Given the priorities of the fans and the program, I don't take issue with Marshall deciding to head to C-USA. As forphase correctly stated, we could argue "til the cows come home" on the validity of some of the assumptions (i.e. value of TV contract, how many bowls, etc., etc.), but in the end this is what the Herd administration and alumni want. Fine with me in all respects.
I think Herd (and UCF if you bother to include them) fans wrongly assume that most to all MAC fans think that the decision to go to C-USA is stupid or something........I don't. At the same time, most MAC fans (myself included) are not enamored with C-USA, and thus are going to argue when certain posters berate MAC programs for not "seeing the light" of why going to C-USA is the preferred route if you want to "take your program to the next level", etc. I don't buy into any of that, and I consider the strong geographic fit and general cohesiveness of the MAC to be very appealing.
I can accept the rationale that went into the Herd and UCF decisions, and in UCF's case going to C-USA was a "no brainer" due to geographic considerations. In Marshall's case, the reasoning is more complex, and although at first I thought Marshall was making a huge mistake, I would say now that C-USA probably suits them better (except for the fact that the far-flung geographic nature of the conference will be tough on student athletes in terms of traveling, etc.). But, that doesn't mean that C-USA is better for any other MAC programs, and that's why these "flame wars" start when pro-C-USA'ers come on here and berate MAC programs for being "enlightened" enough to realize the superiority of C-USA.
I for one do not want Miami to be in C-USA as it is constructed today, as I would rather play BG, UT, OU, WMU, and BSU every year if possible. I certainly wouldn't mind being in a conference with likes of Memphis or even SMU, but it just doesn't make geographic sense for Miami when you consider all the schools currently in C-USA.
P.S. to MU Mike: I guess I don't agree with you on the "traveling fans' benefits of C-USA. I honestly don't expect you to see many C-USA fans traveling to H-Ton outside of possibly ECU. Also, Herd fans continually dismiss the fact that many MAC schools do travel pretty well (including Miami), but just not to H-Ton.
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