One of the points I was trying to make in this thread is that WMU has much higher expectations and the MAC seemingly is trying to improve its product (appears to be doing so this year in men's hoops).

The main point is MAC games are MAC games. Each will have a winner and a loser.

What we need to do is see the MAC, top to bottom, become more competitive with other leagues in September and bowl season.

Other schools are interested in being at the top of the MAC but also more competitive with other G5 teams.

It doesn't make me very happy to see say EMU beat a Morgan State by 3 and say a MAC team by 10 or 14.

Or what about MAC teams who win enough games to get bowl games but not good enough to win them.

What does that say about the MAC???

I think schools like WMU, Toledo, NIU, etc. want to be more competitive outside the conference. That's where reputations are earned.

WMU hosts MSU Labor Day weekend and they can make a statement if they play competitively before a full house in K'zoo.

(12-30-2014 07:27 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Ah, but after a slow start his first two year English did recruit EMU off the dead bottom according to the recruiting rankings and began getting players recruited by other MAC schools. Last year's CC class wasn't a dead MAC bottom recruiting class and I expect this class to be ranked higher. Yes we are chasing a rising tide with Fleck at WMU and Toledo and CMU and NIU doing very well in the recruiting wars. I don't look to this class to immediately turn us around but I think it can get us to 4-8 next year. The class does have a fair share of defensive players especially DBs, WRs, a very solid RB, we have two solid prospects at QB, like to see some more immediate offensive line help.

With that 4-8 record that you predict, it will mark the 20th CONSECUTIVE season without a winning record, the last being that sterling 6-5 season in 1995. Yes, 1995 and it was 6-5!!!

Meanwhile down the road, Jim Harbaugh coming to U-M will absolutely choke the remaining life out of the casual fan's interest in EMU football. I can totally see EMU students and alumni staying home to watch Michigan on TV as they make annual runs at Big 10 titles and yes, national championships. As if things could not get any worse.

(12-30-2014 09:47 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(12-30-2014 07:27 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Ah, but after a slow start his first two year English did recruit EMU off the dead bottom according to the recruiting rankings and began getting players recruited by other MAC schools. Last year's CC class wasn't a dead MAC bottom recruiting class and I expect this class to be ranked higher. Yes we are chasing a rising tide with Fleck at WMU and Toledo and CMU and NIU doing very well in the recruiting wars. I don't look to this class to immediately turn us around but I think it can get us to 4-8 next year. The class does have a fair share of defensive players especially DBs, WRs, a very solid RB, we have two solid prospects at QB, like to see some more immediate offensive line help.

With that 4-8 record that you predict, it will mark the 20th CONSECUTIVE season without a winning record, the last being that sterling 6-5 season in 1995. Yes, 1995 and it was 6-5!!!

Meanwhile down the road, Jim Harbaugh coming to U-M will absolutely choke the remaining life out of the casual fan's interest in EMU football. I can totally see EMU students and alumni staying home to watch Michigan on TV as they make annual runs at Big 10 titles and yes, national championships. As if things could not get any worse.

I think the team will improve Bob under CC's leadership and yes I am quite painfully aware you've heard that before. To expect that overnight wouldn't be fair to CC. EMU will never outshine U of M in football even if Vince Lombardi was EMU's coach. We need slow and steady improvement each year. .500 for EMU would a significant improvement for this program. I tend to agree with Steve we'll need $$$ for a new scoreboard, lights and press box. Those modest improvements should buy us some time to see if the program improves and then build on some momentum. On another note EMU needs to win its game next season against Old Dominion and Army and then probably some games against the MAC East.

The good thing, for EMU and others, is that unless WMU, UT, NIU, etc completely break loose by outspending, out scheduling, out everything, the difference among the middle and lower ranks isn't that great.

The problem might be to go from say 3 - 5 in the MAC to 5 - 3 or 6 - 2.

That might be a very tough hill to climb for a MAC West team which has to play NIU, Toledo and WMU.

(12-30-2014 01:18 PM)emu steve Wrote:  The problem might be to go from say 3 - 5 in the MAC to 5 - 3 or 6 - 2.

That might be a very tough hill to climb for a MAC West team which has to play NIU, Toledo and WMU.

Good Lord that is depressing. And accurate.

(12-31-2014 01:45 AM)holybovine Wrote:  

(12-30-2014 01:18 PM)emu steve Wrote:  The problem might be to go from say 3 - 5 in the MAC to 5 - 3 or 6 - 2.

That might be a very tough hill to climb for a MAC West team which has to play NIU, Toledo and WMU.

Good Lord that is depressing. And accurate.

Can Eastern Michigan move to the MAC East?

These things run in cycles but the MAC East hasn't been the better division in some time.

We're in a 'desirable' division with CMU and WMU and Toledo, natural rivals + MAC power NIU. But it is TOUGH!!!

IF we can build our program, it will be fun playing CMU, WMU, UT, NIU, etc. in meaningful, tough, rivalry games.

Don't want to go O/T, but EMU men's hoops plays in the challenging MAC West.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/sag...onference/