Posted on Wed, Nov. 17, 2004
A big MAC on S.J. menu?
BOWL GAME CAN'T COUNT ON PAC-10
Mercury News
Unable to count on a Pacific-10 team because the conference lacks enough bowl-eligible teams, the Silicon Valley Football Classic is close to cutting a one-year deal with the Mid-American Conference.
If it comes to pass, that means one of five teams -- No. 25 Bowling Green, Toledo, Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Akron -- would probably end up in San Jose for the Dec. 30 game against a Western Athletic Conference opponent. A sixth MAC team, Western Michigan, could also qualify if it wins its next game.
``We're definitely talking to the MAC,'' Chris Hutchins, executive director of the Silicon Valley Football Classic, said Tuesday. ``We just want to finalize all details before any official announcement.''
That could come as early as Monday, she said.
All bowl teams must have at least six wins. The Pac-10 also might not be able to meet its commitments to the Las Vegas Bowl or San Francisco's Emerald Bowl -- games that are talking with the MAC as well.
The MAC has contracts to send teams to the Motor City and GMAC bowls. Having a third team go to a bowl would be a first for the 14-member conference.
In recent years, the MAC has sent three quarterbacks to the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played at Miami last season; the New York Jets' Chad Pennington and Jacksonville Jaguars' Byron Leftwich played at Marshall.
That's one heckuva turnaround for WMU. Good to see they take their journalistic research as seriuosly in California as we do.
Ha ha! I didn't even notice that!
MacLord Wrote:In recent years, the MAC has sent three quarterbacks to the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played at Miami last season; the New York Jets' Chad Pennington and Jacksonville Jaguars' Byron Leftwich played at Marshall.
What about Charlie Batch or Josh Harris?
They are MAC QB's on NFL rosters.
Any more in recent years?
I was really suprised at the turnaround the football team has made in the past couple of days. It was a remarkable effort. To go from being an 0 fer to almost bowl eligble is incredible.
Bronco stampede Wrote:I was really suprised at the turnaround the football team has made in the past couple of days. It was a remarkable effort. To go from being an 0 fer to almost bowl eligble is incredible.
I thought if you lost to Illinois you were automatically bowl ineligible. Lets hope NorthWestern suffers the same fate though.
niu79 Wrote:That's one heckuva turnaround for WMU. Good to see they take their journalistic research as seriuosly in California as we do.
That's really odd, since Marshall has this national following, and people from everywhere follow the Herd.
owen Wrote:What about Charlie Batch or Josh Harris?
They are MAC QB's on NFL rosters.
Any more in recent years?
Harris is on the Ravens' practice squad. Not sure about Batch, but he hasn't started in years.
Quote:``We're definitely talking to the MAC,'' Chris Hutchins, executive director of the Silicon Valley Football Classic, said Tuesday. ``We just want to finalize all details before any official announcement.''
That could come as early as Monday, she said.
This sure sounds suspicious to me. I'll wager Silicon officials are waiting until Saturday's games to see if they can nab a BCS team. If so, the MAC will once again be outside looking in.
But they are savvy, as it appears they have negotiated as their "back-up plan" to get their pick of the MAC over both the Motor City and GMAC Bowls.
Sorry for the negative nature of this post , but I have 30 years experience of seeing the conference jilted in possibile football bowls and basketball tourneys.
Okie Chippewa Wrote:Quote:``We're definitely talking to the MAC,'' Chris Hutchins, executive director of the Silicon Valley Football Classic, said Tuesday. ``We just want to finalize all details before any official announcement.''
That could come as early as Monday, she said.
This sure sounds suspicious to me. I'll wager Silicon officials are waiting until Saturday's games to see if they can nab a BCS team. If so, the MAC will once again be outside looking in.
But they are savvy, as it appears they have negotiated as their "back-up plan" to get their pick of the MAC over both the Motor City and GMAC Bowls.
Sorry for the negative nature of this post , but I have 30 years experience of seeing the conference jilted in possibile football bowls and basketball tourneys.
I agree...seems like they might be up to something. Another thing I'm wondering about, is the "official announcement" to announce an agreement with the MAC or to announce the team they are inviting.
Okie Chippewa Wrote:Quote:``We're definitely talking to the MAC,'' Chris Hutchins, executive director of the Silicon Valley Football Classic, said Tuesday. ``We just want to finalize all details before any official announcement.''
That could come as early as Monday, she said.
This sure sounds suspicious to me. I'll wager Silicon officials are waiting until Saturday's games to see if they can nab a BCS team. If so, the MAC will once again be outside looking in.
But they are savvy, as it appears they have negotiated as their "back-up plan" to get their pick of the MAC over both the Motor City and GMAC Bowls.
Sorry for the negative nature of this post , but I have 30 years experience of seeing the conference jilted in possibile football bowls and basketball tourneys.
I was told that the deal was signed. I was told this before this past weekend's games were over. Take that for what it may be worth.
It wouldn't be in the papers with the force that it is if it wasn't going to happen.
It isn't as if everyone involved is refusing comment. The MAC was clearly pushing the story a little bit. Why push a story that could blow up in your face?
The SVB is going to happen for the MAC.
My take.
Okie Chippewa Wrote:Quote:``We're definitely talking to the MAC,'' Chris Hutchins, executive director of the Silicon Valley Football Classic, said Tuesday. ``We just want to finalize all details before any official announcement.''
That could come as early as Monday, she said.
This sure sounds suspicious to me. I'll wager Silicon officials are waiting until Saturday's games to see if they can nab a BCS team. If so, the MAC will once again be outside looking in.
It's odd, but I think it's a go for the MAC. Who in the BCS would be available?
I think their concern is, who's the GMAC going to take? and of course who's going to the MCB?
I would imagine the SVFC wants a ranked team. I imagine the other bowls do too. That's not likely to happen, so they are working out the compromise.
The guaranteed ticket sales are probably part of the discussions as well. That's a term that will be negotiated among all the MAC schools, and that takes time too.
Schadenfreude Wrote:owen Wrote:What about Charlie Batch or Josh Harris?
They are MAC QB's on NFL rosters.
Any more in recent years?
Harris is on the Ravens' practice squad. Not sure about Batch, but he hasn't started in years.
I believe Charlie Batch is still with the Pittsburgh Steelers but is on IR.