I just watched UMass lose to an unimpressive Temple team that barely beat Villanova. UConn is a 10 point underdog to UVA that will be lucky to win four games this year; makes me wonder if they have regrets about moving to FBS. More expenses, likely little more income and more losses. I can't see the reward for the move. Personally I doubt Liberty or JMU can pull it off either. Appy State has a shot, but they will not be a top 20 program very often if ever. ODU has a chance. They re-started their program with a plan to go to FBS as soon as possible. They also have a strong pool of local talent to pull from. Most programs however, I believe will be like UMass; 0-4 and trying to fill seats to get attendance up to cover the additional costs.
The old Yankee Conference
- Thread starter MooreHall73
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Appy State won 11 games in 2015 and 10 in 2016 and still was only able to secure a pre Christmas bowl game both years (Camelia Bowl- Dec 19 in 2015, Dec 17 last year). Odds are that the double digit win seasons will be the exception and not the norm. A power 5 school wins 10 or 11 games and they are, at a minimum, playing a day or two before the new year, if not a New Years Day Bowl. You're not in a power 5 and you win 10 games and you're home well before Christmas and losing money because of travel and ticket guarantees. I don't understand why any school would go FBS unless they were going Power 5, which of course will never happen.
UMass(0-4)is operating its football program in the Twilight Zone.Its a low end FBS team without a conference.After leaving the CAA it went to the
MAC and while being a geographical misfit it was subsequently asked to
leave the MAC because its other sports stayed with the A10.It also held its home games for 2 years at Gillette Stadium which was 100 miles from campus.While it has renovated its on campus 17,000 seat McGurick stadium its now finding itself competing for players who would rather play in the ACC(Boston College,Syracuse ) or AAC(UConn) or even the CAA(UNH,Maine).Its scheduled teams to be played doesn't bode well for continued interest by the student body.Up next is at Tennessee,with games at USF,at Mississippi State,at BYU.These appear all to be money games-all losses.
While former UMass coaches of Mark Wipple and Don Brown(DC at Michigan) all had great success in the A10/CAA,the present environment for UMASS football has certainly
changed since those glory days.Present day HC Mark Whipple operates in the Twilight Zone but still gets paid.A low end FBS football program with no present or future conference affiliation is doomed to failure.BYU,Notre Dame,Army all have nationwide brand name recognition as independents.UMass without either conference affiliation or name recognition will come up short in recruiting, especially in their backyard,for top notch players in New England.While most of the top notch NE players are from either Connecticut or Massachusetts they'll likely decide to go elsewhere other than UMass.
Something has to give with the Minutemen,not sure what.
MAC and while being a geographical misfit it was subsequently asked to
leave the MAC because its other sports stayed with the A10.It also held its home games for 2 years at Gillette Stadium which was 100 miles from campus.While it has renovated its on campus 17,000 seat McGurick stadium its now finding itself competing for players who would rather play in the ACC(Boston College,Syracuse ) or AAC(UConn) or even the CAA(UNH,Maine).Its scheduled teams to be played doesn't bode well for continued interest by the student body.Up next is at Tennessee,with games at USF,at Mississippi State,at BYU.These appear all to be money games-all losses.
While former UMass coaches of Mark Wipple and Don Brown(DC at Michigan) all had great success in the A10/CAA,the present environment for UMASS football has certainly
changed since those glory days.Present day HC Mark Whipple operates in the Twilight Zone but still gets paid.A low end FBS football program with no present or future conference affiliation is doomed to failure.BYU,Notre Dame,Army all have nationwide brand name recognition as independents.UMass without either conference affiliation or name recognition will come up short in recruiting, especially in their backyard,for top notch players in New England.While most of the top notch NE players are from either Connecticut or Massachusetts they'll likely decide to go elsewhere other than UMass.
Something has to give with the Minutemen,not sure what.
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Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Liberty making the FBS jump without any conference affiliation? I know they have deeper pockets than UMass but I'm still thinking what's the upside in making the jump? Especially as an Independent? Other than collecting paychecks by being a sacrificial lamb playing at Power 5 schools. I know they beat a truly awful team at Baylor a couple of weeks ago, but those wins are going to be few and far between.
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