Part of the problem with the A10 is that it's no longer 10.

The A10 was 10 but added Xavier and Dayton in the 90's to go to 12.

Then in the mid 2000's they added Charlotte and St. Louis to go to 14.

Temple, Xavier and Charlotte left but the conference returned to 14 with VCU, Davidson and George Mason.

Double down on basketball, double down on basketball and then some more doubling down on basketball.

If they could have pulled in Buffalo and Kent State in the mid 2000's to go with Temple who stayed an Indy. They would be closer to pulling off an FBS conference. There was a time when MAC schools would have seriously considered it.

(01-22-2017 09:02 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  UMass needs to try to create a new conference.

UMass
Buffalo
Marshall
James Madison
Old Dominion
WKU
Middle Tennessee
Appalachian State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
FIU

It won't work unless they snag an obvious choice....that a choice a lot AAC fans (and Uconn fans) wouldn't like: Uconn. They are the flagship of any true New England conference.
Uconn, UMASS, Buffalo, Army, James Madison, Old Dominion. Delaware, Maine They'd have to get 2 FCS schools to move up. Delaware and Maine and James Madison have a lot of history, and Uconn, UMASS. Buffalo, Old Dominion have paved the way. I think that's what's hurting UMASS and even Uconn: not enough geographic rivals. That's what college football is all about. JMHO.
Cheers!

(01-22-2017 11:06 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 09:02 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  UMass needs to try to create a new conference.

UMass
Buffalo
Marshall
James Madison
Old Dominion
WKU
Middle Tennessee
Appalachian State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
FIU

It won't work unless they snag an obvious choice....that a choice a lot AAC fans (and Uconn fans) wouldn't like: Uconn. They are the flagship of any true New England conference.
Uconn, UMASS, Buffalo, Army, James Madison, Old Dominion. Delaware, Maine They'd have to get 2 FCS schools to move up. Delaware and Maine and James Madison have a lot of history, and Uconn, UMASS. Buffalo, Old Dominion have paved the way. I think that's what's hurting UMASS and even Uconn: not enough geographic rivals. That's what college football is all about. JMHO.
Cheers!

I agree with the lack of local rivals hurts college football and is one of the reasons that the AAC is a clear first hope for UMass with longtime football rival UConn and longtime basketball rival Temple. The distant chance of plan B, CUSA with and Eastern Division of UMass, ODU, JMU, Charlotte, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and a Florida team contain some elements of rivals. But not to the extend of and success of the AAC. The AAC is the only one that is in the same range of quality as the A10 BB.

We have some history with JMU with football and a tiny bit with ODU, A10 history with Charlotte and several BB series with Marshall as we both shared Bob Marcum as an AD. Believe neither universities were thrilled with him as an AD.

Ironically in 2019 we have 7 games scheduled and 3 are with CUSA teams. If we did go that route, the 4 remaining games would fill the schedule and three of those teams could be consider local with UConn, Maine and Army. Two of those would be old Yankee Football longtime rivals.

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-19/2019-...hedule.php

A new conference is just fantasy and not worth discussing, even thou it's been done a number of times.

This was the Atlantic 10 lineup in 1994:

Rutgers
West Virginia
Duquesne
George Washington
UMass
St. Bonaventure
Rhode Island
Temple
St. Joseph's

Only 9 schools. Rutgers and WVU then leave for the Big East.

If they could have added then the following 5 to get to 12.

Virginia Tech
Xavier
East Carolina
Central Florida
Fordham

That would make 4 FBS playing members for a 12 team conference. ECU was playing in the Colonial and UCF in the ASun at the time so both would be getting a basketball upgrade.

Then when Virginia Tech leaves in 2001, add Buffalo instead of Richmond. The A10 would then have 4 FBS teams (Buffalo, Temple, ECU, UCF) for 12 team conference.

2005 is then the year where the FBS football conference is put together. Temple announces its leaving the Big East so is available to start a conference. They invite Marshall and Ohio to the A10 instead of St. Louis and Charlotte. Now there are 6 FBS playing members for a 14 team conference.

They get a waiver as the Big East did and for UMass to transition to FBS and they go with one more Delaware to grow to an 8 FBS/15 BB hybrid.

UMass
Buffalo
Temple
Delaware
Ohio
Marshall
East Carolina
UCF

BB would have Xavier, St. Bonaventure, Duquense, St. Joe's, George Washington, Rhode Island, Fordham to keep down travel costs.

So yes to transform the A10 into an FBS league was possible but needed to start working on it back in the mid 90's instead of doubling down on basketball.

Now I think the only answer is for UMass to align with disaffected CUSA East schools in a new conference and forget the A10 all together which has no potential at this juncture in the game. Marshall, App State and ODU are strong enough to where they could carry their own upstart FBS conference.

(01-22-2017 11:30 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 11:06 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 09:02 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  UMass needs to try to create a new conference.

UMass
Buffalo
Marshall
James Madison
Old Dominion
WKU
Middle Tennessee
Appalachian State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
FIU

It won't work unless they snag an obvious choice....that a choice a lot AAC fans (and Uconn fans) wouldn't like: Uconn. They are the flagship of any true New England conference.
Uconn, UMASS, Buffalo, Army, James Madison, Old Dominion. Delaware, Maine They'd have to get 2 FCS schools to move up. Delaware and Maine and James Madison have a lot of history, and Uconn, UMASS. Buffalo, Old Dominion have paved the way. I think that's what's hurting UMASS and even Uconn: not enough geographic rivals. That's what college football is all about. JMHO.
Cheers!

I agree with the lack of local rivals hurts college football and is one of the reasons that the AAC is a clear first hope fo UMass with longtime football rival of UConn and longtime basketball rival of Temple. The distant chance of plan B, CUSA with and Eastern Division of UMass, ODU, JMU, Charlotte, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and a Florida team contains some elements of rivals. But not to the extend of and success of the AAC. The AAC is the only one that is in the same range of quality as the A10 BB.

We have some history with JMU with football and a tiny bit with ODU, A10 history with Charlotte and several BB series with Marshall as we both shared Bob Marcum as an AD. Believe neither universities were thrilled with him as an AD.

A new conference is just fantasy and not worth discussing, even thou it's been done a number of times.

A new conference is fantasy, I agree. I'd be shocked if UMASS didn't rejoin the MAC at some point...if they want to continue on in FBS. I've never heard of a school going Indy so soon and being successful. I remember after Temple got the boot from the Big East and they tried going Indy in football. It was disastrous. I remember everyone saying they made the right move by going to the MAC for a few years, winning some games and even making a bowl game within 4 or 5 years of MAC play. They kept them the program alive and viable enough to get re snagged up by the Big East. UMASS going back to the MAC, winning it, playing in a couple of bowls? Could move up in 5 years. A few more years of 1-11 seasons, you lose the fans. Winning, no matter who the opponents are, is vital to the program's survival right now. That's an outsider's opinion.
Cheers!

Specifically on the A10 it's purpose has been to absorb overflow from the Big East, ACC and Big Ten.

If you go back to 1990, this is how many programs those conferences had.

Big Ten (10)
ACC (8)
Big East (9)
Total (27)

Today how many members do those conferences have? You can add the AAC to that list.

Big Ten (14)
ACC (15)
Big East (10)
AAC (11)
Total (50)

Almost double. The A10 probably can't hold up long term against all these higher resource programs. In another 5 years it will be rated right around the MVC instead of comparable to AAC.

For 2020 and the next bowl cycle UMass should look at putting a conference together with disaffected CUSA East schools.

billybobby did edit the quoted post. Doubtful the MAC would take us as an all sports member and the reason that it was offered was due to a clause in the original contract. The MAC was required to offer us an all sports invite at no additional cost. We had the claused added in case the A10 started falling apart. It will be interesting to see what happens but the A10 today is not as strong as it was 3 and 4 years ago.

(01-22-2017 11:52 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 11:30 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 11:06 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(01-22-2017 09:02 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  UMass needs to try to create a new conference.

UMass
Buffalo
Marshall
James Madison
Old Dominion
WKU
Middle Tennessee
Appalachian State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
FIU

It won't work unless they snag an obvious choice....that a choice a lot AAC fans (and Uconn fans) wouldn't like: Uconn. They are the flagship of any true New England conference.
Uconn, UMASS, Buffalo, Army, James Madison, Old Dominion. Delaware, Maine They'd have to get 2 FCS schools to move up. Delaware and Maine and James Madison have a lot of history, and Uconn, UMASS. Buffalo, Old Dominion have paved the way. I think that's what's hurting UMASS and even Uconn: not enough geographic rivals. That's what college football is all about. JMHO.
Cheers!

I agree with the lack of local rivals hurts college football and is one of the reasons that the AAC is a clear first hope fo UMass with longtime football rival of UConn and longtime basketball rival of Temple. The distant chance of plan B, CUSA with and Eastern Division of UMass, ODU, JMU, Charlotte, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and a Florida team contains some elements of rivals. But not to the extend of and success of the AAC. The AAC is the only one that is in the same range of quality as the A10 BB.

We have some history with JMU with football and a tiny bit with ODU, A10 history with Charlotte and several BB series with Marshall as we both shared Bob Marcum as an AD. Believe neither universities were thrilled with him as an AD.

A new conference is just fantasy and not worth discussing, even thou it's been done a number of times.

A new conference is fantasy, I agree. I'd be shocked if UMASS didn't rejoin the MAC at some point...if they want to continue on in FBS. I've never heard of a school going Indy so soon and being successful. I remember after Temple got the boot from the Big East and they tried going Indy in football. It was disastrous. I remember everyone saying they made the right move by going to the MAC for a few years, winning some games and even making a bowl game within 4 or 5 years of MAC play. They kept them the program alive and viable enough to get re snagged up by the Big East. UMASS going back to the MAC, winning it, playing in a couple of bowls? Could move up in 5 years. A few more years of 1-11 seasons, you lose the fans. Winning, no matter who the opponents are, is vital to the program's survival right now. That's an outsider's opinion.
Cheers!

UMass left the MAC right before the MAC signed its big TV deal thinking it could do better in a non-AAC situation but the reality is it can't.

The MAC I hate to say it is no longer interested. They don't need to expand to earn a TV deal or drum up interest in bowl partners like it was a consideration 20 years ago when adding Marshall or 10 years ago with Temple.

The only situation I see the MAC expanding for is if the AAC was divided up post realignment hit, sending UConn to the Big East and they wanted a FB only home. To finish off the AAC the MAC I'm sure would step to the plate because it's their prime competition for the NY6 bowl.

MAC I'm sure wants to be good partners with the MWC, SBC, CUSA in cleaning up the bowls in 2020. They need the MAC at this point for an opponent in some of their games. The MAC could give up its tie in Mobile to cede it to the bowl pool. It didn't last time around because the MAC wasn't sure until late in the game that it would be picking up 5 guaranteed tie-ins.

(01-23-2017 12:08 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  billybobby did edit the quoted post. Doubtful the MAC would take us as an all sports member and the reason that it was offered was due to a clause in the original contract. The MAC was required to offer us an all sports invite at no additional cost. We had the claused added in case the A10 started falling apart. It will be interesting to see what happens but the A10 today is not as strong as it was 3 and 4 years ago.

That's why you need to take advantage of the weakness in CUSA right now a build a new conference.

The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

UMass
Delaware
Marshall
Old Dominion
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Florida International
Florida Atlantic

A trip to Florida for the football team every year would be nice.

UMass giving up the A10 for that would be terrifying.

(01-23-2017 12:33 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 12:33 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

(01-23-2017 10:37 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 12:33 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

Apparently DavidSt's unique strain of Tourrette's is catching.

(01-23-2017 10:55 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:37 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 12:33 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

Apparently DavidSt's unique strain of Tourrette's is catching.

Where else are schools like Delaware&JMU going to move up for their football programs.
certainly not to the Sun Belt

(01-23-2017 11:39 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:55 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:37 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 12:33 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The continuity rule no longer exists to so to have an autobid all you need is 7 D1 members. Get a waiver for Delaware to move up.

That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

Apparently DavidSt's unique strain of Tourrette's is catching.

Where else are schools like Delaware&JMU going to move up for their football programs.
certainly not to the Sun Belt

Where else are...? They're not. Simple as that.

If they want FBS, they'd better take any offer that comes along. Delaware and James MAdison have been I-AA since there's been I-AA, no need to rearrange anything for their benefit.

The power conferences (and this would include the Big East) are very, very unhappy with the idea of fewer at-large NCAA bids and more automatic bids. The Big East got special treatment because most years, the Big East autobid isn't taking away an at-large spot from a bubble team; and because he had widespread sympathy. Plans for new conferences will not be taken well. Look at the story of the Great West conference, and think very hard.

(01-23-2017 03:38 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 11:39 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:55 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:37 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

Apparently DavidSt's unique strain of Tourrette's is catching.

Where else are schools like Delaware&JMU going to move up for their football programs.
certainly not to the Sun Belt

Where else are...? They're not. Simple as that.

If they want FBS, they'd better take any offer that comes along. Delaware and James MAdison have been I-AA since there's been I-AA, no need to rearrange anything for their benefit.

The power conferences (and this would include the Big East) are very, very unhappy with the idea of fewer at-large NCAA bids and more automatic bids. The Big East got special treatment because most years, the Big East autobid isn't taking away an at-large spot from a bubble team; and because he had widespread sympathy. Plans for new conferences will not be taken well. Look at the story of the Great West conference, and think very hard.

Yup. The powers that be wouldn't be upset if the WAC, for example, went away and lost it's auto-bid. But they are going to push for that. What they will push against is ANOTHER conference to claim an auto-bid and a piece of the pie.

A bye game in the schedule! (-:

Quote:UMass will play five of its six home games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in 2017. Announced earlier this month, the Minutemen will host Maine at Fenway Park on Nov. 11.

Also announced on Thursday, UMass will celebrate Youth Sports Day vs. Hawai'i, Hometown Heroes vs. Old Dominion, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day vs. Ohio, Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Georgia Southern and Senior Day vs. Appalachian State.

The 2017 UMass Athletics Hall of Fame induction will be held Fri., Sept. 29. Homecoming weekend will be celebrated surrounding the Georgia Southern game on Oct. 21. Band Day will be hosted on Oct. 28.

The Minutemen return nine student-athletes who earned 2016 Phil Steele All-Independent honors, including senior tight end Adam Breneman, senior linebacker Steve Casali and junior running back Marquis Young. In December, Breneman was named a Campus Insiders Second-Team All-American, an ECAC First-Team All-Star and winner of the Harry Agganis Award (outstanding player in New England).

Nine of UMass' 12 2017 opponents played in 2016 bowl games with one American Athletic Conference Championship Game team (Temple) and the Sun Belt Conference Champion (Appalachian State).

2017 Schedule
--------------------------------------------------
Aug. 26 Hawai'i (Youth Sports Day)

Sept. 2 at Coastal Carolina
Sept. 9 Old Dominion (Hometown Heroes)
Sept. 16 at Temple
Sept. 23 at Tennessee
Sept. 30 Ohio (2017 UMass Hall of Fame, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day)

Oct. 7 Bye
Oct. 14 at South Florida
Oct. 21 Georgia Southern (Homecoming, Breast Cancer Awareness)
Oct. 28 Appalachian State (Band Day, Senior Day)

Nov. 4 at Mississippi State
Nov. 11 Maine (Fenway Park)
Nov. 18 at BYU

2017 football season ticket renewals and new sales begin Tues., Feb. 21.

So no more games at Foxboro? Is that new, or did I miss the announcement?

(01-26-2017 03:10 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  So no more games at Foxboro? Is that new, or did I miss the announcement?

Gillette is always available. In 2019 we are playing both UConn and BYU in Foxboro.

Think we all agree college football belongs on campus. This is were almost all our games will be played, on campus.

(01-23-2017 03:38 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 11:39 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:55 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 10:37 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:56 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  That's all you need to STAY a conference and KEEP your autobid. You need to have 7 D-I members, and you need to have played a certain number of D-1 sports as a league for 6 or so years.

TPTB do NOT want new conferences and more autobids.

Stony Brook,Delaware,James Madison,Old Dominion,Marshall,Buffalo,Richmond,Ohio U,U Mass

Apparently DavidSt's unique strain of Tourrette's is catching.

Where else are schools like Delaware&JMU going to move up for their football programs.
certainly not to the Sun Belt

Where else are...? They're not. Simple as that.

If they want FBS, they'd better take any offer that comes along. Delaware and James MAdison have been I-AA since there's been I-AA, no need to rearrange anything for their benefit.

The power conferences (and this would include the Big East) are very, very unhappy with the idea of fewer at-large NCAA bids and more automatic bids. The Big East got special treatment because most years, the Big East autobid isn't taking away an at-large spot from a bubble team; and because he had widespread sympathy. Plans for new conferences will not be taken well. Look at the story of the Great West conference, and think very hard.

The Catholic 7 had been together as part of the same conference for 8 years, so I believe they met the NCAA continuity requirements to receive an autobid from the outset. The AAC (as the legal continuation of the Old Big East) and the WAC were both existing conferences, and were not subject to the continuity requirement. They were subject to sports sponsorship and membership requirements, but had two years under NCAA rules to restore compliance after losing members.