The MAC has one consistency no other Division I conference can claim and that is ‘change’. Six different teams having won a conference title during the last nine seasons and eleven of thirteen head coaches having been at their school less than three years.
Toledo's WR Eric Page continues to be a top 10 national fantasy player (Icon SMI)
In what other league could Miami (OH) become the first Division I program to ever go from double digit losses (1-11 in 2009) to double digit wins (10-4 in 2010) in one season? Don’t be surprised to see yet another champion this season as Toledo and Northern Illinois battle for supremacy in the west while Miami, Ohio and Temple are the favorites in the east.
The Rockets appear to be the team beat in a conference where parity is paramount, led by All-America Candidate WR Eric Page and returning twenty starters from a team that was three points shy of a 10-3 season. The hard luck Huskies lost in the final seconds of last year’s MACC for the second time in six years have not won a MAC title since 1982. Read the rest of this entry →
MT Qb Dwight Dasher can close out his career on a high note in the 2011 goDaddy.com Bowl (Icon SMI)
Kickoff: 8:00 pm EST Thu Jan 6, 2011
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. Miami (OH) Redhawks
Notes:
By winning their last three games, the Blue Raiders (6-6) earned a second consecutive bowl berth for the first time since joining the FBS in 1999. MTSU did it in thrilling fashion rallying past Sun Belt Conference co-champion FIU on a late touchdown run for a 28-27 win December 4 making them bowl eligible.
The Blue Raiders are headed to their third bowl game in five seasons despite being tied for most turnovers in the nation with 33.
Miami had the nation’s best turnaround going from 1-11 in 2009 to 9-4 and MAC Champions in 2010. The difference between Miami’s 1-7 conference record last year and the team’s 7-1 mark in 2010 is the greatest in the MAC’s 64-year history.
Michael Haywood will not coach Miami in the bowl game after he was hired to replace Dave Wannstedt at Pitt and then dismissed from Pitt based on a domestic violence charge; DB coach Lance Guidry will serve as interim coach for the game.
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl <formerly the Motor City Bowl>
Kickoff: Sunday Dec 26, 2010; 8:30pm EST, ESPN
Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets
FIU RB Darriet Perry (28) scores against Troy (Icon SMI)
Notes:
FIU is playing in their very first bowl game, quite remarkable for a football program that is just nine years old at any level; the Golden Panthers’ six wins this season comprise one-fifth of their 30 victories all-time.
The Golden Panthers hit their stride down the stretch, averaging 38 points while winning four of their final five.
Toledo is 8-2 lifetime in bowls, and has appeared in this bowl three times over the last decade; their last bowl victory was in 2005; a 45-13 victory over UTEP in the 2005 GMAC Bowl.
The Rockets finished second in the West Division of the MAC behind NIU and three of their four losses were to teams also playing in bowls – Boise State, Northern Illinois and Arizona.
The Rockets forced 33 turnovers in 2010, tied with Hawaii for the most in the nation; the Rockets allowed an average of 46 ppg in their four losses, and were 1-4 when forcing fewer than three turnovers.
Humanitarian Bowl – Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Yes, that is the Chad Spann that scored 20 TD this year for the Top 25 Northern Illinois Huskies. (Icon SMI)
Kickoff: 5:30 pm EST Sat Dec 18, 2010
NIU Notes
NIU’s Jerry Kill guided NIU the Huskies to a school-record third consecutive bowl but won’t be around after accepting the head coaching job at Minnesota on December 5. The move came less than 48 hours after the Huskies’ lost to Miami (O) in the MAC Championship game in Detroit.
The school named Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren its new head coach this past Monday he will stay with the Badgers until they face TCU in the Rose Bowl next month. Current NIU linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz will serve as interim coach for the 10-3 Huskies.
NIU is 2-3 lifetime in bowl games and have lost three straight (2006, 2008 & 2009)
Fresno State Notes
Fresno State expects star RB Robbie Rouse at full strength for the Humanitarian Bowl (Fresno Bee)
Fresno State is making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance and has a 10-9 lifetime record in bowls
The Bulldogs (8-4) look to conclude their season with a third straight victory after losing to #13 Nevada & and #10 Boise State; three of their losses have come against ranked opponents this season.
Miami (8-4, 7-1 MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (10-2, 8-0 MAC)
Yes, that is the Chad Spann that scored 20 TD this year for the Top 25 Northern Illinois Huskies. (Icon SMI)
Friday, December 3, 2010 • 7:00 pm ET • Detroit, Mich. • Ford Field (65,000)
ESPN2 • Announcers: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Rodney Gilmore (analyst)
The Huskies have not won the MAC title since 1982 but based off of their end of year performance of just flat out crushing people, you have to believe that the 28-year old cold spell is coming to an end.
Don’t count out Miami though; this is a very resilient team that will be well prepared for this contest.
Nick’s Pick: NIU 31 – Miami 24
More facts to impress your friends at work Friday after the jump.
