My first post..er....thread

[CleveBucks]

I think the true test for Miami will be what they do next year when Roethlisberger is gone. They got a great QB away from OSU once, but will they be able to find a difference maker on offense on a consistent basis? Same with BG... although they got Anthony Turner, who really is a solid player. Probably the #2 QB in Ohio this year, and BG got him over WVU and Iowa, among others. Marshall is having a down year after losing Leftwich. The same could happen to Miami next year.

I think the MAC is situated in the perfect area geographically. Ohio produces so much talent, and OSU can only take so much of it... let's be honest, every Big Ten team thrives on Ohio guys. I bet there's at least one starting on all 11 teams. I think HS kids these days are seeing that they can stay home, play in the MAC, and still have a great shot at the NFL... especially at the QB spot where they may be able to step in early and end up starting for 3-4 years, versus waiting their turn behind a blue chip QB in the Big Ten. The Midwest has such great HS football, the MAC has a lot of quality kids to choose from that get overlooked, and it shows.

I really do like the MAC... even though a lot of their fans despise OSU, a lot grew up as big OSU fans too. It's nice to see the conference finally get some national recognition this year. It really is a decent conference at the top. It's only a matter of time before one of them beats OSU. Gino Guidugli will be a senior next year when they play OSU. I just hope he doesn't have the game of his life again. If Roethlisberger stays at Miami for his senior year, he'll face scUM in the opener. That could get interesting, alhough I think he's gone. Maybe the Brownies will draft him to replace Couch.

[Saw31]

Also, I can't help but chuckle at what the Big East has done in retaliation for losing Vtech and Miami. The ACC has alwasy been arguably the best BBall conference. That honor now has to go to the 'new' Big East.

I agree. They are the elite Bball conference now. It's funny you bring up "retaliation". I live just south of Youngstown, Ohio, very close to the PA border. Our cable system is based out of Pittsburgh so we get Fox Sports Pittsburgh. They were interviewing the Pitt AD before the Va Tech game and he was very bitter about the ACC. It sure hurts their football program if the Big East ends up losing it's automatic BCS bid sometime in the future. However, his eyes lit up like a little child on christmas when the topic of discussion moved to basketball. He was certainly taking joy in "stickin' it to 'em" when it comes to basketball. He also made it a point of saying he was very upset in how the ACC approached Miami, Va Tech, and BC. He said that the Big East didn't use the same tactics as the ACC when they approached Conf. USA for Cincinnati and Louisville. The BE, he said, did everything in the open, not behind closed doors. Now, I have no way of knowing if any of this is true, but he certainly was making it a point to get some jabs in at the ACC.

I think HS kids these days are seeing that they can stay home, play in the MAC, and still have a great shot at the NFL... especially at the QB spot where they may be able to step in early and end up starting for 3-4 years, versus waiting their turn behind a blue chip QB in the Big Ten.

I agree completely. I think the QB spot would be where we could see a lot of talent going the route of playing in the MAC. The NFL will find you wherever you are, and the extra playing time would be invaluable. Look at what Marshall has done at the QB position. When one of these QB's in the MAC finally wins a Heisman, it would really make some kids think twice about sitting on the bench a couple years at one of the Big 10+1 schools waiting their turn. Now, if it were me, I would of course want to be a Buckeye, but for some reason, the Buckeyes never wanted me .

[Cincinnatibuck]

The BE, he said, did everything in the open, not behind closed doors. Now, I have no way of knowing if any of this is true, but he certainly was making it a point to get some jabs in at the ACC.

Everyone began speculating what would be the Big East move if they lost Miami and VT that it would of been hard to do anythin behind closed doors. Cincinnati and Louisville will enhance the level of basketball play in the Big East, but don't forget they also added South Florida, DePaul, and Marquette. I don't expect Marquette to have such a great season this year. I love ACC basketball and addind Miami, VT, and BC does not do anything for me.