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Moreover, the Amherst school has had talks with the Patriots [team stats] about playing several home games each season in Foxboro at Gillette Stadium, which in effect would give Greater Boston two competing FBS programs, the other being Boston College.

According to several sources, UMass would take its program, currently in the Football Championship Subdivision, to the Mid-American Conference, whose football schools include Temple, Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio

And they're not talking in a few years - they're talking next year

UMass would play a “provisional” FBS schedule in 2011 and ’12, and make the full jump to FBS status in ’13.

The MAC?

The CAA should just go FBS as a conference, most of the teams could compete and soon dominate the MAC.

89Hen wrote:The MAC?

That's what I said too, but with the way CAA is going south, it probably makes the most realistic sense.

Other UMAss options outside of the CAA:

1. NEC - not going to happen
2. Drop football - probably drop before going to the NEC
3. FCS Indy - why?
4. Big East - not going to happen
5. MAC - not great, but not terrible. UMass fans would support the team I think if the games were on ESPN, which the MAC gets on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

danefan wrote:That's what I said too, but with the way CAA is going south, it probably makes the most realistic sense.

Other UMAss options outside of the CAA:

Why leave the CAA?

89Hen wrote:

danefan wrote:That's what I said too, but with the way CAA is going south, it probably makes the most realistic sense.

Other UMAss options outside of the CAA:

Why leave the CAA?

Can't compete with Rhode Island?

It was suggested on another board that this is a stepping stone to the Big East.

89Hen wrote:

danefan wrote:That's what I said too, but with the way CAA is going south, it probably makes the most realistic sense.

Other UMAss options outside of the CAA:

Why leave the CAA?

No clue, maybe they're not happy with the CAA shift south or perhaps the writing is on the wall that the CAA is not happy with the Northern affiliates?

I have no clue though, but if everything is all good with UMass and the CAA I don't think they'd even be this far down the road with the MAC.

Looks like its probably a go for UMass and the MAC

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

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Mike Barber is the JMU beat writer.

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.

No, the MAC isn't anyone's dream conference. The way I look at it, the CAA is sadly falling apart and we need to make a move while we can. As a UMass student and fan, I'm very happy with the news and look forward to seeing how this plays out.

CAA = WAC.



(Or so says OutlawPete.)

First step to Big East? Ready for next wave of expansion?

Here's the next question:

1. Can UNH afford to follow? What about Maine?
2. If UNH and Maine can't follow, how far behind is Stony Brook? If there is no nothern FCS conference on the horizon and UMass is in the MAC, then SBU is going to be in the MAC within 5 years.

Or an entirely separate but related question:

How much does CAA Football care about UNH and Maine?

If they care, the CAA could easily replace URI and UMass with SBU and Albany (America East schools, easier travel, etc..). Fordham made more sense, IMO, when UMass was on board (A10).

I suspect CAA Football couldn't care less about what UNH and Maine do and because of that CAA Football won't do anything except replace URI and Umass with a southern school.

OutlawPete wrote:No, the MAC isn't anyone's dream conference. The way I look at it, the CAA NORTH is sadly falling apart

FIFY

danefan wrote:How much does CAA Football care about UNH and Maine?

If they care, the CAA could easily replace URI and UMass with SBU and Albany (America East schools, easier travel, etc..). Fordham made more sense, IMO, when UMass was on board (A10).

I suspect CAA Football couldn't care less about what UNH and Maine do and because of that CAA Football won't do anything except replace URI and Umass with a southern school.

I have no ill will toward UNH or Maine, but I wouldn't lose any sleep if they weren't in the CAA. That said, IF they are here to stay, they should look to teams like Albany, SBU, Monmouth... to fill in the geographic gap.

Stay in the south CAA. There's a school in Lynchburg who would love to be a part.

89Hen wrote:

OutlawPete wrote:No, the MAC isn't anyone's dream conference. The way I look at it, the CAA NORTH is sadly falling apart

FIFY

Yes thank you I should have said North.

This isn't the first time there has been talk about UMASS going to FBS; back then it was I-A. The big question remains, is the administration willing to spend the money for the stadium and facility upgrades needed for FBS? I'd like to know how serious the talks are about using Gillette. Is Kraft really on board with this? Is Gillette just a temporary thing or is the ultimate move to add additional seating/parking in Amherst?

Personally I think Gillette (if Kraft goes for it) will be the most logical move. I imagine most UMASS grads live in the eastern portion of Mass rather than out in the western part of the state. Plus I don't know if the town of Amherst could accommodate a stadium expansion and the traffic increase that would come with it.

A lot of questions remain and it'll be interesting to see how far this goes.

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.

89Hen wrote:

OutlawPete wrote:No, the MAC isn't anyone's dream conference. The way I look at it, the CAA NORTH is sadly falling apart

FIFY

An example of why the CAA is in the situation that it is in........

89Hen wrote:The MAC?

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

Gil Dobie wrote:The CAA should just go FBS as a conference, most of the teams could compete and soon dominate the MAC.

What exactly are you saying????.......there are only 5 programs currently in the CAA that have the ability to go FBS (6 if you add Nova).

mainejeff wrote:

89Hen wrote:The MAC?

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

You're alone in your delusions.