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Topic: The MAC's ideal merger

Topic: The MAC's ideal merger

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TMD10
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Member Since: 7/20/2010
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The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 11:22:31 AM

Is to forget the past few seasons and bring in Marshall. Then, lets keep raiding C-USA and bring along Memphis. The reasons are in the article, but if the MAC thinks big, this seems like a great move. Lets stop being jilted lovers and bring back the Herd!

From a Bobcats standpoint, I'd love to see this become a divisional rivalry again.

http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_200

MedinaCat
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 1:22:40 PM

Would do it in a minute, but it takes two to tango and I don't think either school would buy in.

sargentfan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 1:58:50 PM

Interesting, hadn't ever really thought of Memphis, though having them would guarantee a 2nd NCAA spot for the MAC more than likely. But if I recall correctly the reason Marshall would never leave is that they still make a ton more money in the C-USA than they would in the MAC. Don't know if these defections though could impact that truth.

Ryan Carey
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 2:18:12 PM

I think CUSA picking a few schools from the MAC as a much greater possibility.

If Marshall has any pull in the conference, I could see them wanting Ohio. Obviously we are on good terms with the Herd....we seem to play them more than some of the MAC West schools!

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

cbus cat fan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 2:45:57 PM

A couple of points to consider concerning expansion and the steady climb of MAC football. Marshall yes, but we are forgetting about East Carolina. Their ties to Marshall go way back. East Carolina would probably lead the MAC in attendance if they were members. From what I am told, both Marshall and East Carolina feel the odd men out in their conference. (Keep in mind Marshall beat Southern Mississippi who beat supposed BCS bowl team in waiting Houston. I don't have to tell you the drubbing we gave the Thundering Herd. Yet, how many people across the country or even CUSA even know that Marshall beat Southern Mississippi.

Someone who is well connected to MAC sports and the MAC front office told me that in the late 90s panic was setting in among some MAC football coaches. Basketball was what the conference was known for and some MAC schools were having trouble hiring top high school football coaches to their staffs because high school salaries were greater than MAC assistant football coaches salaries. Along came Urban Meyer to Bowling Green. Meyer was going to tell the Falcons no when offered the job but his mentor Lou Holtz told Meyer that there are no dream jobs for first time coaches. Anyway, the rest is history. MAC head coaches salaries along with assistant coaches salaries have skyrocketed (along with the rest of college football.) Now we are more known for our college football than basketball, even though there are only 12 regular season games for football and nearly three times as many for basketball.

To sum this up, we need to continue to elevate our programs through talent and visibility which will eventually translate into attendance. Winning does wonders but we have to continue to shore up the product and if Marshall wants in, well than maybe East Carolina might as well, and they already have the attendance thing figured out.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 2:59:47 PM

I think the article on TMD is unrealistic...Marshall and Memphis are not in dire straights enough in CUSA to consider what most would view as a step down.

Ryan Carey's view makes more sense to me.

OhioStunter
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 3:01:07 PM

When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking that if the Big East and MAC merged, it would be called the Big MAC.

If only we could then find a title sponsor.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 3:30:45 PM

I would hope Ohio is preparing the lifeboat to CUSA or the like behind the scenes instead of putting a fresh coat of paint on the wicker deck chairs of the RMS Lusitania known as the MAC. Putting out their hands and asking Marshall and Memphis aboard the ship really isn't an option.

OhioCatFan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 3:34:07 PM

There are several possible ways that this all could turn out:

1. Status Quo: Ohio and everyone else stays in MAC and no one is added.
2. A few MAC teams are raided by C-USA for a new, much more eastern Eastern Division of C-USA
3. The most eastern members of C-USA (that do feel like odd men out) split off to form a new conference (Mountain East). This would include defections by Marshall, ECU, UAB and possibly Memphis with the addition some MAC schools and maybe a SunBelt team or two.

At this juncture I would not rule at any of the three possibilities. All we can do is stay tuned and see what happens.

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

SBH
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 3:59:48 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Toledo and Temple were approached. I would be shocked if Toledo accepted. I couldn't care less about Temple.

cbus cat fan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 4:05:25 PM

A cursory search engine view found only one site that even mentioned anything about MAC-CUSA expasion etc. That link collegesportsinfo.com/conference-realignment-grid/ was a CBS Sports story that came out some time ago but was updated today, though nothing updated pertained to the MAC. When this story first came out, it looked at every conference and independent team to see where they stood (or where they could go.) We shall see but I would hope that the MAC office is at least thinking about Marshall and East Carolina should the Realingment Winds reach the MAC.

Casper71
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 4:20:57 PM

I think ECU and Marshall would be great additions. I doubt Memphis and UAB could care less. I just have a feeling the MAC offices are not approaching anyone.

The other option is for about half the MAC...better teams...approach CUSA.

All wishful thinking. I think the MAC is happy being were it is.

ou79
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 5:18:25 PM

I like OCF"s option 3. Form a new league with CUSA/Best of MAC teams and approach Navy. I realize the BE was looking at them, but the Air Force Academy today closed the door on the BE in no uncertain terms. They stated that they would stay in the MWC, stating they are a western team and don't want to loose key match-ups with local/regional teams in their area. This may also free up USMA as well. I know, this is all a pipe-dream, but fun to speculate. I do hope the MAC front office or at the least, OUr front office is on top of these things.

GO BOBCATS!

giacomo
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 6:15:31 PM

Toledo and Akron would be the only teams to have any chance or being courted by another conference, IMO. They have decent television markets that would buy in if they weren't playing Easter Michigan and Morgan State.

Alan Swank
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 6:53:06 PM

cbus cat fan wrote:

A couple of points to consider concerning expansion and the steady climb of MAC football.

Can you define steady climb please. Thanks.

Hocking
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 7:28:17 PM

Why would anyone leave CUSA for the MAC....you guys are delusional....CUSA= more money, MAC= pizza bowl and the potato bowl.

cbus cat fan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 10:47:58 PM

Can you define steady climb please?

Well if you sat alongside me and a few hundred others after halftime of many games in Peden Stadium in the 1980s, steady might be an understatement. Add to that the constant threat that we would become IAA, which in turn led to pleas by each and every MAC school to their fans to please attend all home games and drag as many friends with you as possible. Again, in light of these memories steady might be understating it a bit.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 10:50:27 PM

cbus cat fan wrote:

Ten years ago half the MAC had an NFL quarterback.

The conference is a shell of its 1997-2004 self.

BG and Miami have fallen off a cliff. Marshall is gone. Toledo isn't as good as it was under Pinkel. Brian Kelly isn't at Central, Hoke isn't at Ball, Turner Gill is gone from UB, Akron is a unmitigated disaster with a white elephant of a stadium, Kent keeps treading water.

Ohio is the ONLY program on the ascension comparatively. The only one.

The MAC barely made money during the greatest economic boom in world history. If this is a Great Depression sort of situation we're in (15 years of stagnation) the MAC will be dynamited within the decade.

Last Edited: 12/8/2011 11:00:20 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

cbus cat fan
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 11:29:04 PM

Brian, I know we are on the same team so I don't want to argue with you but this doom and gloom is a bit much. Who is the last CUSA quarterback that was a household name ? Favre? Heck Gradkowski is more productive than most CUSA NFL quarterbacks. Roethlisberger is hardly the last MAC QB. The pipeline is not dry. The success you speak of in 1997-2004 was due in large part to Marshall (Pennington, Leftwich, Moss.) Toledo is down, really? Is that why Beckman is going to Illinois. What is going to become of CUSA now that the Big East raided them? You really think MAC schools will jump ship for CUSA? Not going to happen. Believe me I wish things were better and we had Boise that might get a BCS bid, but we have been on ESPN more in the last year than anytime in the network's history. Our conference is steadily moving forward. You really think CUSA feels good about losing some of their best schools? Who are they going to replace them with, as I said I don't see any MAC schools jumping ship.

Mike Coleman
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/8/2011 11:53:37 PM

Brian Smith wrote:

The conference is a shell of its 1997-2004 self.

.... Brian Kelly isn't at Central, Hoke isn't at Ball, Turner Gill is gone from UB...

I agree the MAC isn't what it was 10 years ago, but... Huh? None of those guys were at those schools for the vast majority from 1997-2004. Well, Kelly was 4-7 in his first season in 2004 and Hoke was 2-9. Gill didn't even start at UB until 2006. From 1997-2004 he was at the same place Frank Solich was. In fact, Central, Ball State and UB were all terrible from 1997-2004 and began their climb about when Ohio did under Solich.

potstirred
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/9/2011 8:56:12 AM

OhioStunter wrote:

When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking that if the Big East and MAC merged, it would be called the Big MAC.

If only we could then find a title sponsor.

Don't think Burger King would be interested since the creepy king went away

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/9/2011 9:56:10 AM

Hocking wrote:

Why would anyone leave CUSA for the MAC....you guys are delusional....CUSA= more money, MAC= pizza bowl and the potato bowl.

AGREED! I don't know about Marshall, but there is absolutely no way East Carolina would want to come to the MAC! The MAC has nothing to offer them, at least in football. East Carolina has a 50,000 seat stadium that they've just made additions to. East Carolina is a big time program that probably aspires for something greater, not a big step down like the MAC.

I think the demise of the MAC is greatly exaggerated. These things tend to go in cycles. The MAC was more prominent in football 7-10 years earlier, yes. But I think some teams might be on an ascendancy; Eastern Michigan's had a good year, and virtually all of the MAC schools have upgraded their facilities. In fact, I would argue the MAC's stability is a plus because I think the CUSA-MWC merger will eventually be a disaster for some of those schools; travel costs alone will be prohibitive, even with an increase of revenue they might be getting. A bigger conference is not always better.

Don't get me wrong. I want bigger and better for Ohio. But at what cost? I'm already paying almost $20,000 a year for my daughter to go to Ohio and I'm sure it's the same for a lot of you too; I'm just not willing to pay another arm and a leg it will take for Ohio to try and compete with the really big boys.

Ozcat
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/9/2011 10:12:56 AM

Really? We're still talking about this?

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/9/2011 1:10:13 PM

Mike Coleman wrote:

Brian Smith wrote:

The conference is a shell of its 1997-2004 self.

.... Brian Kelly isn't at Central, Hoke isn't at Ball, Turner Gill is gone from UB...

Correct, but there were people in place who it was clear (I'll give you that Gill success wasn't a slam dunk) were going to win and win big. Brady Hoke and Brian Kelly were clearly at a class above anything else in the MAC in 2004. I could've told you Ball State was going to be good. I could've told you Stan Parrish was going to be an unmitigated disaster the moment he was hired.

Brian Kelly was so far beyond the MAC's level while he was at GVSU that it's amazing he had to spend time in Mount Pleasant.

I said the minute Beckman was hired on this board that he'd have a BCS job before 2013.

I can tell you right now Central and Ball State and Buffalo don't have coaches who will be BCS coaches anytime soon. Kelly and Hoke were just clearly studs even when they were losing.

The MAC has no elite coaches other than Solich right now, now that Beckman is gone.

Treadwell will be a C-USA type of hire. Ron English may be a guy who can get to C-USA level. I don't see Clawson as anything special at all.

Last Edited: 12/9/2011 1:16:33 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: The MAC's ideal merger

Posted: 12/9/2011 1:15:29 PM

cbus cat fan wrote:

I understand my outlook on MAC football has the buoyancy of a barbell on this board, but I'm pretty unwavering on that point. People who think otherwise I believe aren't realistic about the ledger books of MAC schools and the upcoming public university funding apocalypse. We'll be fighting for the academic existence of some of these schools. Think they're going to be saving the football program in that case?

Last Edited: 12/9/2011 1:17:21 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

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