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There was some great chatter on here the other day about bringing Army into the MAC fold and it got me thinking. What other teams would be good in the conference? So, I put together a column for it.

http://www.themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=44

I'd really like to know what the people on here think of each of these schools. I know some of them our "dreams" but I could see Army, Navy or Western Kentucky making the jump some day. And, who wouldn't like to see Northwestern in the conference?
Wow. Your "dream team" list quite ambitious.....

Now, take this for what it is worth, but perhaps your article could carry a little more water if instead of Iowa State and Northwestern, you discussed Delaware, UMass or Northern Iowa.
No list is complete without mentioning Notre Dame.
We should add a florida team. It worked before.
Northwestern????? Seriously????? Have another drink.
(06-30-2009 08:17 AM)psc2009 Wrote: [ -> ]There was some great chatter on here the other day about bringing Army into the MAC fold and it got me thinking. What other teams would be good in the conference? So, I put together a column for it.

http://www.themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=44

I'd really like to know what the people on here think of each of these schools. I know some of them our "dreams" but I could see Army, Navy or Western Kentucky making the jump some day. And, who wouldn't like to see Northwestern in the conference?

I think you should leave the pie in the sky MAC "expansion" threads to certain posters from Ohio. They do it better. Something in the water, I think.

and they're regular, like clockwork.
(06-30-2009 12:21 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-30-2009 08:17 AM)psc2009 Wrote: [ -> ]There was some great chatter on here the other day about bringing Army into the MAC fold and it got me thinking. What other teams would be good in the conference? So, I put together a column for it.

http://www.themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=44

I'd really like to know what the people on here think of each of these schools. I know some of them our "dreams" but I could see Army, Navy or Western Kentucky making the jump some day. And, who wouldn't like to see Northwestern in the conference?

I think you should leave the pie in the sky MAC "expansion" threads to certain posters from Ohio. They do it better. Something in the water, I think.

and they're regular, like clockwork.

It certainly is an ambitious list. Those last three teams I listed because they've got little to no chance of being competitive where they are right now. Syracuse can't seem to do anything right, Iowa State can't draw the same level of athletes at Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Colorado, Nebraska, etc., etc. and Northwestern, no matter how embedded into the conference they are, will never be able to compete with schools like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. I only mention those schools because if the MAC doesn't aim high, it will never get respect.

The other schools on the list are certainly more realistic. And yes, there are some I-AA schools that are feasible as well. A handful of the Illinois schools, Youngstown State, or some Northeastern schools. But, where's the fun of discussing if William and Mary will join the MAC? 03-wink
Maybe you ought to take a look at the Big Ten football standings starting in 1995 and actually see where NW finished.
(06-30-2009 04:27 PM)psc2009 Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-30-2009 12:21 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-30-2009 08:17 AM)psc2009 Wrote: [ -> ]There was some great chatter on here the other day about bringing Army into the MAC fold and it got me thinking. What other teams would be good in the conference? So, I put together a column for it.

http://www.themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=44

I'd really like to know what the people on here think of each of these schools. I know some of them our "dreams" but I could see Army, Navy or Western Kentucky making the jump some day. And, who wouldn't like to see Northwestern in the conference?

I think you should leave the pie in the sky MAC "expansion" threads to certain posters from Ohio. They do it better. Something in the water, I think.

and they're regular, like clockwork.

It certainly is an ambitious list. Those last three teams I listed because they've got little to no chance of being competitive where they are right now. Syracuse can't seem to do anything right, Iowa State can't draw the same level of athletes at Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Colorado, Nebraska, etc., etc. and Northwestern, no matter how embedded into the conference they are, will never be able to compete with schools like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. I only mention those schools because if the MAC doesn't aim high, it will never get respect.

The other schools on the list are certainly more realistic. And yes, there are some I-AA schools that are feasible as well. A handful of the Illinois schools, Youngstown State, or some Northeastern schools. But, where's the fun of discussing if William and Mary will join the MAC? 03-wink

Please do some research first your starting to sound as bad as the OU people.
Quote:And, who wouldn't like to see Northwestern in the conference?

03-no
Never going to happen.
Here is my thoughts. Listing schools that would likely say yes in a heartbeat if MAC asked them to join.

Youngstown State: add for both football and hoops. They outdrawn most of the MAC right now and would likely grow like Akron did once they joined the MAC.

Cleveland State: hoops add would give a boost to the MAC tournament and provide another local rival for Akron and Kent State.

IUPUI: Big market and close to Ball State and Miami.

IPFW: this is ideal add geography wise for the entire MAC west.

Wright State: basketball program is good and would help the MAC.

Western Illinois: all sports add would be good compliment for NIU.

Murray State: all sports could be an option especially the basketball.

Eastern Kentucky: all sports option rival of WKU which might get WKU to move

Albany: Another NY state school to pair with Buffalo. Decent market.
Great..... look at what has started.
The authors' comment about the academies losing non-conference opportunities is the ultimate deal-breaker to their joining the MAC. Army can already count on scheduling Navy and Air Force, and nearby Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic FBS and FCS teams. Army also plays Texas teams (i.e. Rice, N. Texas, A & M) often for demographic reasons: Texas' high number of military bases creates a key segment of people who would be drawn to see Army play. C-USA's Texas and Southern teams certainly are what drew Army to join the conference. Navy also plays Texas and Southern schools for the same reason, I believe. I'm not saying Northerners do not support service academies. For political and climatological reasons, the South has the majority of military bases and personnel.

Western Kentucky..blah. They are a better fit in the Sun-Belt, and their fans see Belt football as on the rise at a faster clip than the MAC.

Onto the list of non-football, small-profile Horizon, Summit, and OVC teams. Why would the MAC add 1-AAA basketball schools? Or more Ohio schools? Or Western Illinois when there are Illinois State and SIU, who have higher profiles but aren't gonna move up anyway? Just because WIU would be the only one certain to say yes to the MAC? As a former UAlbany student, and UB grad, I can say Albany is decades away from FBS. They win in the sub-standard NEC, hand out only 40 scholarships, have high school-quality facilities, can't even get good FCS teams to come to Albany, don't have the political strength to get a new stadium, would be the smallest school in the MAC, and Albany shows no signs of being a college football market. Stony Brook is more prepared, and even that school is years away from being ready for an FBS move. Stony Brook 2009 looks like UB 1994, except for a smaller stadium and no nearby FBS league that would suit them.

Other than that, slim pickin's. UMass researched FBS but can't afford it now if ever, and the fans are all "Big East for all sports or bust!" anyway. Delaware would be great but they like their CAA rivalries and are likely gonna live it up in FCS like App. State, Montana, and JMU. Only other schools that have mentioned looking at FBS are Jacksonville State, Charlotte, Georgia State, Texas State, and UT-San Antonio. Ick. Let C-USA and the Belt fight over them.
When NW was in the throes of a 30 game losing streak in football in the 80's, the possibility of them dropping out of the B10 was in the news, but nothing came of it. Now, they are quite competitive in the B10, and even if they weren't, no way the B10 would ask a University with the prestige of NW to leave. And NW sure isn't going to turn its back on the B10 and BCS big bucks paydays. It's silly to even include them in any expansion discussion for a non BCS conference.
The only schools that have the combination of long term goals to improve their athletics, and would be of interest to the MAC, are from West to East:

Illinois State
Southern Illinois
Youngstown State
Delaware
UMass

Don't mention any other school, because no other school has remotely the combination of geography, athletics and academics that warrant MAC interest.

I hate to be "that guy" and continue the silliness, but a day before a long weekend, who can resist? Besides, I fully and completly expect, and would actually be dissapointed if it didn't happen, that we quickly move to suggesting outrageous schools to join the MAC.

For the newer people on this board, I will suggest as follows:

Roosevelt University in Chicago. Recently decided to start Athletics at the lowest level of NAIA. This means all they have is upside, and access to the majik Chicago Media Market.

Towson University Because the good Doctor and I have relations there

University of Puerto Rico Clearly an untapped recruiting market, plus we'd open the MAC to our fans in the Caribbean.

University of Alaska Anchorage Maybe one day will have football program, the MAC might as well get in on the ground floor with them, no?

Northland College in Ashland, WI. I was up in Northern WI recently and bought some homemade soap at a farmers market from a hippy enrolled at Ashland. That is as good a reason as any for MAC membership.

Haverhill College of Interior Design They already have a large presence on HGTV. We'd be the only college conference on the home improvement channels.

Do I have other ideas for new MAC members? Of course, but some of those other ideas are silly.
Hofstra??
(07-01-2009 11:35 AM)exCincy Kid Wrote: [ -> ]When NW was in the throes of a 30 game losing streak in football in the 80's, the possibility of them dropping out of the B10 was in the news, but nothing came of it. Now, they are quite competitive in the B10, and even if they weren't, no way the B10 would ask a University with the prestige of NW to leave. And NW sure isn't going to turn its back on the B10 and BCS big bucks paydays. It's silly to even include them in any expansion discussion for a non BCS conference.

Northwestern is also a founding member of the Big Ten.
(07-01-2009 02:56 PM)mpurdy22 Wrote: [ -> ]Hofstra??

Nice stadium but low average football attendance. The stadium has become more of a great lacrosse venue. They have looked into leaving the CAA, but their target is the A-10. Only way they would move up is if a group of CAA schools go FBS at once, so chances are slim to none.
(07-01-2009 11:45 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote: [ -> ]The only schools that have the combination of long term goals to improve their athletics, and would be of interest to the MAC, are from West to East:

Illinois State
Southern Illinois
Youngstown State
Delaware
UMass

Don't mention any other school, because no other school has remotely the combination of geography, athletics and academics that warrant MAC interest.

I think the Univeristy of Toronto would be of interest to the MAC as well. Huge enrollment, endowment and market, AAU member, geographically near Buffalo and not as far a drive from the Michigan schools as one would think, and the International Bowl, of course.

The NCAA passed new rules allowing for Canadian schools to join D-2. U. of British Columbia wants to be D-1 someday, though they did not apply for D-2 before this years' deadline. If Toronto looked at going to the NCAA at any time in the future, they'd really have to ramp up spending. Their football team has been horrible. But I think the MAC would be interested based on the profile and potential.
As far as prestige, Delaware would be the best for football, then maybe UMass. Both of those programs have been solid for a while. Would either want full membership? UMass is like Temple, both prefer the A10 for hoops, which is understandable. The A10 doesn't mind their schools playing football in other leagues because they don't sponsor football. The CAA does, would they like the idea of UD taking their football program away and leaving the rest of their sports where they're at? I doubt it. UMass seems more likely, but I don't know if they have any interest in the MAC.
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