The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-16-2020 10:51 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/statu...8648934407

The sole purpose of a sports conference is to ease the management burden of schools and hosting a predictable, reliable schedule for its teams. A conference that works against that purpose is no conference at all.

Maybe they could save some real face if they released a viable Spring plan now, and not vague statements that lead one to suspect they are just trying to save some PR face now and not hold meaningful Spring games.

They aren't playing in the spring. The MAC is ******.

So you guys finally ready to admit that this was purely a financial decision? A certain banned poster pointed that out months ago and no one wanted to hear it.

I read somewhere today (maybe from Graham Couch) that the Big Ten is spending $700,000-$1,000,000 extra in testing. Considering WMU just cut $6m - guessing they can't afford to follow this.

If the Sun Belt can play, surely the MAC can. I'm not really interested in a spring season, so would be best it seems just to scrap the 2020 season altogether and give everyone an extra year of eligibility for hopefully Fall 2021.

Tweets are pouring out of the Bronco players and assistant coaches today...

https://twitter.com/bradenfiske55/status...39174?s=09

https://mobile.twitter.com/skyymoore_3/s...1338870784

https://mobile.twitter.com/CoachDenham1/...9104265216

(and many more)

I will also say this. There were reports that multiple schools within the MAC (I know NIU and maybe Kent?) were willing to sit out the 2020 season even if the MAC decided to play. I think it would be very tough to get all 12 schools on board to play. Knowing what I know about our president, I don't have any faith that he would change his vote if it meant higher costs.

(09-16-2020 07:36 PM)tayles mullet Wrote:  If the Sun Belt can play, surely the MAC can. I'm not really interested in a spring season, so would be best it seems just to scrap the 2020 season altogether and give everyone an extra year of eligibility for hopefully Fall 2021.

Ga Southern played last week with 33 players out. Arkansas State had all 3 long snappers out and used a Linebacker for the job. It didn't go well.
Postponed FBS games since Aug. 26
NC State at VTech
Marshall at ECU
ULM at Troy
SMU at TCU
Tulsa at Okla. St
Temple at Navy
La Tech at Baylor
Rice at Marshall
UAB at Rice
Virginia at VTech
Memphis at Houston
BYU at Army
C. Arkansas at Ark. State
Charlotte at UNC

Just got an ESPN notification that the presidents are meeting saturday to discuss a possible fall season

I think we all have to prepare for the very real possibility that even if the MAC decides to play, WMU will sit out. If WMU can only afford to test 25% of the athletic pool every two weeks, there is absolutely no chance they will be able to test 100+ players and coaches every week to play football. I am very afraid of the ramifications of this. We could lose 25+ from the roster into the transfer portal.

(09-17-2020 02:59 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  I think we all have to prepare for the very real possibility that even if the MAC decides to play, WMU will sit out. If WMU can only afford to test 25% of the athletic pool every two weeks, there is absolutely no chance they will be able to test 100+ players and coaches every week to play football. I am very afraid of the ramifications of this. We could lose 25+ from the roster into the transfer portal.

What makes you think other MAC schools are in a better place financially? The budget issues at Akron, NIU and more are well documented. WMU is certainly not the worst off in the MAC.

(09-17-2020 04:19 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(09-17-2020 02:59 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  I think we all have to prepare for the very real possibility that even if the MAC decides to play, WMU will sit out. If WMU can only afford to test 25% of the athletic pool every two weeks, there is absolutely no chance they will be able to test 100+ players and coaches every week to play football. I am very afraid of the ramifications of this. We could lose 25+ from the roster into the transfer portal.

What makes you think other MAC schools are in a better place financially? The budget issues at Akron, NIU and more are well documented. WMU is certainly not the worst off in the MAC.

Correct.

That being said, I could see WMU, MU & BGSU having to sit out to due to the hockey expense. The other schools might just grin & bear it. But if you have the 3 hockey schools, plus NIU & UA who have been apparently more vocal about not wanting to play, that's already 5 No's right there, so NO to a fall 2020 would be on its way to dead right there

If it’s just a money thing, the Conference should be begging publicly for a billionaire to bail out their teams to pay for testing costs. There has to be a handful of people willing to do that than waste it on another couple luxury toilets for their crappy McMansions.

The MAC already ought to be embarrassed, but even if it costs a little face, the least they can do is put up a hard fight for the student athletes they are hanging ridiculous testing rules on. If it fails, at least the students know their conference has their back, so they want to stick around.

(09-17-2020 04:19 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(09-17-2020 02:59 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  I think we all have to prepare for the very real possibility that even if the MAC decides to play, WMU will sit out. If WMU can only afford to test 25% of the athletic pool every two weeks, there is absolutely no chance they will be able to test 100+ players and coaches every week to play football. I am very afraid of the ramifications of this. We could lose 25+ from the roster into the transfer portal.

What makes you think other MAC schools are in a better place financially? The budget issues at Akron, NIU and more are well documented. WMU is certainly not the worst off in the MAC.

It’s not just about “being worse off”. It’s about university leadership and willingness to take on more costs. I don’t see that happening at WMU with what I’ve heard people say about the higher leadership at WMU.

https://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/stor...481044001/

My thoughts

https://youtu.be/BXhFcKCcozE

No way in hell WMU sits out if MAC is on for fall. They would cancel hockey season before football.

Not arguing in favor of this, but rather thinking out loud; what are the pros and cons to playing in the spring? Would games still be available on TV or online? Would stadiums be at full capacity? It sounds like a vaccine will be available by then. How much would it interfere with other sports? Would there be non-conference schools to play? If Mountain West sits out the fall, could we play games with them?

Might be some advantages.

Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of playing now, and think it is ridiculous that any conference or school would pass on playing now, because the data and science provided a clear and safe avenue to play. Several positive tests do not mean several kids in danger, and likewise, I have seen nothing which suggests that the positive tests wouldn't have occurred even if those schools decided not to play. The players live and hang with each other; whether they are playing and practicing or not.

It is interesting that Sweden, once the lefts poster-child for health decision making, went without restrictions, shutdowns, or anything else, amidst criticism from liberals throughout the world, and yet their numbers rank favorably, without the loss of either liberty, freedom or economic damage.

(09-18-2020 08:45 AM)brovol Wrote:  Not arguing in favor of this, but rather thinking out loud; what are the pros and cons to playing in the spring? Would games still be available on TV or online? Would stadiums be at full capacity? It sounds like a vaccine will be available by then. How much would it interfere with other sports? Would there be non-conference schools to play? If Mountain West sits out the fall, could we play games with them?

Might be some advantages.

I agree. I'm not opposed to spring 2021, I just think 'we'll punt now & consider in the spring' really means 'punting until fall 2021'

(09-18-2020 07:09 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  No way in hell WMU sits out if MAC is on for fall. They would cancel hockey season before football.

I could see that. Would there be repercussions from the NCHC, or would the NCHC just not really care b/c we're not a big dog in the league (at least compared to a North Dakota)