UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

[MnPantherFan]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

My fault, thanks. Those losses put the mac in the proper light. The run away champion of the league had only two losses-to mediocre-to-bad teams from major conferences.

And it took a former Missouri Valley coach to get them that high (not sure what that means, but anyway.........).

[jegbomb52]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

I absolutely think that is part of it.

You want to know about the MAC? Did you know NIU was 11-1 this year, and only after the 11th win did they get enough votes to enter the bottom of the top-25. That league barely exists.

We seem to think we are pretty special when we crack the "bottom of the top-25" in basketball? We made the middle of the top 25 last year in post season play and it was the greatest moment in our schools history. Yet, when NIU does it in football (a sport that is a lot bigger in a lot of opinions) it is franks and beans and the league barely exists. Ya, the league barely exists exepts one night a week minimum when they are on national television (only game on at the time) in HD. It has only been 3 years since Ball State was receiving arguments to play in a BCS game. The MAC's not great, I get it, it is bad for all practical purposes, it is however better than any FCS conference.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

We seem to think we are pretty special when we crack the "bottom of the top-25" in basketball? We made the middle of the top 25 last year in post season play and it was the greatest moment in our schools history. Yet, when NIU does it in football (a sport that is a lot bigger in a lot of opinions) it is franks and beans and the league barely exists. Ya, the league barely exists exepts one night a week minimum when they are on national television (only game on at the time) in HD. It has only been 3 years since Ball State was receiving arguments to play in a BCS game. The MAC's not great, I get it, it is bad for all practical purposes, it is however better than any FCS conference.

The BCS has killed the bottom part of the top 25 in football. The only thing that really matters is the top 10 (maybe 12 - 15). Basketball still means something at least (tourney berth likelihood). Football really doesn't anymore (except for that school's bragging rights).

[cydave]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

The BCS has killed the bottom part of the top 25 in football. The only thing that really matters is the top 10 (maybe 12 - 15). Basketball still means something at least (tourney berth likelihood). Football really doesn't anymore (except for that school's bragging rights).

If you really want to get technical, then really the top 4 only matter. Since the top 4 ranked teams are guaranteed BCS bowls. Other than that, it really depends on how well you do in your conference.
For example: look at the Big East, if UCONN beats South Florida this weekend, they will be conference champs and head to a BCS bowl, and will more than likely be unranked.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

We seem to think we are pretty special when we crack the "bottom of the top-25" in basketball? We made the middle of the top 25 last year in post season play and it was the greatest moment in our schools history. Yet, when NIU does it in football (a sport that is a lot bigger in a lot of opinions) it is franks and beans and the league barely exists. Ya, the league barely exists exepts one night a week minimum when they are on national television (only game on at the time) in HD. It has only been 3 years since Ball State was receiving arguments to play in a BCS game. The MAC's not great, I get it, it is bad for all practical purposes, it is however better than any FCS conference.

You missed the point.

The point isn't that being 24th or 25th doesn't matter. It's that to even get that level of recognition coming out of the MAC you have to run the table in relatively impressive form. It only takes moving mountains in that league for anyone to notice you at all, and even then, you're at the bottom of the page and destined for a bowl game (much like the FCS title game) that no one will watch.

For your trouble you program costs twice what it otherwise would. Enjoy!

[jegbomb52]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

You missed the point.

The point isn't that being 24th or 25th doesn't matter. It's that to even get that level of recognition coming out of the MAC you have to run the table in relatively impressive form. It only takes moving mountains in that league for anyone to notice you at all, and even then, you're at the bottom of the page and destined for a bowl game (much like the FCS title game) that no one will watch.

For your trouble you program costs twice what it otherwise would. Enjoy!

How is 10-2 moving mountains.? A team from the Big East with losses to Iowa State and Illinois would be in the bottome 1/3 of the top 25. That, and I highly doubt it would cost double to operate in the MAC as it does the CAA or MVC. Maybe 30-40% more. That and you can ask for an extra 100,000 every time you play at ISU or Illinois. Add in ESPN money and you are looking at 60% more revenue for 30% of the cost.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: UMASS going FBS (MAC) next season

The amount of "ESPN money" MAC teams are getting isn't a lot. You are vastly overstating it.

If Pittsburgh were 10-2 with those losses they'd be in the top-15 in the country, probably higher.

I know we struggle with the concept that "losing more isn't better" but teams in the MAC/Sun Belt/C-USA and most of the WAC and MWC are merely financial and competitive failures on a much larger scale than the FCS. I understand that some people have a chip on their shoulder which requires them to seek the approval (read: butt-whooping accompanied with a pat on the head) of the "big boys" but that doesn't mean it's prudent or justifiable.