1. Missouri State (78 points, 6 FPV)
2. WMU (75 points, 3 FPV)
3. Bowling Green (55 points)
4. Evansville (50 points)
5. Belmont (41 points)
6. UIC (35 points)
7. Drake (34 points)
8. Northern Illinois (25 points)
9. Bradley (12 points)

I’m glad we’re in the Missouri Valley Conference now. The MAC was too unstable with so few participating schools and a hodgepodge of fill ins.

(08-17-2023 09:54 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  1. Missouri State (78 points, 6 FPV)
2. WMU (75 points, 3 FPV)
3. Bowling Green (55 points)
4. Evansville (50 points)
5. Belmont (41 points)
6. UIC (35 points)
7. Drake (34 points)
8. Northern Illinois (25 points)
9. Bradley (12 points)

I’m glad we’re in the Missouri Valley Conference now. The MAC was too unstable with so few participating schools and a hodgepodge of fill ins.

It would have been nicer if the MAC was proactive and asked them to join the MAC for soccer.

Yes, that's a good, competitive soccer conference, whether under the MAC or MVC banner.

Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Wow! I thought for sure Western would be picked near the bottom. This is supposed to be a good conference.

I think it'd be nice if the MAC full-members were more uniform in the sports they field. When they're not, it becomes a mess.

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

I assume if the MAC got two additional men's soccer programs, it would again start fielding soccer under its own banner. The auto-bid would come eventually, although there might be a couple years of waiting.

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The answer is, yes, most likely. Two more programs would give the MAC six programs overall, the minimum required to secure an NCAA auto bid.

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The full-time MAC membership was bare bones for a long time, so we plugged in various affiliates like WVU, GA State, GA Southern, Kentucky, Hartwick, Chicago State, etc., over the years in order to reach six, but those schools soon eventually bolted to new leagues and the MAC was forced to dissolve with only four members.

The MVC at least feels like it'll provide some year to year stability.

I'm not sure if how much blame the MAC front office gets if more MAC schools aren't interested in fielding teams. I suppose the MAC could sponsor it again if we got commitments from 3 member schools.

(08-18-2023 08:59 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The answer is, yes, most likely. Two more programs would give the MAC six programs overall, the minimum required to secure an NCAA auto bid.

I'm thinking Akron wouldn't come back regardless?

I'll echo what others are saying, though: I do think it's a shame the MAC doesn't continue with its own soccer lineup. It was small but at times mighty.

(08-18-2023 09:15 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I'm thinking Akron wouldn't come back regardless?

Probably not. They will have a harder time winning conference championships since they went to a better soccer conference.

Preseason polls have Akron picked 5th overall out of 12-team conference.

https://www.bigeast.com/news/2023/8/15/c...polls.aspx

(08-18-2023 09:15 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:59 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The answer is, yes, most likely. Two more programs would give the MAC six programs overall, the minimum required to secure an NCAA auto bid.

I'm thinking Akron wouldn't come back regardless?

Motown, I'm quite sure if the MAC sponsors men's soccer, then Akron as a full member of the conference, would be required to compete in the MAC.

(08-18-2023 10:38 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 09:15 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:59 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Sad to see how the MAC let one of their best sports leagues (with their only national champion, Akron) dissolve. This really could have been a sport the league made a mark in..... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. Sure the MVC is decent, but the MAC had so much success, if the conference had better leadership, this never would have happened.

Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The answer is, yes, most likely. Two more programs would give the MAC six programs overall, the minimum required to secure an NCAA auto bid.

I'm thinking Akron wouldn't come back regardless?

Motown, I'm quite sure if the MAC sponsors men's soccer, then Akron as a full member of the conference, would be required to compete in the MAC.

You're right. Kinda like B1G hockey. Once the conference officially sponsors it, everyone heads "home" so to speak.

Huh! I didn't even realize the MAC did away with men's soccer. Shows how much I pay attention to that sport! LOL

(08-18-2023 10:38 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 09:15 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:59 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-18-2023 08:39 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Never remember an answer to this question, but if the MAC did expand with 2 teams with men's soccer, would the sport return to the MAC and will it also get the auto-bid.

The answer is, yes, most likely. Two more programs would give the MAC six programs overall, the minimum required to secure an NCAA auto bid.

I'm thinking Akron wouldn't come back regardless?

Motown, I'm quite sure if the MAC sponsors men's soccer, then Akron as a full member of the conference, would be required to compete in the MAC.

Correct, NCAA rules prohibit you from playing in another conference if your core conference sponsors the sport. At this point, even if the MAC added two schools that sponsored the sport, the conference could still decide not to sponsor it. I see a world where Akron would be vehemently against the MAC sponsoring the sport now that they have placed their program in the Big East for men's soccer.

Not excited to see anything MVC-related on this board. Hope the MAC goes back to in-house soon for soccer somehow.

I'd love to see Toledo add a men's soccer program, and help bring back the MAC.

(08-18-2023 08:19 AM)astr083 Wrote:  ... Instead all of the teams are taking steps down to play in not so great leagues. ...

Akron would likely disagree with you, there. The Big East soccer competition is a step up from the MAC.

And if you remove Akron, the MVC isn't really a step down for the other schools.

Checking in on the "MAC Alumni"...

#3 Akron
9-0-4 (2-0-2 Big East)
next game @ Xavier

WMU
8-1-3 (2-0-1 MVC)
next game vs. Drake

Bowling Green
5-4-3 (2-1 MVC)
next game @ Belmont

NIU
3-6-1 (0-2-1 MVC)
next game vs. Bradley