{"id":6613,"date":"2014-03-27T06:58:45","date_gmt":"2014-03-27T10:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6613"},"modified":"2014-03-27T07:20:51","modified_gmt":"2014-03-27T11:20:51","slug":"no-more-maction-for-umass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6613","title":{"rendered":"No More MACtion for UMass"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"yFOOTBALL1dog-articleLarge\"<\/a>Today we learned that UMass and the MAC are parting ways after 2015<\/a>. UMass has played FBS football in the MAC for the past two years. In that time, the Minutemen compiled a record of 2-22, while playing home games 90 miles away in Foxborough. The school\u00a0remained a member of the A-10 for all other sports.\u00a0UMass’ decision came after the MAC issued an ultimatum, either join the league for all sports or exit in two years. UMass chose the latter.<\/p>\n

Welp, things just got interesting. Of course depending on your perspective, that could mean “good” interesting or “dear God the sky is falling” interesting. In fact if you were one of the people who actually thought a JMU move the MAC was imminent, this is probably bad news for you.<\/p>\n

With UMass’ departure, the MAC is left with 12 teams. All indications from the league are that they intend to stick to that number. Maybe there was a plan to add a 14th team if UMass joined for all sports. And maybe JMU had a shot at grabbing that spot. Unless the MAC is just sending up smokescreens while they look for two additional schools to add though, the door appears to be closed for now.<\/p>\n

But that doesn’t mean JMU has no other options. UMass today stated that they intend to stay in the FBS and will be looking for a new football league to join. That could mean that JMU is suddenly competing with UMass for an FBS spot. Or it could mean that UMass’ efforts to insert itself into a league could start the dominoes falling again. And that could open up some opportunities for the Dukes.<\/p>\n

Of course, the Sun Belt is still waiting patiently and weighing its options. While nearly every bit of “news” related to conference realignment is suspect, indications were that the Sun Belt was definitely interested in adding JMU last year. But JMU didn’t pursue the opportunity, choosing instead to consider all of its options. Today’s news changes things.<\/p>\n

Liberty has been quite open about its desire to move up. UMass is now looking for a home for its football team. And there are a number of schools that like JMU, are rumored to be on the move to FBS. Which means the Sun Belt might hold the one FBS card that everyone is vying for. They essentially luck boxed their way into some serious leverage. But at the risk of sounding biased, JMU would seem to be a far better get for the Sun Belt than Liberty. And UMass to the Sun Belt just makes no sense at all.<\/p>\n

The big rumor now is that UMass will try to work its way into the AAC for all sports. It is nothing more than a rumor, but it’s a move that would seem to make sense for UMass. It would be a good for both football and basketball. UMass was never going to leave A10 hoops to go play in the MAC. Even with the departure of Louisville, the AAC is still a decent hoops league. And it would give UMass a chance to build a rivalry with UConn. Of course it could also be a move that UConn opposed in an attempt to control the New England college hoops scene. We shall see.<\/p>\n

So here we are. I’m not even going to attempt to predict where JMU ends up after everything settles down. However, after a few years of fans establishing completely fictitious deadlines and dates for action, the upcoming June 1 date could be telling. That’s the date by which schools must announce their intentions to move FBS if they want to start the transition in the Fall. So if JMU doesn’t make an announcement before then, a move can’t start for at least another year. Whether you believe that would indicate JMU is sticking in FCS forever, is up to.<\/p>\n

Like I said, things just got interesting. To me they did at least. And I’m not sure it’s been obvious or not, but I’ve tried to stay out of the conference realignment talk here on the blog for a while now. Because I really don’t care. That’s not true. I definitely care about JMU and want it to place its athletic department in the best position possible. I just don’t care to worry about things that I have no control over. And I have no control over JMU’s conference affiliation. At all. This morning we have one new fact, that UMass is leaving the MAC. It’s a fact that is likely pertinent to JMU’s future. But beyond that, we have nothing other than rumor and speculation. For some folks it can be very fun to play the guessing game and try to predict what JMU does. But it’s just guessing at this point.<\/p>\n