Students, football analyst react to reports of UMass rejoining Mid-Atlantic Conference

AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Possible changes are on the horizon for the UMass Minutemen after the athletic department confirmed to our newsroom that they’ve received an invite to rejoin the Mid-American Conference.

“UMass already having experience in the MAC and some familiarity with the brand. It’s just a nice homecoming and nice to see that, in a world where most conferences are looking ‘How can we make sure we’re stable? how can we continue to grow and add in ways that make sense for us?’ this one doesn’t seem to be a reach,” said Mike Golic Jr., former Notre Dame football player and current Draftkings host.

One decade after the Minutemen left the Mid-American Conference, it’s time for a return of the ‘Maction.’ Golic Jr. told us what a move from an independent program to conference affiliation means for the Minutemen.

“I’m excited for them. It feels like a good move,” Golic Jr. added.

Sources told Western Mass News that UMass has received an invite to rejoin the MAC in 2025. The program initially left in 2015 after they declined to bring all university sports to the MAC. According to reports from The Athletic, the athletic department has agreed to become an all-sports member. For UMass Amherst seniors and sports fans, Ethan Kaempffer and Nick Novello, the change is bittersweet.

“I was excited, I thought it would be a cool experience going into an actual conference rather than independent and then I started to think about the actual basketball program and that was the one thing that was frustrating with me. The A-10, they’re building up such a name there and a good season, they have Frank Martin there and a great coach for the basketball programs, so I’m hoping we keeping that trajectory going up [because] the program could be huge for us.” Kaempffer said.

The pair point to a rivalry developing on the court with the UCONN Huskies.

“Hopefully, they’ll be able to build some rivalries. I guess the only team anyone really pays attention to is when they play UCONN right now, so maybe there will be some more games like that,” Novello said.

There is one guarantee: more football games during the week.

“There’s just something that seems very pure about the brands in the MAC that have gone largely unchanged and a conference that has stayed largely intact for the majority of my adult lifetime that plays it’s games on midweek…nights during the week, that gets some of the standalone games…which, I know, people on-campus have different feelings about, but man, for the rest of us who are sitting around on a Tuesday or Wednesday night during college football season and knowing we’ve got Saturday, but I could use a little hit of the fun in the middle of this week. The MAC has always been able to provide that,” Golic Jr. noted.

Those “people on campus”, or Novello and Kaempffer, said they’re looking forward to midweek games.

“Me and Nick were talking about Saturdays. We always tailgate Saturdays during home games, so the thought of playing on a Tuesday and having to tailgate a home game and have that campus atmosphere sounds pretty cool to me,” Kaempffer added.

Golic told Western Mass News the unique atmosphere of mac football and the chance for a conference title can change the game for some athletes.

“I think the functionality of having consistent schedule and have the ability to have a goal at the end of your season…we can hold that MAC Championship and have that bit of pride in something as the carrot dangled in front of long offseason programs and preseason football and fall camp, to be a champion and have that as a part of your legacy. I think those are things that in college football, no matter what day and age it is, are going to have value,” Golic Jr. noted.

More information regarding the university’s decision is expected later this week.