(04-01-2024 11:56 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Dont see any advantage for Delaware to consider the MAC nor WKU. UMASS is different with the geography probably a little more of an outlier in CUSA. Sure the conversations between UMASS and CUSA were being a football only. When CUSA maintained the all sports for membership criteria the MAC all sports being to look better.

I'm just thrilled we are joining the MAC. Delaware should be fine in CUSA, except for all those sports. Will watch to see were they land. Men's Lacrosse could go to the A10. Men's soccer would help the MAC out. Regarding Missouri State, understand waiting for a new president and stuff, but always thought this would be a done deal in late March or April after UMass was no longer a candidate.

(04-01-2024 12:22 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 11:56 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Dont see any advantage for Delaware to consider the MAC nor WKU. UMASS is different with the geography probably a little more of an outlier in CUSA. Sure the conversations between UMASS and CUSA were being a football only. When CUSA maintained the all sports for membership criteria the MAC all sports being to look better.

I'm just thrilled we are joining the MAC. Delaware should be fine in CUSA, except for all those sports. Will watch to see were they land. Men's Lacrosse could go to the A10. Men's soccer would help the MAC out. Regarding Missouri State, understand waiting for a new president and stuff, but always thought this would be a done deal in late March or April after UMass was no longer a candidate.

It’s good all the way around…
CUSA - WKU & Delaware
MAC - UMASS & ???

Revisionist thinking from our UMASS friends or perhaps you just forgot about UD’s introductory press conference. The president and AD explained they chose CUSA due to a university initiative to recruit students in the Texas, Georgia and Florida markets. The dwindling pool of eligible high school seniors over the next decade means colleges need to rethink their recruiting philosophy, ie the rust belt’s not a good bet for future recruitment. After watching your football team’s performance in our head to head matchups over the last decade, it’s obvious our programs on different levels, our facilities are in different universes and with that our conferences are heading in much different directions. Glad you’re happy with your destination. The MAC and UMASS are a perfect match.

Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach *TODAY*--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

If I had the ear of their new president I'd advise caution. Maybe circle back to such big decisions next May. Or the next one. Heck, hire some consultants and take the necessary time to analyze the results and maybe push it out to the next May.

No sense in rushing into anything. Especially as busy as you say they've been.

(04-01-2024 03:50 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach--**TODAY**--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

If I had the ear of their new president I'd advise caution. Maybe circle back to such big decisions next May. Or the next one. Heck, hire some consultants and take the necessary time to analyze the results and maybe push it out to the next May.

No sense in rushing into anything. Especially as busy as you say they've been.

Funny.

But---They have been in talks for close to two years already. It's happening.

A WHOLE lot closer than UMASS--- just under 6.5 hrs directly North of Ruston.

(04-01-2024 04:00 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:50 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach--**TODAY**--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

If I had the ear of their new president I'd advise caution. Maybe circle back to such big decisions next May. Or the next one. Heck, hire some consultants and take the necessary time to analyze the results and maybe push it out to the next May.

No sense in rushing into anything. Especially as busy as you say they've been.

Funny.

But---They have been in talks for close to two years already. It's happening.

A WHOLE lot closer than UMASS--- just under 6.5 hrs directly North of Ruston.

Just seems like something neither party should want to rush into.

I propose we all tap the brakes and maybe go two whole years with the same line-up before introducing more instability.

The bar for me is not "better than UMass" it's "better than status quo." The second standard is still a LOW bar.

Has it been met?

You guys are great. Wish you all the very best. Do think Liberty is in a different league, great facilities, and football on field performance.

Sent from my SM-G990U using CSNbbs mobile app

(04-01-2024 04:39 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 04:00 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:50 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach--**TODAY**--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

If I had the ear of their new president I'd advise caution. Maybe circle back to such big decisions next May. Or the next one. Heck, hire some consultants and take the necessary time to analyze the results and maybe push it out to the next May.

No sense in rushing into anything. Especially as busy as you say they've been.

Funny.

But---They have been in talks for close to two years already. It's happening.

A WHOLE lot closer than UMASS--- just under 6.5 hrs directly North of Ruston.

Just seems like something neither party should want to rush into.

I propose we all tap the brakes and maybe go two whole years with the same line-up before introducing more instability.

The bar for me is not "better than UMass" it's "better than status quo." The second standard is still a LOW bar.

Has it been met?

I agree with you on this one. The Big 10 stayed at 11 teams from 1990 to 2011. While CUSA isn't the Big 10, the conference has had a pretty good year and should be able to safely take their time in finding a number 12... assuming we even need one. That being said, I am partial to Missouri State and wouldn't protest their inclusion, even though there may be better options down the road.

I think Missouri St is the only option that I would be okay with long term. If we’re choosing anyone else I would say wait and see what happens. I would welcome the Bears with open arms.

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach *TODAY*--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

It’s been “April or raise a red flag,” for a while. Has that been moved back a month?

(04-03-2024 09:07 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think Missouri St is the only option that I would be okay with long term. If we’re choosing anyone else I would say wait and see what happens. I would welcome the Bears with open arms.

Agree 100%. I’m glad that UMass ended up in the MAC. Like the addition of Delaware and with the hopeful addition of Missouri State, I really like the lineup and potential of our conference.

(04-03-2024 09:56 PM)MSUBear42 Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 03:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Missouri State (in case you did not know) has been a "little" BUSY.

Remember Universities are generally slow, cumbersome bureaucracies.

They just hired a new President ---which took quite a while.

Just hired a new basketball coach *TODAY*--took about 3 weeks.

They are fighting (current) in their state legislature to change laws which have held them back. R2, etc..

Things will get done in May.

It’s been “April or raise a red flag,” for a while. Has that been moved back a month?

Yes.

(04-03-2024 10:15 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 09:07 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think Missouri St is the only option that I would be okay with long term. If we’re choosing anyone else I would say wait and see what happens. I would welcome the Bears with open arms.

Agree 100%. I’m glad that UMass ended up in the MAC. Like the addition of Delaware and with the hopeful addition of Missouri State, I really like the lineup and potential of our conference.

So is UMass.

IMO--one of the reasons the MAC "grabbed" UMASS was that they were strongly considering CUSA.

In other words--CUSA sped up--or forced the hand of the MAC.

They did not have time to worry about who #14 might be someday.

It was the RIGHT move by the MAC and they made a Great addition. Congratulations again!!

(04-04-2024 07:17 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 10:15 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 09:07 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think Missouri St is the only option that I would be okay with long term. If we’re choosing anyone else I would say wait and see what happens. I would welcome the Bears with open arms.

Agree 100%. I’m glad that UMass ended up in the MAC. Like the addition of Delaware and with the hopeful addition of Missouri State, I really like the lineup and potential of our conference.

So is UMass.

I’m sure they are. The bar will be much lower for them in the MAC.

"Don't sleep on Missouri St." My quote from several months ago Still Stands.


Sources-- "Not phased" by today's MB article.

(04-04-2024 12:32 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(04-04-2024 07:17 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 10:15 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 09:07 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think Missouri St is the only option that I would be okay with long term. If we’re choosing anyone else I would say wait and see what happens. I would welcome the Bears with open arms.

Agree 100%. I’m glad that UMass ended up in the MAC. Like the addition of Delaware and with the hopeful addition of Missouri State, I really like the lineup and potential of our conference.

So is UMass.

I’m sure they are. The bar will be much lower for them in the MAC.

We are very happy with the MAC. Almost all of our sports are MAC sports and most are on par with the A10. The geography and travel is much better along with better academic fit. Conference programs as an academic consortium, which our chancellor is a product via time at a SEC school. They have several other conference programs as the MAC Council of Student Athletes, which produced White Papers to Congress on the subject on special non employment status for athletes. This is very important in light of Dartmouth winning the right to be students and perhaps collective bargaining. https://getsomemaction.com/documents/202...t_2024.pdf

We are entering the MAC with an unapologetic ambition for excellence in the MAC. All gas, no brakes. <- Quotes from our AD during the UMass - MAC press conference.

UMASS is a great fit for UMASS. No need to be critical of their decision.

Still yet--WKU (as each institution) must do has to go the direction that is best for them.

UMass is 100% better suited for the MAC than for CUSA. And it has nothing to do with interconference trash talk.

Some folks may feel the Minutemen choosing the MAC at the last minute is a black eye to CUSA -- our friends in the other southern FBS league will certainly play that one to death -- but this is just kind of silly. Just looking at objective measures -- location/footprint, sports offered, etc. -- the MAC comes out way ahead for them.

I mean, if Jax State were offered a chance to join the MAC, while we'd certainly listen to the financials of the deal, we'd almost certainly choose to stay in CUSA. It doesn't mean CUSA is "better" ... it's just better *for us*. That's how it is with UMass and the MAC. It's a better fit *for them*.

It's a less cut-and-dry decision for WKU, of course, since they have a huge alumni base located in MAC country, in addition to the huge base which identifies more with the South.

I've said it before, and I'll repeat it: the differences between the MAC and CUSA, ultimately, are negligible. You can even throw the Sun Belt into our same sad little club.

We're not one of the "prestige" conferences full of major metropolitan markets and high profile national brands. We're the ones the Power conferences laugh at.

We can argue all day about which of us is better, but the differences are very, very small. (A million or two dollars doesn't amount to anything in the world of college football. Don't believe the hype.)

So it boils down to "fit". I personally believe WKU is a better fit for CUSA. Some of their alumni agree. Some don't. But it's WKU's decision to make.

I'd love for them to stay, and I believe they will, but if they choose the MAC, the rest of us in CUSA will just have to move on. I think we'll be OK. It's not like we have to worry about falling to the lowest tier of FBS conferences...