Here's how I see it shaking out:
East:
1. Marshall. Can't pick against the five-time division defending champion. The only question is whether they play in Mobile again -- or whether Heisman talk and an undefeated season wins something better for mean green.
2. Central Florida. They talk like they can win the whole league. Time to see if they can walk the walk. If not, the Knights could drop as far as fourth in the division.
3. Miami may be the only other team in the division with a shot at playing in the conference title game. Rothelisberger is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Unfortunately, they have to beat a team with a Heisman contender to win the division.
4. Kent State. Unfortunately for the Flashes, this division is just too stacked. The Flashes should continue to improve, though. The biggest question: With the Flashes having surged to mediocrity, will fans come out to see 'em?
5. Buffalo. The Bulls are quietly, gradually improving. When UB entered the league, the Bulls were completely outclassed. This is the year they start to make a move.
6. Akron. Akron could slide further -- which probably isn't Lee Owens fault. He's done a lot with a little. Unfortunately, fans haven't responded. When you think of college football excitement, Akron doesn't loom, even within the MAC. That has to hurt his recruiting.
7. Ohio. I hate to see Ohio in last. I have a soft spot for this school. But they mysteriously showed exactly zero last year. Hard to pick them any higher.
West:
1. Bowling Green. Natch. They have some holes to fill from last year. But the biggest weapon of all -- Josh Harris -- is back. He'll have people to throw to and senior Andy Sahm pushing him for the starting job. Bowling Green showed so much the last three weeks of last season, I wonder if they could run the table to the conference title game.
2. Northern Illinois. Again a near miss for the Huskies. But if Bowling Green slips up, it could be the Huskies playing in the Motor City Bowl.
3. Toledo. The Rockets could be tough by the time they host Bowling Green around Thanksgiving. At that point, they'll be playing the role of spoiler, though. They lose quite a bit from last season.
4. Western Michigan. A dark horse. What will Gary Darnell come up with this year?
5. Ball State. If tradition holds, they'll stink right out of the gate then string together some wins toward the end, including one big upset (Bowling Green?). On the whole, it will be disappointing.
6. Central Michigan. Are the Chips going anywhere?
7. Eastern Michigan. It's been fifteen years since the Emus won the league title, but it seems longer. They haven't even come close since.
One question. How many players did Blowing Green lose? The West is wide open this year.
Falcons lose three starters on offense (a right tackle and a couple of receivers, it appears) and seven on defense (includin all but one member of the D-line).
So our offense should be even better. On defense: we'll see.
That's probably the best assessment: "Wide open." I could see BG, UT or NIU with a realistic shot of winning it. I have no idea what UT brings back.
I see a wide open race in the West between UT, BG, and NIU. The Huskies get both the Rockets and the Falcons at home in November and this could be crucial.
The Falcons look solid on both sides of the ball and Urban Meyer is the coach who can keep things moving in the right direction.
The Rockets, despite the the QB and RB losses will contend going into the meat of the conference schedule. The talent cupboard is far from bare; some of it just needs a little experience.
The East will be real tough! Marshall should be able to score often, but can they stop enough points to win the game (probably). Miami should be right up there as well - Big Ben is as good as it gets for a Soph' in any league! UCF? Big question mark, but they appear capable of major damage in their first year, ala Marshall! However, Marshall knows how to win the BIG game and will play in the MCCG.
In the West: Was BG for real last year? Well, my Cards get a chance to find out. How far will Toledo fall - I don't think they can carry the ball like Marshall after so many quality players were lost. NIU, sorry, the CARDS alomst had you in DeKalb last year. This year we meet in Muncie. For those who are down on the CARDS, in the past twenty years, only Marshall and Toledo (UT by a hair) have faired better than the CARDS! And the CARDS are ready to challenge for the West!
As for the MCCG, I hate to dissappont - but I have to go with Marshall! They do have the best qb in the country, plus the receivers to go with him. Their key is can they bring an improved defense? If the "D" is their, this team will be able to play anyone!!!
I'm not ready to annoint Byron Leftwich the best QB in the country. He has great skills. However, he's not very bright and he has a strong aversion to being hit. Witness the Toledo games of the past two years. He gets hit, he gets rattled. Also, the hype could very well go to his head. Imo, he's a very talented kid playing in a system that allows him to perform above the levels of his natural abilities(which are considerable). When that system breaks down, he's lost. Let's save the coronation until at least mid-season when we've seen this year's crop. There will likely be players who will outdo Leftwich...possibly even in the MAC.
...and they also lost their OC. I know he calls his own plays, but somethings got to change. As for Marshall, isn't it the same offense we beat last year? Seems like we've got the upperhand this year with our returning LB's/DB's.
I wasn't very impressed last year with Marshall, mentally - physically, they are talented, but mentally they didn't strike me as that tough. They beat us, and we played our worst game of the year - they should have beaten us by 40 points that day, we played so poorly, but they had 2 or 3 delay of game penalties WHILE RUNNING A NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN!
CMU could actually be a factor in this year's MAC West race. The MAC's third-best running game returns with three experienced backs, headed by Terrance Jackson, and 3/5 OL starters return, along with quality depth. At WR, we have the most experience and depth we've had in some time. QB is iffy, but we expect at least a little improvement. Defensively, our front seven is bigger, deeper, and more experienced, and the secondary looked solid in spring ball. We have a good chance for a fast start, with Sam Houston State and Wyoming visiting Kelly-Shorts. After that, we'll see...
I think BGSU and NIU are the two main West contenders, with WMU having a lot of questions and Toledo having lost too much to win the division.
Is the balance of football power in favor of the west - or should I study MAC football more?
You should study more. Overall I would say the balance lies in the East now. But it does swing. In 2000 the West was dominant.
I'd say that, while it's probably a close call, the East might have an advantage this season. Then again, NIU, Toledo, BGSU and WMU may have something to say about that. What the heck? Marshall and Miami fans will all crow about the East, so...
The West. Definitely the West.
At this early point, it seems like the West will be more hotly contested this season, with BGSU and NIU as the frontrunners. The top of the East is likely stronger than the top of the West, with Marshall, UCF, and Miami (in that order) the main contenders, IMO. The bottom of the East is probably worse than the bottom of the West (Ohio 1-11 last season and Buffalo at 3-8 versus CMU at 3-8 but beat the Bulls on the road, and EMU 2-9), though.
I don't think Toledo is getting enough credit. Everyone talks about how much they lost?
Chester Taylor and Tavares Bolden were good players, but Toledo has depth at running back and Jones will do just fine at QB, if redshirt frosh Bruce Gradkowski doesn't beat him out. This kid is going to be a very good QB when he gets his chance.
Let's be clear: I'm not saying you'll be fighting for the basement with EMU, just that after losing an entire starting DL, a three-year stater at QB, and two pro-caliber (IMO) running backs, it'll take a while for UT to find its bearings. Teams will likely find it easier to run against your mostly-new front seven, and you may have less success pressuring passers. In addition, new skill players on offense usually mean a learning curve. The saving grace may be your schedule (Cal Poly, @EMU, @Minnesota, UNLV...), which could allow your team to gel against a pretty easy slate, then make a run at the MAC West.
Whoa MAC crazies!!! Less than 3 months til kickoff!!
What do I see for 2002? The MAC knocking off more "big boys" and getting more of the respect we deserve. Possibly as many as 3 or 4 teams in the top 25? (Mar, Mia, BG, UCF)
As far as the race in 2002: I am totally biased so I am going with BGSU to win the West...but I like Nothern Ill and WMU and ut still have some say. Like someone else said, NIU getting the Falcons and Rockets in Dekalb is a huge advantage. I still say BG is the team to beat but any # of West teams could win the division. Which Ball St team will show up this year? Is Central Michigan ready to make a move back towards the top? Eastern? Well, I don't think the Eagles will ever get it going.
In the East, can ANYONE stop the Herd's offense enough to win the division? UCF and Miami will be the prime challengers and I really like the Redhawks chances. Miami always shows up ready to play and if Marshall slips, Miami and UCF will have a shot. I like Kent as a darkhorse cuz I think they will improve on their 6-5 mark from last year. NOBODY better take the Flashes lightly or you'll pay dearly. Cribbs is an explosive player! Buffalo, I think, will continue to improve. If healthy, Akron could make a run as well but the ZIps have a tough OOC sked. Sorry Bobcats, but I think OU is in total disarray and going nowhere.
That's how the FalconFreak sees the MAC in 2002...it should be another banner year for our lil ole conference. Let's kick some @ss!!!
GO FALCONS! GO MAC!
Go Rockets! Go MAC!
<img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Bow]" title="" src="graemlins/bow.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Oddball:
I'm not ready to annoint Byron Leftwich the best QB in the country. He has great skills. However, he's not very bright and he has a strong aversion to being hit. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">C'mon Oddball. What aversion to being hit. Most of the time when he was hit he didn't even go down. He shook many possible sacks with brute strength. In 2000, he got popped repeatedly but he never once quit. He had no line in 2000. His smarts aren't even in question. He runs a top 10 offense on his own. I guess he could be like Bolden and hand it off or screen to his RB's every down. Why our defensive staff couldn't see that when everyone else could still kills me. But that is that.
You must have missed the 2000 WMU and UT games, as well as the 2001 MACC, eh?
You know I was at the 2001 MACCG. Afterall, you were hiding from me. (see Florida's tagline)