Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Yeah, we all know. Except for MD of course.

(08-09-2016 09:40 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Yeah, we all know. Except for MD of course.

Let me give my impersonation a shot.

The AAC is clearly a sinking ship and wont even be around in 3 years because the travel costs will crush them. The MAC could be getting these schools at home on national tv too if we didnt sign that horrendous ESPN deal and they are just scared of MAC teams at home because they know its a bone yard so thats why they dont come. SF knows this and he is wayyy too smart to bring NIU to this lateral conference that is just horrible. The arrow is only pointing down folks dont fall for the trap!

(08-09-2016 09:45 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:40 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Yeah, we all know. Except for MD of course.

Let me give my impersonation a shot.

The AAC is clearly a sinking ship and wont even be around in 3 years because the travel costs will crush them. The MAC could be getting these schools at home on national tv too if we didnt sign that horrendous ESPN deal and they are just scared of MAC teams at home because they know its a bone yard so thats why they dont come. SF knows this and he is wayyy too smart to bring NIU to this lateral conference that is just horrible. The arrow is only pointing down folks dont fall for the trap!

CRUSHED IT

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Great post! Unfortunately it isn't just MD that is wearing blinders. You can make these points all day but some people will continue to be close minded.

(08-09-2016 11:51 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Great post! Unfortunately it isn't just MD that is wearing blinders. You can make these points all day but some people will continue to be close minded.

Something I consider, if the AAC does go belly up in a few years, which is a distinct possibility, NIU will be left conference-less. Under no circumstance would the MAC ever allow NIU membership again. It would be a huge gamble for what I argue would be minimal reward. High risk-low reward propositions are never a good thing.

(08-09-2016 11:58 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 11:51 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Great post! Unfortunately it isn't just MD that is wearing blinders. You can make these points all day but some people will continue to be close minded.

Something I consider, if the AAC does go belly up in a few years, which is a distinct possibility, NIU will be left conference-less. Under no circumstance would the MAC ever allow NIU membership again. It would be a huge gamble for what I argue would be minimal reward. High risk-low reward propositions are never a good thing.

I was kind of close, need to work on it a little more. Forgot the conference-less part.

(08-10-2016 12:04 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 11:58 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 11:51 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Great post! Unfortunately it isn't just MD that is wearing blinders. You can make these points all day but some people will continue to be close minded.

Something I consider, if the AAC does go belly up in a few years, which is a distinct possibility, NIU will be left conference-less. Under no circumstance would the MAC ever allow NIU membership again. It would be a huge gamble for what I argue would be minimal reward. High risk-low reward propositions are never a good thing.

I was kind of close, need to work on it a little more. Forgot the conference-less part.

You made some great points NIUSox! Would expect nothing less than that from a Sox fan though.

(08-09-2016 11:58 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 11:51 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

Great post! Unfortunately it isn't just MD that is wearing blinders. You can make these points all day but some people will continue to be close minded.

Something I consider, if the AAC does go belly up in a few years, which is a distinct possibility, NIU will be left conference-less. Under no circumstance would the MAC ever allow NIU membership again. It would be a huge gamble for what I argue would be minimal reward. High risk-low reward propositions are never a good thing.

I disagree on the gamble. This is much different than the Big West years ago. We went independent at a bad time with the hope of joining a big name conference. That didn't work and it set our programs back years. The AAC is more stable and even if teams are picked from there, there are still many quality teams. If for some reason the conference were to fold (no reason to think so at this point) there will still be plenty of teams that will be looking for somewhere to land. The teams left out of the big conferences will still be very attractive conference partners.

(08-09-2016 09:08 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  Not that we need another thread to debate this to death, but I was comparing the home OOC schedules for the MAC and AAC schools this season. There are a couple of facts that reinforce the AAC's position as a far superior conference to the MAC, and if NIU is given the chance to jump to the AAC they would be crazy not to, even if the AAC loses 2 or 3 (even 4 teams).

The AAC hosts 9 P5 schools, 11 if you count BYU and Notre Dame. This covers 9 AAC schools and includes teams such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, TCU, and Florida St. visiting AAC teams. The MAC hosts exactly ZERO P5 schools and does not host BYU or Notre Dame.

During the first 4 weeks the AAC has 5 games already scheduled to be on ABC or ESPN instead of FS1, CBSSN, ESPNU,etc. Two of these games feature matchups between AAC teams. The MAC has exactly ZERO. That includes visiting some huge P5 schools which the major networks love to show yet the presence of a MAC school in the game causes them to look elsewhere for ratings. Just another glaring sign that the MAC is not the place to move NIU forward.

No one in the AAC hosts Notre Dame this year. Perhaps you're looking at the Navy/Notre Dame game in Jacksonville? And Houston hosts Oklahoma at NRG Stadium, technically a neutral site game.

That said, MD would tell you this fits his narrative. The MAC is so much stronger that P5 schools are afraid to play in MAC stadiums for fear of losing. Because the AAC is garbage and a sinking ship, P5 schools have no worries about going there.

(08-09-2016 11:58 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Something I consider, if the AAC does go belly up in a few years, which is a distinct possibility, NIU will be left conference-less. Under no circumstance would the MAC ever allow NIU membership again. It would be a huge gamble for what I argue would be minimal reward. High risk-low reward propositions are never a good thing.

Again I see your point but again I ask you...where are the AAC teams who don't get invited to the B12 going to go where their athletic lives will be better?

If UCONN leaves to go Indy they have to pay $10mil exit fee. I doubt any other AAC team will be willing to pay that exit fee. I would also guess that 100% of the CUSA and Sun Belt teams would jump at a AAC invite.

NIU left the MAC to be an Independent from 86 - 92. That did not work out so the join the Big West 93 - 95. That did not work out. The MAC allowed NIU back in in 1997. greener pastures are not always green.

Maybe the AAC would work out maybe not but If things did not work out, I doubt the MAC would allow us back in.

(08-10-2016 08:59 AM)klake87 Wrote:  NIU left the MAC to be an Independent from 86 - 92. That did not work out so the join the Big West 93 - 95. That did not work out. The MAC allowed NIU back in in 1997. greener pastures are not always green.

Maybe the AAC would work out maybe not but If things did not work out, I doubt the MAC would allow us back in.

IMO, the MAC would be foolish to let us back in.

(08-10-2016 09:03 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(08-10-2016 08:59 AM)klake87 Wrote:  NIU left the MAC to be an Independent from 86 - 92. That did not work out so the join the Big West 93 - 95. That did not work out. The MAC allowed NIU back in in 1997. greener pastures are not always green.

Maybe the AAC would work out maybe not but If things did not work out, I doubt the MAC would allow us back in.

IMO, the MAC would be foolish to let us back in.

The MAC has been great for NIU.

Why would the MAC be foolish to let us back in? Because we left? If NIU came back with a higher profile, better facilities, better athletic programs, etc, they would be foolish to make a business decision based on emotions from 5+ years earlier. College athletics is big time business. If letting NIU back into the MAC made financial/business sense then they would do it.

(08-10-2016 09:19 AM)armour248 Wrote:  Why would the MAC be foolish to let us back in? Because we left? If NIU came back with a higher profile, better facilities, better athletic programs, etc, they would be foolish to make a business decision based on emotions from 5+ years earlier. College athletics is big time business. If letting NIU back into the MAC made financial/business sense then they would do it.

Only for us to leave again at the first opportunity.

(08-10-2016 09:58 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Only for us to leave again at the first opportunity.

You're speculating that we would leave the AAC for some reason but that we would have a better opportunity than the MAC shortly thereafter? If NIU went to the AAC and things went well, the MAC would certainly consider adding us again if they needed programs. In that scenario you have to imagine we would bring a much better product (facilities, competition, money) to the table. Every single coach and athletic director uses MAC programs as a stepping stone...NIU shouldn't be scared to do the same. Also, conferences build in exit fees for this exact reason.

Please someone tell me how they see the AAC falling apart.

(08-10-2016 10:54 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Please someone tell me how they see the AAC falling apart.

Yes Eeyore, please tell us all how you see that happening....