, Steelers, Ravens, and Redskins.

College football has a solid following, but the NFL rules by a mile.

Yup. When the fall of the Big East was heating up, fans of football schools would keep asking, as if it was a checkmate question "Yeah, but whose shirt do you wear during football season?!" as if the answer were Syracuse or Rutgers or Notre Dame instead of the Giants (or Jets or Patriots or Eagles etc.)

(07-09-2015 03:57 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 02:23 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:43 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 01:22 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

Quote:...The Mid-American Conference works for football, but a majority of UMass fans bristle at the idea of having other sports travel to Michigan and Ohio to play directional schools.
...

Dear "Majority of UMass Fans",

*** you, get over yourself. You're not better than us.

Love,

"Directional Schools from Ohio and Michigan"

Let me know when MAC BB has national respect. For instance getting an at-large bid to either Big Dance or NIT.

Let us know when your football team is actually relevant.

Signed,

Everyone who doesn't give a **** about UMASS

Okay, we will.


So much hostility here.

No...... We are sick and tired of hearing about how great UMASS was in the 90's in basketball. It's irrelevant.

(07-09-2015 04:51 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(07-09-2015 04:39 PM)MJG Wrote:  I am pulling for U Mass I think the SBC should invite them with Coastal. Gives U Mass time to build same for Coastal.

The SUN Belt gets a championship game more CFP money and more exposure. For a conference with almost no exposure that would be beneficial.

one flaw in your theory; 2 more mouths to feed when CFP/Conference disbursments come around each year, for little to no additional value.

The CFP money is per team up to twelve.
Say it is 1.5 million give the football only members half.
Give each visited team a hundred k and the conference keep the rest. With little to no media income it would help. Otherwise the money is eleven times a million and a half get it.
Money is left on the table if under twelve members.
Inviting Coastal solves Olympic sports scheduling problems.
Once three Southeastern schools are willing and able . Kick out all the members who aren't full members.