I’m sure there is some regret but revenue does matter.
For the basketball purists in Philly they still get a steady diet of the traditional matchups. Temple plays St Joes, La Salle, Penn, Villanova, Drexel regularly.  Those games played at the Polestra carry plenty of tradition to satisfy the local fan base.

I think deep down ALL the colleges who leave their long-time conference (Temple, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse) for football money regret it because the historic rivalries are destroyed and their chances of becoming a "big fish" in a football-crazed conference are slim to none. But GW Alum Abroad summed it up perfectly with his Long answer... money, money, money!! 

As for GW0509's rumor about UMass leaving the A10 for football money, I assume they would jump at the opportunity even if their football program ended up being a punching bag for whatever conference they joined. 

gwstudent2024 wrote:

UMass football is a punching bag and they don't even have a conference now. It would be a bloodbath if they joined any semi-respectable conference

I had zero knowledge or insight on UMass football until it was brought up here. I just looked it up and saw they are indeed one of 4 FBS independent schools and are terrible as you pointed out. I always thought UMass played in a lower-tier football conference, similar to Georgetown football. UMass is 1-5 and lost 52-28 at home to Arkansas State in their last game, Arkansas State's freshman QB passed for a school-record 6 touchdown in the loss! I guess it would be more beneficial for UMass to join the AAC and have all of their embarrassing losses televised on one of the big networks (ESPN, Fox, CBS or whoever has the AAC television contract) instead of what they have now!!

GW Alum Abroad wrote:

gwstudent2024 wrote:

UMass football is a punching bag and they don't even have a conference now. It would be a bloodbath if they joined any semi-respectable conference

I think the powers-that-be could care less about being a punching bag (or even if being a punching bag is a good thing for the health and safety of their students), they care about the Benjamins. Without a conference, umASS football is a money pit, and there is only so much red on the balance sheet a school will put up with. If umASS football goes winless but brings in the ching-ching, no one at umASS will care about the W´s and L´s.
"College sports" is a business now-- and always has been for places like Ohio St and U$C and ´Bama. Better get used to it.

90% agree 
but with conference money they could reinvest in better facilities, coaching staff, and players
 

Thomas wrote:

gwstudent2024 wrote:

UMass football is a punching bag and they don't even have a conference now. It would be a bloodbath if they joined any semi-respectable conference

I had zero knowledge or insight on UMass football until it was brought up here. I just looked it up and saw they are indeed one of 4 FBS independent schools and are terrible as you pointed out. I always thought UMass played in a lower-tier football conference, similar to Georgetown football. UMass is 1-5 and lost 52-28 at home to Arkansas State in their last game, Arkansas State's freshman QB passed for a school-record 6 touchdown in the loss! I guess it would be more beneficial for UMass to join the AAC and have all of their embarrassing losses televised on one of the big networks (ESPN, Fox, CBS or whoever has the AAC television contract) instead of what they have now!!

UMass used to play football at the FCS level (formerly 1AA) where it was relatively successful.  It was a longtime member of the Yankee Conference with most of the other New England state flagships (UConn, URI, UNH, Maine).  The Yankee Conference eventually expanded (mostly south) and has gone through several name and administrative changes.  It was briefly managed by the A-10 before being taken over by the CAA.  This football league today includes both Richmond and URI.

UMass saw UConn make the jump up to Big East football and decided to upgrade to FBS in 2012 joining the MAC.  It initially played many of its games 90+ miles from campus at the Patriots Gillette Stadium.  The team drew very small crowds and eventually stopped playing there after several years.  When Temple left the MAC, an entrance clause for UMass kicked in which required it join the league for all sports (it had mainly been admitted as an eastern partner for Temple). The school did not want all its sports in the Great Lakes region dominated conference and chose to become independent. Since jumping to the FBS level, the program has recorded a record of 22-108 (.170).  Its best season record in that time has been 4-8.
 

Last edited by TJT85 (10/06/2023 9:25 am)

And Temple basketball may be taking another hit. Wouldn't be the first point shaving scandal but it's always a surprise when it happens.

https://www.si.com/college/2024/03/08/gambling-watchdog-alerts-unusual-wagering-activity-on-temple-mens-basketball-games

Loyola MD is also being investigated.

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/10112260-loyola-maryland-mcbb-team-linked-to-investigation-into-unusual-betting-activity.amp.html