Quote:MAC football has found a niche by playing a portion of its schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday, when there is no competition on other over-the-air or cable networks.

"The Mid-American Conference has been playing midweek games in the month of November for 20 years. This has provided the Conference with a unique opportunity to grow its national brand and has facilitated the national recruitment efforts by our coaches and institutions. The November scheduling slots permit the Conference's title race to play out in front of a national audience. Since we have begun playing on non-Saturday dates, virtually every FBS conference has now added non-Saturday time slots as we are all seeking unique opportunities that enhance exposure and revenue."

https://footballbowlassociation.com/news...echer.aspx

It doesn't sound like there is any interest in backing down from the Midweek format, in fact it sounds like he is promoting the MAC to ESPN as the pioneer of the Midweek telecast as its significant value.

The question I have is would ESPN make room for the MAC in a future expansion from NY6 to NY8 with an autobid as a result of its importance to their TV strategy?

Expand by 2 more bowls and give the AAC, MWC, MAC Champs autobids to remove pressure on the system. Essentially destroy the G5 threat by dividing it.

Steinbrecher is aware the MAC is 2-16 over the last 3 years in bowl games, right? I'm not buying mid-week games help recruiting.

How would playing on Saturday in November with less TV coverage improve recruiting?

Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

(12-25-2018 10:54 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

NFL scouts say - with few exceptions - they don't focus on scouting MAC players until the league starts playing midweek in November ...

Steinbrecher is a ******* and the fact the MAC has gutless spineless coward ADs does not help either. The MAC is about done as a football conference because of the ESPN deal and will soon be basketball only in terms of D1 athletics

(12-25-2018 11:12 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 10:54 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

NFL scouts say - with few exceptions - they don't focus on scouting MAC players until the league starts playing midweek in November ...

Not sure what point you're trying to make. I haven't seen the product on the field improve comparing the pre-midweek era to now. If it has improved at all its marginal. Moving the games to midweek was a money grab and I'm okay with it because MAC athletic departments need to do what is required to minimize its budget deficits. It's a necessary evil I understand that. All I'm asking for is honesty. Steinbrecher just tries to sugarcoat the situation.

(12-25-2018 09:40 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  It doesn't sound like there is any interest in backing down from the Midweek format,

Good.

(12-26-2018 12:55 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Steinbrecher is a ******* and the fact the MAC has gutless spineless coward ADs does not help either. The MAC is about done as a football conference because of the ESPN deal and will soon be basketball only in terms of D1 athletics

Lighten up Francis.

(12-25-2018 09:45 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Steinbrecher is aware the MAC is 2-16 over the last 3 years in bowl games, right? I'm not buying mid-week games help recruiting.

Thank you.

(12-25-2018 11:12 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 10:54 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

NFL scouts say - with few exceptions - they don't focus on scouting MAC players until the league starts playing midweek in November ...

Why bother until most of the season is over with anyway? If they were playing on Saturdays their scouting wouldn't change at all.

(12-26-2018 08:59 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 11:12 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 10:54 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

NFL scouts say - with few exceptions - they don't focus on scouting MAC players until the league starts playing midweek in November ...

Not sure what point you're trying to make. I haven't seen the product on the field improve comparing the pre-midweek era to now. If it has improved at all its marginal. Moving the games to midweek was a money grab and I'm okay with it because MAC athletic departments need to do what is required to minimize its budget deficits. It's a necessary evil I understand that. All I'm asking for is honesty. Steinbrecher just tries to sugarcoat the situation.

The product hasn't improved at all. That much is obvious. So the only benefit is the money, let's just admit that, can't we? Nobody is watching ESPNU games, just look at the ratings for college football games on ESPNU, for any conference. they suck.

I'd imagine a good MAC instagram account is as important to an 18 year old as televised ESPN games are.....

(12-26-2018 10:40 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 09:40 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  It doesn't sound like there is any interest in backing down from the Midweek format,

Good.

Is there going to be a reward at the end of this for MAC by ESPN?

Expand to a P8 with the AAC, MWC, MAC and throw CUSA/SBC under the bus?

Or is it going to slowly destroy programs as some suggest to the point where the ESPN deal will have to be cancelled?

(12-26-2018 10:43 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(12-26-2018 12:55 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Steinbrecher is a ******* and the fact the MAC has gutless spineless coward ADs does not help either. The MAC is about done as a football conference because of the ESPN deal and will soon be basketball only in terms of D1 athletics

Lighten up Francis.

Sorry, just makes me so aggravated that every leadership position in this conference has no interest in serving the best interests of this conference.

(12-26-2018 12:55 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Steinbrecher is a ******* and the fact the MAC has gutless spineless coward ADs does not help either. The MAC is about done as a football conference because of the ESPN deal and will soon be basketball only in terms of D1 athletics

Selfishly as a “MAC guy” I like the random game on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in November.

But, while I’m not usually one hung up on tradition, there’s just a JV aspect to playing on those oddball nights. Like eating at the kiddie table.

And you have to figure it messes with players’ rhythm, just as (for some) the most critical games of the season are to be played.

So the mythical recruiting argument is still a thing? After a 2-16 bowl record?

Those no-TV Saturdays have sure handicaped CUSA this bowl season.

(12-26-2018 10:52 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-26-2018 08:59 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 11:12 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(12-25-2018 10:54 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Not saying it would. I don't feel it impacts it either way.

NFL scouts say - with few exceptions - they don't focus on scouting MAC players until the league starts playing midweek in November ...

Not sure what point you're trying to make. I haven't seen the product on the field improve comparing the pre-midweek era to now. If it has improved at all its marginal. Moving the games to midweek was a money grab and I'm okay with it because MAC athletic departments need to do what is required to minimize its budget deficits. It's a necessary evil I understand that. All I'm asking for is honesty. Steinbrecher just tries to sugarcoat the situation.

The product hasn't improved at all. That much is obvious. So the only benefit is the money, let's just admit that, can't we? Nobody is watching ESPNU games, just look at the ratings for college football games on ESPNU, for any conference. they suck.

The money can't make up for shortcomings it causes at the live gate. If it changes attendance by 5k fans showing up on a saturday vs. on a tuesday, that can be a healthy chunk of change.