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Ohio Basketball

Topic: The Commitment Line

Topic: The Commitment Line

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JSF
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Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
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The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 1:30:27 PM

We talk a lot about conference realignment and moving conferences and all that fantasy stuff. That's not why I'm here. I want to identify which of our conference mates have the desire and ability to elevate their programs. I don't think it's guided by a formula or anything. It's based off what I see.

So right now, here are the MAC schools I think have both the ability and desire to commit what's needed for their programs:

Ohio
Akron
Toledo
Buffalo

That's it. There's a lot of press about how little Kent is investing in basketball. Miami can't and doesn't really want to increase their budget. BG is small time. Gora at Ball State is pretty anti-athletics. I question Northern's commitment to basketball. The Michigan schools have proven they don't belong in this group.

So these are our peers. These are the people we should be forging ahead with.

And I think maybe we shouldn't marry ourselves to Miami anymore. If we have to leave them, we should be willing to do that.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

bornacatfan
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 1:38:29 PM

JSF wrote:

. Gora at Ball State is pretty anti-athletics. ...

She would be stunned to hear that.

never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Winter comes and asks how you spent your summer.....

The game loves and rewards those who love and reward the game

Ted Thompson
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 1:44:33 PM

I agree but maybe WMU deserves some consideration. They kind of got screwed on timing and the 21-win season in 2011 that forced their hand in renewing Hawkins. If he doesn't produce this year, we'll see if they have enough commitment to fire him and eat the rest of his contract.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

Andrew Ruck
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Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 1:51:20 PM

I think WMU and Ball State deserve at least consideration. They have solid fan bases, or at least fan base potential. It looks odd to not see Kent on there, but I agree.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

Jeff McKinney
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 2:33:22 PM

Remember that BGSU has that huge donation to men's basketball in the pipeline.

Bobcat Love
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,193

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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 2:35:17 PM

There is commitment at WMU. It may be a little skewed towards football (and we're in basketball mode right now), but it's there.

Pete Chouteau
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 2:36:18 PM

I hate to see Central and Western pay the price for Eastern's impotence.

Central made a big call dumping Ziegler and Western has quality.

Ted Thompson
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 2:39:21 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Remember that BGSU has that huge donation to men's basketball in the pipeline.

This isn't Tobacco Road. We don't need two schools that close together. Picking between Toledo/BG and Kent St./Akron just isn't very hard. BG and EMU don't belong in the MAC. Kick out two more (Kent St. and ?) and you have the makings of a decent conference. Problem is that there is no incentive for the Commissioner or AD's (and most of the school presidents don't care) to make the changes.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 2:53:17 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Remember that BGSU has that huge donation to men's basketball in the pipeline.

Exactly. Wasn't it something like a $10 million endowment?

JSF
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Location: Houston, TX
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 4:25:50 PM

I'm leaving borderline cases out. You're either doing it right now or you're not; I don't think we're in a position to hope potential matures.

Someone make the Western case for me. They seem content to let Cubit be average and Hawkins' seat doesn't appear to be very warm.

BG keeping Orr and BSU keeping Taylor is enough to put them in the out category. Both programs won't go anywhere with their current leadership.

Alan Swank
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 4:34:37 PM

This whole king of the mountain discussion has been interesting to watch develop. First let me say that March was a special month for OU basketball AND that on paper, with the new hire of Christian and the roster coming back, the potential exists for another exciting season. But we were one made basket by Akron away from none of this. I think we need to be able to at least duplicate this year's performance before we talk about "kicking folks out of the MAC." As reported in today's Dispatch, the bump in salary wasn't nearly as great as we all thought. We're all living in the magic moment of the first kiss. If we find ourselves in this position next year, then let the discussion begin. I know it's fun to fantasize but there is also this thing called reality.

Time to duck.

And, on a reread of Dragon's original post, I see that I jumped the topic. Sorry.

Last Edited: 4/4/2012 4:35:25 PM by Alan Swank

Jeff McKinney
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 4:52:58 PM

We do need to keep it humble and avoid looking down our noses at our MAC brethren. Let's be gracious--and realistic--after this special season.

I'm not much for kicking out other schools in the league. True, the league would be stronger if a few left, but forcing them out seems draconian.

How often have schools been kicked out of leagues? Temple from the Big East, Marshall from the MAC back in the late 60s...but I'm having a hard time thinking of other examples.

JSF
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Location: Houston, TX
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 4:58:38 PM

I'm not advocating kicking people out. I am advocating identifying who shares our vision and commitment and who doesn't.

Bobcat Love
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 4:59:22 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

And, on a reread of Dragon's original post, I see that I jumped the topic. Sorry.

Aren't there leaves to be raked or lawns to be mowed?

Alan Swank
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 5:11:24 PM

Bobcat Love wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

And, on a reread of Dragon's original post, I see that I jumped the topic. Sorry.

Aren't there leaves to be raked or lawns to be mowed?

Not today. Seriously, Love, what's wrong with giving ideas and opinions the same respect many of us give to yours? Any of us could take pot shots at each other all day long. At the end of the day that serves no purpose at all. Of course if you were just having a bit of fun with me, that's a different story. Ben does it from time to time and I know it's all in good fun.

Recovering Journalist
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 6:46:02 PM

I'm proud of the performance of our programs, but it's no reason to get haughty. Some of the thinking here is borderline ridiculous. I guess it's tempting to develop a superiority complex toward the MAC after recent success, but do people realize that we haven't won a football championship since 1968, and we haven't won a regular season basketball championship since 1994? We've clearly got the best athletic department in the conference right now, but keep some perspective. We've hardly dominated this conference.

Last Edited: 4/4/2012 6:46:44 PM by Recovering Journalist

JSF
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Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 7:00:24 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

Again, I'm not talking about results, I'm talking about money. Buffalo, with exactly one championship in football and basketball combined, makes the cut while Miami, the most successful school in the conference's history, does not. After all, Temple's not going to the Big East because they killed in the MAC. This is something I had been pondering for some time; Schaus' recent actions gave me an appropriate impetus for public comment.

OUVan
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 7:19:48 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

It is reason to get haughty. If you follow what teams and what conferences are successfully it almost exactly follows the amount of money spent on the programs. We haven't always spent the most in basketball but we have over the last couple of seasons and the results are starting to show. Unless other programs follow suit we are going to a see a shift in the power balance. It obviously doesn't mean that no other MAC teams will be able to compete with us but it is a very good sign that this program is trying to reach a different level than we are now.

First Street Forever
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Member Since: 12/19/2010
Location: Chicago, IL
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 7:39:46 PM

If this was an election, I'd set up a SuperPAC for Ted Thompson and I'd steal Jeff McKinney's campaign lawn signs. And possibly urinate on said lawn.

I like Ted's platform of being tough on the have-nots-and-never wills of the MAC. I call him Ted the Plumber because he's the one who can get elbow deep and unclog this toilet of a conference. So long, EMU!

Jeff sounds like a directionalist and a conference-builder... a terrible combination. The policy of McKinneycare is sure to eventually promise welfare-based conference invitations to the tired, poor directionals. Not only do they take resources from the top, hard-working teams, they could even take an automatic bid. YOUR auto bid!

Last Edited: 4/5/2012 2:41:41 AM by First Street Forever

I don't endorse the furry lifestyle, but when the Bobkitten is involved things can change mighty quickly...

Paul Graham
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/4/2012 8:35:34 PM

First Street Forever wrote:

If this was an election, I'd set up a SuperPAC for Ted Thompson and I steal Jeff McKinney's campaign lawn signs. And possibly urinate on said lawn.

I like Ted's platform of being tough on the have-nots-and-never wills of the MAC. I call him Ted the Plumber because he's the one who can get elbow deep and unclog this toilet of a conference. So long, EMU!

Jeff sounds like a directionalist and a conference-builder... a terrible combination. The policy of McKinneycare is sure to eventually promise conference welfare-based invitations to the tired, poor directionals. Not only do they take resources from the top, hard-working teams, they could even take an automatic bid. YOUR auto bid!

I like Ted's policy on slicing up the NCAA tourney money and giving more to those that earned it. Eventually the successes of Ohio, Akron, Toledo, etc... will trickle down to the directionals.

I just wish the lame-stream media hadn't jumped all over Ted's claim that he could "see Marshall (Huntington) from his house"

OU_Country
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Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
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RE: The Commitment Line

Posted: 4/6/2012 3:07:08 PM

JSF wrote:

I'm not advocating kicking people out. I am advocating identifying who shares our vision and commitment and who doesn't.

There are, from my perspective, three schools that are worthy of exactly this type of discussion as it relates to men's basketball: NIU, EMU, and CMU. NIU and CMU on the other hand are solid football programs.

Eastern is at the bottom of this conference in pretty much every major sport. I'll grant you that they showed basketball improvement this year, but other than that, I haven't seen much to legitimize them as a Division I program. The only positive spin on them for the MAC that I see is the proximity to the Detroit TV Market.

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