(06-04-2018 10:24 PM)NIU70 Wrote:  

(06-04-2018 06:13 PM)klake87 Wrote:  I booked my room at Hampton inn for the 9/8 game. Lots of time to day drink

Booked mine at the Union--$71 plus tax. Red Roof Inn has decent rates, too.

I like the Red Roof Inn - formerly Best Western and formerly Holiday Inn. But be forewarned: The parking lot gets completely filled by non-guests going to the game so get to the hotel early enough if you want a space. Last year, we foolishly drove to the game and when we returned to the hotel, just about all the spaces there were taken.

(06-01-2018 06:44 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Did anybody notice that the idiotic weekday games produce a schedule where the Huskies play 3 games in 13 days late in the year? MAC sucks and cares very little about the players health and safety.

this is 1 day short of normal scheduling overall. whats the problem (outside the fact weekday games suck)

(06-05-2018 01:19 PM)calvin12 Wrote:  

(06-01-2018 06:44 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Did anybody notice that the idiotic weekday games produce a schedule where the Huskies play 3 games in 13 days late in the year? MAC sucks and cares very little about the players health and safety.

this is 1 day short of normal scheduling overall. whats the problem (outside the fact weekday games suck)

The big problem I see with it is that the effects of it will be greatest for possibly the biggest game of the year, Toledo.

(06-05-2018 12:28 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Since I don't drink (much), I will just drive home after the game. Because this game is on a Saturday, we will spend the day (and some money) in DeKalb/Sycamore.

Maybe I will hire you as my tuber driver. You haven't seen me after tequila. Shots and Jägermeister

(06-05-2018 06:20 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 12:28 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Since I don't drink (much), I will just drive home after the game. Because this game is on a Saturday, we will spend the day (and some money) in DeKalb/Sycamore.

Maybe I will hire you as my tuber driver. You haven't seen me after tequila. Shots and Jägermeister

Sorry, I've seen you sober and that's not a pretty sight either. Enjoy the drinking and spend a nice night at the Hampton.

(06-02-2018 08:05 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(06-01-2018 06:59 AM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(06-01-2018 06:44 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Did anybody notice that the idiotic weekday games produce a schedule where the Huskies play 3 games in 13 days late in the year? MAC sucks and cares very little about the players health and safety.

Not sure how different that is from 3 games in 14 days if playing on three consecutive Saturdays?

The difference is at least one extra day, or if your math skills were better, two days difference. Playing "3 games" on "three consecutive Saturdays" involves 15 actual days, not 14. Another difference -- if the MAC and NCAA were not such hypocrites -- would be the number of "school days" being missed by the "student-athletes," but that doesn't matter any more than math skills. Play three consecutive Saturdays miss max of three Fridays if they're all on the road. Play NIU's schedule between Nov. 7 to Nov. 20 with just one road trip, miss five days of class.
Of course if you're like the MAC administration, you don't understand the benefits of playing on three consecutive Saturdays in November when attention is focused on conference races being decided.

Time for your math lesson old man. If there are 3 Saturday games starting at 11 am and finishing at 2 pm, the games span 14 days and 3 hours. That is 3 games in 14.125 days. There is a thing called rounding, and 14.125 days rounds to 14, not 15. 14 days it is!

Better get your facts straight before making judging comments of other people!

The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

(06-06-2018 05:42 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

It is. But for the sake of not being continually frustrated at the scheduling, I've resigned myself to these weeknight charades.

We focus on the poor home attendance Maction causes, but there's also the lack of conference away games most fans can't get to. I'd be way more inclined to travel to Kalamazoo or Toledo or Mt.pleasant when those games meant a division title as they can towards the end of a season. But certainly not on a weeknight. That takes two days off to accomplish.

(06-06-2018 08:30 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 05:42 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

It is. But for the sake of not being continually frustrated at the scheduling, I've resigned myself to these weeknight charades.

We focus on the poor home attendance Maction causes, but there's also the lack of conference away games most fans can't get to. I'd be way more inclined to travel to Kalamazoo or Toledo or Mt.pleasant when those games meant a division title as they can towards the end of a season. But certainly not on a weeknight. That takes two days off to accomplish.

+1000
if these games were on a Saturday I would travel to them.
I loved making the road trip.

I will enjoy the games on ESPN+/ESPN3 or whatever ESPN platform du jour on my iPhone from the comforts of a warm toilet seat in my bathroom.

(06-06-2018 08:30 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 05:42 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

It is. But for the sake of not being continually frustrated at the scheduling, I've resigned myself to these weeknight charades.

We focus on the poor home attendance Maction causes, but there's also the lack of conference away games most fans can't get to. I'd be way more inclined to travel to Kalamazoo or Toledo or Mt.pleasant when those games meant a division title as they can towards the end of a season. But certainly not on a weeknight. That takes two days off to accomplish.

Oh I totally agree that the ESPN deal has decimated visiting fan attendance as well, which in turn really hurts the rivalry factor of these games. The only reason I am able to attend road games is because of a non-traditional work schedule where my weekend sometimes falls during the work week. The ESPN deal has destroyed this conference, just shredded, decimated, obliterated, whatever adjective can be inserted here.

(06-07-2018 10:44 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 08:30 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 05:42 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

It is. But for the sake of not being continually frustrated at the scheduling, I've resigned myself to these weeknight charades.

We focus on the poor home attendance Maction causes, but there's also the lack of conference away games most fans can't get to. I'd be way more inclined to travel to Kalamazoo or Toledo or Mt.pleasant when those games meant a division title as they can towards the end of a season. But certainly not on a weeknight. That takes two days off to accomplish.

Oh I totally agree that the ESPN deal has decimated visiting fan attendance as well, which in turn really hurts the rivalry factor of these games. The only reason I am able to attend road games is because of a non-traditional work schedule where my weekend sometimes falls during the work week. The ESPN deal has destroyed this conference, just shredded, decimated, obliterated, whatever adjective can be inserted here.

Some of the best seasons MAC teams have ever put together have come during the ESPN deal that has supposedly "shredded" this conference. Awfully dramatic take on it.

I have been to and seen lots of Saturday MAC games in November that were very poorly attended. People by and large do not come out to MAC games in November unless their team is having a special season as the weather sucks and they can watch on TV or they just don't care that much. By the same token I have been to multiple midweek games that were very well attended if the stakes are high.

I of course won't argue that playing on Tuesday or Wednesday decreases attendance.. but I'm sure you're overstating it.

(06-07-2018 03:46 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(06-07-2018 10:44 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 08:30 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-06-2018 05:42 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The BYU-Akron-Toledo stretch is 3 games in 11 days. Which sucks. But Toledo will have just finished a similiar stretch of games themselves. They play 3 in 11 days ending the week before we play them. So while they get a full week to rest compared to our 6 days going into our matchup, they do have to travel to dekalb and somewhat lose that extra day off.

Also, toledo's bye comes in week 2. Our bye is [/u]week 8. Right before BYU. I'd say there isn't a real disadvantage for either team. They're both equally screwed over.

It is a shame though such a once coveted matchup will be determined by who has the most players physically able to play in a time slot no one will be able to watch

It is. But for the sake of not being continually frustrated at the scheduling, I've resigned myself to these weeknight charades.

We focus on the poor home attendance Maction causes, but there's also the lack of conference away games most fans can't get to. I'd be way more inclined to travel to Kalamazoo or Toledo or Mt.pleasant when those games meant a division title as they can towards the end of a season. But certainly not on a weeknight. That takes two days off to accomplish.

Oh I totally agree that the ESPN deal has decimated visiting fan attendance as well, which in turn really hurts the rivalry factor of these games. The only reason I am able to attend road games is because of a non-traditional work schedule where my weekend sometimes falls during the work week. The ESPN deal has destroyed this conference, just shredded, decimated, obliterated, whatever adjective can be inserted here.

Some of the best seasons MAC teams have ever put together have come during the ESPN deal that has supposedly "shredded" this conference. Awfully dramatic take on it.

I have been to and seen lots of Saturday MAC games in November that were very poorly attended. People by and large do not come out to MAC games in November unless their team is having a special season as the weather sucks and they can watch on TV or they just don't care that much. By the same token I have been to multiple midweek games that were very well attended if the stakes are high.

I of course won't argue that playing on Tuesday or Wednesday decreases attendance.. but I'm sure you're overstating it.

What!? MDO2 Dramatic? Overstating his point?

Obviously MD's medication was not adjusted during the hiatus.

The most ardent supporters online of weeknight games seem to have far away listed locations.

(06-07-2018 08:10 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  The most ardent supporters online of weeknight games seem to have far away listed locations.

Of course. So they can watch them on TV.

There hasn't been a single game in the past several years that I couldn't at least stream whether midweek or Saturday. I would generally prefer games on Saturdays, but this idea that midweek games are the reason for poor attendance just is not based in reality.

I also do believe that the ESPN deal is part of the reason MAC schools are able to be competitive recruiting against local schools in the south which has been important to several of the conference's top programs.

(06-08-2018 12:40 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  There hasn't been a single game in the past several years that I couldn't at least stream whether midweek or Saturday. I would generally prefer games on Saturdays, but this idea that midweek games are the reason for poor attendance just is not based in reality.

I also do believe that the ESPN deal is part of the reason MAC schools are able to be competitive recruiting against local schools in the south which has been important to several of the conference's top programs.

You can't point to Maction as the ONLY cause of decreased fan attendance, true. But you also can't use it as the ONLY reason for any increase in recruiting. Too much has changed in college football and society to pinpoint these changes.

At the end of the day, how much help has recruiting gained? The MAC is still at or near the bottom of the G5. And prior to Maction, the mac would occasionally put a team into the top 25. Feels the same to me.

For fans who like to attend as many games as possible, the weeknight games just create a defeated feeling because you know you're going to miss some games you'd otherwise attend. It would be the same if there was a really big ticket price jump that you just couldn't afford.

(06-08-2018 12:40 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  There hasn't been a single game in the past several years that I couldn't at least stream whether midweek or Saturday. I would generally prefer games on Saturdays, but this idea that midweek games are the reason for poor attendance just is not based in reality.

I also do believe that the ESPN deal is part of the reason MAC schools are able to be competitive recruiting against local schools in the south which has been important to several of the conference's top programs.

Thank you so much for your minority opinion, Dr. Steinbrecher! Now go back to your office, close the door, and try to figure out how to fill all those empty seats on Tuesday nights. Make sure you also send ESPN a thank you letter for the coins they throw at the MAC.