MAC looks at expansion

[Sidejudge]

From a report at AnnArbor.com:

Eastern Michigan University athletic director Derrick Gragg wouldn’t be surprised if the Mid-American Conference issues invitations to one or two institutions to join the MAC in the near future.
“I think the MAC is going to try to extend invitations to one or two institutions in the next year or two,” he said.
Talking to the EMU Board of Regents Athletic Affairs Committee this afternoon, Gragg said current MAC members will be attending a retreat Oct. 11 to 13 to discuss various issues, including the shifting national collegiate sports landscape and what moves the MAC needs to make.


He said he hopes to learn more about any expansion plans during that meeting.
During his report, Gragg touched on the struggles of the Western Athletic Conference, which has been losing members.
That could result in the conference ranking for the WAC dropping and mean an increase in overall conference ranking for the MAC.
Gragg did not speculate on any members that might be added to the MAC or, at least, invited.
In addition he said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Temple University, which is on a two-year, football-only deal to leave for another conference at the end of its agreement.
A number of conferences shifted members over the summer, including the announcement that Nebraska will join the Big Ten.
Gragg said he would report back to the regents any news he could talk about in future meetings.
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 734-623-2534.

[NWLB]

We need another Bowling Green in the conference.

Won't shock me, but I think the shifting sands are going to cause a few programs with 1A aspirations to finally make a jump, rather than get left without a dance partner later.

[falconfan1999]

Not a shock, but I hope that the MAC institutions make serious, long term commitments to maintain and upgrade their facilities. BG has done a lot over the last few years, but that still doesn't make up for decades of neglect.

As far as other schools go, Western Kentucky would be a great fit, as would Western or Southern Illinois. Geographically, Marshall made a lot of sense to be in the MAC, as does Temple. Hopefully we don't get a Youngstown St. move up.

Wouldn't it be great to hear about a few MAC schools bringing their club hockey programs to D-1. Eastern Michigan had a great club hockey team in the 90's. I believe Kent as one as well. That way we could be proactive about the Big 10 teams leaving the CCHA.

[NWLB]

The hockey issue becomes interesting with Penn. State moving to D1 and legitimate talk of a Big Ten conference hockey division.

[Falcon137]

The only 1AA football school making a jump to the MAC and 1A would be App State. Villanova, UMass, and Richmond all have their ties in good basketball leagues, I don't see a scenario where those schools come to the MAC.

I would like to see Army join.

[doughash]

Kent State was D-1 in hockey for a few years but couldn't cut it financially. I doubt that any other MAC school is in good enough shape moneywise to launch a D-1 hockey program.

[transfer2BGSU]

Kent State was D-1 in hockey for a few years but couldn't cut it financially.

Are you sure about that, because when I read the hockey thread, it was my understanding from the Internet gurus that Dr. Cartwright cut hockey because she didn't like it.

[Class of 61]

Kent State was D-1 in hockey for a few years but couldn't cut it financially.

Are you sure about that, because when I read the hockey thread, it was my understanding from the Internet gurus that Dr. Cartwright cut hockey because she didn't like it.

We'd have to ask Dr. Cartwright if that was the case...but there was a BIG"Hazing" incident that probably led to all this too.

[NWLB]

We'd have to ask Dr. Cartwright if that was the case...but there was a BIG"Hazing" incident that probably led to all this too.

She was hazing the players?

[highflyinfalcon]

What's wrong with ysu going 1a?

[Falcon137]

What's wrong with ysu going 1a?

Good call. If they went 1A I'm sure they would jump ship from the Horizon league and become a full member.

[MarkL]

What's wrong with ysu going 1a?

We've already got both Kent State and Akron in NE Ohio. No need for three MAC teams in NE Ohio. And we've already got six MAC teams in Ohio. Adding yet another would spread the MAC level talent in the state thinner.

[Champ009kd]

Whoa there...I'm sure I cant be the only one who feels this way, but I wouldn't mind seeing the entire MAC drop to 1-aa/FCS. The college football landscape is not favorable for schools like BG. Why not cut our losses, move to FCS and compete for titles?

Attendance would probably benefit as well. Bg vs Miami would mean a lot more when a playoff appearance is on the line.

Am I a fool for feeling this way?

[NWLB]

Whoa there...I'm sure I cant be the only one who feels this way, but I wouldn't mind seeing the entire MAC drop to 1-aa/FCS. The college football landscape is not favorable for schools like BG. Why not cut our losses, move to FCS and compete for titles?

Attendance would probably benefit as well. Bg vs Miami would mean a lot more when a playoff appearance is on the line.

Am I a fool for feeling this way?

Blah blah blah, compete for titles, blah blah blah.

Not attacking you, but people have tossed this idea out for years. The problem remains one of why "titles" are somehow the "be all" of playing on the level BGSU does? Likewise, if the MAC drops to 1AA, how many years until we are just another one of a big pool of exiles who are lucky to ever win a "title." BGSU can't even win the MAC right now, why does anybody think it is a given that national titles will fall like rain?

Personally I don't live with any delusion about BGSU ever winning a national title in football, and bluntly I think it is an insane pipe-dream to kvetch about inequities of the BCS, given how totally nuts it is to ponder winning their title.

This is about winning the games, winning the league, beating Toledo, and maybe, if the match is right, enjoying a viable post-season game. And dropping down to a lesser grade of football, just for the equally pointless chase for second-rate national titles doesn't appeal to me.

If they were to want to drop to 1AA, I'd rather see them shut the entire football program down, and dump the money into hockey.

[Champ009kd]

Well stated NWLB, but I still stand by my points. I mean is 3/4 of the MAC is going to play like, and lose to fcs schools...