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Full Version: Why is Marshall Leaving the MAC?
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Here's my answer-- maybe it's shared by others.

I can provide a lengthy support for this answer, but for now will keep it short.

There is of course more than one reason why Marshall is leaving but the main reason, I believe, is as follows.

Coach Pruett is smart enough to see that Marshall's days of dominating the MAC, if not already over, are coming to an end. And he thinks the chances of continuing to dominate will be much better in C-USA.

The main problem will be how C-USA can continue to sell the idea that it is better than the MAC.

It would be interesting to know how he feels about TCU leaving C-USA. I'm betting he has mixed feelings but overall is glad to see them go--one less obstacle standing in the way of domination.
03-lol 03-lol ... :snore:
You couldn't be any more wrong.
At this point, the only relevant question is how soon can they go?
Of all the stupid things I've seen on this board, this topic HAS to be the worst. You're so right. We are scared of the mighty MAC, and have decided to take our weak little football team home and play with school of a lesser calibur. The days of fearing EMU, CMU, Akron, Kent, Ohio and Buffalo are over thank God!

This post is the most asine tripe I have ever seen. Reminds me of a girl that gets dumped by her boyfriend, and all she can do it try to say that the girl she was dumped for is uglier (and easier!) than her.
Marshall is leaving because:
1) Seems that their fans don't care much for the MAC and they don't value the geographic rivalries we have here (plus there still seems to be some lingering bad feelings over Marshall's exit from the MAC in the early 70's).
2) Marshall's alumni tend to be from WV and parts south, and they prefer a league with more "southern roots".
3) C-USA has a better TV contract (lots more $$03-wink, although it will be diminished by re-negotiations with ESPN. How much is arguable.
4) C-USA currently has more bowl tie-ins, and they are in southern locations that Marshall prefers. And even though the MAC may "close the gap" on bowl opportunities, I don't think Herd fans get excited about playing Detroit (or Indy for that matter).
5) C-USA, on the whole, has better attendance, although most of the new replacement members (outside of Marshall) offer "MAC-like" attendance performance.
6) Marshall believes that their net revenues will be enhanced in C-USA. (personally, I"m doubtful of this due to the much higher cost of participating in C-USA, but I think most Marshall fans would prefer C-USA even if the net money was the same in the end).

Any others, Herd fans?
7.) recruiting the south.......already begun to see the benefits of this one
C'mon...let's be real. The reason they're leaving the MAC is because they want a more "Southern conference," they want more bowl tie-ins, they care primarily about football, and regarless of how they spin it, revenue is not a real consideration.

I think to their fan base, SMU truly is a more attractive opponent than, say, Kent. They also think that C-USA could be more of a springboard to the BCS than the MAC.

I don't blame them for leaving (as I've seen a hundred times), I just want them gone now so the damage to the league (and to Miami) is minimized.
Dodo and ex-Cincy Kid, y'all are exactly right. There are many reasons (and we can argue the validity of them) why Marshall is leaving, but fearing the competition of the MAC is not one of them. I will miss playing some of the MAC schools (Miami, Toledo, and a few others) but the level of competition has very little, if anything, to do with this decision. Most of the real reasons were enumerated by ex cincy kid and herdkixbutt.

Dodo, I too would LOVE for MU to get out of the MAC and into CUSA now. It would be best for all involved.
1. Southern roots.

2. Buffalo, Akron, Kent, EMU, Ball State, CMU, .......which means very few traveling with their team to games.
forphase1 Wrote:Dodo and ex-Cincy Kid, y'all are exactly right. There are many reasons (and we can argue the validity of them) why Marshall is leaving, but fearing the competition of the MAC is not one of them. I will miss playing some of the MAC schools (Miami, Toledo, and a few others) but the level of competition has very little, if anything, to do with this decision. Most of the real reasons were enumerated by ex cincy kid and herdkixbutt.

Dodo, I too would LOVE for MU to get out of the MAC and into CUSA now. It would be best for all involved.
Obviously, the ideal thing for everyone was for the freakin' Big East to get over itself, let BC play in the ACC next year, and let the dominos fall. Then, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and everyone would be happy.

It's the Big East that's truly being petty. Why do they want BC playing in the BE when they don't want to be there. THAT is spite. Kicking out two teams who don't want to be there is not spite -- it's just common sense.
Dodo Wrote:It's the Big East that's truly being petty. Why do they want BC playing in the BE when they don't want to be there. THAT is spite. Kicking out two teams who don't want to be there is not spite -- it's just common sense.
I disagree a bit here. While neither MU or UCF want to continue this relationship, and the MAC wants us out, if the MAC kicks us out AND does not assist us in getting a schedule, then they are too being petty. Allowing us to play in the MACC is a different issue, but to kick MU and UCF out now and expect them to be able to fill a schedule is very petty. JMHO.
Given the priorities of the fans and the program, I don't take issue with Marshall deciding to head to C-USA. As forphase correctly stated, we could argue "til the cows come home" on the validity of some of the assumptions (i.e. value of TV contract, how many bowls, etc., etc.), but in the end this is what the Herd administration and alumni want. Fine with me in all respects.

I think Herd (and UCF if you bother to include them) fans wrongly assume that most to all MAC fans think that the decision to go to C-USA is stupid or something........I don't. At the same time, most MAC fans (myself included) are not enamored with C-USA, and thus are going to argue when certain posters berate MAC programs for not "seeing the light" of why going to C-USA is the preferred route if you want to "take your program to the next level", etc. I don't buy into any of that, and I consider the strong geographic fit and general cohesiveness of the MAC to be very appealing.

I can accept the rationale that went into the Herd and UCF decisions, and in UCF's case going to C-USA was a "no brainer" due to geographic considerations. In Marshall's case, the reasoning is more complex, and although at first I thought Marshall was making a huge mistake, I would say now that C-USA probably suits them better (except for the fact that the far-flung geographic nature of the conference will be tough on student athletes in terms of traveling, etc.). But, that doesn't mean that C-USA is better for any other MAC programs, and that's why these "flame wars" start when pro-C-USA'ers come on here and berate MAC programs for being "enlightened" enough to realize the superiority of C-USA.

I for one do not want Miami to be in C-USA as it is constructed today, as I would rather play BG, UT, OU, WMU, and BSU every year if possible. I certainly wouldn't mind being in a conference with likes of Memphis or even SMU, but it just doesn't make geographic sense for Miami when you consider all the schools currently in C-USA.

P.S. to MU Mike: I guess I don't agree with you on the "traveling fans' benefits of C-USA. I honestly don't expect you to see many C-USA fans traveling to H-Ton outside of possibly ECU. Also, Herd fans continually dismiss the fact that many MAC schools do travel pretty well (including Miami), but just not to H-Ton.
Dodo Wrote:Obviously, the ideal thing for everyone was for the freakin' Big East to get over itself, let BC play in the ACC next year, and let the dominos fall. Then, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and everyone would be happy.
The Big East has already stated that they would allow BC to go to the ACC if CUSA will let it's teams depart for the Big East. I believe that is where the roadblock has been. The departing teams want to leave before completing the terms of their contractual agreement and get lightened exit requirements. I think CUSA said "Not only no, but HELL NO!"

Basically, CUSA is apparently the log jam...not the BE.
Dodo Wrote:Obviously, the ideal thing for everyone was for the freakin' Big East to get over itself, let BC play in the ACC next year, and let the dominos fall. Then, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and everyone would be happy.
I would like to come out and say that I for one would NOT be happy.

No I don't want our ending in this conference to be what occurred in 2003. Not by a longshot. I want us to leave this league in a similar fashion to the way we left the Southern Conference. A 54-0 beat down of long time arch rival and nemisis Furman.

No way in %$%^ to I want to go out losing 45-6 to Miami and not winning the MAC.

No way in %$#%.

I'm glad we are going to get this opportunity. A year is not that long. I can wait for the Christmas morning goodies in C-USA.
Tiger: Didn't C-USA want something like $10 mil from the big hoops powers (UC, UL, and Marquette) out of their NCAA proceeds (shared with the league) for the 2004 season before releasing them early?
I would respond to this thread since it is directly aimed at my alma matter, however, I fear that a response on my part may lead to my being labeled a 'troll' and that might hurt my feelings, so I'll choose to abstain from responding to this thread at this time. :rolleyes:

Go Herd!
Santa Fe Falcon Wrote:Here's my answer-- maybe it's shared by others.

I can provide a lengthy support for this answer,  but for now will keep it short.

There is of course more than one reason why Marshall is leaving but the main reason, I believe, is as follows.

Coach Pruett is smart enough to see that Marshall's days of dominating the MAC, if not already over, are coming to an end.  And he thinks the chances of continuing to dominate will be much better in C-USA.

The main problem will be how C-USA can continue to sell the idea that it is better than the MAC.

It would be interesting to know how he feels about TCU leaving C-USA. I'm betting he has mixed feelings but overall is glad to see them go--one less obstacle standing in the way of domination.
even as a mac fan, i think that's a bit too "mac-ish" of a viewpoint. the main reason is that their fan base, alumni and perspective comes from years in the southern conference. moving to i-a necessitated a midwestern tenure until a southern opportunity presented itself - but they had no plans to stay.

whether other mac teams equalled or surpassed marshall, i still think they would have left for a southern conference.

besides, it will be no easier to beat out ecu in cusa-east and then southern miss in the cusac - than it would be to beat out miami-ohio for the mac-east and then toledo, (or bugs, wmu or niu) in the macc.


...or it could just be that they fear the Huron?
ex Cincy Kid Wrote:Tiger: Didn't C-USA want something like $10 mil from the big hoops powers (UC, UL, and Marquette) out of their NCAA proceeds (shared with the league) for the 2004 season before releasing them early?
Yup, that's what our genius commish thought he could get from the BE. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could have told you it wasn't happening.

IMHO, I think the high price of early departure was a statement that it wasn't going to happen. And before anyone asks...No, it isn't a matter of paying a higher fee. When CUSA was founded, all teams involved signed a binding agreement to stay until 2005. They're asking for permission to break that contractual agreement.

fatmanjim Wrote:I would respond to this thread since it is directly aimed at my alma matter, however, I fear that a response on my part may lead to my being labeled a 'troll' and that might hurt my feelings, so I'll choose to abstain from responding to this thread at this time. :rolleyes:

Go Herd!

I don't have feelings, so it doesn't bother me. :D
Sorry, thought I should clarify...

The teams have to leave their NCAA credits behind. Brittany Banowsky was looking for $10 Million from the Big East to leverage the damage to our basketball TV contract and revenues. TrainedGeese pretty much told him to piss off.
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