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••• Western Headed To The MAC? •••
The biggest rumor circulating in area football circles is that Western Kentucky is planning to join the MAC — including upgrading its football program from I-AA to I-A status.
It seems like there’s always some unfounded notion floating around that Western’s going to this conference or that conference — usually it’s Conference USA.
However, a Lexington radio station report last week has WKU joining the MAC and beginning play in the 2005-06 season.
Even if the school is considering a new conference for most of its sports — and the Sun Belt always seems to be on some shaky footing (football plays in the Gateway Conference) — then the MAC might not be a bad fit.
But it would be virtually impossible for the Hilltoppers to get their football program to the I-A level that quickly. One also wonders where WKU could possibly turn to get funding for a necessary stadium expansion that would be mandatory for the climb to I-A.
Word is that Middle Tennessee would join Western as new members of the MAC, giving the conference its two southern-most affiliates.
The MAC would appear to be a conference on the rise in the major sports, despite the loss of Marshall. But the Sun Belt looked much the same way when WKU jumped on that bandwagon in the 1980s.
The MAC deal may or may not work out, but Western definitely needs to explore options outside of the Sun Belt, which may not have much life left.
Next time can you clarify Bowling Green Kentucky. Thanks.
DrTorch Wrote:Next time can you clarify Bowling Green Kentucky. Thanks.
I was thinking BG Snooze or Sentinal while reading that, as well.
Actually, the newspaper is in Princeton, Ky., which is quite a ways from Western Kentucky.
The guy has a good point about how long it would take WKU to make the transition. Any notion of them getting here in 2005 may be optimistic.
I could see WKU coming for all sports but football in 2005 and then in football in either 2006 or 2007.
Rightupinthere Wrote:DrTorch Wrote:Next time can you clarify Bowling Green Kentucky. Thanks.
I was thinking BG Snooze or Sentinal while reading that, as well.
Oh, I think we can start right now referring to BG (OH) and BG (KY).
I know everyone
loves the Miami (OH) thing!
This is an opinion piece, and it sounds like its written by a Murray fan. (Princeton is a lot closer to Murray U. than WKU) Murray won't even play us a football game anymore. They got tired of losing I guess. This sounds like sour grapes to me.
The guy has a good point about how long it would take WKU to make the transition. Any notion of them getting here in 2005 may be optimistic.
Jim Tirey (Lexington radio guy) specifically said 2006 on Monday.
The MAC needs to hold out for Youngstown State.
[QUOTE]One also wonders where WKU could possibly turn to get funding for a necessary stadium expansion that would be mandatory for the climb to I-A. [QUOTE]
From what I understand we already have donors lined up to support the majority of the stadium funding. I would imagine 05 would be the transition year and 06 would be our first full MAC schedule.
BuckeyeStu Wrote:The MAC needs to hold out for Youngstown State.
<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span>
No YSU. We don't need another Ohio school in I-A.
This is more of a paper reporting a "rumor" than fact. We've found that a lot of these smaller papers report rumors that show up on hilltopperhaven.com and even to the point that some of our "handles" are actually quoted.
Strange, aint it...
PrimeRateWKUFan Wrote:This is more of a paper reporting a "rumor" than fact.
Agreed. All the paper did was speculate.
BuckeyeStu Wrote:The MAC needs to hold out for Youngstown State.
NO
rocketfootball Wrote:BuckeyeStu Wrote:The MAC needs to hold out for Youngstown State.
<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span>
No YSU. We don't need another Ohio school in I-A.
Why not? You can never have too many schools from the Buckeye State and there could even be a seperate divsion for just the Ohio schools.
No YSU. We don't need another Ohio school in I-A.
Just curious but why the resistance to Youngstown? Just because they are in Ohio seems a pretty arbitrary reason to ignore them. In fact, it would make for lower travel costs and more intense rivalries. Don't get me wrong, I want WKU in the MAC but in all objectivity they have much better football attendence than us. Are there other reasons that so many MAC fans are dead set against them?
BuckeyeStu Wrote:rocketfootball Wrote:BuckeyeStu Wrote:The MAC needs to hold out for Youngstown State.
<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span>
No YSU. We don't need another Ohio school in I-A.
Why not? You can never have too many schools from the Buckeye State and there could even be a seperate divsion for just the Ohio schools.
There are already 6 MAC schools in Ohio and 7 I-A schools in Ohio.
Look at it, 6 MAC schools in Ohio. That is half of our conference come 2005. That is too many as it is, IMO. You need to be able to reach other markets for TV exposure and recruiting exposure. Do you think a recruit from Nashville, TN would rather play at Youngstown State or at MTSU or WKU?
Do you think ESPN will want to air a game between Akron and Youngstown State over a game between Akron and MTSU or WKU where they will get more viewers because of two different markets?
I am not saying to spread the MAC too far, but lets have some sort of geography other than Ohio.
This is an old topic here but:
--much too close to Akron and Kent.
--academically not on a par with MAC schools.
--basketball and other sports are very weak.
--football quality has deteriorated since Tressel.
Actually, what do they offer the MAC besides football attendance?
If the attendance rule is gutted as expected, there isn't much reason to add another D-1A football program in an already saturated state: EIGHT D-1A programs--compare this to other states.
Plus, some of their fans have even indicated YSU lacks the desire and the money to go big-tim in football--happy to be where they are. I'm sure there are some hardcore fans that would support it, but could the university afford it?
Actually 8, dont forget the ButtCats.
MaumeeRocket Wrote:Actually 8, dont forget the ButtCats.
Yeah, I caught that as soon as it posted and changed it.
And you nailed the one I forgot, too!
Why is that?
