The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

In The Tennessean, Nashville's newpaper, I read where Marshall's athletic director said he recieved a telephone call yesterday from one of Conference USA's consultants, who said a league USA official would contact him within the next several days. The newspaper also stated that The Tampa Tribune reported that Marshall and four other schools-Southern Methodist, Rice, Tulsa and Central Florida- would be invited to join Conference USA. If Marshall and Central Florida were to leave the MAC, I would like to see an invitation be given to Middle Tennessee State University. In previous posts, I have suggested that Middle Tennessee should join the MAC and believe that Middle could offer much to the Mid American Conference. Although MTSU is currently experiencing problems with meeting the NCAA attendance requirement, I truly believe that this problem could be resolved in time since MTSU is one of the fastest growing universities in the US and its fans would find the MAC more appealing than the Sun Belt Conference.

It is hard for me to believe that the NCAA will force many of its current members from Division I-A based on low attendance. In recent years, MAC schools have proven that they can compete against schools with much larger budgets and have had many of its athletes play in the NFL. Middle Tennessee has had several of its athletes compete in the NFL including Kelly Holcomb (Browns) and Tyrone Calico(Titans).

What do other MAC fans think about the strong possibility that both Marshall and Central Florida will leave the conference and what schools would be given an invitation to join the MAC should one or both of these two schools leave the conferecne? What do MAC fans know about Middle Tennessee and does anyone other than me like to see MTSU as a member of the Mid American Conference?

nashvillegoldenflash-

Welcome to our board. You join a good group that shares a passion about the Flashes.

There are frequent discussions on the main MAC board about who's in and out, so you may get more of a response by posting your question there.

On your first point, about Marshall and UCF accepting the invitation to CUSA. They might; but IMO it's a really bad move. CUSA is on the verge of destruction. If Cincy. L'ville leave all sports then Marquette and DePaul leave the b'ball program, virtually all the quality is gone. MAC has a rich heritage and has proven itself over the years. I would be a bit surprised to see Marshall leave ( not shocked, though) and we'd lose some football prominence. UCF will probably leave, but so far they've brought potential and nothing else.

I don't know much about MTSU, other than what you write, which is sort of a problem in two ways. First, the MAC is already grappling with a number of schools with the 15K problem in football, including us, so it's a really tough sell to take another program on the D I-A brink unless this gets resolved. Second, MTSU is not particularly well known in Ohio, as I doubt several MAC schools are well known in Tennesee, so there is doubtful fan appeal both places.

What else should we know about MTSU sports? Do you have a competitive hoops program? Baseball? Wrestling? Soccer? Golf? Women's hoops? Tell us more.

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First off, welcome Nashville! Noticed you lurking around here for a while!

If only one of UCF or Marshall goes, the MAC should stay at 12. I never really liked 14. It hurts in b-ball because it limits play and we lost BG to the West. Stabilize the 12 as KSU, Akron, Buffalo, and EMU, among others are struggling with attendance and competitiveness.

If only UCF goes, I could see adding MTSU or Temple to get to 14. No offense to MTSU, but Temple has more to offer with both b-ball and f-ball, and market. MTSU has the same trouble in SEC country as the MAC does with the Big 10. Plus, the MAC already has its hands full with 1-A newcomer Buffalo.

On the other hand the NCAA rules may get one or two of the schools above and may drop to 10 anyway.

I just hope that it's not KSU. :(

In response to FlashFan's question regarding MTSU's hoops program, Middle finished second to Western Kentucky last year in the Sun Belt Conference and Tommy Gunn, one of the best players in the conference last year, is returning this year. Just the other day, Gunn was named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America team. He was one of 25 players to make the list. Of those 25 players, only Gunn and New Mexico State's James Moore, last season's SBC Player of the Year, were selected from the Sun Belt. Gunn averaged a career-high 15.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season and was named First Team All-Sun Belt for his outstanding season. He went on to earn All-Sun Belt Tournament honors.

Middle is expected to compete again this year for the conference championship. Now that Middle finally has a good basketball coach, I can only believe that its basketball program will continue to be competitive. However, Middle Tennessee will always be a football school and probably will never become a Mid Major power in basketball like Western Kentucky, one of my other alma maters.