The Big 12 situation is so political. No way to know who they will pick or if they will even expand at all.

If a team leaves the AAC and they are down to 10, They could stay at 10 and have balance divisions and not look to add teams. If a rule changes, then they might not add anyone. Seems like AAC is pretty much be looking down at the rest of the available teams.

(11-07-2019 06:29 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 05:15 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 04:32 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 02:32 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  Update from Aresco via Dan Tortora (Click Here)

1. unlikely to get a 2nd waiver...must push for legislation to stay at 11, will pursue if no one worthy is available

2. waiver was to buy time to research (for addition or pushing legislation).. really doesn't want to add a poor team

3. tortora says he loves division and sad its gone..
- aresco said he loved divisions aswell, so did members... says "it might come back" , it was the preference

4. "aac not looking, but alert"

5. says geography doesnt matter if its a football only addition

6. the vibe from the podcast is the AAC wants to go to 12 but it has to be a good team and they have to want to join, will not lobby..

Thanks to poster "pesik" for the find (https://csnbbs.com/thread-886988.html)

So unless they get a "knock out" like Army or Boise St., assuming they are forced to take a 12th that University will know it's a "charity case" from day one like ECU.

Warm welcome there.

I check out this board regularly, so as to keep up with some former conference mates.

With regards to the comment listed above: ECU was lucky to get into the AAC but we did so because we were the best available program at the time. I applaud the “charity” dig; however, coming from a UNCC fan I find it especially entertaining, being that ECU helped promote the idea of adding Charlotte to CUSA back in the day... which would be considered “charitable” much more so than our addition was to the AAC.

clt says Charlotte is a charter member of cusa

Like Math and Science, EZU fans also don't know much about History either apparently.

(11-08-2019 10:51 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 06:29 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 05:15 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  

(11-07-2019 04:32 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  [quote='Tiger1983' pid='16432887' dateline='1573155144']
Update from Aresco via Dan Tortora (Click Here)

1. unlikely to get a 2nd waiver...must push for legislation to stay at 11, will pursue if no one worthy is available

2. waiver was to buy time to research (for addition or pushing legislation).. really doesn't want to add a poor team

3. tortora says he loves division and sad its gone..
- aresco said he loved divisions aswell, so did members... says "it might come back" , it was the preference

4. "aac not looking, but alert"

5. says geography doesnt matter if its a football only addition

6. the vibe from the podcast is the AAC wants to go to 12 but it has to be a good team and they have to want to join, will not lobby..

Thanks to poster "pesik" for the find (https://csnbbs.com/thread-886988.html)

So unless they get a "knock out" like Army or Boise St., assuming they are forced to take a 12th that University will know it's a "charity case" from day one like ECU.

Warm welcome there.

I check out this board regularly, so as to keep up with some former conference mates.

With regards to the comment listed above: ECU was lucky to get into the AAC but we did so because we were the best available program at the time. I applaud the “charity” dig; however, coming from a UNCC fan I find it especially entertaining, being that ECU helped promote the idea of adding Charlotte to CUSA back in the day... which would be considered “charitable” much more so than our addition was to the AAC.

clt says Charlotte is a charter member of cusa

“Like Math and Science, EZU fans also don't know much about History either apparently.”

(1) Charlotte left CUSA for the A10.
(2) ECU lobbied for their return when they started their football program, after many programs left CUSA.
(3) If Charlotte lobbied for ECU’s inclusion into CUSA in the mid-90’s, we thank them for it.

Charlotte’s “charter member” status is irrelevant being that (A) they were either asked to leave by CUSA membership because of their lack of a football program or (B) they voluntarily left CUSA to pursue what they thought would be greener pastures in the A10. Either way, they were not part of CUSA when ECU lobbied for their inclusion in 2012.

This reply lacks “math and science” but gives you some accurate history to debate in my absence. Y’all take care.

Up to 24 to transfer from UConn

I knew this would get ugly but didn't know it would be this drastic, this fast. There are up to 24 (as of Jan 23) that have entered the transfer portal at UConn, this is Feb 17 who knows there could be more now. Think about it, if no one comes out and stays in the portal that is almost a whole class (25 max) that can't be made up.

If I was a betting man, my guess is that both UCONN and UMASS do one of 2 things by 2025. They either move back down to IAA or they drop football altogether. I could see UMASS going back to the CAA but truthfully I think UCONN would drop football first. Even at the IAA level you are going to spend 6-8 million on football. I think UCONN would see that as 3 years pay for the basketball HC or 5 years pay for all the asst basketball coaches. UConn does play 24 miles off campus, I think that would factor into the decision also.

(02-17-2020 11:39 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  Up to 24 to transfer from UConn

I knew this would get ugly but didn't know it would be this drastic, this fast. There are up to 24 (as of Jan 23) that have entered the transfer portal at UConn, this is Feb 17 who knows there could be more now. Think about it, if no one comes out and stays in the portal that is almost a whole class (25 max) that can't be made up.

If I was a betting man, my guess is that both UCONN and UMASS do one of 2 things by 2025. They either move back down to IAA or they drop football altogether. I could see UMASS going back to the CAA but truthfully I think UCONN would drop football first. Even at the IAA level you are going to spend 6-8 million on football. I think UCONN would see that as 3 years pay for the basketball HC or 5 years pay for all the asst basketball coaches. UConn does play 24 miles off campus, I think that would factor into the decision also.

Yes, UMass has been on a series of miss steps since Coach Don Brown left in 2006 and there are some doubts of Coach Walt Bell's ability on offense and the rest of the staff on defense, but we are losing less money now than as a FCS team with the big factor of buy game revenue, increased donations and media exposure.
We are staying FBS.

Our Football APR has been second hand reported to be at 892 at the end of 2018. When coach Bell was hired, his agenda was to do long term recruiting, raise the APR and make us bowl eligibility.

We have continued to invested in the stadium and will post some quotes from the AD.

Quote:Fiscal Responsibility
Since 2014, the football operating budget has grown by nearly 20%, from $7.46M to $8.8M (2019), with increased/additional investments in student scholarships, coach/staff salaries, recruiting, team travel and equipment. During that same period, the annual subsidy coming from university general operating funds (GOF) to support the football program has been reduced by $265,000 from $2.16M to $1.895M. In short, our football operating budget has grown but the university spend on football has gone down due to new or increased revenues from external areas (e.g. media rights, game guarantees, NCAA revenues, fundraising).

We recently studied the financial impact of our 2011 move from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the numbers are favorable. In FY 2012 (2011 season), $4.9M was spent on the football program from GOF and student fees combined. This was our last season as an FCS program. In FY 2019 (2018 season) $4.225M was spent on the football program from GOF and student fees combined. This was our seventh year as an FBS program.

One myth that has been cited by the public is the supposed negative financial impact football at UMass has on the taxpayers of the Commonwealth. The belief that football is a drain on state funds is wholly inaccurate. In short, the total University Fiscal Year 2019 Budget was approximately $1.3 Billion and roughly 22% of university revenue comes from the state (approximately $286M). In 2019-20, less than $2.0M of GOF from the $1.3B university budget will support football operating expenses.

Quote:Competitive Results
When Coach Bell arrived a year ago, we agreed to make adjustments that had the potential to limit our short-term gains but would set us up for success in the long-term. In short, we were not operating in a fashion that was going to allow for sustained success in all the important areas.

Accordingly, major areas of the program were overhauled before and upon Coach Bell’s arrival. Roster attrition has been part of this transformation. Of particular note, I made a tough decision at the end of the fall 2018 term to remove seven scholarship student-athletes from our program, including five who were projected starters in 2019. I made this decision to ensure that we would meet our goals for academic success and positive community impact. Undoubtedly, roster attrition impacted our ability to compete at a high level this season. Depth was an issue all year, which we fully expected. We played a number of younger players and a handful of walk-ons took significant snaps as well. Our last game of the season against BYU was played with 48 healthy and eligible scholarship players. As we continue to build our program under strict NCAA recruiting rules regarding initial counters, we plan to be near the maximum 85 scholarships in the next 2-3 years

Quote:Investments in Infrastructure
We have made a number of upgrades to our physical plant and human resources to support our growing FBS program. In the last five years, every space used by our football student-athletes, coaches and/or staff is brand new or recently renovated. In the last two years alone, we have completed the following projects:

• McGuirk Alumni Stadium Upgrades (new scoreboard, bathrooms, south endzone plaza, ADA upgrades)
• New Indoor Turf Practice Facility (used mid-October – mid-April)
• Renovated DiTommaso Weight Room (new equipment, turf, nutrition fueling station)
• New branding in Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center (highlighting program history in hospitality and team spaces)
• Renovated Foote Academic Success Center (new academic equipment, learning spaces, offices)
  

Quote:Television and Streaming Visibility

After becoming an Independent program in 2016, we have aggressively positioned ourselves regionally and nationally through multi-year television and streaming agreements. Our regional sports network package with NESN, and national streaming agreement with Flo Sports, provide great reach for our six home games each year. In addition, these deals allow us to drive new revenue to the football program through our media rights holder Learfield/IMG. Further, we have leveraged our football content to generate 20-25 men’s basketball, women’s basketball, ice hockey broadcasts on NESN, at no cost to UMass. Since 2016, the combined broadcast and streaming package for these four sports has generated more visibility for UMass Athletics than at any time in the history of the department.

IPF Completed

(02-20-2020 10:13 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(02-17-2020 11:39 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  Up to 24 to transfer from UConn

I knew this would get ugly but didn't know it would be this drastic, this fast. There are up to 24 (as of Jan 23) that have entered the transfer portal at UConn, this is Feb 17 who knows there could be more now. Think about it, if no one comes out and stays in the portal that is almost a whole class (25 max) that can't be made up.

If I was a betting man, my guess is that both UCONN and UMASS do one of 2 things by 2025. They either move back down to IAA or they drop football altogether. I could see UMASS going back to the CAA but truthfully I think UCONN would drop football first. Even at the IAA level you are going to spend 6-8 million on football. I think UCONN would see that as 3 years pay for the basketball HC or 5 years pay for all the asst basketball coaches. UConn does play 24 miles off campus, I think that would factor into the decision also.

Yes, UMass has been on a series of miss steps since Coach Don Brown left in 2006 and there are some doubts of Coach Walt Bell's ability on offense and the rest of the staff on defense, but we are losing less money now than as a FCS team with the big factor of buy game revenue, increased donations and media exposure.
We are staying FBS.

Our Football APR has been second hand reported to be at 892 at the end of 2018. When coach Bell was hired, his agenda was to do long term recruiting, raise the APR and make us bowl eligibility.

We have continued to invested in the stadium and will post some quotes from the AD.

Quote:Fiscal Responsibility
Since 2014, the football operating budget has grown by nearly 20%, from $7.46M to $8.8M (2019), with increased/additional investments in student scholarships, coach/staff salaries, recruiting, team travel and equipment. During that same period, the annual subsidy coming from university general operating funds (GOF) to support the football program has been reduced by $265,000 from $2.16M to $1.895M. In short, our football operating budget has grown but the university spend on football has gone down due to new or increased revenues from external areas (e.g. media rights, game guarantees, NCAA revenues, fundraising).

We recently studied the financial impact of our 2011 move from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the numbers are favorable. In FY 2012 (2011 season), $4.9M was spent on the football program from GOF and student fees combined. This was our last season as an FCS program. In FY 2019 (2018 season) $4.225M was spent on the football program from GOF and student fees combined. This was our seventh year as an FBS program.

One myth that has been cited by the public is the supposed negative financial impact football at UMass has on the taxpayers of the Commonwealth. The belief that football is a drain on state funds is wholly inaccurate. In short, the total University Fiscal Year 2019 Budget was approximately $1.3 Billion and roughly 22% of university revenue comes from the state (approximately $286M). In 2019-20, less than $2.0M of GOF from the $1.3B university budget will support football operating expenses.

Quote:Competitive Results
When Coach Bell arrived a year ago, we agreed to make adjustments that had the potential to limit our short-term gains but would set us up for success in the long-term. In short, we were not operating in a fashion that was going to allow for sustained success in all the important areas.

Accordingly, major areas of the program were overhauled before and upon Coach Bell’s arrival. Roster attrition has been part of this transformation. Of particular note, I made a tough decision at the end of the fall 2018 term to remove seven scholarship student-athletes from our program, including five who were projected starters in 2019. I made this decision to ensure that we would meet our goals for academic success and positive community impact. Undoubtedly, roster attrition impacted our ability to compete at a high level this season. Depth was an issue all year, which we fully expected. We played a number of younger players and a handful of walk-ons took significant snaps as well. Our last game of the season against BYU was played with 48 healthy and eligible scholarship players. As we continue to build our program under strict NCAA recruiting rules regarding initial counters, we plan to be near the maximum 85 scholarships in the next 2-3 years

Quote:Investments in Infrastructure
We have made a number of upgrades to our physical plant and human resources to support our growing FBS program. In the last five years, every space used by our football student-athletes, coaches and/or staff is brand new or recently renovated. In the last two years alone, we have completed the following projects:

• McGuirk Alumni Stadium Upgrades (new scoreboard, bathrooms, south endzone plaza, ADA upgrades)
• New Indoor Turf Practice Facility (used mid-October – mid-April)
• Renovated DiTommaso Weight Room (new equipment, turf, nutrition fueling station)
• New branding in Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center (highlighting program history in hospitality and team spaces)
• Renovated Foote Academic Success Center (new academic equipment, learning spaces, offices)
  

Quote:Television and Streaming Visibility

After becoming an Independent program in 2016, we have aggressively positioned ourselves regionally and nationally through multi-year television and streaming agreements. Our regional sports network package with NESN, and national streaming agreement with Flo Sports, provide great reach for our six home games each year. In addition, these deals allow us to drive new revenue to the football program through our media rights holder Learfield/IMG. Further, we have leveraged our football content to generate 20-25 men’s basketball, women’s basketball, ice hockey broadcasts on NESN, at no cost to UMass. Since 2016, the combined broadcast and streaming package for these four sports has generated more visibility for UMass Athletics than at any time in the history of the department.

IPF Completed

Well that is more information than anything I have ever wanted to know about UMASS. Someone lock this thread.

(02-20-2020 10:13 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  We are staying FBS.

Just looking over UMass schedule for the 4 years as an independent, will it really be sustainable if in those 4 years you go anywhere between 3-45 or 6-42. In those schedules for UMass I seriously think that 6 wins is lofty with the state of your program. Realistically right now UMass competitive games may be 2020: Akron, NMSU, 2021: UConn, Maine 2022: NMSU 2023: NMSU, Merrimack. But seeing as how SIU just doubled up UMass last year 45-20 nothing is for sure.

If UMass stays IA for another decade and they win maybe 18-25 games in that span is it really worth it. I know how losing feels Marshall was the worst football program in the 1970s, winning 29 games from 1970-80 or 2.9 games a year since it was a 10 game schedule then. But in their defense they had a legit reason, the plane crash in 1970, but it still sucked going 1-9 or 2-8.

Also being an independent football program in this day and age is almost impossible unless you have the fan support and resources like BYU, Notre Dame or Army. And I just don't see that at UMass.

You can also super impose almost everything Ive said on to UConn, NMSU and Liberty.

UMass Football Schedule For Next 4 Years
2020
09/03 - at UConn
09/12 - Troy
09/19 - UAlbany
09/26 - at Appalachian State
10/03 - at New Mexico
10/10 - Temple
10/17 - at Akron
10/24 - FIU
11/07 - New Mexico State
11/14 - at Auburn
11/21 - Army
11/28 - at Liberty

2021
09/04 - at Pitt
09/11 - Boston College
09/18 - Eastern Michigan
09/25 - at Coastal Carolina
10/02 - Toledo
10/09 - UConn
10/23 - at Florida State
10/30 - at Liberty
11/06 - Rhode Island
11/13 - Maine
11/20 - at Army
11/27 - at New Mexico State

2022
09/03 - at Tulane
09/10 - at Toledo
09/17 - Stony Brook
09/24 - at Temple
10/01 - at Eastern Michigan
10/08 - New Mexico State
10/15 - Buffalo
10/22 - at USF
10/29 - Liberty
11/12 - at Arkansas State
11/19 - at Texas A&M
11/26 - Army

2023
08/26 - at New Mexico State
09/02 - at Auburn
09/09 - Miami (Ohio)
09/16 - at Eastern Michigan
09/23 - New Mexico
09/30 - Toledo
10/07 - Arkansas State
10/28 - at Army
11/04 - Merrimack
11/11 - at Penn State
11/18 - at Liberty

HerdZoned you are correct about not having a Championship game or currently any bowl tie-ins hurts. Bell and company can recruit. We hoped to have 31 scholarship available and had 7 EE. However, we are only being allowed to gray shirt one of the EE back to last season and have 26 for this past cycle. We took 25 and turned away 3 from in state and one left for a worthy PWO, who earns it. A lot of bad vibes created turning away those early in state commitments. Will see how sticky that lasts.

We went heavy on DL and OL as they take the longest to increase strength, conditioning and weight. They were personnel challenged so giving them a pass on coaching and like their long term recruiting plan. Bell and company went on recruiting 6 hours drive from UMass . Hitting the Northern VA and DC area along with other connections to dip into Georgia and Florida.

Believe recruiting is step one and on the right path. Granted being Indy, we have challenges but one big thing we have to offset that is our campus. We are in the Top 25 public research institutions and have recently invested Billions in the campus and new and renovated buildings. We've had the #1 dining for the past 3 years and many top programs. The new rules and increase recruiting budget allows us to bring more parents to campus for their official visit. If we get them on campus, they usually sign. We have 21 three star recruits this cycle and never had so many before.

The biggest thing for the die-hard fans is to start seeing more competitive games. That is #1. Think 8-10 wins in three years is very realistic with 2 next year, then 4, then 3. Donations are up after over a decade of poor performance. As long as that continues, have full faith we'll be FBS in the next decade.

HerdZoned the 1970 plane crash was terrible. Many programs do go through periods of sucking and then turn things around. How successful Walt Bell and company is a big question mark. They do have a plan and it starts with the foundation of recruiting and the donors have done their part along with the Athletic department of fiscally sound improvements to the stadium, the Performance Center and Sky and Press Box. Sure wish we had a steel structure IPF instead of a full length IPF air supported structure. But it's up and being used by all sports now.

Umass is a quality program and I wish them the best of luck!