Jerry Weaver
All American
Posts: 3,687
Joined: Oct 2017
Reputation: 36
I Root For: EMU
Location: Ann Arbor
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RE: 2022 MAC Bowl Picture
(12-29-2022 08:24 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote: (12-28-2022 07:45 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote: (12-28-2022 08:07 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote: (12-27-2022 05:32 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote: (12-27-2022 08:18 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote: I agree with you both, according to the box score the attendance was about 23,000. Pretty good when you considering one team is coming all the way from New Mexico. I think there was like 35,000 when we played there, but another element was that Detroit isn't too far of a drive from Pittsburgh.
I thought it was a fun game, BG had a few missed opportunities (missed FGs, not getting off the field on MULTIPLE 3rd downs, the fumbles) and of course the bad break of losing their starting QB. NMSU played with a ton of heart and passion...an easy team to like.
The MAC falls to 2-2 in bowls, Buffalo is next up to try and clinch at least a .500 record. They play in the Camellia Bowl at noon today against Georgia Southern. Both teams are 6-6, but Georgia Southern is a 4.5 point favorite.
Good to see Quian Williams finish his career on a winning note. Buffalo brings the MAC to 3-2, which quite easily could have been 5-0. Other than our 14-point win the other four games had a cumulative point differential of that same 14 points!
I can't remember when the MAC had a similar performance, normally only Frank Solich wins bowl games, and the conference gets blown out in many contests like we did last year vs Liberty. Much better performance this year.
Yeah, I was really happy for Q as well!
Another entertaining game yesterday. I wasn't really impressed with either year, some sloppy play and bad throws, but a it was a fun game to watch. As you pointed out Jerry, this is one of the better bowl season performances for the MAC! We we are 3-2 but could easily be 4-1 if not 5-0. Also, other than our game, every game have been very competitive and entertaining which is really what you want out of a bowl game.
The MAC will wrap it up with Ohio play Wyoming at 4:30 on Friday. Ohio had a 9-3 regular season while Wyoming was 7-5. Ohio is a 1.5 favorite, however I know Rourke was hurt and missed the end of the regular season and MAC title game and I assume won't play Friday? With him I would really like Ohio's chances, without him they still have a good chance to win but should be a good one!
Honestly SD, Ohio was the best team in the MAC this year. QB is the most important position in today's football game, and they lost Rourke, who by the way, was the MAC offensive POY. With Rourke they easily beat Toledo and Wyoming as well, but of course, injuries are part of the game.
I would posit that the most disappointing performance for the MAC this season was displayed by Toledo, even in a win. I don't think, and correct me if I am wrong, but did ANY interim coach win a bowl game this season? Toledo got Liberty who lost to the same NMSU team that barely beat BGSU by 35 freaking points with Hugh Freeze. Then they "drilled" Liberty and their interim coach by just TWO points!
Toledo is the gold standard of the MAC, they always have the best attendance and players as evidenced by the All-MAC selections. They are what we all want to be.
I'm not going to dog Austin Smith, he is our future and has acquitted himself well. Yet I still wonder what Taylor Powell does against the Rockets. Just me, wondering.
I agree with all these points, Jerry. I wasn't too impressed with the way Toledo played in the MAC title game.
To your point about the interim coach; Wisconsin did win but they had a weird situation. Jim Leonard is the interim coach, but he had been in place for half the season, plus the new coach (Fickell) was there kind of coaching in the bowl game...but to your larger point yeah those teams don't seem to be playing well.
I knew someone would catch me on the "interim coach" issue, and yes you are correct about Leonard as you are a sharp guy. I was, of course, referring to those teams like Liberty who lost their coach just prior to the bowl game. Then again, one could also point out the Fenway Bowl where BOTH coaches were leading their teams for the very first time, one interim did indeed have to win.
I kinda think I am just an old geezer that suddenly realized how close EMU was to a MAC title this year and am obsessively whining about it. Toledo was not very good, they lost their last two conference games, beat Ohio without the best player in the MAC and eked out a win vs Liberty without their head coach. Never mind me, I still think we missed a huge opportunity this year.
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