After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

(06-17-2015 07:21 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, and Albany would make a nice package. Maybe Army and UMass could join as an affiliates then?

(06-17-2015 09:46 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:21 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, and Albany would make a nice package. Maybe Army and UMass could join as an affiliates then?

In what world would JMU, Delaware, SUNY-Stony Brook, and Albany make "a nice package"? Seriously.

(06-17-2015 09:56 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:46 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:21 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, and Albany would make a nice package. Maybe Army and UMass could join as an affiliates then?

In what world would JMU, Delaware, SUNY-Stony Brook, and Albany make "a nice package"? Seriously.

Academically and with potential eyeballs, its like a package of Rices. Army is the key and they wouldn't accept without East Coast schools that they can beat. Some of those schools already are ahead of Cincy and Temple acàdemically, which Army wants.

(06-17-2015 10:06 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:56 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:46 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:21 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, and Albany would make a nice package. Maybe Army and UMass could join as an affiliates then?

In what world would JMU, Delaware, SUNY-Stony Brook, and Albany make "a nice package"? Seriously.

Academically and with potential eyeballs, its like a package of Rices. Army is the key and they wouldn't accept without East Coast schools that they can beat. Some of those schools already are ahead of Cincy and Temple acàdemically, which Army wants.

I read somewhere that New Hampshire is expanding and making some improvements to their stadium. Albany could be behind Stony Brook in that department. Could replace Albany with New Hampshire.

Imagine if you bring U. Mass. and Army in for all sports with Delaware, James Madison, Stony Brook and New Hampshire? The worrisome would be those 6 along with Buffalo could break away and form a new northeast conference at the FBS level. Add some more northeast schools in the area.

Army
Buffalo
U. Mass.
Delaware
James Madison
New Hampshire
Stony Brook
Marshall
Navy
Albany
C. Conn. State
URI/Maine

Be a tightly fit conference of 12 teams. They could go to 14 with Richmond and Maine or maybe Towson.

(06-18-2015 12:34 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 10:06 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:56 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:46 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:21 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  After UMass was released and before the new TV contract, MAC Commish Steinbrecher said in an interview that there would be no more football only arrangements and that the MAC was set at 12 unless a "package" of institutions that added value to the conference presented themselves. No more odd numbers. I believe JMU would have been added along with UMass had UMass accepted. They didn't and unless ESPN agreed to add a few more million per year to the contract, the MAC won't be adding anybody that would split the TV and CFP money.

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, and Albany would make a nice package. Maybe Army and UMass could join as an affiliates then?

In what world would JMU, Delaware, SUNY-Stony Brook, and Albany make "a nice package"? Seriously.

Academically and with potential eyeballs, its like a package of Rices. Army is the key and they wouldn't accept without East Coast schools that they can beat. Some of those schools already are ahead of Cincy and Temple acàdemically, which Army wants.

I read somewhere that New Hampshire is expanding and making some improvements to their stadium. Albany could be behind Stony Brook in that department. Could replace Albany with New Hampshire.

Imagine if you bring U. Mass. and Army in for all sports with Delaware, James Madison, Stony Brook and New Hampshire? The worrisome would be those 6 along with Buffalo could break away and form a new northeast conference at the FBS level. Add some more northeast schools in the area.

Army
Buffalo
U. Mass.
Delaware
James Madison
New Hampshire
Stony Brook
Marshall
Navy
Albany
C. Conn. State
URI/Maine

Be a tightly fit conference of 12 teams. They could go to 14 with Richmond and Maine or maybe Towson.

Doesn't that assume that SEVEN schools can make the leap to FBS?

Im just not convinced all those schools have any interest in moving to fbs. Perhaps a couple but ive never heard even a hint of what would be considered an interest in fbs. Most schools make some sort of public announcment of intent at some point. Has any of these?

I think UD/JMU would get consideration by the MAC.

I also think UD is more ambivalent towards FBS than JMU.

In the CAA, you have UNH, W&M, and SBU upgrading their stadiums. Only SBU's would be big enough for FBS, and that seems a long way off.

As others have said, unless the MAC loses a team, they aren't adding anybody. No incentive to expand.

(06-18-2015 08:15 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  I think UD/JMU would get consideration by the MAC.

I also think UD is more ambivalent towards FBS than JMU.

In the CAA, you have UNH, W&M, and SBU upgrading their stadiums. Only SBU's would be big enough for FBS, and that seems a long way off.

As others have said, unless the MAC loses a team, they aren't adding anybody. No incentive to expand.

MAC could add these schools.

Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Eastern Illinois
Illinois State
Indiana State
Missouri State
Northern Iowa
North Dakota State with Northern Iowa as a package
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Youngstown State
Dayton could raise their profile.
Stony Brook
Towson
Fordham

Fordham and Stony Brook could use Yankee Stadium until their stadium can be upgraded.

(06-18-2015 12:34 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Imagine if you bring U. Mass. and Army in for all sports....

I don't believe Army would be interested in all sports. We're quite happy in the Patriot League. In addition to cheap travel budget (bus to all league competitions), we're typically competitive in most PL sports and pretty consistently very strong performers in some, which has resulted in NCAA tournament appearances for lacrosse, women's hoops, baseball, both men's and women's tennis, and others.

Lacrosse might actually be one of the bigger sticking points -- the PL has gone away from associate members (Hobart was a lacrosse-only member some years ago) and we'd need a new home for what we consider a major sport.

(06-18-2015 01:39 PM)BeatNavy Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 12:34 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Imagine if you bring U. Mass. and Army in for all sports....

I don't believe Army would be interested in all sports. We're quite happy in the Patriot League. In addition to cheap travel budget (bus to all league competitions), we're typically competitive in most PL sports and pretty consistently very strong performers in some, which has resulted in NCAA tournament appearances for lacrosse, women's hoops, baseball, both men's and women's tennis, and others.

Lacrosse might actually be one of the bigger sticking points -- the PL has gone away from associate members (Hobart was a lacrosse-only member some years ago) and we'd need a new home for what we consider a major sport.

Big 10 as an affiliate, a la Johns Hopkins?

Keep in mind that the MAC is made up entirely of USNWR national-ranking public universities (and EMU) with enrollments between 20k and 30k. Suggesting the MAC would add a private university or one with an enrollment below 15k ignores what the MAC is.

(06-18-2015 12:00 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 08:15 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  I think UD/JMU would get consideration by the MAC.

I also think UD is more ambivalent towards FBS than JMU.

In the CAA, you have UNH, W&M, and SBU upgrading their stadiums. Only SBU's would be big enough for FBS, and that seems a long way off.

As others have said, unless the MAC loses a team, they aren't adding anybody. No incentive to expand.

MAC could add these schools.

Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Eastern Illinois
Illinois State
Indiana State
Missouri State
Northern Iowa
North Dakota State with Northern Iowa as a package
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Youngstown State
Dayton could raise their profile.
Stony Brook
Towson
Fordham

Fordham and Stony Brook could use Yankee Stadium until their stadium can be upgraded.

"Arkansas Tech" must be proud to have you as a student/alumni/fan. I thank God that you aren't connected to a university that I care about...

(06-18-2015 03:40 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 12:00 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 08:15 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  I think UD/JMU would get consideration by the MAC.

I also think UD is more ambivalent towards FBS than JMU.

In the CAA, you have UNH, W&M, and SBU upgrading their stadiums. Only SBU's would be big enough for FBS, and that seems a long way off.

As others have said, unless the MAC loses a team, they aren't adding anybody. No incentive to expand.

MAC could add these schools.

Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Eastern Illinois
Illinois State
Indiana State
Missouri State
Northern Iowa
North Dakota State with Northern Iowa as a package
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Youngstown State
Dayton could raise their profile.
Stony Brook
Towson
Fordham

Fordham and Stony Brook could use Yankee Stadium until their stadium can be upgraded.

"Arkansas Tech" must be proud to have you as a student/alumni/fan. I thank God that you aren't connected to a university that I care about...

Awesome

We have high school stadiums in Texas that are larger than the stadium ATU uses. LOL

http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/arkansastech/t25/

(06-18-2015 01:57 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Big 10 as an affiliate, a la Johns Hopkins?

Travel $

But now that they have Maryland and Hopkins, at least it wouldn't be a step down in quality of conference.

(06-18-2015 02:25 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Keep in mind that the MAC is made up entirely of USNWR national-ranking public universities (and EMU) with enrollments between 20k and 30k. Suggesting the MAC would add a private university or one with an enrollment below 15k ignores what the MAC is.

FWIW, Miami has only about 15K undergrads plus a thousand or so grad students.

(06-18-2015 05:29 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 02:25 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Keep in mind that the MAC is made up entirely of USNWR national-ranking public universities (and EMU) with enrollments between 20k and 30k. Suggesting the MAC would add a private university or one with an enrollment below 15k ignores what the MAC is.

FWIW, Miami has only about 15K undergrads plus a thousand or so grad students.

BGSU is in the upper teens as well.

I do think the general point stands the the MAC would be mostly interested in larger public universities with generally higher educational profiles (as in doctoral granting universities). I do think a private school could be possible but only if it was attractive enough as an institution and I do not think there are any of those left.

MAC should try to grab:
Western Kentucky or Marshall. Then maybe Middle Tennessee. If not just add EKU and James Madison. However I think the MAC should look south of Ohio and go into Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri for teams.

Missouri State and JMU work well as a package. MSU is already a MAC member in multiple sports.

(06-18-2015 06:27 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 05:29 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(06-18-2015 02:25 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Keep in mind that the MAC is made up entirely of USNWR national-ranking public universities (and EMU) with enrollments between 20k and 30k. Suggesting the MAC would add a private university or one with an enrollment below 15k ignores what the MAC is.

FWIW, Miami has only about 15K undergrads plus a thousand or so grad students.

BGSU is in the upper teens as well.

I do think the general point stands the the MAC would be mostly interested in larger public universities with generally higher educational profiles (as in doctoral granting universities). I do think a private school could be possible but only if it was attractive enough as an institution and I do not think there are any of those left.

Dayton, Ohio has an enrollment of 11,368. That is more than some of the P5 private schools.

Fordham is at 15,097. I think both of them in a big large city helped them get that many students enrolled.