A question about crossovers in the MAC

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:40 am

Bleed, I actually agree with you. At least today, I think the West is better for us.

There's a couple reasons. First, the East is weaker. Second, I don't buy this Kent crud anyway. People in BG don't turn out for a Kent game anymore than a Ball State Game. Yes, Miami is good.

Third, though, is that we would be at a competitive disadvantage. Here's why I think that. When we were in the East before, we played Toledo as one of our cross-overs every year--as it should be. But, in those days cross-overs didn't count in the MAC standings.

Now, they do. So, if we move to the East and keep the Rockets as a cross-over, we will, for the forseeable future, have one of our two cross-overs be tough games. Miami, meanwhile, will only play Toledo every few years, and some years will have two cupcakes as cross-over games. It seems like that makes it tougher for us to win.

On other thing. TODAY the East looks weaker, but a couple of years ago it was the opposite. Things change. Having said that, I think the best chances for turnarounds in the MAC are Central and Western. In the East, Kent has never been good, OU doesn't seem as likely, and Buffalo...

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:22 pm

orangeandbrown wrote:Third, though, is that we would be at a competitive disadvantage. Here's why I think that. When we were in the East before, we played Toledo as one of our cross-overs every year--as it should be. But, in those days cross-overs didn't count in the MAC standings.

Now, they do. So, if we move to the East and keep the Rockets as a cross-over, we will, for the forseeable future, have one of our two cross-overs be tough games. Miami, meanwhile, will only play Toledo every few years, and some years will have two cupcakes as cross-over games. It seems like that makes it tougher for us to win.

FWIW, starting nest year with two six team divisions, each team will play all five other teams in their on division and three of the six in the other. So you will play each of the opposite division teams every other year. As it is now, you play each one every three year. So, yes, I agree that there is a competitive disadvantage to get to play UT as one of the crossovers each season, it is not as big a deal as it would have been in a 14 team league.

FalconKing · Post by **FalconKing** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:03 am

Warthog wrote:So, yes, I agree that there is a competitive disadvantage to get to play UT as one of the crossovers each season, it is not as big a deal as it would have been in a 14 team league.

Except it also means we have to play Toledo and Miami every year and NIU every two years. Before we were getting Miami one year, Marshall another, and two cupcakes the other year.

I do have to say though, for selfish reason I don't mind them moving back to the east. Greater chanes for "road" games at Akron and Kent. I put road in quotes because while I do make it to all of our home games, Akron and Kent are actually closer since I live in Cleveland!