(04-17-2018 09:23 AM)Fthechips Wrote: (04-16-2018 03:52 PM)slhNavy91 Wrote: (04-16-2018 12:21 PM)Fthechips Wrote: (04-16-2018 12:17 PM)Tigersmoke4 Wrote: (04-16-2018 11:55 AM)Fthechips Wrote:
In the past 2 years a MAC team made it ti the NY6 bowl.
And you guys never show the MAC any respect. 
WHAT an odd statement. I didn't know that the AAC fans on the AAC board talking AAC issues were obligated to stroking some random Mac fans ego.
Not an odd statement at all, all I ever hear is how the AAC is leagues above the MAC in every category. And then I happen to come across this comment.
No it's odd.
First, let's look at Fishpro's whole statement: "They had a chance to build up their program in the MAC but they declined all sports in favor of A-10 BB and Olympics. I think it was a mistake. They are foundering in independence with no relevance. In the past 2 years a MAC team made it ti the NY6 bowl. UMASS will never get there as an independent." That's pretty straightforward - UMass' status as independent takes them out of any running to be the highest ranked conference champ in one of the five FBS conferences without a contract with a NY6 bowl. Army will never get the NY6 bid as an independent. Navy wasn't going to get it in 2014.
As of 4 December 2016, Western Michigan was the champion from those five conferences which was highest ranked by the College Football Playoff Committee. They won the Cotton Bowl bid. That's kind of historical fact. I don't think anyone here has ever said that's not true.
That fact is in no way mutually exclusive of the fact that AAC is STILL head and shoulders above the MAC. WMU got to that bowl but lost. And got the worst NY6 bowl game ratings. And the worst attendance. 2013 UCF won the Fiesta Bowl. 2015 Houston won the Peach Bowl. 2017 UCF won the Peach Bowl*. All three of those games had better attendance and better ratings than the MAC's one brief shining moment. (Boise's Fiesta Bowl was #3 of 5 in both attendance and viewers, but interestingly different AAC team was #4 in the two categories.) Three bids is more than one. Two different schools is more than one. 11.3 million and 8.4 million and 5.6 million are more than 5.4 million. 71,109 and 71,007 and 65,172 are more than 59,615. 5.4 million makes TV executives sad, and 59,615 makes bowl committee executives sad.
*Footnote: and was ranked #1 by an NCAA-recognized "major selector" afterwards, making their claimed national championship legitimate as like many, many claimed by schools from bigger name conferences
I’m not arguing that the MAC is better than AAC, of course not. I’m just simply stating that the MAC does do some good things from time to time. Just go look at WMUs recruiting class this year for football, it’s ahead of a lot of the AAC schools, and so is Toledo’s. As for attendance at those bowl games, of course, look at UCFs enrollment and then go look at WMU enrollment.
I think that the MAC has a lot going for it.
- A lot of years of history, and some long-standing rivalries.
- Genesis of a LOT of good coaches - the whole conference, not just one "cradle."
- Good tight geographic footprint. Travel time/costs is an overwrought discussion point for FBS football and often MBB, but that's solid for all other sports.
- Definite regional connections, including connections and scheduling with "Power" conference schools in state (that comes with some cost - can cement "little brother" perception)
- MACtion is a definite brand. First, you are identified with two nights of the week in November and get the ESPN/ESPN2 airtime for it (again, some cost comes with in the tradeoff of attendance)
- MACtion is also idenitified with fun offensive football
It is absolutely EASY to agree with you that the MAC does good things from time to time.
"MAC has a lot going for it" and "MAC does good things from time to time" can be true in the same reality where it is true that the AAC's P6 narrative of separation from the G4 conferences is defensible by data.
WMU Cotton Bowl is a good thing - and the AAC is or has separated from the G4s in NY6 Access Bowls: wins, attendance, ratings.
WMU/Toledo 2018 recruiting was good - and it actually highlights that the AAC as a conference is way better, top to bottom.
Depending on which service you look at, MAC's #1 would be 3rd or 5th in the AAC; MAC's #2 would be 6th. In 2017 MAC's #1-#3 would have been 6th, 8th, 10th in the AAC. Meanwhile, the AAC's WORST would be above the median line in the MAC. Your top two struggle to break into the AAC top half, AAC worst is in your top half.
Same is true of other G4 conferences, too, this isn't MAC-slamming. From the mwc, Boise would be as high as 2nd in recruiting in the AAC...and the mwc's next three would be around 6th, 7th, 8th
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UMass positioning themselves to be in the AAC, apparently
