legendofzippy

Eleven Warriors just posted a great article on this topic. Nick Saban's Idea of Five Conferences Would be Great for the Ohio States, Not So Much for the Boise States

I'll agree with that. Yes, the championship participants are basically selected by ESPN, and at this point they shove the SEC down our throats because that's who they have a deal with. The good thing is that even though money drives it all, viewers control the money. The Bama/LSU championship drew poor ratings and a lot of outrage, so now we're on the path to a playoff. A slow path to be sure, but the process has at least started. ESPN is so blatant, but they still get away with it. Look at how they drug out the OSU tattoo-gate (how dare the Big 10 have their own network!), but you hear little about the stuff that happened at ACC and SEC programs that was worse. But once OSU hired Meyer, all was forgiven and their coverage immediately turned positive. Hell, they have them ranked #1 right now. Hiring a former SEC coach and ESPN analyst has its perks for a Big 5 program.

Why do you say that? I'd say programs are making more money than ever, and as fans we get to watch more games than ever. Think back to 20 years ago - there is no chance a team like Akron could get a nationally televised game. Plus look at all the bowl games the MAC can make now. Yeah most are low level, but again - national audience. Don't get me wrong - I'm not an ESPN fan. But I think College Game Day does a great job, and they certainly televise a tons of games across their networks.

If you think only #2 carries weight, then I guess our coaches have nothing to say to a recruit. I respect your opinion, but everything I've ever read from coaches says the opposite. It's no different than going up to Michigan or down to Ohio State for a game we basically have 0% chance of winning: 1) tons of money and 2) point to those big games on the schedule to lure recruits. I don't get the hostility toward it though. People across the country have embraced "MACtion", not ridiculed it. The conference is looked at as smart and forward-thinking. I guess I don't see the downside.

I'll stick by saying the exposure is good. Let's say you take those games away - at that point the MAC basically isn't on TV anymore. So let's so you're a recruit choosing between a top MAC team and a lower-level Big 10 team. With the lower-level Big 10 team, you're guaranteed to be on TV multiple times. Even if it's just BTN games, it's a large audience plus you get shown in repeats. But with the MAC, you get no TV exposure unless you make a bowl game. That's a tough sell in a recruit's living room. But the weeknight games level the playing field. Yeah it stinks to play on a Tuesday night, but this country is so football crazed that lots of people do watch those games. Recruiting is brutally tough, so any edge you can get, take it. The MAC has done a great job in finding edges recently. And they have a BCS game and #1 overall pick to show for it.

I don't mind the weeknight games, but I wonder what the overall feeling is there. I mean, it's not ideal, but it gives the MAC good exposure. With the larger conferences hosting more mid-afternoon and evening Saturday games, there's no room for a MAC game to be featured on a Saturday anymore. So at least the weeknight games put the conference in front of people. In the end I think it's good for recruiting. In the end, money will do the talking anyway. And the money wants us on weeknights.

I agree, but man, we're talking about the Cowboys here.

Nice article - all was fair enough. Steve French has said before that the MAC is shady in its scheduling. As this article points out, the top teams in the West all play Akron. In reality, this doesn't make sense, but does play into the idea that if you give your best teams easy schedules, it gives them a better chance at a bowl game. I don't know if the MAC really does that, but from a business standpoint it makes sense. Just to clarify, it doesn't bother me. Might as well play the best anyhow, but our schedule does seem odd. I mean, the NFL doesn't do that.

Whatever. I'm out of this conversation.

Well, put up or shut up then. If you and several professionals know these buildings are unsafe, then do something about it.

Out of curiosity, how many tinfoil hats do you own?

I sense good intentions here, but no, he's not coming here for a chance at a bowl.

Yeah it is curious. Colorado is a complete mess though so maybe he just wanted out? They just lost a kid to Nebraska too.

I thought the same thing. Puts us in a good light! Should be a great early season test for our PG's.

Whatever.

Calm down. Explaining the way things are isn't the same as justifying it. Good lord, I've never seen someone so riled up just because of a name.

This is an older article but pretty neat. Does anyone know how long Stephen Curry lived in Akron? He's obviously a very good player, but I'd say he's just now becoming a household name. Every kid should emulate that shooting form. NBA Players from Akron

Well, Akron is far from the only place where this happens. It also takes place... everywhere. When I used to travel a lot it was funny to see how many airports - like Erie - call themselves international because of short flights to Canada. Bottom line, perception is reality. Call it an arena and most will see it as an arena. SVSM has plenty of state championships to show how real they are anyway.

I guess if there's something there we'll find out eventually, but for now I'll say this makes sense. Groce is a good coach, Big Ten BBall is high profile right now, and Illinois has a good program. Seton Hall has a nice program too, but I'd say all three players are moving on to a larger stage.

Lol. Like I said, for some people, it's never enough.

OSU and Kentucky are the two highest profile "Nike/LeBron" schools. He wears that stuff because he's a business man and they have huge fan bases. Miami and Akron have also benefited from this product line. We don't compete on the OSU/UK level. But on the level we do compete, he's a strong asset. Coach Dambrot appreciates his help and uses it to his/our benefit, so I don't even know why we're having this discussion. Yes, I'm upset he left Cleveland, but what he continues to do for the city of Akron is undeniable.

Agree 100%. He had an MVP award in our gym, he works out there, he constantly gives support to Coach Dambrot, and now he's giving a million bucks to his high school. Plus, this quote: "I'm from Akron and The University of Akron is my hometown school,” LeBron James said. “Because of my ties to the Akron community, the University and Coach Keith Dambrot, it is important to me that UA is designated as a Nike/LeBron James School. I want to be sure that Coach Dambrot's guys look great head to toe." And yet there are still people saying "not good enough". Unbelievable.

Hopefully - time will tell. What's amazing is how many bodies Bowden continues to add to the program. I'm sure he knew the cupboard was bare, but I wonder if he knew how far ahead the other MAC teams were/are.

But that's not the fault of the NBA structure - that's the fault of the Cavs. Larry Hughes was terrible, but that was a high-profile free agent signing so it's not like they didn't sign anyone. Throw in a bad coaching hire, bungling Carlos Boozer, draft picks like Luke Jackson, Shannon Brown and Christian Eyenga, and you have yourself a bad franchise. That's why free agents don't come here.

This is great for the conference, but for recruiting I'm not sure it really changes much. There's a ton of MAC talent in the NFL, so that's already a selling point. The problem is that if you're going to the MAC, we're not the top choice. I'm afraid we're still in the bottom half. I love what Bowden's doing, but boy does he have a lot of ground to make up.