UMass as leverage

[fasko]

Why not the UMass Eagles? That would be a nice nickname.

 

[Waquoit]

I read this post the other day and decided not to reply. I was just relooking for news, saw this and it made ROFL. UMass as leverage is one of the most absurd comments in this whole realignment morass.

True. If UMass is the answer, then what pray tell, is the question?

 

[ZooCougar]

UMASS is an answer to a question nobody ever asked.

 

[uconnric]

UMASS is an answer to a question nobody ever asked.

Time to put a merciful end to this thread.

 

[weyuo]

I remember when UConn ever competing in Big East football was "laughable". Fortunately, some in CT can see far enough down the road and now we have a steadily improving D-1 football program that is a year or two away from being very attractive to either the ACC or the Big 10+. It took a decade but who's to say that a decade from now UMass may be in the same position. They actually have space right on campus to build a real nice stadium unlike UConn. The state would have to fix the Rte 9 entrance and exit ramps to I-91 for better access and widen that Rte 9 bridge but they are gonna have to do that sooner or later anyways. If Big East football does try to rebuild I can't think of better teams to rebuild with than UMass, Temple and Navy. They are all in the North East. Philly and the state of Massachusetts are both ripe for the picking as far as college football is concerned.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Instead of creating a strawman, why don't you attempt to refute the list of reasons why UMass isn't a good idea?

We have better alternatives than UMass. UCF, Navy, and ECU for starters.

It's amazing how duplicitous you are. The Big East is so good we aren't harmed by losing Pitt/Quse, but so bad we can't do any better than UMass. UConn is so valuable, Herbst herself is responsible if some schools deflect to the Big 12 (rather than Quse/Pitt who put us in this position), but UConn isn't valuable enough to get an ACC invite. And somehow Quse/Pitt were valuable enough for the ACC to add them, but not so valuable that they can't be easily replaced by Houston and UMass. LMAO.

It is about choices. ECU is the #5 team in a large poor state. UCF is the #5 team in a very large state that has several of the top programs in college football to compete with. UMass is the #1 school in a large state that has weak competition for viewers and fans.

 

[businesslawyer]

It is about choices. ECU is the #5 team in a large poor state. UCF is the #5 team in a very large state that has several of the top programs in college football to compete with. UMass is the #1 school in a large state that has weak competition for viewers and fans.

If you assume we're all staying in the Big East, it seems the argument boils down to this: is the goal to build a conference with the best basketball, to build a conference with the best markets or to build a conference that has the best chance of maintaining a BCS bid. There is not necessarily one right answer to this question.

Having said that, the move to superconferences does appear to be coming. Therefore, my belief is that you are trying to maintain a BCS berth for the short -- intermediate term above all us. That means Navy and Air Force are fine, as they put political pressure on the other conferences to not screw us and they don't dilute basketball. And it means you are picking from the best CUSA football programs, which would appear to be UCF, Houston and ECU. Temple and UMass dilute your computer rankings in football in the short term and have to be avoided.

 

[metsfan2323]

It is about choices. ECU is the #5 team in a large poor state. UCF is the #5 team in a very large state that has several of the top programs in college football to compete with. UMass is the #1 school in a large state that has weak competition for viewers and fans.

UMASS drew 32,000 people to Gillette last year for a game against New Hampshire. If they could draw that many for New Hampshire i'm sure they could get
close to 50,000 for Big East games. I'd be willing to bet that UMASS could draw more fans to games than BC which would have to be pretty embarrassing to BC.

The question people need to ask themselves is can UMASS generate more fan support than BC if they were moved into a quality league? The answer to that question is absolutely YES, which is why UMASS as leverage might work.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

UMASS drew 32,000 people to Gillette last year for a game against New Hampshire. If they could draw that many for New Hampshire i'm sure they could get
close to 50,000 for Big East games. I'd be willing to bet that UMASS could draw more fans to games than BC which would have to be pretty embarrassing to BC.

The question people need to ask themselves is can UMASS generate more fan support than BC if they were moved into a quality league? The answer to that question is absolutely YES, which is why UMASS as leverage might work.

So they average 15,000, as a ballpark.

They have a 1 time game vs UNH which they get 32,000
(that's assuming not one fan there was for UNH).

And that's enough for you to say they could average close to 50,000 for BE games.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

UMASS drew 32,000 people to Gillette last year for a game against New Hampshire.

How many of those 32k were New Hampshire fans (a school who I believe normally has better attendance than UMass)?

There are a ton of UNH grads in the Boston ara and unlike many UMass grads, they actually prefer admitting to where they went to school and take pride in their alma mater.

 

[uconndogs]

Guys, UMASS is not leverage because the potential, to the extent it is there at all, would be too long in development. UCONN just about owns college athletics in New England as it is and if this conference realignment shakes out reasonably well for UCONN the die will be cast for BC's death nail. Why bring in an institution with more potential long-term capabilities in UMASS.

This thread is really kind of silly.....

 

[metsfan2323]

How many of those 32k were New Hampshire fans (a school who I believe normally has better attendance than UMass)?

There are a ton of UNH grads in the Boston ara and unlike many UMass grads, they actually prefer admitting to where they went to school and take pride in their alma mater.

You want to talk taking pride in your Alma Mater? Look at some of the threads on this forum. Many UCONN fans aren't taking pride in their Alma Mater's football program right now. Half the posters are trashing the place.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You want to talk taking pride in your Alma Mater? Look at some of the threads on this forum. Many UCONN fans aren't taking pride in their Alma Mater's football program right now. Half the posters are trashing the place.

I never said that it wasn't a problem with UConn (in all candor, it is far more existent outside of the Boneyard than in it).

I would however be stunned if UNH did not provide at least 14k of the 32k fans at that game and would not be surprised if their fans outnumbered UMass fans.

 

[BlueWhiteOrange]

This is about the THREAT of adding UMass. The acc tried to destroy the big east in 2003, we found 3 good replacements and it did not work. They are trying again to destroy the big east again, but they haven't quite done it. If it was proposed that the big east was going to go to 12 schools and keep the catholics, adding rivalry schools for current members: Houston for TCU, Central FL for USF(competition for miami, fsu), ECU (competition for the carolina acc schools),UMass(competition for bc)Temple and Villanova(takes over philly), then perhaps the Big East retains its BCS. Does the acc want to wait for all of this to MIGHT happen and then pick off UCONN or Rutgers a few years down the road afterwards? It doesn't matter if the new schools are not good right at this moment, they could be in short order(UCONN, USF). The threat of keeping the basketball onlies keeps the big east very strong in basketball still.

This is all hypothetical that is leaked to the press by UCONN or Rutgers. The acc could dismiss it, but the big east is still around after 2 attempts to destroy it. If the acc takes UCONN and Rutgers now they destroy the big east for good. If the acc waits, they get a bunch more competition they didn't plan on. If they are waiting on ND,who says you have to stop at 16, take them as #17. It also makes ND decide quicker.

This is something UCONN does not want to do for real unless we don't get a seat at the super conference table. The problem is the longer we wait, the tougher it will be to recruit because all of the other coaches will tell the kids that the big east will be losing their BCS. If we have to wait 3-5 years to get in our product won't be very good and it would take much longer to build back up.

 

[fasko]

If they will change their name, I vote we let them play.

 

[JcHusky95]

UMASS drew 32,000 people to Gillette last year for a game against New Hampshire. If they could draw that many for New Hampshire i'm sure they could get
close to 50,000 for Big East games. I'd be willing to bet that UMASS could draw more fans to games than BC which would have to be pretty embarrassing to BC.

The question people need to ask themselves is can UMASS generate more fan support than BC if they were moved into a quality league? The answer to that question is absolutely YES, which is why UMASS as leverage might work.

I agree. A UMASS vs UCONN football game if both teams are in the Big East or some other BCS conference would easily draw 40-50k; easily. That is one reason why UMass should be considered period. It's the same reason why BC vs UCONN should continue. Simply because there will be LOCAL interest!

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I agree. A UMASS vs UCONN football game if both teams are in the Big East or some other BCS conference would easily draw 40-50k; easily. That is one reason why UMass should be considered period. It's the same reason why BC vs UCONN should continue. Simply because there will be LOCAL interest!

Again, adding a 3rd BCS program in New England is stupid for 3 main cases:

1) Decreases our already thin recruiting base. Maybe some Jordan Tordmans in the future decide to play for the state U and not go to UConn.
2) If we don't have too many more defects we're going to need programs to come in and help stabilize the BCS bid. What won't help with this is a team transitioning from D1AA to the Big East.
3) Nobody cares about UMass and it further weakens are already crappy brand.

 

[weyuo]

UMass & Temple hurt the Big East today, 10/3/11 but what about 5 years from now? 10 years? You have to stop looking at this like some quick fix solution and all of our BCS prayers will be answered. Are UMass and Temple moving in the same direction UConn is? Will Southern schools be the answer to the Big East long term or is it wiser to concentrate more on regionalization(Penn St, Navy, MD, Pitt, Cuse, BC, Temple, UMass)?

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Unless somehow the state of Massachusetts can solve its budget problems, and miraculously they decide to stop treating UMass like a red-headed stepchild, there is no money for UMass to make a jump to Div. 1a. It's fantasy.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Unless somehow the state of Massachusetts can solve its budget problems, and miraculously they decide to stop treating UMass like a red-headed stepchild, there is no money for UMass to make a jump to Div. 1a. It's fantasy.

Don't tell UMass that, because they have already announced they are upgrading to D1A.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Are any of us going to be alive when that happens?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Are any of us going to be alive when that happens?

Unless you are into bungy jumping or alligator wrestling, you should make it through the next two years.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

OK, UMass will be D-1a in two years. You're on record with this.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

OK, UMass will be D-1a in two years. You're on record with this.

So is UMass.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2011-04-20-umass-football-move_N.htm

You should use "the google" some more.