UMass leaving the MAC

[mustangxc]

Adding UMass does nothing for the national profile of our conference. It would help bball a little but a negative in football. But, I'd love to add them as a bball only member.

No, we don't want to go down the football members/basketball members road again. I'm not thrilled about Navy coming in as a partial member either.

I agree, I would gladly trade Navy as a football only for UMASS as a full member in a heartbeat.

[East Coast Mustang]

Navy will travel a lot better to Ford than UMass ever would.

[mustangxc]

I just think that we need to maximize what we are, a power basketball conference that plays FBS football.

[LA_Mustang]

No, we don't want to go down the football members/basketball members road again. I'm not thrilled about Navy coming in as a partial member either.

I'm not sure why. If adding a school helps one sport and not the other, why wouldn't you want to add the sport that it helps only? UMass or Wichita are perfect examples in hoops. We should be looking to strengthen both sports at all times.

[Pony147]

I just think that we need to maximize what we are, a power basketball conference that plays FBS football.

Unfortunately, that was the mindset that brought down the Big East in the first place

[Digetydog]

Navy will travel a lot better to Ford than UMass ever would.

UMass fans barely travel to Foxboro Stadium from their campus. They have never had a CFB tradition and there is ZERO evidence that they are building one. Although Umass is the "Big State School" in Mass, they are probably the third most popular college FB team in the state. BC is number 1 and Harvard is probably #2. (Holy Cross might be #3, but I wouldn't bet the farm on that).

The only upside to adding them would be my opportunity to see the Mustangs play every year (Uconn and Umass are w/in driving distance from my house).

[StandUp]

"UMass fans barely travel to Foxboro Stadium from their campus. They have never had a football tradition. There is ZERO evidence that they are building one." - I agree. Doesn't this sound a lot like SMU? We have a Football Stadium on campus and we cannot even sell out. We are not exactly building a Football Tradition at SMU. No true commitment from our AD, Head Coach, Community. Yes we have had a Football Tradition at SMU, but this is ancient history. Something tells me that UMASS might say the same about SMU.

We need to somehow join or form a Basketball focused conference similar to the New Big East, maybe not quite as notable as the ACC, but a Basketball Conference that is reputable. Invite Wichita State, UMASS, BYU, whoever. We need to recognize that we are no longer a Football School. Reading this please don't think that I do not want us to ever be a Football School, but being honest that ship has sailed. Until signs show that there really is a commitment to that direction, we need to accept reality.

[PonyKai]

The AAC has enough turds in the punchbowl as is. Why add another?

[Big12Mustang]

I just think that we need to maximize what we are, a power basketball conference that plays FBS football.

Unfortunately, that was the mindset that brought down the Big East in the first place

This. AAC teams need to step up to the plate in Football...it won't matter what we do in Basketball, Football steers the ship.

[PoconoPony]

Bottom line is that the AAC does not make an sense for football or basketball particularly with the loss of Louisville and Rutgers. Teams have nothing in common, no way to establish rivalries, difficult for fans to travel to off beat places, too much geography involved, few regional fans/alums....etc. No solution other than be ready to move to a bigger conference if they expand and that will be very tough because our football team is not ready and will have little impact on any decision making.

[East Coast Mustang]

If we really want to improve the conference we should find a way to make BYU work

[hoopmanx]

Hoops only, wichita st

[Big12Mustang]

If we really want to improve the conference we should find a way to make BYU work

BYU will need a travel partner/Regional rival. Boise would be a great add, but we would also have to come to terms with them.

I'm thinking this might work if we can make it happen:

AAC West:

Boise
SMU
BYU
UH
Tulsa
Tulane
Memphis

AAC East:

UCF
USF
Temple
UConn
ECU
Navy
Cincy

But in reality, the AAC will just be a platform for expansion for the teams; Cincy to ACC. SMU, UConn to Big 12 ...

[East Coast Mustang]

BYU/New Mexico

[Big12Mustang]

SMU in Big 12 would work great if they add Arizona, Arizona St., UConn or Cincy then SMU. Keep it at 14 and with conference championship.