If western kentucky is leaving can mtsu be far
Behind. I would expect Uconn and umass to be
Invited as football only members and also keep
An eye on umaine from the caa. Even though umass
Football is on life support right now, with a
Conference affiliation that could change quickly

Umaine is an interesting possibility (I actually
Think they are the best of the three but this is something
To watch going forward as a football only
Program). They would have to transition from
Fcs to fbs but they have already beaten
Western kentucky and Jacksonville state in
A fcs playoff game. It makes logistical
Sense to bring in all three as football only teams
To a reconfigured c-usa conference because
They are already rivals from the old yankee
Conference.

(11-07-2021 06:17 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  If western kentucky is leaving can mtsu be far
Behind. I would expect Uconn and umass to be
Invited as football only members and also keep
An eye on umaine from the caa. Even though umass
Football is on life support right now, with a
Conference affiliation that could change quickly

Umaine is an interesting possibility (I actually
Think they are the best of the three but this is something
To watch going forward as a football only
Program). They would have to transition from
Fcs to fbs but they have already beaten
Western kentucky and Jacksonville state in
A fcs playoff game. It makes logistical
Sense to bring in all three as football only teams
To a reconfigured c-usa conference because
They are already rivals from the old yankee
Conference.

Personally wouldnt want anything to do with UCONN and UMASS unless their other sports are joining. And obviously they feel their basketball programs are above our conference. Personally dont think their football programs do anything for our conference except make the geography and travel that much worse. Id rather add FCS programs that can be ready by then, if WKU/MTSU end up leaving.

(11-07-2021 08:13 PM)PredatorUTEP Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:17 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  If western kentucky is leaving can mtsu be far
Behind. I would expect Uconn and umass to be
Invited as football only members and also keep
An eye on umaine from the caa. Even though umass
Football is on life support right now, with a
Conference affiliation that could change quickly

Umaine is an interesting possibility (I actually
Think they are the best of the three but this is something
To watch going forward as a football only
Program). They would have to transition from
Fcs to fbs but they have already beaten
Western kentucky and Jacksonville state in
A fcs playoff game. It makes logistical
Sense to bring in all three as football only teams
To a reconfigured c-usa conference because
They are already rivals from the old yankee
Conference.

Personally wouldnt want anything to do with UCONN and UMASS unless their other sports are joining. And obviously they feel their basketball programs are above our conference. Personally dont think their football programs do anything for our conference except make the geography and travel that much worse. Id rather add FCS programs that can be ready by then, if WKU/MTSU end up leaving.

Right now I agree with you UMASS beat UCONN this season but then lost this weekend to University of Rhode Island (an FCS program). I suspect their Coach is probably on the hot seat at this point, but let me say this I don't see UCONN or UMASS becoming full fledged members, it would have to be football only. UMAINE may join at a later date but not right away but again as a football only member. The thing is if you get all three schools to join as football only you do get a solid core of New England Schools into your league plus the Boston, Hartford and Portland and Bangor TV markets. That could enhance their entrance into C-USA.

But I also don't feel these three teams coming into the C-USA is dependent on Western Kentucky or MTSU leaving. I think they come in anyway. For these three schools it makes sense for them to come in together as they are already rivals in football and once under a Conference C-USA banner their recruiting picks up as well. It would add more competiveness into your conference as well. I think UMAINE is the unknown factor as they have had a better year than both UCONN and UMASS this year and I see them beating UMASS this coming weekend even though they are currently an FCS program. But they have their own issues in Maine and not sure what happens. It would be later however.

UMASS and UCONN can not stay independent they need a conference affilation in football to be successful and nearby rivals would help that.

(11-07-2021 08:13 PM)PredatorUTEP Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:17 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  If western kentucky is leaving can mtsu be far
Behind. I would expect Uconn and umass to be
Invited as football only members and also keep
An eye on umaine from the caa. Even though umass
Football is on life support right now, with a
Conference affiliation that could change quickly

Umaine is an interesting possibility (I actually
Think they are the best of the three but this is something
To watch going forward as a football only
Program). They would have to transition from
Fcs to fbs but they have already beaten
Western kentucky and Jacksonville state in
A fcs playoff game. It makes logistical
Sense to bring in all three as football only teams
To a reconfigured c-usa conference because
They are already rivals from the old yankee
Conference.

Personally wouldnt want anything to do with UCONN and UMASS unless their other sports are joining. And obviously they feel their basketball programs are above our conference. Personally dont think their football programs do anything for our conference except make the geography and travel that much worse. Id rather add FCS programs that can be ready by then, if WKU/MTSU end up leaving.

UMass' basketball program isn't above any conference right now; the issue with joining C-USA as a full member is that we're too far away from the league's footprint. I'm hoping there's an arrangement made where UMass could join as a football member and schedule non-conference series in basketball against C-USA teams.

I don't see UMaine making the jump at all and if you think UMass is far away Orono may as well be in Siberia.

Things are changing in Maine. The USL (United Soccer league) is coming to Portland and is going to be build a new stadium.
See article below. Once that happens that should open up UMAINE to play some of their home games in the Portland metroplex.
The USL has agreed to pay the cost of building a new stadium either in the Back Bay in downtown Portland or refurbishing Fitzpatrick Stadium in downtown Portland. In the Portland metroplex they have over 650,000 people and a much larger fanbase in which to
draw more fans to their homegames. The only holdup then is the "Oronoites" objecting to Maine splitting their home games between
a new stadium in Portland and Alfond Stadium back in Orono. They can play their C-USA opponents at the new stadium in Portland
and lesser FCS opponents back in Orono and actually represent the fanbase in the entire State that way. They certainly can compete with JSU (having beaten them in Orono in a FCS playoff game) and beat Western kentucky in Kentucky two seasons ago.
The only roadblock holding this up is the Board of Trustees and an inept Athletic Director. They are ready to make the move up to
FBS now. And of the three they are the ones who would do well in the C-USA.

https://wgme.com/news/local/professional...o-portland

https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1175147

(11-07-2021 09:37 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 08:13 PM)PredatorUTEP Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:17 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  If western kentucky is leaving can mtsu be far
Behind. I would expect Uconn and umass to be
Invited as football only members and also keep
An eye on umaine from the caa. Even though umass
Football is on life support right now, with a
Conference affiliation that could change quickly

Umaine is an interesting possibility (I actually
Think they are the best of the three but this is something
To watch going forward as a football only
Program). They would have to transition from
Fcs to fbs but they have already beaten
Western kentucky and Jacksonville state in
A fcs playoff game. It makes logistical
Sense to bring in all three as football only teams
To a reconfigured c-usa conference because
They are already rivals from the old yankee
Conference.

Personally wouldnt want anything to do with UCONN and UMASS unless their other sports are joining. And obviously they feel their basketball programs are above our conference. Personally dont think their football programs do anything for our conference except make the geography and travel that much worse. Id rather add FCS programs that can be ready by then, if WKU/MTSU end up leaving.

Right now I agree with you UMASS beat UCONN this season but then lost this weekend to University of Rhode Island (an FCS program). I suspect their Coach is probably on the hot seat at this point, but let me say this I don't see UCONN or UMASS becoming full fledged members, it would have to be football only. UMAINE may join at a later date but not right away but again as a football only member. The thing is if you get all three schools to join as football only you do get a solid core of New England Schools into your league plus the Boston, Hartford and Portland and Bangor TV markets. That could enhance their entrance into C-USA.

But I also don't feel these three teams coming into the C-USA is dependent on Western Kentucky or MTSU leaving. I think they come in anyway. For these three schools it makes sense for them to come in together as they are already rivals in football and once under a Conference C-USA banner their recruiting picks up as well. It would add more competiveness into your conference as well. I think UMAINE is the unknown factor as they have had a better year than both UCONN and UMASS this year and I see them beating UMASS this coming weekend even though they are currently an FCS program. But they have their own issues in Maine and not sure what happens. It would be later however.

UMASS and UCONN can not stay independent they need a conference affilation in football to be successful and nearby rivals would help that.

Rather have UNH. Much better school and program and closer to Boston

North East Conference:
UMass
UConn
Maine
Army
Temple
Delaware
?
?

I honestly believe you are going to see UMASS and UCONN headed to C-USA as football only members and that is irregardless of whether WKU/MTSU leave for the MAC or not.

There are 9 members currently either going or staying in the C-USA. Bringing in UMASS and UCONN as football only members makes it 11. Then I do see UMAINE
coming in at some point after these two join. Is it a year or two years I can not be sure
but we now have the USL (United Soccer league rebuilding Fitzpatrick Stadium or building an entire new stadium in Portland for Soccer) planning on a new soccer team in 2023 in one of these two venues. That changes the entire dynamic for Umaine FOOTBALL. Because then they can split their games between Orono and Portland and in Portland they have a much larger fanbase to draw on (650,000 in the Portland Metroplex). This is something that has been on the back burner for a while but now is the time for them to make the move into the FBS division. I don't
know what the thinking is at Maine at this point. We just got a 120,000,000 endowment for Athletics in Orono and plans for several new facilities are in the works now but I did not see much for the football program. It may be they are seeing the same developments in Portland and are planning accordingly.

As far as UNH goes I can not speak to that situation. They are in Durham but I don't know that they could draw the required attendance for FBS. But it would be great if they did. That would be four FBS programs in New England plus Boston College from the ACC and would be 13 members in the football division of the C-USA

(11-09-2021 12:52 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  I honestly believe you are going to see UMASS and UCONN headed to C-USA as football only members and that is irregardless of whether WKU/MTSU leave for the MAC or not.

There are 9 members currently either going or staying in the C-USA. Bringing in UMASS and UCONN as football only members makes it 11. Then I do see UMAINE
coming in at some point after these two join. Is it a year or two years I can not be sure
but we now have the USL (United Soccer league rebuilding Fitzpatrick Stadium or building an entire new stadium in Portland for Soccer) planning on a new soccer team in 2023 in one of these two venues. That changes the entire dynamic for Umaine FOOTBALL. Because then they can split their games between Orono and Portland and in Portland they have a much larger fanbase to draw on (650,000 in the Portland Metroplex). This is something that has been on the back burner for a while but now is the time for them to make the move into the FBS division. I don't
know what the thinking is at Maine at this point. We just got a 120,000,000 endowment for Athletics in Orono and plans for several new facilities are in the works now but I did not see much for the football program. It may be they are seeing the same developments in Portland and are planning accordingly.

As far as UNH goes I can not speak to that situation. They are in Durham but I don't know that they could draw the required attendance for FBS. But it would be great if they did. That would be four FBS programs in New England plus Boston College from the ACC and would be 13 members in the football division of the C-USA

lol what’s the weird fixation with Maine dude? I’ve actually discussed this with a prominent FCS reporter. When you get a $90 million athletic donation and put a majority of it towards hockey facilities and basketball, that tells me you’re not that serious about FBS, especially when their current stadium is nothing more than temporary metal bleachers. I mean that football stadium is horrendous. Like, worse than SHSU horrendous. Why in the world would CUSA add Maine before Delaware, UNH or William and Mary? And that’s just to list CAA candidates! All three of those schools have shown they can draw well. UNH has drawn over 15k twice this season, and Delaware usually gets well north of that. All three have recently renovated stadiums. All three are much closer to the other CUSA schools. Oh and most importantly: all three are traditionally way better than Maine at football. And like I said, that’s just to name other CAA options! Stupid to even mention them.

Look I’m sure that division 2 soccer stadium 150 miles off campus will be cool and all. But this is unrealistic and stupid. I can think of 20-30 FCS schools better suited to go CUSA than Maine. Not sure if you have a nephew who plays football there or something, and I hate to shut this down, but it’s not happening.

UNH sits in the middle of about 300k seacoast area. Heavily populated. Feels like a football school. Lots of good branding. But Delaware would be the best add. Heavily populated. Not as far north

You are talking about the stadium in Orono, not the proposed stadium in Portland. As far as UMAINE not being competitive in the CAA and the FCS they were in the Semi finals of the FCS playoffs three years ago. Hardly just minor player in FCS. By the way Maine
beat William and Mary this season and this would have to be considered a down year in football for UMAINE. I agree Delaware would
be a strong addition to C-USA. The thing I think bringing in UNH, Maine, UConn and Umass would be a great fit logistically for all
four programs. No strong affiliation to UMAINE either.

Tell me how is it SHSU got an invitation to the C-USA when they only average 8500 fans per game? Kind of strange if you ask me.
I just wonder if even UMASS and UCONN would be invited as football only members at this point. Do you think the C-USA is finished with expansion?

(11-09-2021 07:26 PM)basketball_guy Wrote:  You are talking about the stadium in Orono, not the proposed stadium in Portland. As far as UMAINE not being competitive in the CAA and the FCS they were in the Semi finals of the FCS playoffs three years ago. Hardly just minor player in FCS. By the way Maine
beat William and Mary this season and this would have to be considered a down year in football for UMAINE. I agree Delaware would
be a strong addition to C-USA. The thing I think bringing in UNH, Maine, UConn and Umass would be a great fit logistically for all
four programs. No strong affiliation to UMAINE either.

Tell me how is it SHSU got an invitation to the C-USA when they only average 8500 fans per game? Kind of strange if you ask me.
I just wonder if even UMASS and UCONN would be invited as football only members at this point. Do you think the C-USA is finished with expansion?

I’m wondering the same thing about the SHSU invite.

Maine is absolutely a minor player in the FCS. Let’s see, five playoff wins since 2000? 3 playoff appearances in the past 10 years. They’re an afterthought in the CAA. Like I said, I’m sure that minor league soccer stadium 150 miles from campus will be cool. All the recent renderings I can find say it’ll hold somewhere in the ballpark of 6k though. Sorry, Maine isn’t happening.

I think if WKU and MTSU stay, UConn and UMass may be out. I think if they leave, they may have a shot at football only.

Hard to say which way the MTSU/Western Kentucky decision will fall. I would say this however, if UCONN, UMASS move to the C-USA as football only I have got to
believe UNH and UMAINE would not be far behind. As far as the USL stadium goes, if UMaine splits their games between Portland and Orono and they draw well that stadium won't stay at just 6000. They will upgrade it. I don't think the UMASS/UCONN decision is dependent on the MTSU/Western Kentucky decision. The problem for C-USA is if the two do leave they still need an eighth full fledged member, thats why I don't think the UMASS/UCONN decision will happen right away.
C-USA needs that eighth member and they need to be going after it irregardless. I would say that is Judy's top priority right now.

MTSU AD update at the board Meeting
MTSU streams their Board Meeting Live

Just saw it live.
Chris said they have been working
On the conference issue and it should
Be resolved this week.

it is not over yet

He spoke a very short time
There was not one question put
To him unlike other speakers.

But they could be going into an executive session after the zoom board meeting.
Who knows.