UMAss coming back to the MAC

[akzipper]

5 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

appears so

 

A dozen posts on this page alone mocking a move that is a big step in the right direction for the MAC. We all want what's best for our Zips and since we're stuck in the MAC forever, we might as well get excited to see the conference get better and expand. 

 

Some people just like to be miserable I guess. 

[kreed5120]

6 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

Wanted to look around yesterday to see how UMass fans were feeling about this move. Most seem to think the A10 is dying and the MAC is a good move. I was surprised how many said it was a good stepping stone until they move to a bigger conference. WHAT? Not that we have much room to talk but the UMass football program has average like 2 wins a season for the past 10 years and the basketball program is very average. 

 

Still view this a positive for the MAC. The conference needs some new blood and expanding it's footprint can't be a bad thing. Hopefully we see more schools added soon. 

Delusions of grandeur. At times I see people post thinking Akron can join the AAC or a conference like that. As if they would want our perennial 0-4 win football program. In general, online forums don't have the most rational fans.

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

A dozen posts on this page alone mocking a move that is a big step in the right direction for the MAC. We all want what's best for our Zips and since we're stuck in the MAC forever, we might as well get excited to see the conference get better and expand. 

 

Some people just like to be miserable I guess. 

What's great is the people who say that MAC needs to make a move are the same ones who complain when they do.

 

Frankly, I'm a little indifferent. I follow MAC basketball more than MAC football so I'm excited about the move for that. Financially, between the MAC CFP playoff pool, NCAA tourney credits, etc so much of the revenue is fixed so adding more teams just means you split the same sized pie into more pieces. That's not even getting into the TV deal. I obviously don't know the terms of the deal financially so I can't cast judgement.

[gozips19]

22 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

They will instantly compete with Akron and Toledo at the top of the MAC. Their win totals are going to improve when they replace games against Dayton and VCU with Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Using this season as an example, they're ranked 5th in the A10, but they're still currently ranked ahead of the MAC top ranked team (Akron).

I agree with this. Akron lost to St Bonny on a neutral court and they are a mid pack A10 team. 

Martin is an excellent coach and will be a great add to the conference.  

 

The MAC can't stop now. They need to be aggressive and grow the footprint of the conference.  

[zippy5]

UMass basketball is decent with a chance to elevate the conference imo

 

UMass football is bad, but so are a lot of MAC teams. 

 

It's a fine move

[clarkwgriswold]

53 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

UMass basketball is decent with a chance to elevate the conference imo

 

UMass football is bad, but so are a lot of MAC teams. 

 

It's a fine move

 

The list of MAC teams that have decent football AND basketball programs is pretty short.  UMass is not ever going back to the Calipari/Camby days but they'll hold up their end of MAC basketball and compete on a higher level than the directionals that have essentially given up on basketball.

[akzipper]

17 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

The list of MAC teams that have decent football AND basketball programs is pretty short.  UMass is not ever going back to the Calipari/Camby days but they'll hold up their end of MAC basketball and compete on a higher level than the directionals that have essentially given up on basketball.

 

It would be nice if the MAC could cut some of the dead weight. I honestly couldn't care less if the Zips never played one of the MAC directionals again. Replace them with some quality directionals like Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

Edited February 27, 2024 by akzipper

[Zippy87]

 

[GJGood]

17 hours ago, zippy5 said:

Pass on UConn as football only unless we get some home games in basketball guaranteed 

Would Rhode Island be interested in moving up from FCS? Natural rival to UMass and a usually solid basketball program.

Edited February 27, 2024 by GJGood

[kreed5120]

4 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

It would be nice if the MAC could cut some of the dead weight. I honestly couldn't care less if the Zips never played one of the MAC directionals again. Replace them with some quality directionals like Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

I'm sure in football discussion those schools are saying the same thing about Akron. Really the only programs that have done well at both football and basketball are Toledo and Ohio. Everyone else has been good at one or the other.

[ZipCat]

Soooo the MAC the next Mega-Conference?  😆😜

[MDZip]

9 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

It would be nice if the MAC could cut some of the dead weight. I honestly couldn't care less if the Zips never played one of the MAC directionals again. Replace them with some quality directionals like Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

(Those are also directional schools) 😊

[GP1]

I've seen this somewhere before, but I can't remember. 

[Blue & Gold]

WKU seems like an obvious target.

 

Wonder if current A-10 members Richmond & Rhody would be interested in moving up?  Richmond is tough in both FCS football and basketball, while Rhody is another nice basketball program.

 

They'd make the MAC a seriously formidable basketball conference

 

Akron

Kent

Ohio

Toledo

Buffalo

UMass

WKU

Richmond

Rhode Island

[GP1]

On 2/27/2024 at 5:52 AM, akzipper said:

Still view this a positive for the MAC. The conference needs some new blood and expanding it's footprint can't be a bad thing. Hopefully we see more schools added soon. 

UMass is a blood transfusion laced with Hepatitis. 

 

UMass only adds expenses for already broke schools so the expanded footprint is only a negative. 

 

There is absolutely nothing positive about UMass. At best, this news does nothing. 

[GP1]

I just hope that when they are done with the MAC, UMass doesn't forget to leave the money on the dresser. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

On 2/28/2024 at 8:29 AM, Blue & Gold said:

WKU seems like an obvious target.

 

Wonder if current A-10 members Richmond & Rhody would be interested in moving up?  Richmond is tough in both FCS football and basketball, while Rhody is another nice basketball program.

 

They'd make the MAC a seriously formidable basketball conference

 

Akron

Kent

Ohio

Toledo

Buffalo

UMass

WKU

Richmond

Rhode Island

 

If the 3 additional schools were something like WKU, Richmond, and Illinois State, how good would that be for the MAC? Illinois State has a better football program and comparable basketball program to Rhode Island, and would geographically make more sense. 

Edited February 29, 2024 by Let'sGoZips94

[AkronAlumnus]

If we're poaching from the A10 I'd rather have VCU or George Mason than Richmond or Rhode Island. I like the ideas of Temple, WKU, MTSU (again) and maybe even going far east to pick up a Vermont or something. 

[zippy5]

well this will be Vermont's 50th year without football..

 

pass on Ill St. I'd take Richmond in a heart beat. Delaware would have been a good one, but too late.

[ClevelandZip]

50 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

well this will be Vermont's 50th year without football..

 

pass on Ill St. I'd take Richmond in a heart beat. Delaware would have been a good one, but too late.

Yeah if we took Vermont, VCU, or someone else without a football team, I feel like we’d pretty much be obligated to take UConn for football only to make sure we’ve got an even number of teams. 
 

Agreed that Delaware would have been great. I doubt they would have picked C-USA over the MAC if we had invited them. Not sure why that didn’t happen.

[kreed5120]

Richmond, VCU? You guys realize that UMass only moved to the MAC because it needed a home for its FBS football program, right? What would Richmond or VCU have to gain by coming to the MAC?

[Let'sGoZips94]

7 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Richmond, VCU? You guys realize that UMass only moved to the MAC because it needed a home for its FBS football program, right? What would Richmond or VCU have to gain by coming to the MAC?

 

I can't speak for VCU, but Richmond would be able to make the James Madison leap to FBS in football. They have a good football program. 

[ClevelandZip]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Richmond, VCU? You guys realize that UMass only moved to the MAC because it needed a home for its FBS football program, right? What would Richmond or VCU have to gain by coming to the MAC?

The esteemed privilege of playing against teams like Eastern Michigan University in basketball. (Good point)

[zippy5]

25 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Richmond, VCU? You guys realize that UMass only moved to the MAC because it needed a home for its FBS football program, right? What would Richmond or VCU have to gain by coming to the MAC?

Richmond would just be if they are looking to go FBS in football. VCU, that could never happen

[AkronAlumnus]

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

Richmond, VCU? You guys realize that UMass only moved to the MAC because it needed a home for its FBS football program, right? What would Richmond or VCU have to gain by coming to the MAC?

VCU being in the MAC would benefit them the same way that Gonzaga benefits from being in the West Coast Conference. The WCC is way better than the MAC most years, but in Gonzaga's case , still significantly below their overall prestige.  Obviously with the emphasis on $$$ some smaller conferences will go defunct, others will expand. I think the MAC has more longevity than the A10 perhaps just because of football. 

 

Take this year as an example, VCU is fourth in the A10. If they jumped to the MAC they would almost certainly be dancing even with a mediocre team by their standards. Switch out VCU for a school like Liberty and the same premise applies.

Edited February 29, 2024 by AkronAlumnus