rocketfootball Wrote:NIU is scheduled to play at Ohio State and LSU in 2006 and at Iowa and at Tennessee in 2007. Now NIU is one of the better MAC programs, but they will have a lot of trouble winning even 1 of those 4 games. And losing all 4 just makes the MAC look that much worse if NIU is one of the better MAC schools. NIU could be playing Northwestern, Wake Forest, or Illinois which are teams they have played in recent seasons or this year in the case of Northwestern and have a chance to win a couple of those games and turn some heads. Instead, they are playing 4 very tough teams for anyone in the country to beat. It almost seems as if they are trying to kill themselves.

We like to think of it as "Dash for the Cash".

In all seriousness though, I don't mind playing two Top 25 teams as long as we can also play a low to mid-level BCS team. Even better if one of them will come to DeKalb. So far, no news at all on possible BCS teams coming here. Still, a road game against the best will take you to some of the great venues for college football. I kind of like having the Huskies show what they can do in front of fans of Michigan, Alabama, etc.

I enjoy watching the Huskies (and when the opportunity is there-other MAC teams) playing against difficult opponents. I like to see how we measure up against the best. Play a close and competitive game and you will win respect. Beat them, even better. I love it when a Michigan fan tells me that he is more worried about the Huskies than the Illini.

I want to see a repeat of late August/September 2003. I want to see the reputation of the MAC as a football conference improve. I want to see a MAC team do what Utah did last year. Hell, I want to see a MAC team win the national title.

westernwilly Wrote:Well rocket, it looks like you are getting your wish.
We are playing their low guys.

But think about it.
If you were the Big 10, would you want to send NW and IU off to get their buts kicked by NIU, UT, and BG every year or would linsist on making us play their top teams also.
They need to save face, and like it or not, keep us in our place.

I agree, these are the best teams in the nation.
But if we want to play the UI and IU, we will also have to play the UM and OSUs.
We may not beat them, but if we play them better than everyone else, then we will have respect.


Lastly:
The MAC and the Big 10 has an agreement to play more games against each other.
So look foreward to everyone playing everyone.

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with playing their top teams from time to time but just not all the time. And the Big Ten isn't the only BCS conference that has teams we can play and beat.

Spudskie Wrote:

rocketfootball Wrote:NIU is scheduled to play at Ohio State and LSU in 2006 and at Iowa and at Tennessee in 2007.  Now NIU is one of the better MAC programs, but they will have a lot of trouble winning even 1 of those 4 games.  And losing all 4 just makes the MAC look that much worse if NIU is one of the better MAC schools.  NIU could be playing Northwestern, Wake Forest, or Illinois which are teams they have played in recent seasons or this year in the case of Northwestern and have a chance to win a couple of those games and turn some heads.  Instead, they are playing 4 very tough teams for anyone in the country to beat.  It almost seems as if they are trying to kill themselves.

We like to think of it as "Dash for the Cash".

In all seriousness though, I don't mind playing two Top 25 teams as long as we can also play a low to mid-level BCS team. Even better if one of them will come to DeKalb. So far, no news at all on possible BCS teams coming here. Still, a road game against the best will take you to some of the great venues for college football. I kind of like having the Huskies show what they can do in front of fans of Michigan, Alabama, etc.

I enjoy watching the Huskies (and when the opportunity is there-other MAC teams) playing against difficult opponents. I like to see how we measure up against the best. Play a close and competitive game and you will win respect. Beat them, even better. I love it when a Michigan fan tells me that he is more worried about the Huskies than the Illini.

I want to see a repeat of late August/September 2003. I want to see the reputation of the MAC as a football conference improve. I want to see a MAC team do what Utah did last year. Hell, I want to see a MAC team win the national title.

I hate to tell you, but Utah probably wouldn't have been in the Fiesta Bowl if they would have played at Ohio State and at LSU last year like NIU does in 2006. They played Arizona and Texas A&M, two BCS schools that were more along the lines of Purdue and Indiana.


I'd love to see a MAC school win the national title too, but without a playoff it will probably never happen.

You talk about September of 2003, but let's look at that. Marshall beat #6 Kansas State, but KSU's QB didn't play in the game so it wasn't quite the same team. Toledo beat #9 Pittsburgh, but in reality Pitt was a bit over-rated and was more like the Purdue team that BG beat. And yes, BG did beat Purdue, but Purdue was no Michigan either. NIU beat Alabama, Maryland, and Iowa State, but those were all beatable BCS teams that year and that is what I am talking about. I want to see the MAC play a few less games against the Top 10 teams in the country and a few more against middle of the road BCS schools.

It all comes down to cash! It is a good payday for MAC schools. It would be nice to get a few more of these at home, but more often then not that won't happen. You take your lumps, swallow pride, and hope to not get too banged up for the conference schedule.

As far as Mr. Football, Sutton, He was very good at Hoban High School. No offense to MAC schools, but he never had his sights lower than a BCS school. He never had too. I love the MAC, but if the big boys are recruiting, that's probably where I'm going. Especially, NW where he figured he could get playing time early.

Put a few things into perspective:

1. The MAC is outmanned in these games. Agreed that a few of our teams have or have had guys (Omar, Wolfe, Big Ben, Charlie, even Josh Cribbs) that could get significant playing time with a Big Ten school, but by and large, MAC players have the heart and talent but not the size or speed to compete man for man against a healthy, full compliment Big Ten team. This out gunning shows up the fastest on the lines.

2. The MAC's best chances come when we can sneak up on teams. Due to the success in 2003, those days may be gone. It's hard to catch someone napping in front of 70,000+ of their fans, with the coach saying "I'm not gonna lose my job because we lose this game." Plus, we have to play the guys in the striped shirts on a Big Ten field, too.

3. Look for the bright spot, because if it was a bright spot against the BCS school in the opener, it's really something that can shine in the MAC season. For NIU, it was the running game. For BG, Omar gave notice that he's picked up where he left off. For KSU, the silver lining is that Machen shows the potential promised with some recievers that can catch the ball.

4. Wait a few games before you throw in the towel on your weak spot. Let the guys play when they are not out sized by 50-75 pounds and 3-4 inches before deciding they can't play. Sadly, there may be a few times we reach this conclusion. I just would not do it today.

5. It could be worse. You could be a Pitt fan this morning. :D

Another observation.

Most of the victories by MAC teams over BCS opponents occur when we play our "A - B" games (especially minimizing penalties, turnovers, and big plays by the other team) and they play their "B - F" games.

I'd like to see more of a "mix" of OOC contests.

1 Big $$$ game against big time BCS opponent
1 or 2 2/1s against BCS opponents
1 or 2 1/1s against fellow non BCS opponents

rocketfootball Wrote:This was a tough weekend, but at the same time it is partly the MAC school's fault for their scheduling.

Yeah, why couldn't BG have played OU this year.

DrTorch Wrote:

rocketfootball Wrote:This was a tough weekend, but at the same time it is partly the MAC school's fault for their scheduling.

Yeah, why couldn't BG have played OU this year.

Adrian Peterson is wondering the same thing...

FlashFan Wrote:Put a few things into perspective:

2. The MAC's best chances come when we can sneak up on teams. Due to the success in 2003, those days may be gone. It's hard to catch someone napping in front of 70,000+ of their fans, with the coach saying "I'm not gonna lose my job because we lose this game." Plus, we have to play the guys in the striped shirts on a Big Ten field, too.

FWIW, Boise St got tromped too. It may be that some of the MAC's wins were b/c teams looked past 'em.

Nevertheless, BG's flaws were obvious: bad defense. That includes poor tackling, and Spielman saying "you gotta get off the blocks" about 100x. Granted, replay showed some beautiful holding by the Badgers, but that can't be the only excuse.

The MAC has to coach around this issue of being "outmanned".

The MAC-W was respectable (except BSU). The MAC-E just made Trev Alberts and Craig James smile knowingly, justified for all their years of bashing.

Quote:4. Wait a few games before you throw in the towel on your weak spot. Let the guys play when they are not out sized by 50-75 pounds and 3-4 inches before deciding they can't play. Sadly, there may be a few times we reach this conclusion. I just would not do it today.

Navy almost pulled it out, despite being out-sized by at least this margin. Air Force did win. So did TCU. It can be done. Saying the MAC was out-sized just plays into all the criticisms that say the MAC shouldn't be in Div IA.

Quote:5. It could be worse. You could be a Pitt fan this morning. :D

Yeah, but could any teams in the MAC beat Pitt? :( (or TAMU or Auburn)

Quote:The MAC has to coach around this issue of being "outmanned".

Okay, Mr. Genius, draw up the game plan using the same number of guys on each side of the ball, that compensates for 50- 75 lb. and 3 or so inch height advantages on both lines. Oh, and when you finish, give it to Brandon.

Quote:Navy almost pulled it out, despite being out-sized by at least this margin. Air Force did win. So did TCU. It can be done. Saying the MAC was out-sized just plays into all the criticisms that say the MAC shouldn't be in Div IA.

I'm not saying mid majors or non football schools like Navy or TCU can't ever win these games. But there are reasons why those rare wins are called "upsets." As another poster said, it typically happens when the mid major plays its A game against an elite program's D game. It happens, just not as much as we would like.
Frankly, I could give a _ _ _ _ about what those outside of the MAC have to say, especially Trev Who.

The Falcons' D got run over because Wisconsin had a team full of bigger, faster, stronger athletes. Get over yourself.

Quote:Yeah, but could any teams in the MAC beat Pitt?  (or TAMU or Auburn)

An irrelevant question to getting embarrassed on national prime time TV in your home opener on your field by a supposedly marginal ND team. Do you think Pitt fans are wringing thier hands wondering what Trev Who says about them this morning?

rocketfootball Wrote:2007
UCONN at Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan at Kansas
Central Michigan at Indiana
Buffalo at Syracuse
Rutgers at Buffalo
Bowling Green at Arizona State
Akron at Navy
Akron at Army
Miami at Minnesota
Western Michigan at Missouri
Toledo at Kansas
Purdue at Toledo
Kent State at Vanderbilt

Correction, Kent plays at Vanderbilt next year. With Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt graduating and playing in the NFL, I believe Kent has a good chance of winning this game.

FlashFan Wrote:

Quote:The MAC has to coach around this issue of being "outmanned".

Okay, Mr. Genius, draw up the game plan using the same number of guys on each side of the ball, that compensates for 50- 75 lb. and 3 or so inch height advantages on both lines. Oh, and when you finish, give it to Brandon.

What a whiny response. Heck if size is all it's about, why don't they just weigh the players each week and be done with it.

If you're so happy w/ losing, go cheer for Kent St...oh nevermind.

I am tired of people who are content being losers.

Quote:What a whiny response. Heck if size is all it's about, why don't they just weigh the players each week and be done with it.

I'll accept your admission that you couldn't do any better.

I'm glad BG has other fans. The Falcons play their hearts out and are probably the best program in the MAC. Hopefully, their real fans can put things into perspective.

Got some advice for you to enjoy the season, Torch. Every week, thump your chest if BG wins and blast them if they lose. Oh, wait.....

Try this then...stop whining abut what some talking head that doesn't know squat about your team or conference thinks. Realize that if Trev Who and his ilk had any football sense, he'd be coaching on Saturday afternoons instead of talking.

I'll say it since you won't: Go Falcons! (except on November 5)

2 things strike me as funny.
A Toledo fan telling the rest of the MAC they should play more mid-level BCS schools. Didn't Toledo just last year give up 63 points to Kansas and Minnesota each? :rofl:
Several on here are talking out of both sides of your mouth. Every day during the offseason, you degrade teams like Illinois and Indiana. Then you say we should play them. IMO, playing OSU, Michigan on ABC, ESPN are much more prestigious than having a decent shot to beat Indiana and Illinois. And don't compare a MAC team to Utah last year. A&M and UNC were bowl teams while a much better Wisky team was lucky to beat Arizona. No MAC team would have gone undefeated with Utah's schedule last year.

Shane Montgomery summed it up perfect for everyone yesterday. The top priority is still the MAC title and nobody has a loss yet. The 2003 Miami team looked terrible at Iowa yet blew through their next 13 opponents. Last year, even after their embarassing losses, Toledo won the MAC. I think the expectations are too high here if fans of three different teams are hoping/expecting their team to go undefeated. 2 or 3 teams go undefeated each year. That's it in I-A.

DrTorch Wrote:

FlashFan Wrote:

Quote:The MAC has to coach around this issue of being "outmanned".

Okay, Mr. Genius, draw up the game plan using the same number of guys on each side of the ball, that compensates for 50- 75 lb. and 3 or so inch height advantages on both lines. Oh, and when you finish, give it to Brandon.

What a whiny response. Heck if size is all it's about, why don't they just weigh the players each week and be done with it.

If you're so happy w/ losing, go cheer for Kent St...oh nevermind.

I am tired of people who are content being losers.

WTF is that response?