MAC Attack

Yesterday was the MAC Media Day and there was some interesting developments. The Mid-American Conference is one of the nine of 11 Division I-A conferences will utilize replay to review decisions. It looks pretty expensive for these mid-major schools, though. For non-TV games, the MAC will provide a video crew to produce replays, according to the Star Press of Muncie, Ind. Each MAC school will pay between $12,000 and $14,000 to cover the cost of crews at non-televised games, plus install equipment for a replay booth in the press box at a cost of about $3,000, the paper reported.

The MAC is scheduled to have 34 football games on TV this season, with ESPN showing most of those games on its family of networks. A lot of them are on weeknights, but you'll be able to see these teams without having to be at the stadium.

A few teams look to continue the MAC's emerging home of the NFL QB status. Miami's Josh Betts and Toledo's Bruce Gradkowski both made NFL Draft Countdown's top 11 QB rankings. Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs is considered the conference's top pro prospect, even though he's only a junior. Central Michigan's Kent Smith reportedly has the size, and the offense, to get the attention of the scouts.

Anyone got any picks for how the standings will pan out? What player will have a break-out year? How will the loss of Marshall affect the conference's national standings? 2005 looks to be an exciting time for MAC schools.

Woody!