The Hampshire Gazette has a story on Delaware joining Conference USA in 2025.
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The Minutemen really, really need a conference home. Having to play two (or three in 2024) Power Five teams every year to stay solvent is just not a good solution. Playing a Group of Five teams four or five years after signing the contract also can have negative effects.
This year we played three MAC teams. Not long ago Eastern Michigan went 0-11. This year Toledo, Miami of Ohio and Eastern Michigan's record was a combined 27-9. If we were in the conference's East division we would have also played Buffalo, Akron and Kent State who's combined record was 6-30. Every year, in a conference, some teams will be having a bad year and the other conference teams get to play them.
If UMass could join Conference USA, I think it would help the entire dept. Except for Rhode Island, The Minutemen no longer have much in the way of interesting games in the A10. I don't think building the department around the A10 makes much sense in the 2020's.
In addition, change will continue to happen. Once in Conference USA, we would be set up for future changes in sports. Syracuse and Boston College are the odd guys out if the ACC breaks up. There could be a Northeast Football conference some time in the future..
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MassLive.com has a post on how a UMass alum turned Europe into a recruiting source.
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A Daily Collegian writer thinks the solution for the UMass athletics dept problems is primarily a need for more resources.
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Kay'Ron Adams and Billie Wooden earn All-New England honors.
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