Game 7—Western Michigan Broncos (2016)

[LZIp]

WMU 17, Navy 19. I think the committee is trying to keep it interesting and wouldn't actually put 2 loss Navy in over WMU, but you never know. Go Temple, Go Army.

[kreed5120]

Navy is rated about right, but WMU seems to not be getting much love by being at #17. I can't see a 2 loss Navy leaping them by beating a 3 loss Temple.

[Blue & Gold]

Undefeated WMU at #17 is an insult.

[skip-zip]

25 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Navy is rated about right, but WMU seems to not be getting much love by being at #17. 

 

That's what I'm thinking too.  I would have liked to see an undefeated MAC team get to the Top 10, especially with a couple of P5 OOC wins in the Big 10.   Having NO losses after 12 games should mean more than #17.

[LZIp]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/pj-fleck-western-michigan-keep-rowing/

[Lee Adams]

On 11/27/2016 at 11:02 PM, Zipsrifle said:

 

Kzoo has Bells brewery...

 

Reading a a few articles this evening hoping WMU can make a good bowl game and somebody mentioned something I've sort of considered in the past.  The G5 schools should have their own Bowl game(s) which pit the best G5 teams against one another.

 

Personally, I think the G5 schools need to go tell the P5 schools to pound sand.  We all know that 1/2 of the big 10 teams are MAC caliber teams.  The top B10 schools play 2 OOC MAC schools then 4-5 crappy B10 schools and BOOM, 7 wins and bowl game.  If the G5 schools have basically no shot at a national championship, then why pretend?  Let the P5 schools beat up on each other and let the G5 schools boost their records and go to more bowl games.  I know,  I know,  the G5 schools need the money but maybe if we play only the crappy P5 schools we could make it work...

There should be another division in college football. Let the 'Power 5' schools have their playground. But,lets stop the charade that conferences like the MAC,Sunbelt,the American,etc,etc can compete year in and year out with the best teams in the P5. They can't. Another division with its own playoffs,like I-AA,DII,DIII would generat far more interest than meaningless bowl games where 6-6 and even 5-6 teams get to play. Frankly, I don't care if Akron ever plays another 'sacrifice' game again. Winning playoff games will bring more attention to the program than getting waxed by OSwhoo,Wisconsin,Mich,PSU etc etc.

[Balsy]

1 hour ago, Lee Adams said:

There should be another division in college football. Let the 'Power 5' schools have their playground. But,lets stop the charade that conferences like the MAC,Sunbelt,the American,etc,etc can compete year in and year out with the best teams in the P5. They can't. Another division with its own playoffs,like I-AA,DII,DIII would generat far more interest than meaningless bowl games where 6-6 and even 5-6 teams get to play. Frankly, I don't care if Akron ever plays another 'sacrifice' game again. Winning playoff games will bring more attention to the program than getting waxed by OSwhoo,Wisconsin,Mich,PSU etc etc.

 

Again.  The vast majority of P5 teams are not willing to sacrifice their gimmee wins.  The G5 teams are not willing to sacrifice the $$$ payouts for playing the P5 teams.  The vast majority P5 teams are not willing to sacrifice their $$$ from Bowl games at the cost of paying G5 schools to come lose. 

[Dr Z]

 

[Spin]

On 11/30/2016 at 7:47 PM, Balsy said:

 

Again.  The vast majority of P5 teams are not willing to sacrifice their gimmee wins.  The G5 teams are not willing to sacrifice the $$$ payouts for playing the P5 teams.  The vast majority P5 teams are not willing to sacrifice their $$$ from Bowl games at the cost of paying G5 schools to come lose. 

 

Yep, it's been brought up several times in the past. As was G5 playing in the spring. The bottom line is the G5 pays for a significant number of scholarships with those away games at OSU, Mich, MSU, ND, etc. And coaching salaries. Lose those games, and you lose schollys, staff, and you're Youngstown State.

 

Best case scenario IMO is if the NCAA expands the playoffs to eight teams, puts the P5 conference winners in, two at-large programs, and the top ranked G5 program. Get the top G5 schools to play each other in non-conference games (late in the season?). That's going to be hard to predict because whenever a G5 school gets ranked, a P5 school poaches their HC.

[Lee Adams]

On 12/2/2016 at 11:26 AM, Spin said:

 

Yep, it's been brought up several times in the past. As was G5 playing in the spring. The bottom line is the G5 pays for a significant number of scholarships with those away games at OSU, Mich, MSU, ND, etc. And coaching salaries. Lose those games, and you lose schollys, staff, and you're Youngstown State.

 

Best case scenario IMO is if the NCAA expands the playoffs to eight teams, puts the P5 conference winners in, two at-large programs, and the top ranked G5 program. Get the top G5 schools to play each other in non-conference games (late in the season?). That's going to be hard to predict because whenever a G5 school gets ranked, a P5 school poaches their HC.

Youngstown? HMMM.Know they made the I-AA playoffs this year. Lets see what happens over the next 2 seasons and see if Ytown looks better or worse. Deal?

[LZIp]

With Navy getting blown out by Temple and WMU holding off Ohio, they're going to the Cotton Bowl. Nice job and $$ for the MAC and Akron.

[Spin]

On 12/3/2016 at 11:47 AM, Lee Adams said:

Youngstown? HMMM.Know they made the I-AA playoffs this year. Lets see what happens over the next 2 seasons and see if Ytown looks better or worse. Deal?

 

I-AA was brought up several times in the past but everybody raised holy hell about "dropping back". Now GP1 is gone and I'm not going there again,just sitting here watchin'.

[Dr Z]

OU grad Peter King...."Bobcats showed up Friday night. Congrats, Ohio, on putting the big scare into Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference title game. Congrats to the Broncos on a great year and great win Friday night. Looks like the coach, P.J. Fleck, who seems to like the GoPro cameras, will have his pick of a few good jobs."

[Captain Kangaroo]

19 hours ago, Spin said:

 

I-AA was brought up several times in the past but everybody raised holy hell about "dropping back". Now GP1 is gone and I'm not going there again,just sitting here watchin'.

I'm still waiting for anyone to present evidence that the 22 scholarships saved by dropping to 1-AA offsets the income and benefits of being 1-A. I'm guessing there's a reason why 30-or-so programs have moved to D-1, but no school has ever dropped down a level.

 

If I really have a hankerin' for watching Samford or Wofford football, I'm cool with driving 50 minutes East and watching YSU play them. I can't imagine the scenario where that would happen...but the option is always there. Until that point, I'll watch Western Michigan, Toledo, Pitt, Iowa State, etc. @ InfoCision.

[LZIp]

5 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

I'm still waiting for anyone to present evidence that the 22 scholarships saved by dropping to 1-AA offsets the income and benefits of being 1-A. I'm guessing there's a reason why 30-or-so programs have moved to D-1, but no school has ever dropped down a level.

 

If I really have a hankerin' for watching Samford or Wofford football, I'm cool with driving 50 minutes East and watching YSU play them. I can't imagine the scenario where that would happen...but the option is always there. Until that point, I'll watch Western Michigan, Toledo, Pitt, Iowa State, etc. @ InfoCision.

I am totally against dropping down, but Idaho is actually going to be the first team to drop down beginning next season. Will be an interesting case study.

[kreed5120]

I'm in agreement with you Captain, but it should be pointed out that the reduction in football scholarships would perhaps open the door to cutting a women's sport so that 22 scholarship savings might actually be more like 35.

[Captain Kangaroo]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I'm in agreement with you Captain, but it should be pointed out that the reduction in football scholarships would perhaps open the door to cutting a women's sport so that 22 scholarship savings might actually be more like 35.

It would also be interesting to see the travel costs of the MAC vs 1-AA conferences. You can take a bus pretty much everywhere but NIU.

 

If football dropped to 1-AA, does Zips basketball get excited about leaving the MAC for the Horizon?

 

I see the MAC as the perfect conference for the Zips. Good competition, cheap travel costs. 

[skip-zip]

Please, I hope this doesn't turn into another lengthy "lets drop down" discussion.  I think that's been put to bed before, and some of it is repeated here. 

 

As someone who's been involved for decades with our athletic programs in a number of capacities, including being a donor, I would personally be angry if we ever talked about dropping down.  Most of us who contributed to our growth would feel the same way, and there's people who have invested far more than me.  

 

We apparently have long ago forgotten what a lot of us did back in 1985-87 just to make the move up.  Those who are too young to remember might be inclined to disregard it even more.  And a lot of effort and a lot of money has been needed to continue that growth, especially in facilities.  

 

There's no turning back now.  Not for me.  Too much invested.   

Edited December 5, 2016 by skip-zip

[kreed5120]

2 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

It would also be interesting to see the travel costs of the MAC vs 1-AA conferences. You can take a bus pretty much everywhere but NIU.

 

If football dropped to 1-AA, does Zips basketball get excited about leaving the MAC for the Horizon?

 

I see the MAC as the perfect conference for the Zips. Good competition, cheap travel costs. 

 

Like I said I agree with you. What is the marginal cost to educate, house, and feed a student athlete? IDK the answer to that, but I'd bet it is certainly less than the 25k-30k they quote. Losing the TV money, CFP money, Guarantee money from P5, what would be increased travel cost, lost notoriety, and whatever else would make it so that we are giving up more than we are gaining if we were to move down.

[Dr Z]

PFF's #5 2017 NFL draft prospect is....

"Our love for Corey Davis is extensive and has long been documented, and that will not change even if he does not test out in February with elite speed numbers. He is the rare complete package at the position, as his size, route-running ability and competitiveness with the ball in the air makes him a dangerous target to all parts of the field, and his blocking ability far exceeds that of most of his power five conference counterparts. For his career he has caught 251 balls, has 44 touchdowns and has forced 41 missed tackles after the catch."

 

 

 

What I would give to play Jan 2nd in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. 

[ZachTheZip]

This is why the MAC can't have nice things.

 

 

[skip-zip]

45 minutes ago, Dr Z said:

What I would give to play Jan 2nd in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. 

 

If we had ESPN Gameday on our campus, and got this bowl bid, all in the same couple of week period, I'd be so overwhelmed with excitement that I'd probably have to be hospitalized.  

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

If we had ESPN Gameday on our campus, and got this bowl bid, all in the same couple of week period, I'd be so overwhelmed with excitement that I'd probably have to be hospitalized.  

 

Well I guess we're going to have to go 13-0 next season and test this theory...

[Dr Z]

 

[Balsy]

On 12/5/2016 at 10:51 AM, Dr Z said:

PFF's #5 2017 NFL draft prospect is....

"Our love for Corey Davis is extensive and has long been documented, and that will not change even if he does not test out in February with elite speed numbers. He is the rare complete package at the position, as his size, route-running ability and competitiveness with the ball in the air makes him a dangerous target to all parts of the field, and his blocking ability far exceeds that of most of his power five conference counterparts. For his career he has caught 251 balls, has 44 touchdowns and has forced 41 missed tackles after the catch."

 

 

 

What I would give to play Jan 2nd in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. 

 

Go WMU.  Put it to Wisconsin and put the MAC on the spotlight.