I want UMass in the league

[Adios]

Your "fans" are asking for it to be shut down by not giving a about UMass football.

They have football fans. Second or third oldest FBS program in the country.

 

[Adios]

It's not happening Butch. There is no appetite for it here politically and the Commonwealth is broke. Our illustrious Governor is fighting with his own party to increase taxes just to meet his budget projections.

I guess they'll be stuck in their old stadium. Easy dominance then. Bring them in!

 

[Mark W]

Oh yeah I worked in the Mass State House for a state rep for 5 years too - so actually I DO have insight as to how and what they think about Umass there.

And my point about McGuirk stands - it will be a glorified 1-AA stadium with a max of 25,000 seats eventually. That screams small time no matter what kind of scoreboard you have there. And thanks for clarifying the Gilette deal - since that will end it makes the situation even more laughable - so we will invite Umass into this league with an expiring Gilette deal and a stadium that currently seats 17,000 and eventually a whopping 25,000? Yeah, that will help the league's rep.

For those of you pumping Umass to this league read what Mark wrote above - his words not mine - you want a school with those kinds of facilities (the upgraded ones) and plan in this conference?

Gillette was a stop gap measure that allowed us to make the move. The MAC did not have the provision you guys got to take advantage of, where you got the waiver to play your first two years at your old stadium. The stadium at McGuirk has the ability to be expanded to an attendance level that will be more than adequate to handle the crowds. Much like your plan to expand yours if the Big or ACC come calling, UMass will do what is necessary for whatever situation they find themselves in.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Good God Butch - you and Nelson are killing me.

First, Nelson. Yes status quo is better than action when the action involves adding UMass - it just makes no sense by any metric: 1) they add no value because nobody anywhere gives a about that school; 2) they spread their stink all over our athletic department; 3) there is a good chance they are not Div. 1 in a few years; 4) they take up a spot on our schedule that we NEED to fill with quality, name opposition. Your argument suggests that if I gave you two choices: 1) that do nothing; or 2) I kick you in the nuts you, would take the kick because action is always better than inaction.

Butch. Your posts are single handedly ruining my weekend. For any outside visitors that read this drivel about UMass and New Hampshire please know that UConn fans who pulled their heads out of their a$$es anytimes between 1979 and 2013 are absolutely against adding a single more dreg to this mess.

 

[Vuce]

Much like your plan to expand yours if the Big or ACC come calling, UMass will do what is necessary for whatever situation they find themselves in.

Really? How do you plan to build a $150 million stadium with at least 40,000 seats? That is what Umass needs. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[WestHartHusk]

They have football fans. Second or third oldest FBS program in the country.

Those two statements don't offer a correlation. But if you want to amuse yourself, count the number of "fans" in this stadium. The article says 6,385 - let me know what you come up with.

As if its bad enough we are going to be playing in empty stadiums in Phili, NOLA, Houston and SMU you want to add this.

 

[Adios]

Good God Butch - you and Nelson are killing me.

First, Nelson. Yes status quo is better than action when the action involves adding UMass - it just makes no sense by any metric: 1) they add no value because nobody anywhere gives a about that school; 2) they spread their stink all over our athletic department; 3) there is a good chance they are not Div. 1 in a few years; 4) they take up a spot on our schedule that we NEED to fill with quality, name opposition. Your argument suggests that if I gave you two choices: 1) that do nothing; or 2) I kick you in the nuts you, would take the kick because action is always better than inaction.

Butch. Your posts are single handedly ruining my weekend. For any outside visitors that read this drivel about UMass and New Hampshire please know that UConn fans who pulled their heads out of their a$$es anytimes between 1979 and 2013 are absolutely against adding a single more dreg to this mess.

Let me help more:

http://www.masslive.com/umassbasketball/index.ssf/2013/02/revisiting_umass_realignment_s.html

 

[Mark W]

Good God Butch - you and Nelson are killing me.

First, Nelson. Yes status quo is better than action when the action involves adding UMass - it just makes no sense by any metric: 1) they add no value because nobody anywhere gives a about that school; 2) they spread their stink all over our athletic department; 3) there is a good chance they are not Div. 1 in a few years; 4) they take up a spot on our schedule that we NEED to fill with quality, name opposition. Your argument suggests that if I gave you two choices: 1) that do nothing; or 2) I kick you in the nuts you, would take the kick because action is always better than inaction.

Butch. Your posts are single handedly ruining my weekend. For any outside visitors that read this drivel about UMass and New Hampshire please know that UConn fans who pulled their heads out of their a$$es anytimes between 1979 and 2013 are absolutely against adding a single more dreg to this mess.

Geesh...UMass admissions turn you down????? You got issues!!!!!!!

 

[Adios]

Those two statements don't offer a correlation. But if you want to amuse yourself, count the number of "fans" in this stadium. The article says 6,385 - let me know what you come up with.

As if its bad enough we are going to be playing in empty stadiums in Phili, NOLA, Houston and SMU you want to add this.

I am in for a road trip to the Patriots' museum!

 

[WestHartHusk]

Butch,

This article does nothing to reinforce your point. In fact, if you could read, you would see that the premise was finding a landing spot for UMass where they could suckle on the NCAA credits that other teams earn. For instance this quote: "This is a significantly better basketball option — Cincinnati, UConn, Memphis and Temple are all legitimate breadwinners in terms of units." Find me an article that shows me how they benefit UConn.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Geesh...UMass admissions turn you down????? You got issues!!!!!!!

Issues is having business acumen? I will give you one post, and take your time to respond, where you show this board how adding UMass to whatever mess we are temporarily consigned to, is beneficial to UConn.

 

[Adios]

Butch,

This article does nothing to reinforce your point. In fact, if you could read, you would see that the premise was finding a landing spot for UMass where they could suckle on the NCAA credits that other teams earn. For instance this quote: "This is a significantly better basketball option — Cincinnati, UConn, Memphis and Temple are all legitimate breadwinners in terms of units." Find me an article that shows me how they benefit UConn. Are one where anyone shows me what they add, rather than detract.

I was just throwing the mention of UMass in a conference with UConn in an article for fun. But it is still a thought on their minds.

I do think UMass would give UConn one in-conference game that people would enjoy. Or we can play them instead of Buffalo.

 

[Mark W]

Issues is having business acumen? I will give you one post, and take your time to respond, where you show this board how adding UMass to whatever mess we are temporarily consigned to, is beneficial to UConn.

My first post, which I'm not sure you saw or not, stated that I am a UMass fan fully aware of our standing right now and I have no delusions as to our status. Is Umass where UConn is?? Absolutely not. The entire point I am trying to make is that I see no reason for the animosity and the desire to block UMass from a conference you want nothing to do with. I agree with your posters that believe UConn (and more than likely Cincy) are headed for greener pastures. I really don't consider myself a starry-eyed optimist and I think UMass fits nicely into what will be left in whatever they are going to call that conference. Memphis, Temple, ECU etc. are NOT going to dominate UMass and UMass will fit nicely into that conf. Never...let me repeat that...Never...have I said UMass is on the same level as UConn. I know you don't want to play us in hockey though ( alright, that was cheesy...just had to get it out there)

 

[WestHartHusk]

I have no animosity at all towards UMass and wish the school well. My premise is that UConn needs to stem the bleeding right now from a perception standpoint and part of that includes not adding more members to this league because 1) our image is low enough as is; 2) we need the flexibility to schedule out of conference. If/when UMass steps up and has a stadium, some big wins, and apparent fan support I am not opposed to playing regularly, just now is not the time.

Regarding hockey, slightly different scenarios (e.g. Hockey East has no perception problem), but I wouldn't begrudge UMass for not wanting us in that this point.

 

[Mark W]

I have no animosity at all towards UMass and wish the school well. My premise is that UConn needs to stem the bleeding right now from a perception standpoint and part of that includes not adding more members to this league because 1) our image is low enough as is; 2) we need the flexibility to schedule out of conference. If/when UMass steps up and has a stadium, some big wins, and apparent fan support I am not opposed to playing regularly, just now is not the time.

Regarding hockey, slightly different scenarios (e.g. Hockey East has no perception problem), but I wouldn't begrudge UMass for not wanting us in that this point.

Just out of curiosity...rumor has it UConn will have men's lacrosse soon....do you know what conf. they will be in? Does this new conf. have lacrosse?

 

[Vuce]

B1G does

 

[WestHartHusk]

i would be impressed if this league had a port-a-potty at this point.

 

[Fishy]

Just out of curiosity...rumor has it UConn will have men's lacrosse soon....do you know what conf. they will be in? Does this new conf. have lacrosse?

I don't think UConn and lacrosse is necessarily going to happen any time soon - there aren't any lacrosse-playing schools in the new tire fire conference that I am aware of.

 

[Dooley]

No one is happier that me that UMass upgraded football and is attempting to become relevant. But don't let me paint too pretty a picture here. We probably lead the northeast in an apathetic fan and alumni base. The screaming on the Umasshoops board is to add 10-12 thousand seats or build an off campus facility.My take is to get our heads out of our asses and fill up the 17,000 Mcguirk currently seats or put more than 12,000 in Gillette. Those 2 professors I mentioned would have a field day if we spent millions to add seats and 8,000 of us showed up. The onus now is clearly on the fans and alumni. I'm a season ticket holder in football and basketball, but we need many, many more.

There is the saying that winning cures all ills, and to some point I agree. It is showing in basketball now. I was a season ticket holder during the Calipari days and still during the Lappas days (can still see the tumbleweed blowing over the empty seats). We're somewhere in the middle now but getting better.

I can't expect everyone to share my optimism and I understand your "let's wait and see" approach.

Oh, we have those too. Did you know that some of our games are only played from mid-way through the 1st quarter until halftime? If you polled about 5,000+ each game, that's what they'd tell you.

I think both of our schools need some patience to get where they want to go. Would I lose sleep over UMass joining the Big East/Big Aresco? No. But for the same reason why I understand schools like Michigan not wanting to share revenue with schools like UConn, I don't want to share any more revenue than what we'd currently have to unless it meant UMass replaces Tulame (or any of the other lame additions not named Navy).

What I'd love to see happen is UConn/UMass sign up for a decade long home and home series in football and basketball as OOC rivals. I think this area would like it. Over time, there will surely be a player or two (or coach or two) that will do something stupid or say something stupid that will lead to intensified feelings towards one another. Then Blam-O! You got yourselves an old fashioned "Battle of New England" that the Golden Birdsh1t is no part of while they perch out there in their isolated golden island and that would expedite your move to the Big East/Big Aresco. Hopefully, UConn will be B1G or ACC bound by then but if not, at least we'd have a geographic rivalry again in this current POS conference.

 

[kingdobbs]

I don't think UConn and lacrosse is necessarily going to happen any time soon - there aren't any lacrosse-playing schools in the new tire fire conference that I am aware of.

Were UConn to start playing lax, they would obviously not be playing with any of its football or basketball partners, unless we were to get a life vest tossed to us by the ACC (or a life yacht from the B1G, although they are unlikely to start the league without a sixth member; it is, to my knowledge via hockey, a long-standing B1G by-law that a B1G schedule can and will be played in a sport only when there's six members in that sport).

Men's lacrosse is built, however, on a patchwork of associate memberships and a lax-only league. Realistic options for a hypothetical new UConn lax team: Colonial, ECAC, Northeast, or as a sixth warm body for the C-7 so they can get an autobid. Long-shots: ACC or B1G, but that's dependent on an all-sports invite.

America East: Solid at six members, and not really looking; will be getting new blood with UMass-Lowell.
ACC: If and only if we get an all-sports invite. Even losing Maryland and gaining Notre Dame, they're good to go for 3-4 bids to the tournament a year without an automatic bid.
Catholic Seven: Has five members, looking for a sixth. Options: St. Joseph's (Colonial), Detroit Mercy (MAAC), Richmond (starting in 2014), Fairfield (ECAC).
Colonial: Probably going to lose Penn State, but they'll have four core and two associate members. My money is on Richmond going here when they start play.
ECAC: Looked strong, but is probably sitting on five members should a B1G league start (Air Force, Denver, Fairfield, Hobart, Bellarmine (KY)). On the other hand, if no official B1G league does start up, Maryland and Penn State might look for a home here.
Ivy: Basically the only conference that's untouchable as far as realignment goes in any sport. The only team that will ever be added to their lacrosse league is a start-up program at Columbia.
MAAC: Gaining Monmouth and Quinnipiac, but likely to lose Jacksonville and maybe VMI to a new Southern-focused league.
NEC: Just got to auto-bid status when Bryant transitioned, but now they're short one from losing Quinnipiac, and have no good candidates to fill that last slot.
Patriot: Strong lax league gets stronger by adding Loyola (and also will get BU).

 

[uconnbill]

No UMass period. Small time thinking from small minded people. My gosh I am glad none of you have a say in how the conference expands because your way of thinking is FCS at best

 

[nelsonmuntz]

No UMass period. Small time thinking from small minded people. My gosh I am glad none of you have a say in how the conference expands because your way of thinking is FCS at best

Who should we add? Please enlighten us.

Umass is a step up on half the schools already in the league.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Who should we add? Please enlighten us.

Umass is a step up on half the schools already in the league.

Nelson, you are so wrong it is incredible. First, you have no premise - we don't need to add anyone. Second, they went 1-11 in the MAC. Repeat that, 1-11. Hell, even Tulane had 2 wins.

 

[Durks07]

Who should we add? Please enlighten us.

Umass is a step up on half the schools already in the league.

How about no one? How about a good reason that they are a beneficial program to add to a new conference? If the only good reason is that they provide one game where travel is not a higher cost proposition, I submit that this is short-sighted to the point of blindness. They only give Uconn one game every two years where they do not have to travel far. They come into Rentscheler Field and are even worse than Buffalo. We complain about fan apathy, lets talk about a schedule that is guaranteed to have another absolute dreg on a yearly basis. How will the fairweather fans respond to that? Umass drew 35K to the Rent last year. However, that was the first game of the season. How much of that was a function of the fans wanting to see football regardless of the opponent?

You argued infamously that UConn should disband the football program. The football program is a financial drain on the athletic department. Explain how adding another dreg to the conference changes that. How exactly is adding a school like Umass, with the national pulse of lifeless body going to help? What value do they add? What money do they bring in a TV deal that will benefit anyone? None. You suggest that a good idea is brining in a school who will contribute nothing themselves, and whose only function to diminish the amount of money that Uconn recieves in an atrocious TV deal. If the football program is a financial drain, then Umass is a financial vacuum. If this atrocity of a conference brings in a school that actually will be the worst yet (hard feat to accomplish) you may actually get your wish of disbanding the football program.

 

[RS9999X]

Amherst and Northampton are nice day trips in October. Book a bed and breakfast and go to Brattleboro and enjoy a NE weekend.

Sent from my Lumia 920 via Windows 8. Now bite me Apple Droids.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Don't disagree, but you don't need a football game to go there. Hell, if we are going on location, then let's get McGill in here.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

So the same posters that attack anyone who says the C7 was a better option for UConn also think we shouldn't play anyone that casual fans will care about.

 

[Durks07]

So the same posters that attack anyone who says the C7 was a better option for UConn also think we shouldn't play anyone that casual fans will care about.

Ad hominem argument. Nothing about that addresses the question. It simply denigrates the people who disagree with you with a conclusory, dismissive statement that is neither true or has a correlation with itself. How do the people who "attack" people who think the C7 is a better option for Uconn also not want to play anyone the casual fan will care about? They don't appear to be related. The question is whether Umass should be added to the NNNNBE, not whether Uconn should ever play them. The most obvious reason that Umass is not a good addition is that they add nothing market-wise and bring no additional money into the conferece. They only add another team to split a pitiful TV deal with. Answer why Umass has positives that outweigh the negatives.

If Uconn is in such a financial bind that they should consider eliminating the football program, then tell us in what way adding another member to the conference allievates that problem. It aggravates that problem and we all know it because Uconn recieves less money because of it. Playing Umass OOC does not require Uconn to split any TV money with them. Sharing a conference with them does. Or does it not? If not, enlighten us as to why.

 

[whaler11]

Amherst and Northampton are nice day trips in October. Book a bed and breakfast and go to Brattleboro and enjoy a NE weekend.

Sent from my Lumia 920 via Windows 8. Now bite me Apple Droids.

I worked in Brattleboro for a while. I'm not totally sure it's a circle of hell... But it's a short par 4 away.

 

[whaler11]

So the same posters that attack anyone who says the C7 was a better option for UConn also think we shouldn't play anyone that casual fans will care about.

While I find your C7 talk ridiculous, I do agree that UMass is better conference mate than a few we've got. I don't buy into your attendance angle - it isn't true and is pennies anyway