DETROIT — On a generally overcast day, all the sunshine was beaming inside Ford Field where Mid-American Conference coaches and players talked up their teams before preseason camp begins.
From MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher’s opening press conference until the last round of reporters played hopscotch between the teams’ tables, the general mood was giddy and optimistic.
Steinbrecher opened the day saying the new college playoff can only benefit the MAC, allowing more slots for potential bowl appearances and national media relevancy.
“This playoff continues a lot of the good things that came during the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) years,” Steinbrecher said. “When we have teams with great success, our games are relevant and the nation pays attention.”
Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn thought the 2013 season was the best the conference has had in its history, and will only continue to improve.
With former Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch finishing third in the Heisman running and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack getting picked fifth overall in May’s NFL Draft, Quinn has faith the upcoming season will have plenty of storylines to create “MACtion” hysteria again.
“That exposure is exactly what we needed,” Quinn said. “Fans are fans and you have to deliver exactly what they want. I think that’s something that can easily be obtainable.”
As if the speculation wasn’t enough, throw five automatic bowl bids for MAC teams into the mix and there is a general buzz for more postseason appearances for more conference teams.
“Every team we have that will be bowl eligible should make a bowl and that is great for our conference,” Steinbrecher said. “A couple secondary bowl slots could open up and the MAC could even have six or seven bowls, meaning every team that goes 6-6 could be playing in December or January.”
All the players got a little excited when they thought about playing in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl. Quinn and Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey told their players jokingly that if they actually made that bowl, they wouldn’t leave the country.
In a time when major conferences filled with perennial powerhouses, the MAC will still continue to shine with its weeknight ESPN matchups, bowl appearances and “MACtion” hysteria for another hurrah.
gh181212@ohiou.edu
@charliehatch_
