(09-14-2014 11:22 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 08:27 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  Are you seriously saying that you prefer having EMU and UMass as conference games over USC, Texas, and Oklahoma?

Are you seriously saying we're going to join a conference that has those three teams in it? Why you threw in USC (PAC-12) is beyond logic. Stay on track, UMass is leaving, so by your standards the MAC is going to improve (addition based on subtraction). Now try to calculate finanical reality versus your wish to dump EMU so we can play Texas and Oklahoma -- two schools who probably wouldn't even be interested in playing us as a one-time home game for money.

You brought up TCU and Utah who are now playing in the Big 12 and PAC 10.

Quote:Marshall thought they were too good for the MAC but I don't see any benefit for them joining conference USA. We need to improve the MAC as a whole or find a way to be invited to BIG10/12.

Yeah, Marshall's move was a lateral one -- a bit better -- but in the end, good CUSA teams went to the Big East, and the better Big East teams moved to the ACC, and now CUSA is NOT better than the MAC -- and the Big East/AAC is a step above but nothing so special.

I agree -- the MAC as a whole has to improve.

WMU seems to be improving (go Fleck)
UMass seems to be improving (I hear they're getting kicked out tho?)
Akron seemingly has improved to be a real competitor (how much? we shall see)
BGSU seems to be bouncing back from losing their star QB and will be Mac East-to-beat

- Miami-OH needs to get their act together. Been too long.
- Ohio with Frank Solich needs to get themselves to be at least competitive/decent. Come on!
- EMU needs to get their program going where they don't fear D1AA teams, and will at least hang with any mediocre team in other G5 conferences
- Buffalo needs to get some stability and have their above-average years be their Typical year

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Let's say the MAC improves and gets those last things squared away over the next couple years. And let's even say that results in better non-conf wins, and the MAC is almost as good as they were in 2003 (the year of the MAC) for a few years!

That still won't overcome the #1 reason to join B1G/B12: Attendance. Renovating and having, say, 28k? Not going to do it. NIU basketball is improving, and that's a good step.

But the football stadium will need to seat at or very close to 40k, with filled seats to join a BCS conference.

None of that is needed, just a standard renovation opening more seats up if they join AAC or MW. More money will come in from any other conference besides Sun Belt. But travel costs will counteract that, though.

(09-14-2014 11:13 AM)HUSKiESbelieve Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  If we ever had the opportunity to join a true 'major' conference, i would jump all over it....but a lateral move to AAC or whatever is more the realistic possibility, which i am against

I agree. Joining the AAC is lateral, would be costly and drain the program more than any benefit from joining a little better conference. The only real benefit would come from joining the Big10 or Big12. Huskie Stadium would be sold out with all the BIG 10 alumni in Chicagoland going to the game. Marshall thought they were too good for the MAC but I don't see any benefit for them joining conference USA. We need to improve the MAC as a whole or find a way to be invited to BIG10/12. TCU making the jump to the BIG 12 is great for their program even though they won't automatically be at the top. They could be there in 3-5 years. NIU needs to do the same with the BIG10/12.

Thats where your not connecting the dots. We will never, ever be considered for P5 coming from the MAC. We would need to go MW or AAC to be even considered, and AAC is much more likely.

Where did TCU come from? MW. Utah? MW. Louisville? BE/AAC. Pitt/Syracuse? BE

Name a school that made the jump from the MAC/Sbelt/CUSA/WAC

So, the suggestion is that the AAC is a stepping stone to a P5 conference. I didn't consider that before. When I look at the AAC, I just see another G5 conference (although, after this past weekend, probably with more talent than the MAC). I didn't see joining that conference as a way to fill more seats, generating a lot more TV money, etc. Just didn't see the cost benefit of moving to the AAC. But now I'm not so sure.

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(09-14-2014 12:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 11:13 AM)HUSKiESbelieve Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  If we ever had the opportunity to join a true 'major' conference, i would jump all over it....but a lateral move to AAC or whatever is more the realistic possibility, which i am against

I agree. Joining the AAC is lateral, would be costly and drain the program more than any benefit from joining a little better conference. The only real benefit would come from joining the Big10 or Big12. Huskie Stadium would be sold out with all the BIG 10 alumni in Chicagoland going to the game. Marshall thought they were too good for the MAC but I don't see any benefit for them joining conference USA. We need to improve the MAC as a whole or find a way to be invited to BIG10/12. TCU making the jump to the BIG 12 is great for their program even though they won't automatically be at the top. They could be there in 3-5 years. NIU needs to do the same with the BIG10/12.

Thats where your not connecting the dots. We will never, ever be considered for P5 coming from the MAC. We would need to go MW or AAC to be even considered, and AAC is much more likely.

Where did TCU come from? MW. Utah? MW. Louisville? BE/AAC. Pitt/Syracuse? BE

Name a school that made the jump from the MAC/Sbelt/CUSA/WAC

I don't think there is really a way to KNOW this as a fact. I understand your thoughts, but I don't know how you can compare any of these situations with such different demographics and all.

(09-14-2014 12:17 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  You brought up TCU and Utah who are now playing in the Big 12 and PAC 10.

That was someone else, my comment was strictly on your post.

(09-14-2014 01:33 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 12:17 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  You brought up TCU and Utah who are now playing in the Big 12 and PAC 10.

That was someone else, my comment was strictly on your post.

My apologies. I've embarrassed myself.

(09-14-2014 12:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 11:13 AM)HUSKiESbelieve Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  If we ever had the opportunity to join a true 'major' conference, i would jump all over it....but a lateral move to AAC or whatever is more the realistic possibility, which i am against

I agree. Joining the AAC is lateral, would be costly and drain the program more than any benefit from joining a little better conference. The only real benefit would come from joining the Big10 or Big12. Huskie Stadium would be sold out with all the BIG 10 alumni in Chicagoland going to the game. Marshall thought they were too good for the MAC but I don't see any benefit for them joining conference USA. We need to improve the MAC as a whole or find a way to be invited to BIG10/12. TCU making the jump to the BIG 12 is great for their program even though they won't automatically be at the top. They could be there in 3-5 years. NIU needs to do the same with the BIG10/12.

Thats where your not connecting the dots. We will never, ever be considered for P5 coming from the MAC. We would need to go MW or AAC to be even considered, and AAC is much more likely.

Where did TCU come from? MW. Utah? MW. Louisville? BE/AAC. Pitt/Syracuse? BE

Name a school that made the jump from the MAC/Sbelt/CUSA/WAC

Well it isn't that long ago that Louisville and TCU were in C-USA.

The MWC would be a better move than the AAC. How many teams in the AAC would generate interest from casual college football fans, Navy once they enter, how many others, Cincy possibly?

MWC has AFA (service academies are always a draw), Boise who for many years was considered the best of the Non P5's, Hawaii who like NIU has played in a BCS bowl.
UNLV & SD ST have thousands of ex Illinois residents and flights to Vegas are cheap, can easily see rivalries developing there.

New Mexico & San Diego State also have 2 of the nation's best Hoops programs that are not in a P5 conference and UT ST is solid in football & hoops.

It wouldn't be hard to recruit midwestern talent to play in a conference where the road games in Vegas, San Diego & Hawaii and the western US has more D1 talent than they have quality football programs to supply.

(09-14-2014 02:15 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 12:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 11:13 AM)HUSKiESbelieve Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  If we ever had the opportunity to join a true 'major' conference, i would jump all over it....but a lateral move to AAC or whatever is more the realistic possibility, which i am against

I agree. Joining the AAC is lateral, would be costly and drain the program more than any benefit from joining a little better conference. The only real benefit would come from joining the Big10 or Big12. Huskie Stadium would be sold out with all the BIG 10 alumni in Chicagoland going to the game. Marshall thought they were too good for the MAC but I don't see any benefit for them joining conference USA. We need to improve the MAC as a whole or find a way to be invited to BIG10/12. TCU making the jump to the BIG 12 is great for their program even though they won't automatically be at the top. They could be there in 3-5 years. NIU needs to do the same with the BIG10/12.

Thats where your not connecting the dots. We will never, ever be considered for P5 coming from the MAC. We would need to go MW or AAC to be even considered, and AAC is much more likely.

Where did TCU come from? MW. Utah? MW. Louisville? BE/AAC. Pitt/Syracuse? BE

Name a school that made the jump from the MAC/Sbelt/CUSA/WAC

Well it isn't that long ago that Louisville and TCU were in C-USA.

Exactly, and they made the move to MW/AAC and got the call to the P5 from there.

NIU's attendance would improve

Scheduling BYU is a winning move, they're the closest thing to a P5 program in the G05 and because they Indy, getting 1-1's is easier