MACtion Fights Perceptions

Sticks and stones may break my bones but linebackers will never hurt me.

Readers of my site know I have a soft spot for mid-major conferences and it goes double for the Mid-American Conference as I went to Ball State. So it’s pretty cool when the MAC tries to advertise itself or rebrand the schools in the league.

That’s pretty much the goal of the ad developed by 160over90. First, lets take a look at how the MAC tried to portray itself in the past. Most little commercials for the conference have tried to focus on sportsmanship pr unspecified traditions. Just like this ad for example.

Yep, nothing says #MACtion like a breakfast diner. Still, it’s a lot better than this throwback gem from 1998. Just hit it.

Now that you have a baseline you can see why the MAC could use some help here. Check out the finished result.

The ad taps into the Midwest angst and feeling of invisibility giving it an edge. MAC fans are used to being the underdog and that will probably never change.  We kind of like it that way. The site explains the perceptions a little further.

You can also create memes with school colors

if you want some trash talk with Big Ten fans.

While this campaign emphasizes the MAC does not need spotlight, it’s obvious some spotlight will help. MAC football has generally struggled in the attendance category, especially in November when schools play games during the week in frigid temperatures.  Fan passion varies from school to school as Northern Illinois and Western Michigan have passionate bases. Eastern Michigan not so much.

MACtion may speak louder than words but people have to see the MACtion first. Anything that can assist with being seen is a plus but the only success on the field will ultimately change perceptions. And we all know the latter is the hard part.

Three mid-majors who should play in the NCAA Tournament no matter what

We are getting to the time of the year where quality mid-major programs are about to have a door slammed in their faces. While the known mid-majors like Wichita State, San Diego State and UMass are safely in the NCAA Tournament, others are not so lucky. These schools cannot count on an at-large bid from a selection committee that typically favors the 8th best team in the Big-10. As much fun as a Nebraska as an 11th seed might be (God help us) here are some mid-majors that should take their place instead. They are deserving of a spot even if they come up short for the automatic bid from their conference tournament.

Toledo: Record 23-4, 11-4 Mid-American Conference. RPI No. 30

The MAC is always on the border of achieving an at-large bid but the best team in the league rarely wins the tournament. The result is a one-bid league that sends multiple teams to the NIT and CBI.

Toledo should break this mold. The Rockets only loss one game out of conference and that was at Kansas. It won at Boston College who just beat Syracuse. Wins against Cleveland State and Robert Morris are quality victories as both hover around the RPI-Top 100.

Toledo is No. 1 in the MAC in offense, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and assists. The Rockets are also No. 2 in rebounding and free throw percentage.

The MAC should get respect too as it has had four teams in the RPI-Top 100. Losing games at Eastern Michigan, Ohio, and Western Michigan should not keep Toledo out.

Bottom line, Toledo is too good to not have in the big dance, even if loses in the MAC tournament.

Southern Mississippi: 23-5, 10-3 Conference USA. RPI No. 41

While Middle Tennessee State has been the darling of Conference USA, Southern Miss has a better RPI.

Sure, it was blown out at Louisville but that was the only egg the Golden Eagles have laid this season. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Wins over Georgia State, North Dakota State are huge as both are leading their conferences. Morehead State is great victory too.

Southern Mississippi is No. 1 in Conference USA in defense and is No. 2 in field-goal percentage, assists, rebounds, and steals. That is a complete team.

Their success is another excuse to show their game day video from last year. Bet you can’t make it passed the 10 minute mark of this.

Mercer: 22-7, 13-3 Atlantic Sun. RPI 68

Final: Mercer 73, Stetson 50 | Bears move to 22-7 (13-3 #ASunMBB) | Bears now 1 win short of tying school record for A-Sun wins

— Mercer Basketball (@MercerMBB) February 23, 2014

 

The Atlantic Sun gave us Florida Gulf Coast last year and Mercer appears ready to carry on the Cinderella tradition. Mercer has yet to lose at home and defeated Seton Hall and Ole Miss. It darn near won at Texas in the season opener as it lost by three.

It is tough to win on the road in any league so you can’t hold a road loss at North Florida against them too much. The Bears were willing to play people on the road out of conference and that should be rewarded.

Mercer is No. 1 in the Atlantic Sun in offense, defense, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, rebounding, blocks, and assists. Translation: a bracket-buster waiting to happen.

Problem is Florida Gulf Coast is still a good basketball team and might win the conference tournament to steal the automatic bid. Will the committee let in an Atlantic Sun team in as an at-large? History says no, but Mercer should be an exception. Don’t blow it selection committee.

Honorable mentions: North Dakota State, Belmont, Stephen F. Austin, and Indiana State.

Fighting the media black hole of the Super Bowl

With the Super Bowl this weekend the majority of college sporting events are trapped in anonymity. Here are some things you might miss.

Men’s basketball: Utah Valley at New Mexico State, Saturday 10 p.m. EST

The two best teams in the WAC will meet for the first time this Saturday night at New Mexico State. One of these schools will get an automatic bid come March. The other will be extremely bitter.

I know very little about Utah Valley’s basketball history and it turns out Wikipedia doesn’t know much either.

The Wolverines do have a perfect 7-0 WAC record, but the Aggies have only lost one home game this year (New Mexico No. 30 RPI). New Mexico State is the only WAC school with a Top-100 RPI at No. 71. Utah Valley is a distant 148 and is a bland 4-6 on the road. I’m taking New Mexico State in this one but the WAC Tournament Final is where it will get serious.

Men’s basketball: Toledo at Ohio, 7 p.m. Saturday

Toledo is having an impressive season at 18-2 and a RPI of 36. A win over Boston College and a hard-fought loss at Kansas is impressive but a loss at Ohio may cripple any at-large possibility.

Like the Rockets, the Bobcats have built an impressive record of 15-5 and a Top-100 RPI at No. 81. This is a coin-flip game as Ohio is 8-3 at home. Check out this blackout promo the Bobcats have.

Ohio is 15-5. Toledo is 18-2. Does it get any bigger? #BobcatBlackout is Saturday at 1pm…free hats and Chick-fil-A! pic.twitter.com/ReZ20d3XQh

— OhioBobcats (@OhioBobcats) January 31, 2014

I’m picking Toledo to win and play with urgency as this might the most difficult regular season game it has left. The MAC should be viewed as a multi-bid league with four teams in the RPI Top-100.

Women’s basketball: Notre Dame at Duke, 2 p.m. Sunday

Looking for something to do before the Super Bowl Sunday? Check out this top-3 duel between undefeated and No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 3 Duke. With Notre Dame in the ACC I’m sure No. 1 UConn is happy it no longer has to play this juggernaut in conference any more. The Fighting Irish is your problem now Blue Devils.

Look for these two to play a third time in the ACC Tournament Final. Whoever can take two out of the three meetings will more than likely secure a No. 1 seed in the big dance. I expect for Duke to hold serve at home thanks to $3 tickets.

RT You think the #SuperBowl is only big sporting event coming up? Top-3 matchup looming for @Duke_WBB. Get in for $3 http://t.co/kkMnVBIbhz

— Duke W. Basketball (@Duke_WBB) January 31, 2014

If Duke wins I hope this player on the right will be a little bit more excited in her press conference.

.@CoachPDuke @TriciaListon32 and @LexNator2 at the postgame press conference tonight. #GoDuke pic.twitter.com/YgKbD8o3iZ

— Duke W. Basketball (@Duke_WBB) January 31, 2014

Men’s Tennis: UCLA vs. Georgia, Sunday, 2 p.m. EST

Yes, we have our first ever men’s tennis mention here at the NC2A Nerd as No. 2 UCLA squares off against No. 3 Georgia.
Technically, this match is at a neutral site because they are playing at USC. Since that’s still in Los Angeles I have to call it a home match for the Bruins.

This match has the prestigious 10 a.m. local start time so it’s fair to question whether UCLA will be awake. I know I wouldn’t be. I’ll pick UCLA because I’m sure it’s a far better recruiting destination for international players. Los Angeles versus Athens is not a fair fight for some European tennis player looking to play in the states.

Thank You Akron Zips

In a week where everything wrong with college sports was exposed, one game Saturday made me proud of the NCAA again. While Sports Illustrated and Yahoo! reported stories of big schools from Alabama to Oklahoma State cheating to get ahead the tiny Akron Zips proved there are some good things left.

If placing a zipper on your helmet makes you a better football team then put it on there already!

Akron entered the largest stadium in the country against one of college football’s most prestigious programs in Michigan. Michigan had just defeated Notre Dame while Akron had not won against a FBS school since 2010. Needless to say Michigan was a huge favorite. A 37 point favorite to be exact.

The game was an obvious candidate for the budget games as I was pretty sure it was guaranteed win for the Wolverines. Michigan’s coach Brady Hoke thought so too apparently calling it a glazed donut game. It was more about how the school was giving away donuts to entice students for the early kickoff against a poor opponent but still.

Michigan scored quickly in the first to take 7-0 lead, but that was all the points it mustered in the first half. Akron had a chance to kick two field goals before halftime but bad clock management made them tough kicks. Both were missed and came back to haunt the Zips.

Akron then had two first and goals in the fourth quarter where it came up empty. One was a poor pass intercepted in the end zone and the other a turnover on downs as time expired. If the Zips had made one of those two previous field goals it would have only needed another one down 28-27. Instead it was 28-24 forcing a touchdown. In summary, Akron had four great chances to win the game and all slipped away.

Michigan had superior size clogging up the running game of Akron. Yet the skill positions, such as receiver, were even. The Zips ended with more passing yards (311-248) and more first downs (21-19). This was a team that was pounded at Central Florida and could barely beat FCS James Madison for God sakes!

Those passing stats from a MAC school should never happen against a Michigan team loaded with prized recruits. The players on Akron probably couldn’t get a scholarship offer anywhere else in FBS.

Michigan has blown games to inferior teams before at home. There was FCS Appalachian State, and then came Toledo out of the MAC. Saturday would have been the worse though. It should have been the worse as Akron deserved to win this game. Michigan did not.

The faces of the Michigan fans told the story. What was supposed to be a three-hour party for Michigan that involved boosters pledging money turned into a horror movie. Losing here would scar Michigan yet again. Ohio State fans would have new ammo to ridicule their rivals with for another decade. “Hey, remember when your boys lost to the last place MAC school at home in 2013?”

The things you find on Twitter. Click save image as Ohio State fans.

Akron reminded us what is great about college sports. While some schools will cheat to score recruits, some build programs the right way. It is why I love the lower levels of college football so much. Scandals occur in the MAC and FCS too but they are smaller and less frequent. The players are there because the big name programs did not want them. Agents and boosters are in no hurry to throw money at their way. A football scholarship means a lot to these kids.

So when an Akron with their zipper helmets (love the look) takes the lead in the fourth quarter against Michigan I was loving every second of it. It was more compelling than Alabama at Texas A&M. I wanted to see the Zips make history.

Thank you Akron. Thank you for reminding us what is right with college football.