(02-15-2012 01:20 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  Okay, yeah, I can see that. I didn't know where YSU was in terms of other sports. Apparently at the bottom.

Is the MAC trying to bring in current FBS schools (Mid-Tenn. / WKU) or would a good FCS program looking to move up (Old Dominion / JMU / Southern Illinois / App St.) and in a good market an attractive candidate? I was just curious to see if the MAC was trying to keep its geographical footprint intact.

Honestly after the addition of UMass I don't think the MAC is looking intently at any changes.

If we lose one of our Fball only schools than *maybe* we try to pull another but if we lose both I suspect the focus will be on improving the current 12 that remain.

The MAC benefits from a common footprint and a mostly common institutional profile (helps that 9 of our schools are split between just two state university systems).

The MAC, if they add, will keep it as close to the current footprint as they can while at the same time stretching into a new Market. That is unless something great comes along.

If Temple stays I can see reaching into VA / Deleware / NYC (stonybrook). On the west some of the other Illinois universities have been mentioned.

The problem with the alliance, and I am not trying to disparage any members here, is that you all have *nothing* in common.

As the conference starts to mature and the happy go lucky love phase ends it could get ugly. The politics of a 20 team conference with that footprint, that variance in institutional profiles (and priorities) is going to make Congress look like a group hug.