Temple in the MAC, BG in East or West - Blade article

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:31 am

Brandon also talks about his concern being whether BG is in the East or West next year.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /-1/SPORTS

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:38 am

Has it ever been discussed here about getting the Military academies out of C-USA and into the MAC?

Navy and Army are both located near large Metro areas with strong TV coverage, plus the annual Army-Navy game.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:43 am

Tech83:

I've been mulling over whether to post that idea or not, because I've heard faint rumblings about that possibility.

CharlotteFalcon · Post by **CharlotteFalcon** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:49 am

My thoughts on this are pretty simple. I DO NOT WANT TEMPLE!! Let them be an indpendent for all I care, but I DON'T want them for football or any sport for that matter.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:50 am

I think there was talk of Navy being asked to join the MAC but I don't think they were interested.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:09 pm

The real news is the talk of the Membership Standards plan, which is being discussed. That is more vital of the MACs future than tossing a life preserver to Temple.

I think no matter which division BG is in, we are going to have a tough road to travel.

I like the rivalry with NIU a lot. That is a prime-time game now, and I don't see that ending just because we are either in the east or not playing every year. I also wouldn't want the MAC scheduling us with them every year if we were in the east.

Likewise, I suppose we have to play UT every year, but I don't like having to play for the east title, and always having UT factor into that. I also don't like always having to play the UT game around Thanksgiving. At least as a divisional game it is fitting.

I do think the east teams have more tradition than the west division. Miami, Ohio, Kent, and even Akron are more traditional games than the west can present. BGSU can also gain in home attendance if we can whip up alumni in the Cleveland and Columbus with games at Akron, Kent, and Miami. There have been years where turnout at KSU and UA have been huge, that can bleed over into home games if we do it right.

Ultimately, I think the MAC has to eliminate geographic divisions in total. I don't think the NCAA has any rule that requires divisions to be created along some line on a map.

I would suggest what we talked about on MACsports back in 1996.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/MACsports/
We should spread the teams over two divisions, and rotate members between them on a set, predictable basis.

I do think they need to actively spread the weak teams out.

I think they should even reduce the number of cross-division games and encourage more OOC games. This would help reduce fracticide within the MAC ranks, and squeeze other conferences out of OOC games.

goBG · Post by **goBG** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:48 pm

I do not see a problem with Temple joining the MAC. I say we need more teams since we are losing two. Also, yeah Temple looks bad but they are in the Big East. I bet half the schools in the MAC this year would not do much better than Temple in that conference. Some do not want Temple because of their horrible team, but sadly this year half the MAC is horrible. Eastern, Western, Ball St., Central, Kent are some examples of teams in the MAC that would not do much better being in Temple's shoes.

ironmikecw · Post by **ironmikecw** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:50 pm

If Temple is a football only school we don't need them. I don't see Temple getting out of the A-10 in basketball

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:52 pm

Maybe, but WMU, BSU, Central, Kent, actually all of the MAC save for UB have had better seasons recent years than Temple has in any of them.

If Temple wants to bring its basketball team and play with us, well maybe I'll have to think about it.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:03 pm

I really wish the MAC would give up this flirtation with Temple. This is coming from someone very close to the school - Temple will bring nothing to the MAC. It will NOT help the conference. Period.

Forget about Temple.

Please.

goBG · Post by **goBG** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:56 pm

Yes Temple will not help this conference but name one good team that would want to join the MAC. With the way the MAC teams have been playing this year it would be almost impossible to get a good team to join. I say the more teams the better. Yeah BG and Toledo blew Temple out of the water but BG and Toledo do that to most of the schools in the MAC. So saying since BG and Toledo killed Temple isn't saying much because look at the other MAC games BG has played this year. Besides NIU, BG has killed everyone. I hate to say it but Toledo has done the same. So a team that would help the MAC is hard to come by unless Conf USA would break up. No team from Sun Belt or I-AA would help and no other team in the country is moving conferences soon. So BG should take Temple because it is rare that a team would want to join the MAC. If no one wants Temple then who do you want that would even come to the MAC?