UMass leaving the MAC after 2015

[MarkL]

The other big one besides ND State in that region that has thought about taking the jump is Montana. If those two decided to become full FBS members, well, each would be improvements over UMass, Temple, and EMU combined.

[footballguy51]

We shouldn't be trying to expand our footprint when there's no economic or competitive benefit.

We disagree. Having Temple and UMass in the conference as full members would have benefited the conference. The attempt to engineer that was worth the minor hassle of imbalanced divisions in one sport.

If another expansion candidate emerges, I hope the MAC will pursue it aggressively, Fargo, anyone?

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... g-decision" target="_blank

I hear that. I would say expanding our footprint to schools that bring a special dynamic to the conference is a smart thing to do. UMASS and Temple have basketball teams that could have improved the conference. If we could have brought them in as full members, our basketball conference would have gained a higher prestige. However, Temple took off before that happened, and so we got smart with the agreement with UMASS. We'll let a team join for football only, but if we like you enough, we'll offer you full membership. At that point, you come on full or go away. My hunch is we decided we could deal with a lackluster football team for a few more years to gain a basketball school with traditional success.

As for North Dakota State, I like that. Great in both basketball and football.

[mscarn]

We shouldn't be trying to expand our footprint when there's no economic or competitive benefit.

Having Temple and UMass in the conference as full members would have benefited the conference. The attempt to engineer that was worth the minor hassle of imbalanced divisions in one sport.

That was really never going to happen, though. They turned us down once and that should have been the end of it. The two-year experiment was solely an attempt to position themselves for the AAC or CUSA just like Temple did. They used us and the MAC got precisely zilch out of the relationship other than a handful of easy wins for its football teams.

If they even think of treating us like a yo-yo and moving us back to the West then BG should look for a new conference.

[mscarn]

And heck no to NDSU. Would anyone get excited (athletes, coaches, chief financial officers of athletic departments) making the schlep to Fargo, North Dakota? They have had good teams as of late, but that fact alone is not the be all and end all for Mid-American Conference membership. The bar has to be much higher to make such a move.

[Flipper]

We shouldn't be trying to expand our footprint when there's no economic or competitive benefit.

Having Temple and UMass in the conference as full members would have benefited the conference. The attempt to engineer that was worth the minor hassle of imbalanced divisions in one sport.

That was really never going to happen, though. They turned us down once and that should have been the end of it. The two-year experiment was solely an attempt to position themselves for the AAC or CUSA just like Temple did. They used us and the MAC got precisely zilch out of the relationship other than a handful of easy wins for its football teams.

If they even think of treating us like a yo-yo and moving us back to the West then BG should look for a new conference.

Exactly...we aren't in a position to force schools outside of our traditional footprint to become all sports members, but we allow ourselves to be used as a stepping stone in our marquee sport...which only further diminishes our brand. How many times does the conference leadership need to be told "had a great time..the money's on the nightstand" before we quit whoring the conference out?

[HoopsFan]

Somehow, I don't see ND as MID AMERICA. My thought is IA, TN, KY, PA IN, IL, OH, MI, WV, WI and MO.

Now if someone shows up in that region, and there are very few major media markets left if you don't consider Detroit, then let's invite a pair of them.
Now if we could pry a Depaul or Loyola, both without football teams, or a Northern Indiana Southern Michigan school to the MAC, then it would be interesting.

HoopsFan

[Critical Thinker]

Call me old-fashioned, but I think conferences should be based on geography, not TV contracts or "power", whatever than means. UMASS isn't even remotely close to the rest of us. Whether they're a powerhouse, mid-range team, or cellar dwellers, I don't want them in a MID-American conference. The only affiliates we should be taking are the schools that have sports their primary conference doesn't sponsor.

Speaking of conferences based on geography, bring back the CCHA!

[Class of 61]

Good, their football has been atrocious.

I would assume this probably means BG goes back to the west, also.

Why would you assume that? Div. would be balanced and no need for ANY MAC team to bounce around, unless of course someone gets added. So much for "expanding our footprint. I hope we've finally learned about UCF, Temple,Marshall et al. They use US for own benefit, tho UMass hasn't benefitted very much.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Speaking of conferences based on geography, bring back the CCHA!

More bottom four finishes for Miami and WMU in the NCHC and they'll come crawling to the WCHA

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Personally I have no issue if the MAC wants to move from 12 to 14 schools, I just want them to be all sport members in locations that make sense. Yeah North Dakota State has been impressive in football and basketball, but our schools really going to want to send their non-revenue baseball, softball, track, tennis, etc. teams out there for conference games. The footprint can still be expanded but where it makes sense

[MarkL]

Here's the way I see it. If the MAC really wants 14 full member teams and doesn't mind tossing that team up north to the East, go for Montana and NDSU. If ...
1. 14 teams is that much of an improvement over 12 teams. If there is no real benefit to the MAC in expanding in size or geography, I am less inclined.
2. Road trips to NDSU and MT will not be an issue. If road trips cost too much, I am less inclined.
3. NDSU and Montana are willing and truly invested in the conference and will not bail on us. If they are like Temple, forget about it.
4. Adding two football and one big basketball school is really worth while given the geographic issues. The closest school to either is Northern Illinois and it is not exactly a comfy bus ride from DeKalb, Illinois to Fargo, North Dakota.

What the two of them would bring?
1. Great schools. Montana is a seriously good university and NDSU is nothing to sneeze at.
2. 2 outstanding football programs. Both could compete in the MAC from day 1 and compete with us and NIU and the other top tiers of the conference.
3. 1 outstanding basketball program. I don't know much about Montana basketball, but if NDSU were to win the conference in their first year I wouldn't be stunned in the slightest. NDSU could easily be playing at Akron levels on day 1.
4. Some crazy awesome fans. Watch any football playoff game on TV at either school in December. No matter how cold it is, there's the fans packing their stadium, there's the crazy male students body painting, and deep down inside you wish you were there too.

Would the two of them be worth it? I truly do not know what the travel costs would be and if it would be worth it all. If these two schools were in, say, Iowa and were both interested in being MAC full time members, I'd say come on in. I do not care for conference realignment, but this is a move that would not really hurt anybody else too badly (their conference mates know that a move to the FBS in the future is quite likely so they are already prepared) and could absolutely help the conference. As long as the two are in a contract to not jump to the Mountain West and the travel would not be too bad, I would be open and ready for the two to join. I'd be interested in seeing a feasibility study of having two conference members far from the rest of the universities and also in seeing the interests the two combined would have in the MAC. Obviously if they are lukewarm toward the conference or leaving their current rivals, not worth it, but if the numbers make sense and they are interested, I am interested.

[AyZiggy97]

Call me old-fashioned, but I think conferences should be based on geography, not TV contracts or "power", whatever than means. UMASS isn't even remotely close to the rest of us. Whether they're a powerhouse, mid-range team, or cellar dwellers, I don't want them in a MID-American conference. The only affiliates we should be taking are the schools that have sports their primary conference doesn't sponsor.

Speaking of conferences based on geography, bring back the CCHA!

Ok, "You're old-fashioned."

But the 1980s think you're on to something with it.

[AyZiggy97]

Everyone seems to be happy about this development with UMass. They were a drag on football. The conference did get four men's basketball games against what turned out to be a team that was ranked at times the last couple seasons. But their women's basketball program is awful too. I wonder if BG had one more win against another quality opponent instead of UMass if that would have improved their profile at all.

Good riddance.

[transfer2BGSU]

But their women's basketball program is awful too. I wonder if BG had one more win against another quality opponent instead of UMass if that would have improved their profile at all.

Good riddance.

There is only ONE way a MAC school is going to go to the NCAA tournament -

WIN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP.

Why don't people understand that? It is hilarious watching folks come up with all of these scenarios where a second MAC team gets invited to the tourney. And then they come back to reality after the selections are made. The big boys and girls do not want us in their sandbox.

No matter what we do, the selection committee will continue to move the bar. And when you beat teams like Michigan and OSU, their excuse is - "They're down this year, so those wins do not count." Why not "BG is a good team. Look at how they beat OSU and Michigan!"

We were ranked in the top 25 and continued to get votes - but the selection committee did not deem us to be a tournament worthy team, yet they took teams that were not getting votes and gave them at-large bids. Coaches thought we were a top 25 program, but not their bosses.

Face it -there is only one way a MAC school gets to the big show.

[Falconfreak90]

Dead on Transfer...BG was more than qualified for an at large this year and we got shafted again. How about the MAC office change policy and give the bid to the regular season champ instead? We could still have a tourney and the winner of that gets an automatic bid to the WNIT. If its the same team, the runner up gets the WNIT automatic. I mean we had ONE FREAKIN BAD game all year and it cost us dearly so some half azzed bcs conf teams could get in.

And UMass? Bye. That's all.