$833k > $400k

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c...story.html

It's not like they're unfamiliar with those programs in the MAC & who does Marshall really care about playing in C-USA anyway? At least they have a real rival in Ohio. I get Florida and Texas recruiting but it seems like Marshall fielded better teams back when they were in the MAC as well. Their immediate success after leaving 1-AA reminds me of App State's recent ascension. They won the MAC 5 out of 7 years and finished ranked 3 times.

Ohio 1:31
Miami 3:24
Akron 3:50
Kent 4:03
WKU 4:10
JMU 4:22
Ball 4:23
BG 4:25
Toledo 4:48
Charlotte 4:54
EMU 5:23
MTSU 5:35
WMU 6:34
ODU 6:52
CMU 7:07
Buffalo 7:10
UAB 7:35
NIU 7:47
USM 10:51
La Tech 12:49
FAU 14:33
UNT 15:08
FIU 15:14
Rice 16:44
UTSA 18:26
UTEP 23:17

(01-11-2020 10:58 AM)B easy Wrote:  



$833k > $400k

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c...story.html

It's not like they're unfamiliar with those programs in the MAC & who does Marshall really care about playing in C-USA anyway? At least they have a real rival in Ohio. I get Florida and Texas recruiting but it seems like Marshall fielded better teams back when they were in the MAC as well. Their immediate success after leaving 1-AA reminds me of App State's recent ascension. They won the MAC 5 out of 7 years and finished ranked 3 times.

The MAC’s tv deal expires in 26-27. It was negotiated before the 2014 season. I think the MAC of 2013 is a world away from the MAC of 2020. I don’t see a single positive for Marshall making that move.

The MAC had an opportunity to come up with Marshal as a 14th when UMass was in talks but the name out of the hat was JMU. The MAC leadership I think doesn't like the cultural fit of Marshall.

Further 12 is right size for the MAC, just bigger than the Horizon at 11 but not as large as the P5 conference B1G in its region.

On the MAC doing nothing since 2014 the same can be said of the MWC and look at their new TV contract. Nothing on the field and no new membership but a 300% rights fee increase in the new contract.

(01-11-2020 11:43 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  The MAC had an opportunity to come up with Marshal as a 14th when UMass was in talks but the name out of the hat was JMU. The MAC leadership I think doesn't like the cultural fit of Marshall.

Further 12 is right size for the MAC, just bigger than the Horizon at 11 but not as large as the P5 conference B1G in its region.

On the MAC doing nothing since 2014 the same can be said of the MWC and look at their new TV contract. Nothing on the field and no new membership but a 300% rights fee increase in the new contract.

12 is the perfect fit, but if Marshall ever wants back in I think the league would do it in a heartbeat. Marshall not only packed stadiums, but their MAC teams of 20 years ago would be NY6 contenders today.

MAC’s preference in all likelihood:
1) Marshall + JMU
2) Marshall + UConn FB/NKU BB
3) Marshall + Illinois St

I’d like Marshall + NDSU FB/NKU BB to add 2 fan bases that travel in hordes but it seems like NDSU FB will never gain traction for an FBS conference.

(01-11-2020 11:56 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:43 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  The MAC had an opportunity to come up with Marshal as a 14th when UMass was in talks but the name out of the hat was JMU. The MAC leadership I think doesn't like the cultural fit of Marshall.

Further 12 is right size for the MAC, just bigger than the Horizon at 11 but not as large as the P5 conference B1G in its region.

On the MAC doing nothing since 2014 the same can be said of the MWC and look at their new TV contract. Nothing on the field and no new membership but a 300% rights fee increase in the new contract.

12 is the perfect fit, but if Marshall ever wants back in I think the league would do it in a heartbeat. Marshall not only packed stadiums, but their MAC teams of 20 years ago would be NY6 contenders today.

MAC’s preference in all likelihood:
1) Marshall + JMU
2) Marshall + UConn FB/NKU BB
3) Marshall + Illinois St

I’d like Marshall + NDSU FB/NKU BB to add 2 fan bases that travel in hordes but it seems like NDSU FB will never gain traction for an FBS conference.

My guess is the MAC has had their fill of FB affiliates after Temple and UMass and aren't in any hurry to add any more, especially since there's no economic incentive to add to the 12 mouths they already have. Now if the lose multiple schools to moves/downgrades, they might reconsider that, but at this point what do they have to gain with more members?

Also, I don't think anyone in the MAC/CUSA/Belt are going to move unless it's to the AAC or MWC. That's a move worth paying exit/entrance fees and uprooting. Anything else is a net negative.

(01-11-2020 11:43 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  The MAC had an opportunity to come up with Marshal as a 14th when UMass was in talks but the name out of the hat was JMU. The MAC leadership I think doesn't like the cultural fit of Marshall.

Further 12 is right size for the MAC, just bigger than the Horizon at 11 but not as large as the P5 conference B1G in its region.

On the MAC doing nothing since 2014 the same can be said of the MWC and look at their new TV contract. Nothing on the field and no new membership but a 300% rights fee increase in the new contract.

I disagree. The MWC is a premier G5 conference loaded with some flagship programs (Boise State, Hawaii, Wyoming, Airforce, UNLV) in states with exploding populations. The MAC does not compare at all.

(01-11-2020 11:22 AM)ah59396 Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 10:58 AM)B easy Wrote:  



$833k > $400k

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c...story.html

It's not like they're unfamiliar with those programs in the MAC & who does Marshall really care about playing in C-USA anyway? At least they have a real rival in Ohio. I get Florida and Texas recruiting but it seems like Marshall fielded better teams back when they were in the MAC as well. Their immediate success after leaving 1-AA reminds me of App State's recent ascension. They won the MAC 5 out of 7 years and finished ranked 3 times.

The MAC’s tv deal expires in 26-27. It was negotiated before the 2014 season. I think the MAC of 2013 is a world away from the MAC of 2020. I don’t see a single positive for Marshall making that move.

By "a world away", do you mean the MAC is now stronger, or weaker than in 2013? FWIW, their Sagarin rating in 2013 was 57.2 and last year was 58.3. Not really much different. For comparison, CUSA was 58.8 in 2013 and 57.6 last year. Again, not much different, either over time or conference to conference.

So conference strength shouldn't be a factor in anybody's decision (though travel could be). No move either conference might make now is going to have any significant impact on its relative strength.

When Marshall left the MAC for CUSA in 2005, CUSA was rated at 65.0 compared to the MAC's 63.2. But their new conference mates were generally more highly regarded, as evidenced by the fact that the AAC has called up seven of them, in what those schools clearly felt was a promotion.

I just question whether the MAC would want Marshall back.

Meh. We would identify better with the sunbelt.

(01-11-2020 12:10 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:22 AM)ah59396 Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 10:58 AM)B easy Wrote:  



$833k > $400k

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c...story.html

It's not like they're unfamiliar with those programs in the MAC & who does Marshall really care about playing in C-USA anyway? At least they have a real rival in Ohio. I get Florida and Texas recruiting but it seems like Marshall fielded better teams back when they were in the MAC as well. Their immediate success after leaving 1-AA reminds me of App State's recent ascension. They won the MAC 5 out of 7 years and finished ranked 3 times.

The MAC’s tv deal expires in 26-27. It was negotiated before the 2014 season. I think the MAC of 2013 is a world away from the MAC of 2020. I don’t see a single positive for Marshall making that move.

By "a world away", do you mean the MAC is now stronger, or weaker than in 2013? FWIW, their Sagarin rating in 2013 was 57.2 and last year was 58.3. Not really much different. For comparison, CUSA was 58.8 in 2013 and 57.6 last year. Again, not much different, either over time or conference to conference.

So conference strength shouldn't be a factor in anybody's decision (though travel could be). No move either conference might make now is going to have any significant impact on its relative strength.

When Marshall left the MAC for CUSA in 2005, CUSA was rated at 65.0 compared to the MAC's 63.2. But their new conference mates were generally more highly regarded, as evidenced by the fact that the AAC has called up seven of them, in what those schools clearly felt was a promotion.

I just question whether the MAC would want Marshall back.

I’m beating a bit of a dead horse here because I posted this elsewhere, but the MAC is filled with schools losing students. NIU is down 10,000 kids since 2009. That’s incredible. CMU enrollment is down 23% since 2011 (9000 kids). EMU is offering 2 free years of tuition to try to get kids to go there. Akron is down like 6000 kids since 2014.

I’m too lazy to look up others but you get my point. That’s millions of dollars worth of tuition no longer flowing into these schools. It’s gonna have some long term effects.

Early 2000-2010 MAC was stable and filled with Ohio/Illinois schools with enrollments from 25-40k kids. 2020 MAC is filled with schools with enrollments in the teens and dropping.

That’s what I mean by worlds away.

(01-11-2020 12:16 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Meh. We would identify better with the sunbelt.

A Colonial-like FBS eastern conference would be great and let CUSA focus on the Texas and adjacent schools.

UMass, UConn, Buffalo, Delaware, James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, App State, Charlotte, Georgia State, FAU, FIU

(01-11-2020 12:16 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Meh. We would identify better with the sunbelt.

I actually agree Sunbelt makes sense if ESPN will make it worth while. Nothing major but I believe the Sun Belt actually let the two BBALL also share in the CFP.

Add Marshall to the East
Add Southern Miss to the West

CONFERENCE
EAST
App. St.
Ga. Southern
Georgia St.
Marshall
Troy
Coastal Carolina

WEST

Louisiana
Arkansas St.
UL-Monroe
Texas St.
South Alabama
Southern Miss

I think this would be two strong adds to the Sun Belt and keep the regional footprint in line.

I’d like the MAC to expand to 16 with the 4 Dakota schools.

(01-11-2020 02:52 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I’d like the MAC to expand to 16 with the 4 Dakota schools.

I’m very confident that NDSU would have won the MAC this year with 22 less scholarships than the rest of them.

The MAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA should combine their media rights. Give it a shot and see if they can improve their lot in the marketplace by cooperating.

They could also assist each other with scheduling and other areas.

(01-11-2020 02:52 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I’d like the MAC to expand to 16 with the 4 Dakota schools.

Big difference between the 4. NDSU/SDSU are excellent on the field and fan support. UND/USD are dead weight.

(01-11-2020 05:02 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 02:52 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I’d like the MAC to expand to 16 with the 4 Dakota schools.

Big difference between the 4. NDSU/SDSU are excellent on the field and fan support. UND/USD are dead weight.

That doesn’t matter. They are state flagship schools.

Because Marshall refuses to play home games on Tues/Weds. I'm honestly fine with playing away games during that time but not home games.

At this point it doesn't matter til we get a new coach. He has just sucked the entire life out of our program. Looks like we are stuck with him for one more year though.

Go Herd and #FireDoc

(01-11-2020 05:06 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 05:02 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 02:52 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I’d like the MAC to expand to 16 with the 4 Dakota schools.

Big difference between the 4. NDSU/SDSU are excellent on the field and fan support. UND/USD are dead weight.

That doesn’t matter. They are state flagship schools.

Uh, how does fan support not matter?

The thing about the MAC is that it is extremely stable, but it's also kind of stagnant. Like ah59396 said, many MAC schools are declining in enrollment, and there are no dominant teams in the league.

I just do not get the resistance to even the idea of NDSU as a football-only plus a take-your-pick of South Dakota State and JMU. All of those schools would strengthen the league. NDSU in particular could provide a top 25 team some years, much the way Marshall did for the MAC 20+ years ago and recent FCS call-up App State has for the Sun Belt.