The group will vote on the matter Thursday, but still has no actual power to force action.
AMHERST — For the second time in less than two months, the eyes of University of Massachusetts football fans will be on Herter Hall for a regularly scheduled meeting of the school’s Faculty Senate.
Once again, the group will debate the merits of UMass’ upgrade to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The following motion is on the group’s agenda for Thursday afternoon’s meeting:
“That the Faculty Senate call on the university administration to immediately consider reversing the decision to move to FBS football and direct the Rules Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on FBS Football to work with the Chancellor and President to develop a plan for withdrawal from FBS football to be presented to the full Faculty Senate not later than the April 18, 2013 meeting of the Faculty Senate.”
This is a change from the Dec. 11 meeting, when the anti-football senators moved to suspend the rules to force a vote on the topic, but failed to garner the required two-thirds vote to do so.
This time, with the matter on the Senate’s agenda, a vote will happen.
What hasn’t changed is the Faculty Senate’s inability to force action. The group can urge Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and UMass System President Robert Caret to act, but cannot put forth any sort of binding resolution.
The likelihood of Subbaswamy and Caret listening is questionable. Subbaswamy released a statement on Jan. 9 in support of the University’s move to the FBS.
“I am fully committed to working with athletic director John McCutcheon and coach (Charlie) Molnar to ensure that our participation at the premier level of college football continues to be a source of pride for years to come for everyone associated with our great university,” the statement read. “I look forward to seeing all of our old and new UMass fans next season as we build an outstanding football program together. GO UMASS!”
Despite the Faculty Senate’s lack of real power on the topic, its mere discussion of a move back to FCS has generated issues on the recruiting trail for Molnar.
New Jersey linebacker Shane Huber ultimately decided to come to UMass anyway, but only after a very public decommitment process where he cited instability within the program as the reason for his doubts.
“I wasn't feeling 100 percent comfortable,” Huber told NJ.com. “There has been some lack of stability within the program so I just thought I would open it back up and see what happens from here.”
The visible effects of the Faculty Senate’s discussion had fans concerned. In advance of Thursday’s meeting, Friends of UMass Football, “an organization that provides assistance and service in order to help promote, strengthen and develop the interests of the UMass Football program through its membership,” according to its website, penned a letter to the Faculty Senate.
“We feel that it is premature to judge the results of FBS competition after one year and that the UMass Football program is about much more than one year of finances. It is about building community, creating opportunity for young men and bringing honor and pride to our alma mater,” the letter concluded. “UMass Football has been, is and will continue to be a significant part of the great UMass tradition of excellence and we feel proud that we have been able to contribute to that.”