First reaction: UMass to the MAC

[Steve81]

Pods of 4? That wouldn't be too bad if we play our pod H-H. So we would have 9 road games in conference?

Akron, Kent State and Buffalo for our home pod.
Really don't know but will give this wild a$$ guess. Play everyone from your home pod H-H for 6. Play everyone from the other pods for 9. Then play 1 rotating team from each pod twice for 3 more or a total of 18 conference games.

Say Western Kentucky flips in the Ohio, Miami, Ball St pod.or someone else, it will be 20 home games. H-H in your pod, play 2 H-H with pods of 4 and 1 H-H in pods of 3.

[bunkerhill87]

I agree we shouldnt disparage any of the MAC schools. As mentioned they are similar in their mandates as public institutions and similar to Umass in many ways. the administration fell on the sword for the football program period Time will tell. the what ifs are many. Lots of comments stating this this as a stepping stone. Wicked slippery slope especially if football w/ this new found life falls flat on its face. So what's the time line to deem
this move successful? does it mean football has to win the right out of the gate or are we going to allow another few years of acclimating to the conference and suffer through under .500 seasons. look at the past 10 years. We have sucked. Basketball too. been a hard road as fan. just feels meh!!!!!!

[Steve81]

Nobody can predict conference realignment, whether its the A10 , G5 or P5. The MAC is a good fit, though basketball is a step down and important to contribute to NILs! The pod system, assuming they keep it will be very good for us, stronger in basketball and weaker in football.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Officially Official... let is sink in boys and girls.


https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/ ... ull-member



EDIT: Sorry, see Mike beat me to it.

[natwam2547]

Finally, the elitism on display towards these MAC schools/cities is appalling. UMass has more in common with these public schools in smaller cities than it does with rich private schools in DC and Charlotte. Need I remind you that UMass is in AMHERST. Personally I think Amherst is great, but I don't think other fanbases consider it a thriving metropolis.

Golf clap. It's one thing to be bummed by the move and nostalgic for the past (but living in la la land about the present), it's another to keep putting down the MAC and the schools in it. Time to cozy up to our new neighbors folks.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Interesting note from the press release for those freaking out about Frank:

Press Conference Information
A press conference with Chancellor Javier A. Reyes, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford and MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 in the Hunt Room at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center. Select Massachusetts head coaches, including Frank Martin and Don Brown, will also be available for media interviews following the press conference.

[Miami (Oh) Yeah !]

#FlyTheFlag

https://youtu.be/BlWtmzohqww?si=AraNqtQ2h7Pa-Lhz
.

[69MG]

Officially official
https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/ ... ember.aspx
https://umassathletics.com/hidden/news/ ... ull-member

Affiliation with Hockey East unchanged, as expected

"More information will become available in the coming months regarding future conference membership plans for the UMass men's soccer, men's lacrosse and women's rowing programs."

This is the other part of the announcement that means something to me:

All UMass sports currently competing in the Atlantic 10 will remain in the Atlantic 10 through the 2024-2025 academic year and maintain eligibility to compete for conference championships and NCAA postseason play. Massachusetts football will continue as an FBS independent program for the 2024 season.

[vanmeter]

^I was just going to mention that. 'Will be eligible for post season tournaments.'

I feel this is an amicable parting. I am pretty sure the A10 can see this as, not so much a desire to leave the A10, and more a necessity to keep/advance our football program.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

^ and ^^ - yep, we knew that was coming based on the very nice statement the A10 put out the other day.

[Steve81]

Was wrong about pods for basketball, it's higher versus higher so well still have Akron, Kent State, then guessing Toledo and not sure for the rest.

[LS71]

Like others have posted, in no way would I disparage the MAC or the schools in it.

I’m not happy about taking a step down in hoops and the distance between Amherst and the schools in the conference.

The move offers stability to football. That said, UMass never won more than 3 games as a MAC member last time around…so for them the moves offers a challenge.

I expect my in person attendance will increase for hockey, but decrease for football and hoops.

[doubledribble]

Fuck the MAC, and everything about the MAC. This is an absolutely bad fit for UMass, no good will come from this. Whatever increase in dollars from going MAC will be offset by fan disinterest in playing these teams. Nice going pulling the lift on a hoops program that was just showing signs of life, to attempt to salvage a football program that was doomed to mediocrity from day one.

I’m with ya !!

[doubledribble]

Interesting note from the press release for those freaking out about Frank:

Press Conference Information
A press conference with Chancellor Javier A. Reyes, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford and MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 in the Hunt Room at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center. Select Massachusetts head coaches, including Frank Martin and Don Brown, will also be available for media interviews following the press conference.

Also interesting is that it will be held in the Football Center & not the Basketball center next to Mullins. Another indication of football being the driving force behind all this!

Also interesting is the fact the public .ie fans are not invited

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Spot on. Public not invited because fans and stakeholders were not consulted. This is Bamford’s ‘accomplishment’ bullet on his CV. Pathetic.

….Cue to shilling by the collectives as to how we need to make this work.