Is the MAC (Mid-American Conference) dead?

Yes. The entire conference sucks.

Akron used to have a pretty solid t&f team but the distance program has essentially been killed by the elimination of the men’s cross team. It was also one of the best schools in the country for vaulting but that has also slipped. Eastern Michigan still has a good distance program but not sure how long that will last.

not doing well wrote:

Akron used to have a pretty solid t&f team but the distance program has essentially been killed by the elimination of the men’s cross team. It was also one of the best schools in the country for vaulting but that has also slipped. Eastern Michigan still has a good distance program but not sure how long that will last.

Track is arguably the biggest sport at EMU. Not too many schools like that. I think it might continue to prosper- its in the blood there..

Yes, it really is a shame.

We are a group that is still trying to reinstate the CMU men's T&F program, but it is an uphill battle.

The real frustrating thing is that financially, which is mostly the reasoning for eliminating teams, it doesn't make sense. They give up a ton in tuition money that they d not factor into the model.

https://bringtrackback.com/

macdead wrote:

For a conference that has produced so many great distance runners, it seems as though it's nothing more than a crappy mid-major conference without many mens teams these days. Could it be dead? It's absolutely flooded with Europeans and OK americans, and didn't produce any NCAA all americans this year. In fact, the only All-Americans it produced in distance events last year were some Eastern Michigan guy in the 3k and some dude from Miami in the outdoor/indoor 800m- both of whom are not from the US. DISCUSS!

I wish the MAC schools wouldn't have dropped so much money into the football programs. This isn't the 90's where MAC football had great attendance and was knocking off Big Ten teams. The nature of that football conference and the programs are very cyclical.

I wish MAC track was bigger and better.

How do D-2 schools support their track/XC programs? Even D-1 P5 Schools? Don't college sports programs operate at a deficit and hardly make enough money?

Eastern Michigan's running program, at least under Bob Parks, was special. I was no world-beater, and not to be "cheesy", but it was an honor running there. I believe we all felt like we were part of something great.

MAC has invested too much money trying to be a big time football conference. No way they can make as much as they spend. Costs have them slashing XC and track programs on the men's side. MAC could really be a good running conference but AD's have killed it.

Clay wrote:

Yes, it really is a shame.

We are a group that is still trying to reinstate the CMU men's T&F program, but it is an uphill battle.

The real frustrating thing is that financially, which is mostly the reasoning for eliminating teams, it doesn't make sense. They give up a ton in tuition money that they d not factor into the model.

https://bringtrackback.com/

good luck in your efforts. we had a small boost when Clayton ran well this summer and made it back to the Olympics, but ours has otherwise died - have not spent a ton of time keeping the website up to date. here is our website for bringing back XC to the university of Akron -

Is the MAC (Mid-American Conference) dead?

MAC schools (and other non-Power 5 schools) are draining money into football teams and their dying programs trying to keep up with the P-5 schools (indoor practice facilities, HC salaries, et al.)

The money is being syphoned away from Olympic sports, and men's teams are being cut to keep Football on par with Title IX.

MAC Commissioner wrote:

[quote]macdead wrote:

How do D-2 schools support their track/XC programs? Even D-1 P5 Schools? Don't college sports programs operate at a deficit and hardly make enough money?

D-2 schools aren't buying out the remaining 10 years of a bogus contract for the football coach, all the while paying a 3rd party to hire their next football "savior". Additionally, D-2 schools aren't in the "Arms race" for bigger and better facilities.

Where are all these D-1 football players going who are currently in the Transfer Portal? Are they all going to P-5 schools? Do they all think they're going to make it to the NLF?