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I'm not suggesting that the MAC shouldn't have a title, but I'm beginning to think that a MAC championship and $3.50 will get you a cafe au latte.

It seems like a few years ago, the MAC was gaining respect by having good showings against the top big name teams and beating a good share of the middle ground teams. Yeah, every team wanted to win the MAC, but how much respect does it get you?

Toledo has a rediculous record at home. Only two losses since 2000, and one of those was to Big Ben. And, they've won the MAC more times than not. But.....they've been pounded quite a bit out of the conference. In 2004, they beat BG, NIU, and won the MAC. They also got creamed by Kansas, one of the worst teams in D-IA that year, and didn't even show up to the Motor City Bowl against UCONN, who only made it to a bowl game because they were bowl eligable and the Big Ten couldn't fulfill that bowl commitment.

Last year, Akron won the MAC. For the love... They got shut out by Army, 20-0. Now, I spent 6 years yelling Hooah! However, I know, just like every other Army guy, that Army's football team sucks. They squeaked into the MAC title game, even though anybody with any insight would agree that Miami and BG were both more deserving. And for some crazy reason, they had NIU's number, so they became the MAC champions. And with their new found respect, they got beat by Memphis (who finsihed the season 6-5 in a very weak Conference USA last year).

I could go on, but I know that I've already insulted your intelligence. I'm simply trying to articulate that the MAC championship has lost some if its luster for me. It has almost become a punch line.

I guess I think that the MAC champion should be somebody who not only does well in the conference, but somebody who kicks butt out of the conference too. When Toledo won the MAC after losing to the worst team in the Big 12, it suggested that the worst team in the Big 12 is better than the best team in the MAC. When Akron won the MAC and lost to Army and Memphis....well, you get the point.

All that said, I will admit that BG didn't do its part last year. I think we had in the few seasons prior, but that's another discussion. I guess my rambling has to lead itself toward Marshall. As much as we hate them, as does every other MAC team, they brought a lot of respect to the conference. Yeah, they won their share of the MAC titles, but they also handed a lot of big name teams their rear ends in the process.

The MAC, as a whole, needs to step it up. Otherwise, it won't matter who wins the MAC title to anybody. The excuse will always be, it is only the MAC.

And certainly speaking, I don't want BG to win the MAC in a year when the entire conference was a joke. I would rather BG be a tough team in a competitive conference. I would rather us have a year like we did in 2003, than win the MAC against a bunch of losers.

Okay, I apologize for being so negative. Here's hoping that our fears aren't realized this season.

Go Falcons!
And while I'm at it, everybody else in the MAC too!

I love my Falcons and the MAC overall for this matter, but I'd truly have to agree with your point! The truth hurts SOOOOOOOO BAD!

Flukes happen, especailly with divisions.

Akron won the MAC last year.

Marshall won the MAC in 2000.

Bowling Green won the MAC in 1982.

Things happen.

mmisbg wrote:I guess my rambling has to lead itself toward Marshall. As much as we hate them, as does every other MAC team, they brought a lot of respect to the conference. Yeah, they won their share of the MAC titles, but they also handed a lot of big name teams their rear ends in the process.

I do understand parts of what you're saying in general, but this one gets to me.

Marshall brought recognizability to the MAC, and maybe some respect ON THE FIELD... off the field, they were dirty lying cheaters, and will never have respect in my book. As for "handing a lot of big name teams their rear ends", from '97 to '04, they beat Clemson, S. Carolina and Kansas State. They also lost two straight to Troy State, and got molested in The Swamp. I call a push.

[they had NIU's number, so they became the MAC champions. And with their new found respect, they got beat by Memphis (who finsihed the season 6-5 in a very weak Conference USA last year).

I

ah just more reasons why there are tomany Bolw games for schools that have not earned them...
the bowl season is just pile of PC crap.
teh only bowls should be
1. Conference Championships
2. Playoffs among the conference Champions

The rest all mental masterbation of I vote this is team is the best in the world...blagh blagh...get on the field and prove it.

About Toledo and getting creamed by Kansas, Minnesota, and UCONN in 2004.

Kansas and Minny were at the start of the season with something like 15 true and redshirt freshman on the defensive 2-deep depth chart for UT. If we would have played BG and NIU in those first couple of games, they would have bitch-slapped us too.

The UCONN game was played without Scooter, essentially without Bruce, and even Lance Moore missed half the game with an injury. Again, BG and NIU would have bitch-slapped us if we would have played them without Scooter, Bruce, and Lance.


So our losses in 2004 make sense in regards to the team we had. To put it a way you might understand a little better.............Do you think that BG would have beat Miami last year if your defense was as young and inexperienced as it was early in the season in losses to Wisky and Boise State and a close win over Ball State?

ya i remember watching that uconn game, Toledo looked like a shadow of what they were during the season. It was one of those games where you watch and say, "wow they didn't show up tonight."

rocketfootball wrote:To put it a way you might understand a little better.............Do you think that BG would have beat Miami last year if your defense was as young and inexperienced as it was early in the season in losses to Wisky and Boise State and a close win over Ball State?

As long as there was a monsoon and a butter fingered punter, yes.

Its part of all of college football not just the MAC. Upsets happen for no real rhyme or reason and that is what makes the games so great. As for the MAC title being a joke nowadays? I say NO WAY! Just because more teams are capable of winning it does not mean the league suddenly got worse or less prestigous. Give credit to the pardity the MAC is now showing, and also give credit to Akron who beat a great NIU team fair and square!

jacojdm wrote:

rocketfootball wrote:To put it a way you might understand a little better.............Do you think that BG would have beat Miami last year if your defense was as young and inexperienced as it was early in the season in losses to Wisky and Boise State and a close win over Ball State?

As long as there was a monsoon and a butter fingered punter, yes.

Both teams had to play in that monsoon. And the chance that their punter has that bad of a problem ever again in his career is very slim.

That said, you were definitely the better team. Why was Miami even punting in the first place? Because your defense was stopping their offense.

rocketfootball,

I know it may not seem like it, but I'm on your side. I guess I didn't stress enough that I truely believe that UT was a much better football team than Kansas, UCONN, and now that you mention it Minnesota. Furthermore, I have no problems with UT. I may crack the occasional joke, but UT is a great school with a strong program. Anytime they are playing outside the conference, and usually when they aren't playing BG, I am rooting for them.

I guess my point is, we are not the Big 10. We are not going to get respect by beating each other. I think that it is undeniable that the conference as a whole has lost some respect in the past two years. It isn't as bad as it used to be, but I'd hate to see the conference be viewed as the "little big 10".

There are a lot of teams in the MAC that either are or should be on the way up. I guess I'm getting impatient.

I'll finish this with three things:

-Go Falcons!
-Go Toledo on August 31st!
-Go NIU on September 2nd!

WHO Is That guy ???

About Toledo and getting creamed by Kansas,

SEPTEMBER 15th on NATIONAL TELEVISION it will happen again!!!! Go Jayhawks!!!!

Falcons4Life wrote:

About Toledo and getting creamed by Kansas,

SEPTEMBER 15th on NATIONAL TELEVISION it will happen again!!!! Go Jayhawks!!!!

That's what Pittsburgh said the week before we hosted them in 2003, of course after they beat us pretty easily at Pitt in 2002.