Garbage. Frankly, all college sports and high school too for that matter are seeing dwindling attendance and shrinking financial support. Football is the exception at the top level, but they spend so much that it dissipates the gains. Students and others have migrated to the internet, cable and satellite TV, smart phones, social media, etc. If the weather is lousy, or the teams are, then people find better things to do. High schools in many areas are now charging any students for extracurricular participation. Some areas have to go with 7v7 because they don't have enough students interested in playing FB. The idea that colleges should even have athletic teams is grounded in the ancient Greek philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body, but when only a small fraction of the student body participates actively, how do you justify even having athletics. Those of us who support MAC schools realize that we are small potatoes compared to the AQ schools, but we want to get up to that level. I believe all schools in a conference should have the same sports. I believe all the schools should have to meet minimum financial support levels or get out. Of all the MAC schools, EMU sticks out because it is in the backyard of the big M and will never achieve equity. Drop FB, drop down to the Horizon League or similar level. Make room for a school that ignores the reality stated above and strives to move up. Get Marshall and Temple back in the MAC. Add Army or Navy or whomever else will enhance the league's status. This ride is going end soon and haves will expel the havenots. Right now, the MAC is a havenot.

(03-12-2013 04:02 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  Garbage. Frankly, all college sports and high school too for that matter are seeing dwindling attendance and shrinking financial support. Football is the exception at the top level, but they spend so much that it dissipates the gains. Students and others have migrated to the internet, cable and satellite TV, smart phones, social media, etc. If the weather is lousy, or the teams are, then people find better things to do. High schools in many areas are now charging any students for extracurricular participation. Some areas have to go with 7v7 because they don't have enough students interested in playing FB. The idea that colleges should even have athletic teams is grounded in the ancient Greek philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body, but when only a small fraction of the student body participates actively, how do you justify even having athletics. Those of us who support MAC schools realize that we are small potatoes compared to the AQ schools, but we want to get up to that level. I believe all schools in a conference should have the same sports. I believe all the schools should have to meet minimum financial support levels or get out. Of all the MAC schools, EMU sticks out because it is in the backyard of the big M and will never achieve equity. Drop FB, drop down to the Horizon League or similar level. Make room for a school that ignores the reality stated above and strives to move up. Get Marshall and Temple back in the MAC. Add Army or Navy or whomever else will enhance the league's status. This ride is going end soon and haves will expel the havenots. Right now, the MAC is a havenot.

There isn't anybody that would move to the MAC that would enhance our status.

(03-12-2013 04:02 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  The idea that colleges should even have athletic teams is grounded in the ancient Greek philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body, but when only a small fraction of the student body participates actively, how do you justify even having athletics.

Because as our society, and campuses, become increasingly racially, socially, economically, and politically divided we need something to unite students.

I was a conservative guy living on campus among a whole lot of liberals. There were a lot of folks who I could give a spit about but we could all root for UB.

Get the liberal gay studies major and the conservative engineering student together at a tail gate and they can start to feel more like part of a community and less like captives in education.

*THAT* is what athletics can buy a mid major.

(03-12-2013 04:02 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  Garbage. Frankly, all college sports and high school too for that matter are seeing dwindling attendance and shrinking financial support. Football is the exception at the top level, but they spend so much that it dissipates the gains. Students and others have migrated to the internet, cable and satellite TV, smart phones, social media, etc. If the weather is lousy, or the teams are, then people find better things to do. High schools in many areas are now charging any students for extracurricular participation. Some areas have to go with 7v7 because they don't have enough students interested in playing FB. The idea that colleges should even have athletic teams is grounded in the ancient Greek philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body, but when only a small fraction of the student body participates actively, how do you justify even having athletics. Those of us who support MAC schools realize that we are small potatoes compared to the AQ schools, but we want to get up to that level. I believe all schools in a conference should have the same sports. I believe all the schools should have to meet minimum financial support levels or get out. Of all the MAC schools, EMU sticks out because it is in the backyard of the big M and will never achieve equity. Drop FB, drop down to the Horizon League or similar level. Make room for a school that ignores the reality stated above and strives to move up. Get Marshall and Temple back in the MAC. Add Army or Navy or whomever else will enhance the league's status. This ride is going end soon and haves will expel the havenots. Right now, the MAC is a havenot.

I think we're more of a have than CUSA, America 11/12/13, and the Sun Belt. We're doing just fine, attendance at our in-conference games could go up a tad. I vote for beer to be served at NIU games through the 3rd quarter...

(03-11-2013 04:14 PM)astr083 Wrote:  Ugh... Please no JMU!! Don't want them!

1982 NCAA EAST Regional at Charlotte, NC - JMU 55 Ohio State 48

It's the only reason I could think of for such a strong opinion one way or the other from an Ohio State fan of all people.

Sorry, just saw that and thought it was funny. I'll go back to lurking and not pimping my school.

If Umass is staying football only...I wish the MAC would add Army as football only. 2 teams in NY Sate. Solidifies the MAC in the Northeast. Army is a national program with solid attendance. Army might be competive with the lower third of the conference.... any one else agree.

BTW: The MAC plays great football... and doesn't really have to do anything.

Army would rather be independent than join the MAC. They did not like being in CUSA.

(03-10-2013 02:41 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Seems there may have been a stall in the expected Sun Belt expansion this weekend. The members can't seem to agree on who to invite and the feeling is that WKU (widely known) as well as ULL and ASU are one foot out the door at this point.

"There was a big blowup at the Sun Belt tournament between the eastern and western presidents regarding new member invites and the big 3 vetoed an all eastern movement."

I guess this good for the MAC as the conferences around us continue to become more watered down.

Don't know...who are "the big 3"?

stAte
ULL
...ULM?...WKY?...Troy?