(04-07-2018 09:01 AM)beefcake0520 Wrote:  Lol most teams in the AAC cant get a home and home with Penn state lol ludicrous.

That's kind of the point - nobody big's scheduling UMass to a h&h because they're a MAC team. The P5 schools that schedule those types of h&hs are the lower-level programs looking to go 4-0, or at least 3-1, in OOC play so that 2 or 3 conference wins gets them bowl eligible and chasing that sixth win can keep the fan base engaged in a poor conference performance. Those schools aren't basing heir decision on whether or not someone's an indy.

(04-07-2018 09:01 AM)beefcake0520 Wrote:  And yes, being in a conference gives them access to NY6, western Michigan was just in it a few years ago, so why couldn't UMass have sold that to recruits. You clearly do not understand the effects of such things on recruiting. No one is fighting to acquire UMass, keep talking out your ass.

People aren't dumb. How often is UMass honestly getting that access bowl spot out of the MAC? Once every two decades seems high, doesn't it? It'd require UMass running off an undefeated season in a year where the AAC and MW champs are lackluster - basically what WM did. Under a current system where in an average decade the access bowl spot probably goes to the AAC 5-6 times, the MW 2-4 times, and the MAC once or twice having any real consistent shot at that game means winning the MAC on a consistent basis and praying for luck on top of it. This on top of UMass operating at some real structural disadvantages in the MAC in terms of recruiting territory and (to a lesser extent, but still real) facilities.

UMass not being 100% committed to keeping football FBS long-term, and not wanting to sever themselves from the prime mid-Atlantic basketball recruiting territory the A10 overlaps makes sense in this light. Hockey's a non-factor in this discussion, as UMass is already exactly where they want to be in that sport. The potential for the MAC to launch MAC hockey by getting to 6 with UMass as a full member, a theoretical Buffalo launch, and an affiliate is something I would imagine UMass would view as a significant downside, not a feature.