UMass to FBS? Next year?

[mainejeff]

Delaware's football future........

You're alone in your delusions.

You are the one that is delusional.........Delaware will eventually be left in the dust due to your stodgy, OLD administration.........

[mcveyrl]

http://twitter.com/MikeABarber" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More sources confirm UMass expected to join MAC in football but say no timetable yet for an announcement. #CAA 13 minutes ago via web

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

I can't wait to watch Umass on ESPNU on a Tuesday Night in a 3/4-empty Stadium ... or even in the Humanitarian Bowl on the Blue Field in Boise!

Good luck guys!

[89Hen]

You are the one that is delusional.........Delaware will eventually be left in the dust due to your stodgy, OLD administration.........

You're nothing if consistent Jeff. You've been predicting the demise of Delaware for years, yet here we are with your fellow New Englanders dropping like flies and the outlook for Maine become more bleak than an Orono winter. The one difference is I hope Maine lands on their feet even though I think they might not, while you wish the worst on Delaware even though they will be just fine for decades to come.

Boston University... RIP
Hofstra University... RIP
Northeastern University... RIP
URI... good luck reducing scholarships
UMass... good luck at Kent State and Toledo
Maine and UNH... TBD

[mainejeff]

You are the one that is delusional.........Delaware will eventually be left in the dust due to your stodgy, OLD administration.........

You're nothing if consistent Jeff. You've been predicting the demise of Delaware for years, yet here we are with your fellow New Englanders dropping like flies and the outlook for Maine become more bleak than an Orono winter. The one difference is I hope Maine lands on their feet even though I think they might not, while you wish the worst on Delaware even though they will be just fine for decades to come.

Boston University... RIP
Hofstra University... RIP
Northeastern University... RIP
URI... good luck reducing scholarships
UMass... good luck at Kent State and Toledo
Maine and UNH... TBD

You can try and deflect the attention away from Newark........but Delaware's football future is all of a sudden has taken a similar turn as Maine and UNH. We all know that your prehistoric administration doesn't have the balls or the foresight to pull the trigger like JMU, ODU and Georgia State will. How's that stadium master plan coming along?.......

[89Hen]

You can try and deflect the attention away from Newark........but Delaware's football future is all of a sudden has taken a similar turn as Maine and UNH.

Classic MJ.

[mainejeff]

You can try and deflect the attention away from Newark........but Delaware's football future all of a sudden has taken a similar turn as Maine and UNH.

Classic MJ.

Classic 89Hen........

[Col Hogan]

Geographically and competitively for most sports, I could see UMASS in the Big East. (Think UCONN.) But the MAC makes absolutely no sense whatsoever unless they want to be a big fish in a small pond. In most sports, they could probably compete immediately in the Big East, and titles would mean much more there.

The MAC option is for football only...every other sport will remain where it is (Basketball and most other sports in the A-10, Hockey in Hockey East, and Lacrosse in the CAA )

[houndawg]

Bummer. The one CAA team we beat.........

[CoachL]

Multiple sources around the Colonial Athletic Association tell me UMass is going to MAC as football member. Announcement later today

I hope that no one was holding their breath waiting for that announcement.

[oducampus]

Ok so first Hofstra and then northeastern..and now Umass....come on ... why are you guys afraid to play ODU

[Tubby Raymond]

Delaware's football future........

You're alone in your delusions.

Why anybody pays any attention to this douhcebag is a mystery.

[Big McLargehuge]

I love how so much of this board thinks that jumping from the FCS directly to a BCS conference is even possible. Villanova may do so...but they're already a damn Big East member in other sports, so they have that little thing going for them that schools like UMass, Montana, Appalachian State, Delaware, Gardner-Webb, whoever simply don't have.

Lets put it this way...Appalachian State isn't getting an invite to join the ACC, UMass isn't getting an invite to the Big East, and Montana isn't getting an invite to the Pac 12. You have to make steps to do this, and even then most schools are going to be fighting a fruitless fight if they think its possible.

UMass is outside of the Boston market in a fairly college football lukewarm state...they're not going to get an invite to a conference like the Big East when schools like Eastern Carolina and Memphis are around and not only have larger stadiums built, but have proven they can put butts in those seats. Villanova...well, we can make that argument all we want about them being able to fill a stadium or not (one I'm usually all too willing to fight), but they're still in the huge Philadelphia media market (that has worked well for the Big East in the past...) and are in the Big East in other sports.

The ACC has no reason to expand, nevermind expand by going the FCS route, so I'm not even going to go down that route.


If UMass does indeed go to the MAC next year I think they have a very good chance of doing quite well and may have some potential to move up to one of the power conferences down the road...but in general I think the MAC fits the school well. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it further diminishes the northeast's presence in the FCS, to say nothing of the top FCS conferences. If UMass bolts on top of the losses of Hofstra, Northeastern, and Rhode Island from the CAA its hard to imagine Maine and UNH staying in the CAA. This may play well in terms of parity for the FCS though, as a re-designed NEC with Maine and UNH would create another potential power conference and would do very well to help a lot of the schools in the conference presently, namely Robert Morris.


Yes the CAA is an amazing conference for football, better than the lower tier FBS conferences without much doubt (just like the Big Sky is better than what the WAC is going to be in 2012)...but I do think UMass is miscast as an FCS program, and you have to walk before you can run...no matter how good the CAA is its still an FCS conference, and BCS conferences just aren't going to ask unaffiliated FCS programs to join them. Hell, the Mountain West isn't going to do that.

[DSUrocks07]

I love how so much of this board thinks that jumping from the FCS directly to a BCS conference is even possible. Villanova may do so...but they're already a damn Big East member in other sports, so they have that little thing going for them that schools like UMass, Montana, Appalachian State, Delaware, Gardner-Webb, whoever simply don't have.

Lets put it this way...Appalachian State isn't getting an invite to join the ACC, UMass isn't getting an invite to the Big East, and Montana isn't getting an invite to the Pac 12. You have to make steps to do this, and even then most schools are going to be fighting a fruitless fight if they think its possible.

UMass is outside of the Boston market in a fairly college football lukewarm state...they're not going to get an invite to a conference like the Big East when schools like Eastern Carolina and Memphis are around and not only have larger stadiums built, but have proven they can put butts in those seats. Villanova...well, we can make that argument all we want about them being able to fill a stadium or not (one I'm usually all too willing to fight), but they're still in the huge Philadelphia media market (that has worked well for the Big East in the past...) and are in the Big East in other sports.

The ACC has no reason to expand, nevermind expand by going the FCS route, so I'm not even going to go down that route.


If UMass does indeed go to the MAC next year I think they have a very good chance of doing quite well and may have some potential to move up to one of the power conferences down the road...but in general I think the MAC fits the school well. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it further diminishes the northeast's presence in the FCS, to say nothing of the top FCS conferences. If UMass bolts on top of the losses of Hofstra, Northeastern, and Rhode Island from the CAA its hard to imagine Maine and UNH staying in the CAA. This may play well in terms of parity for the FCS though, as a re-designed NEC with Maine and UNH would create another potential power conference and would do very well to help a lot of the schools in the conference presently, namely Robert Morris.


Yes the CAA is an amazing conference for football, better than the lower tier FBS conferences without much doubt (just like the Big Sky is better than what the WAC is going to be in 2012)...but I do think UMass is miscast as an FCS program, and you have to walk before you can run...no matter how good the CAA is its still an FCS conference, and BCS conferences just aren't going to ask unaffiliated FCS programs to join them. Hell, the Mountain West isn't going to do that.

This "superiority complex" exhibited by some posters has always had me

If there are people here who truly believe that they shouldn't "move up" unless they could get into a BCS conference...then pull up a lawn chair and get comfortable because you are going to be here for a LOOOONNNNNNGGGG while.

[SuperHornet]

BMcLH: While what you say is true, it's not quite that simple, at least not in terms the possibility (or lack thereof) for Montana to join the Pac-12. In that case (and perhaps the others), the schools in the conference are looking at more than the perceived competitiveness of the prospective member. They're also looking at whether or not the new school would fit their academic profile. And in the case of Montana, the snooty members of the Pac-12 are going to say that the Griz don't even come close.

I've seen posts from Griz fans in the past trumpeting their academic achievements, though I can't remember them now. But perception is reality in situations like this, and the Pac-12 simply isn't going to see the academic OR athletic merits of Montana, however great they are. (And they ARE pretty impressive.)

[mainejeff]

You're alone in your delusions.

Why anybody pays any attention to this douhcebag is a mystery.

Most Delaware fans personify the word "douchebag".

[Big McLargehuge]

BMcLH: While what you say is true, it's not quite that simple, at least not in terms the possibility (or lack thereof) for Montana to join the Pac-12. In that case (and perhaps the others), the schools in the conference are looking at more than the perceived competitiveness of the prospective member. They're also looking at whether or not the new school would fit their academic profile. And in the case of Montana, the snooty members of the Pac-12 are going to say that the Griz don't even come close.

I've seen posts from Griz fans in the past trumpeting their academic achievements, though I can't remember them now. But perception is reality in situations like this, and the Pac-12 simply isn't going to see the academic OR athletic merits of Montana, however great they are. (And they ARE pretty impressive.)

I was just throwing that out there as an example, as something that those idiots at eGriz thing is possible. Montana may have PCC heritage but we will never be a member of the Pac 10/12/whatever. Montana has solid academics, but we aren't the Harvard of the Rockies or whatever that some bullshit article once said we are.

I'm not touching the academic merits of a Utah or a Washington State...but I'm not one that thinks that the Pac-10/12/27 is possible regardless of academics just because we don't represent a media market of any size. The Mountain West is the best we could ever hope for, and I'm not going to dilute myself with thoughts of grandeur. I would love the opportunity play BCS buster, and I think we could do that, mind you...I just don't think we're ever going to be a school that is ever going to be in a power conference at the top level. A school in Missoula, Montana just isn't going to do that.

[mcveyrl]

Ok so first Hofstra and then northeastern..and now Umass....come on ... why are you guys afraid to play ODU

Maybe Jimmy Laycock knows...

[andy7171]

Why anybody pays any attention to this douhcebag is a mystery.

Most Delaware fans personify the word "douchebag".

This.

[89Hen]

Big Mc, your post was spot on.

[Tubby Raymond]

Why anybody pays any attention to this douhcebag is a mystery.

Most Delaware fans personify the word "douchebag".

At least they don't gargle with Summers Eve the way that you do doucheyboy

[Tubby Raymond]

I love how so much of this board thinks that jumping from the FCS directly to a BCS conference is even possible. Villanova may do so...but they're already a damn Big East member in other sports, so they have that little thing going for them that schools like UMass, Montana, Appalachian State, Delaware, Gardner-Webb, whoever simply don't have.

Lets put it this way...Appalachian State isn't getting an invite to join the ACC, UMass isn't getting an invite to the Big East, and Montana isn't getting an invite to the Pac 12. You have to make steps to do this, and even then most schools are going to be fighting a fruitless fight if they think its possible.

UMass is outside of the Boston market in a fairly college football lukewarm state...they're not going to get an invite to a conference like the Big East when schools like Eastern Carolina and Memphis are around and not only have larger stadiums built, but have proven they can put butts in those seats. Villanova...well, we can make that argument all we want about them being able to fill a stadium or not (one I'm usually all too willing to fight), but they're still in the huge Philadelphia media market (that has worked well for the Big East in the past...) and are in the Big East in other sports.

The ACC has no reason to expand, nevermind expand by going the FCS route, so I'm not even going to go down that route.


If UMass does indeed go to the MAC next year I think they have a very good chance of doing quite well and may have some potential to move up to one of the power conferences down the road...but in general I think the MAC fits the school well. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it further diminishes the northeast's presence in the FCS, to say nothing of the top FCS conferences. If UMass bolts on top of the losses of Hofstra, Northeastern, and Rhode Island from the CAA its hard to imagine Maine and UNH staying in the CAA. This may play well in terms of parity for the FCS though, as a re-designed NEC with Maine and UNH would create another potential power conference and would do very well to help a lot of the schools in the conference presently, namely Robert Morris.


Yes the CAA is an amazing conference for football, better than the lower tier FBS conferences without much doubt (just like the Big Sky is better than what the WAC is going to be in 2012)...but I do think UMass is miscast as an FCS program, and you have to walk before you can run...no matter how good the CAA is its still an FCS conference, and BCS conferences just aren't going to ask unaffiliated FCS programs to join them. Hell, the Mountain West isn't going to do that.

This "superiority complex" exhibited by some posters has always had me

If there are people here who truly believe that they shouldn't "move up" unless they could get into a BCS conference...then pull up a lawn chair and get comfortable because you are going to be here for a LOOOONNNNNNGGGG while.

The wannabeness of FCS (like DSU) are routinely hating on the "haves" when it become obvious that thier status (going nowhere fast) is eternal.

[mainejeff]

Most Delaware fans personify the word "douchebag".

At least they don't gargle with Summers Eve the way that you do doucheyboy

Are you Section J's 'tard brother?

[ASUMountaineer]

I can't wait to watch Umass on ESPNU on a Tuesday Night in a 3/4-empty Stadium ... or even in the Humanitarian Bowl on the Blue Field in Boise!

Good luck guys!

As opposed to a half-empty stadium in Richmond on a Saturday night? More power to them if they want to go. Perhaps they see the writing on the wall for UMass, not just football.

[COBBLESTONE]

I've been following this the last 2 weeks or so. There has been numberous chatter on some message boards and blogs the last 2 weeks, much more than normal. UMass' hand has been forced with this issue. UNH & Maine may possibly go to a lower level of football, URI has already done so. Villanova has an invite to the Big East.. Where does this leave UMass if this were to happen? UMass would like to maintain its level of football, but there is too much uncertaintaty. UMass probably hasn't got a straight answer from UNH or UMaine on what they want to do...
UMass to the MAC for now accomplishes a couple of things. The level of football is raised a slight notch, UMass can be competitive in the MAC out of the box. UMass would have to raise its schollies, mininum is 90% of 85 to be FBS.(about 75) UMass doesn't have to spend millions upgrading its facilities. Many of the MAC's stadiums are currrently just a little bigger than McGuirk right now. UMass can play at Foxboro for bigger games-BC, UConn, etc. Kraft is on board already. UMass can get a heck of alot more money for a ACC/Big Ten type game for traveling, and have some flexibility for scheduling a regional FCS opponent @ McGuirk, as UMass will have a 12 game schedule.
The revenue from the tv contracts the MAC has and any of the toilet bowl games will offset the travel costs. We would be looking at higher travel costs in the CAA anyway.
Also, we won't have to ax our coach right now, as we are going to take some lumps the next few years. If he doesn't work out, then we just don't renew his contract and then bring in a new coach. Heck, 6 wins gets us toilet bowl eligible..I'd rather play in the FCS playoffs, but this is slightly up and lateral move that could have us ready for the big east at some point down the road.

Right now, the pieces have come together and I believe this is a good fit.

Execllent post and it sounds logical. Thanks for the info and good luck to you guys. I'd like to see us possibly play you guys at Gillette sometime down the road.