Gunter Brewer...

[DrumRoll]

Some of the candidates are going to really wish they had gotten deep into negotiation and shown a lot more interest when this is all said and done. I firmly believe we are about to make someone a mid major superstar in the head coaching ranks.

Hey, I know it sounded like I must have opened up a can of sunshine just then... but it is Friday afterall. _

What kind of Koolaid are you drinking, I'm buying :-) Seriously, I think you are correct...but it is Friday...

[zephyr]

_ It also depends on whether or not he would like playing a handful of games on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. I know TV exposure is desired, but those MAC schedules seem rough on attendance and gameday festivities. _

Correct. What I do know about perception is that the MAC is often thought of ahead of the SBC although I believe that to be false as well. The record between the two conferences is pretty even over the past 3-5 years and I wonder if the SBC doesn't have the better record. Point is, the poster mentioned the bowl games which is true. However, those bowl games were followed up with a horrendous 2 win season the year after and a 5 win season this year. Prior to the Bowl years, their record was similar to the Cajuns. In other words, while they benefit of going to two bowl games their program obviously did not take the big step forward that you want to see after such successes and actually fell on its face. A five win season was considered pretty decent this year and the Cajuns would have considered it a failure. Also, look at their non-conference schedule. It's horrible and they are still having trouble mustering .500 seasons in the MAC. Their program enjoyed a brief hint of success but didn't do anything to escalate it beyond middle of the road at best in the worst conference in America next to SBC. I'm not that impressed.

[CajunNation]

Correct. What I do know about perception is that the MAC is often thought of ahead of the SBC although I believe that to be false as well. The record between the two conferences is pretty even over the past 3-5 years and I wonder if the SBC doesn't have the better record. Point is, the poster mentioned the bowl games which is true. However, those bowl games were followed up with a horrendous 2 win season the year after and a 5 win season this year. Prior to the Bowl years, their record was similar to the Cajuns. In other words, while they benefit of going to two bowl games their program obviously did not take the big step forward that you want to see after such successes and actually fell on its face. A five win season was considered pretty decent this year and the Cajuns would have considered it a failure. Also, look at their non-conference schedule. It's horrible and they are still having trouble mustering .500 seasons in the MAC. Their program enjoyed a brief hint of success but didn't do anything to escalate it beyond middle of the road at best in the worst conference in America next to SBC. I'm not that impressed.

Those in the business of "perception", don't care about the decimal point ranking differences between conferences.

Perception is built through big events. The more numerous and consistent, the more perception will be affected.

Along those lines, the MAC is still living off perception built by many big time wins over the last decade, over ranked schools, and the MAC has also had many ranked teams themselves, including a couple of flirtations with the BCS.

Final BCS polls:

2003 #11 Miami-Oh

2008 #22 Ball St (was 12th before losing their championship game)

2010 #25 Northern Illinois (current)


In this, the SBC has a long way to go, and that is why the perception does not totally meet the reality.

We have got to start winning more big games and getting some of our schools ranked. It is the only way to build perception, i. e. respect.

[zephyr]

_ Those in the business of "perception", don't care about the decimal point ranking differences between conferences.

Perception is built through big events. The more numerous and consistent, the more perception will be affected.

Along those lines, the MAC is still living off perception built by many big time wins over the last decade, over ranked schools, and the MAC has also had many ranked teams themselves, including a couple of flirtations with the BCS.

Final BCS polls:

2003 #11 Miami-Oh

2008 #22 Ball St (was 12th before losing their championship game)

2010 #25 Northern Illinois (current)


In this, the SBC has a long way to go, and that is why the perception does not totally meet the reality.

We have got to start winning more big games and getting some of our schools ranked. It is the only way to build perception, i. e. respect. _

True. It is obvious that the perception out there is we are the bottom feeder conference and depending on which "analysis" is used, they may be right. However, I tend to believe based on direct competition in recent years and bowl births that the SBC is as good a conference from top to bottom. I think the MAC has some schools, as you indicate, can put together from time to time a nice season and are typically top heavy. However, their school outside of their top two are generally no better and sometimes worse than any SBC school, I.E. Eastern Michigan, Kent St., Buffalo and Temple in the past etc...