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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2008 > October > 21
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
MAC East: a wild and crazy place
By Pete Conrad
Miami University football coach Shane Montgomery mentioned very briefly at his press conference today, Oct. 21 the possibility of the Mid-American Conference East Division winner taking a final 4-4 league record to the MAC Championship Game.
“When I came into the league eight years ago there was an upper echelon of teams and a lower echelon of teams,” Montgomery said. “There were some games you were going to win even if you didn’t play your best, and that’s not the case right now. There are no off weeks now in this league. Anyone can beat anyone in any given game.
“I don’t know if you could have a four-loss (champion),” he added. “I’m sure there are some scenarios out there.”
He says “some scenarios.” I say “very possible, bordering on likely.”
We’re not quite halfway through the MAC season and already every team in the East Division has at least two losses. Two very dangerous teams, Kent State (which lost to East-leading Akron 30-27 in overtime) and Temple (which clobbered Army 35-7 and won at Miami 28-10), have three losses.
Sometime tonight after Temple and Ohio have battled it out, another dangerous team will have three losses. Buffalo lost to Central Michigan and Western Michigan by a total of eight points; Ohio had Ohio State on the ropes and later lost by three points to Central Michigan.
We’re basically starting from scratch. There was a time when I thought the RedHawks had to beat Temple or else. Now I’m wondering if it might take three more losses to eliminate them from title contention.
Of course, I would never mention such a thing to Mongtomery.
“We don’t need to look down the road, we don’t need to worry about what’s going on around us,” he said today.
No. That’s why I’m here. To look down the road. To not take it one game at a time.
Here is a look at the remaining schedules for each MAC East team:
• Akron (2-2 in the MAC), four games remaining, two at home, remaining opponents have a 9-19 record
• Bowling Green (1-2), five games remaining, two at home, opponents have a 12-23 record
• Buffalo (1-2), five games remaining, two at home, opponents have a 12-23 record
• Kent State (0-3), five games remaining, two at home, opponents have a 14-20 record
• Miami (1-2), five games remaining, three at home, opponents have a 15-20 record
• Ohio (1-2), five games remaining, three at home, opponents have a 14-22 record
• Temple (1-3), four MAC games remaining, three at home, opponents have a 9-21 record
Oh yes, that clarifies everything.
