Conference Realignment

Get ready for some MACtion
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Steve81
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Wed Dec 15, 2021 1:37 pm

UMass'96 wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:36 pm
stevemaz wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 5:33 am Thinking about Conference USA as an all sports move..maybe they expand to 14 with a raid of the A10

Current (9): NM St, UTEP, Sam Houston, La Tech, Jax St, FIU, M Tenn, W Kent, and Liberty
Add: UMass all sports
Add: Saint Louis, Dayton, VCU, Rhode Island
Future targets: Temple, Marshall, Buffalo, Old Dom, James Mad, and then Army, Navy, UConn (FB only)
Wasn't there supposed to be an early December announcement? Something about you had friends in the know and that UMass was going to be made an affiliate member of the NFL, with plans to re-establish NFL Europe and UMass as the crown jewel after playing a transition year in the Canadian football league? Or, am I confusing the grand dios plans here?
CUSA will not do anything until the end of basketball season, there is no rush.

Changing gears from the quote a bit.

On very little sleep but will address some things and personal ideas to make MAC all sports happen with some comments.

Number one UMass continues to invest in Football. Raising the salary for our new head coach, which we are all excited with the assistants and recruiting. The salary pool has increased by 500k. You all know the move to FBS and then independence jig has been met with poor results. Despite this donations to the Gridiron Club continue to rise and currently over 1 Million and the current fund raiser ends at midnight with the current balance $1,005,460. Yes chicken feed to established programs but really good for us. The Tulane game should be exciting to open the season.

Fund raiser link

Wtf good is the A10 conference has the basketball team shown no rewards for the sacrifice of the football program and other sports. The advantage of being in the A10 for an at-large bid has only played out once in over 20 years in the peak year of A10 bids, 2014.

The A10 has 7 teams in the top 100 at last check, but the issue is with the lack in the Top 40 and being a 2 bid league. The last time the A10 had 3 bids was in 2018 and NONE of the teams advanced to the round of 32, while the last few years the MAC team has advanced.

The point being there's a threshold of strength that applies for a conference receiving more at-large bids and believe being a 3 bid conference is the border of that threshold. The MAC is not a bad conference, yearly seems to have a few strong teams and has some good basketball. Get it is not near the level of the A10. The A10 is dropping below that threshold, which believe helps with at-large bids. It's up to UMass to perform and not as important if we are in the A10 or the MAC.

Here is a thought that is slanted for a UMass basketball zealot. Remember a long time ago when Temple ruled the A10. Then UMass rose, challenged and surpassed Temple rising the rest of the conference.

The same thing can happen if we move to the MAC with Buffalo, Ohio etc. Well the gap may still exist between the MAC and A10, with WKU and UMass the gap will get smaller. If the Big East raids the A10 again even smaller and less likely the A10 will return to a regularly being at that 3 bid threshold.

As far as rivals, we only have 1 in the A10, URI. Thorr Bjorn is URI AD, a former UMass football player and acting AD. Believe we will always play URI no matter where we are. Ohio is almost a mirror of UMass, good university with a history of good basketball and football. Both land grant universities overshadowed by an instate University in a hilly non urban location. Buffalo is AAU and an academic peer also good in both main sports.

The point here is that if two teams are in a battling to be the top dog in the conference, a natural rivalry forms as one did with Temple.

A10 has and will be adding another Midwest university and the MAC is almost all there. Would have to adjust OOC scheduling for games up and down the eastern seaboard for our alumni, recruiting and fans with some local games. The local games will help offset losing regularly playing URI and Fordham and with the overall average of 2 extra hours in travel time. The A10 is not a bus league stretching from St. Louis, new Loyola Chicago, to 3 teams, Davidson, Richmond, and VCU in North Carolina or near it's border etc.

Once UMass exhausts its football only bid, will see if leadership statements are sincere for finding a football home, MAC all sports. The possibility of pairing with Western Kentucky is very excited for this guy as would help make it more reasonable to our leadership.
Last edited by Steve81 on Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:01 pm, edited 9 times in total.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Wed Dec 15, 2021 1:43 pm

Steve81 wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 1:37 pm

CUSA will not do anything until the end of basketball season, there is no rush.



Soooooo, now it is the end of Basketball season? I thought there was going to be a vote in December? ...............

Steve81 wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:49 pm
PreecherJenkins wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:35 pm Steve, what is the update on going to the MAC, you've been as quiet as Bamford!
Go back one page and nothing happens until CUSA presidents vote in early December.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:08 pm

Was clear that was from a poster, who did post here "Beat Western", it was not first hand knowledge and with time, you learn other posters habits.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:28 pm

Steve81 wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:08 pm Was clear that was from a poster, who did post here "Beat Western", it was not first hand knowledge and with time, you learn other posters habits.

I'm not sure that makes any sense... here is your other post talking about a vote in December.

Steve81 wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:13 pm The last chance for a short term football only is CUSA. Both the Sunbelt and MAC said no to football only. The CUSA presidents will vote on whether to go for a 12 teams with a conference championship in the first part of December. If it's no, UMass should change it's tone for being so loyal to a 2 bid conference. The MAC will expand if UMass changes it's tone.

Regardless it's all up to the CUSA presidents. It will be interesting to see how Western Kentucky votes. A no vote from them will indicate they will pair up with UMass to the MAC.

You may not like it but time will tell.


You made these statements as if they were with direct knowledge... now you're saying they are from another poster?
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Wed Dec 15, 2021 5:28 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:28 pm
Steve81 wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:08 pm Was clear that was from a poster, who did post here "Beat Western", it was not first hand knowledge and with time, you learn other posters habits.

I'm not sure that makes any sense... here is your other post talking about a vote in December.

Steve81 wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:13 pm The last chance for a short term football only is CUSA. Both the Sunbelt and MAC said no to football only. The CUSA presidents will vote on whether to go for a 12 teams with a conference championship in the first part of December. If it's no, UMass should change it's tone for being so loyal to a 2 bid conference. The MAC will expand if UMass changes it's tone.

Regardless it's all up to the CUSA presidents. It will be interesting to see how Western Kentucky votes. A no vote from them will indicate they will pair up with UMass to the MAC.

You may not like it but time will tell.


You made these statements as if they were with direct knowledge... now you're saying they are from another poster?
Initially believed the private message, that is on me.

The last statement about after the NCAA is also based on a poster, who believe is from WKU. This makes sense as we are still hoping for CUSA and there are informal conversations during the Final 4.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by econalum » Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:58 pm

No progress in expanding the CFP beyond 4 teams - lots of issues associated with Power 5 leaders getting automatic bids, among other issues. Talks ended this pm, after 2 days in Indianapolis.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... team-field
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by McKinney » Wed Mar 02, 2022 7:59 pm

Class of 2019 - @StatsMass

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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:25 pm

Posted the following on the MAC board and there has been positive response by fans.
WKU deserves to be in the MAC. After 27 pages and seeing no clear 14th candidate will say this again. Temporarily take UMass football with a 4 year contract. By then MTSU or someone else will be ready. Hedge things and demand 6-7 bb games. As said our women sports are very good with the the women punching their NCAA ticket today beating Dayton in the championship game. We increased coaches pay for football and got Don Brown and increase men's basketball as well and should have a new coach by the end of the month.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-934887-post-1 ... id18119789
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by ZooMass84 » Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:57 pm

Steve81 wrote: Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:25 pm Posted the following on the MAC board and there has been positive response by fans.
WKU deserves to be in the MAC. After 27 pages and seeing no clear 14th candidate will say this again. Temporarily take UMass football with a 4 year contract. By then MTSU or someone else will be ready. Hedge things and demand 6-7 bb games. As said our women sports are very good with the the women punching their NCAA ticket today beating Dayton in the championship game. We increased coaches pay for football and got Don Brown and increase men's basketball as well and should have a new coach by the end of the month.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-934887-post-1 ... id18119789
The MAC or CUSA really makes no difference. Need to get into a conference ASAP. The Indy thing has a limited shelf life unless you are Army or Notre Dame. The only positive is the "Body Bag" games we can schedule at any time in the season and get bank. No CFP, no TV contracts, no conference payouts and no CCG. The worst is no bowl game tie-ins.

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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by eldonabe » Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:52 am

Steve81 wrote: Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:25 pm Posted the following on the MAC board and there has been positive response by fans.
WKU deserves to be in the MAC. After 27 pages and seeing no clear 14th candidate will say this again. Temporarily take UMass football with a 4 year contract. By then MTSU or someone else will be ready. Hedge things and demand 6-7 bb games. As said our women sports are very good with the the women punching their NCAA ticket today beating Dayton in the championship game. We increased coaches pay for football and got Don Brown and increase men's basketball as well and should have a new coach by the end of the month.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-934887-post-1 ... id18119789
No way - 6 or 7 BB games is half of their OOC schedule. Maybe 4 games, not 6 or 7.

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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:01 am

Later posted in the thread mention did go with 6 games being the top 6 MAC teams from the prior year. Did toss the idea of 4 protected teams and the 4 that thought and did not post was Buffalo, Ohio, Toledo and Western Kentucky.

As give up half the OOC schedule is substantial but not totally unreasonable. Could say expecting football to continue to infinity as an Independent is unreasonable.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:12 am

^

It's totally unreasonable. 5 is the absolute max considering we are desperate. 4 is reasonable.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by Steve81 » Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:36 am

InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:12 am ^

It's totally unreasonable. 5 is the absolute max considering we are desperate. 4 is reasonable.
InnervisionUMass from your signature do something big.
The status quo is doing something big as that was the old contract with Temple?

You know my belief that loyalty to the A10 has cost UMass from ever being considered big time as when most of the founding members left and joined the Big East and then again in 1998 when both the MAC and CUSA sent inquires and we said nope, status quo - the A10, no Big East to the AAC and have a chance because of history like UConn to join the New Big East.

Playing the top 6 teams in the MAC would positively impact the OOC. In addition to the 4 teams that I mentioned, Buffalo, Ohio, Toledo, Western Kentucky there are two more teams, which could be the Zips that we've played in the NIT and others as Kent State. Would enjoy us playing good teams on a regular bases. Mentions above 4 because they tend to be good in both sports as we once where and aspire to be again.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:52 am

^

Yes, everyone knows your belief, as well as continuing to pit all of us against each other as if we aren't fans of both sports.

The 4 games in the previous contract was absolutely fine and no way in hell should we ever agree to "6 or 7". At that point, just join as a full member... you'd essentially be that already with this proposed commitment. Totally unreasonable.
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Re: Realignment: Texas/OK->SEC; UCF, BYU, Ciny,Houston->BigXII-dominos

Post by eldonabe » Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:57 am

Steve81 wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:36 am
InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:12 am ^

It's totally unreasonable. 5 is the absolute max considering we are desperate. 4 is reasonable.
InnervisionUMass from your signature do something big.
The status quo is doing something big as that was the old contract with Temple?

You know my belief that loyalty to the A10 has cost UMass from ever being considered big time as when most of the founding members left and joined the Big East and then again in 1998 when both the MAC and CUSA sent inquires and we said nope, status quo - the A10, no Big East to the AAC and have a chance because of history like UConn to join the New Big East.

Playing the top 6 teams in the MAC would positively impact the OOC. In addition to the 4 teams that I mentioned, Buffalo, Ohio, Toledo, Western Kentucky there are two more teams, which could be the Zips that we've played in the NIT and others as Kent State. Would enjoy us playing good teams on a regular bases. Mentions above 4 because they tend to be good in both sports as we once where and aspire to be again.
Fair statement - but if you are going to give them that many games, you may as well just join as a full member. It is a conundrum... I believe it will be a cold day in a hot place before Umass Football means anything on a national level. I would never say never, but the odds a long at best.


That said, follow along for a minute:

Basketball has at least a decent chance of becoming relevant again. Right now - today - they are not even close. But let's say the next hire gets the ball rolling and Umass starts winning again. The OOC is going to be needed to bolster recruiting, SOS, tournament chances... They will want more marquee games that get on TV which aids in recruiting ..... If Umass cannot schedule a game with UConn because they are committed to Akron that year, that is hurting them in the long run.

So you back the bus over your basketball team to maybe/possibly get a bowl eligible football program and then you get to play in the Fenway bowl or even the Detroit Bowl.... ? Now you have a mediocre football team (instead of a shitty one) and a Hoops team playing in a perennially mediocre hoops conference with no rivals and little to no interest from the fans. At least when the A-10 is decent they can get 3 or 4 teams in the tourney, the MAC in a great year is only getting 2. That means conference championship or it's NIT over and over....

I guess I could be convinced if DB can at minimum stabilize the ship this season.

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