Sports
UMass To Leave Mid-American Conference
By: Michael Somrak
Posted on:
The University of Massachusetts and the Mid-American Conference arrived at an agreement Wednesday forcing the Minutemen to exit the conference as a football affiliate after the 2015 season.
The MAC President’s Council had elected a contract clause offering full membership to UMass last month, but they refused the offer. It was then stated that if the school was to turn down their full membership in the MAC they would only be allowed to remain in the MAC for two more season being a football-only member.
A main concern for UMass Athletic Director John McCutcheon not accepting full membership with the MAC was additional travel and time management challenges for student athletes.
The Minutemen will continue to be a part of the Mid-American Conference for the 2014 and 2015 season.
UMass originally was a part of the FCS before joining the MAC East Division in 2012 for football. The Minutemen are a part of the Atlantic 10 conference in all other sports besides football.
UMass has only been with the Mid-American Conference for two seasons, posting records of 1-11 overall, and 1-7 in MAC play both seasons.