Zipmeister Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 This is even bigger than the rumors I have heard circulating. Forget about leaving the MAC...the rest of the country is coming to us.USA Today / Associated Press9:00 a.m. EDT, April 1, 2008In a press conference held this morning in South Bend, Indiana, Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst together with Temple University President, Dr. Ann Weaver Hart, and Notre Dame President, the Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., made a joint announcement sure to rock the college sports world. Mr. Chryst announced to a stunned group of reporters that both Temple and Notre Dame will be joining the Mid-American Conference as fully affiliated members beginning in 2011, participating in all conference men’s and women’s sports. The addition of these two programs will bring total Mid-American Conference membership up to fourteen teams that will compete in two divisions. Temple, already a football-only member of the Conference, will participate in the George Gipp Division while Notre Dame will compete in the Knute Rockne Division. The George Gipp Division will also include present MAC members the University of Akron, the University of Buffalo, Bowling Green State University, Can't State University, Miami University and Ohio University. The Knute Rockne Division, in addition to the Fighting Irish, will include Ball State University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, the University of Toledo, and Western Michigan University. Some analysts credit the Chryst-Notre Dame connection, at least in part, for this stunning turn of events. Commissioner Chryst was on the Notre Dame baseball team and in 1983 was honored with the school’s Byron V. Kanaley Award, which has been presented each year since 1927 to senior monogram athletes who have been exemplary as both students and athletes. In related announcements, Mr. Chryst announced that in 2011 the MAC would begin competition in men’s fencing, hockey and lacrosse as well as women’s fencing, lacrosse and rowing. Notre Dame currently fields varsity teams in each of these sports. In addition, it was announced that the Mid-American Conference office would be relocating from Cleveland, Ohio to South Bend, Indiana later in 2008.When asked why Notre Dame had decided to join the Mid-American Conference, viewed by most observers as a significant downgrade to their athletic program, the Reverend Jenkins responded, “Competing successfully in football at the BCS level as an independent school has become quite difficult. All one has to do to appreciate this fact is to look at our record over the last few years. We believe that competing in the Mid-American Conference will provide our fans with an exciting brand of both football and basketball, and dramatically increase the probability that we can win our homecoming game.” Dr. Hart, concurred with Reverend Jenkins and also commented on the favorable budgeting impacts at Temple which resulted from their 2007 move to the conference in football, stating, “I think the folks at Notre Dame will be pleased with the result on their football win/loss record. We could not win squat until we joined the MAC, plus we cut our travel expenses in half.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 From the info I've obtained, Gerry Faust's affiliation with UA and ND played a major role in getting this deal finalized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 This is even bigger than the rumors I have heard circulating. Forget about leaving the MAC...the rest of the country is coming to us.USA Today / Associated Press9:00 a.m. EDT, April 1, 2008The addition of these two programs will bring total Mid-American Conference membership up to fourteen teams that will compete in two divisions. Temple, already a football-only member of the Conference, will participate in the George Gipp Division while Notre Dame will compete in the Knute Rockne Division. The George Gipp Division will also include present MAC members the University of Akron, the University of Buffalo, Bowling Green State University, Can't State University, Miami University and Ohio University.It's funny how often the AP neglects to "sweat the details". Shouldn't this be the University AT Buffalo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips88 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Why celebrate "April Fool's Day" just once a year when you can be part of the MAC and enjoy it EVERY day?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZipster0305 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apalmison Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'm hearing that major negotiations have been in the works for months . . . taking place primarily at the Rockne's in Cuyahoga Falls but on two occasions at the West Market location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips88 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'm hearing that major negotiations have been in the works for months . . . taking place primarily at the Rockne's in Cuyahoga Falls but on two occasions at the West Market location. This day can be REALLY rough on an eternal optimist like myself ... can we just get to April 2nd already?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronad Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'm hearing that major negotiations have been in the works for months . . . taking place primarily at the Rockne's in Cuyahoga Falls but on two occasions at the West Market location. This day can be REALLY rough on an eternal optimist like myself ... can we just get to April 2nd already?! Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 immediately moving offices was a first red flag, but then the part with ND making a public statement that playing in the MAC will "...dramatically increase the probability that we can win our homecoming game..." is absurd. Even someone representing Can't wouldn't say something unprofessional as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 CONFIRMATION - IT IS TRUE!!!Charlie Weis photographed assisting with Infocision Stadium excavation this morning!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Only good April fools joke, I was a freshman in high school, I took the bait. First & last.Actual article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be?Is there a "big announcement" in the agenda? Oh, and congrats Zipmeister. You were the first to get me all day. And I've had co-workers trying since 4am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 You almost had me there. Good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 CONFIRMATION - IT IS TRUE!!!Charlie Weis photographed assisting with Infocision Stadium excavation this morning!!!!Thank God that wheel barrel isn't any lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be?Is there a "big announcement" in the agenda? Oh, and congrats Zipmeister. You were the first to get me all day. And I've had co-workers trying since 4am. I actually suggested a "big announcement" weeks ago to help set up this morning's communication. Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no such announcement planned (hope I'm wrong). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be?Is there a "big announcement" in the agenda? Oh, and congrats Zipmeister. You were the first to get me all day. And I've had co-workers trying since 4am. I actually suggested a "big announcement" weeks ago to help set up this morning's communication. Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no such announcement planned (hope I'm wrong).Wow. Now that's joke commitment. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips88 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be?Is there a "big announcement" in the agenda? Oh, and congrats Zipmeister. You were the first to get me all day. And I've had co-workers trying since 4am. I actually suggested a "big announcement" weeks ago to help set up this morning's communication. Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no such announcement planned (hope I'm wrong).O-kay, Zipmeister. That put you on my Can't List! As I said in an earlier post, I'm an eternal optimist and ya had me hopin' all month ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apalmison Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Well you didn't fool me with the Notre Dame/MAC story but you got believing there was SOME big announcement coming. Well done, my friend, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOLLYWOODZIPPY Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 When I first started reading this I almost believed it not realizing it's April 1st. However, I would like to see the MAC add Temple and another school (preferably Southern Illinois) as full conference members.Any one have legitimate insight as to what the REAL big announcement from the league office is supposed to be?Is there a "big announcement" in the agenda? Oh, and congrats Zipmeister. You were the first to get me all day. And I've had co-workers trying since 4am. I actually suggested a "big announcement" weeks ago to help set up this morning's communication. Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no such announcement planned (hope I'm wrong).O-kay, Zipmeister. That put you on my Can't List! As I said in an earlier post, I'm an eternal optimist and ya had me hopin' all month ... How about from now on we save April fools jokes for APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!, but good one, my only suggestion.....go buy yourself a model airplane, you need a hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UA1987 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 This brings up a good point, on this forum, how do you block future posts from selected user ID's? Is it possible? There are several that I want to screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 This brings up a good point, on this forum, how do you block future posts from selected user ID's? Is it possible? There are several that I want to screen.Go to "My Controls" (top bar when your logged in), choose "Options" on the side bar, then "Manage ignored users" and then "add to list" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FORE!zips Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 How about from now on we save April fools jokes for APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!, but good one, my only suggestion.....go buy yourself a model airplane, you need a hobby.Or...you could take up Jason Taylor's "hobby" of painting tiny ships per "Dancing with the Stars". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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