(03-10-2013 09:11 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

Quote:D1 recruits by state:

Texas - 368
Florida - 350
California - 349
Georgia - 184
Ohio - 151
Louisiana - 89
Alabama - 88
Illinois - 82
North Carolina - 81
Pennsylvania - 67

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=622694&page=2

For all those who don't think adding Illinois State is a good idea look at the number of FBS scholarships coming out of the state.

Illinois is the 8th largest producer of football talent. There is more than enough talent available to have a second strong MAC football school in Illinois.

Travel as it is is great in the MAC for the Ohio schools. If you start shifting the conference too far east then it hurts travel for Ohio and Kent State. Adding Illinois State keeps the FB divisions stable and the travel costs low. This is the only school that can do that for the MAC.

Unless the MAC leadership wants to go the FB only route again and tie Delaware in with a big buyout like it did with UMass, Illinois State all sports is the way to go.

...Adding the central or southern Illinois markets would be a complete waste of a membership slot. Branch out to a new state, like Delaware, West Virginia (Marshall) or Missouri (Missouri State) or at least a new major market (i.e. a Cincinnati). Media footprints drive the new world of college sports, lets branch ours out sensibly or not add teams at all.

Unless we're discussing Cincy, we shouldn't add any teams in the states already within our current footprint.

(03-10-2013 09:45 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:11 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

Quote:D1 recruits by state:

Texas - 368
Florida - 350
California - 349
Georgia - 184
Ohio - 151
Louisiana - 89
Alabama - 88
Illinois - 82
North Carolina - 81
Pennsylvania - 67

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=622694&page=2

For all those who don't think adding Illinois State is a good idea look at the number of FBS scholarships coming out of the state.

Illinois is the 8th largest producer of football talent. There is more than enough talent available to have a second strong MAC football school in Illinois.

Travel as it is is great in the MAC for the Ohio schools. If you start shifting the conference too far east then it hurts travel for Ohio and Kent State. Adding Illinois State keeps the FB divisions stable and the travel costs low. This is the only school that can do that for the MAC.

Unless the MAC leadership wants to go the FB only route again and tie Delaware in with a big buyout like it did with UMass, Illinois State all sports is the way to go.

...Adding the central or southern Illinois markets would be a complete waste of a membership slot. Branch out to a new state, like Delaware, West Virginia (Marshall) or Missouri (Missouri State) or at least a new major market (i.e. a Cincinnati). Media footprints drive the new world of college sports, lets branch ours out sensibly or not add teams at all.

I agree with you more so on Southern Illinois which isn't located 5-6 hours away from the next nearest MAC school.

Delaware doesn't have hardly any instate talent to work with. New states in my opinion is less important than access to talent.

Missouri State brings more to the table than SIU but they are in a very comfortable situation in the MVC where travel costs are lower.

The only slam dunk from travel and the institutional perspective would be Illinois State.

(03-10-2013 09:54 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:45 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:11 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

Quote:D1 recruits by state:

Texas - 368
Florida - 350
California - 349
Georgia - 184
Ohio - 151
Louisiana - 89
Alabama - 88
Illinois - 82
North Carolina - 81
Pennsylvania - 67

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=622694&page=2

For all those who don't think adding Illinois State is a good idea look at the number of FBS scholarships coming out of the state.

Illinois is the 8th largest producer of football talent. There is more than enough talent available to have a second strong MAC football school in Illinois.

Travel as it is is great in the MAC for the Ohio schools. If you start shifting the conference too far east then it hurts travel for Ohio and Kent State. Adding Illinois State keeps the FB divisions stable and the travel costs low. This is the only school that can do that for the MAC.

Unless the MAC leadership wants to go the FB only route again and tie Delaware in with a big buyout like it did with UMass, Illinois State all sports is the way to go.

...Adding the central or southern Illinois markets would be a complete waste of a membership slot. Branch out to a new state, like Delaware, West Virginia (Marshall) or Missouri (Missouri State) or at least a new major market (i.e. a Cincinnati). Media footprints drive the new world of college sports, lets branch ours out sensibly or not add teams at all.

I agree with you more so on Southern Illinois which isn't located 5-6 hours away from the next nearest MAC school.

Delaware doesn't have hardly any instate talent to work with. New states in my opinion is less important than access to talent.

Missouri State brings more to the table than SIU but they are in a very comfortable situation in the MVC where travel costs are lower.

The only slam dunk from travel and the institutional perspective would be Illinois State.

Slam dunk in the dumpster.

(03-10-2013 10:17 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:54 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:45 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-10-2013 09:11 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

Quote:D1 recruits by state:

Texas - 368
Florida - 350
California - 349
Georgia - 184
Ohio - 151
Louisiana - 89
Alabama - 88
Illinois - 82
North Carolina - 81
Pennsylvania - 67

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=622694&page=2

For all those who don't think adding Illinois State is a good idea look at the number of FBS scholarships coming out of the state.

Illinois is the 8th largest producer of football talent. There is more than enough talent available to have a second strong MAC football school in Illinois.

Travel as it is is great in the MAC for the Ohio schools. If you start shifting the conference too far east then it hurts travel for Ohio and Kent State. Adding Illinois State keeps the FB divisions stable and the travel costs low. This is the only school that can do that for the MAC.

Unless the MAC leadership wants to go the FB only route again and tie Delaware in with a big buyout like it did with UMass, Illinois State all sports is the way to go.

...Adding the central or southern Illinois markets would be a complete waste of a membership slot. Branch out to a new state, like Delaware, West Virginia (Marshall) or Missouri (Missouri State) or at least a new major market (i.e. a Cincinnati). Media footprints drive the new world of college sports, lets branch ours out sensibly or not add teams at all.

I agree with you more so on Southern Illinois which isn't located 5-6 hours away from the next nearest MAC school.

Delaware doesn't have hardly any instate talent to work with. New states in my opinion is less important than access to talent.

Missouri State brings more to the table than SIU but they are in a very comfortable situation in the MVC where travel costs are lower.

The only slam dunk from travel and the institutional perspective would be Illinois State.

Slam dunk in the dumpster.

Illinois State is a terrible idea.

I hope we add both Illinois State and Delaware.

I wouldn't be opposed to adding Marshall, but let's not pretend the state of West Virginia brings much to the table.

The only time I would add any FCS schools would be if we lost current members. Increasing from our current membership, we should first get UMass in for all sports, then, Marshall, Temple, Army, and Navy would all be attractive and fit the conference footprint. The nBE is unstable. I think UConn and Cincy will do everything they can to get out. Navy won't join. In that scenario, Temple is SOL. Bring back the prodigal sons, Temple and Marshall, then either Army or Navy to get to 16. Failing that, you could look at WKU, but I don't think they are coming. Probably would then need to drop down to FCS with any of the many eastern schools mentioned here. The MAC needs to expand geographically out of Ohio and Michigan.

Basically here is a recap of where things are:

The Sun Belt is throwing out all sorts of names (many lackluster) for their next move with names ranging from Liberty, Sam Houston State, Idaho, NMSU to the obvious App State and Georgia Southern. CUSA leadership believes more movement is imminent involving them and already tapped WKU behind the scenes and most feel have Ark State and Louisiana in the on deck que. The unnamed BE is looking at potentially losing Navy and I have read names after Tulsa (the favorite to join next) could include Soutern Miss and maybe even Marshall or ODU. There is also the trickle down from the C7 which will hit the A-10 and UMass. The MAC and MWC seem pretty set for the time being.

With all the above said, the MAC's next move should be the current move and that is do nothing. Letting all the chaos above shake out will most likely leave someone on the outside looking in. That would be when to make the move. Worst case scenario you go FCS as those same teams will still be there later. The Delawares and JMUs are not going to join the Sun Belt's sinking ship despite being mentioned as on their wish list. Also the Marshall and MAC ship has sailed and I just don't see that every happening again. Both sides are in a better place without each other. Temple to me is that ultimate prize. If the boat continues to get rocked more and enough of the lead schools leave the unamed BE then they may be that team left on the outside in what has morphed into a southern based league. Since they value their hoops so much though I don't know if they would ever even consider moving back to the MAC unless it was the last option and even then they may just elect to downgrade or drop football and put hoops in the best place.

I would also add that I think the Sun Belt should just fold with their best teams going to CUSA and those left behind going independent or dropping back down. Then we split the pie one less way. They seem to be really reaching to get their membership numbers up and some of the names being dicussed just sound awful.

(03-11-2013 11:09 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Basically here is a recap of where things are:

The Sun Belt is throwing out all sorts of names (many lackluster) for their next move with names ranging from Liberty, Sam Houston State, Idaho, NMSU to the obvious App State and Georgia Southern. CUSA leadership believes more movement is imminent involving them and already tapped WKU behind the scenes and most feel have Ark State and Louisiana in the on deck que. The unnamed BE is looking at potentially losing Navy and I have read names after Tulsa (the favorite to join next) could include Soutern Miss and maybe even Marshall or ODU.

Hilarious. The moves by the BE are obvious, yet they manage to fail even that.

If they can't get this to work out, they're inept, and belong doing landscaping somewhere (the simple stuff like hauling mulch, not actually planting flowers).

Ugh... Please no JMU!! Don't want them!

Says the Ohio State fan.

JMU is the best option we have. Delaware doesn't want FBS, Illinois State doesn't add anything that we don't already have, App State and NDSU are too far away physically and culturally, and nobody else is ready to make the financial investment.

(03-11-2013 04:19 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Says the Ohio State fan.

JMU is the best option we have. Delaware doesn't want FBS, Illinois State doesn't add anything that we don't already have, App State and NDSU are too far away physically and culturally, and nobody else is ready to make the financial investment.

Good points. The MAC should offer JMU now.

BTW, who gives a s**t what an osu fan thinks?

If we do add someone, I agree, JMU seems like the best candidate.

JMU has been your best option for a long time. The MAC should extend them an invitation.

(03-11-2013 07:38 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  JMU has been your best option for a long time. The MAC should extend them an invitation.

For all we know, we did.

Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

(03-11-2013 09:18 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

Spring break is not exactly the best time to measure such things.

(03-11-2013 09:33 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:18 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

Spring break is not exactly the best time to measure such things.

Yeah, EMU really set the world on fire this year when they weren't on spring break.

302.

302

(03-11-2013 09:43 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:33 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:18 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

Spring break is not exactly the best time to measure such things.

Yeah, EMU really set the world on fire this year when they weren't on spring break.

302.

302

Hmmm Didn't EMU just in their *31st* conference swimming title?

(03-11-2013 09:49 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:43 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:33 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:18 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

Spring break is not exactly the best time to measure such things.

Yeah, EMU really set the world on fire this year when they weren't on spring break.

302.

302

Hmmm Didn't EMU just in their *31st* conference swimming title?

Couldn't tell you. I am sure other posters are interested in JMU, ISU and Delaware because they are solid swimming schools.

(03-11-2013 09:58 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:49 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:43 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:33 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:18 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  Fans at the NIU @ EMU basketball game tonight: 302.

Spring break is not exactly the best time to measure such things.

Yeah, EMU really set the world on fire this year when they weren't on spring break.

302.

302

Hmmm Didn't EMU just in their *31st* conference swimming title?

Couldn't tell you. I am sure other posters are interested in JMU, ISU and Delaware because they are solid swimming schools.

When Missouri came in for Wrestling MAC fans were quite happy... Non revenue sports matter!