UMass to CUSA ?

Relevant to who?   Delaware is about it in terms of schools that anyone in Massachusetts has any interest in seeing.  

Admittedly Massachusetts' high schools produce some high quality big time FBS players. However the state is not a hotbed for FBS football and I doubt it ever will be. In many ways From P-Town on the Cape to the small picturesque towns of central Mass to the Berkshires in the west, Mass is a wonderful place to live & work; a beautiful state, lovely homes, good schools and Boston. American history & tradition are alive in this beautiful place. It is expensive but you get what you pay for. For better or worse FBS & Mass are a mismatch. Nor is FBS a good match for the rest of New England and my beloved  home, NY. Delaware may have a need for name recognition but Mass has no such need. We have a good thing. Relax and enjoy it.

Once upon a time, I flew non-stop on B-727s into Huntsville.  Some of these locations would require charter flights, and if one didn't go charter, I think, for example, to fly to Huntsville, you would need to change planes in Atlanta.  Early practice for when you're headed to heaven or hell.

Direct flights to Huntsville tend to be high-priced, because most travelers (not originating in Atlanta) are people working for Uncle Sam or defense/aerospace contractors.

www.recorder.com/UMass-athletic-director-Ryan-Bamford-says-finding-a-conference-for-football-program-remains-a-priority-53283340

^^^  It's all about football.

  

If returning to FCS isn't an option, then CUSA in all sports is really the only option.

IMHO. CAA in the FCS makes most sense for these schools. A late HC classmate resident of Connecticut was furious about UConn FBS football. UConn athletics consistently ran a deficit. His taxes went to make up the shortfall. He used to complain vociferously nobody gives a damn about UConn football. Why do we have to foot the bill for what in effect is a vanity project or worse.
New England is not a fertile ground for FBS. Go to states like Florida, Michigan or Ohio there is an entirely different vibe. People closely identify with their state university football teams. For some strange reason they take familial pride in a school they never attended with out-of-state players they never met, all to the monetary advantage of interlopers. Haven't heard many folks call themselves a Huskie or Minuteman. Many in the more sophisticated Northeast have other interests more important to their lives.
Follow the money. I have my suspicions about the whole FBS enterprise in Mass, & Conn. Deficit spending may be going to a favored few, Peace.

What has UMass got to show for it's move to FBS? It brought running water to McGuirk and increased capacity to 17,000. Other than that it's been embarrassment after embarrassment for a proud program that won a national championship in FCS, a loss of traditional rivals except UConn and maybe BC, a painful move to Gillette Stadium that the giant UMass Diaspora in Eastern Mass did not support.

I think the best turnout at Gillette was against traditional regional rival UNH. If they didn't take the opportunity to play URI at Gillette they should have as Foxborough is near the State line.

And what is the grand goal of the move up at this point? Becoming eligible for a minor bowl few watch. Maybe NIL will save the day.

How many times has UMass played any of those schools in any sport…..

Football schedule would be a hodgepodge as it is if they stay indy.

Basketball and other A10 sports -- the Atlantic 10 isnt exactly a geographically compact league.

As mentioned above, CUSA also doesnt sponsor a lot of what UMASS offers, meaning they'll have to scramble for affiliate relationships. But likely these sports would wind up in regional conferences.

Remember this is all about staying relevant in football until the next round of dominoes fall.

My guess is they land in the America East or CAA for most sports of these sports. They were a CAA member in lax before the A-10 kick started their league within the last couple years.

Definitely a bit of a regression this season. They haven't been able to replace everything that departed grad students Dan Quisenberry and Khalid Moore brought to the floor. Those two were the glue of last year's team. 

Urgo needs to bring in a strong transfer or too or I unfortunately see continued regression next year. 

If Umass leaves A-10 maybe we could take the opening for our basketball program, it would improve our schedule and attendance would increase with the teams that
would play at the Hart Center every year.