(09-09-2018 05:32 PM)pono Wrote:  5) Carey will not be back at NIU in 2019. The guy can coach up a defense and run a program, but the total train wreck that offense and kicking game have become just kills them. Their D gave them a chance in 2 straight games vs good P5 teams, but the offense just can't figure anything out. Oline is not the problem. They can block people. There is just no passing game and they won't stick with the run enough to lean on their offensive strength.

(09-09-2018 05:38 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Kent will compete for the MAC West in a couple years? I will take that bet! Haha. Good points.

If the MAC looked like this would anyone be surprised rn?
EAST
9-3 UB
8-4 OU
6-6 AKRON
6-6 KENT
4-8 BG
3-9 MIAMI

WEST
9-3 TOLEDO
8-4 EMU
8-4 BSU
5-7 NIU
4-8 WMU
4-8 CMU

(09-09-2018 08:19 PM)pono Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 05:38 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Kent will compete for the MAC West in a couple years? I will take that bet! Haha. Good points.

If the MAC looked like this would anyone be surprised rn?
EAST
9-3 UB
8-4 OU
6-6 AKRON
6-6 KENT
4-8 BG
3-9 MIAMI

WEST
9-3 TOLEDO
8-4 EMU
8-4 BSU
5-7 NIU
4-8 WMU
4-8 CMU

I could see Toledo and emu surpassing those numbers who does NIU out score this year? Is 4 too high?

(09-09-2018 08:19 PM)pono Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 05:38 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Kent will compete for the MAC West in a couple years? I will take that bet! Haha. Good points.

If the MAC looked like this would anyone be surprised rn?
EAST
9-3 UB
8-4 OU
6-6 AKRON
6-6 KENT
4-8 BG
3-9 MIAMI

WEST
9-3 TOLEDO
8-4 EMU
8-4 BSU
5-7 NIU
4-8 WMU
4-8 CMU

I could see Toledo and emu surpassing those numbers who does NIU out score this year? Is 4 too high?

(09-09-2018 05:32 PM)pono Wrote:  1) EMU is here to stay under Chris Creighton. Lowly ranked recruits. New QB. No prototypical receivers. Bad location. Small fan base. Doesn't matter. This staff coaches these guys up. Love watching them play-fundamentals, toughness, heart, sportsmanship. This is how you win at a second tier MAC school. They may struggle to win the league over more talented teams, and will continue to play a lot of close games that could go either way, but EMU will be competitive as long as this staff is in place.

2) If they stay healthy Ball State will go bowling. From the get go I thought Neu was a good coach, but you had to wonder after averaging 3 wins his first 2 years. Chalk it up to bad luck and injuries. With a good QB and a clever passing game they are only limited by their lack of gamebreakers at receiver and rb. DC David Elson's schemes are gonna be studied very closely around the MAC. Typically, defensive line size, depth and talent is the biggest separation between P5 and MAC teams. Elson has developed a version of the pro 3-4 defense that is gonna push opposing offensive lines blocking rbs to account for pass rushers constantly coming from different angles and gaps. BSU isn't talent rich so a couple key injuries could sink them again, but the potential is there for a good year and long term success.

3) Toledo will repeat as MAC champs. Toledo has had one the best rosters and programs overall in the MAC for the pst 8 years, but NIU, WMU or another MAC team was usually as good or better. Now, Toledo has an even higher level of skill position talent and no other MAC program has the playmakers to match them. Rockets could still be beat on a bad night, but considering they had a nightmare season on injuries in 2017 and still won the league I don't see them dipping this season.

4) Sean Lewis will resurrect Kent and move on to a P5 job in few years. what was seen as a hopeless situation-thin roster, losing culture, no QB, no oline- has been flipped with great coaching, enthusiasm and strong stop gap recruiting. Give Lewis 2 or 3 years to fill out the roster and develop players and Kent will be challenging for the MAC West as long as he's there. The way that staff game planned to shut down one of FCS' top QBs this week was impressive. Baby Brother Newton has been unstoppable in 3 previous games vs FBS teams and Kent just put him in check.

5) Carey will not be back at NIU in 2019. The guy can coach up a defense and run a program, but the total train wreck that offense and kicking game have become just kills them. Their D gave them a chance in 2 straight games vs good P5 teams, but the offense just can't figure anything out. Oline is not the problem. They can block people. There is just no passing game and they won't stick with the run enough to lean on their offensive strength.

6) Tim Lester will not last beyond his contract at WMU. As an alum they will let the full term of the contract play out, but they have quickly become a poorly coached team in a year and a half under Lester. Yeah, good competition has made some things look worse, but they tackle poorly, drop balls, and put too much on a QB who is both an average runner and passer.

7) MAC East will be a log jam. Buffalo, Akron, Ohio and Kent are all very close and we could see something like 2 or 3 teams at 5-3 or 6-2 in MAC play and multiple late season games being crucial to the East title.

(09-09-2018 08:19 PM)pono Wrote:  who does NIU out score this year? Is 4 too high?

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

(09-13-2018 04:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

Carey is 13-17 in his last 30 games, including a loss to a 1-AA team and no wins over teams with winning records and 0-5 all-time in bowl games.

He's gone at the end of his contract this season.

(09-13-2018 05:34 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 04:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

Carey is 13-17 in his last 30 games, including a loss to a 1-AA team and no wins over teams with winning records and 0-5 all-time in bowl games.

He's gone at the end of his contract this season.

Honestly NIU needs to start scheduling smart. Why play 3 top 25 caliber teams just to get depleted before MAC play? Also a trend of 7 road games to 5 home games... Stupid for Kent State and stupid for NIU.

Quote:The Huskies originally had been scheduled to play Idaho in DeKalb, but gave up the home game for the guaranteed pay day from Florida State.

“As we endure a third year without a state budget in Illinois, these types of games will become more important,” NIU athletic director Sean T. Frazier said in a statement. “If the budget situation continues we will look at even more opportunities to go on the road for ‘buy’ games at the expense of home games as we continue to work to consistently fill Huskie Stadium.”

Frazier said the contract with Florida State was “motivated by the financial challenges our university if facing due to the lack of a state budget in Illinois.”

(09-12-2018 01:32 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 08:19 PM)pono Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 05:38 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Kent will compete for the MAC West in a couple years? I will take that bet! Haha. Good points.

If the MAC looked like this would anyone be surprised rn?
EAST
9-3 UB
8-4 OU
6-6 AKRON
6-6 KENT
4-8 BG
3-9 MIAMI

WEST
9-3 TOLEDO
8-4 EMU
8-4 BSU
5-7 NIU
4-8 WMU
4-8 CMU

I could see Toledo and emu surpassing those numbers who does NIU out score this year? Is 4 too high?

NIu still probably wins the West because their defense is so far beyond anyone else , but yea that offense is shaky

(09-13-2018 06:35 AM)utpotts Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 01:32 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  NIU still probably wins the West because their defense is so far beyond anyone else , but yea that offense is shaky

The same defense that gave up 33 to a mediocre Iowa offense? Ok................

(09-13-2018 06:35 AM)utpotts Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 01:32 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 08:19 PM)pono Wrote:  

(09-09-2018 05:38 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Kent will compete for the MAC West in a couple years? I will take that bet! Haha. Good points.

If the MAC looked like this would anyone be surprised rn?
EAST
9-3 UB
8-4 OU
6-6 AKRON
6-6 KENT
4-8 BG
3-9 MIAMI

WEST
9-3 TOLEDO
8-4 EMU
8-4 BSU
5-7 NIU
4-8 WMU
4-8 CMU

I could see Toledo and emu surpassing those numbers who does NIU out score this year? Is 4 too high?

NIu still probably wins the West because their defense is so far beyond anyone else , but yea that offense is shaky

The same defense that gave up 33 to a mediocre Iowa offense? Ok................

(09-13-2018 06:32 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 05:34 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 04:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

Carey is 13-17 in his last 30 games, including a loss to a 1-AA team and no wins over teams with winning records and 0-5 all-time in bowl games.

He's gone at the end of his contract this season.

Honestly NIU needs to start scheduling smart. Why play 3 top 25 caliber teams just to get depleted before MAC play? Also a trend of 7 road games to 5 home games... Stupid for Kent State and stupid for NIU.

It comes down to money. We cancelled the Idaho game this year so we could play Florida State for $1.6 million.

Another key factor is NIU's total enrollment decline over the last 12 years. Enrollment numbers are down at many public universities in Illinois. NIU had over 25,000 students in the mid-2000s when i went there. This year's total enrollment is just over 17,000 students. A loss of 8,000 students x $500 athletic fee per year is $4 million. Combine this $4 million loss in the budget with decreasing attendance ever since the MAC and ESPN agreed to more and more weekday games and that's a huge hit to our athletic department.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-northern-illinois-football-florida-state-2018-20170413-story.html

Quote:The Huskies originally had been scheduled to play Idaho in DeKalb, but gave up the home game for the guaranteed pay day from Florida State.

“As we endure a third year without a state budget in Illinois, these types of games will become more important,” NIU athletic director Sean T. Frazier said in a statement. “If the budget situation continues we will look at even more opportunities to go on the road for ‘buy’ games at the expense of home games as we continue to work to consistently fill Huskie Stadium.”

Frazier said the contract with Florida State was “motivated by the financial challenges our university if facing due to the lack of a state budget in Illinois.”

(09-13-2018 07:45 AM)cleveland Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 06:32 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 05:34 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 04:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

Carey is 13-17 in his last 30 games, including a loss to a 1-AA team and no wins over teams with winning records and 0-5 all-time in bowl games.

He's gone at the end of his contract this season.

Honestly NIU needs to start scheduling smart. Why play 3 top 25 caliber teams just to get depleted before MAC play? Also a trend of 7 road games to 5 home games... Stupid for Kent State and stupid for NIU.

It comes down to money. We cancelled the Idaho game this year so we could play Florida State for $1.6 million.

Another key factor is NIU's total enrollment decline over the last 12 years. Enrollment numbers are down at many public universities in Illinois. NIU had over 25,000 students in the mid-2000s when i went there. This year's total enrollment is just over 17,000 students. A loss of 8,000 students x $500 athletic fee per year is $4 million. Combine this $4 million loss in the budget with decreasing attendance ever since the MAC and ESPN agreed to more and more weekday games and that's a huge hit to our athletic department.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-northern-illinois-football-florida-state-2018-20170413-story.html

Quote:The Huskies originally had been scheduled to play Idaho in DeKalb, but gave up the home game for the guaranteed pay day from Florida State.

“As we endure a third year without a state budget in Illinois, these types of games will become more important,” NIU athletic director Sean T. Frazier said in a statement. “If the budget situation continues we will look at even more opportunities to go on the road for ‘buy’ games at the expense of home games as we continue to work to consistently fill Huskie Stadium.”

Frazier said the contract with Florida State was “motivated by the financial challenges our university if facing due to the lack of a state budget in Illinois.”

This constant complaining about midweek games is getting a bit old. First ... arguably no team in the MAC benefitted from the midweek exposure when this began as much as the Huskies.

Second, you're talking at most two November home games (one road) during the worst weather time of the season ... if teams haven't gotten their average attendance in the books by then, they are not going to get it at all.

And even if these stadiums were half full on a blessed Saturday afternoon (which most aren't), 1.5-million watching on TV vs. 15,000 in the stands is some pretty easy math.

Something must be good about it, considering just about every conference and the NFL have all gone to mid-week games w/o a lot of complaining about lost attendance.

(09-13-2018 07:45 AM)cleveland Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 06:32 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 05:34 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 04:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 06:12 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  5.) Carey will be back next year at NIU. Their fans underrate him.

Carey is 13-17 in his last 30 games, including a loss to a 1-AA team and no wins over teams with winning records and 0-5 all-time in bowl games.

He's gone at the end of his contract this season.

Honestly NIU needs to start scheduling smart. Why play 3 top 25 caliber teams just to get depleted before MAC play? Also a trend of 7 road games to 5 home games... Stupid for Kent State and stupid for NIU.

It comes down to money. We cancelled the Idaho game this year so we could play Florida State for $1.6 million.

Another key factor is NIU's total enrollment decline over the last 12 years. Enrollment numbers are down at many public universities in Illinois. NIU had over 25,000 students in the mid-2000s when i went there. This year's total enrollment is just over 17,000 students. A loss of 8,000 students x $500 athletic fee per year is $4 million. Combine this $4 million loss in the budget with decreasing attendance ever since the MAC and ESPN agreed to more and more weekday games and that's a huge hit to our athletic department.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-northern-illinois-football-florida-state-2018-20170413-story.html

Quote:The Huskies originally had been scheduled to play Idaho in DeKalb, but gave up the home game for the guaranteed pay day from Florida State.

“As we endure a third year without a state budget in Illinois, these types of games will become more important,” NIU athletic director Sean T. Frazier said in a statement. “If the budget situation continues we will look at even more opportunities to go on the road for ‘buy’ games at the expense of home games as we continue to work to consistently fill Huskie Stadium.”

Frazier said the contract with Florida State was “motivated by the financial challenges our university if facing due to the lack of a state budget in Illinois.”

This constant complaining about midweek games is getting a bit old. First ... arguably no team in the MAC benefitted from the midweek exposure when this began as much as the Huskies.

Second, you're talking at most two November home games (one road) during the worst weather time of the season ... if teams haven't gotten their average attendance in the books by then, they are not going to get it at all.

And even if these stadiums were half full on a blessed Saturday afternoon (which most aren't), 1.5-million watching on TV vs. 15,000 in the stands is some pretty easy math.

Something must be good about it, considering just about every conference and the NFL have all gone to mid-week games w/o a lot of complaining about lost attendance.