They almost play a MAC schedule now... why not invite them for all sports?
Army future schedules
2011
@NIU
@ Ball St
@ Miami OH
@ Temple
2012
NIU
KSU
@EMU
Ball St
Temple
Would be nice if our AD would schedule Army or Navy on occasion. Seems like every other MAC team has been doing so. Div 1A... The same level of competitiveness... A good 'name' on the schedule... Not too far geographically...
Geographically Army & Navy would both fit nicely & would be natural rivals for Buffalo (Army) & Temple (Navy). They also turn on TV's! Add in UMass & you have a 16 team league that is in my opinion, steps ahead of the WAC, C-USA & the MWC.
They tried FB-only CUSA because it fit well with playing in areas near larger military populations and the areas it recruits many students. They were not competitive, and since they left they have gained their own tv and bowl deals, as well as getting $100,000 each year as part of the BCS payout. Joining the MAC as FB-only would be a downgrade in exposure and financially. They would also never leave the Patriot league in other sports since they and Navy fit perfectly institutionally (top-tier undergrad only institution with no grad programs, who are not beholden to typical football scholarships).
(11-30-2010 11:33 AM)Zippy989 Wrote: [ -> ]They almost play a MAC schedule now... why not invite them for all sports?
First, I'll deal with the easy one: we would have zero interest in all-sports membership. We're founding members of the Patriot League, where we are VERY competitive in almost all sports (men's basketball is the glaring exception). Quite a few of our teams have been to their sport's NCAA tournament as the Patriot League representative.
It's also a geographically concentrated league so travel expenses are minimal (there are NO PL schools to which our teams fly). Our women's teams in particular would get trounced in just about any "big" conference -- that's just a function of numbers as we field 8 women's varsity teams (plus some on the rifle team) from a total female student population of about 800). If you know a female West Point cadet, there is a pretty good chance that she spent at least part of her cadet career on one of our intercollegiate sports teams.
Now to the "other" question: We weren't happy with how our previous football-only conference affiliation went, so I think it will be a LONG time before we explore membership in a football conference.
(11-30-2010 01:49 PM)BeatNavy Wrote: [ -> ] (11-30-2010 11:33 AM)Zippy989 Wrote: [ -> ]They almost play a MAC schedule now... why not invite them for all sports?
Now to the "other" question: We weren't happy with how our previous football-only conference affiliation went, so I think it will be a LONG time before we explore membership in a football conference.
Army : C-USA is to TCU : (Big East).
Terrible marriages of convenience.
I realize that Army is doing well as an independent and doesn't need a conference for bowl affiliations or even scheduling, but if Army was interested in a conference, the MAC might fit.
IF Army were interested, then the MAC would look for another eastern school such as Delaware, JMU, etc.
Would Army be happy in a division with say Akron, Kent, Buffalo, Ohio, UMass, Temple, and JMU? playing 4 OOC games, including Navy.
Would 3 other OOC games with say Air Force, and two others be okay????
I'll let BeatNavy answer the question.
It's been pretty clear that neither Navy nor Army are interested in joining a football conference. Army has no need of the MAC. We offer them nothing they don't already have. But I agree that if Army weren't Army and were more like a typical university, they might be interested in joining a conference like the MAC, but preferably better. But they aren't, so they won't. Ever.
Somebody please drag this poor horse's carcass and bury what's left of it.
(11-30-2010 06:13 PM)axeme Wrote: [ -> ]It's been pretty clear that neither Navy nor Army are interested in joining a football conference. Army has no need of the MAC. We offer them nothing they don't already have. But I agree that if Army weren't Army and were more like a typical university, they might be interested in joining a conference like the MAC, but preferably better. But they aren't, so they won't. Ever.
Somebody please drag this poor horse's carcass and bury what's left of it.
If Army weren't Army...would the MAC want them?
Probably, the MAC was willing to take Temple.
Army in the conference would end the attendance wars.
All I meant was if they picked up 1 or 2 more MAC games, they could technically be MAC Champs.... Not that they would join...