CSNbbs

The initial thread has become so long for those who might want to keep abreast, I'm wondering if it isn't best to start a new one. I'll admit I haven't kept up with all the old one.

So, if what I say in this post has already been said, I apologize. If the MAC is at all interested in expanding in the near future, here's my latest. There are a lot of posts on various boards about inviting Western Kentucky for all sports and then having them join later in football.

So how about this for two new members in the MAC?

Western Kentucky and Memphis

Two new states yet relatively close.

Memphis won't come.

To keep up with the new posts in a thread, just hit that blue arrow icon. It places you right at the first new thread.

I kinda of like how long that thread is getting. And I love talking expansion.

This chat of expansion becomes relevant when the discussion turns to candidates that actually can MAKE I-A attendance.

W.Ky & Middle Tenn. make NO sense at all. I know W. Ky. athletic budget is like ours . Middle Tenn is probably no better.

Like I said, it APPEARS that you are going in the wrong direction in building a stealth I-AA MAC super conference with 8000 attendance W.Ky. & MTSU at the expense of Toledo, BG,Miami,NIU,etc.

And with 7 ( count them,7 )schools in the MAC on the brink or below 15K, the picture is murky!!

paladin1aa Wrote:This chat of expansion becomes relevant when the discussion turns to candidates that actually can MAKE I-A attendance.

W.Ky & Middle Tenn. make NO sense at all. I know W. Ky. athletic budget is like ours . Middle Tenn is probably no better.

Like I said, it APPEARS that you are going in the wrong direction in building a stealth I-AA MAC super conference with 8000 attendance W.Ky. & MTSU at the expense of Toledo, BG,Miami,NIU,etc.

And with 7 ( count them,7 )schools in the MAC on the brink or below 15K, the picture is murky!!

Paladin, why are you so concerned with the MAC's expansion? If YSU is not interested and is not a candidate, not sure why you are on here. The Gateway Connection is a great message board.

Not trying to slam you or anything, but your negativism is getting old. You have no stake in the MAC, so just not sure why you care so much.

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:Not trying to slam you or anything, but your negativism is getting old. You have no stake in the MAC, so just not sure why you care so much.

:ownd:

Personally, I enjoy the Ignore function.

I am an Ohio boy , born & bred. I cut my teeth on O.U. I followed Miami upsetting Northwestern in the old days. I remember Marshall when they were the doormat and everybody wiped their feet on them. I also followed the plane crash that wiped out the Marshall program .

I'm a former H.S. coach who had friends who coached in the MAC. I coached kids that I sent to the MAC. My former position coach is Marshall's AD. One of my sons was recruited by BG. Two of my sons went & graduated from Kent.

I follow the MAC & YSU. Like to see games between the two.I have attended more MAC games in my lifetime than should be legal. I saw the re-emergance of Marshall as a power. I watch Toledo,Bg,Miami,NIU beating BIG BOYS and get a chuckle.

Now there is a shadow on the horizon and its serious. People here are very cavalier about it and not showing good sense.There is an element of snobbery here, but pushing YSU into the MAC is not my gig.

Now comes along W.Ky, someone with a great BB program, but honestly having only recent FB success, not a big attendance school for FB and constantly shafted with the athletic budget. I also graduated from Morehead St. when we were in the OVC with Western, so l have a good working knowledge of the Hilltoppers. Sell whatever you want on this board,just keep in mind I know better and will back it up with FACTS.

I'd like to see the MAC survive this, but some of the phony bravado here doesn't sell.

Some good common sense would !! :)

Fair enough. I can't say with 100% certainty that WKU is joining the MAC. Can only say what I've heard. I can, however, say this with 100% certainty:

Western Kentucky University will be playing 1-A Football

Our President of the University has said this, so has the Athletics Director of the University. WKU has the plan in place to do this.

Everything else is speculation and rumor.

But, Western Kentucky University will be playing 1-A Football

What do you folks think the future of football at WKU will be? Will they move up to Div IA? :angel:

I believe that WKU will be moving up to Division 1a. I think that if they build the other side of the stadium with about 15k they will have a great chance to succeed. They will have great facilities which will help them advance. The big schools in Kentucky are Kentucky and Louisville. Both of which aren't the strongest football programs. I believe that they will do very well once they move up and have a few years to adjust.

rocketfootball Wrote:Memphis won't come.

I agree, I don't think Memphis would be interested in joining the MAC. However, if UM was to show any interest in joining the conference, I believe that the Tigers would be a good choice. Everyone is familiar with the basketball program at Memphis and the football program has been competitive.

Outside of New York City, Memphis is considered to be the best city for producing basketball players. UM usually does not have to go outside of Memphis to find its basketball talent.

From my perspective, I still say WKU and MTSU are very good choices. But to be honest, I like the idea of them both being in the MAC because it would make it very easy for me to see Kent play when the Flashes visit Bowling Green, KY and Murfreesboro, TN. As an alumnus of all three schools, I would have an opportunity to see them play one another.

I realize that promoting WKU and MTSU to satisfy my self interest appears selfish but I honestly believe that both schools have much to offer the MAC and would complement the conference.

paladin1aa Wrote:This chat of expansion becomes relevant when the discussion turns to candidates that actually can MAKE I-A attendance.

Nobody has said that WKU will play I-A football in the MAC as soon as they join, if invited. The main thing there is basketball and the potential in football down the road.

You are just getting jealous because people on here want WKU and don't want YSU.

Bring on W.Ky. & MTSU. It would be fitting for the MAC. Two schools who draw 8k in FB , have athletic budgets nowhere near MAC schools, but might take the place of some other cellar dwellars.

By the way , the minor MAC sports will have a field day, where the competition is excellent.

You will find no envy here. :)

rocketfootball Wrote:

paladin1aa Wrote:This chat of expansion becomes relevant when the discussion turns to candidates that actually can MAKE I-A attendance.

Nobody has said that WKU will play I-A football in the MAC as soon as they join, if invited. The main thing there is basketball and the potential in football down the road.

You are just getting jealous because people on here want WKU and don't want YSU.

It is my understanding, based on what I've been told, that if we moved to the MAC, we would be given five years to move our football.

One nice thing, when we joined the Gateway Football Conference in 2001, part of our exit clause allows us to leave the Gateway with no exist costs, if we go 1-A. We knew then what we would be doing, and soon you will see the plans we have.

paladin1aa Wrote:By the way , the minor MAC sports will have a field day, where the competition is excellent.

Speaking of which... does Western Kentucky have a men's soccer team?

Bring it to the MAC and you could square up with Kentucky, an affiliate member of the MAC for men's soccer.

They have a good program. The only goal they gave up in league play last year came in overtime of the tournament, when Bowling Green managed to knock 'em out 1-0.

paladin1aa Wrote:Bring on W.Ky. & MTSU. It would be fitting for the MAC. Two schools who draw 8k in FB , have athletic budgets nowhere near MAC schools, but might take the place of some other cellar dwellars.

Again, WKU would not be playing football in the MAC for at least a few years. They would be a great basketball addition for the MAC. What you are having a hard time understanding is that the MAC is not all about football and that's it.

WKU will help the MAC to get more recognition in basketball and a better chance at two NCAA invites.

Oh yeah, and they are not another Ohio school which is a major plus!

Has C-USA ever shown any interest in Western Kentucky?

If not, I suppose the reason is that they need a new member who already plays 1A football. You'd think Western in all other respects would be a natural for C-USA.

Here's a question for a Western Kentucky fan? How does fan support in Kentucky break down? Is support for Louisville and Kentucky centered mainly in the northern part of the state?

Suppose Western were to become 1A in football. Would they be able to develop a dominant fan base in their region of the state? Where do most of Western Kentucky's players come from?

Also, you know the old saying about how Indiana is a basketball state. How about Kentucky? Is a good football program likely in Kentucky? What about high school football in the state?

Santa Fe Falcon Wrote:Also, you know the old saying about how Indiana is a basketball state. How about Kentucky? Is a good football program likely in Kentucky? What about high school football in the state?

Kentucky is a bball state for sure...but they seem to like football a bit better than Ind.

UK has had an occasional good team, and some talent (Couch, Moe Williams, KY's graduating QB) has come from the state.

L'ville has some history (Unitas for one)

and now WKU has a NC. So, I think they could improve. But, WKU is over near the Mississippi, and that is a different region than E. Ky.

Santa Fe Falcon Wrote:The initial thread has become so long for those who might want to keep abreast, I'm wondering if it isn't best to start a new one. I'll admit I haven't kept up with all the old one.

So, if what I say in this post has already been said, I apologize. If the MAC is at all interested in expanding in the near future, here's my latest. There are a lot of posts on various boards about inviting Western Kentucky for all sports and then having them join later in football.

So how about this for two new members in the MAC?

Western Kentucky and Memphis

Two new states yet relatively close.

Memphis?

Memphis won't leave CUSA for the MAC, and wouldn't even consider it.

Come on, you guys always get on ME for being too critical, but this was just a moronic statement.

paladin1aa Wrote:This chat of expansion becomes relevant when the discussion turns to candidates that actually can MAKE I-A attendance.

W.Ky & Middle Tenn. make NO sense at all. I know W. Ky. athletic budget is like ours . Middle Tenn is probably no better.

Like I said, it APPEARS that you are going in the wrong direction in building a stealth I-AA MAC super conference with 8000 attendance W.Ky. & MTSU at the expense of Toledo, BG,Miami,NIU,etc.

And with 7 ( count them,7 )schools in the MAC on the brink or below 15K, the picture is murky!!

I think WKU is a great fit in the MAC. A few people are concerned about facilities, but WKU's existing football stadium is in the same size range as Central Michigan and Ball State. And everyone knows that Diddle Arena is a fantastic basketball arena!

As far as budgets go, WKU can definately hold its own:

SCHOOL Total Revenue Total Expenses

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY $12,812,518 $7,442,997

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY $12,151,902 $12,151,903

EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY $12,679,474 $12,591,237

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY $17,503,625 $16,829,591

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO $12,878,293 $12,626,157

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY $13,741,811 $14,060,381

BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY $11,075,506 $11,075,506

MIAMI OHIO UNIVERSITY $15,099,098 $15,045,792

UNIVERSITY OF AKRON $11,072,763 $10,730,664

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY $12,707,211 $12,666,755

OHIO UNIVERSITY $12,793,053 $11,710,441

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY $13,399,642 $12,533,351

BUFFALO $14,125,043 $14,120,028