Q&A With Liberty AD Ian McCaw (UConn Mention)

[Pudge]

I think the best case scenario in the future looks something like the below:

1 - FCS: Nova, UNH, Maine, URI; always home
4 - Indy: UMass, Liberty, Army, New Mexico State, or BYU: 2 home/2 away
2 - MAC: 1 home/1 away
1 - FBS Buy Game: 1 away
4 - FBS P5: 2 home/2 away

Home 6: Villanova, New Mexico State, UMass, Toledo, Duke, Rutgers
Away 6: Army, Buffalo, BYU, Clemson, North Carolina State, Virginia

Something like that. I'd be happier with that than the AAC. Sure, the home slate isn't going to be Old Big East quality, but if you start to win 7 or 8 games a year, I think we could have some fun and get maybe 30k in the house.

More specifically …

Beyond the independents

IF you schedule P5 as BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Penn State, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Rutgers … FBS Buffalo, Old Dominion, Florida Schools (FAU, FIU, USF, UCF), Georgia schools (GA State, Georgia Southern), Coastal Carolina, ECU, Temple, Cincinnati + Navy

You get two things: Places UConn fans can drive to for Away events; and get in to Recruiting zones we have desired.

As noted before, a good solid FCS - James Madison - is probably far higher on my list than a NM State. or a Louisiana or Louisiana Tech.

 

[Pudge]

This is what the voice in head keeps telling me. I'm just not sure if it BS or not.

(Anyway, the MAC doesn't football only schools.)

Maybe you missed this … it's less than a few days old:

"MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher spoke at length with several media members at a roundtable session at Ford Field. Steinbrecher said the MAC would be open to expansion, but didn’t specifically say if UConn reached out about joining as a football-only member.

UConn announced at the end of June that it was leaving the American Athletic Conference in all sports except football to join the Big East as early as 202o. UConn has not decided if it will play as an independent program or pursue another conference affiliation for its football program.

"You never say ‘never’ on any of this," Steinbrecher said. “Conference membership is often not a rational process. It’s incumbent on the conference commissioner to make it a rational process.

"You add people for two reasons, to survive as a league or to get better, to get stronger. We're clearly not in survival mode.”"

 

[CL82]

Maybe you missed this … it's less than a few days old:

"MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher spoke at length with several media members at a roundtable session at Ford Field. Steinbrecher said the MAC would be open to expansion, but didn’t specifically say if UConn reached out about joining as a football-only member.

UConn announced at the end of June that it was leaving the American Athletic Conference in all sports except football to join the Big East as early as 202o. UConn has not decided if it will play as an independent program or pursue another conference affiliation for its football program.

"You never say ‘never’ on any of this," Steinbrecher said. “Conference membership is often not a rational process. It’s incumbent on the conference commissioner to make it a rational process.

"You add people for two reasons, to survive as a league or to get better, to get stronger. We're clearly not in survival mode.”"

Yep, I did miss it, thanks. It's interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Practically speaking it would make our scheduling much easier. Still, I don't love the idea of being "a MAC school."

 

[Steve1981]

I don't know if I'm in the minority but the bowls mean very little to me; especially a tie-in that the MAC would have. I would imagine the extra few weeks of practice is worthwhile and actually playing something like a divisional title has some pull, but the MAC just doesn't do it for me.

Just to be clear regarding the MAC FB option, there would be zero directional teams in the East Division, those are all in the West Division and would have at most 1 directional home and away cross over game. Not as good as having 4 P5 teams, but better chance at winning and having a schedule to set up a winning season.

 

[Purple Stein]

And ...

"Even as UConn searches for a new football home, James Madison has already reached out about a future contest with the Huskies. On Tuesday, Dukes associate athletic director Kevin White, who handles football scheduling at JMU, said he’s inquired with UConn about the possibility of playing a non-conference game.
“With scheduling it’s a two-way street,” White said. “But we’d have a very strong interest in that game if it could work out.”"​

Nothing good comes from us playing JMU.

 

[mikedog10]

I always cringe wherever Liberty University gets mentioned in a thread. Just as surely as the sun sets in the West, so any mention of Liberty will bring forth expressions of religious (or anti-religious, as the case may be) hostility. Every. Single.Time. People enjoy their socially acceptable prejudices, I guess.

It's a board about sports. Just sayin...

Does Liberty allow Jesus in the huddle? Asking for a friend...

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Does Liberty allow Jesus in the huddle? Asking for a friend...

Sure, but your friend’s supposed to be gone in about a week

 

[#MACtion]

Good point. I guess if the MAC added UConn/UMass to an eastern division and we could secure 4 P5 games a year I would be down with it.

If its MAC, + FCS and like 1 P5, it's going to be friends and family again.

There is no problem with MAC teams scheduling P5 teams in out of conference play. Only issue is signing the home-and-homes vs P5 but Toledo and NIU has been able to do it and UConn shouldn't have a problem if they add a basketball game. MAC teams just very often decide to do paycheck 1-off road games instead of home-and-homes. No reason why UConn couldn't schedule BC, Rutgers, Syracuse early and often.

Would end up with a schedule like:

Boston College (home)
Syracuse (away)
Army (home)
Rutgers (away)
--- conference play ---
Ohio University (divisional)
Buffalo (divisional)
Miami University (divisional)
U of Massachusetts (divisional)
Kent (divisional)
U of Toledo (cross-divisional non-annual)
Akron (divisional)
Northern Illinois (cross-divisional non-annual)

and it wouldn't be an easy schedule.

 

[noeynox]

Nothing good comes from us playing JMU.

Have to agree here. Plenty of FBS options in the area. Why risk getting your ass kicked by that FCS juggernaut? I watched them a couple of years ago, and they would have absolutely drubbed any of our teams the last 7 or 8 years. They were good everywhere.

 

[#MACtion]

So here are your choices:

MAC:
Boston College (home)
Syracuse (away)
Army (home)
Rutgers (away)
--- conference play ---
Ohio University (divisional)
Buffalo (divisional)
Miami University (divisional)
U of Massachusetts (divisional)
Kent (divisional)
U of Toledo (cross-divisional non-annual)
Akron (divisional)
Northern Illinois (cross-divisional non-annual)

or
Indy:
Boston College (home)
Syracuse (away)
Villanova (FCS) (home)
Rutgers (away)
--- Indy play ---
New Mexico State (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
Liberty (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
UMass (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
Army (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
BYU (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
MAC team anyway
MAC team anyway
Random FCS team like UNH to fill scheduling hole while other FBS teams in conference play.

other pros/cons

MAC:
Conference Championship to play for
ESPN and CBSSN TV
Bowl Tie-ins

Indy:
SNY as TV
No Bowls
No Championship to play for

 

[ConnHuskBask]

So here are your choices:

MAC:
Boston College (home)
Syracuse (away)
Army (home)
Rutgers (away)
--- conference play ---
Ohio University (divisional)
Buffalo (divisional)
Miami University (divisional)
U of Massachusetts (divisional)
Kent (divisional)
U of Toledo (cross-divisional non-annual)
Akron (divisional)
Northern Illinois (cross-divisional non-annual)

or
Indy:
Boston College (home)
Syracuse (away)
Villanova (FCS) (home)
Rutgers (away)
--- Indy play ---
New Mexico State (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
Liberty (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
UMass (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
Army (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
BYU (indy quasi-alliance annual game)
MAC team anyway
MAC team anyway
Random FCS team like UNH to fill scheduling hole while other FBS teams in conference play.

other pros/cons

MAC:
Conference Championship to play for
ESPN and CBSSN TV
Bowl Tie-ins

Indy:
SNY as TV
No Bowls
No Championship to play for

In that scenario, I think it's a no-brainer to do MAC.

 

[Guapo]

I think @Hoophound has it right.

We have to at least make a go of it as an independent. Maybe there’s some deal to be made a la BYU that, if we become bowl eligible, we go to that bowl (looking at you, Fenway Bowl).

If that ends up failing, go to the MAC.

Our brand is stronger than UMass’

 

[freescooter]

The schools may, but these are just football games. I doubt God himself has a rooting interest.

Red Auerbach had a great story about God in sports. He had lunch with Cardinal Cushing the Catholic archbishop of Boston regularly. One day he says to the Cardinal I notice all those kids playing for catholic schools makes this cross before they shoot fouls. Does it really help? Cushing looks at him and very seriously answers Of course it helps! Then a few second later adds as long as they are good foul shooter.

 

[chalk1]

Remember one thing about MAC play, it is often during the week. How many in for Arkon on a Wednesday night. Not me.

 

[Pudge]

Remember one thing about MAC play, it is often during the week. How many in for Arkon on a Wednesday night. Not me.

I’m thinking we’d do fine - without you. That is if WE Win. If we have a respectable Program. Akron is your extraneous variable.

Frankly, I’m thinking we do better with independent. What I pointed out is so true: the MAC gets no names OOC to visit. Exploit that - even if our Football is mediocre now. They’d rather have us - and make November games for us because we can be a name that gets a few thousand more. We’d like Toledo or Buffalo to fill.

 

[Guapo]

Remember one thing about MAC play, it is often during the week. How many in for Arkon on a Wednesday night. Not me.

Lol that was not listed as a “con”

 

[freescooter]

If we are going Indy my preference would be some kind of scheduling alliance with the AAC. 3-4 games/ year or something. I’d do the same with the MAC if the AAC isn’t possible. But I suspect it might be. Then you play 2 home 2 away AAC an FCS Northeast team Army, Liberty a couple of Big 10 2 ACC B12 mid tier teams and a Major power road game. Maybe we get a 2-1 game with a big name along the way. Someone who recruits the northeast regularly. For us though winning is vital. Winning a buy game every few years is pretty important I think. Getting a big name here even if it’s only every 3-4 years is pretty important so I think fighting for 2-1s would be important.

 

[Exit 4]

I’m just not convinced MAC scheduling and MAC bowl access with make one shred of difference for recruiting or fan interest. We are a unique FBS property given our location and basketball first positioning. I think we can own independence very well. I don’t want to be 8th in recruiting and middling in the MAC. We can create our own free spirit narrative w/o the shackles of a middle G5 schedule that won’t sell.

Independence is fraught with risks- could fail- but there is far more upside and frankly we can’t fail any worse than we already have.

 

[CL82]

We are a unique FBS property given our location and basketball first positioning. I think we can own independence very well.

I want to believe this, but I think it is seeing the world through national flag blue glasses. I do feel like it is true though.

 

[Guapo]

I’m just not convinced MAC scheduling and MAC now access with make one shred of difference for recruiting or fan interest. We are a unique FBS property given our location and basketball first positioning. I think we can own independence very well. I don’t want to be 8th in recruiting and middling in the MAC. We can create our own free spirit narrative w/o the shackles of a middle G5 schedule that won’t sell.

Independence is fraught with risks- could fail- but there is far more upside and frankly we can’t fail any worse than we already have.

It’s fraught with risks and could fail...

The MAC makes a nice security blanket should that happen.

We have to try independence first.

 

[Guapo]

Remember one thing about MAC play, it is often during the week. How many in for Arkon on a Wednesday night. Not me.

Assuming that SNY is a ready and able TV partner, we will have significant control over game days/times.

Imagine most home games being on Saturday at noon or 3:30!

 

[SubbaBub]

Make no mistake, filling 12 games per year every year is going to be tough. The MAC is not an opition unless they just want FB, and that would depend on us keeping our FB rights (or most of them). The expected $$$ from an indy deal with SNY or equal, is what is driving this move. Taking a TV deal that is worse than the AAC one isn't happening.

A few more 'rules' for you schedule makers:

1. Army and BYU don't need or want us on their schedule every year. If Dave makes that happen he should get a statue.
2. I will accept Liberty and New Mexico State only as a last resort. I expect this will in fact be the case.
3. I think it is fair to assume UMass would be interested in a regular spot. BC/Cuse will not.
4. I think RU would be open to a semi-regular game, like 4 games in 12 years type of regular.
5. Penn State has zero interest, they play 7/8 home games a year, only have 3 OOC slots per year and most are filled for the rest of your lives if they are not publicized. They want games with MAC area schools, one big TV game and one lesser P5, like Pitt. They also want teams that can complete, we can't right now. If Dave can swing a pay road game before 2027...statue.
6. Big Ten games in general will be tough, 3 OOC slots per year. The Mich/OSU/Wisc/Neb, see PSU. You might get the bottom half teams to play H/H only as long as the B1G keeps our P5-equivalent designation which is no guarantee. The B1G want's the OOC schedule to help with playoff scoring. To them the AAC qualifies (mostly). It remains to be seen if indy UConn will get that designation.
7. BC will play us so long as it is in their interest (us as an easy win).
8. Our OOC games for the next few years are OK to pretty good. Filling Oct, Nov, Dec will be tough.
9. An SEC buy road game has to be part of the strategy initially, They play a lot of cupcakes in Nov before the big rivalries. Dave needs to be in on that. He should try to lock in as many one-offs as he can.
10. If your proposed schedule doesn't include at least 1 FCS, 3 MAC/Sun Belt/MW games, 3 Ind games, you are doing it wrong.

 

[Hoophound]

As CL82, Gaupo and Exit4 say, this is risky. However, MAC membership is a surefire ticket to oblivion. Connecticut front runners are not buying into the MAC. Independent provides a channel to relevance. That starts with each and every one of us never having to say, “We’re in the MAC.” That is a kiss of death in CT.

Now, let’s all discuss the other elephant in the room, coaching. If Randy can’t make progress this year or next, cut bait for a coach that can recruit his butt off and pay him. I’m not saying hire Art Briles, but I’m not not saying hire Art Briles. If that doesn’t work, hire someone else that can coach his balls off.

 

[History Geek]

As CL82, Gaupo and Exit4 say, this is risky. However, MAC membership is a surefire ticket to oblivion. Connecticut front runners are not buying into the MAC. Independent provides a channel to relevance. That starts with each and every one of us never having to say, “We’re in the MAC.” That is a kiss of death in CT.

Now, let’s all discuss the other elephant in the room, coaching. If Randy can’t make progress this year or next, cut bait for a coach that can recruit his butt off and pay him. I’m not saying hire Art Briles, but I’m not not saying hire Art Briles. If that doesn’t work, hire someone else that can coach his balls off.

Agreed. By the end of the 2020 season there has to be a clear upward trajectory. I still have faith that will happen.

 

[noeynox]

As CL82, Gaupo and Exit4 say, this is risky. However, MAC membership is a surefire ticket to oblivion. Connecticut front runners are not buying into the MAC. Independent provides a channel to relevance. That starts with each and every one of us never having to say, “We’re in the MAC.” That is a kiss of death in CT.

Now, let’s all discuss the other elephant in the room, coaching. If Randy can’t make progress this year or next, cut bait for a coach that can recruit his butt off and pay him. I’m not saying hire Art Briles, but I’m not not saying hire Art Briles. If that doesn’t work, hire someone else that can coach his balls off.

I could live with a MAC East division schedule, but I know I’m in the minority on that one.

I really want us to embrace the UMass game on rivalry week. They really enjoyed the hell out of their win at Rentschler last year.

If what Benedict said about being approached by schools our fans would be excited to play is true, then independent status needs to be explored.

 

[crewbear742]

Does Liberty allow Jesus in the huddle? Asking for a friend...

I dunno. It's not a question on my theological radar. Perhaps your friend would rather know which school is more likely to still have a football huddle in five year's time - Liberty or UConn?

 

[noeynox]

I dunno. It's not a question on my theological radar. Perhaps your friend would rather know which school is more likely to still have a football huddle in five year's time - Liberty or UConn?

Dude if you’re this down on the program why are you here so much?

 

[uconnbill]

Beautiful university and the location is nice.
I wouldn't mind seeing UConn beat them and the road trip would be fun if it is a 2 at Storrs and 1 at Lynchburg VA as I have friends in the area and would be a lot of fun.

 

[Steve1981]

Being a UMass fan have been looking a lot at the indy and another possible options. My preference is like noeynox. Do think there is value in trying Indy. Become successful, then get left home during bowl season, would be the best time for a MAC FB option with UMass. You'd be in a stronger negotiating position and your fans may see the value of a conference affiliation. The MAC will value it and for us, we are already well scheduled but have an issue with 7 away games in 2022. Selfishly try it for 2-3 years and see what happens.
Don't want to talk about lack of success as an independent, 2022 schedule does not look good with opening with 5 straight away games.

Future UMass Football Schedules | FBSchedules.com