UMass officially joins Mid-American Conference
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Bamford said the MAC will help the school respond to 'today's evolving collegiate landscape,' which will include payments to players under the landmark
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Minuteman football was part of the MAC from 2012-15, departing when the conference exercised a clause in its agreement to essentially force UMass to become a member in all sports. Then-athletic director John McCutcheon declared that 'not a good fit' given the MAC's decidedly midwestern base, and expressed confidence that 'within the next two years, we will find a more suitable conference for our FBS football program.'
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Instead, the Minutemen went nine years as an independent, topping out at 4-8 seasons in 2017 and 2018 and a collective 26-122 since joining the top level. They were 2-10 last year and winless against FBS competition, with Don Brown — the fourth full-time coach in 13 seasons —
UMass accepted an invitation to join the MAC
Seventeen of the 21 UMass varsity teams will compete in the MAC. The school's men's hockey program, built into
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UMass officially joins Mid-American Conference
'Our commitment to building a regionally dominant and nationally prominent athletic program remains unwavering and our decision to partner with the MAC aligns with our long-term vision for the Flagship, in areas of both academic success and competitive excellence,' athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a statement. 'This change comes at a pivotal time in collegiate athletics and we are prepared to meet this moment.' Advertisement Bamford said the MAC will help the school respond to 'today's evolving collegiate landscape,' which will include payments to players under the landmark Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Minuteman football was part of the MAC from 2012-15, departing when the conference exercised a clause in its agreement to essentially force UMass to become a member in all sports. Then-athletic director John McCutcheon declared that 'not a good fit' given the MAC's decidedly midwestern base, and expressed confidence that 'within the next two years, we will find a more suitable conference for our FBS football program.' Advertisement Instead, the Minutemen went nine years as an independent, topping out at 4-8 seasons in 2017 and 2018 and a collective 26-122 since joining the top level. They were 2-10 last year and winless against FBS competition, with Don Brown — the fourth full-time coach in 13 seasons — UMass accepted an invitation to join the MAC Seventeen of the 21 UMass varsity teams will compete in the MAC. The school's men's hockey program, built into
