(11-30-2010 01:23 PM)victory engineer Wrote:  A poster on our boards suggested a hybrid confrence where you combine the A-10 and the MAC simmilar to the Big East... While it does creat issues for the Big East, a simmilar setup could solidify the MAC confrence as a player in both major sports and create a super confrence of their own... I kind of liked the idea.

I like that thought. Here is another idea, why don't we become Big Ten/Big East lite. That would be a nice niche for us. If we develop an expanded eastern presence we would fit right into the Big Ten/Big East footprint. We already play a lot of OOC Big Ten teams and why not partner more with the Big East. It gets us more TV exposure on their networks. The reality is we will not be going BCS anytime soon so why not make most of what is available.

(11-30-2010 01:28 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 01:12 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 01:01 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 12:45 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  The options are to continue in FCS or move up and into the MAC.

There really is no other avenue into FBS.

exactly. It's called LEVERAGE. The MAC has it, it should use it. We need to stop acting like the MAC is the ugly girl that can't get a date. Yes, we're ugly, but its 2am and UMass is drunk and lonely, and we're the only thing left at the bar. Now is the time to be a realist, not a defeatist. Let's consummate this mutually beneficial agreement. with the lights off.

You guys are thinking too small. The MAC's perception is a predominantly Michigan/Ohio based second tier athletic conference. We need to change that perception and losing Temple would not help. In order to elevate the perception of the conference we need to expand into new markets. First Buffalo, then Temple and now UMass. It is getting us away from being known as a bunch of directional Michigan/Ohio schools. If we can ever elevate our basketball then maybe we have a chance to lure Temple and UMass for all sports. If we get 8 games a year against Temple and UMass in hoops, we need to win all eight. If we cannot beat those schools then what is their incentive to join us. My original stance remains, we need to thin our or Michigan/Ohio presence either by dropping members and/or expanding into new markets. Let's think bigger but be realistic.

thinking too small? not at all. In fact I'd say you're the one thinking too small. I agree that UMass would be good for the MAC for the reasons you stated, but thinking small is what you're doing by capitulating to their wishes of being only FB, my point is we need to think big and push for improving out BBall program as well.

Name one other FBS conference that would even consider adding UMass? If they want out of the potentially shrinking CAA then the MAC is the Obi Wan to their Leia.

First, the Sun Belt would jump at the chance to add UMass for football. It's in exactly the same boat as the MAC and would like to expand its numbers and draw as much as possible.

It's also worth pointing out that if UMass really wanted to get serious about FBS football, it could play as an independent for a while, build some better talented players and then join a conference. Joining the MAC just makes scheduling easier. It certainly doesn't do much for TV in the Boston area.

(11-30-2010 01:31 PM)psc2009 Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 01:28 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  thinking too small? not at all. In fact I'd say you're the one thinking too small. I agree that UMass would be good for the MAC for the reasons you stated, but thinking small is what you're doing by capitulating to their wishes of being only FB, my point is we need to think big and push for improving out BBall program as well.

Name one other FBS conference that would even consider adding UMass? If they want out of the potentially shrinking CAA then the MAC is the Obi Wan to their Leia.

First, the Sun Belt would jump at the chance to add UMass for football. It's in exactly the same boat as the MAC and would like to expand its numbers and draw as much as possible.

It's also worth pointing out that if UMass really wanted to get serious about FBS football, it could play as an independent for a while, build some better talented players and then join a conference. Joining the MAC just makes scheduling easier. It certainly doesn't do much for TV in the Boston area.

Sun Belt might take UMass but there's no way UMass could commit to that travel schedule. It takes a lot more than just getting some better players to get into a "real" conference, just ask Temple.

We need to look West. West west west west west.

UAss (and Temple) will (and should) drop the MAC at the first sign of life in another conference. Because they are not one of us. They are east coast schools.

Look at what NIU and Buffalo brought to the MAC. Good, solid, working class, honest, straight forward state schools with regional educational responsibilities.

I am in the minority I know, but I would prefer schools more like the current MAC, then thinking that some flagship state school 1,000 miles from the western end of the MAC is the answer.

I know the arguements for UAss and UDel etc. But I do not think in anyway anyshape anyform that they are the long term answer to a question that I am not sure we even need to ask.

If we have to ask the questions and search out the answer, make the all-sports offer to Illinois State, regardless of their current sitiuation and presidential decree - a public, dyed in the wool offer may stir things up enough in Normal to entice the Redbirds to join the MAC.

And make no mistake about it - ISU would instantly be competitive in all Olympic sports, brings a solid academic reputation, has a basketball history that most of the MAC would kiss their sister for, and if NIU can turn their football program around like we have, ISU can as well.

The UMASS fans over on their board are pretty arrogant. First off they think they will just come in to our conference and be the best team off the bat. I'm pretty sure they won't win a conference game (unless they play my beloved eagles) for a while. You play in division 2! Upsets do happen from time to time but come on be realistic. Second: This is just a stepping stone to the big east Third: eh I guess I don't need a third. Oh and if you think i'm being a ass go over to their board and see what a ass is all about. rant over

(11-30-2010 01:48 PM)EMUallday Wrote:  The UMASS fans over on their board are pretty arrogant. First off they think they will just come in to our conference and be the best team off the bat.

UB 31 Rhode Island 0. Rhode Island 37, UMass 34: Linky



Yeah, sure, UMass, you'll come right in and win.

(11-30-2010 01:46 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  If we have to ask the questions and search out the answer, make the all-sports offer to Illinois State, regardless of their current sitiuation and presidential decree - a public, dyed in the wool offer may stir things up enough in Normal to entice the Redbirds to join the MAC.

And make no mistake about it - ISU would instantly be competitive in all Olympic sports, brings a solid academic reputation, has a basketball history that most of the MAC would kiss their sister for, and if NIU can turn their football program around like we have, ISU can as well.

My guess is that footprint expansion is the name of the game, not just for the MAC but all conferences at the moment. Being in a current MAC state, like Illinois State is, works more at a disadvantage to them.

If we are bent on an FCS team to join (Agreed that no FBS member will ever join the MAC), you either go for the more recognizable name with greater star power, but risk losing them to the bright lights of another conference - or - take a potentially more loyal school to the MAC but has little appeal and/or doesn't expand our geographic coverage.

I do understand UMass fans unwilling to give up local rivalries though. It's the downside of all these shufflings and rumors of mega-conferences. A school in Dallas doesn't 'belong' in the Big East, nor should've the Big Ten even considered name-dropping Texas last summer. I like the regional kinship of conferences, but I understand that markets and money talk and it's just the nature of things.

(11-30-2010 01:57 PM)zibby Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 01:48 PM)EMUallday Wrote:  The UMASS fans over on their board are pretty arrogant. First off they think they will just come in to our conference and be the best team off the bat.

UB 31 Rhode Island 0. Rhode Island 37, UMass 34: Linky


Yeah, sure, UMass, you'll come right in and win.

I browsed through the link... They admittedly sound a tad like us when we beat a BCS school. They'll proudly mention their 2 or 3 FCS wins over the MAC, but quietly gloss over the dozen or so thrashings they received.

(11-30-2010 11:41 AM)zibby Wrote:  The MAC is such a bush league conference. Ridiculous to even consider them for football only. Bring all sports or nothing.

Agreed, this conference needs to man up and tell Temple to join all sports and UMass to do the same thing.

Otherwise, we're adding a team for the sake of balancing divisions and not adding a team that is going to bring in more $ or give us an additional bowl game.

This move, if it happens, sparks the potential of creating an eastern FBS football league. UMass moves up, and the MAC invites two other CAA schools in the future (Richmond and JMU?) Then after a few years, some members of the new MAC East split off and bring up the remaining CAA to create an FBS league.

http://umasshoops.com/board/viewtopic.ph...sc&start=0

UMass message board.

Little point in sending random non revenue teams across the country... a hybrid league you could just play in division confrence have some cross overs....

(11-30-2010 02:30 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  This move, if it happens, sparks the potential of creating an eastern FBS football league. UMass moves up, and the MAC invites two other CAA schools in the future (Richmond and JMU?) Then after a few years, some members of the new MAC East split off and bring up the remaining CAA to create an FBS league.

And that's not good for the MAC. We'd be forced to further split our crumbs. If the east coast needs another FBS football conference, let's not enable it on the back of the established MAC.

Portions of the CAA will be moving FBS in the future. And they will be in DIRECT competition with the MAC for scare media, bowl and money resources.

Going west has little of the above concern.

(11-30-2010 02:40 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 02:30 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  This move, if it happens, sparks the potential of creating an eastern FBS football league. UMass moves up, and the MAC invites two other CAA schools in the future (Richmond and JMU?) Then after a few years, some members of the new MAC East split off and bring up the remaining CAA to create an FBS league.

And that's not good for the MAC. We'd be forced to further split our crumbs. If the east coast needs another FBS football conference, let's not enable it on the back of the established MAC.

Portions of the CAA will be moving FBS in the future. And they will be in DIRECT competition with the MAC for scare media, bowl and money resources.

Going west has little of the above concern.

The MAC is controlled by the school presidents. This might be a play by some of them to get out of the MAC and into a more geographically ideal conference.

Then the western remnants could add Illinois State and a Dakota school or two to become a true mid-western conference.

(11-30-2010 02:40 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(11-30-2010 02:30 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  This move, if it happens, sparks the potential of creating an eastern FBS football league. UMass moves up, and the MAC invites two other CAA schools in the future (Richmond and JMU?) Then after a few years, some members of the new MAC East split off and bring up the remaining CAA to create an FBS league.

And that's not good for the MAC. We'd be forced to further split our crumbs. If the east coast needs another FBS football

I don't know about that. For example, Akron goes to the new conference, and the MAC has one less Ohio team.

There may be ways to benefit everyone in the long term.

http://ht.ly/3hGy6

MAC officials to visit UMass campus in December (which just so happens to begin tomorrow).

This is great timing, by the way, for conference marketing. We're stealing a bit of the Conference Expansion news cycle from the Big East.

If this is a UMASS football only, then at least create a larger baskeball scheduling agreement/or A-10-MAC Basketball challenge so Temple and UMASS have to play more of us in basketball and more often.

(11-30-2010 03:16 PM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  If this is a UMASS football only, then at least create a larger baskeball scheduling agreement/or A-10-MAC Basketball challenge so Temple and UMASS have to play more of us in basketball and more often.

Temple already plays 5 Mac games a year in basketball. Any more and Temple would basically have a non-existent non-conference schedule. Temple's rpi would fall drastically and there would be no point for the agreement in the first place. Temple would no longer bring a high RPI team to play the MAC schools and the MAC schools would see no benefit at all to playing Temple is basketball...

Count Richmond out. As a relatively small private school, it has no interest in D1A. They are however, very good in BB. On the East Coast, Delaware has the potential, but they may not have desire.