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Duke jumped out 14-0, but NIU has rallied to tie it. Let’s see if the Huskies can get it done.

(12-26-2017 06:34 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  Duke jumped out 14-0, but NIU has rallied to tie it. Let’s see if the Huskies can get it done.

Duke up 26-14 at half time.
MAC is really looking sad

Nothing new....

Terribly timed trick plays. I guess that's easy to say when they don't work.

MAC struggles more times than not during bowl season, but this might be the worst I can remember in a long time.

Another blowout loss for the MAC. Imagine my shock.

Ohio was the one pleasant surprise this bowl season.

(12-26-2017 08:13 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Another blowout loss for the MAC. Imagine my shock.

Ohio was the one pleasant surprise this bowl season.

.....and they played, arguably, the weakest opponent.

Duke pounded NU who beat MSU who beat UofM so there’s that...

I think the MAC is now 1-10 over the last two bowl seasons.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using CSNbbs mobile app

I think the MAC was worse last year, which was part of the reason we ran the table.

NIU CMU BG UB Akron and Kent were way down. NIU CMU UB Akron and EMU, all had some solid seniors and were improved, but still not very good. UT had a solid QB, some key seniors and good depth, as did Western. If healthy I’m convinced we’d have been 8-3 heading to UT, and who knows. That said, the MAC wasn’t good this year, but from top to bottom were better than 16.

Next year I see CMU EMU Akron taking a step way back, UB BG Miami OU all being in the mix in the East, and all being better. UT takes a small step back, NIU slightly better, but nothing to fear. BSU will still struggle, and Creighton faces a bit of a rebuild. The West should be easier to win if the QB play has upgraded.

(12-26-2017 10:06 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I think the MAC was worse last year, which was part of the reason we ran the table.

NIU CMU BG UB Akron and Kent were way down. NIU CMU UB Akron and EMU, all had some solid seniors and were improved, but still not very good. UT had a solid QB, some key seniors and good depth, as did Western. If healthy I’m convinced we’d have been 8-3 heading to UT, and who knows. That said, the MAC wasn’t good this year, but from top to bottom were better than 16.

Next year I see CMU EMU Akron taking a step way back, UB BG Miami OU all being in the mix in the East, and all being better. UT takes a small step back, NIU slightly better, but nothing to fear. BSU will still struggle, and Creighton faces a bit of a rebuild. The West should be easier to win if the QB play has upgraded.

I don't know how many of you watched the Quicklane Bowl halftime report but the analyst said (in regards to NIU's fake punt in their own endzone) was just "dumb". And I could not agree more.

(12-26-2017 10:06 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I think the MAC was worse last year, which was part of the reason we ran the table.

NIU CMU BG UB Akron and Kent were way down. NIU CMU UB Akron and EMU, all had some solid seniors and were improved, but still not very good. UT had a solid QB, some key seniors and good depth, as did Western. If healthy I’m convinced we’d have been 8-3 heading to UT, and who knows. That said, the MAC wasn’t good this year, but from top to bottom were better than 16.

Next year I see CMU EMU Akron taking a step way back, UB BG Miami OU all being in the mix in the East, and all being better. UT takes a small step back, NIU slightly better, but nothing to fear. BSU will still struggle, and Creighton faces a bit of a rebuild. The West should be easier to win if the QB play has upgraded.

"I think the MAC was worse last year, which was part of the reason we ran the table."

Yes, the MAC was weak, but last year's team STILL finished #15 in the nation at the end of the season (AP Final Poll), was only one possession away from Top 10 Wisconsin in a New Year's Day bowl, and had a better Pig10 record than Michigan State.

It was a damn good football team that earned its recognition and record.

The MAC was weak in 2017 and 2018 as well, and WMU could not accomplish anything of significance, despite having a talented roster.

There is no asterisk saying "Weak Conference" in Waldo beside "2016 MAC Champions."

(12-27-2017 12:06 AM)BroncoMD Wrote:  I don't know how many of you watched the Quicklane Bowl halftime report but the analyst said (in regards to NIU's fake punt in their own endzone) was just "dumb". And I could not agree more.

Carey deserved that rip after the ungrateful way he spoke about Detroit, and Michigan, prior to the bowl game.

D-U-M-B!

Personally I think every team in the West with the exception of Central was better last season.

MAC went 0-6 in last year's bowl season, but 5 of those losses were by one score (only CMU's loss was a blowout).

This year, Ohio's win aside, every game was essentially over by halftime.

I believe this year was the weakest the MAC has been in recent memory; and particularly the top teams, like Toledo and NIU. I am not sure what the thought is for those of you who believe the contrary. CMU was the benefactor of this generally down year, as was, I believe, Akron. Both of those teams were mediocre to below average in most years, but got some close wins against a few teams because they played less lousy than their opponent. WMU stunk it up this year, and although Toledo and NIU started strong, neither lived up to any higher expectations anyone had (Toledo finally won the league, which to me seemed more by default this year). Last season Toledo was better, NIU was at least as good, and probably better, Ohio was better, and the rest of the conference was about the same. We were dynamic, and that took its toll on the teams we played. If WMU played even just reasonably well this year we would have beaten Akron, CMU, and NIU. Then, the post season analysis of those teams would be much different.

As for the NIU fake punt, I must say that while I ordinarily love fake punts, and believe that there are many fantastic situations to run one in most games, where it is well worth the risk, NIU's fake punt was the stupidest call I have seen in football this year; and I watched the Lions.

(12-27-2017 08:15 AM)brovol Wrote:  I believe this year was the weakest the MAC has been in recent memory; and particularly the top teams, like Toledo and NIU. I am not sure what the thought is for those of you who believe the contrary. CMU was the benefactor of this generally down year, as was, I believe, Akron. Both of those teams were mediocre to below average in most years, but got some close wins against a few teams because they played less lousy than their opponent. WMU stunk it up this year, and although Toledo and NIU started strong, neither lived up to any higher expectations anyone had (Toledo finally won the league, which to me seemed more by default this year). Last season Toledo was better, NIU was at least as good, and probably better, Ohio was better, and the rest of the conference was about the same. We were dynamic, and that took its toll on the teams we played. If WMU played even just reasonably well this year we would have beaten Akron, CMU, and NIU. Then, the post season analysis of those teams would be much different.

As for the NIU fake punt, I must say that while I ordinarily love fake punts, and believe that there are many fantastic situations to run one in most games, where it is well worth the risk, NIU's fake punt was the stupidest call I have seen in football this year; and I watched the Lions.

Toledo had 15 season ending injuries, lost Woodside's leading receiver All MAC Cody Thompson, its top 3 OG, and 2 of 3 DE's. Then for the Bowl, the Rockets lose it's best defensive player another DE, suspended for the first half. No wonder UT was getting killed between its Offensive Tackles and defensively by App States QB option.
NIU's:4th and 18 @ the 11 yard line, down 7-0 early in the game, the fake punt was a dumb call with a very low probability of success.

Oddly enough, it was unlikely we would've gone bowling even if we beat Akron and went 7-5.

Akron would've still been the MAC East champ, strange as that sounds, and been guaranteed the bowl. They'd have the conference record tie-breaker over Ohio because of the head to head win.

CMU and NIU were both 8-win teams and also beat us during the season.

(12-27-2017 08:15 AM)brovol Wrote:  Last season Toledo was better, NIU was at least as good, and probably better,

NIU wasn't even bowl eligible last year and lost to an FCS team, so they were at least 'somewhat' better this season.

Although NIU looked stronger earlier in the season. Beat Nebraska (yes I know they aren't the "usual" Nebraska) and lost by one score to bowl teams Boston College and San Diego State.