http://www.annarbor.com/news/emu-ad-mac-...ar-future/

At least the source is in the business...

adding members because someone is down shifting?????

Wouldn't it make more sense for NIU to go back to the WAC? Would that allow them to retain their status by having enough past members as present members?

So we'll hear something in October?

(09-21-2010 05:37 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  Wouldn't it make more sense for NIU to go back to the WAC? Would that allow them to retain their status by having enough past members as present members?

NIU was briefly a member of the Big West in football, not the WAC. And that was only from '93-'95.

(09-21-2010 05:37 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  Wouldn't it make more sense for NIU to go back to the WAC? Would that allow them to retain their status by having enough past members as present members?

didn't know that would draw you out Torch......

YSU is not interested this time around...

Interesting...

Sounds like if Temple stays (apparently not likely) add one school.

Otherwise, add two schools.

Seem to have a fixation with the number 14.

(09-21-2010 08:01 PM)LetsGoGuins Wrote:  YSU is not interested this time around...

Not really an issue. You have to be considered for this to matter.

The Temple question is interesting. Where else are they going unless Villanova says no to the Big East on football. UMass was in Ann Arbor this past weekend. UMass moving to the MAC for football would work. They look like they could hold their own against the MAC. UMass likely gets offered the same deal as Temple with the MAC getting a foothold in the northeast to expand its presence for TV. Wouldn't be bad to have UMass, Temple and Buffalo in the same division in football. Big East may target those three later on, but the MAC would be a good stepping stone for those programs. Buffalo and Temple are on board and UMass has to see the sucess of bowl games for those schools.

(09-21-2010 08:40 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Interesting...

Sounds like if Temple stays (apparently not likely) add one school.

Otherwise, add two schools.

Seem to have a fixation with the number 14.

All that I can get from Gragg's comments is that that they plan to re-balance the divisions once the bigger conferences settle down.

Whether that means 14 or 12 he's not sure.

The best candidate out there from a market and academic perspective would be Florida Int.

(09-22-2010 12:35 AM)Airport KC Wrote:  All that I can get from Gragg's comments is that that they plan to re-balance the divisions once the bigger conferences settle down.

Whether that means 14 or 12 he's not sure.

The best candidate out there from a market and academic perspective would be Florida Int.

Academically Delaware, UMass, and Stony Brook are better than FIU...though FIU will be tops in the SBC once Denver bolts shortly. FIU's market is tricky anyway. There are so many entertainment options in Miami that FIU will always be far down the list, no matter how good they become (sadly). And, FIU isn't really a candidate 'cause it would take a hell of a lot for them to consider leaving the SBC for the MAC.

UMass has done the FBS feasibility study but they were not satisfied with the results. The Blue Hens are at least the biggest sports entity in their high-income, compact state in the BosWash Corridor. SBU is now the only D-1 football program in Long Island, with Nassau and Suffolk counties (2 of the highest ave. income in the nation) alone having 3.8 Mil residents.

SBU extended their Temple-like deal with the Big South until 2015 and their admins recently said they will move up, but not likely in the short-term:

"A former biomedical researcher, [SBU President] Stanley leads a university that already stands shoulder to shoulder with the country's great research institutions. Ticking off the names of the University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, University of Washington, UCLA and Cal-Berkeley, Stanley said, "These are places that have very good Division I athletics. I don't see any reason why Stony Brook shouldn't aspire to the same thing.

"Do we have the kind of money or resources to do it right away? Of course not. But can we move gradually toward that goal? Absolutely, and I'm going to be very supportive of us trying to do that....The University of Buffalo [sic.], another SUNY school, already is competing on the FBS level and went to a bowl two seasons ago. "There's no reason why we can't do the same,'' Stanley said. "The [SUNY] system just wants a commitment to excellence. They want to make sure we're running the program correctly. As long as we're really responsible, they're generally going to be supportive.''

"The current economic climate, Stanley acknowledged, makes it difficult to find the money Stony Brook needs to build the facilities necessary to grow the athletic program faster. But the school president's message to SBU fans Saturday was that the program is headed in the right direction." - NEWSDAY

"But [SBU AD] Fiore sees bigger things ahead for the Seawolves. In a sense, he wants athletics to catch up to academics at Stony Brook, which is a member of the American Association of Universities, and that means aligning SBU with other major research institutions...""If a situation presented itself to be in a high-level conference and to be financially efficient with more conducive travel, that certainly would be of interest,'' Fiore said. -NEWSDAY

Unless we can get Army to join then don't add anyone. Army is already playing a bunch of MAC schools. We shouldn't be adding members to balance out the divisions. We should add members because they bring value to this conference. If they don't, then let the MAC stay at 12 when Temple leaves.

(09-21-2010 10:57 PM)zipsfan Wrote:  

(09-21-2010 08:01 PM)LetsGoGuins Wrote:  YSU is not interested this time around...

Not really an issue. You have to be considered for this to matter.

Like in the late 90s, Akron and Kent will deny us again because they don't want to lose the recruiting battle in football anymore. It's alright, I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond unlike you guys who are small fishes in a big pond.

I guess there are some girls who would rather be Mahoning County Fair Queen than a Miss America contestant.

Let's Go Guins wrote "Like in the late 90s, Akron and Kent will deny us again because they don't want to lose the recruiting battle in football anymore. It's alright, I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond unlike you guys who are small fishes in a big pond."

Is YSU a big fish in a small pond nowadays? When Marshall was admitted in the late 90's I was disappointed that YSU wasn't allowed in; but now YSU is a decent, but not top level FCS school. I can't believe they wouldn't want to be FBS if asked- I don't remember the last YSU game I saw on TV (I guess they were on vs. Penn State this year)- I see Akron/Kent play about half their games on TV. Wouldn't it be neat for YSU fans if they had a (Syracuse, U Conn, Army, Colorado State) neat FBS team come to Stambaugh...heck now even Kent or Akron won't go to YSU.

I guess it doesn't matter since it won't happen either way.

(09-21-2010 08:01 PM)LetsGoGuins Wrote:  YSU is not interested this time around...

Sweet!

If Temple leaves stay at 12. If Temple is staying then I think you consider:

James Madison
UMASS
Illinois State
Stony Brook
Northern Iowa

Probably aint gettin'

Army
Navy
Western Kentucky (primarily for basketball)
??Richmond??

(09-22-2010 07:38 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  If Temple leaves stay at 12. If Temple is staying then I think you consider:

James Madison
UMASS
Illinois State
Stony Brook
Northern Iowa

Probably aint gettin'

Army
Navy
Western Kentucky (primarily for basketball)
??Richmond??

I was thinking Richmond, Delaware... though, not sure Richmond would want to do it for basketball?

(09-22-2010 05:41 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Unless we can get Army to join then don't add anyone. Army is already playing a bunch of MAC schools. We shouldn't be adding members to balance out the divisions. We should add members because they bring value to this conference. If they don't, then let the MAC stay at 12 when Temple leaves.

Yea I forgot about Army.

They would have to be my #1 pick. Their traveling fanbase would help with bowl agreements.