I took an unscheduled hiatus from the weekly MAC wrap up last week. Just think of it as a tune-up for missing a year's worth of NBA games, which I'm sure is also an invaluable part of your life. I'd like to think I spent the time not writing a MAC update well, but we won't see the results of what I did instead for at least a couple weeks.
Anyway, hopefully you didn't miss it too much.
Biggest winner: Buffalo
The Bulls entered the weekend 1-4, with their lone win coming against FCS member Stony Brook. Buffalo and Ohio took their game down to the end, but ultimately the Bulls were able to hang on for a 38-37 victory.
It was just coach Jeff Quinn's second victory against an FBS opponent since taking over as Buffalo's coach last year. Ohio's defense was suffering from a lot of injuries, but Buffalo was able to take advantage. Maybe the Bulls can get hot here in the second half of the season and make some noise in the East. If not, at least they got one MAC win in the books early.
Biggest loser: Ball State and Bowling Green
Remember those heady days when the Cardinals and Falcons were both 3-1, 1-0 in the MAC? Things have gotten real in the last two weeks for both Ball State and Bowling Green, as each visited a Top 25 team and played a MAC title contender. The two schools are a combined 0-4 in the last two weeks and have been outscored 204-37.
It's something of a longshot that either team reaches bowl eligibility now. Bowling Green's chances are probably better thanks to its four home games being the most difficult games left on the schedule. Ball State, meanwhile, only has two home games left, and must still visit Ohio, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
What everyone's talking about: The renaming of the Bowling Green-Toledo trophy
The two schools have long had a rivalry due to their campuses being just 25 miles apart. The rivalry dates back to 1919, and since 1980, the winner of this game has gotten the Peace Pipe Trophy. The NCAA has been trying to clean up the use of Native American nicknames and symbolism in the last few years, which has had serious impact on the MAC. Miami used to be the Redskins and Eastern Michigan was the Hurons. Central Michigan persists as the Chippewas, due to a provision that allows such a nickname if the tribe signs off.
Anyway, when Toledo and Bowling Green meet on Saturday, the Peace Pipe won't be up for grabs. Conveniently for Toledo, the Rockets are in possession of the trophy after winning last year's game and aren't going to be giving it up. The Peace Pipe will remain in Toledo, according to the Toledo Blade, and the new Battle of I-75 Trophy will be in play Saturday. I'm not sold on the new trophy, but it is clearly better than the Cornstalk Trophy.
Official MAC Players of the Week
MAC West
Offense: Western Michigan wide receiver Jordan White – 12 catches, 156 yards
Defense: Northern Illinois defensive tackle Ron Newcomb – nine tackles, 2.5 sacks, forced fumble
Special Teams: Toledo wide receiver Eric Page – 85-yard punt return touchdown
MAC East
Offense: Buffalo running back Branden Oliver – 34 carries, 179 yards, three touchdowns
Defense: Temple linebacker Stephen Johnson – 16 tackles, one sack
Special Teams: Ohio kicker Matt Weller – three field goals, three extra points
-Teddy
Teddy Cahill can be reached at edcahill@bsu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tedcahill.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
