MAC Football Thread (2019-beyond)

Post by **brian** » Sat Jul 20, 2019 5:50 pm

Tigers announcers are interviewing Jim McElwain during the third inning of Tigers game because it’s CMU Day at Comerica Park and my MAC inferiority complex is set off because I’m really excited but wouldn’t be (or more accurately wouldn’t care) if I was a Michigan or Michigan State fan.

Post by **brian** » Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:54 pm

Early returns on the Jim McElwain Era are good (against an FCS team granted). But there's a competence that wasn't there last year. Went for it on 4th and 4 at the Albany 22 and got a TD. That's the fucking shit I want to see. Then after they got fucked on a bullshit call kicked a FG from 50 yards out that would have been good from 60.

(If we were going to do a deep dive into my fucked up psyche, my relationship with CMU football would confuse the fuck out of most people. In any event, most CMU fans have some weird entitlement issues from dominating the MAC at three different times in the 45 years they've been a member. I think other MAC fans will back me up on this. Going 1-11 last year made a lot of people happy.)

Post by **brian** » Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:57 pm

So I inadvertently explained it with those two posts several months apart. Inferior to UM/MSU but superior to the rest of the MAC (and especially the other Michigan MAC teams). The middle child.

Post by **brian** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:19 am

If the season ended today, it would be Kent State vs. Ball State in the MACCG. Just like everyone predicted.

duff · Post by **duff** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:51 am

Those two were my picks.

GoodKarma · Post by **GoodKarma** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:15 pm

Outside of Toledo I question anyone in the conference being any good.

Post by **brian** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:25 pm

GoodKarma wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:15 pm Outside of Toledo I question anyone in the conference being any good.

Toledo just got beat by two TDs as a 27-point favorite. I think the entire conference is up for grabs this year.

Post by **brian** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:48 pm

(Except for Akron of course. They're not winning shit.)

Post by **brian** » Tue Nov 12, 2019 11:03 am

So if there's anyway Ohio could help me out and beat Western tonight, that would be great. Never thought I'd see Central playing a meaningful mid-November game so soon after 1-11, but an Ohio win tonight and two CMU wins puts them in the MAC title game.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:04 pm

brian wrote: ↑Tue Nov 12, 2019 11:03 am So if there's anyway Ohio could help me out and beat Western tonight, that would be great. Never thought I'd see Central playing a meaningful mid-November game so soon after 1-11, but an Ohio win tonight and two CMU wins puts them in the MAC title game.

I got 5 (well, $20) on it.

Post by **Sabo** » Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:59 pm

brian wrote: ↑Tue Nov 12, 2019 11:03 am So if there's anyway Ohio could help me out and beat Western tonight, that would be great. Never thought I'd see Central playing a meaningful mid-November game so soon after 1-11, but an Ohio win tonight and two CMU wins puts them in the MAC title game.

At this point, I wouldn't rely on the Bobcats to do anything helpful.

Post by **brian** » Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:15 pm

Western is gonna win this one 31-0. Get your in-game bets in on WMU now. Ohio looks like they've thrown in the towel.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:10 am

Did I dream this or did a WMU OL do a cartwheel last night while lined up at WR?

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:27 am

Giff wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:10 am Did I dream this or did a WMU OL do a cartwheel last night while lined up at WR?

It was an Ohio player, but yes, that happened.

Can't link to the video, but it's on this page:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/v ... =401119300

Post by **brian** » Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:29 am

Ohio ended up acquitting itself pretty well after that first half, but kinda wish they had showed up before then. Oh well. Fuck Western.

Post by **brian** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 10:35 am

Northern Illinois did its part, so a CMU win over Toledo puts them into the MAC title game against Miami and a shot at MAC title #8.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 11:58 am

There are a couple parents of a girl on my youngest's soccer team this season who are hardcore, wearing gear almost every time I see them, CMU fans. I've made passing comment to them a couple of times when I've known the result of the weekend's football game, but didn't ask them for their back story.

GoodKarma · Post by **GoodKarma** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:26 pm

Please Please Please CMU get into the title game...I don't want to face Western again

Post by **brian** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:50 pm

Suppose I should admit I have a $25 ticket on CMU to win the MAC at 40-1. I almost never make future bets, but I figured that number was way out of wack with the players CMU had coming back.

Gonna have to start hedging and disappointment betting starting with Toledo at +350 on Friday for probably $100 or so.

Post by **brian** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:31 pm

GoodKarma wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:26 pm Please Please Please CMU get into the title game...I don't want to face Western again

<singsong voice> Be careful what you wish for...

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:32 pm

geez, how many Michigans are there!?

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 5:02 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:32 pm geez, how many Michigans are there!?

Quit yer bitchen, we didn't make a Southern Michigan, nowdidwe?

Post by **brian** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:37 am

MAC is just returning to the most traditionally strong programs doing well. If McElwain stays* and these last two recruiting classes stick together, could be CMU's division to lose for the next few years. I figured he'd have them contending for the conference title by next year, but a year ahead of schedule is always welcome.

* - If he goes to a P5 team this year CMU gets a seven-figure buyout which is really high for a MAC school and will hopefully promote Charlie Frye to the top job. He's been a revelation as an offensive coordinator and I'm convinced he's gonna be a great CFB head coach at a high level one day. Hiring Butch Jones back is also an option they might be considering, especially if he's interested in staying for four or five years before moving up to another job (i.e. he'd probably not be leaving CMU for a G5 school again but might for a P5 school, which you always have to accept if you're a MAC fan).

MAC titles since CMU joined the MAC In 1975:
Central Michigan 7
Bowling Green 6
Miami 5
Toledo 5
Marshall 5
Northern Illinois 4
Ball State 2
Western Michigan 2
Eastern Michigan 1
Akron 1
Buffalo 1

Post by **brian** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:32 pm

CMU opened as -4.5 favorite and early sharp money immediately bet them up to -6.5/7 depending on the book.

Post by **brian** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:04 am

Fuck. Known Don for two decades. Going out and winning the most unthinkable title in school history Saturday would be a fitting tribune.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:03 am

Sorry man.

On a more personal note, I'm going to miss stumbling across and occasionally getting caught up in the Friday night MACtion championship game. I'm assuming you guys got bumped for the PAC 10 or some shit?

Post by **brian** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:19 am

rass wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:03 am Sorry man.

On a more personal note, I'm going to miss stumbling across and occasionally getting caught up in the Friday night MACtion championship game. I'm assuming you guys got bumped for the PAC 10 or some shit?

Yeah, think they even tried to stick on Friday against it but switched a couple years ago to Saturday morning.

GoodKarma · Post by **GoodKarma** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:15 pm

brian wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:04 am Fuck. Known Don for two decades. Going out and winning the most unthinkable title in school history Saturday would be a fitting tribune.

I am sorry to hear this as well. I know the Miami PBP guy, Steve Baker, and he posted about this last night...he is pretty broken up about too as Don he and Don had become friends. Definitely puts a damper on Saturday's game.

Post by **brian** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 11:39 am

Well, let’s do this. These days with any level of football when it’s a big game just hoping the officiating isn’t a shitshow and impacts the game. I don’t want to lose but I don’t mind losing to Miami as long as it’s on the field. Miami’s a good school and the alums I know from there are good people. This should be a good game. (I probably posted in a previous MAC thread that I figured Chuck Martin would be successful there. Hiring dominate DII coaches to the MAC level is seldom a bad move.)

Post by **brian** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 1:10 pm

I get this isn’t a premier game for ESPN but I find it hard to believe they couldn’t come up with better announcers than this.

GoodKarma · Post by **GoodKarma** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 1:11 pm

Not sure what Central was thinking with that fake punt. Other than that decent game so far.

Post by **brian** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 1:16 pm

GoodKarma wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 1:11 pm Not sure what Central was thinking with that fake punt. Other than that decent game so far.

They dropped two would-be INTs on that -4 yard FG drive but I mostly agree. If it was 4th & 1 that would be one thing.

Post by **brian** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:21 pm

Welp, congrats to Miami. Definitely the better team today.

GoodKarma · Post by **GoodKarma** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:46 pm

A little to close in that Hail Mary at the end...

Post by **brian** » Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:19 pm

Never seen a National Signing Day class like this for CMU. Mostly three-stars, which isn't unusual or special for the top MAC schools, but only three players from Michigan. Goes against the philosophy of almost every former CMU coach ever (even Brian Kelly and Butch Jones went with about 50 percent players from Michigan augmented with some guys from Florida like Antonio Brown or from Illinois like Dan LeFevour or Wisconsin like JJ Watt).

Michigan - 3
New Jersey - 3
Indiana - 3
Florida - 3
Wisconsin - 2
Pennsylvania - 2
Colorado - 1
Massachusetts - 1
British Columbia - 1
Hawaii - 1
Ohio - 1

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:06 pm

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:11 pm

I think they were trying to pull a fast one with 12 men too. BAll don’t tie.

Post by **brian** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:13 pm

That was glorious. Fuck Western.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:20 pm

That was a mass confusion ending.

Post by **brian** » Wed Feb 26, 2020 3:51 pm

The 2020 Central-Western game to played at a neutral site (Ford Field) for the first time since 1907.