Hustle Belt: All Posts by Matt Sussman

The future of the Little Caesars Bowl hangs in the balance

2013-05-22T13:49:16Z

Yesterday ESPN first reported that the Little Caesars Bowl would likely get replaced with a Big Ten-ACC bowl matchup in Ford Field starting in 2014. So maybe it's a dead game. Then the LCPB executive director tossed out the idea of the game moving to the Detroit Tigers' Comerica Park. So maybe it's an outdoor game.

I wasn't aware the Little Caesars Bowl contract ran out after this season, but then again it's not something I think about all that much. You just expect bowl games are always going to be there, especially the one that, at one time, was the MAC's only pathway to the postseason. Dating back to the Motor City Bowl in the Silverdome, it's the only game that would have an undefeated 1999 Marshall team.

For one, it's a little hilarious that the Big Ten wants to play a different bowl opponent in Detroit, given that they've been an MCB/LCPB primary conference tie-in since 2002 and they've only been able to fill that slot three times — twice by Purdue, who in fairness won both times.

Filling bowl games isn't always easy, but the LCPB had the advantage of bringing in teams close to home, which is exactly why they sidestepped much better MAC teams to select 6-6 but proximally beneficial Central Michigan. A Big Ten school, assuming it's someone like Purdue, makes a lot of sense in this game as well, but the closest ACC teams geographically would be either Louisville or Pittsburgh. But that's this new bowl's problem; good luck with that.

The question would then be: does the MAC still need the Little Caesars Bowl? They qualified for the Orange Bowl, fer cryin' out loud. "Need" may be the wrong word, but it would be quite nice to have these days. All the MAC's other games take them to exotic, far away places such as Boise, Mobile and Tampa. They really could use a game close to home. If it can't be Ford Field or Comerica Park, play it in Cleveland Browns Stadium or Columbus Crew Stadium. Or even take it to the campus and play it in Toledo or Akron. If they're afraid of bitter cold and a snow football game, play it in Indy. Just because the MAC Championship Game is in Detroit doesn't mean this home bowl game has to be there.

Toledo athletics may start selling alcohol at games

2013-05-22T02:48:52Z

Well, it looks like Toledo is gonna start selling beer and wine at their football and basketball games. Per the Blade, they're going to discuss it and potentially become the fourth MAC team and 12th FBS team to sell alcohol on campus. So while more teams don't sell alcohol than do, schools are trending toward selling them.

Personally I am not a fan of alcohol at all. We should all be able to have fun without it, specifically in this context, because we paid way less than Big Ten value to watch highly competitive sports, and we all know how one rowdy drunk individual can ruin a game experience for a fan. It only takes one such person in your section. But I don't want to be the Puritan trying to stop everybody from having fun, or even their alcohol. Plus, the stuff's going to be too expensive for anybody to get plastered, and most games are usually so low-key that I can't see any drunken riots started in the fourth quarter.

But I am not a business major, and it sounds like a decent way to increase revenue in a world where athletic departments need any dollar they can obtain. If the money outweighs the potential negative impact within the stands, then I can live with it.

Quincy Diggs reinstated by Akron for 2013-14 season

2013-05-20T16:02:53Z

George Thomas of the Akron Beacon-Journal was the first with it. Diggs missed the entire 2012-13 season for technically an academic suspension, but reports surfaced of fights with his ex-girlfriend, who was still enrolled at the university.

You know what? good for him. He made a mistake, served his penance and got back in school. Returning to the basketball team, I have to think, is a secondary win for him. He was an exciting spark plug for the Zips two years ago and hopefully he'll be able to return to form for a team that desperately needs some good news.

Akron cornerback Seth Cunningham arrested for robbing a tobacco store

2013-05-17T21:16:36Z

Hey, more news out of Akron! This time it's an arrest and suspension on the football team. Senior cornerback Seth Cunningham reportedly robbed a 24-hour tobacco store at gunpoint in nearby Brunswick, Ohio, getting away with something called a "water pipe" valued at about $500, and later he confessed to holding up the store.

I am not entirely certain what store it was, but they mention it located on Pearl Road, and this is the only tobacco store that comes up in Brunswick on Pearl Road on Google Maps. "Discount Cigarette Mart." For all your discount cigarette needs.

Cunningham had a chance to start some games in his upcoming senior year, given the departures of Avis Commack and Micklos Blake. He had one pass breakup and nine tackles last season (and somehow USA Today has a photo of one of them!) (no, seriously!) but the Fox TV article mentions him as a "star." He's not quite a starter, so I suppose glyphically this is accurate. But if he is going to miss any time this upcoming season, I am not seeing this being a huge impact. Next man up, whoever it may be.

I'm so sorry, Zips fans. You'll always have soccer.

Nick Harwell's career with Miami is over

2013-05-17T16:27:33Z

We were all dancing around the inevitable conclusion, but our thoughts turned out to be correct: Nick Harwell is gone from Miami. The school confirmed he's no longer enrolled at the University after he went through the standard appeals process, and coach Don Treadwell confirmed he's no longer with the football team given this outcome.

Also thrown into this story was that Harwell pleaded guilty earlier this month to a count of attempted theft and was given 90 days in jail, 89 of them suspended. So ... time served plus probation. There was no mention of him allegedly attempting to break into his girlfriend's residence, which was on the original police report.

He had a real chance at breaking all sorts of MAC records in his senior year if he stayed healthy and out of trouble, and all of that is out the door. What's next for him remains to be seen, but he does have football talent so don't be surprised if you see him wind up at some small Division II college. Being originally from Texas, he'll probably wind up down there. I'm not sure pro football scouts would be particularly interested in him after how this episode unfolded.

In terms of Miami football terms, this is an opportunity for junior Dawan Scott to become The Guy, given he's their top returning receiver (57 catches, 851 yards, 7 touchdowns).

It's a sad end to a bad situation, but I can't help but see the irony that Harwell won't graduate from Miami after stealing a cap and gown out of his ex-girlfriend's car.

You can skydive with Ron English for $5,000

2013-05-16T19:46:14Z

What a cool idea. Sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo have given donors incentives to contribute money for a cause, depending on how much you donate. To reach EMU's fundraising goal of $60,000, they're giving away things such as autographed footballs, field passes to football games, and a chance to skydive with Eastern Michigan football coaches, either assistants of the man himself.

The going rate for skydiving with English is the top-of-the-line donation of $5,000.

To outdo himself once again, if the 10th Annual Golf Outing raises $60,000, he is going to skydive. That is not all, you can join him! Through the popular crowdfunding platform IndieGoGo, fans and supporters of the football program can donate to the Time to FLY campaign and receive perks for their charitable gift. One of these gifts is the opportunity to ride from Ypsilanti to Skydive Tecumseh with Coach English, spend the day with him and eventually ride in the plane and skydive with him.

He's either done this before or this is an incredible Photoshop, but he speaks with the authority that he's skydived before. But the entire idea of donating like this got me to write a post about it, which normally doesn't happen because most programs have fundraiser golf outings, dinners and standard swag. But not skydiving.

Time to Fly. Or rather, plummet to earth and gracefully parachute down toward it, giving you a renewed appreciation for gravity and the terra firma. But that's too long of a hashtag.

There are three skydiving opportunities available, and you can donate here.

VIDEO: Rod Carey sings "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at Wrigley Field

2013-05-14T13:54:18Z

Making him the second most famous Carey to do so.

VIDEO: Northern Illinois 2012-13 highlights from all sports

2013-05-09T23:06:35Z

Football plays! Golf putts!

2012-13 Northern Illinois All-Sports Highlight Video from Matt Scheerer on Vimeo.