UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[Rufus]

Full Press Conference -

 

[Kolumbo]

Full Press Conference -

the coaches come on at the 51 minute mark

 

[Steve1981]

Listen for the past hour, actually 1:20 minutes as almost the first 20 minutes was waiting. Talks started in September, they talk about faculty, academics, facility consortium and our Chancellor jumped in as he was a product of the facility consortium. Not positive if was called facility consortium, but was about building the next department head, provost etc while Javier Reyes was at Arkansas in the SEC. Seemed very thoughtful, covering athletics, facility, students, campus vision. Not really much rahrahrah. Commissioner Steinbrecher was quietly on campus during a game in November and disappointed did not seem him.

This has a feel of a long term commitment. The investment in athletics will accelerate with 8 to 10 times the conference revenue growth. As our AD said, we are hitting the gas, no brakes. Frank Martin is a real team player, his wife ran track at UMass, football helps raise all programs and their budgets all went up from his career. Don Brown and Frank Martin had offices next to each other at Northeastern. They both recruit in programs that were at the bottom with no bells and whistles. You recruit players that believe in your vision, the school and not the conference.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Reyes is new and has attended more athletic events in the months that he has been here than Swamy did in like 13 years.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Vuce]

Listen for the past hour, actually 1:20 minutes as almost the first 20 minutes was waiting. Talks started in September, they talk about faculty, academics, facility consortium and our Chancellor jumped in as he was a product of the facility consortium. Not positive if was called facility consortium, but was about building the next department head, provost etc while Javier Reyes was at Arkansas in the SEC. Seemed very thoughtful, covering athletics, facility, students, campus vision. Not really much rahrahrah. Commissioner Steinbrecher was quietly on campus during a game in November and disappointed did not seem him.

This has a feel of a long term commitment. The investment in athletics will accelerate with 8 to 10 times the conference revenue growth. As our AD said, we are hitting the gas, no brakes. Frank Martin is a real team player, his wife ran track at UMass, football helps raise all programs and their budgets all went up from his career. Don Brown and Frank Martin had offices next to each other at Northeastern. They both recruit in programs that were at the bottom with no bells and whistles. You recruit players that believe in your vision, the school and not the conference.

regardless - HUGE step down in basketball

 

[Steve1981]

regardless - HUGE step down in basketball

Still NCAAT is even more likely. It's not like being repeat Natty in both men's and women's basketball alone will get you in a power conference. It's all about football. But hey, at least you guys have a shot at the x number of times that you have been runners up to the P5. Think the ACC is a legitimate shot for you guys and wish you luck.

 

[Vuce]

Still NCAAT is even more likely. It's not like being repeat Natty in both men's and women's basketball alone will get you in a power conference. It's all about football. But hey, at least you guys have a shot at the x number of times that you have been runners up to the P5. Think the ACC is a legitimate shot for you guys and wish you luck.

Will be a boost for UMass football and tremendous downgrade for hoops. Those MAC games at Mullins will not draw flies save for maybe the last 2 or 3 home games IF UMass is in contention for a league title - but will still need to win the postseason tourney. There are zero at large bids in the MAC. Those years where UMass is middle of the pack or worse, it'll be family and friends at Mullins. Would be better to move back to The Cage - at least it'll seem full and atmosphere would be better. Will football still play in the high school stadium or are they building a new place? I havent heard anything about that. The only hope is to eventually move into a different conference. If time passes and we are 5+ years out and UMass is still in the MAC, it'll be a hockey school and little more than that.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Eh, looks like there is is increased interest in supporting UMass athletics. It is what they need.