UMass Football going Independent

[MJatUM]

^ I didn't even consider that.. I don't know if it was there but selling beer outside that stadium that you have to drink before returning to your seat is crap.. Maybe you'd get a decent boost at halftime (although half the fans at these games are there to see the band).

[UofMTigers]

The gigantic difference between Rutgers (and I agree, njumass08, that NJ looked like New England) and UMass is that Rutgers was and is playing in a major conference. That difference can't be emphasized enough, The only way UMass will ever attract significant fans to the football program is if the team is playing in a power conference. The AAC and CUSA and the Sun Belt and anyone not in the power 5 will never attract significant fans to UMass unless UMass repeatedly has single loss seasons or better.

Just to play devils advocate, I'd think a conference line up of: UConn, Temple, ECU, Navy, Cincy, UCF, USF, etc would be appealing to UMass.

[UMass87]

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Just to play devils advocate, I'd think a conference line up of: UConn, Temple, ECU, Navy, Cincy, UCF, USF, etc would be appealing to UMass.

It would be appealing to UMass but not to people who are not already fans of UMass football. That's really the problem. So, even if the AAC looked like that and even if they invited UMass (which, unless our attendance improves dramatically or the team wins a LOT of games or both, I don't see happening) it wouldn't be the conference that got the fans it would be the wins. UMass is now in the position where by year three of Whipple they need to win 8 or more games every year.

[Steve81]

...
Just to play devils advocate, I'd think a conference line up of: UConn, Temple, ECU, Navy, Cincy, UCF, USF, etc would be appealing to UMass.

It would be appealing to UMass but not to people who are not already fans of UMass football. That's really the problem. So, even if the AAC looked like that and even if they invited UMass (which, unless our attendance improves dramatically or the team wins a LOT of games or both, I don't see happening) it wouldn't be the conference that got the fans it would be the wins. UMass is now in the position where by year three of Whipple they need to win 8 or more games every year.

My opinion is that if there is a similar AAC blockade as there was for football-only SunBelt, we should think about CUSA for all sports.

The MAC has trouble get an at-large bid to the NIT, never mind the big dance. CUSA is a bit stronger in football and a lot stronger in basketball. Can see CUSA being a multi bid conference again. CUSA travel is a little more than AAC and not as appealing. But if we are looking at 6-8 years more to get to a 30-40k McGuirk, we should go for CUSA and 24k McGuirk in 2-4 years.

CUSA TV contract runs through 2015-16 and there is no mention of interest in us.They all ready have 14 teams and would probably cost each team to share the pot.

It's just my 2 cents along with the irony if CUSA was raided and instead of them going after Ark State or the Cajuns they pick us.

[eldonabe]

I don't know if it is the correct word but "bleak" keeps popping into my head. I am as guilty as anyone on this but beyond the financial arguments of moving the whole sports program to the MAC I am also feeling the snobby about taking a step backwards in conference affiliation. The problem is that Umass is the ugliest girl at the dance and NOBODY wants to dance with her. We need some heavy duty plastic surgery including a face lift, tummy-tuck and some nice big boobs fast, or we will die as a virgin old maid ....

[DrG]

^ ^ ^ Wow, I hope nobody from NOW reads this board.

[m626t]

/\

unlikely..................

[Sheck]

Possible landing spot for us in C-USA? UAB may shut down their program after 2016.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/11/ ... ll-program

[UMass87]

^ hopefully not. CUSA is a huge step down in basketball and may be a step down from the MAC in football.

[Marshmont_63]

I'd so much rather be in the AAC than the C-USA.

[cox'n]

Possible landing spot for us in C-USA? UAB may shut down their program after 2016.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/11/ ... ll-program

That ought to help with recruiting at UAB. I wonder if they have recruits worth trying to flip to UMass.

[Sheck]

^ hopefully not. CUSA is a huge step down in basketball and may be a step down from the MAC in football.

Was thinking that this would allow us to slide into CUSA for football only and stay in the A10. They would need another team to balance out the football divisions but presumably UAB would stay in CUSA for everything else.

[eldonabe]

I don't know if it is the correct word but "bleak" keeps popping into my head. I am as guilty as anyone on this but beyond the financial arguments of moving the whole sports program to the MAC I am also feeling the snobby about taking a step backwards in conference affiliation. The problem is that Umass is the ugliest girl at the dance and NOBODY wants to dance with her. We need some heavy duty plastic surgery including a face lift, tummy-tuck and some nice big boobs fast, or we will die as a virgin old maid ....

I am feeling differntly the more I think about this- I mentioned it the MAC-tion thread too.

Screw the MAC - it is and always will be an FBS step-child - Period.

I think the independent schedule could be a nice opportunity to audition for a true power conference. They obviously have to win some games, but at leat by 2016 they will be a seasoned program with seniors to anchor it. I hope Umass takes a big giant piss in the MAC's corn flakes next year and win the conference as they kiss them good bye to their (MAC's) future of conference irrelevance/mediocrity and fighting for Detroit Bowl berths.

[MajBugman]

The one of the concerns I have about UMass going independant is the better UMass becomes the harder time they will have scheduling good FBS teams. So, I hope there is a plan to join a conference past 17 or 18.

Right now a good program will schedule UMass because they are early season fodder, or a break from a grueling conference schedule. Once UMass can compete there is no incentive to play them. If they beat UMass they were supposed to, if they lose it would be a disaster. Same reason Calhoon stopped playing UMass in BBall once UMass got good. Screw that it could have been a great geographical rival. And UMass obviously doesn't have the chachet of a Notre Dame, Army or Navy.

[DrG]

I have no antipathy towards the MAC. They gave us a lifeboat when we made the upgrade and we knew full well they would demand all-sports membership if Temple left as an associate member. As for CUSA, I wouldn't be shocked if some of those schools merged with the AAC if UConn or Cincinnati find a P5 home. I have no idea what this means long-term for UMass and I don't think anybody else does, either.