Wallace out at Temple after this season

[1987alum]

I wish we could get a school out east to pair up with Temple -- it could make an all-sports situation easier to handle for all concerned. But there are no rumors on that; it's just sort of a wish on my part.

I've always been a proponnent of the service academies out East joining the MAC.

DD:

I believe the MAC has extended that invitation and been told, politely, thanks but no thanks.

[It's the Journey...]

Actually WKU is a university that BGSU benchmarks its self against. They would be a great fit to the MAC in all areas, including academics. I think Temple is a terrible choice and always have. Academically they fit, But their football team is terrible and has been for most of the recent past. And that is all the MAC is getting. If Temple were to join and bring everything with them then I would have no problem, but they aren't. Middle Tennessee is anouther good fit for the MAC, plut we would bring in an established rivalry in WKU/MTSU. That is a win/win for everyone. But that would leave us with 15 teams in football. And since that is the only sport where we truely hold to the divisional idea there would be two options. First, split to three divisions and that would be a mess. Or second, add a 16th school and maintain two 8 school divisions. I personally, and am a little biased, would like to see Illinois State considered. Academically we benchmark agains them. They started out quite similar to BGSU, ie teacher training school. This would create a nice in-state rival for Northern Illinois. And their teams have done quite well in the past. Their biggest hurdle would be football and the MAC would help their recruiting. They play in a 15,000 seat football stadium and that could go to 25,000 easily. This addition would also play into the whole MID AMERICAN part of the MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE.

[1987alum]

Actually WKU is a university that BGSU benchmarks its self against.

I can say, without hesitation, that this is the first time I have ever heard that. Can you elaborate, please?

They would be a great fit to the MAC in all areas, including academics.

Really? How so? They do not have the same commitment to graduate studies as BGSU as shown above. So clearly the do not fit the MAC in all areas, espcially certain academic areas that the university presidents find quite important.

I think Temple is a terrible choice and always have. Academically they fit, But their football team is terrible and has been for most of the recent past.

Academically, they fit ... and that's one of the main benchmarks the university presidents use when analyzing potential members.

If Temple were to join and bring everything with them then I would have no problem, but they aren't.

Yet.

Middle Tennessee is anouther good fit for the MAC, plut we would bring in an established rivalry in WKU/MTSU. That is a win/win for everyone

Geographically, great fit. Athletically, not a bad fit, especially if WKU is added. But let's bring the idea back to the litmus test being used by the folks making the decision on admission (the university presidents) - academics. MTSU falls in between MAC schools and WKU, though it definitely leans toward WKU. PhDs in three fields and two D.A. degrees.

FWIW, I believe that MTSU and the MAC had some initial discussions, but that the school has decided to sit tight for now.

I personally, and am a little biased, would like to see Illinois State considered.

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard them mentioned. Geographically, they make sense, of course, and they are about the right size. Academically ... they offer only seven or so doctorates, mostly education-related and about 30 masters degrees.

Football-wise, you're bringing in a I-AA team that went 2-5 last year, 6-6 in 2003 and 6-5 in 2002. Not exactly top shelf ... at the I-AA level. The other question - are they interested in moving up to I-A in football? Souther Illinois has made it clear they are not.

[Schadenfreude]

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a pretty standard way of looking at universities.

The categories that concern us are:

Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive: Award 50 or more doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.

Doctoral/Research Universities—Intensive: Awarded at least ten doctoral degrees per year across three or more disciplines, or at least 20 doctoral degrees per year overall.

Master's Colleges and Universities I: Award 40 or more master's degrees per year across three or more disciplines.

Bowling Green is a doctoral intensive institution. That's pretty typical for the MAC. Buffalo is an example of a doctoral extensive institution, which is the standard for the Big Ten.

Eastern Michigan is the only Masters I in the MAC; all other members are either doctoral intensive or extensive. Marshall was Masters I; Western Kentucky would be.

By some measures, Western Kentucky is a very good university. But this is one way of looking at it that will matter to the presidents.

[1987alum]

Schadenfreude:

Thanks. I should save the explanation!

[TG1996]

Marshall was Masters I;

Heh. I always thought they were "Second Grade-Intensive: Institution shows great promise that students can color within the lines 80% of the time, and soon may not have to use the three-lined paper to write their names in cursive."

Apparently, I was mistaken.