A while back I asked how expansion would strengthen the MAC.

I have seen almost no reasons given.

I think, though, that MAC officials must feel that there ARE reasons. Do they know something or expect something that we don't?

I made some speculations--primary among them that MAC officials believe that "super conferences" with let's say 14 members are likely to be formed, and that by expanding to 14 the MAC is hoping to put itself in an early position to be one of these conferences.

But this is just pure speculation. I continue to believe that MAC officials have good reasons for considering expansion. I'm just not sure what they are.

There may indeed be reasons for expansion. Who knows? That doesn't mean it can't be done wisely. In the Temple/MAC debate, it appears to me that we hold all of the cards. They aren't the only school out there with bad football and a decent hoops program.

Oddball Wrote:With all due respect, why? What does Temple football bring to us that we need?

Television sets.

Philadelphia is the nation's fourth largest television market. About 2.7 percent of the nation's television sets are there.

"But Schadenfreude," I can hear some of you saying, "no one in Philadelphia cares about Temple."

I am not an expert on television. But let me work through some numbers.

Assume all our games get a uniform 1 rating. Realistically, our numbers are probably higher in Ohio, Michigan and other parts of MAC country and lower elsewhere. But let's assume a uniform 1 rating to make this simple.

A 1 rating means 1,095,902 homes are watching.

Let's further assume that, by adding Temple, ESPN could air an early season MAC game involving Temple that would get a 5 rating in Philadelphia.

I don't know if that's conservative or optimstic or what.

But Temple getting a 5 in Philadelphia seems to be keeping with the spirit of disintrest. That's not a groundwell of support. That's every sports bar turning the game on because it is local. That's one home in 20 with a set deciding they will check in and see what those poor Owls -- bless their hearts -- are up to.

But that's 116,776 more homes -- enough to drive the national rating from a 1 to a 1.1.

In the world of cable, that tenth of a point is pretty big.

And, geez Louise, if Temple ever got halfway good? Whoa Nellie.

I think the MAC needs to drive as hard of a bargain as it can with Temple, mostly because we can. They don't seem to have options.

But, after driving as hard as we can -- if we can't knock John Cheney off his high horse and get 'em for all sports, I'd probably take 'em any way.

Our biggest growth opportunity is in the East. Temple, despite its warts, is an opportunity.

For what it's worth, this is the source of my math:

<a href='http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html' target='_blank'>http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html</a>

Oddball Wrote:..... What does Temple football bring to us that we need? To me, it only brings the perception that we'll take a team that was kicked out of its previous conference for being a doormat with no hopes of ever competing. ...

Temple needs a home for its football team. We all know that. How is that our problem? The question is, or at least, ought to be, what does the MAC need, and how does any addition address that?

Oddy, right on the nose on that point!



The MAC does not need another project program.

Just say <span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>NO</span> to Temple.

That's a lot of assuming, Schad. Not that it totally nullifies your point, but we really have no idea what sort of market we'd get. First of all, how many televised games would Temple get? We don't know. If they do get games, who will they play? We don't know. How would a Temple/CMU contest do on Philly TV? We don't know, but we can damn sure guess pretty accurately.

I think you hit the nail right on the head with this, however:

Quote:I think the MAC needs to drive as hard of a bargain as it can with Temple, mostly because we can. They don't seem to have options.

They really dont have options, and if they insist on pretending that they do, it really isn't our problem, nor do we have any reason to pretend that it is. It isn't like Temple basketball is a huge prize. While better than many MAC teams, and historically better than and more well known than most MAC teams, it isn't like we would be expecting too much. They really do need to bring something, and football isn't it. We already have EMU, for example, and their prospects look quite a bit better than Temple's.

one question I have is what would help more, adding a team for all sports that would add more prestige to the conference and maybe bring more viewers in nationwide, or just focusing on one market? This could be a proactive means of trying to bolster the MAC's nationwide rep, which Temple would not do at all, instead it would be tarnished for "taking in the unwanted school"

Oddball Wrote:We already have EMU, for example, and their prospects look quite a bit better than Temple's.

The Eagles are the Owls in green uniforms.

[QUOTE]not sure about SIU football. [QUOTE]

SIU has a damn fine football program. One of the best in 1AA. They were ranked number 1 most of the year, despite losing in the playoffs.

SIU also competes in the Gateway Football Conference which is one of, if not recently the, premier elite conferences in 1AA. Incidently, WKU competes in the Gateway as well. And for you Ohioians, most of you know that Youngstown State plays in that conference as well.

Vandelay Wrote:First off, let me state that I do not believe the MAC should expand at this time. None of the schools that have been publically stated really bring in anything of high value at this point in time. That doesn't mean they are bad ideas, but I think the MAC should stay the course, concentrate on their 12 schools and continue to build all sports programs before cutting the "pie" another two slices.

With that said, if you recall, I stated some time back that Western Kentucky is on the MAC radar screen. Through some recent published articles, you can see that to be true. He is another school now on the MAC screen and don't be surprised to see something written sometime soon about this.

Middle Tennessee State. Yes MTSU is also on the MAC radar screen and one source told me Troy State is as well. I am more sceptical on Troy, but certainly MTSU could be a logical fit. Same size school, similiar budget and some nice facilities.

Based off of the schools listed, my choice would be MTSU and Troy. It's looking like Temple (all sports yet?) and WKU.

I'll be talking to more people at the MAC B-ball tourney at the Gund in two weeks. I'll keep everyone posted.

Nick

I have no clue who your source is, but that info is very suspect. Whats makes it suspect? Well, the part that sticks out like a sore thumb is the mention of Troy. When Troy was accepted for membership into the sunbelt, they made a legally binding agreement that basically forces them to stay with the conference for X amount of years. FWIW.

Temple is playing the MAC. Temple is thinking a little too highly of themselves if you ask me. They think they can ask for whatever and the MAC will eagerly please them. I don't think that is how it is playing out though. Temple better be careful or they will be out to dry.

As for MTSU.. they are not interested. Right now they don't even have an A.D.. But a year ago all this came up with MTSU and their was no interest. They want to go straight to the C-USA at the next opportunity (of their is one for them.)

The ACC took in an "unwanted school", Virginia Tech, and look what they did to Duke the other night. They also won the football title. and gained the ACC's Sugar Bowl berth. Temple beat Syracuse iin football during this past year, something that BG nor Toledo has ever done. Temple being tossed out of the be was more political than practical The be would have liked to reverse their position when the ACC bomb hit, but it would have appeared to be a surrender of principal, and correctly perceived as a sign of weakness. Actually, Rutgers should have been tossed before Temple, but thats another story. If the be goes for a 12 member football league, and gain a big money championship game, the MAC will become prime raiding territory, and can expect to lose 1 or 2 schools. Just trust Rick Chryst, Temple in the MAC will be a really good thing for both sides. By the way, what's so bad about giving a helping hand to a program in need? Is the MAC so lacking in self confidence that a risky move that could be a big plus should be ignored?

Tomznj Wrote:Temple beat Syracuse iin football during this past year, something that BG nor Toledo has ever done.

Bowling Green is 2-0 against Syracuse.

Quote:The ACC took in an "unwanted school", Virginia Tech, and look what they did to Duke the other night.

As if this comparison even warrants a response... nonetheless. Comparing VT and Temple?? That's not even close to being an apples and oranges analogy.

Quote:Temple being tossed out of the be was more political than practical

Sure there were politics involved. However, Temple football has never begun to scratch the surface of competing in the BE.

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:Temple is playing the MAC. Temple is thinking a little too highly of themselves if you ask me. They think they can ask for whatever and the MAC will eagerly please them. I don't think that is how it is playing out though. Temple better be careful or they will be out to dry.

As for MTSU.. they are not interested. Right now they don't even have an A.D.. But a year ago all this came up with MTSU and their was no interest. They want to go straight to the C-USA at the next opportunity (of their is one for them.)

<a href='http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_Men.html' target='_blank'>http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_Men.html</a>

Awww, just when we are starting to get the SBC's reputation back as a tough basketball league, you guys want to look elsewhere.

As for football, <a href='http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc04.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc04.htm</a>

SBC #12
MAC #15

Also, the 2nd bowl tie-in is in the works. Ask someone with connections to the league office.

Finally, your leaving a top 5 baseball league for what?



Just a few things to consider when you think about planning those lovely winter treks up north for football and basketball.

Schadenfreude Wrote:Troy?

God bless 'em, but that's geographically asinine.

Is Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras also on our radar screen?

:rolleyes:

hey! I was born in Rio Piedras.

but seriously...how long did you search to find that school.





and seriously..i was born there. :)

elpalito Wrote:hey! I was born in Rio Piedras.

but seriously...how long did you search to find that school.

My brother's wife has family near Rio Piedras, and I stayed with 'em once.

Quote:Just a few things to consider when you think about planning those lovely winter treks up north for football and basketball.

Football is played in fall (Sept-Oct is crisp and beautiful around the Great Lakes), and basketball is played inside temperature-controlled arenas.

[hey! I was born in Rio Piedras.

but seriously...how long did you search to find that school.


My brother's wife has family near Rio Piedras, and I stayed with 'em once. ]

That drive way up in the moutains of Barranquitas is a KILLER...literally!

PrimeRateWKUFan Wrote:[hey! I was born in Rio Piedras.

but seriously...how long did you search to find that school.


My brother's wife has family near Rio Piedras, and I stayed with 'em once. ]

That drive way up in the moutains of Barranquitas is a KILLER...literally!

My brother and I once drive from the south coast (around Guanica) to Arecibo along a secondary state route (128, mostly).

Oy! We saw enough one-lane hair pin turns -- with cliffs on one side of us and a sheer drop on the other -- to last us for years. My heart rarely left my thoat that afternoon.

It makes no sense for Temple to come in for all-sports, its too costly. Some non-conference games, that's just a cost of doing business.

Without basketball Temple would not seem to make sense for the MAC, until you remember that 1,811,900 tv households just vanished from the MAC TV contract. Along with a recognized name among college football fans.

Temple brings some name value and 2,919,410 tv homes. If Philadelphia has only 62% of the interest in watching MAC football on TV that Orlando and Huntington had it is wash. The number of national viewers remains constant.