https://www.espn.com/college-football/in...onferences

Quote:MAC

The MAC has lived up to its reputation as one of the sport's most unpredictable entities. Northern Illinois won the league last year after going winless in the pandemic year and at one point playing seven consecutive one-score games in league play, winning six of them. It shouldn't be too busy of a year in the MAC, as eight schools were bowl eligible last year. Among the four that weren't, three had changes either last season or the one before.

HOT

Bowling Green: With just one year remaining after this season and a 7-22 record through three years, Scot Loeffler needs to win more. There's also uncertainty in the athletic director chair, which could go a long way in determining what happens here. A local report in late June indicated AD Bob Moosbrugger had been informed by the administration they are moving on from him. This came after a report emerged he spoke to Washington about a deputy job there, which never materialized. Moosbrugger is still around and hiring coaches, with two years left on his contract. That situation will be the North Star on what happens with Loeffler, who showed distinct improvement by going 4-8 and beating Minnesota last year. An extension or departure is likely after the season, which means Loeffler's continued improvement is paramount. He'd be owed $525,000 if fired.

WORTH MONITORING

Toledo: Jason Candle won the MAC in 2017, stuck around after a few high-profile overtures and has run a respected program. The results have been modest since 2017, as he's 24-20 at a school considered one of the better jobs in the league. There's also the dynamic of a new athletic director, Bryan Blair, who arrived in February with Candle having only a year left on his contract after 2022. So far, there has been no extension. Candle has been generally successful and highly regarded enough as a playcaller that Miami targeted him for the school's offensive coordinator job last year. This is another scenario in which a decision is expected after the season -- either an extension or departure. (Firing Candle would cost $750,000.) Candle is 45-27 with a MAC title and a team among the favorites in the league, which makes a return the most likely option.

Ohio: Frank Solich's sudden retirement in July thrust longtime offensive coordinator Tim Albin into the job in a difficult spot. Ohio struggled last year, going 3-9 for the school's first losing season since 2008 and worst year since 2003. Ohio changed defensive coordinators and brings back a solid core on offense, which should trigger improvement. It could be needed, as Albin signed a four-year contract last summer that indicates he'd be owed nothing if fired after Dec. 31. He's a good fit and a valued part of the staff and community since 2005. He needs to show this year that the program is trending back to MAC relevancy.

WMU may not be able to afford firing their guy, but results havent been there. The extension in the offseason was a puzzler. I assume it was to keep recruits invested. We will see.

(08-12-2022 07:08 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  WMU may not be able to afford firing their guy, but results havent been there. The extension in the offseason was a puzzler. I assume it was to keep recruits invested. We will see.

Weird season. 8 wins including over ACC champ is solid.

But 1-4 in the MAC West (NIU basically mailed it in) was a head-scratcher. On top of that, we led in the 2nd half in all those losses. It’s like we have a mental block or something.

Not expecting much this year with 4 starters on Offense returning. If we make a bowl game I’ll be impressed.

(08-12-2022 06:25 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

Quote:HOT

Bowling Green: With just one year remaining after this season and a 7-22 record through three years, Scot Loeffler needs to win more. There's also uncertainty in the athletic director chair, which could go a long way in determining what happens here. A local report in late June indicated AD Bob Moosbrugger had been informed by the administration they are moving on from him. This came after a report emerged he spoke to Washington about a deputy job there, which never materialized. Moosbrugger is still around and hiring coaches, with two years left on his contract. That situation will be the North Star on what happens with Loeffler, who showed distinct improvement by going 4-8 and beating Minnesota last year. An extension or departure is likely after the season, which means Loeffler's continued improvement is paramount. He'd be owed $525,000 if fired.

This is well put. This is the situation. The news that Moosbrugger may not be long in his role has put more heat on Loeffler.

The schedule ahead for Bowling Green is tough. The Falcons could improve significantly this season and still manage to fall short of 6-6. I'm not sure what Moosbrugger would do in that situation, but any new AD will likely not be as forgiving.

I think the Falcons can finish bowl eligible. I respect what Loeffler is trying to do: Rebuild slow and steady, the right way. The team culture really seems to have improved. Players believe in the plan. But it has not helped that college football basically turned into a huge free-agent market after Loeffler was hired and started building using a long-term approach.

I think that list is way too short I could see half the MAC firing there football coaches if they don’t bowl in 2022. I think a lot of MAC coaches are going to get fired sooner than some of the MAC media and this MAC board think. This isn’t your father’s MAC college athletics with NIL coaches that don’t retain players with NIL money for the players are getting fired. Because why should a sports fan care about a coach they don’t play. You need players and without NIL money in free agency you got nothing. I could definitely see both the UB Bulls football and basketball coaches getting fired along with the athletics director Mark Alnutt that is in more trouble job security wise than the coaches he extended. You can’t lose for years anymore players aren’t going to stick around a losing program they will transfer some where more positive towards winning that is what college athletics programs face today in my opinion. UB Horns Up! Go Bulls! Let’s Go Buffalo

Most schools in MAC realize they are fighting a losing battle to compete with the power 5 and top group of 5 programs. These schools have big budget problems. The attendance is bad and revenues are small. The just can't buy out these contracts. My guess is they run the contract then make a change.

(08-13-2022 10:20 PM)Buffalo Super Fan Wrote:  I think that list is way too short I could see half the MAC firing there football coaches if they don’t bowl in 2022. I think a lot of MAC coaches are going to get fired sooner than some of the MAC media and this MAC board think. This isn’t your father’s MAC college athletics with NIL coaches that don’t retain players with NIL money for the players are getting fired. Because why should a sports fan care about a coach they don’t play. You need players and without NIL money in free agency you got nothing. I could definitely see both the UB Bulls football and basketball coaches getting fired along with the athletics director Mark Alnutt that is in more trouble job security wise than the coaches he extended. You can’t lose for years anymore players aren’t going to stick around a losing program they will transfer some where more positive towards winning that is what college athletics programs face today in my opinion. UB Horns Up! Go Bulls! Let’s Go Buffalo

Most MAC schools probably can't afford the buyouts though.

I think Lester's extension requires 8 wins average. He'll be here another couple years minimum, which I'm fine w/.

Word is two of Toledo's offensive linemen suffered terrible injuries this week. One is lost for the season, the other is out indefinitely.

Jason Candle's seat may have just gotten warmer.

Unfortunate to lose starters before the season even begins.

Scot Loeffler is surely done in Bowling Green. It's just a matter of hiring a new athletic director to find a replacement at this point.

BG coach is 7-24? If that his correct he should have been let go last December IMHO. Does he have a huge buyout or something?

(09-11-2022 04:23 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  BG coach is 7-24? If that his correct he should have been let go last December IMHO. Does he have a huge buyout or something?

Scot Loeffler's predecessor, Mike Jinks, ran the program into the ground and was fired in mid-2018 at 7-24. Loeffler promised a long-term rebuild. He went 4-8 last season, including a win at Minnesota, and this was a huge improvement on 2020, which saw the Falcons blown out in every single game.

This was the year Bowling Green was really supposed to start turning the corner. Yesterday's devastating loss is when it became clear to just about everyone that it is unlikely to come together for Coach Loeffler, who is now also 7-24. He has one year left on his contract after this season, but I doubt it will get to that point.

Any buyout might be an obstacle that keeps him as coach to the contract’s conclusion.

Quote:WMU may not be able to afford firing their guy, but results havent been there. The extension in the offseason was a puzzler. I assume it was to keep recruits invested. We will see.

it was puzzling at first glance, but understandable. Ya beat both MAC East & West division winners + ACC champs + blow out Mountain West opponent in a bowl. Beating MAC Champs + MW opponent in a bowl to close out season.

Thing is you can't put a coach on the hot seat if his team is inconsistent and has 8W in the end with some great wins, even if he carries unnecessary WTF losses.

(09-11-2022 10:02 PM)axeme Wrote:  Any buyout might be an obstacle that keeps him as coach to the contract’s conclusion.

I think Scot Loeffler will make it to the day before Thanksgiving, but some fans are arguing he should be removed in mid-season. We'll see how it plays out.