http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/...ts_fo.html

Quote:CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Massachusetts will be joining the Mid-American Conference for football only, according to sources within the league.

This ends months of speculation and MAC and UMass administrators are expected to hold a joint news conference Wednesday to announce the arrival of the Minutemen.

However, while UMass will begin MAC football play in 2012 it will not be eligible for a MAC title or bowl opportunities until 2013.

The Minutemen will give the league two "football only" members with UMass joining Temple, and expanding the league to 14 members in football. This is expected to be an open-ended deal with both teams. While UMass will not be joining the MAC in any other sport, like the Owls it will be obligated to play two home and two road basketball games with MAC men's and women's teams every season.

This move will give the MAC two, seven-team divisions. How those divisions will be divided will be a topic for discussion in the upcoming league meetings in May. The most likely move will be Bowling Green back to the MAC West, where the Falcons would be paired again with their natural rival, Toledo.

But there has also been some discussion of going to North and South Divisions, which could see several MAC teams have different division partners than in the past.

MAC Media Advisory:

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) will host a press conference on Wednesday, April 20 at 3:30 pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The press conference will be streamed live on http://www.mac-sports.com<http://www.mac-sports.com>.

In addition, the MAC and UMass will host a media conference call following the announcement at 5:00 pm ET with Mid-American Conference Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and UMass Athletic Director, John McCutcheon.

WHAT: MAC and UMass media conference call
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20 at 5:00 pm
WHO: MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
UMASS Athletic Director, John McCutcheon

(04-19-2011 10:35 AM)uakronkid Wrote:  MAC Media Advisory:

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) will host a press conference on Wednesday, April 20 at 3:30 pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The press conference will be streamed live on http://www.mac-sports.com<http://www.mac-sports.com>.

In addition, the MAC and UMass will host a media conference call following the announcement at 5:00 pm ET with Mid-American Conference Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and UMass Athletic Director, John McCutcheon.

Media conference call number: begin_of_the_skype_highlighting                 end_of_the_skype_highlighting


WHAT: MAC and UMass media conference call
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20 at 5:00 pm
WHO: MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
UMASS Athletic Director, John McCutcheon

Probably not a good idea to post the media conference call number on an Internet board.

---edited out

Sorry... Elton is a tool

I have no problem with the Umass deal, but the MAC screwed the pooch by not including soccer as well. It's one of the MAC's strength's and Umass would've provided natural rivals for Buffalo and snots of Hartwick!

(04-19-2011 10:36 AM)HuronDave Wrote:  

(04-19-2011 10:35 AM)uakronkid Wrote:  MAC Media Advisory:

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) will host a press conference on Wednesday, April 20 at 3:30 pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The press conference will be streamed live on http://www.mac-sports.com<http://www.mac-sports.com>.

In addition, the MAC and UMass will host a media conference call following the announcement at 5:00 pm ET with Mid-American Conference Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and UMass Athletic Director, John McCutcheon.

begin_of_the_skype_highlighting                  end_of_the_skype_highlighting


WHAT: MAC and UMass media conference call
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20 at 5:00 pm
WHO: MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
UMASS Athletic Director, John McCutcheon

Probably not a good idea to post the media conference call number on an Internet board.

Removed.

It's also not a good idea to quote something that shouldn't appear on a message board, because I can't edit your post.

(04-19-2011 10:45 AM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-19-2011 10:36 AM)HuronDave Wrote:  

(04-19-2011 10:35 AM)uakronkid Wrote:  MAC Media Advisory:

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) will host a press conference on Wednesday, April 20 at 3:30 pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The press conference will be streamed live on http://www.mac-sports.com<http://www.mac-sports.com>.

In addition, the MAC and UMass will host a media conference call following the announcement at 5:00 pm ET with Mid-American Conference Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and UMass Athletic Director, John McCutcheon.

begin_of_the_skype_highlighting                  end_of_the_skype_highlighting


WHAT: MAC and UMass media conference call
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20 at 5:00 pm
WHO: MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
UMASS Athletic Director, John McCutcheon

Probably not a good idea to post the media conference call number on an Internet board.

Removed.

It's also not a good idea to quote something that shouldn't appear on a message board, because I can't edit your post.

Touche!

Can we make them invite WMU, Miami, and BG to Hockey East if the CCHA implodes further? It's only fair.

(04-19-2011 10:39 AM)WallyB Wrote:  I have no problem with the Umass deal, but the MAC screwed the pooch by not including soccer as well. It's one of the MAC's strength's and Umass would've provided natural rivals for Buffalo and snots of Hartwick!

Because the MAC cares about any sport other than American football.

(04-19-2011 11:06 AM)bronconick Wrote:  Can we make them invite WMU, Miami, and BG to Hockey East if the CCHA implodes further? It's only fair.

(04-19-2011 11:06 AM)bronconick Wrote:  Can we make them invite WMU, Miami, and BG to Hockey East if the CCHA implodes further? It's only fair.

The remaining CCHA schools could never afford the travel and would drop the sport.

I don't mind this, I hope it adds some money to the TV deal for the conference. I have seen plenty of BC games with empty seats so I don't know how UMASS will do playing in an NFL stadium. Temple doesn't draw so great either unless they're playing PENN ST or UCONN.

It also leaves a 9 game conference schedule on the table which the B10 seems like it also wants to move to.

Great news for UMass today, I'm suprised that UMass to the MAC happened before the Big East settled its own expansion cluster ****

I'm spazzing out checking 100 websites at the moment, but I just wanted to say how happy I am to have UMass become part of the MAC in football. And if Akron wants a series in soccer, I'm sure we'd be happy to oblige, although we've fallen off since our College Cup appearance a few years ago. Maybe work in some hockey games too, for the teams who play it.

I'm a bit surprised that we're only going to get this upcoming season to prepare for MAC play -- not sure that sets us up for success -- but if that's what the MAC wanted, that's what we have to do. (If that's what UMass wanted, I hope our confidence is warranted.)

Once the announcement happens, UMass will probably see a surge in bandwagon fans who never supported the team before and are only going to talk about how we should be in the Big East, but I want you all to know that the core UMass football fans have been fighting for this MAC move for years. Lock down this foothold in the northeast and I think there's plenty of opportunity here to move this conference upward.

Also, Temple sucks. Now back to surfing the sports websites...

Like many of the die hard UM (that is U Mass) fans I am ecstatic right now with this news.

As for only having a couple years to prepare i don't think there is any other way to do it. In terms of leaving the CAA might as well rip the band aid off than flap in the wind with no chance of post season play. I don't know how competitive the Minutemen will be right away but they will be gaining a lot more experience than playing a half and half schedule of FCS FBS for more than a year.

A lot of speculation that 5 home games a year will be under Bob Kraft's roof. It isn't ideal for students to have to bus down, but if they can make it a fun trip it could be a great event for students to do a few times each fall. I also think it is an excellent opportunity to tap into the machine that is the New England Patriots. As expensive as it is to go to a Patriots game and the long waiting list for season tickets I think they will promote the heck out of this as a great way to experience the stadium without paying an arm and a leg and less traffic delays with less fans. The Kraft's did just build a whole entertainment complex and they are going to want to bring as many people in every weekend as possible. I have a feeling the Krafts may be giving more backing than simply "letting" UM play there. I am not talking financial but promotional... Maybe a letter to those on the Patriots season ticket waiting list thanking them for the continued support unfortunately having to inform them that it will be at least one more season before they can purchase season tickets and encouraging them to experience football at the Razor with lower level season ticket packages starting at just $150 for all 5 games!

Back to the real world and work.........

Where is malves21?

And UMass fans, you will love the MAC basketball games that are part of the deal...

North-South divisions might be happening. It would separate Temple and Umass into opposite divisions. Not sure that's a good idea.

You know UMass will beat a MAC team with a winning record before Temple does.

If I call you U-Asss, it's a term of endearment.

(04-19-2011 12:02 PM)LastMinuteman Wrote:  Also, Temple sucks.

Hey, this guys alright in my book.

Probably just endeared yourself to the majority of the posters on this board already!

(04-19-2011 12:44 PM)BarnardHall211 Wrote:  You know UMass will beat a MAC team with a winning record before Temple does.