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Topic: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Topic: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

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TMD10
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How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 6:33:50 PM

Here is TMD's take on what UMass joining means to both the MAC and its newest team. I'm hoping to see BGSU move to the West and I'd like to see a 9-game MAC slate. My only concern is that it could hurt even more for bowl bids to only play three nonconference games.

http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=666>

MonroeClassmate
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 6:43:57 PM

Put UMass in the West. Why break-up anyone else. I much rather see the Bobcats playing BGSU than having to travel all the way to Boston every other year. Let the West travel--the East already has to go to Temple.

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 7:20:11 PM

It probably makes most sense that BG goes back to the West with Toledo. As for the other questions brought up in the article, I think the MAC has to stay with an eight-game conference schedule. It's fairer in conference with four home and four away games, and it makes for more out-of-conference scheduling opportunities. I agree that UMass likely will only win 1-4 games in the MAC the first few years, but it usually isn't long before FCS teams improve their talent. It will be nice to get some exposure in the Northeast.

anorris
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 8:34:31 PM

UpSan Bobcat wrote:

I've been saying BG west would make the most sense, but then BG would be west for football and east for all else. Saw an idea today that actually makes more sense.

North: CMU, EMU, WMU, UMASS, Toledo, BG, Buffalo

South: BSU, NIU, Ohio, Miami, Kent, Akron, Temple

Then when you suck two out for other sports, things are balanced, and divisions match up between sports.

I agree that it needs to be 8 game conference schedule -- as a conference we can't afford to forgo the non-conference slots with paydays.

Last Edited: 4/19/2011 8:35:22 PM by anorris

ohio9704
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 8:53:15 PM

Just my two cents, but I think Buffalo, UMass, and Temple need to all be in the same division.

anorris
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 9:38:25 PM

ohio9704 wrote:

Just my two cents, but I think Buffalo, UMass, and Temple need to all be in the same division.

While I tend to agree that would make a lot of sense, I also think that the divisions and setup needs to favor the Ohio and Michigan teams that form the conferences core in all sports. I'm not really concerned about Temple or UMASS getting the short end of the stick.

We're slowly spreading the footprint, and I honestly think the small footprint is one of a few things the MAC has going for it.

Last Edited: 4/19/2011 9:39:06 PM by anorris

ohio9704
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 9:46:04 PM

anorris wrote:

ohio9704 wrote:

Just my two cents, but I think Buffalo, UMass, and Temple need to all be in the same division.

I know what you are saying, but you can't screw Temple and UMASS for the agreement they have negotiated with the MAC. I would rather go to 8 and be happy, but this is the trend in college athletics. The divisions in one sport should mean nothing in the next. The three eastern schools with Ohio/Miami and Akron/Kent makes more sense then some North/South thing.

Pataskala
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 10:19:31 PM

Back when Terd and UCF were in the MAC, they both were in the East and BGSUCKS moved to the West for football but stayed in the East for everything else. I think having UMass in the East makes sense. The upside for them is that Temps, Buffalo, Akron, Kent and maybe OU are bus rides, so it cuts down on travel expense. The upside for the MAC is that BG and Toledo get to play their annual game without screwing up the scheduling for everybody else. I hope it leads to dumping the divisions for the rest of the sports. The core rivalries could remain, but there would be more flexibility in overall scheduling.

Nine conference games wouldn't be bad, so long as the 1AA games were all but eliminated; maybe have one when a team needs a sixth home game. There's only a handful of 1AA schools that MAC fans give a hoot about and they never (or hardly ever) show up on schedules; it gets rather embarrassing to hear "Where are they from" (and have to look it up) when a 1AA school shows up on the schedule. Three 1A schools and nine MAC games wouldn't be bad.

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Mike Coleman
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 10:29:00 PM

IMHO a nine-game conference schedule is a bad idea because some teams will get 5 home games, some will get 5 road games. Not a big fan of that at all.

TWT
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 10:37:02 PM

UMass has a full year in 2011 to add scholarships for FBS. A couple of really large classes of 30 players each in 2011 and 2012 should fit the bil along with transfers. The biggest question of competing in the MAC for a new team walking in is knowing how to coach in this league. Be familiar with the MAC opponents. Also I don't think success will be as automatic as it usually is for large market MAC teams like Temple or NIU. Boston is a large market but doesn't has a lot of local talent. Temple pretty much all things relative is picking up the same level of player that it did in the Big East, a clear step below Pitt recruiting, but enough to be easily competitive in the MAC. PA is a goldmine of talent, and New Jersey is not bad either. Its going to take UMass a few years like Buffalo to gain traction in the MAC. Personally I like the idea of having only 2 MAC West schools on the schedule.

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D.A.
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 10:37:30 PM

Over two hundred years ago, the foundation was laid for two land grant Universities, Ohio and Fiami, and it was done in the Bunch of Grapes Tavern on State Street in Boston, where a plaque marks the site.

UMass will go with Ohio and Fiami. And considering that Ohio and Fiami, being the longest tenured members of the MAC, would likely get dibs on who they would prefer for division partners, do you think they would rather play in the Linc and Gillette, exposing itself to Philly and Boston markets, or any other MAC stadium?

You can probably fill in the blanks from there, but it sniffs 'kron, Kant, Beefs for E/W. But I guess we will know for sure very soon.

Last Edited: 4/19/2011 10:59:45 PM by D.A.

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DelBobcat
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/19/2011 11:12:36 PM

D.A. wrote:

I think your analysis is spot on.

Also, regarding an earlier comment, NJ has a wealth of talent.

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Jeff McKinney
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 4:54:40 PM

Wonder what percentage of the UMass fan base will look down their noses at the MAC and consider the MAC to be beneath their dignity...just a quick marriage of convenience until they can do better. What percentage will heap contempt on the fans of fellow MAC schools?

anorris
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 9:15:29 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Hard to say, but I think that we are absolutely a stepping-stone -- MASS is definitely trying to follow UCONN's lead.

OhioCatFan
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 9:59:31 PM

Why are you all trying to make sense ouf of this situation? It's not worth the time and effort. This is totally ludicrous. I am just going to bury my head in the sand and pretend that this hasn't happened. Time to take a Rip Van Winkle snooze. Please wake me up in time for the start of the 2011 football season.

Last Edited: 4/20/2011 10:03:00 PM by OhioCatFan

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C Money
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 10:07:16 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

If Temple is any kind of barometer, 94%.

D.A.
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 10:39:27 PM

anorris wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Hard to say, but I think that we are absolutely a stepping-stone -- MASS is definitely trying to follow UCONN's lead.

If you read the last 15 or so pages of the thread here http://umasshoops.com/board/index.htm and you'll see that there is nearly zero mention of them being bummed about going to the MAC. They're actually pretty giddy.

anorris
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/20/2011 11:15:29 PM

D.A. wrote:

anorris wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Hard to say, but I think that we are absolutely a stepping-stone -- MASS is definitely trying to follow UCONN's lead.

They're definitely happy as a base from what I've seen, which is great. The MAC is a step up for them, versus Temple moving the other way, and I think the base reflects that. I don't think they'll be unappreciative or anything, but I think the commitment is there to move beyond the MAC -- I don't see them as long-term members (10+ years).

Like you, I'm sure, I'm hoping they'll stay so I can see the Bobcats more locally in the future.

Tim Burke
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 8:33:31 AM

Mike Coleman wrote:

IMHO a nine-game conference schedule is a bad idea because some teams will get 5 home games, some will get 5 road games. Not a big fan of that at all.

Worked fine for the Pac-10 for years.

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UpSan Bobcat
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 11:08:35 AM

Tim Burke wrote:

Mike Coleman wrote:

IMHO a nine-game conference schedule is a bad idea because some teams will get 5 home games, some will get 5 road games. Not a big fan of that at all.

Worked fine for the Pac-10 for years.

Only since 2006 actually when all teams were able to get that extra non-conference game in. Made sense for them since nine games allows everyone to play everyone else once. In this case, you're still not going to come close to playing all the teams, so what would be the point? Financially, there's too much to lose in the MAC, which is why the MAC already has come out and said they are sticking to eight games.

The Optimist
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 1:17:27 PM

Not even worth debating, IMO. UMASS in the east, BGSU to the west.

I've seen crazier things happen.

Pete Chouteau
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 1:53:41 PM

It is worth debating. Because it's a bush league move to ask a school that's fully committed to this conference to play in the east in some sports but the west in another for the appeasement of a partial member.

UMass can play in the West, or Temple can move. I'd be happier if Temple moved simply for the deliciousness of watching them try and fail to win that division too.

And I don't think there's particular value to either fan base on which division they play in. It's not as if driving distance is ever going to be a factor in them deciding to go for road games. Eight hours Philly to Athens. Nine hours Philly to Toledo. Big Fat Hairy Deal.

Bowling Green has been taking one for the team since the expansion to divisions. I don't care much for them, but they still deserve better than what they've been given the last 15 years.

Partial Membership means WE are letting THEM in our sandbox. And no matter how full of cat crap it is they need to understand that a full voice should only come with full membership.

TWT
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 2:10:07 PM

UMass in the MAC is about self preservation, figuring with new markets that it wil increase the value of the league enough to ensure long term stability. UMass has been talking about moving up for 2 decades and it may be decades before they move on. The tipping point is now reached where UMass decided that it was in its best interest to be a member of MAC football. I'm sure there is a point where basketball membership by Temple and UMass would be seriously considered by those schools, but that will be years if ever.

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D.A.
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 3:08:26 PM

The more I hear the concept brought up on other boards and here, the more I like the thought of eliminating the divisions in hoops and only retain them for FB, and removing some of the concerns of where the FB only schools land. By reducing some of the non-cons in BB you can -

start the conference season earlier and increase interest from the casual fan (especially once semester schedule kicks in)
increase the importance of the regular season by play more games in conference, and once conference RPI status improves possibly allowing the MAC to be considered more seriously for two bids if the regular season champ doesn't win the tourney
eliminate crossover divison schedule imbalance (who played whom home or away)
remove the distractions of staff's need to schedule middle and lesser quality non-cons that might require some pay for play
allow AD's and coaches to focus on "scheduling up" their remaining non-cons to boost RPI, which everyone here has been begging for

Probably should have posted this on BB, but the change in FB might just trigger a change in philosophy in hoops that would allow the MAC a more focused approach to improving the present non-con product. Just a thought.

anorris
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RE: How will UMass change the MAC landscape?

Posted: 4/21/2011 8:05:58 PM

22 seems like an insane number of conference basketball games.

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