http://www.mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400...
http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022811aaa.html

September 3: @ New Mexico State
September 10: Gardner-Webb
September 17: Marshall
September 24: @ Rutgers
October 1: Kent State (Parents Weekend)
October 8: @ Buffalo
October 15: Ball State (Homecoming)
October 22: @ Akron
November 2 (Wednesday): Temple (ESPN2)
November 10 (Thursday): @ Central Michigan (ESPNU)
November 16 (Wednesday): @ Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU)
November 22 (Tuesday): Miami (ESPN2)

 

I don't understand this. They finally fixed the Miami series and now they want to kill it again? No one is going to attend the 11/22 no matter the opponent. So why not play Miami on a Saturday and switch Ball St. or Kent St. to the 11/22 game? You want to educate your students on what a rivalry is and you hide it on 11/22? The Ohio/Miami games have been some of the best the last 5 years.

Miami is the last day of finals, meaning all the underclassmen will already be kicked out of the dorms by that point. Even if the division is up for grabs I can't see that being a well-attended game. I would have much rather switched Miami with Kent St or Ball St (or Temple if you still wanted to get it on TV).

The good news is we aren't having a game on Halloween this year.

If we're undefeated come those TV games.....  Wow.  If not, we're going to have some empty stadiums.

Agree with everything said here.

I'm excited about watching the away games during the week in November.  While the Miami game may be poorly attended it is clear the league considers these two teams as the main contenders and gives a MAC east championship appearance to the last game for Miami and OUr final tune-up before we take on the Rockets in Detroit.

I'm happy there is not an after Thanksgiving Day game.  The heart of the schedule is also home/away and not like the lousy schedule of several years ago when Ohio had no October Saturday home games.  All in all a very good schedule IMO.

Very valid point Ted.  It's almost this - is Miami a rival or not.  The dorms will close at 5 or 6 that night and even though the game could be for the MAC east title, it's not the same as a conference title.  There's still one more game to play to be league champs.  For out of town folks the tv is nice - we all enjoy watching our team on tv no matter who that team might be.  It's just sad when you have a tailgate for 150 and only 8 to 10,000 actually show up in the stands and that's assuming we have good weather and a decent record.  Up till HC, this schedule is fine.  After that - ?

BG is a trap game. I'm calling it now.

Probably something like that.  For years, that was the slot for the Toledo-BGSUCKS game.  But lately neither has been that competitive, so last year they put in Temps-Fiami. 

I would really like to see the Nov. 2 game vs. Temps as Senior Night.  I know they usually have it as the last home game, but it's never made much sense to have Senior Night (or Day) when no kids are on campus.  Maybe the Fiami game could then be Fan Appreciation  Night, as in "We'd appreciate it if any fans show up."

September 3: @ New Mexico State (2-10)
September 10: Gardner-Webb (4-7)
September 17: Marshall (5-7)
September 24: @ Rutgers (4-8)
October 1: Kent State (Parents Weekend) (5-7; 4-4 MAC)
October 8: @ Buffalo (2-10; 1-7)
October 15: Ball State (Homecoming) (4-8; 3-5)
October 22: @ Akron (1-11; 1-7)
November 2 (Wednesday): Temple (ESPN2) (8-4; 5-3; passed over for bowls)
November 10 (Thursday): @ Central Michigan (ESPNU) (3-9; 2-6)
November 16 (Wednesday): @ Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU) (2-10; 1-7)
November 22 (Tuesday): Fiami (ESPN2) (10-4; 7-1; won MAC Championship & Godaddy.com Bowl)

Total record: 50-95 overall; 24-40 in the MAC

Total record before the Fiami game: 40-91; 17-39; one bowl-eligible team from '10.

Gotta be looking at the 120th-toughest schedule in 1A.

Here's how the MAC teams' 2011 opponents did last year:

Toledo 86-66
BG 80-71
CMU 80-72
BSU 80-72
KSU 75-74
Buffalo 74-77
Akron 70-78
Temps 72-81
WMU 67-84
Fiami 64-84
EMU 62-86
NIU 60-86
OU 50-95

Playing CMU and BG in November is going to be difficult.  Hopefully the running game will be very good.  Both sites in Nov.  means high winds and cold, cold ,and  cold..  We have a favorable schedule, the Nov. dates are all crucial games.

Makes the road trip to NM more appealing now, and a driving trip of Buffalo then on to Athens for Homecoming will be a decent fall distraction.

The sched definitely squelches my ability to attend the late season games, but I am glad they don't make the schedule out with me in mind because I think this team being on TV in four successive weeks says alot about where the program is now.  It also likely trumps Gman's ability to host MH55 at his tailgate.

With these two games being midweek and without a big money game this season, it will really put the pressure on the Department to generate revenue in other areas.  Hopefully there is network money to offset the depressed gate.

Sure will miss seeing the Fiami and Temps games in person, and like the previous poster I think you might see the Administration agreeing to keep dorms open an extra day as a "thank you" to students for a quarter well done and to boost support at the Miami game.

In my mind, the Rutgers game is the season defining game, no offense to Marshall.  Despite their down season last year, Schiano has really lifted that program, and if Frank and the team come prepared to compete in a hostile environment and pull out a victory, it tee's up the rest of the season.  Glad I'll see that one in person.

So here's to a trip to Detroit for the MACC and then a bowl game, both ending in victory. 

Hate to say that revenue might be an issue. You don't get extra money for appearing on ESPN -- that is a conference contract, negotiated last year, which gives money to the conference, which splits it among the members.

I doubt very much that the administration has much, if any, say in games being moved for TV.

More argument for shrinking the conference rather than expanding it, in my eyes.