Western Michigan

[Schadenfreude]

It would be really nice to have another MAC school, other than Toledo, to make another undefeated run next season to keep the MAC on the radar.

FIFY.

+1

[zete]

As the MACC wore on...was I the only one who started sorta hoping for Ohio to actually pull off the upset?

Would have been a nice moment for the maligned East anyway.

Funny, but a part of me was rooting for them too. I think Solich is probably the better coach and at 72 years old what a nice win it would have been for he, the MAC East, and all of SE Ohio.

[Schadenfreude]

Any time the MAC can put a team (other than Toledo) in a New Year's Day bowl game, I'm going to cheer for that.

But we all must respect what Solich has done in Athens. That program was a mess before he got there.

[Falconfreak90]

Why spend so much money on a sport you have little if any chance at a national level even if you go undefeated.

Because this is football and Bowling Green is in Ohio. We have as much tradition in this sport as just about any we play except maybe hockey or women's basketball.

I don't share this negativity at all. You can dwell on the fact that Western Michigan almost didn't get this Cotton Bowl berth. I'll point to the fact that they did, and this is the second MAC school in five seasons to do it.

Put simply: This is the most equity we've ever had. Ten years ago, it was basically impossible for a MAC team to get a shot at a New Year's Day Bowl, no matter what it did on the field. It was just as true ten years ago as it was in Doyt Perry's day. So this is progress. Big time. Western Michigan, the No. 12 AP team, is getting a legit chance to play their way deep into the Top 10, territory no MAC school has ever gone before.

Is this four-team so-called "playoff" unfair? Yeah. It's garbage, hardly worthy of the name. Just ask any Penn State or Michigan fan today.

At some point, though, reform will happen again. This current system will make enough enemies that the playoff will be expanded. Whenever that happens, we will have another chance to potentially get even closer to equity -- meaning, doing it the way it is done at every other level of college football, and give all conference champions a shot at a national title in a true playoff.

In the meantime: Let's keep playing football. The Falcons stunk in 2016, but but, overall, we have one of the best football programs in the MAC. We aren't that far away from competing again for MAC championships; Ohio only beat us by a score or two, after all. Let's get back to playing in Detroit, and then see how far we can take this thing.

In a few years, it could be our Falcons in the Cotton Bowl, trying to play our way into the Top 10. It could happen. Just look at Western Michigan or Northern Illinois.

110% agree with everything you wrote, SF. GO FALCONS!!! Only 270 days til we open the season at home vs South Dakota.

[Flipper]

W/o looking it up...name the G5 teams that have made it to a New Year's bowl. It's really not that big of a prize outside of a bigger payout for your conference

[gmartin]

I'm going to say the obvious. Boise, Houston, UCF, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

Pulling straws here maybe BYU, Marshall and Cincinnati.

[gmartin]

And depending on how far back you want to go Utah and TCU

[MarkL]

I heard a rumor from the Michigan folks that the big dollar donors in Kalamazoo have opened their wallets. There is a ... get this ... $30 million / 10 year offer on the table for Fleck to stay.

Wow. Talk about standard bearer for the conference.

[zete]

I heard a rumor from the Michigan folks that the big dollar donors in Kalamazoo have opened their wallets. There is a ... get this ... $30 million / 10 year offer on the table for Fleck to stay.

Wow. Talk about standard bearer for the conference.

That is crazy and a bar the rest of the conference could not possibly measure up to. What really seems crazy is that maybe he would have stayed anyway. I understand he has not one, but three small children living in the K'zoo area.
Hollywood should should pick up on this guy and his hectic life.

[Flipper]

I'm going to say the obvious. Boise, Houston, UCF, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

Pulling straws here maybe BYU, Marshall and Cincinnati.

I think that's on the money...but you don't count because you're anal about this kind of stuff

I don;'t think any of them were ranked above #12 though...and the bowl eposure hasn't been "life changing" for any of them

[Redwingtom]

This is sort of an odd off season as well. Outside of the Purdue job (which was only slightly practical to begin with), there wasn't really a practical fit for PJ this year. And there aren't that many openings either.

So you're really left with Houston and Cincinnati. And I don't see those as all that much of a step up from what he's already accomplished at WMU.

So it might be more of a no better fit situation than the money that might get sent his way. And he's already the highest paid in the MAC by far if memory serves.

[footballguy51]

I'm going to say the obvious. Boise, Houston, UCF, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

Pulling straws here maybe BYU, Marshall and Cincinnati.

I think that's on the money...but you don't count because you're anal about this kind of stuff

I don;'t think any of them were ranked above #12 though...and the bowl eposure hasn't been "life changing" for any of them

Hawaii also went.

[MarkL]

If I'm the Cincinnati AD I call in Fleck. In the interview room I have pictures of three people - Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly, and Butch Jones. As a long time Bearcats fan, I'd love to see Fleck take over. As a MAC fan, I hope he stays. Having a top candidate coach in the conference is a good thing for everybody.

[OSUFALCON]

Fleck to Norte Dame next year!

[Flipper]

It would be complete insanty to pay a MAC coach 3 mil a year. Waldo seats 30k...unless you start selling out every game @ 25-30 a ticket, I don't see it being feasible...