The Rest of College Football

[WingsFan]

Willie Taggart. Harbaugh family friend, was in A2 last week visiting Jim and Jack.

Taggart has always been a running backs coach before head coach, plus looks like hes going to USF

[WingsFan]

Boston Globe

Sources at BC say that Ohio State LB coach Al Washington is the leading candidate -with Michigan DC Don Brown part of package as asst hc and DC

[lineygoblue]

Brown was already the DC at BC. I think he's already an assistant HC at Michigan as well.

He'd go back to BC as an assistant on a lateral move?

Well, I guess I've seen crazier things ...

[froot loops]

No glory in winning the MAC, that conference has hit rock bottom and opened the door for anyone to win it. Would be interested in seeing the quality of the MACs OOC wins, if any.

My brother-in-law was pretty psyched about them possibly winning the MAC.

[WM Wolverine]

I looked at Central's schedule, they didn't beat a single top 100 program in computer rankings. MAC is dog poop.

[froot loops]

Good for.you

[lineygoblue]

I looked at Central's schedule, they didn't beat a single top 100 program in computer rankings. MAC is dog poop.

Almost all MAC teams farm out their OOC schedule to P5 schools so they can raise money to run their athletic departments. I've been to CMU games several times, and although they have taken some real butt-kickings at places like Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin, .. they have basically renovated their entire stadium with the money they have taken home over the years for these games. They also have a training facility with a weight room that now rivals Michigan's. Currently they are completing another stadium renovation which will have new locker rooms for both teams. All of this is made possible by going on the road and getting their butts kicked. They cash the checks.

Central won the MAC East title by beating enough teams to declare them the winner. They'll get an extra game at Ford Field as a result. And, another check.

[iam416]

MAC West! They play Mighty Miami out of the East!

[iam416]

The MAC is really bad this year. Below average for that league. Central is a great story. They were horrific last year. Looked terrible to start the season, but won a game. Then another. Then another and finished up with a solid team. Miami is really bad, but they still won the East. I think I'd take Central in this game by about 10 points, but I also think both teams get hamblasted in the bowl games.

[Dr. Strangelove]

For a while the best MAC programs were having their head coaches pillaged by bigger programs on a near annual basis (see Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Miami once upon a time). You can't keep changing coaches every 2 years and expect to maintain program consistency. I'm not so sure a good FCS head coach would bother leaving a comfortable position for, say, the Akron job.

[iam416]

Yeah, I think the carnage has finally caught up to them. I still think Toledo, Western, Central, Northern, Ohio and maybe a couple others are good spots for young guys wanting to make a name for themselves. If you can coach, you can probably get your program to 8 wins. And then row the boat the fuck out of dodge.

I'm not sure Akron is better than, say, NDSU. But, I think most MAC schools offer you a chance to learn how to run a program and win some games and get noticed. As you noted, it's a proven stepping stone league -- probably far moreso than FCS.

[froot loops]

When Central is going good the MAC is generally pretty good. I might go to the MAC title game Saturday.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Yeah, I think the carnage has finally caught up to them. I still think Toledo, Western, Central, Northern, Ohio and maybe a couple others are good spots for young guys wanting to make a name for themselves. If you can coach, you can probably get your program to 8 wins. And then row the boat the fuck out of dodge.

I'm not sure Akron is better than, say, NDSU. But, I think most MAC schools offer you a chance to learn how to run a program and win some games and get noticed. As you noted, it's a proven stepping stone league -- probably far moreso than FCS.

Yeah, I'm wondering though that if instead of the ambitious young guys, a MAC program is better off targeting the Frank Soliches of the world. Someone who is capable but has largely had the ambition beaten out of him, heh. Not sure which model is better. The ceiling is probably lower with a Solich

[froot loops]

One of my favorite stories is when Brian Kelly left Central for Cincinnati. I have a friend that was on the team and the way he tells the story is he gathered the team to tell them he was staying in Mt. Pleasant and he left the room and 5 minutes later it was announced he was going to Cincinnati. When he talks about Brian Kelly, he always like to snarkily add the description "all-around great guy" Brian Kelly.

[lineygoblue]

MAC West! They play Mighty Miami out of the East!

East, west, north, south, .. whatever. Central won their division. I admit I don't follow the conference that closely. I do like going to Central games in Mt. Pleasant. If the game starts to get sucky, you can head over to Soaring Eagle. Nice place.