Northern Illinois was quoted at the last MAC Meeting that they wanted a in state rival added. If so SIU may be the one.

MAC North

EMU
CMU
WMU
Toledo
Buffalo
Akron
Kent

MAC South

Northern Ill
Southern Ill
WKU
Ball st.
Ohio
Miami
Bowling green


NIU needs rivalry team in conference

Published on Wednesday, February 16, 2005
By Colin Decair Sports Reporter

After the most recent MAC Council of Presidents meeting, the topic of MAC expansion was in the air. Gaining new teams in conference has the ability to help both the MAC and NIU.

To cut right to the chase, any time a conference seeks new entrants the level of competition is changed. It’s a move that will hopefully make the conference better.

Picking the right teams would affect the MAC dramatically. Bowl tie-ins would possibly open up and well as the skill of our conference in basketball would get better.

The necessity for a Huskies rivalry is an issue that John Peters, NIU president and the Chairman of Council of Presidents for the MAC, would also like to see addressed.

"You’ve got to be Division IA in football and Division I in basketball and be similar to us," Peters said.

The Peters wish list:

- A regional team to play in all MAC sports.

- Someone who can raise the level of play in both football and basketball.

- A logical rivalry as far as location goes.

- Someone who can be competitive with NIU in both football and basketball.

What college could the MAC find that could fill this criteria?

The Salukis of Southern Illinois.

SIU would be everything NIU and the MAC could dream about. The biggest advantage would be in basketball.

The MAC would be gaining a team that has been to the NCAA tournament three years in a row, including a trip to the sweet 16 in 2002.

The Salukis’ ability to effect football goes without saying. SIU finished the 2004 regular season ranked No. 1 in Division IAA. It also has made the NCAA playoffs two years in a row, as well.

As far as competitiveness in MAC football goes, here’s a stat to digest. In the last two years, SIU has played both Eastern Michigan and NIU. Although both were losses, the combined margin was only four points including a double OT game at EMU.

NIU was barely able to hold on for the win against the Salukis. A one-point victory in a game that kept Huskie fans on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

SIU would also set up a geographic rivalry with the Huskies. The trip from DeKalb to Carbondale would only be a five and a half hour drive - perfect distance for a weekend tailgating trip.

The actual name of the rivalry is already there, too: The civil war, an epic battle between north and south year in and year out. All that’s needed would be the trophy to play for.

So if the MAC board of directors is honestly looking to expand, SIU should get a serious look. Besides, the are already enough MAC teams in the state of Ohio and Michigan.

SIU doesn't have the money. Temple does.

Temple doesn't seem interested in full-membership. I hope the MAC leadership doesn't bend. Temple football brings nothing to the conference. MAC needs the full package.

From what I've seen, it seems the MAC leadership will not be bulled or swayed... I like that.

Temple has a good athletics program, and if you can get the whole bundle, would be great, but not just football.

Why is everyone so obssesed with expansion? We are at 12 right now, it works fine. More money to the schools, and if we added Temple or WKU or SIU, that would just be a long road trip for nothing for a while until they started to actually do decent. Besides, Temple may just end up dropping football all together if they suck so much, and concentrate on bball. Its not like anyone goes to their football games anyways.

momtartin(BG) Wrote:Why is everyone so obssesed with expansion?

Because it's the off-season, and that's what we do. We speculate on new members.

Except for aksme...he writes reviews of each week's episode of "The OC".

Please tell me this is true.........MAC is appealing to me. Go Hilltoppers.

Tomznj Wrote:SIU doesn't have the money. Temple does.

SIU has a football team, Temple doesn't. :rofl:


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

momtartin(BG) Wrote:Why is everyone so obssesed with expansion?

Because it appears the leaders of the MAC are also very interested.

I suspect they are because ESPN has encouraged them to be.

Go to WKU web page, you can get FB atten history of stadium. bring in Temple & Ill St you building towards C-USA & MWC. WKU & SIU your building towards SBC.

But temple and Ill. State don't bring as much to the table as WKU and SIU do they? Temple doesn't have ANY football but strong basketball. Ill St. has decent programs across the board, but WKU and SIU are strong in both and getting stronger.

I would like both WKU and Temple if they would both bring basketball. Plus, I may be moving to southern Ohio soon so a trip to Bowling Green, KY would be better for me than a trip to southern Illinois.

I don't put much stock in an article written by a "Colin" or read quotes made by a "Peter"s :)

On a serious note, I would love to see WKU get an invite to the MAC and SIU seems more appealing to me than Temple even with basketball. I think NIU and Toledo are starting to generate a good rivalry, eventhough nothing will beat BG/Toledo, but would be good for them to have an in-state rivalry as well.