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let me be clear...I do not think UMass is a big east expansion target, nor do I think they should be.

The only reason this pertains to the big east and this blog is to point out that UConn cannot "shelf" its FB program in the MAC and join the big east...UConn is not a viable expansion candidate no matter how you slice it.

"We wanted full members," MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher told ESPN. "We're at a point if people want to be a part of us, fine. If they don't, they don't. Let's move on. We had a very positive relationship with UMass.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... 015-season

senditinjerome wrote:let me be clear...I do not think UMass is a big east expansion target, nor do I think they should be.

The only reason this pertains to the big east and this blog is to point out that UConn cannot "shelf" its FB program in the MAC and join the big east...UConn is not a viable expansion candidate no matter how you slice it.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... 015-season

you could make the case as well that UMass feels like the A10 is very viable no matter what. Like they feel even if the BE takes 2 of SLU/Dayton/VCU/Richmond- the A10 is still going to be a very solid league. I think if they thought all 4 could go(maybe with AAC), then they maybe make a different decision.

Umass to AAC? Where else could they drop football?

admin wrote:Umass to AAC? Where else could they drop football?

CUSA maybe? Although they're already at 14.

admin wrote:Umass to AAC? Where else could they drop football?

Entirely? Or at least move games back on campus and go back to FCS. FBS football at Foxboro is a moneysuck.

This certainly points to another conference shift coming soon. My guess is that UMass will have to align with another conference for it's football. The two obvious ones are the 1st AAC and 2nd CUSA. This likely puts other dominos into motion, particularly in the AAC. Will the AAC then attempt to get SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State as it potentially looses UConn and Cincy/Memphis? Who wants to pick up UConn, Cincy and Memphis? The Big 12 might be interested in Memphis or Cincy, but more likely BYU. And if SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State are gone, where does that leave the Big East?

HoosierPal wrote:This certainly points to another conference shift coming soon. My guess is that UMass will have to align with another conference for it's football. The two obvious ones are the 1st AAC and 2nd CUSA. This likely puts other dominos into motion, particularly in the AAC. Will the AAC then attempt to get SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State as it potentially looses UConn and Cincy/Memphis? Who wants to pick up UConn, Cincy and Memphis? The Big 12 might be interested in Memphis or Cincy, but more likely BYU. And if SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State are gone, where does that leave the Big East?

I wouldn't say that. If the AAC adds UMass, that will bring it to 12 for all sports and 13 for football (Navy joining as football affiliate in 2015). The MAC has already made it clear that they don't want UMass. This appears to be a case where only one domino falls.

notkirkcameron wrote:

HoosierPal wrote:This certainly points to another conference shift coming soon. My guess is that UMass will have to align with another conference for it's football. The two obvious ones are the 1st AAC and 2nd CUSA. This likely puts other dominos into motion, particularly in the AAC. Will the AAC then attempt to get SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State as it potentially looses UConn and Cincy/Memphis? Who wants to pick up UConn, Cincy and Memphis? The Big 12 might be interested in Memphis or Cincy, but more likely BYU. And if SLU/VCU/Dayton/Wichita State are gone, where does that leave the Big East?

I wouldn't say that. If the AAC adds UMass, that will bring it to 12 for all sports and 13 for football (Navy joining as football affiliate in 2015). The MAC has already made it clear that they don't want UMass. This appears to be a case where only one domino falls.

First, the A-10 will look to add to their collection. UConn, Cincy Memphis and BYU will be in play for greener pastures. Easier said than done, correct. The ACC is looking at the ultimate 16 team league. How long with the Big 12 stay at 10? (As long as Texas says so?) The Big 10 will be at 14. They will look at the ACC and see how they can match the 16 team league. Same with the SEC. The much talked about, ultimate 5 team BCS super league is on the near horizon.

Your opinion is that it won't happen. My opinion is that domino's will fall. We'll compare notes in two year.

I didn't think this way before, but I really think another shakeup is coming soon in light of this story and the ACC vs. Maryland situation. We have to be the predator, not the prey this round. We secured some very good programs but we need more. Let's snatch up Wichita State while they are red hot to capitalize on the recruiting and branding. Let's take Dayton, VCU, and STL. That gives us 14 teams.

Villanova/ DePaul
SJ / Marquette
SHU / PC
Creighton/ Wichita St.
G'Town / Dayton
Xavier / VCU
Butler / St. Louis

That is a pretty damn formidable conference. At worst it's rock solid. At best it's a 6-8 bid league. We have better odds that one of WSU, STL, Dayton, or VCU will not drop off. This brings more fans to MSG for the tourney, a larger following, a larger audience for FS1, and definitely raises the profile IMO. I'm very worried that Val is way too submissive. She has not been vocal and she has not been aggressive so far. The AAC can easily snatch the rest of the talent out there and then we are stuck. This brings some great rivalries Dayton v. Xavier, Wichita St. v. Creighton, etc.

HoosierPal wrote:
First, the A-10 will look to add to their collection. UConn, Cincy Memphis and BYU will be in play for greener pastures. Easier said than done, correct. The ACC is looking at the ultimate 16 team league. How long with the Big 12 stay at 10? (As long as Texas says so?) The Big 10 will be at 14. They will look at the ACC and see how they can match the 16 team league. Same with the SEC. The much talked about, ultimate 5 team BCS super league is on the near horizon.

Your opinion is that it won't happen. My opinion is that domino's will fall. We'll compare notes in two year.

The first triggers for past conference realignments:
Early 1990s: Arkansas leaves the SWC to consist only the Texas schools, and in the process grows the SEC to 12, and in part, leading to the creation of the Big 12 Conference.
2003: Miami, VaTech, and Boston College go to the ACC, setting off a chain reaction all the way down to the Sun Belt Conference.
2010: Nebraska moves to the Big Ten, causing mass chaos and realignment that affects the Pac-12, Big 12, and SEC (and arguably the ACC, Big Ten, and causing Syracuse and Pitt move to the ACC, heralding the destruction of the hybrid model Big East. Subsequent realignment affects the Missouri Valley, Horizon League, Atlantic 10, Mountain West, WAC, Conference USA, and Sun Belt.

Yea, sorry. I don't see "The American adds UMass" as starting some similar chain reaction. In other words, the college sports landscape may look very different a few years from now. I'm not saying it won't. But if it does, it won't be because the freaking Mid-America Conference kicked one of their affiliate members out.

By your same logic, Nebraska went to the Big Ten because the Big East kicked Temple out in 2005. Don't confuse precedence with proximate cause.