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.
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?
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.
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.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
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.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Conclusion, 1854
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.
