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Topic: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Topic: UMass to the MAC-FB only

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D.A.
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UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 8:23:26 AM

http://bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1299775&srvc=sports&position=3

Great for me to reduce travel costs every other season to support the Cats, assuming they are placed in the East. Now commence the Commissioner bashing for the FB only/Temple exclusion.

Last Edited: 11/30/2010 8:24:13 AM by D.A.

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

TUVideo Guy
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:07:25 AM

What about a MAC/Atlantic 10 Merger somewhat on the lines of what the Big East is moving to?

Pete Chouteau
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:11:42 AM

Well, D.A., it's tough to make it work with 13. I guess I prefer a football only 14th so we're not trying to make a go with 13 basketball schools if we added somebody in all sports. And I'll wait to see if UMass really wants to be a part of this conference or if they want to be with us only as long as they have to be, the way Central Florida and Marshall did.

I will admit (and I'm as guilty as anybody) that we don't make nearly the stink about our Field Hockey only MAC schools as we do about our football only brethren.

Last Edited: 11/30/2010 10:16:19 AM by Pete Chouteau

Casper71
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:21:30 AM

I think VideoGuy has something here...if a model is successful, why not follow it? Say what you want but the Big East is well positioned in both sports and I believe this would definitely be a win for the MAC. $64k question is: Would the A-10 buy into it if Umass and Temple were in for football already?

Pete Chouteau
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:29:38 AM

I think the reason you will not see any sort of conference merger involving the MAC is our geographic footprint.

We are simply too many schools crammed into too small an area. And six schools in Ohio alone? Find a facebook friend from far away and ask what they would think of adding 6 schools from Ohio to their athletic conference.

TUVideo Guy
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:30:41 AM

Here's the deal.. while Temple would love to move up to the Big East.. it's not happening..Villanova won't let it.
Our ONLY concerns about being in all sports for the MAC is the quality of basketball.... A merge of A10 teams into the MAC would raise the level of play. Plus Xavier, Dayton and St Louis all fit perfectly geographically and create new rivals.

Add a UMASS to football makes this a solid conference overall that really has a major reach in the eastern half of the US hitting Boston, NY, Philly plus the current schools..

I have not worked out any numbers on how many basketball teams that turns into but maybe its time to make some decisions on weaker A10 schools like St Bonaventure and Fordham.

Tyler
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:35:04 AM

We'd have to switch the divisions around for football for this to work since the East is already up a team on the West. Probably the easiest way is to move Bowling Green to the West. For every other sport they'd move back to the East to keep it even.

OhioCatFan
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:39:01 AM

I guess the MACDaddies learned nothing from the Temple situation -- all sports or nothing. In fact, this negotiation with UMass would be the perfect opportunity to revisit that issue with Temple and demand both Temple and UMass be all sports. It seems UMass might be be able to swallow that pill better if Temple was in the mix. As a Temple fan once told me, we had them over a barrel and didn't know how to play our hand. We had four aces and played it like a pair of deuces.

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Ohio69
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:41:21 AM

Umass would be a great addition. Especially if it comes with non-conference basketball games against them.

My guess is they would immediately jump to the top of the MAC in terms of support and attendance, and pretty quickly after that in the standings.

(Yes, I'm ignoring my disdain for football only affiliation. And, if they do it, they'll be poisd to make a Big East jump within 5 years of doing this.)

Now lets get Deleware.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Bobcat Love
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:43:24 AM

I'm going to ask my boss if I can negotiate my next salary + bonus deal with Steinbrecher....I would have him for lunch.

No basketball...ha ha ha.

MedinaCat
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:49:17 AM

UMass is not A-10 for football, it's Colonial Athletic Association. CAA also includes James Madison, Richmond, etc. Schools that we have mentioned in previous posts about their MAC worthiness.

Ohio69
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:50:07 AM

Lets go to 16. Next up: Deleware and Marshall (Or Appalachian State).

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

perimeterpost
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:52:11 AM

I like the addition of Umass, but why FB only? not to be political, but the MAC negotiates like Democrats- give away any leverage before sitting down at the table.

If UMass is serious about going FBS, what other conference would take them besides the MAC? Is it safe to assume a BCS conference wouldn't be interested in an FB only FCS transfer? Would the ACC or BE have any interest? Seems unlikely to me but let me know if you think otherwise. That leaves non AQ conferences. Here's the list of the 5 non AQ conferences to chose from-

- MAC
- C USA
- Sun Belt
- MWC
- WAC

WAC, MWC and probably Sun Belt wouldn't be viable for geographic reasons, so that leaves the MAC and CUSA. With CUSA's superiority complex would they be willing to take UMass at all, and especially as FB only? I think their only legitimate option is the MAC. Why not use some leverage to try and get all sports? Maybe Umass joining in BBall might add leverage to get Temple to commit to all sports too. A MAC East division of UMass, Temple, OHIO, Kent, Akron, Miami and Buffalo would be compelling. But I digress.

With that being said, I like TUVid's suggestion of a MAC/A10 merger a lot.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

bostonbobcat
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:55:51 AM

or is someone leaving?

TUVideo Guy
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 10:59:22 AM

Could be a pre-emptive strike in case Temple does get a Big East invite but I just don't see that happening.
I hope its future planning of keeping the MAC strong.

colobobcat66
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 11:15:14 AM

TUVideo Guy wrote:

Could be a pre-emptive strike in case Temple does get a Big East invite but I just don't see that happening.
I hope its future planning of keeping the MAC strong.

Anyone who thinks the MAC is currently strong is delusional.

TUVideo Guy
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 11:17:58 AM

It has a strong football history.

anorris
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 11:41:43 AM

I think the fact that UMASS is already split affiliated helps their case significantly to stay so divided -- though I would like to see them come all sports. MAC doesn't sponsor lacrosse or rowing, which won't help our all-sports case any.

Casper71
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 11:50:10 AM

With 14 teams for football this would make T-giving week much better. I cannot understand why the MAC does not go to "Rivalry" week like many Conferences.

In the East you have:

OU vs Miami
Kent vs Akron
Umass vs Temple

In the West, you have:

BG vs Toledo
CMU vs WMU
NIU vs BSU

That leaves Buffalo and EMU in a not so "Rivalry" rivalry game but you get the idea.

If played on Saturday, it puts a lot more fans in the stands and gets us away from those "empty" stadium and embarassing games the MAC is playing now. Most of these are "real" rivalries NOW. One or two would need to develop!

C Money
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 11:57:27 AM

If the MAC and A-10 joined forces, would the conference be more likely to stay FBS or to move down to FCS? It makes sense for basketball, but I really don't know how that would shake out on the football side.

The Situation
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 12:09:33 PM

The news sufacing about UMass makes me very excited because until today I assumed the MAC was about to miss the best opportunity for advancement for the next decade. UMass certainly isn't enough but it's a start.

UMass:

20,000 undergrads
70% Admission
SAT 1170
25% out of state
Tier 1 University

Sounds like another Miami to me, only looking at the information above, which is good.

I just really hope the MAC has learned their lesson with the whole football only stuff. Temple really would have helped our basketball and so would UMass. The timing's right for us to bring both in all the way and look for more opportunities in this changing landscape.

The commish is an Ohio grad. I'm writing an email today to the Co-Commish Bob Gennarelli (BGennarelli@mac-sports.com) and asking him to read and forward it to the big man. We are the people that this conference represents. Our voice should be heard in this matter and I really think if the MAC heard the opinions from fans on this board and around the MAC it would make a difference.

mf279801
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 1:17:34 PM

C Money wrote:

It would probably go like the Big East does things: all the schools would play MAC-basketball but the I-AA schools play football-only in a I-AA conference.

For the record, I don't see a wholesale merger/partnership as being highly likely.

TWT
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 1:54:14 PM

TUVideo Guy wrote:

The key is getting 8 schools required for a football conference. The A-10 basketball league would have 2 FBS members in UMass and Temple. Charlotte is also planning to move up and that give you 3. The A-10 would then only have to add 5-6 MAC schools and not the entire conference. Throw in ECU and Marshall for geography reasons and that is 2 more schools. Next add Buffalo, Army and Navy. That would put the A10 at 19 teams overall, and 8 for FBS football. Maybe Richmond can be talked into moving up instead of Buffalo for an 8/18 split.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
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2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
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TWT
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 2:01:27 PM

Bobcat Love wrote:

I'm going to ask my boss if I can negotiate my next salary + bonus deal with Steinbrecher....I would have him for lunch.

No basketball...ha ha ha.

Its no basketball for right now. In 2008 the MAC was very close to signing Temple and WKU for basketball but WKU backed out of it. The MAC is under contract with ESPN until 2016. With UMass as member they may be ready to make a jump in all sports by the next contract. The MAC has pursued UMass for 15 years but at the time there was no revenue to justify it. A tipping point has been reached finally with UMass where its more worth it to them to move up to FBS/MAC football. Part of it is schools are dropping out of the Colonial leaving UMass alone on a semi-big time island by itself in mostly low major New England. Hofstra and Northeastern have dropped football completely while Rhode Island is looking to move down to non-scholarship football. UMass into the MAC has been a long time dream, I can remember Bobby Pruitt talking about UMass someday becoming part of the MAC and the first piece was to get Temple in at least football only. Temple's success is convincing the UMass leadership that they can do it to. Its always baby steps in the MAC.

Last Edited: 11/30/2010 2:10:35 PM by TWT

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

bostonbobcat
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RE: UMass to the MAC-FB only

Posted: 11/30/2010 2:38:28 PM

Wes wrote:

Bobcat Love wrote:

I'm going to ask my boss if I can negotiate my next salary + bonus deal with Steinbrecher....I would have him for lunch.

No basketball...ha ha ha.

URI has already committed to move to the Northeast Conference (about 25-30 fewer scholarships than the CAA).

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