MAC Blogger Roundtable, My Responses

This week's roundtable is hosted by Hustle Belt.

1.  NIU's win over Toledo has opened up the West where four teams are all within a game of the MAC West divisional lead. Do you think the parity of the West is better for the conference, or races like the East - where the winner was pretty much decided with three weeks to go - are better for the MAC?

While at FalconBlog we are perfectly satisfied with the boring and early decided MAC East race, there's no doubt that the open races are much better for creating suspense and drama and helping to make November more exciting.  We support open races in the West at all times!

2. With the return of weeknight games comes the debate over their merits. Does the national TV exposure balance out the barren stands many teams around the MAC see for these evening games in November?
I have been around and around on this one.  We had 8K Wednesday night at the Doyt.  Wouldn't have been great on a Saturday afternoon but probably better and a little warmer.  Now that ESPN is putting some cash on the table, we are locked in.  The entire collegiate sports scene has been changed by the pursuit of money--for good or ill.  There's no going back.

3. In case you missed it, Deadspin just ripped commissioner Jon Steinbrecher for his handling of questions about the MAC's 13-year deal with ESPN. (link: http://deadspin.com/mac-commissioner-squirms-out-of-questions-about-espn-tv-1656711202). What are your initial thoughts on this article and the accompanying video with the interview referenced in the story?

Just having watched that, I wonder what the interviewer is getting at.  Is it the mere issue of transparency or is it some specific provision that has him upset?  My best guess is that he is upset that schools are producing content for ESPN, which is sort of an angle I hadn't thought of it before.  Are any of the schools upset at what the MAC committed to or the length of the contract?  His focus on lawyers--as if there might be a legal issue--was also odd.  

For what it is worth, I wouldn't have answered the question about the son, either.

4. Rank 'em up

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