Guess I'll join in and play the rumor game. On the Herd Grapevine, a poster says he talked to a member of the Cleveland media this week who said the following. The MAC is seeking an "operating agreement" with the Big Ten and Big 12 to "reduce costs and add stability to scheduling".

Now, I'm thinking there is more than fantasy here because I did read as part of a public statement by Commissioner Chryst recently (can't remember where) that the MAC was having discussions with the Big Ten and Big 12. No specifics were given. Of course, we have had the recent official announcement that BG will play at Wisconsin in 2005 and then at Cleveland Browns stadium (listed as a home game for BG) in 2006.

If there is something to this "operating agreement" rumor I think it could significantly benefit the MAC. Any of you hear anything about this?

I do know that the MAC and Big10 are working on an agreement to use the same officials for football. Perhaps this is where your rumor is coming from.

Why? Aren't both equally as bad as the other?

Easy, this way there's no way that we can pay to have our own refs when we travel to their stadiums. They like what happened last season when we used biased Big 10 refs instead of what happened this season with incompetent MAC officials.

Whatever it is you can bet it will be better for the big10 than for the MAC.

Santa Fe Falcon Wrote:Now, I'm thinking there is more than fantasy here because I did read as part of a public statement by Commissioner Chryst recently (can't remember where) that the MAC was having discussions with the Big Ten and Big 12. No specifics were given. Of course, we have had the recent official announcement that BG will play at Wisconsin in 2005 and then at Cleveland Browns stadium (listed as a home game for BG) in 2006.

Hopefullly, you'll hear about Kent St or Akron in Cleveland against OSU or PennSt and EMU against MSU in Ford Field.

Apparently, Chryst has drilled into the heads of Big 10/BigXII leadership the importance of keeping the MAC as a Division 1-A enity.

It might have something to do with MAC teams getting home games in NFL venues (Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Buffalo) against Big Ten and Big XII opponents. This would allow the MAC teams to get credit for a huge attendance, thus exceeding the future Div. I-A requirement, while allowing the BCS teams access to hot recruiting areas. This would also help MAC teams get much deserved media exposure in those nearby markets.

Something I posted last week...

Ball State in Indy vs. Notre Dame
BG vs. Wisconsin in Cleveland* (We already know this... the rest are just hypothetical)
Northern vs. Nebraska at Soldier Field
Miami vs. Georgia (Paul Brown)

anyways you guys get the picture... that would be pretty cool if we did!

I know NIU would be very interested in hosting a home game at Soldier Field. There was talk of discussions with some school about a game there, but haven't heard much about it recently.

niu79 Wrote:I know NIU would be very interested in hosting a home game at Soldier Field. There was talk of discussions with some school about a game there, but haven't heard much about it recently.

Well now is the time to pounce, when your Q-factor is high.

Can't wait on a thing like this. NIU could get alot of teams interested in Soldier Field.

While I commend the Big 10/12 tie-ins, I hope it's not limited. The MAC has been operating well w/ the Big East too...don't leave them out.

Using the same refs is a cost save. There would be one organization which would handle both the MAC and Big10. This would reduce admin costs. I do not know if this will happen, but it is definitely under discussion.

Notre Dame has been using the MAC's finest men in stripes for at least 5 years now...

DrTorch Wrote:Can't wait on a thing like this.  NIU could get alot of teams interested in Soldier Field.

Yeah, unless their names are Illinois, Northwestern or Notre Dame, who've been approached and politely declined. Wimps.

[quote="HuskieDan"] [quote="DrTorch"] Can't wait on a thing like this.

Tennessee would actually play a nonconference road game north of the Mason-Dixon line?

[quote="DrTorch"] [quote="HuskieDan"] [quote="DrTorch"] Can't wait on a thing like this.

The time is ripe for MAC teams to play Big Name teams in pro stadiums. It's a good situation for everyone.

1) MAC teams get huge exposure. Positives for recruiting, increasing the fan base, etc. etc.

2) MAC teams get huge attendance. Imagine Penn State vs. Kent at Cleveland. That game alone will satisfy the 15K avg. attendance for the WHOLE YEAR!!

3) BCS teams get a 1/1 or 2/1; with the road game on more of a "neutral" field.

4) BCS teams will feel they have good odds on winning.

5) If the BCS team loses; it won't be shameful in the eyes of the national press. For the past several years, the MAC has been slowly improving the overall quality of play to this year's "Saturday that will Never be Forgotten"

5) BCS teams will get adequate paydays for playing these road games.

I believe these and other positives outweigh any negatives to such a degree it COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN!!!! Remember, not so many years ago it was nearly impossible to get ANYONE from the Big 10 or Big XII (or other BCS conference for that matter) to play at a MAC venue. We already have played or will soon play home tilts against Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa State. Even better matchups very easily could be down the pike.

IT'S NEVER BEEN A MORE EXCITING TIME FOR MAC FOOTBALL: TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE!!!

DevilGrad Wrote:Tennessee would actually play a nonconference road game north of the Mason-Dixon line?

They did play at Syracuse in 98. But that is the only example I can think of in the last five years.

I pray to god somone in Kent is trying to get a big name into Browns Stadium, if only to copy BG.

Can we please drop Liberty at home next year and play Nebraska, Missouri, etc. at Browns Stadium...

Maybe Coach Pinkel at Missouri will throw KSU a bone? The group at KSU now is not the group that passed him over for Pete Cordelli. Maybe his alma mater can convince him to give them some help. Maybe they would even play us in Kent?

FunkmasterFlash Wrote:They did play at Syracuse in 98. But that is the only example I can think of in the last five years.

They also brought their own refs. I have never seen a team get homered so badly on their own field. That game was UGLY!