(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.