TheMACer

The official announcement was made today to add more possible MAC bowl games. It's a little confusing because a lot of stuff has to happen, but the just of it is that there are an awful lot of bowl games an it's hard for the SEC to send 9 teams bowling each year. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=462

Akron lost to Toledo yesterday and only scored one run. Considering how potent the Zips offense has been, I'll chalk it up to a bad day against a good left hander. Still, two more games to go this weekend and Akron can rebound to take the series. It should be pretty good baseball weather too! http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=434

The Rockets are expected to announce Tod Kowalczyk (UWGB's coach) as Gene Cross' replacement this afternoon. He's got a good track record in a similar basketball conference. He's also expected to get twice his salary from UWGB. http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=428

Agreed. Tough loss to swallow but one great game to watch.

It says something pretty good about UA basketball that the Zips are the only school to have both the men and women still alive. Two tough games today with the women playing No.1 BG and the men taking on David Kool and company. Still, I think that the men should win and the women can give a great scare to the Falcons.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=403I love tournament time!

It sounds kind of desperate, but I think that if it gets more fans to the game, then it's a great idea! Kind of like all the giveaways that the MAC had for the football championship. It got people in the seats.

TMD still has Akron No. 2 behind Can't. Both teams are playing great and the return trip to UA should be great.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_145

The Zips lost to Toledo tonight, which is tough. But it was a close game against the possible No. 1 seed in the tournament (on UT's floor might I add). Akron finishes the crossover portion of the season 5-1 against the West. Not too shabby.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=372

For the second straight week, TMD put Akron at No. 2 just being Can't. Forget about the EMU game, this Zips team is legit. I still think they should have gotten on ESPN 2 for BracketBusters.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_144

Everybody ranks recruits and classes, but personally, I don't get it. The better class does not always make the better team. So, instead, I offer this. One interesting recruiting story for each MAC school. From family members of coaches and ADs, relatives of NFL stars to just fun or inspiring stories.For Akron, it was Richard Hall. He's a great athlete out of West Virginia that was built to help the Zips D-line.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_143

Arguably, this will be the best of the bunch. I'm a little surprised that it couldn't get on ESPN2. I think that this and Can't State's game will be critical towards possible NCAA seeding. I'd still say it's also still possible to get an at-large with a good run.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=357

The Zips took a slight bump this week because of the loss to Can't State. But, they could easily take it back. I can't wait for the return trip... and probably the game in Cleveland.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_142

It's pretty early in the season but The Mac Daily has Akron on top of its power rankings. The Zips are the strong team in a pretty average MAC this year.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_140

Historically, Can't State has owned Akron in women's basketball. The flushes have only lost seven times ever and recently had an 18-game winning streak in the series. But, they've now lost two of three and so I ask, is Akron catching up?http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=323

Awesome award and an awesome story. I like how the Beacon Journal gave two real in-depth stories on Morefield this week.

It looks like CMU is hiring Dan Enos, who is the running backs coach at Michigan State, to replace Butch Jones. He also coached at Western Michigan a while back.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=319

I know that this season doesn't even end until tomorrow, but 12 teams are already looking ahead to next year so I wanted to share this. This column sounds higher on Akron long term than next year. But, it takes some time to build a great program.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?p=1_138

Not really any surprises (in my mind) from these two hires. One is a fellow ND staffer and one is a long-time I-AA coach looking to move up. Still, I like the speed that the Zips are putting their staff together.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=293

Buffalo hired former CMU assistant (and one-time potential coach) Jeff Quinn. They'll hold a press conference on Tuesday.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=291Personally, I've heard a lot of good things and a few not so good things, about Quinn. He's got a great record, but, he's been passed over for a couple jobs already.

Here are some quick facts about how each team got here and their head-to-head history. It should be a great game tonight. I'm excited to see how Akron's high octane offense does in such a hostile environment.http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=280

I think that he should do fine. With how things have been going in Akron the past few seasons, we were never going to get Urban Meyer. No, he doesn't have any head coaching experience (I'll also throw in that according to his bio, he didn't play in college). But, he's worked at three BCS schools, has had a lot of great recruiting classes and most of those classes have come from nabbing Midwestern players. If you want to give credit to Charlie Weis for ND's offense, go ahead. I'd think that Ianello helped get points on the board too. He also did a pretty good job coaching Golden Tate into a star receiver.

I honestly don't care if the next coach comes from HS or if its Urban Meyer. The key will be if they know how to A) recruit, keep kids out of trouble and C) harness the talent that is already here. Coach Brookhart was decent with A, mediocre with B and struggled with C, which is why he's gone.

To play Devil's Advocate, Brian Kelly certainly made the jump from D-II to the big time. Just look at how Cincy played today.Personally, I think that Akron needs to be very careful with this move. There are a lot of good things going for the Zips right now. A bad hire here could put UA back for years. My case in point, Notre Dame.Kelly was in a situation at GVS where he had to manage scholarships and go get talent. Kehres just shows up for work and talent falls in his lap.Akron needs to hire a good coach because they need to win. Akron can win in the MAC next year. Notre Dame isn't losing because they haven't hired the right coaches. ND loses because they put so many barriers up between them and winning that they don't win. ND is just another midwest school that kids no longer want to go to. Look at the best teams in college football, they are all in warm weather states. Save me the Cincy argument, they would not win another BCS conference other than the BE. ND is a relic of the past and unless it changes it will continue to be that forever.Dumbest comment i have ever heard anyone make. Notre Dame could have won 10 games easily this year with a break here and there. Florida got lucky twice this year. Alabama got lucky twice this year. Texas was beat three times. A great coach makes a difference in the tough games. Notre Dame will hire a great college coach., and if not they will still have the highest graduation rate and kids will be lined up to play there. As far as Cincy, you must be a closet OSU fan who can't stand that you are not the best college team in ohio.I'll agree that I think ND's problems were coaching related. I'm not an Irish fan, but that was a talented team that went to waste. That's why I think UA's next coaching choice is so important. This team has some great talent coming back. That talent must be utilized though.

To play Devil's Advocate, Brian Kelly certainly made the jump from D-II to the big time. Just look at how Cincy played today.Personally, I think that Akron needs to be very careful with this move. There are a lot of good things going for the Zips right now. A bad hire here could put UA back for years. My case in point, Notre Dame.

I was pleased that the attendance was up and that both teams looked like they belong. Central Michigan is a downright dynasty right now and it would have taken something special for any MAC team to beat them. Period.I also think that Ohio will be good again next year, but the MAC East probably will go through Temple and Bernard Pierce. Hopefully, a new coach and the new stadium will help the Zips get to the top of the MAC soon!