(06-17-2016 10:07 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote: Conference USA fans are obviously discussing this Landon column. This was a very interesting take from an East Carolina fan:
(06-16-2016 06:47 AM)baruna falls Wrote: CUSA also has a narrative problem imo. For those who say that CUSA is more valuable than the MAC, prove it. The MAC has a great story line and has sent teams to the most important BCS bowl game( before name change to Access), something CUSA has not done yet. The MAC represents old line football institutions in Middle America. People love football and people love Middle American, therefor people love the MAC. The MAC's narrative gets respect from people. It just does. There the little league that can. They are also the league that has sent some great teams to the January Big Boy Bowl game, further increasing their value and underdog status. People also know who makes up the MAC, or at least the vast majority of teams. The MAC is household name to sports fans.
That was really nice to hear. This really shows, I think, how weeknight #MACtion has raised the stature of our conference for some fans.
For the whole thread, look here:
http://csnbbs.com/thread-782064.html
(Some Marshall fans seem open to a return to the MAC. Others remain down on the conference.)
I started that thread. Most of the time Landon is a complete idiot, most of us Marshall fans don't even read his crap. You should read the latest suggesting we bring up more FCS schools and split into different conferences with the belt. Like I said, he is an idiot. This was the only piece he has written that made any sense.
Now to the question of whether or not we should have left the MAC to begin with. At the time, CUSA had more to offer (better bowls, more bowls, better money), no different than the AAC is now. During that time the MAC tv was almost nothing and teams who went to bowls lost money. I know that is not the case now but it was then.
Fast forward to today. CUSA is not even half of what it was with only a few teams in it that have any kind of football value which did nothing to help the tv funds, look at the schools now in it. Outside of a few that do have a name people know, they are greatly outnumbered by schools that are not well known and more sunbelt like in appearance and even FCS. If you are a network are you going to give even half of what you were giving before, after the product had changed the way it did? It doesn't matter how well known Marshall or USM or LT is, it doesn't make up for all the others. I know I don't speak for all Marshall fans but this is the way I see it.
Ok, look at the MAC of today. It has been a steady conference, you fixed your bowl money issues, your tv contract improved and being loyal to ESPN after all these years finally paid off. It still shares some of the issues CUSA does, like teams that rank very low and have little to no name recognition, low attendance, but its not on the scale of the same issue in CUSA right now with some of the teams brought in. Bano made some very bad moves going after market instead of going after established programs. People can talk of potential and market all day long, but in the current state it means nothing unless that program realizes its potential and becomes relevant in its market. Just a case in point, espn only bought 5 games, of those 5 Marshall and USM are the only 2 bought games that doesn't involve a P5 opponent. That in itself proves that a programs value does override its market with neither USM or Marshall being in a large market, while the other 3 games it took a P5 opponent to make ESPN buy them, like FIU vs. Indiana, they didn't buy it for FIU.
So I will be one to say that yes, currently the MAC is a better conference right now. I wouldn't mind seeing Marshall playing Toledo, BG, Ohio, Miami, NIU, W. Michigan on a regular basis again, it sure beats the heck out of playing what we have to deal with now and our rivalries with MAC members still exist. The only team I would miss playing would be USM. I would say LT but we have only played them once since all this realignment crap. The adds that were good for CUSA were MT, WKY, LT, ODU, outside of that some where definitely bad and some are still up in the air.
So would I mind going back to the MAC at this day and time, nope I sure wouldn't mind at all. Is staying put and HOPING CUSA will renew its image the best thing..........I don't think anyone can answer that question with a straight face.
Anyways, just my two cents. Please don't flame, didn't post for a flaming war.