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Topic: Realignment and the MAC
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Pataskala
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Posted: 7/12/2013 4:48 PM
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Pat Forde had an interesting piece on the effect of realignment on each conference a couple weeks ago.  Basically, what he says about the MAC is contrary to the old adage that if you're standing still, you're falling behind.  Some of it may be a bit sarcastic, but he seems to think the MAC is ok as it is, although the picture of Ohio vs UMass in a nearly-empty Gillette Stadium wouldn't support that (my apologies if this has been posted before):

MID-AMERICAN


Massachusett's first season of FBS play in the MAC is basically summed up with this picture. (AP)

Who left: Nobody. The MAC is doing just fine heading into Year Two without Temple, which put in five seasons with the league before reuniting with the Big East/American Athletic Conference.

Who arrived: Nobody. Massachusetts hopes its second season of FBS competition goes better than last year’s 1-11 face plant.

What’s still to come: Nothing but another 13-team season of good, old MAC-tion.

Better or worse? The same, though it will be hard for the league to replicate the success enjoyed by Northern Illinois and Kent State (a combined 23-5 last year). Both lost their coaches to bigger jobs, which is the nature of things in the MAC.

Winner or loser? The MAC has won by being able to largely stand still. The fluctuations of sun belt schools (including several Sun Belt Conference schools) have not affected the old Midwestern league much. There’s something to be said for relative stability.

The Optimist
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Posted: 7/12/2013 5:10 PM
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I am not opposed to a conference "standing still" if there isn't anything the that conference could do to make itself better through realignment. That said, I don't believe that is the case here... I think there are some very obvious moves that could be made to improve the MAC today.
Last Edited: 7/12/2013 5:10:42 PM by The Optimist
Good cat Good cat
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Posted: 7/14/2013 9:21 PM
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First move for the MAC should be dumping  Massachusetts.
Then, stand pat.
Athens
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Posted: 7/14/2013 10:02 PM
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The question is which move would help Ohio's football agenda the most. Temple was a perfect addition for Ohio because they brought to the division a team with its own local recruiting base and was reliable to be competitive. UMass was ok in the context of getting to 14. Appalachian State would be a good addition from Ohio's standpoint because its another Appalachian school as a rival and will be competitive in the MAC. I think another New England type school like New Hampshire would be a mistake. 
OU_Country
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Posted: 7/16/2013 10:36 AM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
The question is which move would help Ohio's football agenda the most. Temple was a perfect addition for Ohio because they brought to the division a team with its own local recruiting base and was reliable to be competitive. UMass was ok in the context of getting to 14. Appalachian State would be a good addition from Ohio's standpoint because its another Appalachian school as a rival and will be competitive in the MAC. I think another New England type school like New Hampshire would be a mistake. 


I agree with this.  It also creates a great area to go visit for a road game!
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Posted: 7/16/2013 11:57 AM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
... Temple was a perfect addition for Ohio because they brought to the division a team with its own local recruiting base and was reliable to be competitive. ...

Its a shame the archive is gone, because I vividly remember the comments when Temple was added. At the time they were the worst team in Division I, hopelessly bad. Most people here were of the opinion that it was a bad addition, and that they would never be competitive in football. However, they immediately began upgrading, and having the best recruiting classes in the MAC, and within a few years they became a great addition, and a rival for Ohio. U.Mass is very much the same - they are not good now, but they are recruiting well, and they will probably become competitive in a few years.
Last Edited: 7/16/2013 11:57:25 AM by L.C.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 7/16/2013 12:04 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
... Temple was a perfect addition for Ohio because they brought to the division a team with its own local recruiting base and was reliable to be competitive. ...

Its a shame the archive is gone, because I vividly remember the comments when Temple was added. At the time they were the worst team in Division I, hopelessly bad. Most people here were of the opinion that it was a bad addition, and that they would never be competitive in football. However, they immediately began upgrading, and having the best recruiting classes in the MAC, and within a few years they became a great addition, and a rival for Ohio. U.Mass is very much the same - they are not good now, but they are recruiting well, and they will probably become competitive in a few years.
UMass doesn't fit well geographically, but they could be a sleeping giant as far as potential. We could not stop them offensively last year, they could easily have won that game. I'll predict they'll win the MAC before we do. Just kidding, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Pataskala
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Posted: 7/16/2013 4:38 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
... Temple was a perfect addition for Ohio because they brought to the division a team with its own local recruiting base and was reliable to be competitive. ...

Its a shame the archive is gone, because I vividly remember the comments when Temple was added. At the time they were the worst team in Division I, hopelessly bad. Most people here were of the opinion that it was a bad addition, and that they would never be competitive in football. However, they immediately began upgrading, and having the best recruiting classes in the MAC, and within a few years they became a great addition, and a rival for Ohio. U.Mass is very much the same - they are not good now, but they are recruiting well, and they will probably become competitive in a few years.
UMass doesn't fit well geographically, but they could be a sleeping giant as far as potential. We could not stop them offensively last year, they could easily have won that game. I'll predict they'll win the MAC before we do. Just kidding, but I wouldn't be surprised.


Sorry, LC, but we already won the MAC several times, the last being in '68.  Now, the MACCG ... that's another issue.  We've never won at Ford Field, so maybe they need to move it to Indy or Cleveland or Cincy. 

Last year we wore the eyepatch and got EVERYBODY's best because of it.  This year, probably not.  I can see us putting the rout on quite a few teams this season if we don't lose key players.
Last Edited: 7/16/2013 4:42:35 PM by Pataskala
L.C.
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Posted: 7/16/2013 4:54 PM
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Pataskala wrote:expand_more
...Sorry, LC, but we already won the MAC several times, the last being in '68....

I think you meant that for coloradobcat66, not me.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 7/16/2013 11:09 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
...Sorry, LC, but we already won the MAC several times, the last being in '68....

I think you meant that for coloradobcat66, not me.
I confess it was me, but if course I'm talking about in the future and should have said it that way,
Pataskala
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Posted: 7/18/2013 11:15 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
...Sorry, LC, but we already won the MAC several times, the last being in '68....

I think you meant that for coloradobcat66, not me.


Sorry about that.  It just wasn't my day.
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