Northern Illinois, Ohio U., Toledo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green State and once in a while Western Michigan always proved to be winners. They have outgrown the MAC and needs to move up to a new conference. They are always get overlooked. The fans of these schools would improve if they get away from the MAC. Taken on bottom feeders like Kent State and Eastern Michigan hurt the image of the Big 10.

Plus, Northern Illinois defeated Alabama one year. So, lets not forget that as well.

Plus, you have Big Ben Roethlisberger and Miami, Ohio that brought national attention.

Of course, once a school have a winning season, some P5 school decides to hire that coach away, and the next year, that team became a loser.

(05-30-2015 03:18 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Illinois, Ohio U., Toledo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green State and once in a while Western Michigan always proved to be winners. They have outgrown the MAC and needs to move up to a new conference. They are always get overlooked. The fans of these schools would improve if they get away from the MAC. Taken on bottom feeders like Kent State and Eastern Michigan hurt the image of the Big 10.

Plus, Northern Illinois defeated Alabama one year. So, lets not forget that as well.

Plus, you have Big Ben Roethlisberger and Miami, Ohio that brought national attention.

Of course, once a school have a winning season, some P5 school decides to hire that coach away, and the next year, that team became a loser.

so you're suggesting that 7 of 12 teams in a conference should leave that conference because they've out grown it? How can everybody out grow something?

(05-30-2015 01:02 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  You should be there, come experience some fine Chicago shittalkin'

I get plenty of that from my wife.

(05-30-2015 06:06 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(05-30-2015 03:18 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Illinois, Ohio U., Toledo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green State and once in a while Western Michigan always proved to be winners. They have outgrown the MAC and needs to move up to a new conference. They are always get overlooked. The fans of these schools would improve if they get away from the MAC. Taken on bottom feeders like Kent State and Eastern Michigan hurt the image of the Big 10.

Plus, Northern Illinois defeated Alabama one year. So, lets not forget that as well.

Plus, you have Big Ben Roethlisberger and Miami, Ohio that brought national attention.

Of course, once a school have a winning season, some P5 school decides to hire that coach away, and the next year, that team became a loser.

so you're suggesting that 7 of 12 teams in a conference should leave that conference because they've out grown it? How can everybody out grow something?

Some of the MAC should be FCS with their attendance numbers at games, and losing way too many games. That is why the top MAC schools want to get away. I would not be surprise if the top schools do not get invites to other conference? They could break away and formed a new FBS conference.

Northern Illinois and Ball State will head the western part.
Buffalo, Ohio U, Toledo, Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Western Michigan can state an eastern part of the new conference and add teams from the FCS, C-USA and the Sun Belt.

West
Northern Illinois
Ball State
Illinois State
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Western Kentucky

Eastern
Ohio U.
Toledo
Bowling Green
Central Michigan
Western Michigan
Buffalo
Marshall
Appalachian State

(05-26-2015 01:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  These are NOT my words, shared the idea with a friend of mine (a P5 alumni who has no real investment in this, just an appraisal from an outsider) and these were his thoughts...

Who's watching the col st vs ecu championship?? And why. Also, what do the members of the aac have to gain from this? The teams within make the conference legit. UConn is the only one listed that anyone cares about and that's basketball only. This is no better than like the old MWC. But there's no one in Boise, that's why it isn't sought after. If you have BYU in your conf you have to work around all the morman holidays, and in a conf that size in teams and Geo, that would be a nightmare. "Hey Memphis, I know you played temple on Saturday, but you have to play BYU on Wednesday. Good luck." Why would you even want that? For the ******* access bowl??? If these teams have any expectations they would be better off scheduling as many good schools as possible non conf than having a larger in conf schedule vs SMU and navy. "They deserve a bcs bowl! They have quality wins vs Houston and temple!" -no one. Looks fine on paper though, it's their own league. Just as long as every one of those teams is fine with a goal low tier bowl vs a 7-6 acc team.

Good grief- Trash talk from a NIU fan. When NIU attracts more than 200 fans at a basketball game, you can trash talk. When NIU can attract 40,000 fans at a football game, you can trash talk.

Beating up Ball State, Ohio, and Miami (OH) may mean something is DeKalb but no one is listening.

Who is watching East Carolina play Colorado State for a championship game? Certainly more than are watching Northern Illinois- where there is always a good seat in the stands because no one is there.

(05-26-2015 04:57 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  I have no inside info (I'm just a regular guy). I'm guessing the AAC wants to get some years under it's belt and then see how things look. If they're miles ahead of the MWC in 2025, they'll have no interest in a merger. But I could see a scenario where it might be possible.

I agree with this. The hopes are that the American schools can grow their football programs into the "haves" and the basketball programs can maintain their national relevance.

If that does not happen, there may be a play to create a national conference to meet those goals.

(06-02-2015 07:21 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 01:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  These are NOT my words, shared the idea with a friend of mine (a P5 alumni who has no real investment in this, just an appraisal from an outsider) and these were his thoughts...

Who's watching the col st vs ecu championship?? And why. Also, what do the members of the aac have to gain from this? The teams within make the conference legit. UConn is the only one listed that anyone cares about and that's basketball only. This is no better than like the old MWC. But there's no one in Boise, that's why it isn't sought after. If you have BYU in your conf you have to work around all the morman holidays, and in a conf that size in teams and Geo, that would be a nightmare. "Hey Memphis, I know you played temple on Saturday, but you have to play BYU on Wednesday. Good luck." Why would you even want that? For the ******* access bowl??? If these teams have any expectations they would be better off scheduling as many good schools as possible non conf than having a larger in conf schedule vs SMU and navy. "They deserve a bcs bowl! They have quality wins vs Houston and temple!" -no one. Looks fine on paper though, it's their own league. Just as long as every one of those teams is fine with a goal low tier bowl vs a 7-6 acc team.

Good grief- Trash talk from a NIU fan. When NIU attracts more than 200 fans at a basketball game, you can trash talk. When NIU can attract 40,000 fans at a football game, you can trash talk.

Beating up Ball State, Ohio, and Miami (OH) may mean something is DeKalb but no one is listening.

Who is watching East Carolina play Colorado State for a championship game? Certainly more than are watching Northern Illinois- where there is always a good seat in the stands because no one is there.

As was stated in the initial post, these are my friend's words and not mine. My friend is actually a U of I alumni... you should see what he says about NIU =/

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

NIU is expanding their football stadium. Their basketball arena is first class.

The school has the academic reputation and alumni to be a national program. The school just needs to find a way to reach their audience.

NIU's peer schools to model after are Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Yes, the opportunity is that big. It just isn't there at this time.

(06-02-2015 07:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 07:21 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 01:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  These are NOT my words, shared the idea with a friend of mine (a P5 alumni who has no real investment in this, just an appraisal from an outsider) and these were his thoughts...

Who's watching the col st vs ecu championship?? And why. Also, what do the members of the aac have to gain from this? The teams within make the conference legit. UConn is the only one listed that anyone cares about and that's basketball only. This is no better than like the old MWC. But there's no one in Boise, that's why it isn't sought after. If you have BYU in your conf you have to work around all the morman holidays, and in a conf that size in teams and Geo, that would be a nightmare. "Hey Memphis, I know you played temple on Saturday, but you have to play BYU on Wednesday. Good luck." Why would you even want that? For the ******* access bowl??? If these teams have any expectations they would be better off scheduling as many good schools as possible non conf than having a larger in conf schedule vs SMU and navy. "They deserve a bcs bowl! They have quality wins vs Houston and temple!" -no one. Looks fine on paper though, it's their own league. Just as long as every one of those teams is fine with a goal low tier bowl vs a 7-6 acc team.

Good grief- Trash talk from a NIU fan. When NIU attracts more than 200 fans at a basketball game, you can trash talk. When NIU can attract 40,000 fans at a football game, you can trash talk.

Beating up Ball State, Ohio, and Miami (OH) may mean something is DeKalb but no one is listening.

Who is watching East Carolina play Colorado State for a championship game? Certainly more than are watching Northern Illinois- where there is always a good seat in the stands because no one is there.

As was stated in the initial post, these are my friend's words and not mine. My friend is actually a U of I alumni... you should see what he says about NIU =/

My apologies. I am sorry.

Illinois fans live their own set of Hell. For a school that has all of their resources, the school is consistently out recruited by Iowa for football players. Their dungeon of a football stadium needs to go, too.

Illinois football- "second to everyone but Indiana".

(06-02-2015 07:32 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

NIU is expanding their football stadium. Their basketball arena is first class.

The school has the academic reputation and alumni to be a national program. The school just needs to find a way to reach their audience.

NIU's peer schools to model after are Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Yes, the opportunity is that big. It just isn't there at this time.

Northern Illinois needs to get out of the MAC and into another conference like the American or C-USA. I don't think the fans are not to thrill about their school playing the MAC schools unless they are winners. It is the bottom dwellers of the MAC that is holding down the rest which makes the conference look like a laughing stock by the rest of the FBS conferences. A Couple of years ago, MAC was the best conference overall in bowl games, but last year, they sucked.

(05-29-2015 01:36 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

Here is the real question....would Northern Illinois have the most value or Illinois State?

NIU is only what it is because Illinois State is still in FCS. Illinois State is still in FCS because NIU is in the MAC. If I am the AAC I would be afraid of taking NIU for that reason because they may be undercut if the MAC moves up Illinois State as a replacement.

The answer is "Yes". There is more potential in NIU than Illinois State.

(05-29-2015 03:31 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

I agree with where you are coming from. Our attendance was bad last year, no doubt. We filled 15-20k just for the Northwestern game and brought about the same number to the Orange Bowl, so our fans will travel when given the opportunity to do so with a good opponent.

Also, and this is no offense to the MAC, but dominating the conference by going 57-13 over the past 5 seasons with only 4 losses in the MAC is fun but to some fans it gets boring by beating up on the same teams repeatedly.

For Jordan Lynch's senior season (2013), we had 2 sell outs and averaged 21-23k a game so we do have the potential. Yes, I know 21-23k is not alot, but our stadium only hold 23-24k at the max.

NIU's stadium was REDUCED to hold that amount. The stadium is currently being expanded and is creating a modern facility.

(05-29-2015 03:40 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  What is Illinois State like as an institution? Are they run like any other ____ State University?

If they are #2/3 in Illinois state funding, then they might not be a lost cause at all.

The question isn't Illinois State vs Northern Illinois. The question is whether a school like the University of Illinois-Chicago has more potential than Northern Illinois.

UIC does not field a football team.

So, and assuming UIC would start a program- Would UIC be a UAB or an Old Dominion? Are they South Florida or Georgia State? Are they UTSA or an empty stadium somewhere?

(06-02-2015 07:37 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 07:32 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

NIU is expanding their football stadium. Their basketball arena is first class.

The school has the academic reputation and alumni to be a national program. The school just needs to find a way to reach their audience.

NIU's peer schools to model after are Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Yes, the opportunity is that big. It just isn't there at this time.

Northern Illinois needs to get out of the MAC and into another conference like the American or C-USA. I don't think the fans are not to thrill about their school playing the MAC schools unless they are winners. It is the bottom dwellers of the MAC that is holding down the rest which makes the conference look like a laughing stock by the rest of the FBS conferences. A Couple of years ago, MAC was the best conference overall in bowl games, but last year, they sucked.

NIU is being killed by November week night home games. Illinois weather in unpredictable. Ideally, NIU wants home games earlier in the season against local teams.

(05-29-2015 06:54 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  Some questions for the NIU fans.

Somewhat qualify these questions by saying that I grew up in Central ILL closer to Champaign and Bloomington which is sort of a different state than above I-80. I basically followed Big Ten sports and honestly did not know that NIU played FBS division football my entire time living in Illinois ('81-'03), thinking instead that NIU played at the same level as EIU, WIU, ISU, and SIU. So recent developments have been sort of a surprise.

1) Why the sudden success and are those factors good indicators of continued success?
2) Why expand the stadium when the demand doesn't reach the current capacity?
3) How is the team shaping up for 2016?

1) NIU athletic department marketing has been the pits. That is interesting because Northwestern's AD used to be NIU's AD.
2) NIU needs a larger stadium because they currently cannot host visiting teams like Illinois.
3) NIU should be good.

What NIU needs is for Illinois to play in Dekalb like North Carolina and NC State play at East Carolina.

NIU has only been able to attract better opponents by playing at Soldier Field. Soldier Field is not NIU's home stadium.

(06-02-2015 07:41 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 03:31 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

I agree with where you are coming from. Our attendance was bad last year, no doubt. We filled 15-20k just for the Northwestern game and brought about the same number to the Orange Bowl, so our fans will travel when given the opportunity to do so with a good opponent.

Also, and this is no offense to the MAC, but dominating the conference by going 57-13 over the past 5 seasons with only 4 losses in the MAC is fun but to some fans it gets boring by beating up on the same teams repeatedly.

For Jordan Lynch's senior season (2013), we had 2 sell outs and averaged 21-23k a game so we do have the potential. Yes, I know 21-23k is not alot, but our stadium only hold 23-24k at the max.

NIU's stadium was REDUCED to hold that amount. The stadium is currently being expanded and is creating a modern facility.

Just a quick correction, it was reduced because of a fire marshall code that was the after effect of the Chicago porch collapse investigations 2003-2004, which also took the life of a NIU football player. 2003 and 2004 seasons held between 25-28K only 2 games fell below that range, Louisiana Tech 18k and Ohio 21K.

(06-02-2015 07:11 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-30-2015 06:06 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(05-30-2015 03:18 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Illinois, Ohio U., Toledo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green State and once in a while Western Michigan always proved to be winners. They have outgrown the MAC and needs to move up to a new conference. They are always get overlooked. The fans of these schools would improve if they get away from the MAC. Taken on bottom feeders like Kent State and Eastern Michigan hurt the image of the Big 10.

Plus, Northern Illinois defeated Alabama one year. So, lets not forget that as well.

Plus, you have Big Ben Roethlisberger and Miami, Ohio that brought national attention.

Of course, once a school have a winning season, some P5 school decides to hire that coach away, and the next year, that team became a loser.

so you're suggesting that 7 of 12 teams in a conference should leave that conference because they've out grown it? How can everybody out grow something?

Some of the MAC should be FCS with their attendance numbers at games, and losing way too many games. That is why the top MAC schools want to get away. I would not be surprise if the top schools do not get invites to other conference? They could break away and formed a new FBS conference.

Northern Illinois and Ball State will head the western part.
Buffalo, Ohio U, Toledo, Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Western Michigan can state an eastern part of the new conference and add teams from the FCS, C-USA and the Sun Belt.

West
Northern Illinois
Ball State
Illinois State
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Western Kentucky

Eastern
Ohio U.
Toledo
Bowling Green
Central Michigan
Western Michigan
Buffalo
Marshall
Appalachian State

Every conference has bad teams at the bottom.

(06-02-2015 07:39 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:36 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 01:21 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 12:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  Hey look, I know a team you can add to that list that has more wins in the past 5 years than any of the teams you listed! Hint hint!

NIU has some great potential, with the recent on-field performance and proximity to the Chicago market. But, you guys need to get more than 13K-20K fans out to your home games! What's the deal there?

IMO, if NIU was selling out every game and planning to expand the stadium to 40K+ capacity, they would be a legit contender to move up the chain. But, apparently, there's a lot of work left to do.

Here is the real question....would Northern Illinois have the most value or Illinois State?

NIU is only what it is because Illinois State is still in FCS. Illinois State is still in FCS because NIU is in the MAC. If I am the AAC I would be afraid of taking NIU for that reason because they may be undercut if the MAC moves up Illinois State as a replacement.

The answer is "Yes". There is more potential in NIU than Illinois State.

Based on what?

Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.