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Maryland is a great recruiting area for the MAC. You only have two schools in Maryland (UMd and Navy) in Division 1-A and neither are traditional national powers. It would be nice if the MAC could add Navy because it would help in recruiting the state.

KC

Last time i checked, Maryland was a national power (2002 National champions).....and don't forget about national power UM-BC

greenbbs Wrote:Last time i checked, Maryland was a national power (2002 National champions).....and don't forget about national power UM-BC

The "Battle for Baltimore" Towson-Morgan St rivalry 1-AA game draws 5,000.

KC

yeah, but UM baltimore county is D-1...

and that battle for baltimore outdraws Miami games all the time

Sport disconnect? KC is thinking football. greenbbs appears to be thinking hoops.

As for the former, Maryland is relatively "underserved" with two historically unimpressive D1A programs. UMD, however, has put itself in a much better position over the last couple of years and now gets pick of the local litter (which used to go to Penn State or disperse through the rest of the ACC). Navy is just different -- even when they're decent, the structure of the place pretty much mandates that they recruit nationally.

The real opportunity for MAC schools in Maryland and DC (which has good public school football despite horrific facilities and chronic underfunding for athletics) is that, unlike Ohio and Michigan, we don't have any local "mid-major" schools to attract those project-type players most of our schools relish developing. Marshall is the closest -- and they figured that out a long time ago. It looks like Kent and some of the other MAC schools are realizing that too.

As for hoops, the DC area has a ton of D1 programs and gets picked pretty clean in recruiting. Probably not a lot of opportunity for our schools there.

I wish the Bobcats would take more players from Maryland. We are closer to DC than either KentSt or Marshall. Instead our focus seems to be in Central and Southern Virginia where we do better with recruiting there than any MAC school. Part of that might have to do with our broadcasting of Ohio Football across that part of Virginia with our Ohio Sports Network deal in Roanoke.

KC

Kit-Cat Wrote:I wish the Bobcats would take more players from Maryland. We are closer to DC than either KentSt or Marshall. Instead our focus seems to be in Central and Southern Virginia where we do better with recruiting there than any MAC school. Part of that might have to do with our broadcasting of Ohio Football across that part of Virginia with our Ohio Sports Network deal in Roanoke.

KC

Why? Maryland HS football is a step down from Virginia HS football.

Of course OU does suck, so perhaps your are right because they need to change something.

Kent, you're still trying to play Football? Why don't you drop all of that and put more focus into this attempt to become the "Gonzaga" of the midwest.

DrTorch Wrote:

Kit-Cat Wrote:I wish the Bobcats would take more players from Maryland. We are closer to DC than either KentSt or Marshall. Instead our focus seems to be in Central and Southern Virginia where we do better with recruiting there than any MAC school. Part of that might have to do with our broadcasting of Ohio Football across that part of Virginia with our Ohio Sports Network deal in Roanoke.

KC

Why? Maryland HS football is a step down from Virginia HS football.

Of course OU does suck, so perhaps your are right because they need to change something.

Thats kind of my thinking on why Kent is signing these Maryland players. They must not be able to go anywhere else.

Having Navy in the MAC would make Maryland "officially" MAC territory.

KC

Having Navy in the MAC is a horrible idea! They do not play at a D1A level and couldn't even make the 1AA playoffs. They are a D2 team in D1A clothes. Why would we possibly want them in the MAC? So we can have one more bottom feeder? Look at what Army has done in CUSA. If we're going to add teams shouldn't we at least add GOOD teams? Of course, Navy might be better than Northeastern. I'm glad KC is not the conference commissioner.

If we lose members, we should definitely go after Navy, I think.

People care about that program, which is more than you can say for a few of ours.

RochesterFalcon Wrote:If we lose members, we should definitely go after Navy, I think.

People care about that program, which is more than you can say for a few of ours.

I agree. You could argue that South Carolina was a horrible addition to the SEC because of all those losing years. But who is going to argue with 90 thousand fans at each home game?

Trerocket is a UT student. I'm a professional who has gone to Navy home games paying 25 bucks a ticket for Upper Deck seat. Navy's tickets are even more expensive then Marshall's with comparable attendance. Navy was actually supposed to join the MAC in 1997 but couldn't agree to the revenue split. I'm sure they would be all the more interested if the MAC drops back to 9 or so schools. Now we have a decent TV deal to lure them in too.

KC

I understand about the attendance and name, but wouldn't want to add a school that would raise the level of play in the conference? Right now, I can't think of any schools availible that would make good additions. 14 teams is enough. The only reason we should add teams is if a few drop down to 1AA.

I hate disagreeing with a Rocket while agreeing with KK at the same time, but Navy would bring name recognition and tradition.

Kit-Cat Wrote:Maryland is a great recruiting area for the MAC. You only have two schools in Maryland (UMd and Navy) in Division 1-A and neither are traditional national powers. It would be nice if the MAC could add Navy because it would help in recruiting the state.

KC

I'm not sure I agree with either statement.

Maryland has had national caliber football and basketball progrms for decades. Their football team dominated the ACC back when I was at North Carolina in the 70's. (they were known for being the first ACC football team to have an organized weight-lifting program- OK I'm a dinosaur, but I'm not kidding.) Their basketball team under Lefty Driesell wasn't bad either.

There is plenty of basketball talent in DC and Baltimore, but I'm not sure if having Navy in the MAC would influence a decision on which school to attend. Although, having a MAC school close to 2 major metropolitan areas can't hurt.

Navy would add attention and exposure to the MAC even if they weren't winning.