Amato rips Akron and the MAC
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:30 am
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 496845.htm
Amato takes aim at Akron's non-qualifiers
Pack still sore after loss to non-BCS institution
KEN TYSIAC
[email protected]
RALEIGH - N.C. State football coach Chuck Amato defended his program and took a swipe at Akron on Monday when a reporter asked whether the Wolfpack should lose at home to Akron.
Akron, a member of the Mid-American Conference, defeated N.C. State 20-17 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. The MAC, unlike the ACC (to which N.C. State belongs), does not have an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series for its champion.
Amato called attention to the disparity in the conferences' admissions policies.
"They're in a conference that allows non-qualifiers in school," Amato said during his weekly news conference. "Non-qualifiers. Do y'all need to look that one up to write your stories?
" ... Do you know what kind of players non-qualifiers are, usually? They're inversely proportional to what their grade-point average is. They can make a big difference."
The ACC does not allow NCAA non-qualifiers to enroll in its member schools.
Akron athletics director Mack Rhoades declined to comment. An Akron spokeswoman reported three players on Akron's roster Saturday entered school as non-qualifiers, and one completed all academic work necessary to earn an additional year of eligibility.
MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst wouldn't address Amato's comments but said the MAC leads Division I-A conferences with 58 percent (seven of 12) of its public institutions' football programs posting a graduation success rate (GSR) of at least 70 percent in the most recent statistics. Akron's GSR is 60 percent. N.C. State's is 50 percent.
Amato also defended his record, which stands at 47-29 in his seventh season as coach. His nonconference record is 24-4, and the Akron loss was his first to an opponent from a non-BCS conference.
"We've won a lot of games around here," Amato said. "Some people need to be reminded of that."
Amato was asked about the disparity in facilities between Akron and N.C. State, which recently completed a renovation that cost about $90 million at Carter-Finley Stadium. Akron's Rubber Bowl seats 31,000; Carter-Finley's capacity is listed at 57,082.
"We just got the facilities," Amato said. "These facilities just got built. They've not been here for 20 years. We've won a lot of games here. ... Maybe a lot of teams will lose to Akron before the season is out. Let's let the season play out and ask me that same question at the end of the year."
Amato takes aim at Akron's non-qualifiers
Pack still sore after loss to non-BCS institution
KEN TYSIAC
[email protected]
RALEIGH - N.C. State football coach Chuck Amato defended his program and took a swipe at Akron on Monday when a reporter asked whether the Wolfpack should lose at home to Akron.
Akron, a member of the Mid-American Conference, defeated N.C. State 20-17 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. The MAC, unlike the ACC (to which N.C. State belongs), does not have an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series for its champion.
Amato called attention to the disparity in the conferences' admissions policies.
"They're in a conference that allows non-qualifiers in school," Amato said during his weekly news conference. "Non-qualifiers. Do y'all need to look that one up to write your stories?
" ... Do you know what kind of players non-qualifiers are, usually? They're inversely proportional to what their grade-point average is. They can make a big difference."
The ACC does not allow NCAA non-qualifiers to enroll in its member schools.
Akron athletics director Mack Rhoades declined to comment. An Akron spokeswoman reported three players on Akron's roster Saturday entered school as non-qualifiers, and one completed all academic work necessary to earn an additional year of eligibility.
MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst wouldn't address Amato's comments but said the MAC leads Division I-A conferences with 58 percent (seven of 12) of its public institutions' football programs posting a graduation success rate (GSR) of at least 70 percent in the most recent statistics. Akron's GSR is 60 percent. N.C. State's is 50 percent.
Amato also defended his record, which stands at 47-29 in his seventh season as coach. His nonconference record is 24-4, and the Akron loss was his first to an opponent from a non-BCS conference.
"We've won a lot of games around here," Amato said. "Some people need to be reminded of that."
Amato was asked about the disparity in facilities between Akron and N.C. State, which recently completed a renovation that cost about $90 million at Carter-Finley Stadium. Akron's Rubber Bowl seats 31,000; Carter-Finley's capacity is listed at 57,082.
"We just got the facilities," Amato said. "These facilities just got built. They've not been here for 20 years. We've won a lot of games here. ... Maybe a lot of teams will lose to Akron before the season is out. Let's let the season play out and ask me that same question at the end of the year."
