(08-22-2021 09:28 PM)Steve1981 Wrote: Will have to see, but personally favor the MAC. They are of peer size and really identify with Ohio. Academics is important to the MAC and that is a nice match as well. Really do not see UMass moving out of the A10 and currently would be suicide for the AD. That said Jon Steinbrecher, commissioner of the MAC said he would only consider a football only university if it was financially beneficial to the MAC. Many rabid basketball fans do not like MAC teams. Honestly they would feel the same way about ASun teams. Don't agree with the link regarding Liberty. They are fine and in a nice location for several conferences. UConn think their sh-t does not stink and don't they would be in as well. Just don't see it happening.
It may be wishful thinking for UMAINE to move into the FBS division. UMASS was already in the MAC (Mid American Conference) and left in 2015. Its wishful thinking to think they would ever go back. UCONN was already in the AAC (American Athletic Conference) and left so the basketball program could rejoin the BIG East Conference. I think for UCONN, UMASS and frankly UMAINE they need to stick with what worked and that was all three in the same football conference. I can not speak for UNH or Rhode Island but if the right conference came and talked to all three and they had a decent TV Package for football only (because lets face it UCONN with never leave the BIG East in foortball and UMASS will never leave the Atlantic 10 in basketball). What we are talking about is a Northern division of an FBS football only conference in the FBS division with
UMAINE
UMASS
UCONN
LIBERTY
UNH - ?(Not sure on them)
JMU - LIBERTY AND JAMES MADISON ARE NATURAL RIVALS IN VIRGINIA AND LIBERTY IS ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE ASUN IN THE OTHER SPORTS).
BUT I am not sure about the AD at Maine. He was at Colorado College before he took over the UMAINE job. He dismantled their football program after 100 years
in existence, and destroyed their hockey program as well and in looking at where he is spending the 120,000,000 dollar gift it appears to be going to all the other sports including a new womens facility at UMAINE. Not that they don't deserve it but all the football program has gotten is new turf for the football field in Orono, hardly much of an investment in expanding facilities at Orono or working with the USL (United Soccer league) in Portland on a new stadium. I am afraid this guy is certainly no
visionary for UMAINE athletics. He has kept Richard Barron around for a fourth year
of last place Mens basketball in the America East Conference. Barron will be gone after this season. He should have been gone after last season. His record in Mens basketball is bad news. Last place for the past three seasons. UMAINE is experiencing growing pains to be sure but they need to invest some serious money in the football program because that is where they can expand ticket sales. He does have major facility upgrades planned for Orono certainly and has revealed those plans and that is all well and good, but they will never be able to play at the FBS level in football unless they have a plan in the works to play some of their home games in the Portland metroplex. The fact of the matter is UMAINE is better than many lower tier FBS programs and I would put UMASS in that category, not UCONN
however. UCONN has their own internal issues with football but I don't see them going back to FCS either. I am sure the AD's at all three of these Universities have had conversations with the ASUN about their expansion plans but we won't hear anything until the ASUN has something to say about it for obvious reasons, the CAA does not want to hear that UMAINE could leave the CAA and UMASS and UCONN would not join until the ASUN makes a move into the FBS division. That won't be untol after 2023 at the earliest.
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