HuskieTap22
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RE: "UNofficial let's invite IL State in '14" thread
(03-01-2012 04:01 PM)Redbird Ray Wrote: First off, you guys really have your heads up your a$$es about market potential. New markets in a conference like the MAC means virtually nothing for several reasons, but mostly because no one MAC school will ever completely dominate its market, or at least any market that is worth dominating. Even traditionally solid MAC markets like Toledo, Cleveland, and Akron are probably littered with 95% UM/OSU fans. If this wasn't the case, then you would each have more than 10K butts in seats for conference games (and anyone that thinks this number is too low is out of touch with reality, sans Toledo, WMU, CMU, and Ohio).
Second, there sure are some pretty nervous puppies on here. News flash, ISU already recruits the same caliber of football athlete that NIU recruits. So does SIU. That's why they can play head to head with NIU (or beat NIU) with almost every meeting.
NIU gets a few more 2.5-3 star picks every so often, but for the most part, the primary recruiting efforts are the same. Currently ISU makes up for anything lost in depth by getting more BCS transfers (because of the FCS transfer rule). This would change with an FBS move, but as a whole, not too much else would change here.
Third, what little presence NIU and ISU currently have in the Chicago market would only be strengthened by having both in the MAC by growing the MAC brand in Chicago. 2 > 1 (insider tip). If we are going to pretend that markets actually do mean something for the nation's 10th best football and 16th best basketball conference, then the delivery of a fraction of the Chicago market would be more important than almost all other MAC "markets" combined. In this case, having twice the opportunities to showcase MAC football and basketball in Chicago would only help. Most Chicagoans won't develop deep loyalties toward one team or another, because most Chicagoans still won't give a crap about MAC sports. They will, from time to time, still flip on the TV and notice that a football game is on, and eventually, they might become remotely interested.
Lastly, I'm all for ISU joining the MAC all-in. I think some MVC fans have an overrated opinion of MVC bball. However, I would say the top 2 teams in the MVC in most years would smoke the majority of MAC teams in bball. After that, from a competition standpoint, the two leagues are pretty similar, with the MVC being slightly better at the bottom. You have to understand also, that playing in front of 17K at Creighton, 11K at Wichita, and at least 5K+ at just about everywhere else is a major plus compared to 2-3K on average (if that) in most MAC arenas.
That said, if joining the MAC all-in gives ISU the ability to showcase itself on an FBS platform then I'm all for it. But you can certainly understand why some ISU/MVC fans are tentative about what many perceive as a downgrade in basketball.
Sorry Brody but your logic seems a bit flawed...
1. ISU would be the 4th FBS team in Illinois. There are plenty of other expansion candidates which carry more dominance in their market. Delaware is one example. So new markets do mean something, hence why Temple was a nice add and UMass will be. I would take UMass and the market it shares with BC over a 4th Illinois FBS team and the Bloomington market. Yes, the MAC definitely has too many Ohio schools but many are long time members that aren't going anywhere. This is also exactly why any expansion talk needs to be in new states that MAC is currently not in and centered around expanding the footprint. ISU does nothing to expand the footprint.
2. ISU is typically landing the equivalent of our walkons or practice squad players. Maybe you land one or two quality recruits over us in a good year but thats no different than us stealing a recruit of two from a BCS team. The bulk of your roster reflects FCS caliber talent and middle of the road FCS talent at best or you would be racking up national titles.
3. Whatever presence NIU and the MAC currently has in the Chicago market would only be watered down further by the addition of ISU. It wouldn't make anyone care any more than they already do. I work and live in Chicago and can tell you that I haven't seen any ISU representation in years. No one cares about ISU in Chicago. Outside of the standard U of Illinois and Northwestern contingent, you have a flood of Big Ten transplants that have their own pockets of followers within the city. This is what NIU competes with in Chicago for attention and no way adding ISU helps add more exposure.
4. Lastly, Yes ISU does have better basketball (especially recently) but come on everyone knows these realignment and expansion decisions are being driven by football. I doubt the MAC would want to roll the dice on a crappy FBS football program just to see a slight uptick in basketball. ISU would be in the bottom third of the MAC in football and the last thing the conference needs is another Kent, BG, or EMU. Respectable basketball and iffy football, hasn't really done much for the conference in recent years so I don't see the formula changing anytime soon.
That said, and I have said it before, the only way ISU to the MAC makes any sense is if NIU were to leave. ISU would be the perfect backfill for the conference to keep the MAC in Illinois. Otherwise, there is really no need as there are plenty of other programs out there with better credentials.
I really wish we could cancel this thread and focus on the other names being tossed around that carry a lot more weight in the expansion talks.
(This post was last modified: 03-01-2012 09:51 PM by HuskieTap22.)
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"UNofficial let's invite IL State in '14" thread
