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Today’s decision shows this is just not a long-term viable football conference. It exists at the leisure of the Big 10 for tune-up games. It will be beyond embarrassing if we are the only conference not playing, and even more when everyone finally grasps how far out of the pandemic woods we will be in October.

I’ve always hated the idea of leaving the MAC: going FCS, or trying to go big, or perhaps trying to join another conference. But, who could ever imagine this turn of events?

Ironically, if the rumors are true, it was NIU that led the charge here, the school with the least loyalty to the conference.

What say you?

Stupid reaction. Every other conference is about to follow suit.

(08-08-2020 09:42 AM)RunningGame Wrote:  Today’s decision shows this is just not a long-term viable football conference. It exists at the leisure of the Big 10 for tune-up games. It will be beyond embarrassing if we are the only conference not playing, and even more when everyone finally grasps how far out of the pandemic woods we will be in October.

I’ve always hated the idea of leaving the MAC: going FCS, or trying to go big, or perhaps trying to join another conference. But, who could ever imagine this turn of events?

Ironically, if the rumors are true, it was NIU that led the charge here, the school with the least loyalty to the conference.

What say you?

I have been saying this for years. Schools that can, should try to latch on to another conference. The MAC literally fetches the drippings of college athletics.
So, I wonder if WMU will be courted by other conferences? I mean, we are academic leaders, especially in our athletics department. What is that worth to other conferences?

(08-08-2020 09:51 AM)Nacho Wrote:  Stupid reaction. Every other conference is about to follow suit.

Okay, let’s wait and see on that, it’s possible but the stakes are much higher for those conferences...

(08-08-2020 09:51 AM)Nacho Wrote:  Stupid reaction. Every other conference is about to follow suit.

It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

I too find it ironic that NIU led the pack. The only school I can think of that left the conference and then came back. I don’t have my reactions in check yet. Mostly just sad and disappointed. Wish they would have waited until Monday to announce...just a total downer.

(08-08-2020 09:55 AM)Broncos83 Wrote:  I too find it ironic that NIU led the pack. The only school I can think of that left the conference and then came back. I don’t have my reactions in check yet. Mostly just sad and disappointed. Wish they would have waited until Monday to announce...just a total downer.

Lol what difference would it make if they announced Monday?

P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

(08-08-2020 09:59 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

You're probably right. Even if we are "out of the woods" the goalposts will be moved again to put us squarely back into the woods.

(08-08-2020 09:51 AM)Windycitybronco Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:42 AM)RunningGame Wrote:  Today’s decision shows this is just not a long-term viable football conference. It exists at the leisure of the Big 10 for tune-up games. It will be beyond embarrassing if we are the only conference not playing, and even more when everyone finally grasps how far out of the pandemic woods we will be in October.

I’ve always hated the idea of leaving the MAC: going FCS, or trying to go big, or perhaps trying to join another conference. But, who could ever imagine this turn of events?

Ironically, if the rumors are true, it was NIU that led the charge here, the school with the least loyalty to the conference.

What say you?

I have been saying this for years. Schools that can, should try to latch on to another conference. The MAC literally fetches the drippings of college athletics.
So, I wonder if WMU will be courted by other conferences? I mean, we are academic leaders, especially in our athletics department. What is that worth to other conferences?

Any chance we had to attract interest from other conferences (which was always a long shot regardless) was blown in the last 3.5 years.

(08-08-2020 10:16 AM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:59 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

You're probably right. Even if we are "out of the woods" the goalposts will be moved again to put us squarely back into the woods.

I expect it is a pipe dream that Covid danger will be less in the spring.

(08-08-2020 10:27 AM)okgc Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 10:16 AM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:59 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

You're probably right. Even if we are "out of the woods" the goalposts will be moved again to put us squarely back into the woods.

I expect it is a pipe dream that Covid danger will be less in the spring.

It will probably be less. But less is not enough.

(08-08-2020 10:27 AM)okgc Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 10:16 AM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:59 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

You're probably right. Even if we are "out of the woods" the goalposts will be moved again to put us squarely back into the woods.

I expect it is a pipe dream that Covid danger will be less in the spring.

It will probably be less. But less is not enough.

(08-08-2020 09:58 AM)Nacho Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:55 AM)Broncos83 Wrote:  I too find it ironic that NIU led the pack. The only school I can think of that left the conference and then came back. I don’t have my reactions in check yet. Mostly just sad and disappointed. Wish they would have waited until Monday to announce...just a total downer.

Lol what difference would it make if they announced Monday?

Officially ruined my Saturday golf game...that’s why!

(08-08-2020 10:27 AM)okgc Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 10:16 AM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(08-08-2020 09:59 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  P5 conferences (and perhaps others) will likely try to play; my bet is they don't get far. I think it's a pipe dream to think we'll be "out of the woods" by October.

You're probably right. Even if we are "out of the woods" the goalposts will be moved again to put us squarely back into the woods.

I expect it is a pipe dream that Covid danger will be less in the spring.

This is true, because this virus likely isn’t going away. In Michigan, it’s killing the same number of people per day right now as a typical year of flu/pneumonia, about 5 a day. We’re about as low as we can get without being at zero deaths. If this is too dangerous for sports now, it will be forever. The question is, how many people will fix their emotional state by October when all states are finally over the hump of the first wave?

I’m not too bothered given the season will probably resemble the MLB. A bunch of sad, empty stadiums with quarantines and random cancellations. Players sitting out. News about who tested positive will overshadow stories about the game itself. Probably no championship games or bowl games.

A little bummer that we were one of the very few who had our expected big payday left intact. And it is interesting how one member (NIU) dictated this whole thing.

But all in all, this was shaping up to be a dysfunctional season anyhow.

(08-08-2020 09:55 AM)Broncos83 Wrote:  I too find it ironic that NIU led the pack. The only school I can think of that left the conference and then came back. I don’t have my reactions in check yet.

Marshall was kicked out came back, left.

You know, we could place the blame where it actually lies, on delayed and insufficient public policy and individual irresponsibility. Considering that many other countries got this under control and *gasp* even managed to get sports back going with no issues.

Or, sure, we could just imply everyone is a pu$$y.

(08-08-2020 10:50 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  You know, we could place the blame where it actually lies, on delayed and insufficient public policy and individual irresponsibility. Considering that many other countries got this under control and *gasp* even managed to get sports back going with no issues.

Or, sure, we could just imply everyone is a pu$$y.

Countries like Japan? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...everywhere

Sweden was right all along. You can flatten the curve with control policies, but unless there is a cure or the policies are maintained until the apocalypse, you are just extending the time until you hit herd immunity. Even South Korea has sustained transmission: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/202...oronavirus

Don’t late your political views and emotions obscure the plain facts and data.

I'm just not sure what delaying the season to spring or cancelling it completely accomplishes.

EDIT: Embarassing if the rest of the G5 - particularly SunBelt & CUSA - play their season in the fall, but I do suspect the dominoes will continue falling.