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Topic:  The MAC

Topic:  The MAC
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Bert Presley
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Location: Where OHIO is winning and Miami is getting whipped, OH
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  Message Not Read  The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 7:05:01 PM 
To get to 14 teams (if UMASS stays, which is good for Buffalo), who should the MAC try to get, obviously we are looking to the East but any ideas? Also, what are our thoughts of the MAC East having 6 teams and the west having 7 if the fighting jello pops do indeed leave.

I am and forever will be the Wizard of OU.

DocBobcat was my Principal; and is still one cool Cat.

OHIO BOBCATS 2011,2012 MAC EAST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
                               2012 Independence Bowl Champions
                               2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions
                               2011 MAC Tournament Champions (Field Hockey)
                               2012 MAC Tournament Champions (Mens Basketball)
                               2012 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (Mens Basketball)
                            


 
 
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PalmerFest
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 7:58:52 PM 
The Blue Hens of Delaware?
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C Money
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 8:44:09 PM 
Any one of Delaware, James Madison, or Appy State.
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Ohio69
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 9:14:29 PM 
Deleware is at the top of my list.

Appy State is interesting.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

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ohio9704
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 9:17:24 PM 
Western Kentucky for all sports
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D.A.
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/22/2012 10:02:56 PM 
Drop UMass then start the search for only all sports schools.

The Few, The Proud, The Bobcats!

And for the record, I hate tOSU, and Ricordati and Torgerson are DB's.

"This isn't just another walkover from the MAC." Kirk Herbstreit, another DB, on College Football Gameday
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Pataskala
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 6:59:54 AM 
I'm for looking at all-sports schools.  To me, having "football-only" schools cheapens a league.  Temps has been in the MAC five years now, and half the fans don't even know it.  I think it's bad enough that half the Big Least is b-ball only.  Now they're adding football-only schools, which makes no sense at all -- especially if AQ status goes bye-bye. 

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.
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ou79
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 9:01:05 AM 
The time to do the following has probably already passed, but we should have been getting together with a few of the MAC top schools along with the best from CUSA, especially eastern CUSA schools as well as independents (Navy & Army) and looking at forming an entirely new league.  No offense ment, but the schools being suggested on here for membership in the MAC will only insure we remain a joke of a conference.  Sorry, but I see the MAC falling farther behinid.
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Bert Presley
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 9:17:22 AM 
I am looking for schools that are near to us (as a conference) and fit in our academic mold. With that in mind, Murray State seems like a fit, possibly Northern Iowa (not sure about their academics), I think academics and location are the 2 keys.

I am and forever will be the Wizard of OU.

DocBobcat was my Principal; and is still one cool Cat.

OHIO BOBCATS 2011,2012 MAC EAST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
                               2012 Independence Bowl Champions
                               2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions
                               2011 MAC Tournament Champions (Field Hockey)
                               2012 MAC Tournament Champions (Mens Basketball)
                               2012 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (Mens Basketball)
                            


 
 
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Hooligan
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 10:39:49 AM 
Marshall, East Carolina, Army, Northern Iowa, Murray State, Morehead State, Eastern Illinois, Middle Tenneessee.  Maybe Youngstown State.  The problem isn't who does the MAC want, it's who wants to be in the MAC. I think the MAC needs to look at current members, see if anyone needs to improve to stay in the league, then look at adding a few teams.  The MAC is close to being left out of any conference re-alignment if they don't get active.  I have no illusions of being a AQ conference, I just want to maintain our place in the world.

How about UNC Charlotte?  There starting a football team.  I'd like to expand more south than anything.  I think it would be close enough for fan travel and the area is beautiful.
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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 10:50:16 AM 
ou79 wrote:
The time to do the following has probably already passed, but we should have been getting together with a few of the MAC top schools along with the best from CUSA, especially eastern CUSA schools as well as independents (Navy & Army) and looking at forming an entirely new league.  No offense ment, but the schools being suggested on here for membership in the MAC will only insure we remain a joke of a conference.  Sorry, but I see the MAC falling farther behinid.


Don't bet your mortgage on those feelings you have.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Cutler Hall and the Roundhouse on Richlarnd are burning the midnight oil over this type of a scenario.  Without revealing any sources, I do know that certain significant forces within the Marshall community would very much like to see something like this happen, Chuckie Landon notwithstanding. 

Last Edited: 2/23/2012 10:53:02 AM by OhioCatFan

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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MariettaCatFanatic
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 10:52:05 AM 
How about Old Dominion? Up and coming football program...great basketball program. Seems like a good fit to me.

GO BOBCATS!

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C Money
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 11:19:51 AM 
ou79 wrote:
The time to do the following has probably already passed, but we should have been getting together with a few of the MAC top schools along with the best from CUSA, especially eastern CUSA schools as well as independents (Navy & Army) and looking at forming an entirely new league. 


I do not disagree. This is absolutely the preferred option. But so long as the Rebel Alliance is going to give it a go, it's not a possible option. I would rather look at quality FCS programs looking to make a jump who might see the MAC as an opportunity rather than those who see the MAC as a desperation move. My three picks (Delaware, JMU, and Appy State) all fit that description.

And all three have attendance that is better than the MAC average (Delaware and JMU would probably lead the MAC in attendance their first year), so I certainly don't think adding them will be seen as a step down for the conference.
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L.C.
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 1:23:14 PM 
The reason for so many opinions, I think, is that people seem to have differing goals. Some would like to see Ohio continue to become more competitive, and more significant on a National scale. For those people, either the MAC needs to upgrade, Ohio needs to move up from the MAC, or a new conference needs to be formed. Others seem to believe that there is not really any hope for a significant upgrade, or national significance, and therefore the MAC is the appropriate place to be, and the focus of the MAC should be to remain regionally competitive, and low cost from a travel perspective.

I have no stake in this, so I'm just watching the interesting debate, a debate that has been going on here for a long time. Both sides make good points. On the one hand, because of not being in a major metro area, there is some doubt that Ohio could ever have competitive game day fanbases if they were in a larger conference. On the other hand, Ohio is a major University, and has a huge alumni base, that, you would think, would, over time, gradually increase in their support for the program. Those that focus on the limited game day fanbase, conclude that a limited regional conference is appropriate, and that the focus should be on managing costs. Those that focus on the large alumni base believe that there is no hope of enhanced alumni support without being in a more significant conference.

I can't really argue with either view. That leaves open a hypothetical question. Suppose that Ohio somehow got invited to join the Big East, and it remained an AQ conference, so Ohio was suddenly a BCS team. If that happened, what would happen to Ohio support? Would alums who live in the region shift support from the evil empire back to Ohio? Or would nothing change? Would alumni giving increase? Would the extra revenue from the conference be enough to pay for the extra travel expense? Or would losses increase? Again, different answers to these questions will lead to differing conclusions about what path Ohio should be seeking.

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus

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Jeff McKinney
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 2:51:24 PM 
Excellent post, L.C. 

I think interest and donations from local, regional and international alumni would increase significantly with a move to a stronger conference affiliation.  However...the problem seems to be with the start-up costs of such a venture.  Where would the short-term, start-up resources come from? 

Belonging to a "larger" conference could possibly be sustained...but I'm not sure how the school would raise the funds to pay entrance fees, upgrade football capacity, etc. 
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Jeff McKinney
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 2:57:39 PM 
None of the potential expansion schools named above are perfect fits for the MAC.

Western Kentucky, while in the geographic footprint of the MAC, has already been considered and dissed by the MAC presidents for academic reasons.  They seem content with the Sun Belt.  I can't see them considering the MAC, which would largely be only slightly more than a lateral move.

Delaware would be a fine addition, but travel would be a problem.

The schools in Virginia would have the same barriers with travel...getting over those mountains in the Winter would be a bear. 

One of the current Missouri Valley schools wanting to move up to FBS status in football might make a good fit for all sports. 
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JSF
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 5:25:33 PM 
Jeff McKinney wrote:
Western Kentucky, while in the geographic footprint of the MAC, has already been considered and dissed by the MAC presidents for academic reasons. 


WKU came up for a vote a few years ago and was approved by all non-interim presidents.

"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

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OUcats82
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 5:49:07 PM 
L.C. wrote:
The reason for so many opinions, I think, is that people seem to have differing goals. Some would like to see Ohio continue to become more competitive, and more significant on a National scale. For those people, either the MAC needs to upgrade, Ohio needs to move up from the MAC, or a new conference needs to be formed. Others seem to believe that there is not really any hope for a significant upgrade, or national significance, and therefore the MAC is the appropriate place to be, and the focus of the MAC should be to remain regionally competitive, and low cost from a travel perspective.

I have no stake in this, so I'm just watching the interesting debate, a debate that has been going on here for a long time. Both sides make good points. On the one hand, because of not being in a major metro area, there is some doubt that Ohio could ever have competitive game day fanbases if they were in a larger conference. On the other hand, Ohio is a major University, and has a huge alumni base, that, you would think, would, over time, gradually increase in their support for the program. Those that focus on the limited game day fanbase, conclude that a limited regional conference is appropriate, and that the focus should be on managing costs. Those that focus on the large alumni base believe that there is no hope of enhanced alumni support without being in a more significant conference.

I can't really argue with either view. That leaves open a hypothetical question. Suppose that Ohio somehow got invited to join the Big East, and it remained an AQ conference, so Ohio was suddenly a BCS team. If that happened, what would happen to Ohio support? Would alums who live in the region shift support from the evil empire back to Ohio? Or would nothing change? Would alumni giving increase? Would the extra revenue from the conference be enough to pay for the extra travel expense? Or would losses increase? Again, different answers to these questions will lead to differing conclusions about what path Ohio should be seeking.


If, in your scenario, we were to join the Big East, I don't think there would be an instant surge of new interest.  There would be some, but it would be a gradual process to build us up.  Living in Cincinnati I remember when UC first joined the Big East that interest in the football program was not any stronger than it was when the Bearcats were in Conference USA.  Then they starting winning a lot, got the back to back Big East Championships and BCS bids and interest started to take off.  This probably resulted in an additional 8-10,000 fans in attendance at an average home game (at least against BCS teams).  Attendance really swelled for home games against Oklahoma and others at Paul Brown Stadium.  There is more of an interest and fan support for the football program now-you see UC football merchandise for sale in the area, people talk about the team more, the Enquirer puts more effort into their coverage-than I had ever seen prior and I have lived here my whole life (sans 4 years in Athens).  It also didn't hurt that they play in a major media market with a large population around. 

Ohio-The State University
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OHIO1985
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 6:07:08 PM 

My guess is a couple teams from the Missouri Valley might make some sense:
  1. Southern Illinois has had a nice basketball program in the past, may wanna add FBS football
  2. Illinois State has some potential with their basketball team, may wanna add FBS football
Outside of that, UMass & Delaware are quiteobvious choices for eastern teams.
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bobcat72
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 9:52:53 PM 
I'd rather not take UMASS and keep it at 12. No sense in adding teams just for the sake of adding them...
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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/23/2012 10:00:30 PM 
Jeff,

Delaware is not that far away relative to other MAC schools.  According to my trusty iPhone map app:

Athens to U. of Blue Hens -- 418 miles
Athens to U. of Beffs -- 392 miles
Athens to U of Minutemen and Minutewomen -- 734 miles
Athens to U of Huskies -- 492
Athens to U of Chippewas - 398

These are driving miles not air miles.


Last Edited: 2/23/2012 10:05:40 PM by OhioCatFan

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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DelBobcat
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/24/2012 1:58:40 AM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
Jeff,

Delaware is not that far away relative to other MAC schools.  According to my trusty iPhone map app:

Athens to U. of Blue Hens -- 418 miles
Athens to U. of Beffs -- 392 miles
Athens to U of Minutemen and Minutewomen -- 734 miles
Athens to U of Huskies -- 492
Athens to U of Chippewas - 398

These are driving miles not air miles.




Agreed. The travel wouldn't be a problem, but I don't think that Delaware would be interested in joining the MAC anyway so to me it's a moot point.

BA OHIO 2010, BS OHIO 2010, MA Delaware 2012
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Cat4ever
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/24/2012 8:37:45 AM 
ohio9704 wrote:
Western Kentucky for all sports


+1

The only thing that is a fact is that nothing is a fact.
If this statement is true, it is also false.
                  --Dr. Donald Horning, circa 1965

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Steve
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/24/2012 9:46:16 AM 
The Philly paper is reporting the MAC can't drop UMass for two seasons. Is that true?
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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: The MAC
   Posted: 2/24/2012 10:01:33 AM 
DelBobcat,

You are in a better position to know than I am, but I had heard a few years ago that Delaware was interested in the MAC, particularly if JMU came along for the ride.  I don't live in Delaware, but I once stayed at a Holiday Inn Express there . . .  well actually at my aunt's cottage in Bethany Beach  (used to be our regular summer vacation spot).

Last Edited: 2/24/2012 10:03:09 AM by OhioCatFan

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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