UMass to the MAC

[Cluck U]

Money.

Although CUSA (and the G5) aren’t on the level of the Big Boys, it will be interesting to see how we will match up with the spending that will be necessary to compete at the FBS level. Liberty probably has deep pockets…maybe a couple others…will we try to match their spending?

Nick Saban, in an interview regarding his retirement:

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/foot ... resolution

’"I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?" Saban told Low.

"So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years.

"But the thing I loved about coaching the most was the relationships that you had with players, and those things didn't seem to have the same meaning as they once did."’


Fun times ahead.

[tenn hen]

I remember there was talk about Tarelton State desiring to move up to FBS. They are from Texas. seems like they might be considered for CUSA.

[Bluewyn Gold]

I remember there was talk about Tarelton State desiring to move up to FBS. They are from Texas. seems like they might be considered for CUSA.

Yes, the press has mentioned TSU in connection with CUSA. They've grown their enrollment in a big way in recent years and have a lot of money flowing into the coffers. An hour drive outside the Metroplex. They're similar to Kennesaw in many ways.

[KATatonic]

I remember there was talk about Tarelton State desiring to move up to FBS. They are from Texas. seems like they might be considered for CUSA.

Yes, the press has mentioned TSU in connection with CUSA. They've grown their enrollment in a big way in recent years and have a lot of money flowing into the coffers. An hour drive outside the Metroplex. They're similar to Kennesaw in many ways.

Tarleton is part of the cash cow that is the Texas A&M system. If College Station supports it, it will happen.

[Gannonfan]

Money.

Although CUSA (and the G5) aren’t on the level of the Big Boys, it will be interesting to see how we will match up with the spending that will be necessary to compete at the FBS level. Liberty probably has deep pockets…maybe a couple others…will we try to match their spending?

Nick Saban, in an interview regarding his retirement:

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/foot ... resolution

’"I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?" Saban told Low.

"So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years.

"But the thing I loved about coaching the most was the relationships that you had with players, and those things didn't seem to have the same meaning as they once did."’


Fun times ahead.

The Nick Saban interview is ironical, considering that he went from stop to stop looking for a bigger contract, i.e. money. I'm sure he loved the relationships with the players, but he was also being paid top dollar at the same time. Now that the players are like him it doesn't work? Like I said, ironical.

[Cluck U]

Saban probably got out before the players end up making more than their coaches…couldn’t let his ego take a hit like that.

I think it was Dabo Swinny (but I wouldn’t bet on my memory about the name, but it was one of the big-time football coaches) who said he didn’t offer players huge money out of high school because they had not proven themselves…and that would cause problems in the locker room with the existing players. But, the h.s. kids are asking for huge money to sign with the bigger teams.

Hard to see coaches holding the line on things like that when their jobs depend on winning games. And, what if an independent organization offers up the money? What is a coach (or school) to do? Can’t legally tell the kid to not take the money…

Frankly, I think the next several years will be fascinating as the “market” for high school and college talent gets set.

And…unionized players? I can understand why the average player might want to do that…but why would the best players go for that? Why share the wealth? Forget about the actual football games…the money game will be quite a show to watch.

[tomdawg00022]

A complete aside, but I notice that Western Michigan in the MAC, has only 5 of 12 games at home this year. Four of the first 5 games are on the road, with the home game being Bethune Cookman. They open the season on the road at Wisconsin and then at The Ohio State.

If that is not a sign of financial desperation, I don't know what is. Maybe I just don't understand. Tough for their fans, though.

That's not that uncommon among MAC schools (5 home, 7 road). In fact, in CUSA, UTEP is doing it next year.

https://fbschedules.com/2024-utep-football-schedule/

[Steve1981]

FYI: Today at 11 am.

https://twitter.com/UMassAthletics/status/1764807984377405462


UMass Athletics : https://t.co/82BUS9Rkly
ESPN+ : https://t.co/92KKNJd78B
YouTube : https://t.co/j0hpXctkqe

Very excited to join MACtion, the conference of rivals. We'll have Buffalo

Massachusetts Athletics Joins the MAC
How to Watch the Introductory Press Conference

The University of Massachusetts will host an introductory press conference at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center.

Hear from Chancellor Javier Reyes, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, MAC Commissioner John Steinbrecher, Head Football Coach Don Brown and Head Men's Basketball Coach Frank Martin on our move to the Mid-American Conference.

The press conference is open to media and invited guests only. It will be live streamed for the public on YouTube, UMassAthletics.com and ESPN+. To tune in, click the buttons Above in this post.

[Henny]

FYI: Today at 11 am.

https://twitter.com/UMassAthletics/status/1764807984377405462


UMass Athletics : https://t.co/82BUS9Rkly
ESPN+ : https://t.co/92KKNJd78B
YouTube : https://t.co/j0hpXctkqe

Very excited to join MACtion, the conference of rivals. We'll have Buffalo

Massachusetts Athletics Joins the MAC
How to Watch the Introductory Press Conference

The University of Massachusetts will host an introductory press conference at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center.

Hear from Chancellor Javier Reyes, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, MAC Commissioner John Steinbrecher, Head Football Coach Don Brown and Head Men's Basketball Coach Frank Martin on our move to the Mid-American Conference.

The press conference is open to media and invited guests only. It will be live streamed for the public on YouTube, UMassAthletics.com and ESPN+. To tune in, click the buttons Above in this post.

Best of luck in the MAC Steve and thanks for the updates on UMass!

[Bluewyn Gold]

Good luck with MACation, Mr. Steven.

Here's hoping UD and UMass get to renewal our old football rivalry in the not-too-distant future. My wife and I always enjoyed our many autumn trips to beautiful Pioneer Valley over the years.

[Steve1981]

Good luck with MACation, Mr. Steven.

Here's hoping UD and UMass get to renewal our old football rivalry in the not-too-distant future. My wife and I always enjoyed our many autumn trips to beautiful Pioneer Valley over the years.

Thanks guys and hope to have you guys on the schedule after we clear out our schedule.
In a way you made this possible. Without Delaware commiting to CUSA and CUSA seeming willing to take us, caused the MAC to invite us, without a #14th team.

[Bluewyn Gold]

A couple of final thoughts about the UMass move to the MAC and how it relates to UD.

According to a report from writer Matt Brown, UD’s decision to join CUSA was not AT ALL incumbent on UM’s potential decision to eventually join. UD would have been happy to have UM join them in CUSA, but it wasn’t a factor one way or another.

There appears to have been a rather sudden change in the MAC presidents’ philosophy, as they were not in favor of expanding as late as December ’23. According to Matt Brown (again), UMass and the MAC were likely talking as early as January ’24, maybe sooner.

You’ll remember that there were reports that UD and the MAC had some membership discussions in ‘23, but no one has said who initiated those talks or when they occurred. We also know that CUSA and UD were communicating for a much longer period than last year, but talks got more serious last summer. Based on this, my perception (not a fact) is that:

a) Colonial expansion compelled UD to reclassify sooner rather than later.
b) Both CUSA and the MAC had some level of interest in UD and vice versa.
c)By October, the signals were clear to UD that the MAC wasn’t in a hurry to expand.
d) UD & CUSA decided to pull the trigger.
e) UD’s move compelled MAC presidents to seek expansion, so consideration was granted to the school in the most immediate need of a conference and with whom they had a prior relationship.

The move makes as much sense as CUSA would have for UMass from the football standpoint and maybe overall. Not sure how well the move aligns with UM hoops, in particular. Time will tell, but that wasn't UM's primary consideration. Some questions might be answered at today's UM-MAC presser.

Interesting to learn that UMass will have to pay a $4M exit fee to the A-10. The fee to join the MAC hasn’t been reported. That puts UD's FBS fees into a little more perspective.

[hensfan40yrs]

Money.

Although CUSA (and the G5) aren’t on the level of the Big Boys, it will be interesting to see how we will match up with the spending that will be necessary to compete at the FBS level. Liberty probably has deep pockets…maybe a couple others…will we try to match their spending?

Nick Saban, in an interview regarding his retirement:

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/foot ... resolution

’"I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?" Saban told Low.

"So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years.

"But the thing I loved about coaching the most was the relationships that you had with players, and those things didn't seem to have the same meaning as they once did."’


Fun times ahead.

The Nick Saban interview is ironical, considering that he went from stop to stop looking for a bigger contract, i.e. money. I'm sure he loved the relationships with the players, but he was also being paid top dollar at the same time. Now that the players are like him it doesn't work? Like I said, ironical.

Saban got his money because he was successful, unproven high school kids demanding money is completely different. I understand his frustration completely, no dream school, leave if you dont start right away? Football used to be a teaching tool, now is just show me the money.

[72 Hen]

Interesting fact about 2025 football recruiting ratings to date.

1- Notre Dame
2- Clemson
3- LSU
4- Ohio State
5- Oklahome
6= Penn State


26- Alabama (Always near the top in prior years)

[Baltimore Hen]

Saban probably got out before the players end up making more than their coaches…couldn’t let his ego take a hit like that.

I think it was Dabo Swinny (but I wouldn’t bet on my memory about the name, but it was one of the big-time football coaches) who said he didn’t offer players huge money out of high school because they had not proven themselves…and that would cause problems in the locker room with the existing players. But, the h.s. kids are asking for huge money to sign with the bigger teams.

Hard to see coaches holding the line on things like that when their jobs depend on winning games. And, what if an independent organization offers up the money? What is a coach (or school) to do? Can’t legally tell the kid to not take the money…

Frankly, I think the next several years will be fascinating as the “market” for high school and college talent gets set.

And…unionized players? I can understand why the average player might want to do that…but why would the best players go for that? Why share the wealth? Forget about the actual football games…the money game will be quite a show to watch.

THere will be a college players union. you can count on that! The players do not control the money and they are going to want to get the best piece they can. once that happens money will be collectively bargained just as in every other professional sport.