Conference Realignment

[ZooMass84]

What fact checking? Moving to the MAC all sports at the time was not a viable option. Get over it. We are all on the same fucking team here.

Moving to the MAC all sports at the time was not a viable option

yes it was. We had an invite then that we are desperately trying to get back. NO ONE wants this football program now. 3 wins in 4 years??? are you shitting me? If we don't get 2 wins this season, then I'd be comfortable with dropping back down to FCS or just bag the whole thing. We have 4 home games out of 5 games in the beginning of the season games 3 thru 7 that are taylor-f'ing-made!!! Merrimack is an NEC school..........let's leave it at that.

It was not a viable option then. Temple screwed us... we were never going to accept a full invite to the MAC then.

And we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC. We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us. What's so god damn hard about this?

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

[Steve81]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

This is a falsehood period. Western Kentucky tried twice to get into the MAC. Once when going FBS and again when AAC raided CUSA to the point that it did not look great. Marshall went back to the MAC twice and investigated as CUSA was not listening to their eastern division dreams and the Sunbelt accepted, taking Old Dominion and call up James MAdison among others.

For those preferring basketball and other sports; believe they do not want to go down in conference strength and understand it. For the same reason, hope they understand football fans want to be in a conference instead of independence. Everyone has their check boxes and most have a box for staying in the A10. Mine includes being in a conference that we can be successful as many of us are tired of losing. As the casual basketball fan is also sick of losing and home attendance numbers have dramatically suffered. Like to go to a stable conference that we can build rivalries. Be nice to share a conference with common attributes or fit. Mostly public universities that value academics, general attitudes are somewhat common. It would be nice to be geographically adjacent to us. Wish what Marshall was trying to do with an east coast facing division was successful in CUSA.

We talk about the MAC is because it checks most of the boxes.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

This is a falsehood period. Western Kentucky tried twice to get into the MAC. Once when going FBS and again when AAC raided CUSA to the point that it did not look great. Marshall went back to the MAC twice and investigated as CUSA was not listening to their eastern division dreams and the Sunbelt accepted, taking Old Dominion and call up James MAdison among others.

I'm pretty confident you completely missed what the back and forth between Zoo and I was about. Yikes.

[Quinn]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

The reality is that the "ANY" conference options is limited to the MAC.

Even CUSA, on life support, is hardly an option due to the regional location. CUSA has no interest in a UMass/UConn FB only offer at this time versus FCS upgrades that fit into their vision of a southern all-sports conference...and with UConn on the docket for B12 expansion discussions this week, they have better options. So a UMass-only all-sports invitation is not needed by CUSA now until they lose another school.

[Steve81]

delete post -issues with available resources for the site.

[Steve81]

The reality is that the "ANY" conference options is limited to the MAC.

Even CUSA, on life support, is hardly an option due to the regional location. CUSA has no interest in a UMass/UConn FB only offer at this time versus FCS upgrades that fit into their vision of a southern all-sports conference...and with UConn on the docket for B12 expansion discussions this week, they have better options. So a UMass-only all-sports invitation is not needed by CUSA now until they lose another school.

WTF Quinn, yes the conference that checks the boxes is the only one that make sense. CUSA stop making sense when Marshall, Old Dominion, and former fcs mate James Madison went to the Sun Belt. The American stop making sense when UConn left and they chose former A10 member Charlotte over UMass.

[Quinn]

No reason to get upset. It's just a reminder that for anyone who brings up "MAC vs Any", that there is no "Any", there's only the MAC.

And frankly, given the reality of Division 1 and FBS, UMass will need to just accept the reality. There's been a lot of bad leadership in regards to the upgrade, in thinking that for some reason, just being in Massachusetts would open new doors.

It won't.

Somehow, the administration has had a belief that all of Western Massachusetts (population 815,000 and alumni in Boston, 2 hours away) would be some sort of target by other conferences without providing an acceptable on-field product.

Attendance is the 3rd worst in FBS (10,819 average per game for 5/year average...3rd lowest in FBS in 2022).

Independent status has resulted in streaming only, which even if the MAC TV contract is less than ideal, it's better than ONLY being a streaming option.






I haven't read this entire thread.



I haven't been on these forums in years since they are not on TapaTalk and I only spend about an hour on the computer daily vs 9 hours on mobile. But I still follow conference realignment as I have since the 1990's and still contribute to my Conference Realignment website, CollegeSportsInfo.com.

But I'm forcing myself to reconnect as I do goto UMass games, flying up from Chile and I will be going to Penn State and Army for a 8 day trip in October.



But for anyone thinking anything other than A10/Indy or MAC/MAC is an option, it's not. I'm here to be the reality check.

There is the MAC and if we were lucky (for recruiting) the bottom of the barrel, last place FBS conference, CUSA.

There is no AAC option.

Dick Weiss was right, UMass will apply after the next departure. But with UConn gone, it's not an option.

Temple is on an island, but UMass doesn't offer enough. Unfortunately, Buffalo offers more if they are looking to extend the footprint, given Buffalo nearly double UMass' attendance numbers. Sad reality is that when a program has low TV and low attendance numbers, they aren't an option. When they have a high attendance figure but low TV due to market, schools are considered. It's why is Montana decided to upgrade to FBS, the MWC would likely invite them despite being a smaller TV market. The "market" covers all of Montana (255 miles), so that's Amherst to Ottawa, Amherst to Philadelphia). But the fact that they sell out is a real issue. For those of you like me in 2006 in Montana, it was a snowstorm, my flight almost didn't make it, it was freezing temperature, and that stadium was 94% because of the unsold UMass tickets. I know because my section was empty and I had flown from LA to Seattle for a few days, then to Kalispell to Missoula. Still remember the Snow Plow Milk Stouts they were feeding us during the flight as they though it would crash due to weather as we were forced to stop in Kalispell.


People bring up Army, but again, it's not an option given the numbers. The AAC isn't going to decrease their revenue by adding (2) FB only schools when there is no financial gain. The are not renegotiating the TV contracts for Army and UMass. Just the reality. The SEC can't even get ESPN to renegotiate for a 9th conference game, so lets please all stop discussing the idea of the American as UMass brings no financial value compared to Alabama, Georgia, etc. for revenue.

Again, the AAC is a southern conference now at 14 schools.
There is no program to bring in to support Temple. The American likely wishes that now with UConn gone, that Temple would leave.


AAC 2023: Max revenue

[Quinn]

delete post -issues with available resources for the site.

It's happened to me the past week I've been trying to post here. I assume the site has been abandoned? It's not on Tapatalk and this happens, I think it might be the same fate as CAAhoops.com, another early 2000's favorite of mine.

Keep me posted on the status, Steve81!

[ZooMass84]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

The reality is that the "ANY" conference options is limited to the MAC.

Even CUSA, on life support, is hardly an option due to the regional location. CUSA has no interest in a UMass/UConn FB only offer at this time versus FCS upgrades that fit into their vision of a southern all-sports conference...and with UConn on the docket for B12 expansion discussions this week, they have better options. So a UMass-only all-sports invitation is not needed by CUSA now until they lose another school.

Exactly!!!!!!!! what IV isn't getting is that of course we need to be in an FBS conference, BUT the MAC is an FBS conference. totally sucks that even CUSA didn't want us this last go around. I think Bamford tried and pitched us to all the other G5 conferences but everybody passed.

Also, concerning UConn and the B12: I actually think they pass on the B12. As much as I hate UConn (the only school I actually hate and I went to BC for a while) I think they have the best of all worlds RIGHT NOW. The Big East is an awesome hoops league and UConn football gets some P5s to come to "the Rent".

[ZooMass84]

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

I'm not sure why this is difficult for you... you're focus is on the MAC, when the focus is/needs to be on any FBS conference.


If the school was only trying to get into/back into the MAC, then you'd be accurate.

I think we are saying the same thing. My focus is on ANY FBS conference but NO ONE wants us: Sun Belt blew us off, CUSA blew us off (and picked some little scrubby FCS schools) and the MAC is actually a pretty good fit for us. I know no one likes Akron etc but at least you've got MAC-tion on Tuesdays on ESPN etc. I couldn't watch UMass football last season because they weren't even on NESN or NESN+. I live near Boston so I have to listen to CRN.....

[ZooMass84]

No reason to get upset. It's just a reminder that for anyone who brings up "MAC vs Any", that there is no "Any", there's only the MAC.

And frankly, given the reality of Division 1 and FBS, UMass will need to just accept the reality. There's been a lot of bad leadership in regards to the upgrade, in thinking that for some reason, just being in Massachusetts would open new doors.

It won't.

Somehow, the administration has had a belief that all of Western Massachusetts (population 815,000 and alumni in Boston, 2 hours away) would be some sort of target by other conferences without providing an acceptable on-field product.

Attendance is the 3rd worst in FBS (10,819 average per game for 5/year average...3rd lowest in FBS in 2022).

Independent status has resulted in streaming only, which even if the MAC TV contract is less than ideal, it's better than ONLY being a streaming option.






I haven't read this entire thread.



I haven't been on these forums in years since they are not on TapaTalk and I only spend about an hour on the computer daily vs 9 hours on mobile. But I still follow conference realignment as I have since the 1990's and still contribute to my Conference Realignment website, CollegeSportsInfo.com.

But I'm forcing myself to reconnect as I do goto UMass games, flying up from Chile and I will be going to Penn State and Army for a 8 day trip in October.



But for anyone thinking anything other than A10/Indy or MAC/MAC is an option, it's not. I'm here to be the reality check.

There is the MAC and if we were lucky (for recruiting) the bottom of the barrel, last place FBS conference, CUSA.

There is no AAC option.

Dick Weiss was right, UMass will apply after the next departure. But with UConn gone, it's not an option.

Temple is on an island, but UMass doesn't offer enough. Unfortunately, Buffalo offers more if they are looking to extend the footprint, given Buffalo nearly double UMass' attendance numbers. Sad reality is that when a program has low TV and low attendance numbers, they aren't an option. When they have a high attendance figure but low TV due to market, schools are considered. It's why is Montana decided to upgrade to FBS, the MWC would likely invite them despite being a smaller TV market. The "market" covers all of Montana (255 miles), so that's Amherst to Ottawa, Amherst to Philadelphia). But the fact that they sell out is a real issue. For those of you like me in 2006 in Montana, it was a snowstorm, my flight almost didn't make it, it was freezing temperature, and that stadium was 94% because of the unsold UMass tickets. I know because my section was empty and I had flown from LA to Seattle for a few days, then to Kalispell to Missoula. Still remember the Snow Plow Milk Stouts they were feeding us during the flight as they though it would crash due to weather as we were forced to stop in Kalispell.


People bring up Army, but again, it's not an option given the numbers. The AAC isn't going to decrease their revenue by adding (2) FB only schools when there is no financial gain. The are not renegotiating the TV contracts for Army and UMass. Just the reality. The SEC can't even get ESPN to renegotiate for a 9th conference game, so lets please all stop discussing the idea of the American as UMass brings no financial value compared to Alabama, Georgia, etc. for revenue.

Again, the AAC is a southern conference now at 14 schools.
There is no program to bring in to support Temple. The American likely wishes that now with UConn gone, that Temple would leave.


AAC 2023: Max revenue

excellent analysis. I've read some articles regarding UMass football and they all point to the fact UMass football actually makes more $$$$ as a shitty 1A program vs. a pretty good 1AA program. Another great article brought up the fact that UMass plays 1A football because it wants to, not that it has to. I plan on going to at least one game this fall. Hopefully New Mexico (a W).

[UMass1991]

Moving to the MAC all sports at the time was not a viable option

yes it was. We had an invite then that we are desperately trying to get back. NO ONE wants this football program now. 3 wins in 4 years??? are you shitting me? If we don't get 2 wins this season, then I'd be comfortable with dropping back down to FCS or just bag the whole thing. We have 4 home games out of 5 games in the beginning of the season games 3 thru 7 that are taylor-f'ing-made!!! Merrimack is an NEC school..........let's leave it at that.

It was not a viable option then. Temple screwed us... we were never going to accept a full invite to the MAC then.

And we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC. We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us. What's so god damn hard about this?

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

They are not going to turn away the $ being in the B12 will generate. UConn is on the verge of leaving Umass in the dust

[UMass1991]

Moving to the MAC all sports at the time was not a viable option

yes it was. We had an invite then that we are desperately trying to get back. NO ONE wants this football program now. 3 wins in 4 years??? are you shitting me? If we don't get 2 wins this season, then I'd be comfortable with dropping back down to FCS or just bag the whole thing. We have 4 home games out of 5 games in the beginning of the season games 3 thru 7 that are taylor-f'ing-made!!! Merrimack is an NEC school..........let's leave it at that.

It was not a viable option then. Temple screwed us... we were never going to accept a full invite to the MAC then.

And we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC. We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us. What's so god damn hard about this?

Don't know if this is an LSAT question but isn't "we're not desperately trying to go to the MAC" a subset of "We're trying to go to ANY fucking FBS conference that will take us"? Might be Analytical Reasoning? might be the definition of "desperately" vs. "trying" or the MAC is an FBS conference.

They are not going to turn away the $ being in the B12 will generate. UConn is on the verge of leaving Umass in the dust, maybe even BC. Actually, if BC was smaaattt, they would go B12 if the ACC falls apart

[stevemaz]

The blame for all of this lies at the feet of the dumbasses in the 1860s who thought it was a good idea to put the Land Grant college in Amherst instead of Natick or Newton or Weston.. dumbasses!!