From what I have read on other boards part of the UMass problem is playing at Foxboro. That is over 2 hours from Amherst on a good day. If they truly have thier home games at home things will hopefully improve attendance wise. Performance of their team is another story. I would find it difficult to attend a Stonybrook home game if I had to drive 2 hours each way. As for joining the MAC or similar conference that could be our reality in 5 plus years. The super conferences- BIG10, ACC , SEC etc are way out of our reach and opportunities are closing to enter them. Being in the MAC still gives you a good OOC schedule home and away and a respectable conference schedule in all sports. So we will see what happens after several years in the CAA, but I can see FBS football in our future.