MACReport

I've posted a couple of updates at MAC Report Online under a new weekly feature we are calling MAC Hoopla (damn, that's soooo clever and original, isn't it?). Anyway, in this week's MAC Hoopla we have the following stories:Eastern Bloc Dominates West (East 21-4 vs West)MAC Tournament Changes (Four teams will recevie 1st round byes)Home Cookin' (Home Court a major advantage in the MAC)Non-Conference Records (vs other conferences)Record-Shattering Starts (Fast Starts by several squads)Legends Honored (Two legends...one at EMU, one at Ohio)The Coaching Hot Seat (Three coaches whose resumes may need updating)Individual Statistical LeadersThis Week's MAC ScheduleIf that's not enough, I have also posted our updated, through January 15, composite RPI rankings for each school and the conference as well. Just click this link: Composite RPI

Just wanted to add that we have a late addition to our scheduled guests. Also scheduled for tonight is Rick Boyages, the new MAC Director of BBall Operations. Hope you can tune in. Thanks.

Another edition of the MAC Report is on tap for this evening (Wed) at 6:05 pm ET. Please login and join myself and Al Felhauer as we delve into MAC hoops talk. Our guest is scheduled to be Laing Kennedy, Can't State AD and new member of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.If there are any specific or general areas or questions you would like us to ask Laing, please post them here or send me an email to:sports@macreportonline.comWe will have Laing for about 10-12 minutes if everything goes alright. We are trying something a little different tonight too as we will do our show live from the EMU Convocation Center, prior to the Ohio-EMU hoops game.To listen live to the show at 6:05, click here.As always, the show will be available via podcast download and a replay link, both of which can be accessed from our wesbite, MAC Report Online.

Recent discusson on some of the boards about RPI rankings and the validity of the rankings provided by various services caused me to develop a composite RPI for our MAC teams, based on the RPI's from four different websites.Each site had different numbers for our MAC teams to varying degrees. Buffalo came out on top in three of the four RPI rankings I reviewed with Akron holding the top spot in the other. Unfortunately, I expect that our teams' RPIs will continue to fall now that we are into conference play. Right now we only have three teams in the Top 65. I'm afraid we are setting up for another one-bid season unless Laing Kennedy can use his powers of persuasion on the NCAA selection committee.Anyway, here is the link to our story: RPI Madness.

Just a reminder...Be sure to login tonight at 6:05 pm ET for a full hour of the only broadcast dedicated solely to coverage of the Mid-American Conference. Tonight, co-hosts Dave Ruthenberg and Al Fellhauer will debate whether the MAC receives more respect nationally on the gridiron or on the hardwood. Also, Tim Coyne of hoopsjunkie.net is scheduled to join Dave and Al tonight. Click here to Listen Live!After the broadcast you can download the podcast or listen to the replay at MAC Report Online.

We've uploaded the photos we took from the sideline at the Motor City Bowl at MAC Report Online. The link is on the main page underneath the MCB game story. We shot about 75 photos and uploaded 39. Hope you enjoy.

Hi again - Just passing along, if interested, that we have posted some photos from the recent MCB Kickoff Lunheon that was held Saturday. Also included are a couple of shots of our award to Domenik Hixon. Here is the direct link: MCB Photo Gallery Heading out to the MCB shortly...good luck Zips!

The billboard is off NB I-75 just south of the Grand River exit (exit 50). Anybody driving in from Akron or Memphis should spot it. Perfect placement

That's the Zips' team hotel in Dearborn, the Hyatt Regency.

I am dropping any veneer of impartiality for this post. I want to wish the Zips good luck tommorrow night in the Motor City Bowl. I have attended every Motor City Bowl since its inception and I have to say I think this is the first time that I have ever seen a school/team put up a billboard here in Detroit ahead of the game...we were on our way to cover the Motor City Bowl kickoff luncheon and there was the billboard: "Detroit Roo City." That was damned cool. We took several photos at the luncheon yesterday and presented Domenik Hixon with our award for Special Teams MVP in the MAC this past season. I don't think Domenik was aware of receiving the award and he was genuinely surprised and I think a bit flattered...he was passing the award around at his table. What a great kid and it made us feel really good to recognize him. Coach Broohart has also been very affable and willing to chat anytime with us. In fact, the whole Akron athletics crew has been great which makes me pull for the Zips even more. We will post photos of the luncheon shortly on the website at MAC Report Online Again, good luck Zips and continue the MAC's dominance over Confernece USA! Dave

I've posted our preview of the Motor City Bowl at MAC Report Online. I think the Zips have a solid chance to pull out another upset with Memphis' suspect pass defense and shaky passing offense. Of course DeAngelo Williams will be key...can the Zips stop Williams...they sure had a tough time against Wolfe in the MACC. Also in our preview: Akron vs. Memphis stats comparison Team Postseason Histories MAC vs. Conference USA Bowl Histories Akron/Memphis 2005 Schedule/Results MAC/Conference USA Final Standings Expected starters for each team with team stats leaders oh...and our prediction... Direct Link: Motor City Bowl Preview

I've just posted our synopsis of the MAC football season at MAC Report Online. I also included our choices for each team's offensive and defensive MVP's. Have to admit it was an interesting season with lots of highlights which I point out in the article, but there were some disappointments, the biggest for me was the fact that the MAC could not secure a third bowl game for Northern Illinois and the fact that other than Ohio's early season win over Pitt we did not have any marquee quality upsets and our top squads did not perform well in out of conference TV games (i.e. Bowling Green - Boise State and Toledo-Fresno State). 2005 Season Review

Be sure to login tonight at 6:05pm ET for “The MAC Report,†the only broadcast dedicated exclusively to coverage of the Mid-American Conference. Please join myself and co-host Al Fellhauer live as we review the recent MAC Championship game and talk a little hoops as well. Scheduled to join us is University at Buffalo head basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon and also Tommy West, head football coach at the University of Memphis, whose Tigers squad is slated to take on the MAC Champion Akron Zips in the Motor City Bowl. Click here to listen live. We will also have a replay link after the show and podcast download link at MAC Report Online

Are those times "walking" or "driving?" I would like to hit the Microbrewery before the game but I'm taking the hotel shuttle to Ford Field. Thanks. Those are all walking distances. If you go to the Elwood, get there early...its usually jam-packed but is a great place to drink.

Hey Folks --- As a Detroiter, here are my suggestions for pregame hangouts: Hockeytown Cafe - 10 minutes from Ford Field Detroit Beer Company - less than five minutes from Ford Field Elwood Bar & Grill - right next to Ford Field

We've posted our preview of the MACC at MAC Report Online. MACC Preview

We finally got around to uploading some photos from the game Thursday. I think the photos give a good idea of the weather conditions that had to be endured by both sides!. Anyway, just follow this link: Zips-flushes Pics

We at MAC Report Online made the trek from Detroit to Akron Wednesday night to see the game on Thursday. Despite some treacherous travel on the turnpike we made it and were gald we did. I doubt if the Rubber Bowl press box has ever been so crowded and it was great to see that nearly 9k turned out in the most wretched weather you could imagine.I think it's great for the MAC to have some new blood in the championship as both NIU and UA are making their first apperances. Our photographer did brave the elements for a bit and got some photos which we will post later. Once again, congrats and looking forward to seeing you guys here in Detroit on Thursday. I have posted, belatedly, my article on the game and here is the direct link for that: Akron Claims MAC East Title

Press Release: ‘THE MAC REPORT,†A NEW INTERNET-BASED RADIO PROGRAM, TO DEBUT OCTOBER 5 “The MAC Report†to be hosted by Dave Ruthenberg and Al Fellhauer will provide in-depth coverage of Mid-American Conference Football and Basketball. Fans of the Mid-American Conference will now be able to listen live to an internet-based radio show dedicated to coverage of MAC football and basketball. “The MAC Report†will debut October 5, 2005 and will run from 6:00-7:00 pm. “The MAC Report†will air every Wednesday and will be hosted by longtime MAC followers Dave Ruthenberg and Al Fellhauer. Dave Ruthenberg is the publisher of MAC Report Online, one of the web’s top resources for in-depth coverage of Mid-American Conference football and basketball. “It is long overdue that fans of the Mid-American Conference have a radio program that is dedicated to the MAC, one of the most exciting and competitive collegiate conferences in America and I am equally proud that MAC Report Online will be sponsoring this program,†said Ruthenberg. Joining Dave as co-host will be longtime veteran broadcaster Al Fellhauer. Fellhauer is currently co-host of the “Sports Den†on WAAM 1600AM in Ann Arbor. Fellhauer brings many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of MAC athletics. The show will be available via live feed on the Internet and will be carried by Sports America Radio, one of the fastest growing web-based radio sites on the world wide web. The show can also be heard through their broadcast partner, Broadcast Monsters. Joe Eberle, of Sports America Radio added that he is “excited to be able to offer this programming to collegiate fans.†Listeners will have the option to listen live or access an archived version of the program through SportsAmericaRadio to listen at their convenience. The show is expected to offer weekly insight into game action, preview upcoming games, review the top stories around the MAC and will feature live guests including players and coaches from around the Mid-American Conference. -END-

At MAC Report Online we have has just posted our Week 1 football news, notes and picks for each game. Our news also includes updates on the status of the MAC's 2005 NFL draft picks and injury updates. We also have included kickoff times and game day forecasts for each football game in our newswire.

If you have any pictures of tailgating events or game photos from football or men’s basketball, we would like to share those with other MAC fans at MAC Report Online. Our goal is to create a photo album for each MAC team within our photo gallery pages. So, if you have any pics that you would like to share, please send them to us at sports@macreportonline.com and we will add them to our photo gallery. Thanks

We've posted our MAC preview at MAC Report Online. It reads, in part: "With several strong squads, and other teams on the rise, the 2005 MAC football campaign is setting up as one of its most exciting and competitive seasons yet. The MAC can boast at least four solid, star-quality quarterbacks who ranked statistically among the top 25 in the nation in several categories. Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo), Omar Jacobs (Bowling Green), Josh Betts (Miami) and Matt Bohnet (Eastern Michigan) all lead potent offensive units that should have astute college fans around the nation sitting up and taking notice." Much more here: MAC Report Online 2005 Conference Preview

I should have a regular day and time for WVFN to pass along in the next week or so. The last couple of times on the show were sorta last minute. Looks like my first appearance on the "Sports Den" on WAAM will be August 22 and then each week thereafter from 6-7 pm. It will be a regular segment dedicated to just MAC coverage. Thanks. Dave MAC Report Online

We've just uploaded our latest audio interview at MAC Report Online. It's with Akron head football coach JD Brookhart. Brookhart talks about the upcoming season, keys to last season's success and future success at Akron and more. To access the interview, go to our homepage and click on the "MRO Radio" icon which will then download an MP3 file to your media player. Dave Ruthenberg

We've posted our text interview with Ken Hoffman, Executive Director of the Motor City Bowl. This is from the conversation I had with him in Detroit at MAC Media Day this past week Also, if interested, we posted some photos in our photo gallery from MAC Media Day. MAC Report Online