psc2009

It was almost a coin toss between Ohio, Ball State and Akron. TMD gave it to the Bobcats though based on their overall record and the talent that team is putting on the floor. Akron would have gotten top billing had its final score with the Bulls been a little closer. This is shaping up to be a tremendous Akron squad. http://themacdaily.com/?p=318

Here are TMD's updated rankings. We've got the Zips third, crammed between Ohio and Can't State. The Zips did a great job getting to 2-0, and found a way to win in Bowling Green (which Ohio couldn't). This is a very dangerous Akron team. http://themacdaily.com/?p=234

It's great that Akron has completed its staff and that Bowden is going to be able to keep his old ties. My big concern is, who is going to recruit the Midwest? Almost all of these hires are "good ol'" boys from the Southeast. Akron needs bodies right now and it's going to take time to get connections in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Looking back on yesterday's action, the most apparent thing is that the league is WIDE OPEN. Ohio, Can't State and Ball State are probably the favorites, but everyone has a chance. Akron certainly deserves to be on that list as well. The Zips did what neither Can't State or Ohio could yesterday... win on the road. Akron is coming together as a team at the perfect time! http://themacdaily.com/?p=165

With the MAC season starting tomorrow, there are probably five legitimate teams that could win in Cleveland. Right now, Ohio has to have the nod, but Can't State, Ball State, Akron and Buffalo are right in the hunt. Here are TMD's power rankings for the start of MAC play. http://themacdaily.com/?p=114

Awesome win today. With how things had been going for the Zips on the road, UA really needed this. Marshall's a great team and Akron just pounded the Herd.

Here are some of our top stories. Admittedly, a couple didn't make the cut (like BGSU's great hockey playoff series win). If I was to pick a Team of the Year, it would be either Akron soccer (just for how it did defending its title) or NIU football. Happy New Year! http://themacdaily.com/?p=46

I wanted to put this on the Akron board because although the focus will be on the game, we'll also be talking about other MAC topics, especially Terry Bowden. It starts at 4:15. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_201

It seems like the perfect time to let bygones be bygones and bring back Marshall. Then, to make for a much better basketball conference, bring Memphis along for the ride. In a perfect world, that would convince both Temple and UMass to switch from the A-10. http://www.examiner.com/western-michigan-b...phis-from-c-usa

Rick Pitino is talking up the Owls as a Big East team. He seems pretty serious too, having spoken to both the league and 'Nova about the situation. I still don't think that the BE wants the Owls for football, but they'd be a great hoops addition. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=758

Yeah, that Michigan win was great, but this is still a middle-of-the-pack team. I like to look at it in EPL terms. West Brom might be able to beat Manchester City at home, but it doesn't mean that they're going to play in Europe. Bowling Green is good enough to surprise someone, but it's not good enough to win like that consistently.

TMD has the Zips going undefeated again and cruising through the tournament. Both NIU or WMU could scare Akron on a very off day, but there are probably about six teams in all of college soccer that legitimately could take down UA. http://themacdaily.com/1_195_2011-Men-s-Soccer-Preview.html

The year starts on Jan. 7 with six divisional games. My top two games of the night would be Akron at Miami and WMU at Ball State. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=723

Admittedly, I stole this idea from Rick Reilly, but I think it's helpful for our new friends from Massachusetts. But I think it's also a good refresher for the rest of us MAC fans. Now if only we could make UMass an all-sport member. That would stack the MAC East in hoops! http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=716

Since it's hot and muggy out, I thought, why not an off the wall question. So here is what I'm pondering. Who would win a game at a neutral site. The 2011 US Women's National Team or Akron's mighty 2010 men's champions?

Things have been pretty quiet in Buffalo recently, but the MAC hasn't been getting overlooked on its watch lists. So far, I'd say that NIU's Chandler Harnish and Can't State's Roosevelt Nix are cleaning up. Harnish certainly has the history, but Nix has sort of come out of nowhere. He's one a fairly average team and he doesn't have the career length yet.http://www.examiner.com/western-michigan-b...getting-noticed

NCAA 12 came out today and once again, the MAC didn't fare too well. If you've been reading a lot of the pre-release hype, EA forgot to add some pretty important MAC players (especially for Ohio). But, it's another solid release, with updated bowl games, conferences and most importantly (IMHO) MAC stadiums!If you haven't had a chance to play yet, here are the MAC team-by-team grades. The pessimist might say that it bites that Akron is the 120th best team on the game, but from an optimist standpoint, it just makes it sweeter when you take the Zips to the National Championship Game!http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=703

It might not have the glamor of the NFL, but hey, they're going to play football in 2011. It's not a bad place for Sewell either. He'll get some reps in against pro level competition and maybe he can turn this experience into an NFL gig down the road. I don't see him as an every down player, but he'd be solid filling in on a D-line. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=697

Rob Murphy, who is currently at Syracuse, is going to take over the Eagles. He's got strong local ties, has coached a fair share of NBA talent and has learned from a legend of a coach in Jim Boeheim. IMHO, it's a good hire for Eastern Michigan. They could use one. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=669

Here is TMD's take on what UMass joining means to both the MAC and its newest team. I'm hoping to see BGSU move to the West and I'd like to see a 9-game MAC slate. My only concern is that it could hurt even more for bowl bids to only play three nonconference games. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=666

It was rainy across the Midwest today, forcing a handful of schools to make tough calls with their spring game. WMU stayed outside in the rain, Akron went indoors and brought the fans and Buffalo went inside, but had to close the contest because of it. I personally think Akron had the ideal situation, but I understand all three schools reasons. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=663

This is one of those horrible, bad things happen to good people accidents. He was at a friends apartment when someone shot through the window from a drug buy that Devon Butler knew nothing about. The junior is currently in critical condition. Please keep him in your thoughts and/or prayers tonight. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=655

With only one NCAA game left to play, here is TMD's look back on each MAC team's year. From the great runs of Can't State and Akron to the rebuilding years for Toledo and EMU. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_175

Western Michigan beat the Zips 9-0 yesterday in the MAC opener. Stroud is a good pitcher, so maybe Akron will have better luck against easier arms today and tomorrow. http://www.examiner.com/western-michigan-b...-gem-mac-opener

Mark Montgomery has long ties to both Michigan State and CMU. My big concern is that he was passed over for a couple of other MAC jobs not too long ago. Supposedly because he thought that the MAC was beneath his talent level. http://www.examiner.com/western-michigan-b...rebuild-huskies