Umass going to the MAC???

[MALVES21]

Is UMASS going to the mac? What are the lastest rumors???

[93henfan]

Welcome to the board.

I haven't seen much traffic on it here lately. There will undoubtedly be some UMass guys on here soon that can give you the latest updates.

Here was the last major thread about it:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20487

[TheHerd]

MAC is toilet. We are 2-0 against them.

[Thundering Herd]

The MAC(mid D1A) seems like it would be similar competition to the CAA(strong D1AA). UMass would be fine going into the MAC, if they have an offer.

[SuperHornet]

I dunno about this. I get the feeling that UMASS is better than the MAC. They already get the hoops berths they deserve for the quality they show. The only "payoff" for this move is a crap bowl game in place of a shot at a football championship. I really question the logic of this move, if indeed it's more than just hot air.

[MALVES21]

an email from Coach Morris within the past 10 minutes includes the following: "The transition to division 1 is still under investigation and I will report to you on the progress as I am informed."

[SuperHornet]

an email from Coach Morris within the past 10 minutes includes the following: "The transition to division 1 is still under investigation and I will report to you on the progress as I am informed."

Since when was UMASS D-II?

[MALVES21]

The University of Massachusetts football program may be on the brink of upgrading to the college football Bowl Subdivision, a major move that UMass officials have been discussing the feasibility and logistics of for several months.

According to Chancellor Robert Holub, the University is expecting to announce its decision in early March.

“I think we are approaching the final stages in the process and hope to have a resolution soon,” Holub said in an e-mail. “I'm anticipating that we will be announcing something in early March.”

The decision to upgrade would be made by Holub, the University’s board of trustees and the UMass president’s office.

“The board of trustees has indicated a willingness and a desire for us to upgrade our athletics program,” said UMass Student Trustee Mike Fox. “But as I am aware, planning is being done on the campus level. The board has had discussions.”

Holub hopes to compete at the same level with other flagship universities across the nation, both athletically and academically.

“We represent the great state of Massachusetts in a way that no other institution does, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said Holub.

Regional rival Connecticut is among the schools that have upgraded to the FBS level in recent years. UConn lost to Oklahoma 48-20 in the Fiesta Bowl in January but the game marked the zenith of a remarkable rise for the Huskies.

Holub believes improving UMass’ athletics would work well to give the school greater visibility on both a state and national plain.

“That's where we want to be, and I believe that's what our students and alumni want from us as well,” he said.

While interest in upgrading the program has been expressed on many levels by personnel at the University, the decision remains unannounced.

According to UMass officials, the decision is in great part reliant on whether an invitation has been extended to the University by the Mid-American Conference. NCAA rules dictate that a team upgrading to the FBS must do so with a conference affiliation. If UMass were to upgrade, the team would upgrade as a football-only membership with the MAC.



University of Massachusetts Chancellor Robert Holub.

MAC officials declined to comment on whether an invitation to UMass to join the MAC has been extended.

However, according to Ken Mather, assistant commissioner of the MAC, MAC Commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher met with MAC’s Council of Presidents earlier this week in Indianapolis, and membership was on the meeting’s agenda.

The mutual interest between the MAC and UMass has been well known since November. MAC officials visited UMass Dec. 14 to examine facilities on campus and at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, home of the New England Patriots.

The NCAA requires that members of the Bowl Subdivision must maintain an average attendance rate of 15,000 at games. McGuirk Stadium on the UMass-Amherst campus seats up to 17,000 and this attendance stipulation may pose a challenge for the University.

It has been reported that UMass would likely need to upgrade McGuirk Stadium if the Minutemen were to join the Bowl Subdivision and play home games there. Several media organizations have reported the Minutemen may play a portion of their home games at Gillette Stadium.

However, the number of games the team would play at Gillette is unconfirmed.

“The Kraft family has been very supportive of football at all levels of competition throughout New England,” said New England Patriots spokesperson Stacey James. “They are proud to have hosted Pop Warner, high school and college football games at Gillette Stadium.

“College football has a rich history in New England, and I know that the Krafts would welcome the opportunity to celebrate the college game’s rivalries and traditions at Gillette Stadium,” continued James.

The Minutemen fell to rival New Hampshire, 39-13, at Gillette Stadium in the inaugural Colonial Clash game this past fall. Stadium attendance was 32,848, setting a record for a regular season Colonial Athletic Association game.

“I think the Colonial Clash demonstrated that we can draw a large crowd if the venue and the opponents are the right ones,” Holub said. “It showed the great excitement around UMass football and the loyalty and enthusiasm of our students and alumni. Except for the results on the playing field, it was a great day for us.”

UMass is scheduled to play at least one game at Gillette next season, facing UNH in the second 'Colonial Clash' on Oct. 22.

Whether or not the University chose to upgrade, the Minutemen would remain scheduled to play within the Colonial Athletic Association next fall. Upon upgrading the program, it seems likely UMass will follow plans laid out by such teams as the University of Texas at San Antonio and spend two seasons as a transitional Football Bowl Subdivision member. In its third year, the team would become postseason eligible. UTSA plans to enter its two transitional years in 2013.

The status quo, remaining at the Football Championship Subdivision level and as part of the CAA is an option that has become less appealing over the past year. Division I-AA football may be on the decline as CAA rival Villanova is also considering a move up to the FBS level, possibly as soon as 2014. Additionally, UMass will continue to lose up to $3 million per year if it stays put.

With the University likely to make its ultimate decision known next month, the UMass football program and its fans anxiously await the outcome.

[Grizalltheway]

MAC is toilet. We are 2-0 against them.

Yeah, they must be pretty fucking awful, if that's the case.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

MAC is toilet. We are 2-0 against them.

Yeah, they must be pretty fucking awful, if that's the case.

The win over Ball St. in 06, while awesome for the program (our first FBS win) it wasn't much of an upset...

the win over Central Michigan with Dan Lefevour however... 44-14... that was pretty damned impressive.

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah, they must be pretty fucking awful, if that's the case.

The win over Ball St. in 06, while awesome for the program (our first FBS win) it wasn't much of an upset...

the win over Central Michigan with Dan Lefevour however... 44-14... that was pretty damned impressive.

See, I would never direct a statement like that towards you, TTBF. Mainly because you don't act like you just escaped from the short bus.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Yeah the MAC sucks but you're not gonna start off as branch Manager on the 1st day, you gotta work your way up, unless you're dad(BE) is the boss of the newbie(Nova).

If the BE decides to go to 12 down the road and UMass is in the MAC doing well, then they have a shot at the BE. The BE would like to get back into the Boston market but won't take them right out of the CAA over say UCF and Houston.

[UNHWildCats]

fuck umass.

[Fresno St. Alum]

fuck umass.

anally, orally, or vaginally?

[TwinTownBisonFan]

fuck umass.

anally, orally, or vaginally?

This is Travis... what do you think he's going to say?

[Fresno St. Alum]

anally, orally, or vaginally?

This is Travis... what do you think he's going to say?

umm all but vaginal, he is stricky dickly

[dbackjon]

fuck umass.

[UNHWildCats]

fuck umass.

ehh he's not cute

[Grizalltheway]

ehh he's not cute

Not boyish enough?

[Fresno St. Alum]

not asian enough

[BDKJMU]

The MAC(mid D1A) seems like it would be similar competition to the CAA(strong D1AA). UMass would be fine going into the MAC, if they have an offer.

You mean bottom DIA. Of the 11 I-A conferences, it is probably the 2nd weakest next to the Sun Belch. Agree, it is similar competition to the CAA, would maybe be only a slight step up for UMass, mostly only because of depth with 85 schollies to 63. Not sure why they would make the move.

[Fresno St. Alum]

The MAC(mid D1A) seems like it would be similar competition to the CAA(strong D1AA). UMass would be fine going into the MAC, if they have an offer.

You mean bottom DIA. Of the 11 I-A conferences, it is probably the 2nd weakest next to the Sun Belch. Agree, it is similar competition to the CAA, would maybe be only a slight step up for UMass, mostly only because of depth with 85 schollies to 63. Not sure why they would make the move.

MAC is a little better than the SBC and better than the New WAC

[Col Hogan]

The MAC(mid D1A) seems like it would be similar competition to the CAA(strong D1AA). UMass would be fine going into the MAC, if they have an offer.

You mean bottom DIA. Of the 11 I-A conferences, it is probably the 2nd weakest next to the Sun Belch. Agree, it is similar competition to the CAA, would maybe be only a slight step up for UMass, mostly only because of depth with 85 schollies to 63. Not sure why they would make the move.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Or at least the possibility of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

You mean bottom DIA. Of the 11 I-A conferences, it is probably the 2nd weakest next to the Sun Belch. Agree, it is similar competition to the CAA, would maybe be only a slight step up for UMass, mostly only because of depth with 85 schollies to 63. Not sure why they would make the move.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Or at least the possibility of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Can you expand on this? What riches are you anticipating from the new affiliation?

Did you know that Dave Clawson is now coaching Bowling Green for less money than he was making at Richmond?

[Col Hogan]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Or at least the possibility of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Can you expand on this? What riches are you anticipating from the new affiliation?

Did you know that Dave Clawson is now coaching Bowling Green for less money than he was making at Richmond?

Did I say I expect more money???

Note the

Everything I read revolves around all the money we'll make...ask UConn how much they lost playing in their bowls this past season...