UMassHoops.com

[Quann]

I think we are reaching the tipping point for the UMass Football program. I know this has been talked about ad nauseum on this board but I feel that if we don't make the jump now, we will be stuck in small-time college football for the foreseeable future:

http://www.umassathletics.com/blog/2010/09/republican-chimelis-column-on-villanovas-possible-updgrade.html#more

[jjmc85]

Who is the right person in the athletic department to contact about this issue with questions as to where the university stands and what alumni can do to help?
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UMass Football: 22-3 at home when I was a student.

[DrG]

Tim Kenney is probably your best bet. He's McCutcheon's right-hand man.

[UMass'96]

Here's a long shot in the dark and will clearly display my ignorance on the subject. What about the ACC? Everyone says that we have to move to the big east due to grographical fit, etc. What about the ACC? Invite UMass and Syracuse, round out the league with 14 teams and call it a day. It gives the ACC a stronger presence in the North East (currently only BC) and we don't have the Catholic school issue to deal with. I know that Syracuse threw a temper tantrum before when BC and others left but that was only because they weren't invited. I bet that they would move now.

I know that it would never happen but why not?
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Save your breath... you'll need it to blow up your date

[econalum]

There is a very good article in the Globe today by John Powers, who covers Olympic and "minor" college sports.

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/articles/2010/09/24/college_dropouts_increase/

3 clear points:

1. Title iX is very important consideration to any upgrade to FBS football, due to the increase in scholarships involved, so the question becomes - where is the equality for women, and the need to either add programs for women, or reduce men's scholarship sport opportunities. The history for colleges says it is mostly cuts to Men's programs.
2. As colleges become increasingly female in proportion of attending students, that only increases the pressure on which men's programs get cut.
3. This is a national phenomenon, and is really impacting the 'minor' men's sports that also supply the Olympics with talent for the U.S. squad (gymnastics, wrestling, etc.).

So, which Men's sports need to go from varsity to a club level, or disappear, is an important question. Men's: Lax? Hockey? Soccer? That is where the scholarship numbers are. Gymnastics and Wrestling were gone a long time ago.
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Feeling entitled is JUST a feeling...

[hatsoff]

A fine remedy to the title IX issue is to upgrade women's hockey to D1/Hockey East in conjunction with the football change.

[DrG]

Title IX is definitely a concern. A good argument can be made that we would not have a top-notch men's lax program if we played FBS football and had to match the additional scholarships on the women's side. Not saying it couldn't be worked out; it's just that there are many, many considerations involved. Upgrading women's hockey to Hockey East was UConn's solution, but that presumes that the increased revenues from FBS football will fund it. It's one of the reasons why I think a half-assed upgrade like the MAC is not the answer.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Moving Women's Hockey up is a good idea, though I am not sure it would cover all the scholarships. They have always been a solid team at the club level.

[econalum]

I think Women's Hockey is a natural addition also. It is expensive and does not draw well at most schools, so the issue of new revenue becomes much more important - attendance, boosters, both.

FBS, plus WH, would add something like 45 scholarships - well over $1.2M in those alone, assuming some mix of instate/out of state ($30k per), then coaches, travel/lodging/equipment for WH on top.

FBS conference costs would also shoot up travel costs, due to both numbers traveling and perhaps distance traveled changing modes of transport.
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Feeling entitled is JUST a feeling...

[rayers]

Tim Kenney is in charge of fundraising. Contact the chancellor and the legislature and let them know how important it is to make the move. Then make a pledge to support the move! It is important to keep the conversation alive to get the decision makers talking!! Keep sending letters and target them all. I do this all the time and the worst thing that happens is that wife laughs at me but someday I'll get the last laugh. It can happen if we make enough noise and generate enough support. Moving up is the only thing that makes sense especially if you look long term 20-30 years which I'm afraid doesn't happen often.

[OutlawPete]

News just came out that Montana will get an invite from the WAC. Looks like the big FCS teams are starting to move.
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http://youtu.be/8i5A1Pn0z6k

[SignMan]

http://www.umassathletics.com/school-bio/kenney.html
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I'd tell you about my trip to the dentist, but you know the drill.

[Old Cage]

If you are FBS you do NOT have to fund the max scholarships. I believe the rule is that you must be at 85% of the max.

Therefore: 85 (the current max) X 85% = 72. That's not far from where we are now. Schools can do that and then move the number up as they go while matching it for Title IX.
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"Jack didn’t have any envy in him," Calipari said. "He was the greatest coach to ever coach here."

[MassMan06]

Does every women's team have the max number of scholarships? If not, you may just need to add some to pre-existing varsity sports rather than add new sports altogether.

[Jackman]