UMass Football going Independent

[UofMTigers]

^ The NCAA is about to deregulate championship games go the B12 can host one with just 10 teams...just so you know.

[jpatsfan]

^ The NCAA is about to deregulate championship games go the B12 can host one with just 10 teams...just so you know.

They are still going to pillage your conference. Big 12 is looking to expand their TV coverage.

[UMass87]

I totally disagree with you. But we'll just both have our opinions until someone does a survey of New Englanders.

You free 78? You and me, let's get this survey going. Hahaha. Maybe they can add it to the next census.

You realize, right, that you can actually query the map that blindspots linked, right?

Maybe you need to do that:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014 ... 99,-71.206

What you will see is that New England looks very different from almost every other place in the country. There are almost no counties where any team garnered more than 10%. You might want to imagine that that means that there are simply a plethora of teams that people are fans of in New England. That would be foolish, though. Anyone who has lived in New England for any length of time knows what it means: there are very few college football fans in New England.

[UMass87]

...deleted duplicate

[Refuse2Lose83]

When we become independent, what does the bowl picture look like for us if we're bowl eligible? I assume it's pretty bleak without a conference. And this is were I get bummed out about FBS football, I just don't get excited about bowl games unless it's the national championship or a Rose/Orange/etc bowl. Even in our wildest dreams our best season will probably never come close to any of those and that is where I don't get as excited about UMass football like I did when we played FCS. The lower division didn't bother me and I enjoyed playing the URI's UNH's, JMU's and Maines of the world. In fact, I really miss those days and will still miss them even when we have 8-4 seasons and play in some dot com bowl. Give me a first round FCS playoff game at McQuirk over a Papa John's bowl anyday.

[78]

I totally disagree with you. But we'll just both have our opinions until someone does a survey of New Englanders.

You free 78? You and me, let's get this survey going. Hahaha. Maybe they can add it to the next census.

You realize, right, that you can actually query the map that blindspots linked, right?

Maybe you need to do that:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014 ... 99,-71.206

What you will see is that New England looks very different from almost every other place in the country. There are almost no counties where any team garnered more than 10%. You might want to imagine that that means that there are simply a plethora of teams that people are fans of in New England. That would be foolish, though. Anyone who has lived in New England for any length of time knows what it means: there are very few college football fans in New England.

Right on the money

[UofMTigers]

^ The NCAA is about to deregulate championship games go the B12 can host one with just 10 teams...just so you know.

They are still going to pillage your conference. Big 12 is looking to expand their TV coverage.

So they want MORE mouths to feed? I don't buy it...

[Sheck]

When we become independent, what does the bowl picture look like for us if we're bowl eligible? I assume it's pretty bleak without a conference. And this is were I get bummed out about FBS football, I just don't get excited about bowl games unless it's the national championship or a Rose/Orange/etc bowl. Even in our wildest dreams our best season will probably never come close to any of those and that is where I don't get as excited about UMass football like I did when we played FCS. The lower division didn't bother me and I enjoyed playing the URI's UNH's, JMU's and Maines of the world. In fact, I really miss those days and will still miss them even when we have 8-4 seasons and play in some dot com bowl. Give me a first round FCS playoff game at McQuirk over a Papa John's bowl anyday.

The picture is bleak in terms of bowl games. Only realistic way UMass could get into one as an independent is if there aren't enough bowl-eligible teams to fill out the slots. There would be no obligation for any bowl game to take UMass even if we won 10 games. BYU, Army, and Navy were all able to negotiate bowl deals as independents but it would be virtually impossible for UMass to do so as a newcomer to the FBS scene.

The more I think about it I think it's a mistake leaving the MAC.

[UMass87]

The bowls are a racket:

https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2013 ... ation.html

[eldonabe]

^ The NCAA is about to deregulate championship games go the B12 can host one with just 10 teams...just so you know.

They are still going to pillage your conference. Big 12 is looking to expand their TV coverage.

So they want MORE mouths to feed? I don't buy it...

They will if those teams bring something to the table with them. Umass has nothing to bring right now... not even a nice host gift like a bottel of wine or something.... Nothing.

[njumass08]

I totally disagree with you. But we'll just both have our opinions until someone does a survey of New Englanders.

You free 78? You and me, let's get this survey going. Hahaha. Maybe they can add it to the next census.

You realize, right, that you can actually query the map that blindspots linked, right?

Maybe you need to do that:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014 ... 99,-71.206

What you will see is that New England looks very different from almost every other place in the country. There are almost no counties where any team garnered more than 10%. You might want to imagine that that means that there are simply a plethora of teams that people are fans of in New England. That would be foolish, though. Anyone who has lived in New England for any length of time knows what it means: there are very few college football fans in New England.

Right on the money

Haha, guys, that map was made with Facebook Like button hits. You have to be kidding me if you think it is an accurate map.

[NilesGold]

What you will see is that New England looks very different from almost every other place in the country. There are almost no counties where any team garnered more than 10%. You might want to imagine that that means that there are simply a plethora of teams that people are fans of in New England. That would be foolish, though. Anyone who has lived in New England for any length of time knows what it means: there are very few college football fans in New England.

Or maybe it's because there are no local college teams that have yet given people a reason to care and become fans. What you're left with is a bunch of national names splitting up the votes.

[kdogg8173]

BC made like 10 bowls games in a row and were number #2 in the country with a great QB in Matt Ryan and still nobody cared. College football gets about 1% of 1% of all talk on the two biggest sports stations and both newspapers cover college football scores about 10 pages in. I love watching college football but it's just not big in New England and doesn't look to be changing any time soon.

[njumass08]

People said similar things about New Jersey and Rutgers. Things can change. Just saying.

[NilesGold]

^ Maybe I'm wrong on this, but it seems like BC is perceived as elitist which may hinder it's ability to cater to fans. UMass as the flagship state university is far more relatable to most Mass residents than BC (private Jesuit Catholic). Football is not basketball, but in the 90's UMass basketball was able to become relevant to people outside of Amherst, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the potential is there for the football team.