Hilltopper Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 ? Notre Dame, IU, Purdue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Watcher Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 Notre Dame is private. Purdue and IU are both substantially well funded state institutions that in any other state would likely be the "only" flagship school. Except that IU is really a dump where they don't teach math or science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 Purdue and IU are both substantially well funded state institutions that in any other state would likely be the "only" flagship school. Good point. I guess how I look at a flagship institution is how the people of that state would look at it. That's why Michigan is a little different. I really don't know what the answer would be, but I think a school called Purdue in Indiana wouldn't be looked at as the flagship school. There are tons of Germans in Indiana. I can't see them going for more than one flagship school. That's just my guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZipsFan Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Good point. I guess how I look at a flagship institution is how the people of that state would look at it. That's why Michigan is a little different. I really don't know what the answer would be, but I think a school called Purdue in Indiana wouldn't be looked at as the flagship school. There are tons of Germans in Indiana. I can't see them going for more than one flagship school. That's just my guess. I think a lot of this is based on population. The state of Alabama - obviously its between Auburn and Alabama first and foremost (people kill trees over that BS).. then there are actually SEVEN other schools that are in a higher division than the University of North Alabama (where Coach Bowden just came from). So that's NINE college football teams in the state of Alabama with a population of 4.8 million (just slightly higher than South Carolina at 4.6 million people). In this universe in itself, Alabama is more of the exception than the rule. Pro sports also comes into play tremendously. There aren't any professional sports teams in Alabama (pretty sure). No football. No baseball. No basketball. It is college football for all eternity down there. Ohio obviously has several pro teams in several sports - so allegiances, and dollars have to be divided with them as well -- not just Ohio State or Can't (Can't), Cincy, Toledo, etc... There are SOOO many choices in the state of Florida now, that unless the team (whether its college football, NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA) is winning - and winning big -- people just don't show up. So -- I guess Coach Bowden is right. Winning solves everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 True. So, I should've said the university didn't hire him just to add $200,000 a year to his retirement package. That would have been wrong also. Each additional year he puts into the state retirement system bumps his annual retirement payment by about 2.5%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Good point. I guess how I look at a flagship institution is how the people of that state would look at it. That's why Michigan is a little different. I really don't know what the answer would be, but I think a school called Purdue in Indiana wouldn't be looked at as the flagship school. There are tons of Germans in Indiana. I can't see them going for more than one flagship school. That's just my guess. Absolutely, that's why Rutgers will never be the Flagship school of New Jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Apparently Temple is at least going to talk to the MWC-CUSA merger folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Apparently Temple is at least going to talk to the MWC-CUSA merger folks. There's no reason we shouldn't consider it. Seriously, the MAC is terrible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 There's no reason we shouldn't consider it. Seriously, the MAC is terrible! The MAC is terrible, but it's a stronger football conference than this new amalgam of bottom-feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Average Sagarins of the new non-BCS landscape as it will be in 2013: MAC: 62.53 Merger: 62.51 WAC: 57.87 SBC: 57.05 So the MAC is the top non-BCS conference, and we don't have to spend outlandish amounts of money on travel to remote small-market cities to make it happen. Football drives the boat, but travel expense for non-revenue sports sinks it. Their TV contract will take a massive hit after losing all the good teams from both conferences and you're feeding so many mouths that the payout per team might end up smaller than the MAC's current contract. It could get even worse if they try to poach some WAC or Sun Belt teams. And on top of that, the whole thing will fall apart in a few years when some teams get tired of this stupidity and try to split. I say we wait it out in the top non-BCS football conference and then try to get in on an eastern conference once this thing breaks up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 The MAC is terrible, but it's a stronger football conference than this new amalgam of bottom-feeders. The main problem I have with the MAC is all the teams are so close together. It doesn't lend itself to much exposure around the nation. Seriously, how many games to we play in Ohio and Michigan? When we could potentially be playing in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, WV, and NC. I understand there are a few dozen fans that like to travel to some away games, but really have to side with the national exposure. At the end of the day it's hard to get excited about playing Eastern, Western, Central Michigan. Even being in a different conference than Can't and Ohio doesn't bother me. I don't like either one of those schools so really don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 The main problem I have with the MAC is all the teams are so close together. It doesn't lend itself to much exposure around the nation. Seriously, how many games to we play in Ohio and Michigan? When we could potentially be playing in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, WV, and NC. I understand there are a few dozen fans that like to travel to some away games, but really have to side with the national exposure. At the end of the day it's hard to get excited about playing Eastern, Western, Central Michigan. Even being in a different conference than Can't and Ohio doesn't bother me. I don't like either one of those schools so really don't care. National exposure? Do you have any idea where these schools in the merger are located? National exposure comes from playing teams in big media markets on TV games. This new conference doesn't have those and won't have half the TV games the MAC has. Name four teams from the merger that would excite a local college football fan more than playing Ohio, Can't, BG, or Miami would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-mann17 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 National exposure? Do you have any idea where these schools in the merger are located? National exposure comes from playing teams in big media markets on TV games. This new conference doesn't have those and won't have half the TV games the MAC has. Name four teams from the merger that would excite a local college football fan more than playing Ohio, Can't, BG, or Miami would. Hawaii California Texas Louisiana North Carolina But you said 4 and teams. I think you are being a bit shortsighted on the whole thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 You guys are crazy. Imagine a new on-campus arena, with BC, UConn, Marquette, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Louisville, Nova, and Cincy every year? Probably the third best conference in basketball? Six top-50 programs (not counting Syracuse and WV). Major markets including Philadelphia, Cincinnati, NYC, DC, Chicago, Milwaukee, football only Houston, Dallas/Ft Worth, Tampa-St. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Spin, I don't think anyone is against the Big East, however I doubt our addition to the conference would entice BC to go back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 I may be in the minority but I would welcome the joining of ANY FBS league other than the MAC. The MAC is the most boring, bland league out there. If for no other reason than to give fans some good places to visit on road trips UA needs to find its way out of the MAC. It's the worst. Nobody, including in the midwest, even thinks of it as a real D-1/FBS conference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottditzen Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Big East, or more like "Medium Everywhere" would be such a weird place for us: Legends: Akron Cincy Louisville Rutgers Navy Central FLA South FLA Leaders: San Diego St. Houston Boise SMU Memphis ????????? Best case scenario would have been if the Big East kept WVU, SYR, UConn and Pitt and added us, but it wasn't meant to be. As weird as this would be, I'd still take the "Medium Everywhere" scenario over Conference USA/MWC. Nothing sounds less alluring than the prospect of road trips to Marshall. Yuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZipsFan Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Big East, or more like "Medium Everywhere" would be such a weird place for us: Legends: Akron Cincy Louisville Rutgers Navy Central FLA South FLA Leaders: San Diego St. Houston Boise SMU Memphis ????????? Best case scenario would have been if the Big East kept WVU, SYR, UConn and Pitt and added us, but it wasn't meant to be. As weird as this would be, I'd still take the "Medium Everywhere" scenario over Conference USA/MWC. Nothing sounds less alluring than the prospect of road trips to Marshall. Yuck. Without having to debate the locations or level of talent of the teams in both of those conferences - there is one fact that makes the decision a no-brainer. CURRENTLY, THE WINNER OF THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE IS GUARANTEED TO PARTICIPATE IN A BCS BOWL GAME. That at least gives the players and fans something to tangibly reach for every season -- it is actually POSSIBLE for us to win the whole enchilada. The reason people don't think of the MAC as a "real FBS" conference is because their are so many Bowl games, that the only ones that count for anything (or make the big $$$$) are the BCS Bowls. If you play in the MAC, you are fighting an uphill battle every year for a limited "at-large" bid - or we'll all be at the Meineke Car Care Bowl, or the Beef O'Brady's Bowl, or the Compass Bank Bowl, or "insert other sponsor's name here + Bowl".. Until the system for determining the National Championship is different than it is now - Akron has an infinitesimal chance of winning it all. And that's what everybody wants -- to be the National Champion. We should be a lot more excited about the 2009 Soccer Championship -- that is a freakin' amazing accomplishment.. In basketball, we at least have a fighting chance.. We get a seed, we can prove ourselves by beating everybody else. Can't do that in football. So - without making fun of the MAC, or disparaging it; nor without dissing the Big East - it is obvious that we would be better off (at this moment - the way the rules exist now) in the Big East (or obviously any other BCS Conference). If Boise had been in a BCS Conference during the past few seasons, they would either have been "exposed" for not being as good as they seemed, or they would've beaten LSU or Florida etc. in a Nat'l Championship game and proved that they were an elite team. But they really never got the chance. I don't want to be Boise State. I would much rather be WVU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I’m probably in the same camp as xu9697 on this. There was a time when I was hoping UA, Toledo, and Buffalo would either form the basis for a better league or leave together and join another league. But frankly I’m not sure if I still see the benefit with the changes we’ve been witnessing lately. NZF, I am REALLY happy you are “part of the ZNO team” and I look forward to your continued enthusiasm and insight as the football team begins to turn things around. But I think it’s unwise to assume the Big East will have that automatic BCS bid for long. In fact, if there even IS a BCS in a few years the structure will likely be completely different than it is now. That’s why I think Boise, SD St etc may have made short-sighted moves in joining the Big “Weast”. STZ, I completely understand the disdain of the MAC. You’re right that its perception, especially in the Big-10/MAC footprint, will always be, in GP1’s phrase, Dollar General. This is just me, but I’ve never been big on perception. It’s been proven that quality football CAN be played in the MAC, regardless of who acknowledges it or not. And I’m not sure the “better and more interesting road trip” argument is a strong one either. Almost ALL of those MWC/C-USA opponents would more than likely mean plane trips for the players and fans. That’s going to price these road trips right out of most fans’ budgets, even the diehards. Contrast that with the (apparent) approach the MAC is taking this year by including 2 away MAC tickets of choice (rivalry game excluded) in all season ticket packages across the conference. That’s how you help build rivalries. And let’s not forget, MAC East hoops and the MAC tourney at the Q have become a whole lot of fun. Like ZW said, there may be a compelling financial reason to leave, and this must be considered. I’m just not sure a possible move is as “fan friendly” as I’d like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 A Marshall fan proposed Akron as a candidate for the new merger conference on the C-USA board. I have refrained from posting in that thread because I wanted to see what their reactions would be without an Akron fan there influencing opinions. But enough time has passed and I think it's ok to correct some of their assumptions. The thread is a good read if you want to know how we are viewed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 A Marshall fan proposed Akron as a candidate for the new merger conference on the C-USA board. I have refrained from posting in that thread because I wanted to see what their reactions would be without an Akron fan there influencing opinions. But enough time has passed and I think it's ok to correct some of their assumptions. The thread is a good read if you want to know how we are viewed. Wow, you close down a tire plant or two so the boys have to go back to West Virginny and run shine for a living, and some of them hold a grudge for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xu9697 Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 It will be interesting to see if this affects MAC football: http://www.uticaod.com/m/sports/x134177959...ll-scholarships A kid might look at one of those schools now and think, "I could start in the MAC by my soph or jr year, but I could come right in here and start. And this school has better academics". Now, I am not slighting the academics of UA or any other MAC school. Patriot League is NOT Ivy League, but it does have a good rep as far as I know. And as the MAC moves more and more EAST, this could be an interesting development. Obviously, UA's best players will not be deciding btwn Bucknell and UA in most cases, but it could affect the depth of some of the MAC programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZipsFan Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 It will be interesting to see if this affects MAC football: http://www.uticaod.com/m/sports/x134177959...ll-scholarships A kid might look at one of those schools now and think, "I could start in the MAC by my soph or jr year, but I could come right in here and start. And this school has better academics". Now, I am not slighting the academics of UA or any other MAC school. Patriot League is NOT Ivy League, but it does have a good rep as far as I know. And as the MAC moves more and more EAST, this could be an interesting development. Obviously, UA's best players will not be deciding btwn Bucknell and UA in most cases, but it could affect the depth of some of the MAC programs. I have to disagree with you on this. I know that at least two of our new recruits chose Akron specifically because of the Engineering program. And as much as we don't want to start Freshmen, every position is open on the team right now. If an incoming freshman is the best at his position - he's going to start. At least for now. Obviously, the plan is to build the team and continue to attract better and better players, and then have the luxury of red-shirting freshmen. But I would say for the next couple of years - almost all recruits will be told that they will have the opportunity to compete for a starting position immediately. I just can't see the Patriot league taking any player that Coach Bowden really wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZipsFan Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Wow, you close down a tire plant or two so the boys have to go back to West Virginny and run shine for a living, and some of them hold a grudge for a long time. I saw more positive comments than negative in that thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Spin, I don't think anyone is against the Big East, however I doubt our addition to the conference would entice BC to go back. oops... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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