UMass to discuss moving back to FCS

[JohnStOnge]

The Big East is a graveyard now anyway in terms of football. Mostly populated by programs that don't belong in FBS. Another wannabe league.

[JayJ79]

And with the new playoff system coming online, it's about to get much tougher.

How so? I don't really pay much attention to the FBS, but last I heard, the playoffs aren't replacing the bowls. So they'll still have hope of making one of those second/third tier bowls (and can even dream of pulling an NIU and making something like the Orange Bowl).

[GrizFan5]

The faculty at Rutgers have been trying to do away with football for years. No word yet on whether they'll wait until they enter the Big 10 to drop the sport or not. We know how powerful faculty are when it comes to sports decisions.

So did elements of the Dartmouth faculty. And Swarthmore's!

When did elements of the Dartmouth faculty try to get rid of football?

[SJHornet]

Nothing the Big East does/did makes sense. That's why they're not going to exist in the near future.

There could be something to that, SJ.

Anyone wanna lay odds on the Big East's implosion happening before the WAC?

WAC will be around long after the ashes of he Big East have dissappeared. WAC may be a joke compared to what it was, but its reinvented itself and looks like it'll be around for at least a little while. The Big East hasn't experienced near the devestation the WAC did during its downfall yet, and its already more split and disfunctional. The Catholic schools have packed their bags, UConn and Cincy are already taking their Big East signage down without a new conference to call home yet, everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane, Houston has made it clear their contract with the Big East is conditional, SMU is watching Houston's every move, USF wants nothing to do with UCF, None of the others want anything to do with USF, Memphis is wondering if the new basketball super conference wants a Tennessee presence, and SDSU and Boise keep releasing 'everythings fine-we didn't make a mistake' statements while simultaneously crying into their pillows asking the other members why they don't love them and convincing themselves they could survive, flourish and kick the MWC's butt as independents. Meanwhile, the rest of DI is watching, shaking their heads.

[Mvemjsunpx]

There could be something to that, SJ.

Anyone wanna lay odds on the Big East's implosion happening before the WAC?

WAC will be around long after the ashes of he Big East have dissappeared. WAC may be a joke compared to what it was, but its reinvented itself and looks like it'll be around for at least a little while. The Big East hasn't experienced near the devestation the WAC did during its downfall yet, and its already more split and disfunctional. The Catholic schools have packed their bags, UConn and Cincy are already taking their Big East signage down without a new conference to call home yet, everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane, Houston has made it clear their contract with the Big East is conditional, SMU is watching Houston's every move, USF wants nothing to do with UCF, None of the others want anything to do with USF, Memphis is wondering if the new basketball super conference wants a Tennessee presence, and SDSU and Boise keep releasing 'everythings fine-we didn't make a mistake' statements while simultaneously crying into their pillows asking the other members why they don't love them and convincing themselves they could survive, flourish and kick the MWC's butt as independents. Meanwhile, the rest of DI is watching, shaking their heads.

It did?

Isn't it still on track to lose its auto-bid status in 2014 when Idaho leaves?

[SJHornet]

WAC will be around long after the ashes of he Big East have dissappeared. WAC may be a joke compared to what it was, but its reinvented itself and looks like it'll be around for at least a little while. The Big East hasn't experienced near the devestation the WAC did during its downfall yet, and its already more split and disfunctional. The Catholic schools have packed their bags, UConn and Cincy are already taking their Big East signage down without a new conference to call home yet, everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane, Houston has made it clear their contract with the Big East is conditional, SMU is watching Houston's every move, USF wants nothing to do with UCF, None of the others want anything to do with USF, Memphis is wondering if the new basketball super conference wants a Tennessee presence, and SDSU and Boise keep releasing 'everythings fine-we didn't make a mistake' statements while simultaneously crying into their pillows asking the other members why they don't love them and convincing themselves they could survive, flourish and kick the MWC's butt as independents. Meanwhile, the rest of DI is watching, shaking their heads.

It did?

Isn't it still on track to lose its auto-bid status in 2014 when Idaho leaves?

It's been hard to keep up, but it looks like they'll be keeping the auto-bid. They've had countless waivers and rule changes given to them by the NCAA. Even if they don't, it'll still survive as a Great West 2.0. They'll take on DI misfits and DII transition schools until their down to one school. This conferce cannot die. It's the friggin Highlander.

[ASUMountaineer]

Didn't say they did. Saying they could have held out for it. Having UMASS in the Big East makes a whole lot more sense than San Diego State. Besides, renewing the rivalry with UCONN could be a program-saver....

You're assuming that they would have been invited, from the FCS ranks. That's a big assumption to make with no valid proof. Of course UMass makes more sense than SDSU, but that's irrelevant. What is relevant is that UMass did not have an invite from the Big East, and no indication that one would be forthcoming. Pretty simple, actually.

[dal4018]

Should have never left they aren't ready for D1 football.Villanova might have been more prepared.

Why do you disagree???

[TribeFanInNC]

Why do you disagree???

In 1978 Massachusetts lost in the national championship game. In 1998 they were national champs. In 2006 they again were runner up. They appeared many other times in the I-AA/FCS playoffs. Here's the key: ALL of these were at the Division 1 level. What would tell you they were NOT "ready for D1 football"? They were already there and very successful!

[Libertine]

everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane

I don't know why. It's not like Tulane invited themselves into the conference.

SMU is watching Houston's every move

True.

USF wants nothing to do with UCF

Very true.

None of the others want anything to do with USF

Painfully true.

Meanwhile, the rest of DI is salivating, rubbing their hands.

Fixed that though.

[SDHornet]

There could be something to that, SJ.

Anyone wanna lay odds on the Big East's implosion happening before the WAC?

WAC will be around long after the ashes of he Big East have dissappeared. WAC may be a joke compared to what it was, but its reinvented itself and looks like it'll be around for at least a little while. The Big East hasn't experienced near the devestation the WAC did during its downfall yet, and its already more split and disfunctional. The Catholic schools have packed their bags, UConn and Cincy are already taking their Big East signage down without a new conference to call home yet, everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane, Houston has made it clear their contract with the Big East is conditional, SMU is watching Houston's every move, USF wants nothing to do with UCF, None of the others want anything to do with USF, Memphis is wondering if the new basketball super conference wants a Tennessee presence, and SDSU and Boise keep releasing 'everythings fine-we didn't make a mistake' statements while simultaneously crying into their pillows asking the other members why they don't love them and convincing themselves they could survive, flourish and kick the MWC's butt as independents. Meanwhile, the rest of DI is watching, shaking their heads.

[SDHornet]

WAC will be around long after the ashes of he Big East have dissappeared. WAC may be a joke compared to what it was, but its reinvented itself and looks like it'll be around for at least a little while. The Big East hasn't experienced near the devestation the WAC did during its downfall yet, and its already more split and disfunctional. The Catholic schools have packed their bags, UConn and Cincy are already taking their Big East signage down without a new conference to call home yet, everyone is pissed and pointing fingers at Tulane, Houston has made it clear their contract with the Big East is conditional, SMU is watching Houston's every move, USF wants nothing to do with UCF, None of the others want anything to do with USF, Memphis is wondering if the new basketball super conference wants a Tennessee presence, and SDSU and Boise keep releasing 'everythings fine-we didn't make a mistake' statements while simultaneously crying into their pillows asking the other members why they don't love them and convincing themselves they could survive, flourish and kick the MWC's butt as independents. Meanwhile, the rest of DI is watching, shaking their heads.

It did?

Isn't it still on track to lose its auto-bid status in 2014 when Idaho leaves?

The WAC will most likely maintain its auto-bids. I think the recent additions push the start of the waiver out a year and then UTPA will come on board next week and I think this lets the WAC get to its membership minimums.

[DSUrocks07]

Its funny how now UMass is in talks of potential Big East candidates with everything that has been going on.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... m-big-east

The Big East will have to decide if it will add one more school for all sports. The league will be at nine for basketball in 2015 -- UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, Memphis, Central Florida, SMU, Houston, Tulane and Temple -- and 13 for football with the addition of football-only members San Diego State, Boise State, East Carolina and Navy.

If the Big East is looking to add one more team for all sports, it makes sense to pick up UMass out of the A-10 since the Minutemen have upgraded football and would fit in the footprint. UConn and Cincinnati haven’t hid their desire to go to the ACC, but the ACC won’t add, according to sources, unless there is another major move by the Big Ten or SEC that could include poaching ACC members.

[UNI88]

Its funny how now UMass is in talks of potential Big East candidates with everything that has been going on.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... m-big-east

The Big East will have to decide if it will add one more school for all sports. The league will be at nine for basketball in 2015 -- UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, Memphis, Central Florida, SMU, Houston, Tulane and Temple -- and 13 for football with the addition of football-only members San Diego State, Boise State, East Carolina and Navy.

If the Big East is looking to add one more team for all sports, it makes sense to pick up UMass out of the A-10 since the Minutemen have upgraded football and would fit in the footprint. UConn and Cincinnati haven’t hid their desire to go to the ACC, but the ACC won’t add, according to sources, unless there is another major move by the Big Ten or SEC that could include poaching ACC members.

If you're UMass, do you want to jump to the Big East now? The MAC has been very stable compared to just about every other conference while the Big East is the poster child for instability. What happens if UConn and Cincy get better offers? It's not as cut and dried of a decision as it would have been when UMass first announced the move up.

[Col Hogan]

I say we stay with the MAC in football, and support the mega A-10 for basketball...

But I'm just one alum...