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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: UMass Back in the MAC - This time for ALL sports
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BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/26/2024 4:49 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Texas could announce they were joining the MAC and half this board would be like WHO IS PAYING FOR TEAM FLIGHTS TO AUSTIN? I HOPE THEY'RE NOT COUNTING ON MY DONATIONS!
You ain’t wrong
ctb
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Posted: 2/26/2024 4:50 PM
FormerMember wrote:expand_more
The speculation on Twitter is that WKU and MTSU are options.
I'd take WKU in a heartbeat, but I'm afraid they hitched their wagons to MTSU and MTSU already murdered the idea last summer. Who knows, maybe WKU changed their minds.
There's already been a tweet from a Toledo reporter saying there's still mutual interest between Western Kentucky and the MAC. WKU was all-in a few years ago but the MAC turned them down after MTSU backed out. Now that UMass is in the fold, I think this will get done.
Interesting. Here’s an overly optimistic speculation: Maybe MTSU changed its mind and both they and WKU are coming over, and UConn is joining as a football-only/everything-but-basketball to get its own football program out of Independent hell. Likely? No. But it would make sense, giving each of the new additions a regional rival- preserving the WKU-MTSU rivalry, as well as give UMass someone local too, all while keeping things balanced on the football side with 16 teams.
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 4:55:20 PM by ctb
Victory
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Posted: 2/26/2024 4:53 PM
I have to believe WKU is coming or at least someone else. 13 doesn't work well.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:06 PM
The MAC did 13 teams for a very long time with Marshall. I don't think they care about the odd number.
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GoCats105
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:09 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
The MAC did 13 teams for a very long time with Marshall. I don't think they care about the odd number.
Especially now that they've gotten rid of divisions and the championship game requires just the two best teams. The even number doesn't matter anymore.
Bobcat Love
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:18 PM
If Gonzalez votes for UCONN only, she should be fired on the spot. That is breach of fiduciary responsibility.

UCONN can bring their basketball teams or they can stay an independent. Football drives the bus, and UCONN football is a steaming pile of dog shit.

Baby step for the MAC not sitting on their ass during re-alignment, but long way to go.
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:29 PM
Bobcat Love wrote:expand_more
If Gonzalez votes for UCONN only, she should be fired on the spot. That is breach of fiduciary responsibility.

UCONN can bring their basketball teams or they can stay an independent. Football drives the bus, and UCONN football is a steaming pile of dog shit.

Baby step for the MAC not sitting on their ass during re-alignment, but long way to go.
+1 Count me out of the football-only crap. I know UConn would never bring their basketball team to the MAC, but that football product is not worth the effort for football-only.
ExCat21
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:36 PM
Bring on Rhode Island. Have a conference rivalry. Kick Bowling Green to the West.

Question: Does OU have a Boston alumni chapter?
Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:48 PM
There are no divisions.
D.A.
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:51 PM
The alumni chapter is the Massachusetts Chapter, Serving New England. There are over 2,500 alumni in New England.
The Few, The Proud, The Bobcats!

And for the record, I hate tOSU, and Ricordati and Torgerson are DB's.

"This isn't just another walkover from the MAC." Kirk Herbstreit, another DB, on College Football Gameday
Bobcat Love
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:53 PM
I am sad (and not really surprised) there are people on this board who would be fine with UCONN being a football only member.

I would love to negotiate with most of you people.

Again, if Gonzalez votes for UCONN football only - it’s a fireable offense. Complete lack of fiduciary responsibility.
D.A.
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Posted: 2/26/2024 5:58 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
The speculation on Twitter is that WKU and MTSU are options.
I'd take WKU in a heartbeat, but I'm afraid they hitched their wagons to MTSU and MTSU already murdered the idea last summer. Who knows, maybe WKU changed their minds.
Fun fact: If WKU comes in, the MAC has two teams with Stand Up and Cheer as their fight song.
The Few, The Proud, The Bobcats!

And for the record, I hate tOSU, and Ricordati and Torgerson are DB's.

"This isn't just another walkover from the MAC." Kirk Herbstreit, another DB, on College Football Gameday
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 2/26/2024 6:32 PM
Bobcat Love wrote:expand_more
I am sad (and not really surprised) there are people on this board who would be fine with UCONN being a football only member.

I would love to negotiate with most of you people.

Again, if Gonzalez votes for UCONN football only - it’s a fireable offense. Complete lack of fiduciary responsibility.
UCONN basketball is a little busy these days, though you should definitely draw up a proposal for them on how they would go 17-0 in the MAC rather than 15-2 in the Big Least.
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 2/26/2024 7:12 PM
I'm ok with UMass coming in for all sports. I'm opposed to any school coming in for football only.
CatsUp
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Posted: 2/26/2024 7:14 PM
Gonzaga basketball has managed to gain and hold national respect not being in a mega conference. Seems not all that unreasonable to me for Connecticut to make the move and save their DI football program at the same time:
Steve1981
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Posted: 2/26/2024 7:21 PM
Hope to see you ar some football games, but as the N.E. Alumni Chapter guy, not sure. Now apparently need to change my password.

Oh, Do want to say UMass chose the MAC over CUSA and paying the A10 a 4 Million dollar exit fee. We value the fit, geography, and stability of the MAC and think we can be successful for all.
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 9:28:17 PM by Steve1981
cbarber357
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Posted: 2/26/2024 7:48 PM
I have no who this guy is, but interesting to hear. He suggests the MAC wants to maintain the pod system and WKU, North Dakota State, and Illinois State are the schools to watch.

https://x.com/blue_eagle7/status/1762252764711621038?s=46
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 2/26/2024 7:53 PM
CatsUp wrote:expand_more
Gonzaga basketball has managed to gain and hold national respect not being in a mega conference. Seems not all that unreasonable to me for Connecticut to make the move and save their DI football program at the same time:
If you look at UConn's basketball TV deal, and you look at the MACs football TV deal, it starts to look pretty unreasonable. Given the choice, I suspect both the University and their Alumni would choose to just drop football.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 2/26/2024 8:38 PM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
Fun fact: If WKU comes in, the MAC has two teams with Stand Up and Cheer as their fight song.
Perhaps the MAC will continue to expand and then could make one pod for members with "Stand Up and Cheer" as their fight song. Ohio, WKU, N. Dakota St., and Montana St.
ctb
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Posted: 2/26/2024 8:48 PM
Bobcat Love wrote:expand_more
I am sad (and not really surprised) there are people on this board who would be fine with UCONN being a football only member.

I would love to negotiate with most of you people.

Again, if Gonzalez votes for UCONN football only - it’s a fireable offense. Complete lack of fiduciary responsibility.
I don't have any knowledge about the financial side of these things, so someone please enlighten me: how would UConn coming in as football-only negatively impact OU and the MAC? I'd have to imagine simply having the UConn name would add value to the conference, even if it's only through the, uh, less-than-stellar football program. Plus, attendance and fan support for UConn football seems healthy as of late, at least better average game attendance over the past couple seasons than any MAC schools, for whatever that's worth.

UConn football is also no longer the dumpster fire it was just a few years ago. Jim Mora seems to be making headways with the program, getting to a bowl game his first season there in 2022. They regressed a little this season at 3-9, but many of those loses were within one score. It's a far cry from the 1-11 teams from just a few seasons ago. They're certainly putting a more competitive team on the field than UMass right now, that's for sure.
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/26/2024 8:57 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Fun fact: If WKU comes in, the MAC has two teams with Stand Up and Cheer as their fight song.
Perhaps the MAC will continue to expand and then could make one pod for members with "Stand Up and Cheer" as their fight song. Ohio, WKU, N. Dakota St., and Montana St.
That's a fun as hell league on paper.
Steve1981
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Posted: 2/26/2024 9:27 PM
Hope to see you around McGuirk!
Last Edited: 2/26/2024 9:27:40 PM by Steve1981
JimLurker34
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Posted: 2/26/2024 9:27 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Fun fact: If WKU comes in, the MAC has two teams with Stand Up and Cheer as their fight song.
Perhaps the MAC will continue to expand and then could make one pod for members with "Stand Up and Cheer" as their fight song. Ohio, WKU, N. Dakota St., and Montana St.
Gave me a chuckle. Thanks.

Seriously, this is good news. Really makes the basketball programs in the MAC more appealing, and probably gives us a good chance of being a two-bid league on a frequent basis. And, if WKU joins, the basketball profile gets even better.

On a related matter, WKU should sue the NCAA to get its Final Four finish back. Jim Thorpe got his medals back when attitudes changed on what were perceived as antiquated rules.
GoCats105
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Posted: 2/26/2024 11:59 PM
This makes the MAC better for sure, but I'd pump the brakes a tad on the two bid league thing. The league as a whole has to schedule better to the best of their ability. Hell, play another SWAC school if you have to before the Mariettas and John Carrolls of the world.

Football wise I'm interested to see how UMass can improve being in a league full-time. Being relatively new to FBS plus being an Independent was a recipe for disaster. Being able to play the same caliber of opponent week after week instead of bouncing all over the country should help. The last time they were in the MAC they got a little momentum in the last two seasons then were gone. Seriously go back and look at the two 3-9 years...they weren't that bad. They were for lack of a better word, competitive, at least.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/27/2024 8:04 AM
I agree the football only option is stupid for ANY school.

But are we OK with Uconn doing an "everything but basketball" thing? Would the Big East be OK with that?
Andrew Ruck
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