Let'sGoZips94

No, my first sentence was in response to the second sentence in your post: A conference doesn't "sponsor" a sport. The literal verbiage used by the MAC was "sponsor," hence why I used the term "sponsor." I'm well aware the conference can't force its members to carry a sport. However, this isn't equestrian, field hockey, or other obscure sports like that. This is soccer - the world's sport - in which they have a perennial national contender as a member. They're also close to dropping Track & Field, which they have a perennial national contender as a member. They don't sponsor men's hockey either, which 2-3 of their full time members are national contender in. I don't know how good the swimming & diving is as a conference, and I don't know about any other sports in which their full time members have a program that is a perennial national contender (i.e. OU volleyball). I won't bring up rifle cause that's incredibly obscure (although I'm damn proud that Akron could shoot the nuts off a squirrel at 50m). Yes, I hate the MAC. You're right, that is well documented. I think it's also pretty well supported by the constant failure by the MAC to grow, become an attractive G5 conference for other schools to be full members, and support its current list of members, especially when it comes to their best sports. What is a D1 conference without men's soccer and soon to be Track & Field? That's pathetic. Also, regarding the game, WMU embarrassed us and earned their NCAA tournament appearance. Congrats to them.

So take this with a grain of salt?

Headline from the MAC's official press release: MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men’s Soccer Following 2022 Season The MAC has had West Virginia, FIU, etc., as men's soccer members and failed to keep them. From what I know, the MAC has 3-4 full time members with mainstream sports that contend for national championships every year, and none of these sports are now sponsored by the MAC - Men's Hockey and Men's Soccer. Title IX is an issue, but the culprit for their own problems is the MAC. It is an atrocious DI athletic conference.

My comment was more directed at the fact that WMU found themselves in a MAC Championship game because the MAC cannot properly sponsor soccer. Maybe we need the Thursday game. We have not looked as sharp as of late.

Wow. I really don't care about a participation trophy MAC championship game as much as the NCAAs. Now we're down 2 of our best players for the tournament that matters.

What. A. Dumbass.

Does this affect the Tourney?

Goal WMU. 2-0.

What a SAVE by Butler. WOW.

1-0 at the half. Akron picked up the intensity and controlled most of the second part of the first half. WMU is packing the box. Akron had a rip from the top of the box at the buzzer but missed wide right - not by a whole much.

Goal WMU at the 3 minute mark.

They should scratch his name from the stats book so we don't know who the stats belong to. Too soon?

Do you think they market this to their fans as "Men's Basketball program beat PENN STATE Greater Allegheny 130-49" ?

Is it even that many?

I came back to the thread to post just this. By the way, with the Akron Soccer news, did anyone notice the court we were playing on? It rhymes with Fig Beast. 😉

To answer your question - off night. Playing in empty cavernous arenas is Akron's kryptonite.

Miss St isn't missing. Tough. X isn't seeing the basket very well.

Lots of game left. Nice run by Miss St. Get stops and make baskets. Play smarter on offense and we can get back into this.

1 PT LEAD!

1 pt game let's go!

Bad bad bad first half offensively. Only way we can go is up, and we're only down 8. I will take it. Congrats to Portnoy and Big Cat on hitting their bets for the first half over. Now they're both solely Akron fans.

If we start making shots, we'll blow these guys out. They suck.

Jans is an angry elf.