Status of the MAC

[GP1]

Well, you guys are going to hate this, but here are the facts thus far. A poster posted this on the Miami board.

The scientific method tells us you prove a theory true by disproving all other possibilities. I have a theory that the MAC is a I-AA conference and the players are I-AA players. I know what they are registered with the NCAA as, but I'm more worried about reality.

Prove to me they are not I-AA.

[InTheZone]

To further drive home the point, let's look at our bowl record as a conference over the past 3 seasons.

2009- 1-4

2008- 0-5

2007- 0-3

The only win was a 3 point win last year by Central Michigan over a Sun Belt school. 1-12 in bowl games as a conference. You can't tell me that the top 1-AA conference couldn't do better than that.

Our only hope to remain 1-A is to get someone in here who is going to dominate the MAC, which we absolutely should with our facilities, for the next 5 seasons before the MAC dissolves as our teams realign to a lower division, and then get us into CUSA. I know a lot of you knock CUSA, but if you look at the attendance and non-conference records of CUSA, it's night and day to the MAC. They play a lot closer to real big time college football than we do. Yes I know the travel expenses garbage, but if we actually start winning MAYBE we could get enough fan support to make such a move fiscally responsible. It's our only hope to stay 1-A. The MAC is going down to the toilet. If we aren't going to win, then let's drop.

[GP1]

To further drive home the point, let's look at our bowl record as a conference over the past 3 seasons.

2009- 1-4

2008- 0-5

2007- 0-3

The only win was a 3 point win last year by Central Michigan over a Sun Belt school. 1-12 in bowl games as a conference. You can't tell me that the top 1-AA conference couldn't do better than that.

Our only hope to remain 1-A is to get someone in here who is going to dominate the MAC, which we absolutely should with our facilities, for the next 5 seasons before the MAC dissolves as our teams realign to a lower division, and then get us into CUSA. I know a lot of you knock CUSA, but if you look at the attendance and non-conference records of CUSA, it's night and day to the MAC. They play a lot closer to real big time college football than we do. Yes I know the travel expenses garbage, but if we actually start winning MAYBE we could get enough fan support to make such a move fiscally responsible. It's our only hope to stay 1-A. The MAC is going down to the toilet. If we aren't going to win, then let's drop.

Thank you for your reinforcement of what I have been saying for a while. Great research. We just need to admit to what we are so we can move forward.

ITZ provides no evidence in contradiction to my theory.

Next..............

[zen]

There is absolutely no reason to go FCS with our soccer and basketball programs, and with the regional population/market we have. However, that's all moot. Even if the MAC becomes unequivocally the worst conference in the BCS, it will not drop down nor dissolve (unless other schools move down, and why would they?).

What exactly is the point of this discussion?

[MaxZIP]

There is absolutely no reason to go FCS with our soccer and basketball programs, and with the regional population/market we have. However, that's all moot. Even if the MAC becomes unequivocally the worst conference in the BCS, it will not drop down nor dissolve (unless other schools move down, and why would they?).

What exactly is the point of this discussion?

Being in fcs football has nothin to do with soccer and basketball. We would still be d1 in both.

[GP1]

There is absolutely no reason to go FCS with our soccer and basketball programs, and with the regional population/market we have. However, that's all moot. Even if the MAC becomes unequivocally the worst conference in the BCS, it will not drop down nor dissolve (unless other schools move down, and why would they?).

What exactly is the point of this discussion?

First, there are a lot of very good FCS schools with teams that qualify for the NCAA BB Tournament.

Why would other conferences drop down? That's a good question and I hate to answer it with another question, but I will. What if the BCS schools start there own division or even more, leave the NCAA and have their own Super Conference? There is already an NAIA, why can't there be another organization. The MAC is in big trouble and they need to figure it out soon. That is why this discussion is on this board. It is an important question.

[zen]

There is absolutely no reason to go FCS with our soccer and basketball programs, and with the regional population/market we have. However, that's all moot. Even if the MAC becomes unequivocally the worst conference in the BCS, it will not drop down nor dissolve (unless other schools move down, and why would they?).

What exactly is the point of this discussion?

First, there are a lot of very good FCS schools with teams that qualify for the NCAA BB Tournament.

Why would other conferences drop down? That's a good question and I hate to answer it with another question, but I will. What if the BCS schools start there own division or even more, leave the NCAA and have their own Super Conference? There is already an NAIA, why can't there be another organization. The MAC is in big trouble and they need to figure it out soon. That is why this discussion is on this board. It is an important question.

Okay, I have seen the super conference concept before. But that is a different discussion. That would shake up a LOT of things, not just the MAC.

[InTheZone]

There is absolutely no reason to go FCS with our soccer and basketball programs, and with the regional population/market we have. However, that's all moot. Even if the MAC becomes unequivocally the worst conference in the BCS, it will not drop down nor dissolve (unless other schools move down, and why would they?).

What exactly is the point of this discussion?

First, there are a lot of very good FCS schools with teams that qualify for the NCAA BB Tournament.

Why would other conferences drop down? That's a good question and I hate to answer it with another question, but I will. What if the BCS schools start there own division or even more, leave the NCAA and have their own Super Conference? There is already an NAIA, why can't there be another organization. The MAC is in big trouble and they need to figure it out soon. That is why this discussion is on this board. It is an important question.

Honestly I can't see the big schools banding together to kick the little guys out. Big time programs like having little guys to schedule early in the year that they can claim is a legit 1-A opponent, make lots of money off of, pad their records, and a get a guaranteed win. They don't want to be playing each other for 12 games. They make more money by having the little guys like us to exploit for a few games.

That being said, MAC schools will not end up in a lower division because the big boys force us out. We will end up in a lower division because we don't have the finances to compete with the big boys, and being a perenial loser kills fan support and further depresses the bottom line to the point of unsustainability.

If we drop to 1-AA, we lose the financial responsibility of at least having to look like we're trying to compete with the big boys, and we might actually GAIN fan support because we will win, and people like to cheer for winners. That's why there's a lot of FCS schools outdrawing MAC schools by tens of thousands every week. Heck there are D2 programs who will outdraw us this year.

[InTheZone]

FCS Teams that Outdrew the Zips in 2009 (Our first year in a new stadium!)

http://ncaa.biz/wps/wcm/connect/94f3dd0041...87bd8734e8667f6

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

1. Montana- 24,417

2. Appalachian St.- 24,004

3. Yale- 21,245

4. Delaware- 20,750

5. Old Dominion- 19,782

AKRON ZIPS- 17,382

6. N.C. A&T- 17,219

7. South Carolina St.- 17,027

8. Ga. Southern- 16,728

9. North Dakota St.- 16,515

10. Jackson St.- 16,334

To add insult to injury, Old Dominion just added their footbal program 3 years ago.

[InTheZone]

Our attendance for this year will look more like the top of D2

1. Tuskegee 14,553

2. Miles 13,750

3. Tex. A&M-Kngsvllle 11,155

4. Grand Valley St. 9,957

5. North Ala. 9,389

6. Abilene Christian 9,062

7. West Tex. A&M 8,844

8. Morehouse 8,819

9. Fort Valley St. 7,921

10. Pittsburg St. 7,821

[GP1]

Honestly I can't see the big schools banding together to kick the little guys out. Big time programs like having little guys to schedule early in the year that they can claim is a legit 1-A opponent, make lots of money off of, pad their records, and a get a guaranteed win. They don't want to be playing each other for 12 games. They make more money by having the little guys like us to exploit for a few games.

What if they can tripple their ticket costs when they play each other and strike bigger TV deals? IMNHO, there is more money to be had getting rid of the small schools.

Let's get back to the topic. Someone prove to me we are a D-1A conference in reality.

[ksu sucks]

Let's get back to the topic. Someone prove to me we are a D-1A conference in reality.

Here's question to answer your question: Is the ACC a BCS conference in reality? How about the Big East?

[xu9697]

Honestly I can't see the big schools banding together to kick the little guys out. Big time programs like having little guys to schedule early in the year that they can claim is a legit 1-A opponent, make lots of money off of, pad their records, and a get a guaranteed win. They don't want to be playing each other for 12 games. They make more money by having the little guys like us to exploit for a few games.

What if they can tripple their ticket costs when they play each other and strike bigger TV deals? IMNHO, there is more money to be had getting rid of the small schools.

Let's get back to the topic. Someone prove to me we are a D-1A conference in reality.

We are a Division 1A (FBS) conference in the same way the Cleveland Browns are an NFL team.

[Lee Adams]

y'all can keep asking questions to answer questions if you want...thats pointless...its obvious that conferences like the MAC,Sunbelt and some others of that ilg can not and could not play in the SEC,Big Ten,ACC,Big 12,PAC whatever they are now WEEK AFTER WEEK and YEAR after YEAR and win any games consistently for reasons that others have stated...those schools have far too many advantages and frankly i think its ridiculous that Ohio State gets away with playing several teams a year like Eastern Mich,Marshall,Akron etc patsies they are called just to pad its win total to have a shot at the BCS...OSU is not the only one obviously just the most familiar...maybe there should be another top division where those big schools had to play in order to compete in the BCS or playoff or whatvever..i would rather go watch what should be competetive games week after week...right now the MAC is probably on a level with a conference like the Sunbelt from top to bottom and if you read the mags thats what others think also...maybe we need to play more teams like that,develop some rivalries by playing competetive games and winning more...right now for a lot of teams at this level it ain't working very well...

[g-mann17]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

[MaxZIP]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

Minnehaha as well

[xu9697]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

Minnehaha as well

Minnesota is pretty much Akron's Big Ten twin brother. Never can seem to get it going, rarely show signs of being anything better than mediocre at best. Both open new stadiums during the same year and lose to a FCS team on the same day.

[Spin]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

Minnehaha as well

Minnesota is pretty much Akron's Big Ten twin brother. Never can seem to get it going, rarely show signs of being anything better than mediocre at best. Both open new stadiums during the same year and lose to a FCS team on the same day.

Think we can schedule them?

[Lee Adams]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

Minnehaha as well

Minnesota is pretty much Akron's Big Ten twin brother. Never can seem to get it going, rarely show signs of being anything better than mediocre at best. Both open new stadiums during the same year and lose to a FCS team on the same day.

play 'em 5 times...how many does akron win?...based on current conditions

[skip-zip]

Apparently, Ole Miss, V-Tech, and Kansas are all only 1-AA teams too.

That's my point too. And add Michigan to that list. And since Michigan is in the Big 11, add the entire conference.

As I've said before, there are going to be examples of I-AA teams beating I-A teams, and there are going to be examples of low-level I-A teams beating BCS-level teams. If these individual game results are the proof someone is going to use, then you can just as easily say that MAC teams belong in a major BCS conference too.

[Sergeant Zip]

Mark Cuban's blog lays out how "cupcakes" are used to make it to the BCS Bowl Games. He recommended eliminating the cupcakes with a mid-season playoff system.

One thought is to have the Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference hold a playoff. I guess that essentially means the MAC is a I-AA if there are no BCS conferences involved with the playoff.

[GP1]

One thought is to have the Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference hold a playoff. I guess that essentially means the MAC is a I-AA if there are no BCS conferences involved with the playoff.

Or, they can create their own division between D-1A and I-AA. I think it would make a good division.

[RowdyZip]

Mark Cuban's blog lays out how "cupcakes" are used to make it to the BCS Bowl Games. He recommended eliminating the cupcakes with a mid-season playoff system.

One thought is to have the Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference hold a playoff. I guess that essentially means the MAC is a I-AA if there are no BCS conferences involved with the playoff.

This is what the "big boys" want, and will likely happen, in some form, upon the demise of the BCS.

[ZachTheZip]

Mark Cuban's blog lays out how "cupcakes" are used to make it to the BCS Bowl Games. He recommended eliminating the cupcakes with a mid-season playoff system.

One thought is to have the Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference hold a playoff. I guess that essentially means the MAC is a I-AA if there are no BCS conferences involved with the playoff.

Want to eliminate the easy path? Play a balanced schedule. 6 home, 6 away games for every school. Hawaii can have 7 home and 6 away and any team that plays them can schedule an extra home or away. This forces BCS teams to travel to smaller schools, and it hurts their massive money-making disadvantage. I don't understand why 8-home game schedules are even allowed.

[GP1]

Want to eliminate the easy path? Play a balanced schedule. 6 home, 6 away games for every school. Hawaii can have 7 home and 6 away and any team that plays them can schedule an extra home or away. This forces BCS teams to travel to smaller schools, and it hurts their massive money-making disadvantage. I don't understand why 8-home game schedules are even allowed.

Want to drive the big schools out of the NCAA and have them start their own league? That is exactly what would happen if they did this.

I don't want to "hurt" any school for spending years being successful. There is an old saying that if you took all of the money in the world and divided it equally, at some point, the rich would figure out how to be rich again. If you divided all of the schedules equally, the non-BCS schools would find a way to screw it up and the big schools would still have a money advantage.