#MACtion

[#MACtion]

You guys coming??

Pros / cons

Don’t just be haters. There is value being in a conference. Harder to recruit when recruits don’t have a trophy to play for or guaranteed bowl tie ins / tv etc.

 

[don356]

I think the MAC has already slammed that door.

 

[#MACtion]

I think the MAC has already slammed that door.

We all know no door is slammed shut if ESPN wants it open.

 

[#MACtion]

We all know no door is slammed shut if ESPN wants it open.

If ESPN saw some value in it and would add money to better us all to add UConn and UMass then it would happen.

 

[#MACtion]

MAC East:

UConn
UMass
Buffalo
Ohio
Miami
Akron
Kent

 

[don356]

Nothing like a cold wet Tuesday night at the Rent. Those Maction crowds always look great on the tele. You can actually count the attendance as the night rolls on.

 

[whaler11]

You guys coming??

Pros / cons

Don’t just be haters. There is value being in a conference. Harder to recruit when recruits don’t have a trophy to play for or guaranteed bowl tie ins / tv etc.

Send the invite.

 

[zls44]

If ESPN saw some value in it and would add money to better us all to add UConn and UMass then it would happen.

Or if they, IDK, wanted to not totally lose the #1 property in WBB and this could be an incentive somehow (I do NOT know anything, just thinking out loud)...

 

[Chia Pet]

You guys coming??

Pros / cons

Don’t just be haters. There is value being in a conference. Harder to recruit when recruits don’t have a trophy to play for or guaranteed bowl tie ins / tv etc.

Would be great. What’s the feeling among the MAC fan bases?

 

[#MACtion]

Would be great. What’s the feeling among the MAC fan bases?

Gotta add value. Meaning they’d UConn and UMass but won’t dilute money and need a buyout and basketball games like Temple and UMass. Temple and UMass had to commit both to 4 b-ball games vs MAC b-ball. 2 home and 2 away each. So UConn would have to play 2 MAC b-ball games at home and travel to 2 MAC arenas each year. I’m sure you have some early warmup games... now they would be vs MAC

 

[#MACtion]

Helps out conf RPI and UConn gets help in football

 

[storrsroars]

If ESPN gave a rat's ass about UConn, they would've done something a long, long time ago.

 

[Chia Pet]

Gotta add value. Meaning they’d UConn and UMass but won’t dilute money and need a buyout and basketball games like Temple and UMass. Temple and UMass had to commit both to 4 b-ball games vs MAC b-ball. 2 home and 2 away each. So UConn would have to play 2 MAC b-ball games at home and travel to 2 MAC arenas each year. I’m sure you have some early warmup games... now they would be vs MAC

That will require serious negotiation. We’re not talking UMass here. We’re talking 4 time national champs.

But. It needs to start somewhere.

 

[whalerfan]

I’d have no problem going to either Amherst every other year.

 

[Chia Pet]

I’d have no problem going to either Amherst every other year.

Agree. Fans (especially casual ones) crave a team competing for championships and a local rival. We should be working with UMass to help achieve both goals.

 

[Chia Pet]

And a MAC fan started this thread with the question “You guys coming??”

 

[#MACtion]

What negotians start with “please”? - to the fan who said MAC didn’t want us. And I assure you the MAC doesn’t want you if ESPN doesn’t at least pro-rate adding, BUT if ESPN opens contract and UConn doesn’t dilute our money and adds BBall profile like they were trying with Temple than we would listen. Also, we been burned by UCF, Temple, and UMass so expect a buyout commitment. If that is reasonable to UConn fans and admin it could happen. We are (hate to admit it) the G5 mirror of the Big Ten and have been trying to expand East like the B10 did with Penn State (Buffalo) , Maryland (Temple), and Rutgers (UConn:UMass)

 

[billybud]

Several articles are now stating that UConn's place in the AAC may not be filled because no one will bring enough value. AAC may play with an 11 team league.

“Whoever it is has got to bring value and I don't know who's out there that does,” Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said. “Is there anyone that can enhance the situation?”

 

[Adios]

We'll probably go back to the AAC once they and we get our houses in order. Temple was kicked out and invited back.

Unless a more prominent all sports conference comes calling.

 

[Steve1981]

What negotians start with “please”? - to the fan who said MAC didn’t want us. And I assure you the MAC doesn’t want you if ESPN doesn’t at least pro-rate adding, BUT if ESPN opens contract and UConn doesn’t dilute our money and adds BBall profile like they were trying with Temple than we would listen. Also, we been burned by UCF, Temple, and UMass so expect a buyout commitment. If that is reasonable to UConn fans and admin it could happen. We are (hate to admit it) the G5 mirror of the Big Ten and have been trying to expand East like the B10 did with Penn State (Buffalo) , Maryland (Temple), and Rutgers (UConn:UMass)

To clarify. UMass did not burn the MAC. The MAC new the previous administration would say no to all in. One important fact is on the first of the year, those MAC promo stop showing at the basketball game, long before anything was announced. It was Temple that burnt the MAC.

UConn and UMass are in a different situation, both likely to stay decade or decades.

Bob McGovern wrote a very nice piece that if we are not prepared to go all in financially we should not even apply.

"
Change, however, is necessary.

Perhaps UConn and UMass can convince the MAC to take them both. There are reports indicating that the conference isn’t interested in that arrangement, but let’s not pretend that there isn’t a way to make it work.

Get commissioners, athletic directors and lawyers in the same room and make something happen. There is no set tune to the dance of college realignment, and clever maneuvering can make this relationship work for everyone.

If not the AAC or the MAC, then come up with a creative third option – preferably one that involves UConn.

But the status quo can’t continue. Accepting life as an independent is the type of thinking that led UMass to this strange moment.

The school also can’t allow memories of Marcus Camby and John Calipari dictate its strategy for the future. That version of the Atlantic 10 is gone, and UMass has been lost in the wilderness in the decades since.

Athletic Director Ryan Bamford, the administration and those who support UMass athletics need to look forward with clear eyes and an aggressive plan for positive stability.

UMass missed its moment more than 20 years ago.

It can’t afford to sit on the sidelines again."

 

[Chia Pet]

What negotians start with “please”? - to the fan who said MAC didn’t want us. And I assure you the MAC doesn’t want you if ESPN doesn’t at least pro-rate adding, BUT if ESPN opens contract and UConn doesn’t dilute our money and adds BBall profile like they were trying with Temple than we would listen. Also, we been burned by UCF, Temple, and UMass so expect a buyout commitment. If that is reasonable to UConn fans and admin it could happen. We are (hate to admit it) the G5 mirror of the Big Ten and have been trying to expand East like the B10 did with Penn State (Buffalo) , Maryland (Temple), and Rutgers (UConn:UMass)

Reasonable stance. There’s enough there to sit down and chat.

I wonder if they are. I gotta believe UConn did not go into this move without having a solid plan for football. There has been many many closed door discussions.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I am pulling for an SNY TV deal and independence.

 

[Chia Pet]

To clarify. UMass did not burn the MAC. The MAC new the previous administration would say no to all in. One important fact is on the first of the year, those MAC promo stop showing at the basketball game, long before anything was announced. It was Temple that burnt the MAC.

UConn and UMass are in a different situation, both likely to stay decade or decades.

Bob McGovern wrote a very nice piece that if we are not prepared to go all in financially we should not even apply.

"
Change, however, is necessary.

Perhaps UConn and UMass can convince the MAC to take them both. There are reports indicating that the conference isn’t interested in that arrangement, but let’s not pretend that there isn’t a way to make it work.

Get commissioners, athletic directors and lawyers in the same room and make something happen. There is no set tune to the dance of college realignment, and clever maneuvering can make this relationship work for everyone.

If not the AAC or the MAC, then come up with a creative third option – preferably one that involves UConn.

But the status quo can’t continue. Accepting life as an independent is the type of thinking that led UMass to this strange moment.

The school also can’t allow memories of Marcus Camby and John Calipari dictate its strategy for the future. That version of the Atlantic 10 is gone, and UMass has been lost in the wilderness in the decades since.

Athletic Director Ryan Bamford, the administration and those who support UMass athletics need to look forward with clear eyes and an aggressive plan for positive stability.

UMass missed its moment more than 20 years ago.

It can’t afford to sit on the sidelines again."

You are right about UMass. Short sightedness and emotion drove BC to make the stupid choice to block us to the ACC. If they had any pride they would have welcomed us as a potential rival to build both programs on.

Water under the bridge now.

 

[Chia Pet]

I am pulling for an SNY TV deal and independence.

Independence feels too much like a holding pattern. Waiting to land in the P5 airport where the fog will never clear or fly to another airport and start enjoying your vacation.

And we’ve just spent years in the AAC holding pattern.