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Topic: John Steinbrecher
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SBH
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Posted: 7/9/2019 8:32 AM
Had an unexpected opportunity to speak with the MAC commish last night. Nice guy. A few takeaways from our 20-minute conversation:

1. No new members on the horizon. Says the MAC has learned its lesson re east coast teams. "Unless UConn (and UMass) is willing to pay us a large annual fee and guarantee men's and women's bball games at home, they bring no value."

2. Expects an announcement on Ohio AD within the next 2.5 weeks. Said Mark Wilson was on the list of prospects but believes the school might be aiming higher.

3. Has "little or no concern" about losing a member. Does not believe Buffalo would be interested in AAC.

4. Marshall will never again be a member of the MAC. "First, they would be an academic outlier. Second, our presidents know their history and values. Bad fit."

5. Said he would love to see Frank Solich run the table in the MAC this year. "He's on the verge of becoming our winningest coach and I'd love to have him do it with a championship on his resume."
Last Edited: 7/9/2019 8:34:21 AM by SBH
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 7/9/2019 10:30 AM
Thanks for the report. It's interesting. However, I would not bet my IRA on 1, 3, or 4 being set in stone. Attitudes change as circumstances change, commissioners and presidents come and go. But it does give one a snapshot of current thinking.
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OhioCatFan
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Posted: 7/9/2019 10:32 AM
SBH, Did you ask him what the MAC would do when KSU and UA merge? ;-)
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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SBH
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Posted: 7/9/2019 10:49 AM
I did ask if he was concerned about UA's financial crisis. They intend to slash athletics spending for the next several years per their latest (of many) strategic plans. He responded that he heard there would be a new president named in the next couple of weeks and expected that individual to be pro-sports.

I guess we'll see. I can't imagine anyone wanting that job. Their board is a political mess.
OUcats82
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Posted: 7/9/2019 10:50 AM
I think Buffalo would jump in a heartbeat if the AAC came calling unless the financials would be impossible. Even then I think they would jump and worry about the fall later.

If C-USA ever were to implode, Marshall would be in a precarious spot as the MAC or Sun Belt would be their only realistic landing spots. They did have some rivalries going with a few Sun Belt schools when all were I-AA in the SoCon.
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colobobcat66
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Posted: 7/9/2019 11:22 AM
OUcats82 wrote:expand_more
I think Buffalo would jump in a heartbeat if the AAC came calling unless the financials would be impossible. Even then I think they would jump and worry about the fall later.

If C-USA ever were to implode, Marshall would be in a precarious spot as the MAC or Sun Belt would be their only realistic landing spots. They did have some rivalries going with a few Sun Belt schools when all were I-AA in the SoCon.
I don’t see any MAC school not thinking seriously about joining the AAC if given the chance. The increased income from TV would cover any additional travel costs and mostly just teams and not fans go to away games anymore. Travel does have to be tough on teams except a 2 hour flight may be better than a 5-6 hour bus trip. I do think that the AAC has a few teams (here’s looking at you Tulsa and Tulane among others) that don’t belong there, but thats another story.

Since I’m an out of stater, my situation is different than the majority here, so most of you are saying I’m crazy.
Last Edited: 7/9/2019 11:43:39 AM by colobobcat66
Pataskala
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Posted: 7/9/2019 12:12 PM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
I think Buffalo would jump in a heartbeat if the AAC came calling unless the financials would be impossible. Even then I think they would jump and worry about the fall later.

If C-USA ever were to implode, Marshall would be in a precarious spot as the MAC or Sun Belt would be their only realistic landing spots. They did have some rivalries going with a few Sun Belt schools when all were I-AA in the SoCon.
I don’t see any MAC school not thinking seriously about joining the AAC if given the chance. The increased income from TV would cover any additional travel costs and mostly just teams and not fans go to away games anymore. Travel does have to be tough on teams except a 2 hour flight may be better than a 5-6 hour bus trip. I do think that the AAC has a few teams (here’s looking at you Tulsa and Tulane among others) that don’t belong there, but thats another story.

Since I’m an out of stater, my situation is different than the majority here, so most of you are saying I’m crazy.
Not crazy. NIU and Buffalo probably have the worst travel budgets in the MAC, so the additional travel wouldn't be too burdensome. But there are few MAC teams that would even get a look from the AAC. NIU and Toledo have the rep and proximity to decent TV markets, so they would be possibles. Buffalo has the TV market, but their 1A history is lacking (73-143 since 2001) although they've improved under Leipold. All three would have the smallest stadium in the AAC by about 5,000 although Buffalo could use Ralph Wilson Stadium even though it would be about half an hour from campus. The rest of the MAC schools probably wouldn't even be considered because of their small media markets, lack of success in major sports, and/or smaller stadiums. Besides, as has been discussed regarding MAC expansion, I'm sure the AAC is willing to cut their TV pie eleven ways instead of twelve for a while.
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colobobcat66
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Posted: 7/9/2019 12:51 PM
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
I think Buffalo would jump in a heartbeat if the AAC came calling unless the financials would be impossible. Even then I think they would jump and worry about the fall later.

If C-USA ever were to implode, Marshall would be in a precarious spot as the MAC or Sun Belt would be their only realistic landing spots. They did have some rivalries going with a few Sun Belt schools when all were I-AA in the SoCon.
I don’t see any MAC school not thinking seriously about joining the AAC if given the chance. The increased income from TV would cover any additional travel costs and mostly just teams and not fans go to away games anymore. Travel does have to be tough on teams except a 2 hour flight may be better than a 5-6 hour bus trip. I do think that the AAC has a few teams (here’s looking at you Tulsa and Tulane among others) that don’t belong there, but thats another story.

Since I’m an out of stater, my situation is different than the majority here, so most of you are saying I’m crazy.
Not crazy. NIU and Buffalo probably have the worst travel budgets in the MAC, so the additional travel wouldn't be too burdensome. But there are few MAC teams that would even get a look from the AAC. NIU and Toledo have the rep and proximity to decent TV markets, so they would be possibles. Buffalo has the TV market, but their 1A history is lacking (73-143 since 2001) although they've improved under Leipold. All three would have the smallest stadium in the AAC by about 5,000 although Buffalo could use Ralph Wilson Stadium even though it would be about half an hour from campus. The rest of the MAC schools probably wouldn't even be considered because of their small media markets, lack of success in major sports, and/or smaller stadiums. Besides, as has been discussed regarding MAC expansion, I'm sure the AAC is willing to cut their TV pie eleven ways instead of twelve for a while.
Good points.
It has been mentioned elsewhere that the conferences might have to renegotiate their TV packages if teams drop out or come in, so there’s probably no guarantee that the split would increase with fewer teams.
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Posted: 7/9/2019 4:13 PM
Interesting that in this Buffalo News article (linked below) the AD didn't want to comment on leaving the MAC, rather just issued the obligatory statement that they liked the conference. Some of you rightfully mentioned travel schedules, which is even crazier than I thought. I didn't realize that in some women's sports in the American Athletic Conference have to travel to San Diego to play associate member schools. Also in the Conference USA, UTEP and Charlotte must ring up the travel budget for their prospective schools. Imagine having to schedule those events for non-revenue generating sports.

I could see a Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Marshall, Cincinnati, Memphis etc trying to woo schools to a new conference to balance out travel nightmares. If you could add UCF as your furthest southern school and pick off someone in between, it would cut down on costs and allow football schools to schedule more non-conference juggernauts.

https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/08/ub-buffalo-bulls-ameri... /
Last Edited: 7/9/2019 4:13:49 PM by cbus cat fan
ytownbobcat
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Posted: 7/9/2019 10:14 PM
John Steinbrecher is a graduate of the OHIO Sports Ad program.
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SBH
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Posted: 7/10/2019 7:29 AM
Yeah, it shows. He was bemoaning our annual collapse in a winnable late-season game.
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Posted: 7/10/2019 8:48 AM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
Interesting that in this Buffalo News article (linked below) the AD didn't want to comment on leaving the MAC, rather just issued the obligatory statement that they liked the conference. Some of you rightfully mentioned travel schedules, which is even crazier than I thought. I didn't realize that in some women's sports in the American Athletic Conference have to travel to San Diego to play associate member schools. Also in the Conference USA, UTEP and Charlotte must ring up the travel budget for their prospective schools. Imagine having to schedule those events for non-revenue generating sports.

I could see a Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Marshall, Cincinnati, Memphis etc trying to woo schools to a new conference to balance out travel nightmares. If you could add UCF as your furthest southern school and pick off someone in between, it would cut down on costs and allow football schools to schedule more non-conference juggernauts.

https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/08/ub-buffalo-bulls-ameri... /
The schedules aren't always sexy, but there is something to be said for the MAC being a predominantly bus-ride conference, especially for schools that are not swimming in cash and blowing their noses in dollar bills.
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Posted: 7/10/2019 11:24 AM
Interesting conversation with Steinbrecher. Anything said about mens basketball?
SBH
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Posted: 7/10/2019 11:45 AM
His message to MAC coaches who complain about lack of second bid to NCAA: schedule and win big OOC games.
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Posted: 7/10/2019 12:25 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
His message to MAC coaches who complain about lack of second bid to NCAA: schedule and win big OOC games.
I assume self-preservation is the only reason why this is not attempted by every coach. Better to pick up 3 wins vs. lower levels than have 3 P5 losses. On the one hand, uhg. On the other, I get it... meh, nevermind I don't get it.... Go big!
Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....
OUcats82
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Posted: 7/11/2019 8:31 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
His message to MAC coaches who complain about lack of second bid to NCAA: schedule and win big OOC games.
I'd like to think that had Buffalo faltered in the MAC Tourney last year they still would have made it. One could argue that they did exactly what JS said they needed to do.

However, I also would have fully expected the dweebs at the NCAA to take some 3 games over .500 team from a power conference instead.
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Last Edited: 7/11/2019 10:58:12 AM by OUcats82
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Posted: 7/11/2019 10:16 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
His message to MAC coaches who complain about lack of second bid to NCAA: schedule and win big OOC games.
He has no right to say that unless he quits pushing so hard for MAC teams to schedule 70% home games in OOC. Where has that gotten us as a conference?
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Posted: 7/11/2019 2:11 PM
OUcats82 wrote:expand_more
Interesting that in this Buffalo News article (linked below) the AD didn't want to comment on leaving the MAC, rather just issued the obligatory statement that they liked the conference. Some of you rightfully mentioned travel schedules, which is even crazier than I thought. I didn't realize that in some women's sports in the American Athletic Conference have to travel to San Diego to play associate member schools. Also in the Conference USA, UTEP and Charlotte must ring up the travel budget for their prospective schools. Imagine having to schedule those events for non-revenue generating sports.

I could see a Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Marshall, Cincinnati, Memphis etc trying to woo schools to a new conference to balance out travel nightmares. If you could add UCF as your furthest southern school and pick off someone in between, it would cut down on costs and allow football schools to schedule more non-conference juggernauts.

https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/08/ub-buffalo-bulls-ameri... /
The schedules aren't always sexy, but there is something to be said for the MAC being a predominantly bus-ride conference, especially for schools that are not swimming in cash and blowing their noses in dollar bills.

We must blow our nose with $100 Bills as we take more flight trips than any other school in the MAC
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Posted: 7/12/2019 12:28 AM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
His message to MAC coaches who complain about lack of second bid to NCAA: schedule and win big OOC games.
He has no right to say that unless he quits pushing so hard for MAC teams to schedule 70% home games in OOC. Where has that gotten us as a conference?
Bingo!
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Posted: 7/16/2019 7:30 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Thanks for the report. It's interesting. However, I would not bet my IRA on 1, 3, or 4 being set in stone. Attitudes change as circumstances change, commissioners and presidents come and go. But it does give one a snapshot of current thinking.
It will be interesting to see how things play out in the next 8 months and three presidents meetings. Have no idea when we played FB, you guys did not get a BB H+H. Perhaps it was the old AD, but not too sure of that.

Anyhow from our AD Ryan Bamford, we have both FB and BB H+H with Akron. The BB is just getting announced.

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8h8 hours ago
Ryan Bamford Retweeted Curry Hicks Sage
Quote:expand_more
I’ll save you the suspense...at Akron, at Harvard and home vs Maine are other three for 13 total. Non-conf schedule with dates coming by week’s end.
However, the way we have been scheduling out through 2024, don't think anything is in the cards beyond us/UMass continuing scheduling FB and now BB games with the MAC.

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/umass /
Last Edited: 7/17/2019 10:36:53 AM by Steve1981
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