MAC Roundtable, my responses.

1. Both Ball State and NIU took an early 1900's approach to offense in winning their games this weekend primarily through the ground game.  This brings the question:  Are you satisfied with the balance of your offense currently?  Would you like to see more passing or more rushing?

 No, I'm not.  I look at balance a little differently than most.  I don't think that the play mix has to have balance (as in a certain number of run plays versus a certain number of pass plays).  I think you be balanced even if you are a predominant passing team, so long as you can effectively keep the defense honest and run the ball if there are seven in the box, and convert a third and one when you need it.  Conversely, if you are a running team, you need to keep the safeties honest by going over the top.  The best example I can remember is the Garrett Wolfe NIU teams.  Very run heavy play selection, but the ability to go deep to really good receivers as your guys crept up to the line.  The Falcons are pretty one-dimensional offensively.  Even when we are throwing for huge yardage, we don't have any success running the ball.

2. The two best teams in the MAC in Central Michigan & Temple take on non-conf opponents in Boston College and Navy respectively.  What positives or negatives come from playing OOC opponents this late in to the season?

The only way I ever want us to play a OOC opponent this late in the year is to play a non-BCS or non-FBS team.  Under those circumstances, it can present a break in the schedule.  But CMU goes out to BC with an opportunity to beat a BCS team on the road and possibly end up getting ranked.  I just think it takes the focus off the MAC grind.

3. For fun, predict the outcome of the impending doom the 0-7 Eastern Michigan Eagles face as they travel to Arkansas this weekend.

This is a little like predicting the outcome of deer hunting from the perspective of the deer.  I feel bad for Eastern.  They are sorta like GM, turnaround plan after turnaround plan, yet all that ever transpires is another turn around plan.  Arkansas is an up and down team that has played some good teams, they have a good QB and I don't think they will hesitate to step on EMU.  I say the Hogs clears 50.

4. If your team/coach were to wear Halloween costume, what would they be?

I'm not sure how much of a Halloween costume it would be, but for Dave Clawson it would be.....

5. MAC Power Poll Time

1.    CMU
2.   Temple
3.   NIU
4.  WMU
5.   Kent
6.   OU
7.   BG
8.  UT
9.  Buffalo
10. Ball State
11. Akron
12.  Miami
13.  EMU