Is money the only thing holding back the MAC from BCS quality? I think so. If the MAC could find the money to keep our coaches we would be outstanding. Its like an automatic feedback-loop that ensures whenever a program is gaining momentum and producing Top 20 results, that coach is hired away for more money, the program stalls with disruption, and back down the program slides.

We have been the proving grounds for the Big Ten and others. Several coaches and assistant ADs have been taken by the B1G this year alone.

What if today BG still had Urban Meyer, Toledo had Gary Pinkel, Akron could hold onto Terry Bowden, Ohio held onto Groce, Kent State had Stan Heath, CMU had Brian Kelly etc...? There was like 60 active MAC players on NFL rosters this year, the talent is there. If we could hold onto our coaches, we could build monster programs and fans follow.

I know there are many other great coaches, but those are who popped in my head.

No coach stays in the MAC more than 5 or so years on average. If they are good, they are hired away for more money and if they are losing, they are replaced. Only mediocre coaches ever stick around longer. (Although I'm impressed that Solich is content)

By the way, I found this funny: Illinois has a MACohol problem.

http://mobile.hustlebelt.com/2012/3/27/2...tervention

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(03-28-2012 12:23 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  Is money the only thing holding back the MAC from BCS quality? I think so. If the MAC could find the money to keep our coaches we would be outstanding. Its like an automatic feedback-loop that ensures whenever a program is gaining momentum and producing Top 20 results, that coach is hired away for more money, the program stalls with disruption, and back down the program slides.

We have been the proving grounds for the Big Ten and others. Several coaches and assistant ADs have been taken by the B1G this year alone.

What if today BG still had Urban Meyer, Toledo had Gary Pinkel, Akron could hold onto Terry Bowden, Ohio held onto Groce, Kent State had Stan Heath, CMU had Brian Kelly etc...? There was like 60 active MAC players on NFL rosters this year, the talent is there. If we could hold onto our coaches, we could build monster programs and fans follow.

I know there are many other great coaches, but those are who popped in my head.

No coach stays in the MAC more than 5 or so years on average. If they are good, they are hired away for more money and if they are losing, they are replaced. Only mediocre coaches ever stick around longer. (Although I'm impressed that Solich is content)

By the way, I found this funny: Illinois has a MACohol problem.

http://mobile.hustlebelt.com/2012/3/27/2...tervention

.

FYI.. Mike Thomas. AD at Illinois, is the former AD at Cincinnati and before that???

Drum Roll........ AD at Akron.....

Mike Thomas Bio

"Prior to taking the athletic director position at UC, Thomas spent five years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Akron and seven years as associate athletic director at the University of Virginia, an institution known for achieving impressive success both academically and athletically, before bringing that model to Akron. Virginia finished in the Top 25 in the Director's Cup in each year of Thomas' tenure there while at the same time finishing in the Top 10 nationally in student-athlete graduation rates.

Under Thomas' direction, Akron rose from last place to second among Mid-American Conference schools in the Director's Cup annual rankings. Simultaneously, Akron vaulted from last to second place in the MAC Academic Achievement Awards. Thomas increased the financial base of the Akron athletics program through increasing corporate sponsorship levels by 750 percent and boosted annual giving to athletics to its highest level in the school's history. Community support was rallied, with record increases shown in both football and basketball attendance.

During this time period, the Zips won their first MAC football championship and Thomas' hire of men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot has led to unparalleled success on the hardwood with Dambrot's program becoming the most successful in the MAC over the past six seasons. While at Akron, support services and facilities for academic support for student-athletes were significantly improved, resulting in jumps in grade point averages and graduation rates of UA student-athletes. During his Akron tenure, Thomas was a member of the MAC Infractions Committee and chaired the Women's Basketball Committee. "

Don't forget paying the players and their parents.

Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

(03-28-2012 03:08 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

And blow. Hookers and blow.

(03-28-2012 03:11 PM)Karl Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:08 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

And blow. Hookers and blow.

Oh yeah? We're going to have a conference with hookers and blow.

In fact, just forget about the conference.

I've just realized the REAL meaning of "Hook'em Horns"!

(03-28-2012 05:40 PM)bronconick Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:11 PM)Karl Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:08 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

And blow. Hookers and blow.

Oh yeah? We're going to have a conference with hookers and blow.

In fact, just forget about the conference.

I just thought of 2 good names for the Big 10's divisions....

(03-28-2012 03:11 PM)Karl Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:08 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

And blow. Hookers and blow.

and Tats. Gotta have 'em. Ask tOSu.

As for the idea behind this thread, the main difference is fans, or the lack of them for the MAC. We don't have schools with legions of bandwagon fans simply because the school name is the same as the state in which it resides. Call them Wal Mart Wolverines or whatever, but they don't flock to MAC schools because it's been implied for many years by the pro BCS press that the MAC is minor league.

(03-30-2012 05:53 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:11 PM)Karl Wrote:  

(03-28-2012 03:08 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Then there's the hookers. There's always hookers.

And blow. Hookers and blow.

and Tats. Gotta have 'em. Ask tOSu.

As for the idea behind this thread, the main difference is fans, or the lack of them for the MAC. We don't have schools with legions of bandwagon fans simply because the school name is the same as the state in which it resides. Call them Wal Mart Wolverines or whatever, but they don't flock to MAC schools because it's been implied for many years by the pro BCS press that the MAC is minor league.

I think we've changed that a bit in our favor over the last decade, with increased bowl appearances, etc. Lets beat on the press for more love, raise more $, the fans and hookers will come naturally thereafter (hopefully not in that order).