As I've been trying to follow this.
Ken Hoffman is Exec. Director of both MCB and I'Bowl.
I think I Bowl has 3rd pick this year.
One rumor is that with 'the 3rd pick in the BE bowl lottery, Ken Hoffman picks ND."
(6 - 6 ND is eligible to be picked by a bowl with a BE tie in).
Next, The I Bowl trades ND to the MCB and selects UConn.
Ken Hoffman then decides who wants a shot at the Irish at the MCB.
Are my facts right???
BSU, CMU or WMU would love to play the Irish.
I heard that ND can't be picked ahead of any of the BE teams because they're all 7-5 or better. I don't understand this whole BE to MCB stuff. They have the same number of eligible teams as contracted bowls; they don't have anybody left to put in the MCB. ND is a free agent.
ND is in the at-large pool, BE has 6 schools with 7 wins.
ND can only go to MCB or Texas, maybe Haw.
Comes down to biding war between NFLNetwork [Tex]
& ESPN [MCB]
no way Hoffman messes up Buff-Conn game in Toronto.
MCB has many options, With Buffalo locked in Toronto.
GMAC gets 2nd pick, there taking BallST.
MCB has to take NCST, to free up Independence bowl
to take WM.
NCST & ND cannot go to Bir or Indy with 6-6 Sun Belt sitting there
Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
In a small defense of BSU...
Looking at two trips to Detroit in a 3-week span, a lot of them probably made the decision to just make the bowl trip and skip the MACC (perhaps based on money, today's weather forecast, work schedules, etc). I didn't expect Ford Field to be packed at all.
The positives of having this as a neutral game are obvious: Neutral location and no worries about playing in muddy/snowy field conditions. But a part of me still likes the idea of having it at a school's own 30K-capacity stadium (awarded to the team with the better conference record), even with the threat of lousy cold weather.
HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
Dave,
What are you hearing about ND?
I put the MACC on DVR so maybe I can replay what Chryst said, but I believe he indicated they are 'in play'.
IF, IF, IF ND to MCB I'm sure the CMU fans would not mind another trip to Detroit.
First time vs. MTSU was the 'first time'.
Second time was a nice matchup vs. Purdue.
Third time could be a bigger name school, ND??????
Playing Purdue and ND at 'neutral' venues is what MAC team live for.
P.S. I believe the BSU fans 'held back' assuming they'd save the $ for the MCB.
emu steve Wrote:HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
Dave,
What are you hearing about ND?
I put the MACC on DVR so maybe I can replay what Chryst said, but I believe he indicated they are 'in play'.
IF, IF, IF ND to MCB I'm sure the CMU fans would not mind another trip to Detroit.
First time vs. MTSU was the 'first time'.
Second time was a nice matchup vs. Purdue.
Third time could be a bigger name school, ND??????
Playing Purdue and ND at 'neutral' venues is what MAC team live for.
P.S. I believe the BSU fans 'held back' assuming they'd save the $ for the MCB.
How much does it cost to drive a few hours t Detroit? How can you say that? How many times does your tam get to play in the MACC at a beautiful venue?
HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
It makes sense to me to send Ball State down to the GMAC since they aren't even the conference champ.
I would send WMU to Detroit. They should bring a good crowd for the MCB which is WMU's chance to set a school record for victories (10). A matchup in the Houston Bowl against a 9-3 MAC squad would be a good one though.
I guess in CMU's favor they haven't been in Detroit all season and that may be what Hoffman is thinking.
Arrohead Wrote:emu steve Wrote:HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
Dave,
What are you hearing about ND?
I put the MACC on DVR so maybe I can replay what Chryst said, but I believe he indicated they are 'in play'.
IF, IF, IF ND to MCB I'm sure the CMU fans would not mind another trip to Detroit.
First time vs. MTSU was the 'first time'.
Second time was a nice matchup vs. Purdue.
Third time could be a bigger name school, ND??????
Playing Purdue and ND at 'neutral' venues is what MAC team live for.
P.S. I believe the BSU fans 'held back' assuming they'd save the $ for the MCB.
How much does it cost to drive a few hours t Detroit? How can you say that? How many times does your tam get to play in the MACC at a beautiful venue?
Its about half the cost in gas as it was last season.
templefootballfan Wrote:no way Hoffman messes up Buff-Conn game in Toronto.
MCB has many options, With Buffalo locked in Toronto.
GMAC gets 2nd pick, there taking BallST.
MCB has to take NCST, to free up Independence bowl
to take WM.
NCST & ND cannot go to Bir or Indy with 6-6 Sun Belt sitting there
The International Bowl has the 4th pick of Big East teams and from what I understand that will be Rutgers.
Would Rutgers be willing to trade for the MCB, opening up a spot for Notre Dame in Toronto? Would Notre Dame want Toronto badly over a game in Hawaii?
The Independence wants a Southern team or Notre Dame. NC State is blocked from the Independence Bowl by the Sun Belt agreement.
WMU may prefer Houston and the appeal of a matchup with Rice. Houston is a better travel destination.
Eagle Bank unlikely to make a trade in its inaugural year with the MAC. They really lucked out having the ACC available.
If Hawaii is not open, it looks like ND to MCB. The Sun Belt has ND shut out of the Independence.
If Arizona State beats Arizona filling Hawaii for the PAC-10:
International (Buffalo vs. Rutgers)
Motor City Bowl (CMU vs. Notre Dame)
GMAC (Ball State vs. East Carolina)
Texas (WMU vs. Rice)
Those would be some pretty outstanding bowl matchups.
HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
These are two good sources:
HuronDave (above) and David Goricki (Detroit News who interviewed Ken Hoffman):
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...60333/1019
Motown Bronco Wrote:In a small defense of BSU...
Looking at two trips to Detroit in a 3-week span, a lot of them probably made the decision to just make the bowl trip and skip the MACC (perhaps based on money, today's weather forecast, work schedules, etc). I didn't expect Ford Field to be packed at all.
The positives of having this as a neutral game are obvious: Neutral location and no worries about playing in muddy/snowy field conditions. But a part of me still likes the idea of having it at a school's own 30K-capacity stadium (awarded to the team with the better conference record), even with the threat of lousy cold weather.
I think you are right about the attendance. I am not saying that Ball State will have the type of CMU crowd for the MCB but money could have been a factor.
You had two choices. You can spend the evening in Detroit and get a hotel for $100 plus food plus tickets plust gas or you could drive and get home at 4 am in the morning. If you take the less cost effective route, you get to do that on December 5th and then turn around and do it on December 26th, all the while dealing with Christmas expenditures. I left my wife at home and took a charter (ugh) due to that. I simply didn't have the $200 min it was going to take knowing Christmas was ahead and also possibly knowing I might be returning in 3 weeks. Call it an excuse or whatever but it was my reality.
emu steve Wrote:HuronDave Wrote:Here's the latest buzz I am getting:
CMU to MCB
BSU to GMAC
WMU to Texas
Hoffman not impressed with BSU's turnout for game...
These are two good sources:
HuronDave (above) and David Goricki (Detroit News who interviewed Ken Hoffman):
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...60333/1019
Thanks Steve...looks like our information was dead-on accurate...
I think Ball State was big time on MCB's table, but only if they could have lured ND or maybe NCSt. Otherwise it was the "safe road" with CMU, given WMU's disappointing crowd earlier in the year. (No knock against WMU, but rather the lack of support by the metro Detroit residents.)
Okie Chippewa Wrote:I think Ball State was big time on MCB's table, but only if they could have lured ND or maybe NCSt. Otherwise it was the "safe road" with CMU, given WMU's disappointing crowd earlier in the year. (No knock against WMU, but rather the lack of support by the metro Detroit residents.)
Hoffman indicated in the BSU student paper that he wanted to put Ball State in the bowl that would provide the best opponent. If Arkansas State turns out to be CMU's opponent, I'd say Tulsa is the best of the bunch, although UConn is from a BCS conference.