(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

Northern Michigan was featured on a tv show called Campus PD. I may not call them a small city, but big enough to be D1. The CEO of Starbucks is an alumni. He could be their sugardaddy for them to go D1.

(06-05-2018 06:53 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

That is correct. Current D1 school Tennessee Tech is 8 1/2 hours from WMU, while Michigan Tech is 9 hours away (and that is summer weather with the MAC open. TTU's enrollment is twice that of MTU's, and surrounding area population is double as well


Double or nothing on the first question?

(06-05-2018 06:54 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Michigan was featured on a tv show called Campus PD. I may not call them a small city, but big enough to be D1. The CEO of Starbucks is an alumni. He could be their sugardaddy for them to go D1.

I wouldn't trust Howard Schultz handling athletic programs after he screwed over Seattle and the Sonics.

(06-05-2018 07:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:53 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

That is correct. Current D1 school Tennessee Tech is 8 1/2 hours from WMU, while Michigan Tech is 9 hours away (and that is summer weather with the MAC open. TTU's enrollment is twice that of MTU's, and surrounding area population is double as well


Double or nothing on the first question?

Again not looking at a map and I'll take a wild guess at Northern Illinois.

(06-05-2018 08:43 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:54 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Michigan was featured on a tv show called Campus PD. I may not call them a small city, but big enough to be D1. The CEO of Starbucks is an alumni. He could be their sugardaddy for them to go D1.

I wouldn't trust Howard Schultz handling athletic programs after he screwed over Seattle and the Sonics.

Kid Rock has a song about Northern Michigan (not the school) but it's still not going to help Northern Michigan (the school) go D1.

(06-05-2018 08:44 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 07:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:53 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

That is correct. Current D1 school Tennessee Tech is 8 1/2 hours from WMU, while Michigan Tech is 9 hours away (and that is summer weather with the MAC open. TTU's enrollment is twice that of MTU's, and surrounding area population is double as well


Double or nothing on the first question?

Again not looking at a map and I'll take a wild guess at Northern Illinois.

That appears to be right; they're almost on the same longitude line. But it's still a 7-hour drive even in good conditions, per Google Maps leastways.

Maybe Lake Superior State can be a travel partner.

And once again a thread turns into a diatribe that has nothing to do with actual realistic expansion candidates.

(06-05-2018 09:07 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 08:44 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 07:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:53 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

That is correct. Current D1 school Tennessee Tech is 8 1/2 hours from WMU, while Michigan Tech is 9 hours away (and that is summer weather with the MAC open. TTU's enrollment is twice that of MTU's, and surrounding area population is double as well


Double or nothing on the first question?

Again not looking at a map and I'll take a wild guess at Northern Illinois.

That appears to be right; they're almost on the same longitude line. But it's still a 7-hour drive even in good conditions, per Google Maps leastways.

Maybe Lake Superior State can be a travel partner.

NIU is the on the same side of Lake Michigan as MTU and probably the only MAC school that would not have to go across the bridge I've heard so much about from GLIAC posters on the D2 board.

(06-05-2018 09:13 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  And once again a thread turns into a diatribe that has nothing to do with actual realistic expansion candidates.

I like how when Davey brought up D2 schools he skipped over GVSU, the one Michigan D2 school that actually has FCS-like support in favor of schools in the upper peninsula that are in the middle of nowhere and lack D1 caliber programs and facilities outside of hockey.

(06-05-2018 09:22 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:13 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  And once again a thread turns into a diatribe that has nothing to do with actual realistic expansion candidates.

I like how when Davey brought up D2 schools he skipped over GVSU, the one Michigan D2 school that actually has FCS-like support in favor of schools in the upper peninsula that are in the middle of nowhere and lack D1 caliber programs and facilities outside of hockey.

Just a quick observance of the profile of MAC schools shows they are all public with an enrollment generally above 20,000. Two schools have less than 20,000. Based on that Grand Valley State and Wayne State would fit but they are not going D1 and definitely not FBS. The three D2 UP schools combined enrollments is still less than the MAC school with the lowest enrollment. The Bowling Green State (one the two smaller schools) site says they have about 6,000 students living on campus; that's about 1,500 less than the total enrollments at either Michigan Tech or Northern Michigan.

Isn't Michigan saturated with D1 schools anyway? Five FBS and two(?) non-football and then there are several others just across the state line in Indiana and Ohio. Notre Dame and the five Big10 schools in IN, MI, and OH have so much dominance in the area that it would be next to impossible for any new school to try to come in and get the amount of support needed to survive in D1.

As the travel discussion above demonstrates maybe looking south isn't so far-fetched. Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State have been mentioned previously. A bonus for WKU and MTSU is that both have been somewhat successful in men's and women's basketball.

Western Kentucky and MTSU while in nearby states are not that close to existing MAC members.

WKU though I have heard as a nice alumni base in the metro Cincinnati area across the river in Kentucky. They may be up for travel in MAC country.

(06-05-2018 10:32 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:22 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:13 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  And once again a thread turns into a diatribe that has nothing to do with actual realistic expansion candidates.

I like how when Davey brought up D2 schools he skipped over GVSU, the one Michigan D2 school that actually has FCS-like support in favor of schools in the upper peninsula that are in the middle of nowhere and lack D1 caliber programs and facilities outside of hockey.

Just a quick observance of the profile of MAC schools shows they are all public with an enrollment generally above 20,000. Two schools have less than 20,000. Based on that Grand Valley State and Wayne State would fit but they are not going D1 and definitely not FBS. The three D2 UP schools combined enrollments is still less than the MAC school with the lowest enrollment. The Bowling Green State (one the two smaller schools) site says they have about 6,000 students living on campus; that's about 1,500 less than the total enrollments at either Michigan Tech or Northern Michigan.

Isn't Michigan saturated with D1 schools anyway? Five FBS and two(?) non-football and then there are several others just across the state line in Indiana and Ohio. Notre Dame and the five Big10 schools in IN, MI, and OH have so much dominance in the area that it would be next to impossible for any new school to try to come in and get the amount of support needed to survive in D1.

As the travel discussion above demonstrates maybe looking south isn't so far-fetched. Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State have been mentioned previously. A bonus for WKU and MTSU is that both have been somewhat successful in men's and women's basketball.

Northern Michigan could have followed their conference mates up to D1 in 1980. Some are in the MAC and Youngstown State in the Horizon. Some of those D2 Michigan schools do have some good football teams at times. Grand Valley State is the most dominate of them all. If the reports are correct? Would Horizon League offered Wayne State a spot, and the football team go to MVFC? They are a much better option than Detroit Mercy. Yeah, I hear about how bad DM are.

Would one of the Wisconsin schools be perfect for the MAC? I like Milwaukee's chances to go to the MAC. They do have time shown some strength in basketball. It would be an upgrade for their program.

(06-05-2018 11:33 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 10:32 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:22 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 09:13 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  And once again a thread turns into a diatribe that has nothing to do with actual realistic expansion candidates.

I like how when Davey brought up D2 schools he skipped over GVSU, the one Michigan D2 school that actually has FCS-like support in favor of schools in the upper peninsula that are in the middle of nowhere and lack D1 caliber programs and facilities outside of hockey.

Just a quick observance of the profile of MAC schools shows they are all public with an enrollment generally above 20,000. Two schools have less than 20,000. Based on that Grand Valley State and Wayne State would fit but they are not going D1 and definitely not FBS. The three D2 UP schools combined enrollments is still less than the MAC school with the lowest enrollment. The Bowling Green State (one the two smaller schools) site says they have about 6,000 students living on campus; that's about 1,500 less than the total enrollments at either Michigan Tech or Northern Michigan.

Isn't Michigan saturated with D1 schools anyway? Five FBS and two(?) non-football and then there are several others just across the state line in Indiana and Ohio. Notre Dame and the five Big10 schools in IN, MI, and OH have so much dominance in the area that it would be next to impossible for any new school to try to come in and get the amount of support needed to survive in D1.

As the travel discussion above demonstrates maybe looking south isn't so far-fetched. Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State have been mentioned previously. A bonus for WKU and MTSU is that both have been somewhat successful in men's and women's basketball.

Northern Michigan could have followed their conference mates up to D1 in 1980. Some are in the MAC and Youngstown State in the Horizon. Some of those D2 Michigan schools do have some good football teams at times. Grand Valley State is the most dominate of them all. If the reports are correct? Would Horizon League offered Wayne State a spot, and the football team go to MVFC? They are a much better option than Detroit Mercy. Yeah, I hear about how bad DM are.

Would one of the Wisconsin schools be perfect for the MAC? I like Milwaukee's chances to go to the MAC. They do have time shown some strength in basketball. It would be an upgrade for their program.

Yeah well they didn't and they're not going to now. Neither is any GLIAC member. Milwaukee would have to be a non-football member since UW-Madison will not let any system school have scholarship football. If the MAC wants to expand it will need to be with schools not in IN, MI, or OH. The conference is so compact that adding anyone from those three state will only dilute the markets even more and will not bring in any new fans.

(06-05-2018 09:22 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  I like how when Davey brought up D2 schools he skipped over GVSU, the one Michigan D2 school that actually has FCS-like support in favor of schools in the upper peninsula that are in the middle of nowhere and lack D1 caliber programs and facilities outside of hockey.

Good point. If a GLIAC school were ever to move to Division I, it would probably be Grand Valley State. They've built a great football program there.

(06-05-2018 05:48 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Going off the Tech / Wayne St to D1: No it wouldn't work unfortunately. I'd love to see Tech in D1 but for reasons stated, their best option is to become a D2 power.

As for Wayne St, I'd like if Eastern Michigan would merge with one of the Detroit schools.

(06-05-2018 03:45 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 03:37 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 02:45 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  That had everything to do with rulebooks and nothing to do with Maction. ‘99 Marshall (10th, 13-0) and ‘03 Miami (10th, 13-1) didn’t get those bids because of rules, even with both being higher ranked and regarded than NIU/WMU.

Fair point. But #MACtion certainly helps with recruiting.

How do we know that? Have the recruiting rankings improved for the MAC vs. other G5 conferences? You couldn't tell by the bowl results, that's for sure.

Yes, at least Toledo and Western Michigan have seen their best recruiting classes the past couple seasons (in the thrust of midweek games). Although playing horrible in Bowl Games, the MAC does fairly well in the out-of-conference slate during the regular season. That, combined with WMU's and NIU's P5 Bowls, and the MAC is at least on par with the Sun Belt and CUSA.

MAC has always been at least on par with the Sun Belt, and has been on par with CUSA lately after CUSA lost some of their better teams. There's no improvement there by the MAC. WMU had good recruits probably because of PJ and the Cotton bowl more than anything else. Toledo always gets relatively good recruiting classes.

(06-05-2018 08:44 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 07:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:53 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(06-05-2018 06:07 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Quick Quiz - what is the closest MAC school, travel-time wise to Michigan Tech?


Which school is Western Michigan closer to, travel wise - Tennessee Tech, or Michigan Tech?

I'll give it a try and I'm not going to google map it and base my answer on two things. A poster the other day said Ann Arbor is closer to Philadelphia than Houghton and I sense a heavy dose of sarcasm in the question. So my final answer is Tennessee Tech.

That is correct. Current D1 school Tennessee Tech is 8 1/2 hours from WMU, while Michigan Tech is 9 hours away (and that is summer weather with the MAC open. TTU's enrollment is twice that of MTU's, and surrounding area population is double as well


Double or nothing on the first question?

Again not looking at a map and I'll take a wild guess at Northern Illinois.

Two for Two!!

I also have a MAC expansion idea.

I think North-north-east Rhode Island University is looking to move up.

(06-06-2018 01:00 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  I also have a MAC expansion idea.

You make a good point. It's funny that in a thread about the MAC that no one from the MAC, that I recall, has posted what they want to see. You guys must be just sitting back laughing at all the silliness in this thread. Does the MAC even want to or need to expand? If the MAC does look at expansion, what would be the objectives to determining which school to approach?