Weekly MAC Update.
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Nick
<a href='http://www.vandelaysports.com/fball/nickpics/week09recap.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.vandelaysports.com/fball/nickpi...week09recap.htm</a>
Tough week on the picks, Nick. At the expense of having our Marshall "friends" take too much delight in the topic, Nick, I'd like to ask you what our realistic chances are of having 3 MAC teams bowling this year? Obviously all the slots are spoken for, but is there any early indication that any major conference will come up short, allowing the MAC to slip a 3rd team into the "mix"?
Also, any thoughts about our B10 opponent in the MCB........on ESPN two of their experts picked Wisconsin (pretty neat match-up) and two picked non B10 teams. As for the GMAC, So. Miss is probably the best guess.
How is Chryst reacting to the news that Marshall is leaving?
I saw those ESPN picks. The fact that two people settled on West Virginia for the Motor City Bowl shows the problem we face putting a third team in a bowl game. It seems that while some conferences may come up short, others may come up long -- and end up ahead of the MAC in the eyes of bowl officials. After all, as MAC fans, we would rather face West Virginia in a bowl game than we would New Mexico State or Navy.
I also noticed that no one picked Navy for a bowl. Navy seems like it will be bowl eligible, and I've got to think Navy would pose some serious competition to a third MAC team looking for a bowl game. So if "experts" figure Navy ain't bowling -- we are going to have serious problems putting a third team in a bowl game.
:mad:
I know for a fact that Chryst is working very hard to get us in for a third bowl bid this year. Obviously it depends on who is available. Certainly a third MAC team this year is far more attractive than it has ever been. Our best chances are if the Big 12 cannot supply an 8th team or that the ACC cannot supply a 6th place team for the Humanitarian.
Right now the MAC is contracted to have two bowls - the GMAC & the MCB. Chryst stated last week at the MAC b-ball lunch-in that the MAC will have three bowl bids next year. As for the Marshall board with people stating that the MAC will lose the GMAC Bowl after this year, that is dead wrong. The MAC still has three years left on that contract and the local area strongly supports that bowl so the MAC will not be losing this one anytime soon. Also, the MAC has a marketing deal with GMAC who sponsor several MAC athletic functions.
As for that third bowl bid, ask me in about three weeks. That's when the dust will be settling and there can be a more accurate response. As of today, the MAC has two bowl bids and that hasn't changed.
Nick
Well, Nick, not to "beat a dead horse", but if Marshall and UCF "exit stage left", then the MAC can better concentrate on its regional midwestern base, and thus a bowl in Indy looks better than ever. Having NIU, Miami and BG "on the rise" sure doesn't hurt because all three campuses are within a pretty easy drive of Indy.
Also, maybe we can re-think a neutral MACC site now (ducking!). That always gets the board hopping!!!
P.S. See my other post on the MCB........there's an outside chance we could get stuck with Northwestern.......better root for only one B10 team in the BCS so we get Wisconsin!
exCincy Kid Wrote:Also, maybe we can re-think a neutral MACC site now (ducking!). That always gets the board hopping!!!
With Marshall out of the leauge, we should nix any talk of Cinncinati as host.
The most logical choice is Canton. Its centrally located, and a cheaper stadium than the Browns.
I've also heard that the 10 game Championship game rule is not dead yet. Its possible that the MAC Championship could survive in a MAC world without Marshall, EMU and Buffalo.
[QUOTE] if Marshall and UCF "exit stage left", then the MAC can better concentrate on its regional midwestern base, and thus a bowl in Indy looks better than ever. Having NIU, Miami and BG "on the rise" sure doesn't hurt because all three campuses are within a pretty easy drive of Indy. [QUOTE]
And Ball State, another team on the rise, is only 60 miles from Indy.
Nick, when will you be posting your odds and the target date on the firing of Brian Knorr?