With all this talk about the Big 12, I thought it might be nice to reflect a bit on the current conference of NIU - the much maligned MAC.

The biggest problem with the MAC is the lack of depth in the conference. We have seen too many programs that seem incapable of building themselves up to a position where they compete effectively on a consistent basis. It really brings down the entire conference and doesn't allow schools such as Toledo, Bowling Green, and NIU to receive the credit they deserve as very strong football programs. It's a shame, really, because the MAC has produced some excellent football teams over the years.

With that as a preamble, here is my top five list for the best teams I have seen in recent seasons.

5) 2012 NIU Huskies. Led by Jordan Lynch, this team found a way to grind it out week after week. Of course, we all vividly remember the journey of this team that culminated in an Orange Bowl appearance. This was a very good team that was extremely well coached, but I don't know that they had the balance of talent outside of their extremely effective quarterback to be ranked any higher on my list.

4) 2009 CMU Chippewas. Led by QB Dan LeFevour and WR Antonio Brown, this team was one of the better offensive teams in MAC history. They finished MAC play undefeated and went on to win their bowl game that season.

3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

2) 2003 NIU Huskies. This was the first really powerful Huskie team that started the new era of dominance for NIU. For those who don't remember, NIU beat #14 Maryland, # 21 Alabama, and a third P5, Iowa State, that season. They climbed all the way up to #12 before falling on national TV (which was uncommon for MAC teams back then) to Bowling Green. They only lost one more game that season, finished 10-2, yet did not even get a bowl bid. Nonetheless, it was a really, really talented team. Josh Haldi, P.J. Fleck, Sam Hurd, Michael Turner.

1) 2003 Miami RedHawks. Hands down, this was the best team ever. I firmly believe this team could have won the national championship that season if given the opportunity. They weren't just a great MAC team - they were a great college football team. They overpowered their opponents. They finished the season ranked #10 after stomping Louisville in their bowl game. We may never again see a MAC team that was as good as this Ben Roethlisberger led team.

Honorable mention: 2003 Bowling Green Falcons, 2013 NIU Huskies, 2001 Toledo Rockets

2002 Bowling Green led by Urban Meyer?

1999 Marshall team was pretty bad ass. They went 13-0 that year, beat BYU and Clemson. No one in the conference could come even close to them. Chad Pennington's senior year. Ended the season ranked #11 AP.

(12-17-2014 11:24 PM)DeKalb098 Wrote:  1999 Marshall team was pretty bad ass. They went 13-0 that year, beat BYU and Clemson. No one in the conference could come even close to them. Chad Pennington's senior year. Ended the season ranked #11 AP.

Yep. I totally whiffed on that one. I completely forgot about Marshall. That team was really strong. Marshall had really good teams the entire time they played in the MAC.

(12-17-2014 11:24 PM)DeKalb098 Wrote:  1999 Marshall team was pretty bad ass. They went 13-0 that year, beat BYU and Clemson. No one in the conference could come even close to them. Chad Pennington's senior year. Ended the season ranked #11 AP.

1999 Marshall is hands down the best and actually finished 10th in both polls.

Offensively, Marshall was 7th in total offense and 7th in scoring offense in the nation.

Defensively, the Herd was 11th nationally against the rush, 3rd nationally against the pass, 7th in total defense, and 2nd in scoring defense (11.2/game). Only gave up 134 points in 12 games w/30 coming in the title game against WMU.

There we four players off the 1999 team drafted but another four who played as starters or key backups were drafted over the next two years while another six received NFL pensions (played 4 years) including DT Giradie Mercer and OL Jason Starkey.

*Interesting note: Clemson, who Marshall beat to open the year 13-10, played all three regular season undefeated teams that season. Lost @ #8 Virginia Tech 31-11 and Lost to #1 Florida State 17-14.

2003 Miami was not very good defensively. They had moments of being solid but gave up 20 or more points 9 times that season. Marshall in 1999, only once (MAC Champ).

The '08 Ball State team was one of the best MAC teams I've ever seen. Nate Davis, MiQuale Lewis, Cory Sykes, Darius Hill, Dante Love, Robert Brewster, Sean Baker, Brandon Crawford, Dan Gerberry, Mike Switzer. That team was stacked. Unfortunately they played like we usually do in the MACC and lost to an inferior Buffalo team.

(12-17-2014 11:24 PM)DeKalb098 Wrote:  1999 Marshall team was pretty bad ass. They went 13-0 that year, beat BYU and Clemson. No one in the conference could come even close to them. Chad Pennington's senior year. Ended the season ranked #11 AP.

Ugh don't remind me. WMU HAD that team beat in the MACC. Up 23-0 in the 2nd half, Marshall came back.... and pennington threw a TD with 1 second left to win 34-30 after a questionable late hit put them on the goal line

Not much controversial about hitting a player who was two yards out of bounds and it happened at the 29 putting Marshall at the 14 with 44 on the clock. WMUs big fail on that drive was allowing Marshall to pick up 14 yards on 2 & 19 and also pick up a 4th & 6.

(12-17-2014 11:53 PM)Statman101 Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 11:24 PM)DeKalb098 Wrote:  1999 Marshall team was pretty bad ass. They went 13-0 that year, beat BYU and Clemson. No one in the conference could come even close to them. Chad Pennington's senior year. Ended the season ranked #11 AP.

1999 Marshall is hands down the best and actually finished 10th in both polls.

Offensively, Marshall was 7th in total offense and 7th in scoring offense in the nation.

Defensively, the Herd was 11th nationally against the rush, 3rd nationally against the pass, 7th in total defense, and 2nd in scoring defense (11.2/game). Only gave up 134 points in 12 games w/30 coming in the title game against WMU.

There we four players off the 1999 team drafted but another four who played as starters or key backups were drafted over the next two years while another six received NFL pensions (played 4 years) including DT Giradie Mercer and OL Jason Starkey.

*Interesting note: Clemson, who Marshall beat to open the year 13-10, played all three regular season undefeated teams that season. Lost @ #8 Virginia Tech 31-11 and Lost to #1 Florida State 17-14.

Quote:2003 Miami was not very good defensively. They had moments of being solid but gave up 20 or more points 9 times that season. Marshall in 1999, only once (MAC Champ).

They gave up twenty or more points because they were going up by three or four touchdowns and went into cruise control. Miami was mauling teams that season. That team was awesome.

I agree they were very good but again they have up tons of points. GREAT teams don't give up tons of points.

Plus the comment about contending for a national title was a bit overstated. They were very good and deserving of their rank but not a national title.

(12-18-2014 03:04 AM)Statman101 Wrote:  I agree they were very good but again they have up tons of points. GREAT teams don't give up tons of points.

Plus the comment about contending for a national title was a bit overstated. They were very good and deserving of their rank but not a national title.

You make it sound like they couldn't stop anyone and had to outscore teams. That wasn't the case at all. They were crushing their opponents.

Let me clarify my national title comment - I'm not saying they should have been in contention for it. I didn't feel they were slighted or anything like that. All I am suggesting is that Miami team was talented enough to beat anyone in the nation in 2003.

Quote:3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

35-0 Rockets. They were national statistical leaders in a bunch of categories.Dominated the MAC for 3 straight years. QB Chuck Ealey went undefeated in High School and College, then MVP in the CFL. DT Mel Long Consensus 1rst Team All-American.

(12-18-2014 08:17 AM)7 Wrote:  

Quote:3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

(12-18-2014 08:33 AM)beachboy Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:17 AM)7 Wrote:  

Quote:3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

The only reason Kennt had a decent season that year was turnover differential. The following year they reverted back and were terrible again. Hazell got out while the getting was good.

Yards were 524-260. Kent State had less than 100 yards going to the 4th quarter.

If that's the third best team in MAC history (it's not), my God this conference sucks.

(12-18-2014 08:47 AM)niusfactuary Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:33 AM)beachboy Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:17 AM)7 Wrote:  

Quote:3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

The only reason Kent had a decent season that year was turnover differential. The following year they reverted back and were terrible again. Hazell got out while the getting was good.

Bingo. Senior-dominated team that had no quit in them, but they had a lot more in common with the 2010 Miami or 2008 Buffalo teams than the other teams on that list.

(12-18-2014 08:56 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:47 AM)niusfactuary Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:33 AM)beachboy Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:17 AM)7 Wrote:  

Quote:3) 2012 Kent State Golden Flashes. Change one or two random plays in that MACC, and it would have been Kent State playing in that Orange Bowl instead of the Huskies. I actually thought this team was better than NIU that season. They were a little more balanced and had an all around stronger team, albeit very slightly.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

The only reason Kent had a decent season that year was turnover differential. The following year they reverted back and were terrible again. Hazell got out while the getting was good.

Bingo. Senior-dominated team that had no quit in them, but they had a lot more in common with the 2010 Miami or 2008 Buffalo teams than the other teams on that list.

And once teams figured out, "Oh, we might not wanna kick the ball to Mr. Archer or he's gonna kill us," Kent really had nothing on offense other than the big runningback Durham.

(12-18-2014 09:13 AM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:56 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:47 AM)niusfactuary Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:33 AM)beachboy Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:17 AM)7 Wrote:  LOLOLOLOLOLOL the team NIU outgained by like 300 yards in the MAC Championship game?

Kent State would have lost by like 50 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Get out of here with this nonsense.

Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

The only reason Kent had a decent season that year was turnover differential. The following year they reverted back and were terrible again. Hazell got out while the getting was good.

Bingo. Senior-dominated team that had no quit in them, but they had a lot more in common with the 2010 Miami or 2008 Buffalo teams than the other teams on that list.

And once teams figured out, "Oh, we might not wanna kick the ball to Mr. Archer or he's gonna kill us," Kent really had nothing on offense other than the big runningback Durham.

They had the reverse to the walk on TE in overtime aka the worst playcall in the history of football.

(12-18-2014 09:19 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 09:13 AM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:56 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:47 AM)niusfactuary Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 08:33 AM)beachboy Wrote:  Agreed. Kent was by no means outstanding. Archer was outstanding, as was their big back, but QB was mediocre at best. Take away the fluke fumble/TD and the game wouldn't have gone into OT.

Miami, led by QB Sherman Smith (later a star RB with the Seahawks) went unbeaten in 1974, defeating Georgia 21-10 in the Tangerine Bowl (there weren't nearly as many bowl games back then) and finished the season 10th in the final AP poll. I'd put that team in the top 5.

And agree about Miami 2003. Too bad the Huskies didn't play them. I did see the Redhawks absolutely toy with Northwestern that year. Big Ben was a man among boys.

The only reason Kent had a decent season that year was turnover differential. The following year they reverted back and were terrible again. Hazell got out while the getting was good.

Bingo. Senior-dominated team that had no quit in them, but they had a lot more in common with the 2010 Miami or 2008 Buffalo teams than the other teams on that list.

And once teams figured out, "Oh, we might not wanna kick the ball to Mr. Archer or he's gonna kill us," Kent really had nothing on offense other than the big runningback Durham.

They had the reverse to the walk on TE in overtime aka the worst playcall in the history of football.

Good call in a MAC East game. Gets you a job at Purdue.