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Topic: Official - MTSU not joining MAC
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Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 11/10/2021 10:28 AM
GoCats105
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Posted: 11/10/2021 10:31 AM
Good luck in your future endeavors.
KyleWvr13
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Posted: 11/10/2021 11:38 AM
Would be curious if WKU stays or if they try to find another dancing partner to join the MAC with them.

I was/am more excited about WKU joining than MT anyway, but an interesting turn of events.
Last Edited: 11/10/2021 11:39:29 AM by KyleWvr13
OhioBobcat
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Posted: 11/10/2021 11:41 AM
I didn't like the idea of bringing in MTSU in the first place.
greencat
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Posted: 11/10/2021 11:48 AM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
OU_Country
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Posted: 11/10/2021 12:29 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
Re: UMass, Gawd, I hope not. They're not a fit in my book, tough the area around there is gorgeous. But, if not UMass and MTSU, who else?
Pataskala
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Posted: 11/10/2021 12:43 PM
OU_Country wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
Re: UMass, Gawd, I hope not. They're not a fit in my book, tough the area around there is gorgeous. But, if not UMass and MTSU, who else?
That's the problem. The pickens are pretty slim at the 1A level. Army is the best of the indies left, and the MAC would help them with some of the scheduling problems they seem to have -- they play two 1AA schools almost every year. UConn is only slightly better than UMass. It might be that a 1AA school would have to move up, but again there don't seem to be a lot out there. SIU would be a logical fit -- they're not far from WKU and are already a MAC affiliate for swimming and diving. But the program has been only so-so through the years and the stadium, while nice, is a bit small (15,000). Not much else out there.
We will get by.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 11/10/2021 1:44 PM
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
Re: UMass, Gawd, I hope not. They're not a fit in my book, tough the area around there is gorgeous. But, if not UMass and MTSU, who else?
That's the problem. The pickens are pretty slim at the 1A level. Army is the best of the indies left, and the MAC would help them with some of the scheduling problems they seem to have -- they play two 1AA schools almost every year. UConn is only slightly better than UMass. It might be that a 1AA school would have to move up, but again there don't seem to be a lot out there. SIU would be a logical fit -- they're not far from WKU and are already a MAC affiliate for swimming and diving. But the program has been only so-so through the years and the stadium, while nice, is a bit small (15,000). Not much else out there.
As somebody who follows Army football closely, I just don't think there's a world where their alumni accept a move to the MAC. I also don't think scheduling's a big challenge for them.

Army's in a unique situation where they can generate a lot of revenue as a neutral field draw in a handful of military-heavy markets, and where two of (what would be) their four non-conference games are spoken for in Air Force and Navy. Joining the MAC would limit their revenue generation opportunities too substantially. As things stand now, they get revenue games with Navy and Air Force (the Air Force game is now in Dallas and a nice pay day for both schools), and they tend to play multiple P5 games per year. 2023 they're at Syracuse and LSU, and home vs. BC. This year they were at Wisconsin and home vs. Wake. They have KState in a couple of years, and have recently played at Michigan and Oklahoma. THey've signed home and home agreements with Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Tulsa, Liberty, Syracuse, UConn, and Wake. The sprinkle in FCS teams, but I think anybody here would swap Army's schedule for Ohio's quite happily. Their financial situation, too.

They have deep pocketed alums, a nice TV contract, and draw well. I just don't see what the MAC does for them.
IceCat76
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Posted: 11/10/2021 1:52 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
I don't see UMass as a real candidate.
1. They won't give up the A10 for basketball. It's a multi-bid league and a lot less travel.
2. Their football is a mess. (UMess?). They have virtually no local support for the program and there isn't nearly enough in-state talent to support the team
The Optimist
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Posted: 11/10/2021 1:52 PM
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
Good luck in your future endeavors.
(will end up WKU and UMass this time?)

As seen on twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FD2AxMyWYAkQqeW?format=png&na...
Re: UMass, Gawd, I hope not. They're not a fit in my book, tough the area around there is gorgeous. But, if not UMass and MTSU, who else?
That's the problem. The pickens are pretty slim at the 1A level. Army is the best of the indies left, and the MAC would help them with some of the scheduling problems they seem to have -- they play two 1AA schools almost every year. UConn is only slightly better than UMass. It might be that a 1AA school would have to move up, but again there don't seem to be a lot out there. SIU would be a logical fit -- they're not far from WKU and are already a MAC affiliate for swimming and diving. But the program has been only so-so through the years and the stadium, while nice, is a bit small (15,000). Not much else out there.
I'd take SIU and WKU, but I'm more liking SIU because they are solid in basketball. I would take UMass but only with basketball.
I've seen crazier things happen.
Last Edited: 11/10/2021 1:54:26 PM by The Optimist
OhioBobcat
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Posted: 11/10/2021 2:06 PM
Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Indiana State could be possibilities. They all already fall into the MAC's current footprint and Illinois State or Southern Illinois could give Northern Illinois an in-state conference partner, and Indiana State would do the same for Ball State. You could also make the case for Illinois State being a bridge partner for both Northern Illinois and Ball State. Also, if Western Kentucky is indeed added to the MAC despite Middle Tennessee declining, then Eastern Kentucky becomes a candidate. Remember, EKU was interviewed by the Sun Belt several years ago and has expressed an interest in moving up to the FBS. The Sun Belt ultimately passed on EKU and went with Coastal Carolina (smart decision), but EKU was in the mix.
Last Edited: 11/10/2021 2:07:04 PM by OhioBobcat
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 11/10/2021 3:54 PM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Indiana State could be possibilities. They all already fall into the MAC's current footprint and Illinois State or Southern Illinois could give Northern Illinois an in-state conference partner, and Indiana State would do the same for Ball State. You could also make the case for Illinois State being a bridge partner for both Northern Illinois and Ball State. Also, if Western Kentucky is indeed added to the MAC despite Middle Tennessee declining, then Eastern Kentucky becomes a candidate. Remember, EKU was interviewed by the Sun Belt several years ago and has expressed an interest in moving up to the FBS. The Sun Belt ultimately passed on EKU and went with Coastal Carolina (smart decision), but EKU was in the mix.
From what I've gathered on a WKU board and MACbbs, WKU would not want in a conference with EKU, who they consider their "little brother." I think that would be a deal-killer for WKU, unless these posters are outliers.
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Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 11/10/2021 4:50 PM
I hate to say it but let's cut to the chase, there is only one school that makes absolute sense to join the MAC. But we all know at the end of the day they burnt the bridges necessary to rejoin and quite frankly deserve to be on the island they're on.
GoCats105
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Posted: 11/10/2021 5:06 PM
Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:expand_more
I hate to say it but let's cut to the chase, there is only one school that makes absolute sense to join the MAC. But we all know at the end of the day they burnt the bridges necessary to rejoin and quite frankly deserve to be on the island they're on.
Agreed. The move was them and WKU. MTSU was a backup plan when all the chips sorted.
mf279801
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Posted: 11/10/2021 9:36 PM
Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:expand_more
I hate to say it but let's cut to the chase, there is only one school that makes absolute sense to join the MAC. But we all know at the end of the day they burnt the bridges necessary to rejoin and quite frankly deserve to be on the island they're on.
Yeah, but at the end of the day, Cincinnati was too proud to come back to the MAC, hat in hand 😉
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 11/11/2021 10:00 PM
This discussion about Army makes no sense. They would have to be football only but virtually everyone in the MAC family is tired of being screwed over in football only expansion.
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Posted: 11/11/2021 10:00 PM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
McPhee is spewing garbage.
greencat
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Posted: 11/11/2021 11:24 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
This discussion about Army makes no sense. They would have to be football only but virtually everyone in the MAC family is tired of being screwed over in football only expansion.
Army has teams in almost every sport you can think of...even women's.

Not sure why Army couldn't go full MAC membership?
mf279801
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Posted: 11/11/2021 11:52 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
This discussion about Army makes no sense. They would have to be football only but virtually everyone in the MAC family is tired of being screwed over in football only expansion.
Army has teams in almost every sport you can think of...even women's.

Not sure why Army couldn't go full MAC membership?
Army has no interest whatsoever in being in a conference. Hard stop. They were in a conference not all that long ago and didn’t like it. At it is, Army has a lot of control over their schedule, can play pretty much whoever they want during their 11-game preseason, and can spend a huge amount of time preparing for the only game they really care about.
Hooligan
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Posted: 11/12/2021 8:41 AM
Army is in a perfect conference for them. From a demographics standpoint they are right in the middle, and Navy is in the conference also. All the schools are private and it compares to the Ivy League. There's no need to be in a conference for football, they don't struggle scheduling games. They will never leave the Patriot.
Last Edited: 11/12/2021 8:42:08 AM by Hooligan
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 11/12/2021 10:42 AM
Hooligan wrote:expand_more
Army is in a perfect conference for them. From a demographics standpoint they are right in the middle, and Navy is in the conference also. All the schools are private and it compares to the Ivy League. There's no need to be in a conference for football, they don't struggle scheduling games. They will never leave the Patriot.
USNA and USMA are hardly private!
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

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mf279801
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Posted: 11/12/2021 12:18 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Army is in a perfect conference for them. From a demographics standpoint they are right in the middle, and Navy is in the conference also. All the schools are private and it compares to the Ivy League. There's no need to be in a conference for football, they don't struggle scheduling games. They will never leave the Patriot.
USNA and USMA are hardly private!
I think Hooligan is referring to the other schools in the Patriot league
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 11/12/2021 6:38 PM
mf279801 wrote:expand_more
Army is in a perfect conference for them. From a demographics standpoint they are right in the middle, and Navy is in the conference also. All the schools are private and it compares to the Ivy League. There's no need to be in a conference for football, they don't struggle scheduling games. They will never leave the Patriot.
USNA and USMA are hardly private!
I think Hooligan is referring to the other schools in the Patriot league
OK, that makes sense, but he said "all the schools are private" and that's what caught my eye. I guess I should have had the intelligence to read it as it was meant rather than as it was written. I should have inserted the implied "other," as in "all the other schools are private." Stupid me.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
Flat Tire
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Posted: 11/13/2021 10:23 AM
Interesting article on the realignment of the conferences by the WKU AD.

'CAROUSEL OF MADNESS': How WKU ended up staying in C-USA and what's ahead for the Hilltoppers

https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/carousel-of-madnes...
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 11/13/2021 10:41 AM
Flat Tire wrote:expand_more
Interesting article on the realignment of the conferences by the WKU AD.

'CAROUSEL OF MADNESS': How WKU ended up staying in C-USA and what's ahead for the Hilltoppers

https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/carousel-of-madnes...
Thanks for posting this article. I will have to say this AD shoots straight. I was amazed that he didn't engage in any of the doublspeak that's so common among university officials these days. And, he made it very clear that MTSU was responsible for the whole deal falling through. He didn't really mince words about that. Great read.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
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