Quote:Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.

AAC would be their best bet, but they wouldn't be taking a step back going in the MAC. Remember, it's a Subtraction AND an Addition elsewhere. It doubles the comparable value conference VS conference.

If you took Marshall out of CUSA, and placed them in the MAC East empty slot, even being critical of the MAC (especially MAC East) -- the conference would at least be even with CUSA.

BUT, why change conferences to make one Even with the current one, unless it was a Solid bet that the other conference would end up being Better?

The MAC could end up being better, and very well may, year to year. AAC will end up being what CUSA thought it was going to be -- while CUSA will end up being what the Sun Belt thought they would be. The MAC isn't part of that sucking out process.

However, of course, all that's moot. If the AAC is needing more people when the B12 expands -- Marshall will want to go there, not the MAC -- even if the B12 and B10 expands, and CUSA is just what the Sun Belt aimed to be.

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 08:28 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  

(07-10-2015 10:20 AM)e-parade Wrote:  Was it true that if UMass joined all-sports that an invite all-sports to JMU was potentially in the works? I've been to the JMU campus and it's quite nice, and the stadium is solid. The University of Delaware is another nice stadium that's clearly a step above McGuirk.

It's my understanding Delaware has absolutely no desire to go to FBS.

UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

(07-12-2015 02:08 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.

AAC would be their best bet, but they wouldn't be taking a step back going in the MAC. Remember, it's a Subtraction AND an Addition elsewhere. It doubles the comparable value conference VS conference.

If you took Marshall out of CUSA, and placed them in the MAC East empty slot, even being critical of the MAC (especially MAC East) -- the conference would at least be even with CUSA.

BUT, why change conferences to make one Even with the current one, unless it was a Solid bet that the other conference would end up being Better?

The MAC could end up being better, and very well may, year to year. AAC will end up being what CUSA thought it was going to be -- while CUSA will end up being what the Sun Belt thought they would be. The MAC isn't part of that sucking out process.

However, of course, all that's moot. If the AAC is needing more people when the B12 expands -- Marshall will want to go there, not the MAC -- even if the B12 and B10 expands, and CUSA is just what the Sun Belt aimed to be.

The thing about the MAC is that none of the schools have ever been able to get a large revenue stream going for football or basketball.

If you look at the G5 programs with the biggest revenue like Boise, Memphis, East Carolina, UConn, New Mexico, Fresno State they all have significant isolation from other P5 programs. Every MAC school is within 3 hours of Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State the core of Midwestern football.

MAC schools have mid sized enrollments with alumni that are evenly distributed throughout the state in most cases. Alumni that didn't grow up watching their school at home on TV because the MAC wasn't on TV. For this reason you don't see the multi-generational ties to athletics.

Some of a programs development is tied to getting into a major conference. UConn joining the Big East, Boise moving to the WAC when it had a major reputation, New Mexico always being in the WAC/MWC opposed to Montana in the Big Sky. The MAC was traditionally a Mid Major conference so it affected perception.

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 08:28 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  It's my understanding Delaware has absolutely no desire to go to FBS.

UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

The likelihood for the MAC is that they could lose 3 to 4 teams in the next realignment. Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference. That is why the MAC needs to be proactive, and have schools ready on the call in case they do get raided. It is the same for AAC, C-USA, MWC and Sun Belt. There are some schools in the Sun Belt more valuable than some in the C-USA. So, we might see some movement with the MAC schools as well. They did lose Temple and U. Mass. MAC wanted to expand around those 2 schools for an all sports conference. Even VCU was mentioned at one time if they did add football.

Quote:There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

UMass is leaving after this year. That's an open slot to make the numbers even.

Quote:Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference.

I would see the AAC raiding CUSA in the classic: SunBelt->CUSA->AAC river flow. BUT, if the B12 were to suddenly yank a lot of teams out of AAC, yeah, the MAC could lose a key team or two. That would definitely suck.

AAC top choices [Not in MW; nobody would leave to go to AAC]:
- Marshall
- LA-Tech
- Rice
- NIU
- Toledo
- Western Kentucky
- Ohio
- Middle Tennessee State

IMO, if the B12 rises to 14 teams, they'd most likely take Marshall, LA-Tech, Rice, and BYU. They could take NIU instead of Rice, I dunno. Depends on their academic taste VS football taste. :)

Or the AAC may want some basketball goodness, in which case Toledo would be one of the better options and Ohio being a higher considerable.

(07-12-2015 01:17 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

UMass is leaving after this year. That's an open slot to make the numbers even.

UMass leaving makes the numbers even. 13 to 12.

(07-12-2015 01:17 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

UMass is leaving after this year. That's an open slot to make the numbers even.

Quote:Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference.

I would see the AAC raiding CUSA in the classic: SunBelt->CUSA->AAC river flow. BUT, if the B12 were to suddenly yank a lot of teams out of AAC, yeah, the MAC could lose a key team or two. That would definitely suck.

AAC top choices [Not in MW; nobody would leave to go to AAC]:
- Marshall
- LA-Tech
- Rice
- NIU
- Toledo
- Western Kentucky
- Ohio
- Middle Tennessee State

IMO, if the B12 rises to 14 teams, they'd most likely take Marshall, LA-Tech, Rice, and BYU. They could take NIU instead of Rice, I dunno. Depends on their academic taste VS football taste. :)

Or the AAC may want some basketball goodness, in which case Toledo would be one of the better options and Ohio being a higher considerable.

(07-12-2015 01:17 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

UMass is leaving after this year. That's an open slot to make the numbers even.

Quote:Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference.

I would see the AAC raiding CUSA in the classic: SunBelt->CUSA->AAC river flow. BUT, if the B12 were to suddenly yank a lot of teams out of AAC, yeah, the MAC could lose a key team or two. That would definitely suck.

AAC top choices [Not in MW; nobody would leave to go to AAC]:
- Marshall
- LA-Tech
- Rice
- NIU
- Toledo
- Western Kentucky
- Ohio
- Middle Tennessee State

IMO, if the B12 rises to 14 teams, they'd most likely take Marshall, LA-Tech, Rice, and BYU. They could take NIU instead of Rice, I dunno. Depends on their academic taste VS football taste. :)

Or the AAC may want some basketball goodness, in which case Toledo would be one of the better options and Ohio being a higher considerable.

This thread gets even stupider everytime David and Kit Kat post.

Here is the third article with UMass AD Ryan Bamford from Bob McGovern.

Bamford: 'FBS' Made UMass Job Attractive

Quote:UMass Athletic Director Ryan Bamford spoke to the Maroon Musket about a number of topics surrounding the university's athletic department. This is the third article from that interview.

When Mark Whipple was hired as UMass’ head football coach, he said he would not have come back to Amherst if the Minutemen were still playing in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Ryan Bamford, the school’s new athletic director, feels the same way.

“Probably not, probably not,” Bamford said when asked whether he would have left Georgia Tech for UMass if the Minutemen were still playing FCS football. “I don’t know that I would have come here if it was an FCS job. I don’t know if I was ready to go back to that level.”

Bamford worked with an FCS program for nearly a decade while serving in Yale’s athletic department. He said UMass’ FBS program - and his prior relationships with Whipple and former UMass football coach Don Brown - made Amherst an attractive destination.

“I really liked coach Whipple. My family is really close friends with Don Brown, so I knew Brownie and Whip pretty well,” Bamford said. “I think having that relationship - and knowing them - was certainly a selling point for me.”

The Brown relationship goes back to the early 1990s. Bamford’s father, Steve, hired him as the head football coach at Plymouth State.

“We always stayed in touch, and I grew up with his kid. We’ve known each other for more than 20 years,” Ryan Bamford said. “I got to meet Whip through Brown.”

The younger Bamford tried to use those connections later when he was overseeing the Yale football program. He said he reached out to Whipple when the head coaching job opened up in 2008, but he was coaching for the Philadelphia Eagles.

As many UMass fans will remember, Yale also came after Brown while he was head coach of the Minutemen.

“We were close to hiring (Brown) at Yale, but he got a good offer at Maryland and just couldn’t turn that down,” said Bamford, referring to Brown’s decision to choose the defensive coordinator position at Maryland over gigs at either Yale or UMass. “I think he could have won a bunch of Ivy League titles over the years and that would be a good way to end his career.”

Brown, now the defensive coordinator at Boston College, had been the defensive coordinator for Yale just before he took the head coaching job at Plymouth State. Bamford said he was “trying to play up the homecoming aspect a little bit” when courting Brown.

“I thought we might be able to get him, but it didn’t work out,” Bamford said. “Everything happens for a reason.”

http://umass.247sports.com/Article/Bamfo...e-38209851

Personal comment: Have been extremely happy with our new AD, coach Whipple and team. As Arkfan has stated, as I remember and my be a bit off, "many new FCS programs need to make adjustments in their move to FBS and the success of those adjustments affect the final outcome.".

We have changes are nearly all the top positions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor - Charlie Baker (Republican and generally likes sports per tweets)
Senate Majority Leader - Stanley C. Rosenberg (Rep from Amherst area and was present during Football Performance Center dedication)
UMass President - Marty Meeehan (Dem, former US Senator, UMass Lowell President - raised profile in every way including BB going Div 1 and UMass Lowell Alumnus)
UMass Chancellor - Kumble R. Subbaswamy (Formerly at Kentucky SEC)
UMass AD - Ryan Bamford (Formally at Georgia Tech ACC)
UMass FB Head Coach - Mark Whipple Formally NFL and Miami ACC)

Think all those new piece will blend very well and be interest in others comments, especially Arkfan.

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 08:28 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  It's my understanding Delaware has absolutely no desire to go to FBS.

UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

Please tell us how NIU is a bigger fish than any other school in the MAC? It it their 70 million dollar endowment? Their 20 thousand students? I'm sorry, they fit the MAC profile exactly.

(07-15-2015 09:36 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

Please tell us how NIU is a bigger fish than any other school in the MAC? It it their 70 million dollar endowment? Their 20 thousand students? I'm sorry, they fit the MAC profile exactly.

Dems fightin words round here!

(07-12-2015 04:20 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

The likelihood for the MAC is that they could lose 3 to 4 teams in the next realignment. Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference. That is why the MAC needs to be proactive, and have schools ready on the call in case they do get raided. It is the same for AAC, C-USA, MWC and Sun Belt. There are some schools in the Sun Belt more valuable than some in the C-USA. So, we might see some movement with the MAC schools as well. They did lose Temple and U. Mass. MAC wanted to expand around those 2 schools for an all sports conference. Even VCU was mentioned at one time if they did add football.

Gotta admit I am a bit surprised to see BGSU and not Buffalo on your list of 3-4 teams.

(07-15-2015 11:57 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 04:20 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

The likelihood for the MAC is that they could lose 3 to 4 teams in the next realignment. Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ohio U. and Bowling Green could move to a better conference. That is why the MAC needs to be proactive, and have schools ready on the call in case they do get raided. It is the same for AAC, C-USA, MWC and Sun Belt. There are some schools in the Sun Belt more valuable than some in the C-USA. So, we might see some movement with the MAC schools as well. They did lose Temple and U. Mass. MAC wanted to expand around those 2 schools for an all sports conference. Even VCU was mentioned at one time if they did add football.

Gotta admit I am a bit surprised to see BGSU and not Buffalo on your list of 3-4 teams.

BGSU I can not see leaving at all. Small college town with pretty good sports buy no fan base. NIU, Buffalo I could see along with Toledo. They all have bigger markets, potential and followings.

A poster on one of our sites stopped by the Performance Center on Friday and said the following:

Quote:Stopped by the Performance Center yesterday afternoon...no one in, but looked at three architectural renderings of the proposed stadium upgrades...very impressive...

They are on easels in the lobby area of the Coaches' office area if anyone is in the area and wants to see them.

One shows upgrade of new Home side; the sunny side...
a small second level with luxury boxes, with a full second (really third) fan seating level...

(07-19-2015 11:28 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  A poster on one of our sites stopped by the Performance Center on Friday and said the following:

Quote:Stopped by the Performance Center yesterday afternoon...no one in, but looked at three architectural renderings of the proposed stadium upgrades...very impressive...

They are on easels in the lobby area of the Coaches' office area if anyone is in the area and wants to see them.

One shows upgrade of new Home side; the sunny side...
a small second level with luxury boxes, with a full second (really third) fan seating level...

I like the sound of that.

(07-19-2015 06:33 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 11:28 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  A poster on one of our sites stopped by the Performance Center on Friday and said the following:

Quote:Stopped by the Performance Center yesterday afternoon...no one in, but looked at three architectural renderings of the proposed stadium upgrades...very impressive...

They are on easels in the lobby area of the Coaches' office area if anyone is in the area and wants to see them.

One shows upgrade of new Home side; the sunny side...
a small second level with luxury boxes, with a full second (really third) fan seating level...

I like the sound of that.

Which means nothing.... WKU had official approval for an Indoor Practice Facility and Stadium upgrades in 2011 by the board and nothing has ever gotten off the ground. UMass hasn't even gotten that far. Renderings are cheap and easy but much harder to get approval and funding. Some schools have had pretty renderings for 20 years and nothing gets build.

UMass won't get this funded with the Boston Globe and Faculty Senate screaming at every turn. Start with plumbing for bathrooms first.

.

(07-19-2015 07:26 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 06:33 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 11:28 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  A poster on one of our sites stopped by the Performance Center on Friday and said the following:

Quote:Stopped by the Performance Center yesterday afternoon...no one in, but looked at three architectural renderings of the proposed stadium upgrades...very impressive...

They are on easels in the lobby area of the Coaches' office area if anyone is in the area and wants to see them.

One shows upgrade of new Home side; the sunny side...
a small second level with luxury boxes, with a full second (really third) fan seating level...

I like the sound of that.

Which means nothing.... WKU had official approval for an Indoor Practice Facility and Stadium upgrades in 2011 by the board and nothing has ever gotten off the ground. UMass hasn't even gotten that far. Renderings are cheap and easy but much harder to get approval and funding. Some schools have had pretty renderings for 20 years and nothing gets build.

UMass won't get this funded with the Boston Globe and Faculty Senate screaming at every turn. Start with plumbing for bathrooms first.

.

In the case of UMass, it's start with the "admit we need to upgrade" phase from the administration followed by the "create renderings to show the idea is actually there" one.

Until Bamford came out an publicly said we needed to upgrade, which was within the past month, we weren't even there yet. The fact that they've already gone and done some renderings shows it wasn't just him making a statement to get people off his case for a while.


Yeah, this isn't going to be fast tracked by any means, but dear lord that doesn't mean you need to go straight for "start with the bathrooms!" as if an upgrade to seating like that wouldn't involve bathrooms (which is another thing he very specifically mentioned in his comments).

(07-19-2015 07:55 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 07:26 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 06:33 PM)e-parade Wrote:  

(07-19-2015 11:28 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  A poster on one of our sites stopped by the Performance Center on Friday and said the following:

Quote:Stopped by the Performance Center yesterday afternoon...no one in, but looked at three architectural renderings of the proposed stadium upgrades...very impressive...

They are on easels in the lobby area of the Coaches' office area if anyone is in the area and wants to see them.

One shows upgrade of new Home side; the sunny side...
a small second level with luxury boxes, with a full second (really third) fan seating level...

I like the sound of that.

Which means nothing.... WKU had official approval for an Indoor Practice Facility and Stadium upgrades in 2011 by the board and nothing has ever gotten off the ground. UMass hasn't even gotten that far. Renderings are cheap and easy but much harder to get approval and funding. Some schools have had pretty renderings for 20 years and nothing gets build.

UMass won't get this funded with the Boston Globe and Faculty Senate screaming at every turn. Start with plumbing for bathrooms first.

.

In the case of UMass, it's start with the "admit we need to upgrade" phase from the administration followed by the "create renderings to show the idea is actually there" one.

Until Bamford came out an publicly said we needed to upgrade, which was within the past month, we weren't even there yet. The fact that they've already gone and done some renderings shows it wasn't just him making a statement to get people off his case for a while.


Yeah, this isn't going to be fast tracked by any means, but dear lord that doesn't mean you need to go straight for "start with the bathrooms!" as if an upgrade to seating like that wouldn't involve bathrooms (which is another thing he very specifically mentioned in his comments).

e-prade you are right and realize that those fans as Miami OH! and many others like to deflect, even when Ryan Bamford specifically said we'll know in 9 months.

Quote:The new performance center at McGuirk Alumni Stadium has all the trappings of a modern-day collegiate sports facility.

But the stadium it's attached to is stuck somewhere in the 1960s.

Ryan Bamford, UMass' new athletic director, wants to change that. He wants concession stands with reliable credit card machines, up-to-date ticket scanners at the gates, and he wants real bathrooms - not porta potties - for those who come down to see the Minutemen.

And he wants more seats: The 17,000 that the aging stadium holds isn't enough.

In short, Bamford wants to give McGuirk a full facelift.

"It's squarely on my radar, and I would say it's one of the top things that I'm looking at," he said. "We've done a lot of good facility work here, but we need to look toward the future of football at UMass. We need to look at the opportunities that exist if we were to renovate the stadium. It would make a difference for us here. It would also help position ourselves for a chance to be in a league."

Bamford can envision the new-and-improved McGuirk. He sees premium seating with chair backs either between the 35 yard lines, or maybe the 40s. He said he's already "had very detailed conversations with a lot of folks about it - not only on campus, but with donors."

He even has an attendance figure in mind.

"The perfect McGuirk to me is a stadium with at least 25,000 seats, some premium seat offerings, a couple of suites, a club of some sort and then the fan amenities - bathrooms, concession stands and whatnot," he said. "We need to add capacity and our fan amenities. We're not at a true FBS level with it comes to all the experiential pieces that go into college football game day."

Bamford, however, made it abundantly clear that he cherishes the relationship UMass has with the New England Patriots. The Minutemen will play three games out at Gillette Stadium in faraway Foxboro this season. Bamford said the Patriots "were there at a time when we needed it and then built an agreement that really works for both sides."

But he acknowledged that a true college game day experience happens on campus.

"As much as I love the Patriots and the relationship we've had - and we want to continue that - I would like to play a majority of our games on campus," Bamford said. "That's where you build an identity. It's where you build a relationship with the existing student base who will become your fans and season ticket base. We would be remiss and naive if we didn't take advantage of everything we could do on campus to get a full compliment of home games in Amherst."

At some point during the next nine months, it should become more clear where the university with home future games, according to Bamford.

For now, UMass' new director of athletics is concentrating on his vision: 25,000 comfortable fans watching their Minutemen in Amherst.

UMass AD on McGurik expansion

(07-15-2015 09:36 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 02:46 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:40 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 11:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-11-2015 10:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  UD seems to be deemphasizing athletics, period. Stony Brook would likely be JMU's partner to the MAC now.

Why would the MAC go after stoner when it could pursue an existing FBS school?

Marshall. Charlotte. Appy St.

Marshall would not take a step back. They might be looking to the AAC, and hopefully that the ACC gets raided enough that they get in.
Charlotte does not have the history, and may not fit.
App. State will not pay that exit fee right now just shortly after joining the FBS.

Only teams that are ready for FBS is James Madison, Youngstown State, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Liberty, Northern Iowa and Missouri State within the footprint, but I see some MVC schools like Illinois State and Indiana State as well. Richmond is too small to even go to FBS.
New Hampshire is also upgrading their stadium as well. New Hampshire and U. Mass. could make an all sports MAC members. New Hampshire would be a much better travel partner with U. Mass.

James Madison is the #1 FCS draft pick for the MAC. I've said this many times.

There is no openings in the MAC right now, not even for the #1 draft pick.

Akron has dropped Baseball. EMU at one time was permitted to stay in the MAC even if it dropped football. What that says is nobody is going to be booted from the conference regardless of what they drop.

Most likely the 12 schools will just stick together. When the AAC gets raided its first replacement target will be Army, shutting out Buffalo. Ohio has 7 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. Toledo has 10 schools in the MAC within a 4 hour drive. NIU is a big fish in a regional MAC pond which works.

Budgets in the MAC are very similar. For a while there has been pressure at MAC schools to get more in line salary wise with run of the mill G5 schools. That has largely been accomplished and now the goal is to reduce reliance on student fees over increasing budgets.

Please tell us how NIU is a bigger fish than any other school in the MAC? It it their 70 million dollar endowment? Their 20 thousand students? I'm sorry, they fit the MAC profile exactly.

I'm saying NIU is a big fish in the MAC because they have their own recruiting turf to themselves. Its paid off in a more consistent football performance over the past decade than other MAC schools.

Toledo is another one. They are more of CUSA type school athletically. They once averaged 30,000 for an entire season and 8,000 in basketball. They can attract players from Chicago to Pittsburgh who like the urban atmosphere. Also they've had success tapping into Canada in the past.

The MAC is a small pond that can't support more than about 4 good programs at one time compared to 6 to 8 with the MWC or AAC but there is some quality at the top of the conference.