I think you're being way overly optimistic. There is little reason for BC to agree to a home and home against a brand new FBS school from the MAC unless it actually take the lion's share of the $$$ from the UMass "home" game. And there's absolutely no way in hell that a team like Michigan or Florida would play UMass on the road. UMass will be looking at the 5 or so home games they get from the conference schedule only, unless they want to host FCS teams. And I doubt they'll want to do that rather than take the money they can get from playing on the road at a big-time BCS conference school.
I am not being way too optimistic. First BC plays a MAC team every year. One of the biggest things GDF is famous for is saying how much he wants to keep the New England thing in the BC football program, hence he scheduled all the New England CAA schools on a rotating basis. Unfortunately, the CAA is falling apart in New England. So, the "godfathah" kills tow birds with one stone, namely he plays UMass as his "New England connection" and he plays his low level D1 school out of the MAC top ge that infamous 6th win to be bowl eligible. Bear in mind Bob Kraft sits on the Board of Trustees at BC. You don't suppose he is talking to Leahy and GDF and saying he would really "love" to have the Eagles play a game at Gillette every other year?? It would rally the 2 biggest alumni bases for HIS football team, and fill up Patriot Place on an off weekend in thre Fall when the Pats are on a bye or on the road. Since the game is a UMass "home" game, BC doesn't lose one of its 7 home dates. It adds an 8th regional game for its fans and, here'e the big score, it keeps UConn out of Gillette and hence out of their media market at least every two years.
Since UMass, in my hypo, has "privatized" the football program, they will cut a nice deal with the Krafts and will have a gate guarantee for the opponenets they put in there. Big time schools will play non conference road games if,and only if, the $$$ is there. UMass will make sure that the Gillette games are profitable for a non conference big name team to come to Foxboro. BC is playing USC at Alumni Stadium in a few years, UConn is playing ND at the Meadowlands, Tennessee plays at UCLA , these non conference games are played because the $$$$ is there. None of these road teams need to do it for any other reason. Tennessee has enough trouble playing on the road in the SEC. FSU has its hands full these days playing on the road in the ACC, they don't need to go to Lincoln, Neb....but the $$$ is there so they go.
BC built their program by bringing in non conference big name opponents and guaranteeing them a certain sum. Part of UMass' capital campaign and footbal fund raising will be to carve out a very attractive lease arrangement with Gillette, and have money set aside to lure opponenets like Florida, Michigan and the like into Gillette for an early season road game with a nice pay day and a weekend vacation in Boston for their boosters. And those teams will draw decent crowds. And BC will bite on it because if they are part of a home/home where the games are at BC and Gillette, it keeps UMass from drawing the casual college fan away from their product since they (BC) are one of UMass' opponents every other year in Foxboro. Don't kid yourself, these kinds of things have been in the works for a long time. It's not just the UMass administration that is involved here. It is in the best interest of both UMass and BC to see that this takes off and works. UConn is a major problem for both institutions. A viable BC and equally viable UMass are keys to keeping UConn football in check. The big 900 lb gorilla in New England college sports in UConn. UMass and BC both know it.
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