No Need for Conference Expansion

Harry · March 1, 2012

Central Florida (2002-04). Now Temple (2007-11). Maybe UMass (2012)? What’s the idiom? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me? Three times? Shame on all of us.

For the uninitiated, that could be the Mid-American Conference trifecta of recent ex-football member-only institutions (and their respective MAC tenures) bolting for greener pastures of BCS league affiliation. Not to mention that Darwinian-like survival-of-the-richest positioning in the NCAA’s inevitably soon-to-be-revamped, super elite Football Bowl Subdivision or whatever the bean-counters in Bristol, Conn., name it (what, you mean ESPN runs NCAA football?).

What exactly were the MAC Council of Presidents thinking in (a) 2002, ( 2007, © 2012, or (d) all of the above? Great “fits” read well in press releases. In reality or geography, I’m not sure.

With the Temple negotiating its athletics exit from the both Mid-Am and Atlantic 10 Conference, plus the speculation about the Owls rejoining the Big East Conference as soon as this fall, rumors are flying. So if Temple capitulates and succumbs to the lure and bright lights of the Big East again, does UMass follow suit?

What about their ethical, legal, contractual commitments to the MAC and its membership? Didn’t the Mid-Am learn with UCF nine years ago when the Knights left for Conference USA (and now the Big East in 2013). How many times must we burn our hands on the same stove?

No one’s talking. One local source indicated the Mid-Am has issued a gag order in regards to the Owls’ possible departure and its effects. Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher stated that the MAC is “... aware that Temple has been in discussion with the Big East regarding membership. Our position on this matter is that we have a contract in place with specifics that will govern and determine how this matter is handled.” That, to me, means trouble.

Read more: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2012/02/29/korceks-corner-no-need-for-conference-expansion/ayr358x/

GrayEagle · March 2, 2012

Wow! This almost smacks of facetiousness. Northern Illinois was guilty of the same thing that he's accusing Temple of doing back in the 90s. They left the MAC, foundered around and finally went to the Big West before they came back into the fold.

The MAC is truly becoming a joke. They only have a few good teams and most of them don't draw flies. Nine of their 13 teams averaged less than 16,200 last year. Ironically, six of them just crawled over the magic 15,000. Eastern Michigan and Kent State take turns having the lowest average attendance in the FBS. This past year Eastern Michigan averaged a whopping 4,267! Three still have stadiums that seat less than 30,000, which was lower than the minimum allowed when they joined the FBS.

Can you blame a football-only member for seeking a better conference? Especially one who was their attendance leader.

UNTLifer · March 2, 2012

Not to mention that Darwinian-like survival-of-the-richest positioning in the NCAA’s inevitably soon-to-be-revamped, super elite Football Bowl Subdivision or whatever the bean-counters in Bristol, Conn., name it (what, you mean ESPN runs NCAA football?).

Truer words were never spoken.