Western Kentucky all sports and UConn football only with a basketball scheduling agreement until another candidate for #14 emerges. They have some history of FBS success and are willing to spend money to build their program. They could compete fairly early in the MAC. I am not as sold that UMass will make the financial commitment and the basketball is not nearly as good to consider football only.

I'm aware that you guys aren't really interested in FCS call-ups, but I'm certain we would accept, we are ready for the move, we're pouring a ton of resources into athletics right now, and the MAC is known for lots of great, traditional in-state rivalries.

I know people have plenty of arguments against us, and no offense taken if you're among that group. I'm just saying...if you need a pairing for WKU...I'm pretty sure you'd get a yes from Richmond, Ky which is less than 90 minutes from the state of Ohio.

(11-10-2021 11:24 AM)KentKrazy Wrote:  Go to 13 and figure the rest out. Doubt the merry go around is done with conferences. Someone from the B12 is going to get out. A CUSA with a bunch of FCS teams is going to be interesting.

^^^
THIS

Take WKU now (and remember WKU will not become a member until July of 2023

The MAC has time to evaluate any FBS independents or the best
FCS upgrade. UMASS and Missouri State could both be good

(11-10-2021 12:11 PM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:24 AM)KentKrazy Wrote:  Go to 13 and figure the rest out. Doubt the merry go around is done with conferences. Someone from the B12 is going to get out. A CUSA with a bunch of FCS teams is going to be interesting.

^^^
THIS

Take WKU now (and remember WKU will not become a member until July of 2023

The MAC has time to evaluate any FBS independents or the best
FCS upgrade. UMASS and Missouri State could both be good

The problem is WKU isn't going anywhere so there is no reason for the MAC to proceed and hope to find a suitable #14 when WKU will almost certainly still be on the table in the future.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

How about another SUNY (Albany or Stony Brook) ?

(11-10-2021 12:25 PM)EPJr2 Wrote:  How about another SUNY (Albany or Stony Brook) ?

I would think Stony Brook would be one of the top options if they wanted to move up.

WKU plus UCONN fb-only makes sense if they schedule 4 basketball games a year with the MAC. Then keep that arrangement until we find a suitable all-sports member for #14. UCONN not good right now, but they do have a more recent success and have the resources and facilities to turn it around quicker than UMASS.

(11-10-2021 12:40 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  WKU plus UCONN fb-only makes sense if they schedule 4 basketball games a year with the MAC. Then keep that arrangement until we find a suitable all-sports member for #14. UCONN not good right now, but they do have a more recent success and have the resources and facilities to turn it around quicker than UMASS.

Yes, this is the COA I would be in favor of, too. Not sure you would get UConn to commit to four games per year, but certainly two games apiece (home and home) for men's and women's hoops.

Hard pass on taking basketball schools for football-only.

(11-10-2021 10:56 AM)galojah Wrote:  

Hope it works out for WKU.

Man, if WKU gets no deal and has to trudge back to CUSA...

#13 - WKU

#14:
Missouri State
UMASS (all sports)
UCONN-football only/Northern Kentucky-basketball & other or a Belmont

(11-10-2021 12:25 PM)EPJr2 Wrote:  How about another SUNY (Albany or Stony Brook) ?

It pains me to say this, because I've hated the idea for years, but I could suffer Stony Brook if it gets WKU.

I'd rather UNI or convincing UMass that independence is not going to work so come all sports... But who knows.

https://twitter.com/KyleRowland/status/1...70065?s=20

Sources: The MAC remains Western Kentucky's desired landing spot, and there's mutual interest from the conference. A decision is expected to come this week. MAC presidents will have the ultimate say

(11-10-2021 01:23 PM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  #13 - WKU

#14:
Missouri State
UMASS (all sports)
UCONN-football only/Northern Kentucky-basketball & other or a Belmont

100% take WKU immediately, look at Missouri State, UMASS all sports... we would be in no certain rush to fill the 14th spot. Bummer Marshall is not in the mix.

Please, do not even talk of one sport only schools. We missed the boat by not recruiting JMU to move up. It is about the same level south as WKU and they would mix well with WKU, MIAMI, OHIO U and even Buffalo. They have great facilities, spend money, good academics. I would still recruit them.

Weird MTSU wants to stay in CUSA & WKU wants to move to the MAC. I figured CUSA retaining its southern footprint could lure WKU & MTSU both from their MAC interest, but not one or the other.

At this point MAC should just wait it out & see if CUSA re-shuffles in a couple years. Not sure who goes good w/ WKU outside of MTSU. Calling up a FCS Illinois school or EKU could be an option, but I think UMASS or UCONN only work as a pair, not one or the other.

(11-10-2021 01:43 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 01:23 PM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  #13 - WKU

#14:
Missouri State
UMASS (all sports)
UCONN-football only/Northern Kentucky-basketball & other or a Belmont

100% take WKU immediately, look at Missouri State, UMASS all sports... we would be in no certain rush to fill the 14th spot. Bummer Marshall is not in the mix.

Please use us as a filler and give us time to accept an all sports invite. UMass fans want this and the momentum is moving in that direction.

Sample post from a person that's following UMass for many years 69MG

Quote:I don't think I have commented on this subject, maybe once? I am not a big fan of the MAC as we don't have natural or regional ties with any of the schools. However, times have changed. When we declined to go all in, the A10 was a very strong BB conference and it would have been a major downgrade for BB to go there. There isn't nearly as much difference now in the 2 leagues for BB and the other sports are also relatively equal.

So as painful as it is for me to say this, if going to the MAC in all sports saves football I guess we should do it. I am a BB person far more than football and I will miss the A10. What I see, though, is the A10 losing some of the top teams to other conferences and that will hurt BB as well. That's my rationale for grudgingly saying yes to the MAC.

if west:
Illinois State
Southern Illinois

If east:
Delaware
Massachusetts

I think the MAC should take a couple more weeks on this to vet a proper 14th.

You take WKU now. MTSU will figure out that new version of CUSA and Judy and her TV deal was a mistake and come knocking back later if we don't already have Missouri State or UMASS later. Possibly Illinois State but I know NIU would not be happy.