Friday, December 17, 2010

Friday --Dec 17th, 2010

The Boston Globe says UMass could move the MAC as soon as next month.

A couple of important items from the article. Note that the Kraft family is on board and UMass really needs an "angel" since we do not get much interest from the state legislature.

Second, see this quote from the article :"Increased revenue could also come simply from being an FBS school. UMass received a $550,000 guarantee from Michigan to play in Ann Arbor in September. As an FBS opponent, the Minutemen could very well double that. If they do that for one or two games per season, the financial gain could overcome any potential loss on the field, although UMass nearly pulled off an upset of Michigan this season.

Such payouts are routine. Ohio State, for example, which can bring in as much as $4 million for a home game, paid Navy $1 million to play the Midshipmen to open the 2009 season. Arkansas State got $1 million to play Auburn this season.

UMass could command similar payouts by traveling to Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; or Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Minutemen could also set up games in Foxborough against the other New England FBS schools, Boston College and Connecticut.
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Again, the income from playing big time schools is REAL SPENDABLE MONEY, as opposed to accounting dollars that UMass takes out of one pocket and puts in another and then declares a "cost" of football.

We played Michigan tight and received $550,000. Bowling Green (a MAC school) got waxed and received $1.1 Million ----- for no other reason than they were FBS.

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Nice story by 22News about former UMass football and baseball star Doug Clark.

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Thanks to the reader that pointed me to this story about new Miami HC Al Golden's changes to the Hurricanes staff. It appears Mark Whipple will keep his job as OC.

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A story about UConn in the Fiesta Bowl and the effects of going FBS. Relevant quote:

"    Look at where we are athletically, and look at where UMass is,” Tolokan said. “Or look at where Rhode Island is ... thank goodness for John’s decision.”
 
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Channelsurfing.net is carrying the Villanova-Eastern Washington game as well as ESPN2
 
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