2006 EMU FOOTBALL 139 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE issues committee (Charlie partner for the Mid-American Conference. The Coles, Miami), men’s bas- NCAA announced approval for the International ketball rules committee Bowl, a new college football game, to be played (Reggie Witherspoon, Buf- at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game will be falo), track and field (Rich played on January 6, 2007 and will match a team Ceronie, Miami), women’s from the Big East Conference against an oppo- basketball issues committee nent from the MAC. The addition of the Interna- (Jim Phillips, Northern Illi- tional Bowl will give the MAC three bowl oppor- nois), women’s golf (Rob- tunities as the league is already affiliated with ert Collins, Northern Illi- the Motor City Bowl held at Ford Field in Detroit nois), women’s gymnastics and the GMAC Bowl staged at Ladd-Peebles Sta- (Jerry Reighard, Central dium in Mobile, Ala. Michigan) BCS AD Advisory The 2006 men’s basketball tournament at Committee (Mike O’Brien, Quicken Loans Arena drew a total of 33,417 Toledo) and BCS Presiden- spectators, including 10,253 at the Champion- tial Oversight Committee ship Game this season. The total attendance (Dr. John Peters, NIU). was the second-highest four-session total in MAC The 2005-06 EMU women’s swimming team won its first-ever Mid-American Conference crown. The Eagles climbed back from a 23-point deficit to finish a slim Tournament history. It shattered the previous 11 points ahead of second-place, four-time defending MAC champion Miami. total of 33,349 set in 2001. Three teams repre- sented the MAC in post-season action with Kent MEET THE MAC MAC MILESTONES State advancing to the NCAA Tournament, while From Super Bowl quarterback Ben Both in the classroom and on the field of com- Akron and Miami both participated in the Na- Roethlisbereger (Miami University), British Open petition, the MAC continues to excel at the na- tional Invitation Tournament (NIT). winner Ben Curtis (Kent State University), Cy tional level. In an NCAA report released in Octo- ESPN recently extended its television contract Young Award winner Bob Welch (Eastern Michi- ber 2004, the MAC led the 11 I-A conferences in with the MAC through 2010. The agreement gan University), Olympic Champions Hayes long term graduation rates for football student- guarantees the league exposure for the term of Jones (EMU) and Hasley Crawford (EMU), the athletes at public institutions. the agreement on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Mid-American Conference continues to excel in In addition, the Eastern Michigan University ABC/ESPN owns exclusive rights to the MAC producing leaders in the world of athletics. women’s swimming team posted the highest GPA Football Championship game and ESPN/ESPN2 Since its inception in 1946, the Mid-American in the nation in 2005-06. has those same rights to the MAC Men’s Basket- Conference has progressively grown and de- In March of 2006, Chryst and Cleveland Cava- ball Championship. veloped into one of the most aggressive Divi- liers President Len Komoroski announced that Complementing ESPN’s national television cov- sion I conferences in the country. the Mid-American Conference Men’s and erage is a broad regional television package in Under the guidance of Commissioner Rick Women’s Basketball Tournaments will remain in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball Chryst, the seventh commissioner in the history Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena of the league, the MAC has responded to the through 2011. The MAC also announced ever-changing landscape of membership issues a format change for both tournaments, and member standards in the fast-paced envi- bringing all 12 men’s and women’s teams ronment of collegiate athletics. Dr. Carol to Cleveland beginning in 2007. This Cartwright, former President of Kent State Uni- year, the MAC will co-host the 2007 versity, chaired the Executive Committee of the Women’s Final Four at Quicken Loans NCAA Board of Directors from 2002-2005 dur- Arena, after successfully hosting the ing a legislative process that keyed legislation 2006 NCAA Women’s Basketball Re- relative to I-A status. In May of 2005, the MAC gional at Quicken Loans Arena. added Temple as a football only member (effec- Chryst also announced a new, five- tive 2007) with a plan that includes a men’s and year relationship with International women’s basketball scheduling partnership with Sports Properties (ISP), Inc. to over- the Philadelphia-based institution. see and coordinate the league’s mar- The conference now has national leadership keting and sponsorship rights. ISP, which positions on the following NCAA committees: currently manages 29 college proper- Board of Directors (Dr. Sidney Ribeau, BGSU); ties nationwide, is considered the leader Management Council (Dell Robinson, MAC Asso- in the collegiate sports marketing indus- ciate Commissioner); Championships/Competi- try. The MAC will be ISP’s first confer- tion Cabinet (Brad Bates, Miami); Committee on ence property. Academic Performance (Brad Bates, Miami); Aca- ISP will be responsible for managing, demic Eligibility Compliance Cabinet (Warde and ultimately growing, the MAC’s Manuel, Buffalo); and NCAA Athletic stable of corporate partners, which cur- Certification Committee (Shonna Brown, MAC rently stands at nine - FirstEnergy, Hun- Assistant Commissioner), Playing Rules Over- tington Bank, Kraft, Marathon, GMAC sight Panel (Rick Chryst, MAC Commissioner). Financial Services, MBNA, Aeropostale, Further, The MAC also has representation on Gatorade and Sirius Satellite Radio. the Division I Sport Committees and related gov- FirstEnergy, title sponsor for the men’s erning groups: men’s basketball (Laing Kennedy, tournament since its first year in Cleve- EMU golf standout Korey Mahoney led the MAC Kent State), baseball (Dave Hekee, Central land in March 2000, will return as title with a school-record scoring average of 72.09 in Michigan), volleyball (Kelli Andrews, Toledo), sponsor of the 2007 event. 2005-06. Mahoney was also named the MAC’s softball (Janna Blais, BGSU), football issues com- Another milestone that was reached Golfer of the Year and was an at-large selection to mittee (Mike O’Brien, Toledo), men’s basketball in 2006 is the addition of a third bowl the NCAA Central Regional. 140 2006 EMU FOOTBALL MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE and selected MAC championship events. The For the fifth consecutive season, the Mid- PREVIOUS MAC BOWL GAMES regional network is anchored by long-term American Conference will have the opportunity to CALIFORNIA BOWL send multiple football teams to postseason bowls agreements with FSN Ohio and Comcast Local in 1981: Toledo -- 27 Michigan and Indiana. Comcast Chicago has also in 2006, after 2001’s agreement added the GMAC San José State -- 25 been an outstanding partner in raising the MAC’s Bowl to the MAC’s previous bowl alliance with the 1982: Fresno State -- 29 profile in the nation’s third-largest market. Motor City Bowl. In April, 2006, the conference Bowling Green -- 28 expanded once again, adding the International 1983: Northern Illinois -- 20 Bowl in Toronto, Canada. Cal State Fullerton -- 13 HISTORY OF THE MAC 1984: Nevada-Las Vegas -- 30 Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a Since 1981, the MAC regular-season champion or playoff champion has been connected with a Toledo -- 13 * 1985: Fresno State -- 51 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has es- postseason bowl. tablished historic measurements in both football Bowling Green -- 7 The Motor City Bowl is again on the 2006 1986: San Jose State -- 37 and men’s and women’s basketball since its move schedule, slated for Monday, Dec. 26, at 7:30 Miami -- 7 to Northeast Ohio. p.m. at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. The game 1987: Eastern Michigan -- 3 0 The Mid-American Conference was founded will be televised live on ESPN, with the MAC San José State -- 2 7 as a five-school league on Feb. 24, 1946 in Co- Champion taking on a representative from the Big 1988: Fresno State -- 35 lumbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Ten. Western Michigan -- 30 1989: Fresno State -- 27 Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as And again joining the Motor City Bowl will be the Ball State -- 6 charter members. GMAC Bowl, previously the Mobile Alabama Bowl, 1990: San José State -- 48 The Mid-American Conference has 12 full-time on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. in Ladd-Peebles Central Michigan -- 24 schools and a 13th, Temple, for football only. Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game will be televised 1991: Bowling Green -- 28 Comprising the East Division is the University of live on ESPN. Fresno State -- 21 1992: Bowling Green -- 35 Akron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State The GMAC Bowl will host one MAC representa- tive, with that team facing off against Conference Nevada-Reno -- 34 University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), 1993: Utah State -- 42 Kent State University (1951), Miami University USA’s no. 2 choice. The second MAC selection will Ball State -- 33 play in the Motor City Bowl against the no. 7 squad (1947) and Ohio University (1946). The West 1994: Nevada-Las Vegas -- 52 from the Big Ten. Central Michigan -- 24 Division members are Ball State University The third piece of the bowl equation is the 1995: Toledo -- 40 (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), International Bowl to be played at the Rogers Nevada -- 37 (OT) Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Centre in Toronto. The game will be played on Jan. 1996: Nevada -- 18 Illinois University (1975-86, 1997), University 6, 2007 and will match a team from the Big East Ball State -- 15 of Toledo (1950) and Western Michigan Univer- Conference against an opponent from the Mid- MOTOR CITY BOWL sity (1947). Affiliate members include Indiana American Conference.