GJGood

I agree. I think he will still get there though at least for September call-ups if not before, assuming he is healthy.

Since the pros would include minor leagues I would have to think there will be more once the program gets established again. Making MLB is always a bit of a long shot unless drafted very high. I am keeping an eye on JT Brubaker right now. He is at AAA Indianapolis n the Pirates organization and was last year's minor league pitcher of the year for their organization. If he can get back to full health it may not be long before he is wearing a Pirates uniform. If he makes the majors he will instantly become my favorite player in MLB because not only did he go to my collegiate alma mater but also graduated from the same high school in New Carlisle, Ohio as my dad which is a very unusual combination.

I mentioned Duquesne because they would expand the geographic footprint but are still very much in the region, in football have played schools like Hawaii and UMass in an effort to boost the program and were a playoff team in the FCS in a city that could help as far as media market. Basketball-wise they have been situated in a conference that most see as superior to the MAC but they themselves have not been able to finish very high in the standings there. The MAC may be a better fit for them.

You could say the same about a number of schools. Illinois State would fit the MAC footprint better than Northern Iowa, and can you imagine a school like Duquesne joining the MAC if football moved to FBS and they were tired of being a second division A-10 basketball program?

Someone local to me. I will have to be sure to see him play this fall.

I wasn't trying to put down Detroit in any way, just saying from a player standpoint it is more of a reward to go to the beach (or maybe skiing/tubing in the mountains?) than what the geography and climatology of Detroit in December can really offer. That being said if the champion always goes there and always plays a P5, a ranked G5, or as a last resort an unranked G5 conference champ then it becomes something more to strive for.

I remember that as well but it turned out that all to often not only were you ending up going against a fourth or fifth place team from a G5 but you were doing it in the tropical locale of Detroit while your conference mates that finished below you were headed to the warmer environs of the south. It didn't seem like the biggest reward was going to the most deserving team.

I agree with everything here. The only other thing I would say, though, is that a trip to Detroit may not seem like the same reward as going to the Bahamas or Florida in late December even though the bowl itself may be a couple of rungs higher up the ladder and the opponent more well known nationally.

So, the next question is.. will the MAC designate this bowl as the destination bowl of its champion (unless in a NY6 bowl) or will it just be any one of the bowl eligible MAC teams that goes to Ford Field? Whether it would be this bowl or not, I would like to see the MAC have a bowl designated for its champion if they do not make a New Years Six or playoff game. I just want to see the MAC Champ be given the best opportunity to represent the conference whether it be against a P5 program or a ranked G5 conference team.

... and if the school in Portage County would just add men's soccer we would be right back where we are now

Worth noting CMU was the team that sent the 'Canes to the loser's bracket in the first place where they later met up again. The MAC champs splitting with one of the most prestigious programs in the nation isn't too shabby. Difference here is pitching depth. When G5 teams are throwing thier #1 pitchers they have a legit shot most of the time but when a G5 third man in the rotation comes up against a P5 lineup, especially from the south, it usually doesn't go well for the G5 team. Still better than it was a couple decades ago. The trend is getting better but a long way to go to get near equal footing.

I honestly thought he may leave when Antino did since they came from the high school program. Regardless, after all E-man has been through I wish him nothing but the best, not just for basketball but for a healthy life going forward.

You'd think if Huggins wanted to play a road game at a mid-major in Ohio that the Zips would be at the top of his personal list.

I guess the reason I don't like the Zips playing against FCS competition is more basic than a strength of schedule argument. I don't like the idea of 85 scholly schools playing 63 scholly schools, or however many FCS has now. While everyone tries to talk about how different P5 and G5 are at least the rules for composing their teams are basically equal. That is not the case when comparing FBS and FCS. I get that many schools, even P5 schools, schedule FCS teams in part to ensure bowl eligibility. While I wouldn't go as far as saying FBS schools should not be able to play FCS opponents I do wish that FCS wins did not count toward bowl eligibility. Then you would see more P5s knocking on the door to schedule G5s and a good recruiter at a G5 school could use that to his or her advantage.

Sabo scouting the other programs has to be a good thing, right?

While I am not a huge fan of playing FCS schools I do think the Zips needed to schedule a near certain win for 2021. Those other three non-conference games are rough.

Bryant in 2021. St Francis of PA in 2022. Morgan State again in 2023. I believe that completes all the non-conference schedules for the next five seasons.

I disagree that Kostelac is not a D1 talent... he needs work but the talent is there. He may not be able to play at MAC level right now but he would have an impact at some low majors for sure.

Yeah, I came on board the Zips bandwagon the very last season of Coleman Crawford, so I probably just barely missed this one.

its amazing how many people here in the Columbus area don't even know that Akron is big enough to be in the MAC. Many here seem to think of Akron as the same level as Ohio Northern or Ashland. I really want that perception to change. The quickest way to do it is through athletics. It seems to me that just about every other Ohio MAC school recruits the Columbus area more than Akron, at least in the sports that are featured most prominently on television. I'd love to see that change.

Once the Zips do begin play next year will they likely have any games televised on ESPN3 or ESPN+? Does the MAC have a contract with anyone for baseball broadcasting?

I remember Purdue and Xavier playing at the JAR but not Penn State. I also remember VCU in the JAR the year after they went to the Final Four but I think that was a Bracketbusters event game.

Right but I know a lot of times we are aware of where our early season tournament will be located. I remember when Groce was hired the question was whether we'd still be going to Hawaii or not because that had been scheduled for months prior.

I haven’t read this entire thread so I apologize if this has already been discussed. What do we know about the out of conference schedule next year? Do we know of a tournament or event the Zips will be a part of in November or December?

Ha! that was why my comment said I was hoping Buffalo, CMU, or Toledo could have made a run.