again with this MAC West propaganda about Ohio getting lucky with an easier schedule. It's nonsense. Look at our schedule compared to NIU-

OOC-
NIU- Iowa(4-2), Tenn-Mart(FCS), @Army(1-5), Kansas(1-5)
Ohio- @Penn State(4-2), Norfolk St(FCS), @Marshall(2-4), NMSU(1-5)

Conference-
We share 5/8 common opponents- EMU, Ball State, Akron, Buffalo, UMass
NIU- Toledo(6-1),  @WMU(3-4), CMU(2-4)
Ohio- @Kent St(5-1), BGSU(4-3), @Miami (3-4)

Now, you show me where OUr schedule is sooo much easier. I would argue that OUrs is MORE difficult.


Toledo's isn't much better-
OOC- @Arizona(3-3), Coastal Carolina(FCS), @Wyoming(1-5), Cincinnati(5-0)

Conference-
We share 5/8 opponents- EMU, Ball State, Akron, Buffalo, BGSU
Toledo- @NIU(6-1), @WMU(3-4), CMU(2-4)
Ohio- @Kent St(5-1), @Miami(3-4), @UMass(0-6)

Toledo has 1 better game in their OOC and their conference schedule is slightly better with them playing CMU instead of UMass, but again, over all, is this soooo much tougher than OUrs?

Every MAC West school plays 5 MAC West teams, if we make it to the MACC we will have played 3 MAC West teams. I'm sorry, but our schedule is not soooo much easier because we avoided WMU and CMU. It's just not. And our OOC is right up there with the rest of them. @PSU is still the best win by a MAC team this year to date.

So please, when a MAC West fan tries to shame you into thinking  we've got it easy, don't believe the hype.

Ball State had a nice team that year, and yes, not a difficult schedule. I caused a few raised eyebrows around here when I predicted before the season that they would go undefeated that year because of those facts. The key thing, however, is that the day came when they woke up in a ditch, courtesy of Buffalo. In the end, that will be the determining fate for Ohio, too. The question won't be "did they have enough double digit wins?", it will be, "did they wake up in a ditch?"

Can Ohio help it that Temple exited and was replaced with UMass?  Ohio would be 7-0 with road wins over PSU, Marshall and a sold out stadium in Phily!

I finished making the rounds of a few other message boards.  In my opinion, what they are currently spouting off about is justified, however, very few of them have paid close enough attention to understand that we have been decimated on defense with injuries.

I love the 7-0 record, but even with the #25 ranking I'm still having a hard time knowing that we've barely gotten past 3 pretty bad teams.  A win is a win, and I get it, but I'd really like to roll into Oxford and grab a 20 point victory with a better showing from what is hopefully a healthy defense.

+1

No doubt the D has taken their lumps in recent weeks but if our offense executes a little better in the 4th quarter, we have much more convincing looking wins. Akron doesn't hit 28 points and Umass and Buffalo sure don't get into the 30s.

Exactly. The votes now are just for fun. In the end it is the W or L that people remember. I'd rather be 14-0 with a lot of close wins than 12-2 with a lot of double digit wins, and ending with two losses.

As for the secondary, many of the players are out for the season. Improvement in the secondary will come as the Freshmen/Sophomores who have been thrust into the role of starters gain experience, not because of returning players. Omar Leftwich, Travie Carrie, and Jamal Shaw (top three corners last year) will not be returning. Gerald Moore FS and Josh Kristoff SS should be back, and probably both will start against Miami. Xavier Hughes SS may or may not be out for the season.

Whether from returning players, or younger players gaining experience, I expect the secondary to continue to improve as the year progresses.

You've been a complete and total jerk about the whole thing. And you realize we have ZERO say in the matter, right?

Nevermind it wouldn't actually improve the conference in any way and weakens the MAC in  few sports.

No, the university presidents drive the conference. Good luck getting in their ears. And I assume you'd be willing to kick in for the inevitable litigation?

So you want us to organize a letter writing campaign to Gov. Kasich? I'm sure he'll give it the consideration it deserves.

Booting Eastern Michigan is going to result in a significant increase in cash flow? You're simply not operating from a realistic standpoint.

10 years ago some MAC fans might of wanted to boot Ohio from the MAC, so lets keep some perspective. Also EMU is pretty solid in BBall and I think women's bball. Yes football is less to be desired, but they are a good football coach away from doing a decent job. I just feel that they need to get some direction.  

Being an obnoxious loudmouth and making our fanbase look like a pack of delusional jackasses isn't really helpful.

I love our team and I'm thrilled with being 7-0, but why should anyone respect Ohio? If the shoe were on the other foot, we'd all think Ohio was overrated and very, very beatable.Three of the four worst teams in the MAC have come within one score of this team. The Beatles were topping the charts when Ohio last won a championship. It wasn't too long ago that the the biggest draw at the stadium literally was the marching band. Even in basketball, where Ohio has clearly enjoyed a lot more sustained success, the last regular season championship was 1994. Now the MAC is suddenly not good enough for its founding member? Sorry, but there's a lot of evidence to the contrary.

Yes, we're on an upswing right now and it's really exciting, but we really ought to show some humility and grace as fans even as we hope all goes right on the field.

But how does removing Eastern Michigan and nothing else do anything for the conference?