09-12-2006, 03:25 PM
Here I shall proclaim my weekly rankings of MAC squads, large and small, from top to bottom. Understand, I am a MAC generalist, fan of all things MAC, so I have no agenda to flame any school in the league. Just calling it as I see it. Feel free to argue and post your own as well. Remember, it's early.
1. Zips
Gotta give top spot to Akron for the marquee win of the season so far, a game in which they dominated early, then had a chance to give up after the inevitable waking up of the home team/crowd, but came back not once but twice to grab the win, with a very gutsy call. ESPN2 gave us bonus coverage of this game and when the WNBA Game 5 came on, they switched to regular ESPN, so nice work in front of millions, Zips!
2. Ohio
Well, our only undefeated school. I plan on attending the game in Rutgers this weekend, and the Knights are looking scary. But to go into NIU and handle them is much more impressive than UT-Martin. A win over RU would be exponentially more impressive.
3. Ball State
Tough loss to rare visitors from Bloomington. Really broke out early and couldn't sustain a drive late, nor make key stops on D. I hate close losses to BCS schools, especially at home. It's like if you make it that close, you just need to win the thing, but BSU will be on the rise this year.
4. WMU
Tangling with the Rockets and basically dominating late, by all accounts, shows the Broncs' down-days really may be a thing of the past.
5. BG
Falcons got a win in a k-razy game. They probably should have lost, even though they simultaneously should have won by more. Paradox! I would let BG's special teams battle it out with Kent's from two years ago for the all-time worst special teams prize. The offense still has some explosiveness that wore UB down late.
6. UB
Almost put them ahead of BG despite the loss. They have heart, and now they play to win. No longer a gimme in a MAC that is this evenly talent-distributed. The meager win over Temple does look a little weaker now, but they have won, unlike the rest of the Power 12.
7. CMU
There is always a team (often it is Kent) that you see play against big schools early, and you think, yeah, some key mistakes and questionable coaching decisions, but if they iron those out, they are gonna be TOUGH in MAC play, then they make the same mistakes and decisions during the MAC season. Well, I don't know if CMU is that team this year, but I thought they looked good in two games against tough opponents. The one hit the kid delivered to the Wolverine, where he just crumpled up like an old hat or something. That was for the scrapbooks, MAC fans. Someone should post that video on this site.
8. Rockets
It's not the first time the Rockets have started out slow, and they've actually started out looking much worse and ended up in bowls. They've also been kept out of bowls due to a loss to WMU though. Played ISU to the wire, which was good. Never can tell with these guys.
9. Miami
Gotta beat that Purdue team. And how did Northwestern at home cause such problems?
10. EMU
Like they way they hung in there early with MSU. Moved the ball well at times. Past games against State have been far more painful to watch.
11. NIU
Home loss to Bobcats was surprising, particularly after a performance they needed to follow up with redemptive strength. With a weapon like Wolfe, one would expect a little more. They need to steer clear of Ohio teams for awhile (O-3 in last three Buckeye State matchups).
12. Flashes
The TV announcer, Bill Curry, said Coach Doug told the Flashes they were going to win this game and begin a new era of Kent football. After a nice fake FG for the score, Army controlled the next two quarters of the game. Kent's QB has talent, but he takes off running at the drop of a hat and should have had more completions facing the shortest secondary on earth. No reason Kent should have lost this game.
1. Zips
Gotta give top spot to Akron for the marquee win of the season so far, a game in which they dominated early, then had a chance to give up after the inevitable waking up of the home team/crowd, but came back not once but twice to grab the win, with a very gutsy call. ESPN2 gave us bonus coverage of this game and when the WNBA Game 5 came on, they switched to regular ESPN, so nice work in front of millions, Zips!
2. Ohio
Well, our only undefeated school. I plan on attending the game in Rutgers this weekend, and the Knights are looking scary. But to go into NIU and handle them is much more impressive than UT-Martin. A win over RU would be exponentially more impressive.
3. Ball State
Tough loss to rare visitors from Bloomington. Really broke out early and couldn't sustain a drive late, nor make key stops on D. I hate close losses to BCS schools, especially at home. It's like if you make it that close, you just need to win the thing, but BSU will be on the rise this year.
4. WMU
Tangling with the Rockets and basically dominating late, by all accounts, shows the Broncs' down-days really may be a thing of the past.
5. BG
Falcons got a win in a k-razy game. They probably should have lost, even though they simultaneously should have won by more. Paradox! I would let BG's special teams battle it out with Kent's from two years ago for the all-time worst special teams prize. The offense still has some explosiveness that wore UB down late.
6. UB
Almost put them ahead of BG despite the loss. They have heart, and now they play to win. No longer a gimme in a MAC that is this evenly talent-distributed. The meager win over Temple does look a little weaker now, but they have won, unlike the rest of the Power 12.
7. CMU
There is always a team (often it is Kent) that you see play against big schools early, and you think, yeah, some key mistakes and questionable coaching decisions, but if they iron those out, they are gonna be TOUGH in MAC play, then they make the same mistakes and decisions during the MAC season. Well, I don't know if CMU is that team this year, but I thought they looked good in two games against tough opponents. The one hit the kid delivered to the Wolverine, where he just crumpled up like an old hat or something. That was for the scrapbooks, MAC fans. Someone should post that video on this site.
8. Rockets
It's not the first time the Rockets have started out slow, and they've actually started out looking much worse and ended up in bowls. They've also been kept out of bowls due to a loss to WMU though. Played ISU to the wire, which was good. Never can tell with these guys.
9. Miami
Gotta beat that Purdue team. And how did Northwestern at home cause such problems?
10. EMU
Like they way they hung in there early with MSU. Moved the ball well at times. Past games against State have been far more painful to watch.
11. NIU
Home loss to Bobcats was surprising, particularly after a performance they needed to follow up with redemptive strength. With a weapon like Wolfe, one would expect a little more. They need to steer clear of Ohio teams for awhile (O-3 in last three Buckeye State matchups).
12. Flashes
The TV announcer, Bill Curry, said Coach Doug told the Flashes they were going to win this game and begin a new era of Kent football. After a nice fake FG for the score, Army controlled the next two quarters of the game. Kent's QB has talent, but he takes off running at the drop of a hat and should have had more completions facing the shortest secondary on earth. No reason Kent should have lost this game.
Dan Bazuin also "announced" himself to QB Chad Henne a couple times. 
