Hustle Belt: All Posts by Nicolas A. LewisMAC Football, MAC Basketball, MAC Recruiting, MAC Baseball and all of the other #MACtion hijinks in between - hustlebeltblog@gmail.comhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50387/hustle-fav.png2014-11-13T14:15:02-05:00https://www.hustlebelt.com/authors/nicolas-lewis/rss2014-11-13T14:15:02-05:002014-11-13T14:15:02-05:00MAC Football As Mountain Dew Flavors
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Dy5pzVdoxqDFdR8BOiYYZHN5TVA=/900x630:4000x2697/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/43899458/452534944.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Justin Sullivan</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After reading a recent presser from Pepsi, I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild all over the MAC.</p> <p>It seems that crowd sourcing is all the rage these days for companies, for better or worse (cappuccino potato chips? Really, Lays?). If you want to know what your consumers will buy, why not have them invent the stuff, right?</p>
<p>Pepsi is the latest to join the fray, as they have "opened their flavor vault" to try and experiment for something new. This story caught my attention because the original source was from a Kent State student posting to Reddit, but they were among a select group of schools who got to sample the latest quartet of experimental flavors of Mountain Dew.</p>
<p>I will list them for you. Bear in mind that these are <i style="font-weight: bold;">flavors of Mountain Dew:</i></p>
<ol>
<li><span>Lemon Ginger</span></li>
<li><span>Mango Habanero</span></li>
<li><span>Rainbow Sherbet</span></li>
<li><span><b><i>Nacho Cheese Doritos</i></b></span></li>
</ol>
<p>Now, it just so happens that I've listed those flavors in the order of least to most repulsive to me personally. No matter how much I love both Mountain Dew and Doritos, I <i>do not want to drink something that tastes like both simultaneously</i>. But I digress.</p>
<p>Then I thought, wouldn't it be interesting to try and describe each of our MAC football teams as a flavor of Mountain Dew? Yeah, exactly. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Genius. </i>There weren't enough real flavors to fit the bill, so I made some up as I saw fit.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/toledo-rockets">Toledo Rockets</a></b></p>
<p><span><i>Mountain Dew Rocket Fuel</i>. All of the acidity and chemicals of gasoline, but with...</span><span>none of the positive effects, because you just can't handle it. Seriously, don't drink it.</span></p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois Huskies</a></b></p>
<p><i>Mountain Dew Code Red</i>. Because that's what those opposing defenses start calling for whenever Northern Illinois has the ball.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/bowling-green-falcons">Bowling Green Falcons</a></b></p>
<p><i>Caffeine Free Diet Mountain Dew</i>. Seriously, <i style="font-weight: bold;">how is this a thing? </i>The caffeine is the entire goddamn point of this drink, isn't it? That or the sugar, so removing both seems counterproductive. I have no clue exactly what this is - kind of like the Falcons this season.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/western-michigan-broncos">Western Michigan Broncos</a></b></p>
<p><i>Mountain Dew Whole Milk</i>. It's thick and creamy, but it doesn't really go down smooth. It both looks and tastes as unsatisfying as it sounds, not unlike the last five years of Broncos football prior to this season.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/central-michigan-chippewas">Central Michigan Chippewas</a></b></p>
<p><span><i>Mountain Dew Baja Fresh</i>. Because everyone talked about how good they were a few years ago, but has a hard time finding them now. </span></p>
<p><b>Ohio Bobcats</b></p>
<p><i>Mountain Dew</i>. I decided to be nice and give the classic original to the Bobcats as the only remaining founding member of the conference. No two games have turned out the same, kind of how no two bottles of this stuff ever quite taste the same.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/akron-zips">Akron Zips</a></b></p>
<p><i>Mountain Dew Fireball</i>. Watching any Bowden-coached team is likely to drive you to drink, so you might as well get a head start with some whiskey-cinnamon Dew.</p>
<p>Hang on... that sounds kind of good...<b><i>*calls Dale Earnhardt Jr.*</i></b></p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/ball-st-cardinals">Ball State Cardinals</a></b></p>
<p><span><i>Mountain Dew Sport</i>. It's actually just regular Mountain Dew, it just comes in a squeeze-top "sport bottle" so that you can look really athletic. </span><span>A fake sporty drink for people who don't like sports.</span></p>
<p><b>UMass Minutemen</b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Mountain Dew Chernobyl Blast</i>. A flavor that doesn't initially seem to stick around long, but will surely leave behind a mess long after you think it's gone.</p>
<p><b>Miami RedHwks</b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Mountain Dew Colt 45</i>. Had to go with a malt liquor here, because it's old school like Miami's program. But also because they, much like the end result of this flavor, always seem to find a way to shit the bed.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ubbullrun.com/">Buffalo Bulls</a></b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Mountain Dew Whiteout</i>. Because that's what their games should be played in for optimal viewing.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/eastern-michigan-eagles">Eastern Michigan Eagles</a></b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Mountain Dew Code Grey</i>. Need I elaborate brick by brick on this selection? Sometimes it takes a while to finish off the bottle, but everyone will be too impressed that you actually pulled it off to say anything snarky.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/kent-st-golden-flashes">Kent State Golden Flashes</a></b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Diet Mountain Dew Zero</i>. Because I needed something that was even more impotent-sounding than "Caffeine Free Diet Mountain Dew" for a team that has managed 15 touchdowns all season (half of which have come in their last three games). So we went and borrowed a wimpy qualifier from their competition at Coca Cola to create something that has very little color. Or flavor. Or anything else of merit.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/11/13/7192177/what-if-we-had-the-mid-american-do-the-dewNicolas A. Lewis2014-08-15T13:00:03-04:002014-08-15T13:00:03-04:00Cost Of Attendance Changing For MAC Schools?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XKJpxz8u-0mdF7dZtB8fVtAKKuU=/0x10:2673x1792/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36982228/157255331.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dave Reginek</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Mid-American Conference has created a task force to decide whether student athletes should be compensated beyond their current rate.</p> <p>Apparently, in the wake of recent changes throughout the NCAA landscape, due to the O'Bannon case and other completed and pending legislation, the MAC has taken it upon itself to formulate a task force to investigate the possibility of modifying its scholarship and grant-in-aid practices to better meet whatever the new expectations for scholarships might be in the future. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mac-sports.com/news/2014/8/14/GEN_0814143034.aspx" style="font-size: 12px;">From the commissioner himself:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It is clear that there will be NCAA legislation proposed in the coming months that would permit a student-athlete's grant-in-aid to take into account the full cost of attendance. So that our membership is prepared to manage this issue, we have taken the proactive step of studying potential models to better understand the financial, governmental and legal issues that this entails. While we do not know at this time what the actual legislation will look like, the Mid-<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american" class="sbn-auto-link">American</a> Conference intends to remain a strong and vibrant FBS conference, committed to competing at the highest level. Our membership will be prepared to address this issue," said Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, Mid-American Conference Commissioner.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm not sure how this one will work, exactly. It is not a mystery that the MAC's member institutions have athletic departments that are among the most subsidized nationally, so they would likely need to pull money <i>from</i> somewhere in order to give increased aid <i>to</i> their student-athletes.</p>
<p>Obviously none of this necessarily affects the immediate future, but it will definitely be worth keeping an eye on to see if any substantial changes come down the pipeline.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/8/15/6006121/ncaa-cost-of-attendance-macNicolas A. Lewis2014-06-22T07:00:02-04:002014-06-22T07:00:02-04:00Insults, Put Downs, And McDonalds Riots!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q0j2PiyDhnyYUBqVAv-WztXFBeM=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34505891/450779398.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jamie McDonald</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So I guess it's O.K. to just casually throw the MAC under the bus these days. Or throw a tantrum at a fast food joint.</p> <p>Well lookit, it's amazing what you find when you just Google search "Mid-<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american" class="sbn-auto-link">American</a> Conference" and switch to the "news" tab. Especially if you do it the day after the US gets their revenge win over Ghana.</p>
<p>Whether it's <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2014/06/in_world_cup_2014_soccer_is_th.html" target="_blank">Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Nobody chants, "We're No. 22," except maybe for Mid-American Conference teams that crack the Top 25 in college football or basketball.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Or <a target="_blank" href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/06/18/3-most-annoying-things-about-world-cup-soccer-blog/">Pat Caputo from CBS Detroit</a> (whoever that is):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Even if the USA gets into the elimination round, they have as much chance of winning it all as the Mid-American Conference entry does in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA basketball tournament</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Seriously, What the hell did the MAC ever do to you? First of all, clearly Caputo doesn't remember Antonio Gates, or even D.J. Cooper for that matter. Every tourney win is big, and the MAC doesn't have zero.</p>
<p>And <i style="font-weight: bold;">god forbid</i> a team from a conference that struggles to be mainstream relevant should celebrate earning a national ranking, regardless what the number is.</p>
<p>They just are out to get.... wait... what's that? Oh they might have a reason?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[Akron] Tailback Bryan Green, and defensive backs <span>Johnny Robinson</span> and Dante Williams were charged with fourth-degree felonies for rioting at a McDonald's near campus.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Jesus. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2014/06/transfers_arrests_and_schedule.html" target="_blank">Rioting at McDonald's</a>?!?! Over <b><i>what</i></b> exactly? That their fries were too salty? That they didn't get the toys they wanted in their happy meals? There is far too much juicy speculation to do here, including speculation about whether these boys will even start the season on Terry Bowden's roster.</p>
<p>I expect you to do exactly that in the comments.</p>
<p>Let's not leave out <a href="http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2014/06/18/sports/college/809077.txt" target="_blank">our very own commish</a>, though, who was asked about getting financially "left behind" by the Power 5:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The world's not going to end here. You can only build so many waterfalls in your locker rooms," said Mid-American Conference commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Preach on.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/6/22/5821308/belt-loops-insults-are-de-rigieur-apparentlyNicolas A. Lewis2014-06-02T19:00:10-04:002014-06-02T19:00:10-04:00Is Akron Cheating Its Students Out of Needed Cash?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eXiB4jA-I902Z5gyeexLQRYyPAA=/0x380:2667x2158/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33825551/20140322_jla_ss1_034.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The University of Akron has modified how they handle all scholarships that they provide to their students, and those students - at least some of them - are righteously pissed off. But there may be a difference between "righteous" and "right."</p> <p>It would appear, at first glance, that the University of Akron is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=5648">screwing over their student body</a>. This was evidenced by the news that they will not only modify their distribution of scholarships but will also change how those scholarships can be used. They're also <i>no longer issuing refund checks for scholarships. </i>As someone who previously lived or died on refund checks during college, I can understand some freaking out about this.</p>
<p>I only found one response on Twitter, but it seemed to sum up the initial general sentiment nicely:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>"we'll only give you the money to pay for tuition bc we're idiots+don't realize college is much more than that :)" i hate this dude/akron</p>
— gorgeous georgeous (@holeygeorge) <a href="https://twitter.com/holeygeorge/statuses/471496964761468929">May 28, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>I will stop myself before I discuss how my eyes almost exploded when I made the mistake of actually scrolling through that Twitter feed and focus more on the tweet itself. While I can appreciate the initial outrage, it is a bit melodramatic if you actually take into account the full scope of the information (shocking, I know).</p>
<p>Let's start with the facts</p>
<ol>
<li><span>This only affects scholarships that are issued by the school. Any loans, grants, or scholarships awarded by outside organizations are not affected.</span></li>
<li><span>The university is specifically limiting scholarships so that the money can only be applied to tuition, fees, and either a meal plan (if you live off campus) or room and board (if you're on campus). I'll call these "university expenses" going forward.</span></li>
<li><span>The university will no longer issue refund checks for any money that does not go towards university expenses. Instead, it will return that money to the foundation fund the money came from to be put towards scholarships for other students.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>In summation, what the university has said is that, for the upcoming school year, they will still apply any scholarship money that they have awarded to a student's university expenses, but that student won't be getting any more than that. I presume that going forward the university will just stop issuing scholarships for greater than whatever that amount is.</p>
<p>One Akron student has <a href="http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=5648" target="_blank">formed a petition on Change.org</a> to right this supposed wrong, and it has subsequently been signed by over 500 people. She cites issues such as the university not informing students of this change before they made it (they emailed every student about it back in February), students not being given dollars that they were promised (legitimate beef), and students now being in a pinch if they already budgeted that money (equal beef).</p>
<p>The Akron student in question, Brianne Angell, is the daughter of a university employee, so her tuition and fees are already paid. What this means for her specifically is that her scholarship will no longer exist unless she uses it for a meal plan and/or on-campus housing, which totally ruins her plans for living in an off-campus apartment that she couldn't afford otherwise. In the <a href="http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ua-students-protest-loss-of-scholarship-refunds-1.491010" target="_blank">Akron Beacon Journal article discussing the issue</a>, there is a telling quote from Angell.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"While the original letters notifying students of their scholarships may not have said, ‘and we promise to pay you this full amount!’ … it is implied," [Angell] said.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That's not really true. While it is generally common practice for universities to pay you every dollar of a scholarship award by refunding the difference after university expenses have been paid, they are under no <i>obligation</i> to do so that I am aware of. The article also points out that the only hardship created for Angell is (as I said) that she can't move out of the dorms and into an off-campus apartment like she wanted. Forgive me if I'm not sympathetic.</p>
<p>I remember my second run at undergrad (I became a non-traditional student once the Army was done with me). Everybody couldn't wait to live off-campus, but all that does is create unnecessary expenses, since apparently an apartment necessitates a TV and cable. It also often requires car and gas, among other things. All of that, as far as I know, is a luxury that goes against that whole "live like a student when you are one so you don't have to when you aren't" credo that actually works if you follow it.</p>
<p>This investigation into where refund money was going was conducted by Jim Tressel while he was overseeing financial aid at Akron, before he became Youngstown State's president. It revealed that the school was paying out roughly $1.7 million in refunds each year, much of which was going "off-campus" for things like off-campus apartments and entertainment.</p>
<p>Let's skip past the jokes where we mock Tressel being on the right side of an investigation for once and throw out some more facts.</p>
<ol>
<li><span>That dollar total I just mentioned includes Pell Grants, which are exempt from this new process - if you have been awarded a Pell Grant, and any portion of it is in excess of your university expenses. you will get your Pell Grant as a refund check.</span></li>
<li>As a direct result of this measure (which was part of wider budget rearranging), the university has seen a 21% increase in the number of students who have been awarded scholarships, as well as a 21% increase in the average amount that each student has been awarded (totalling $7 million, up from $4.8 million the previous year).</li>
<li>I'm not sure of the <i>exact</i> numbers, but the number of students that this affects (students who are attending Akron on scholarships <i>and</i> whose scholarships are greater than the cost of their university expenses) can't be particularly large.</li>
</ol>
<p>Now, I will say this. There is definitely a certain portion of the student body - those students who a) fall into that description I just mentioned and b) have already planned out the upcoming academic year by budgeting with that refund. These folks, especially when it comes to off-campus housing, could really be in a bind. For that, my boys Bryan and Keith have already solved the issue.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/DoctorGeeves">@DoctorGeeves</a> needs a non-creepy tweet about the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AkronScholarship&src=hash">#AkronScholarship</a> thing: It’s a poorly planned decision. Shouldn’t take effect 'til 2015.</p>
— Bryan M. Vance (@BryanMVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanMVance/statuses/473558414535446528">June 2, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Akron, do the right thing and grandfather in those scholarships under the old system. Otherwise, we're cool. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AkronTuition&src=hash">#AkronTuition</a></p>
— Keith Scheessele (@BSUKeith) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSUKeith/statuses/473558179025264640">June 2, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/6/2/5773448/akron-modifies-scholarship-distribution-students-not-thrilledNicolas A. Lewis2014-05-19T12:00:13-04:002014-05-19T12:00:13-04:00Examining the MACtion: Why So Many Pitches, Coach?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ds1h-nX9MTje-890eXPZxZsOF7s=/222x148:3999x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33211337/488189139.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Foldy</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Are some of the MAC's own baseball teams feeding into one of the biggest red flags out there for preventable causes to one of baseball's most pressing injury concerns?</p> <p>The recent rash of "Tommy John" ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgeries this season in Major League Baseball has led to an accompanying rash of articles about the subject. It can very quickly send you down a rabbit hole of readership, as I quickly swallowed up everything Jonah Keri at Grantland and the guys at FiveThirtyEight have written, plus dozens of other articles.</p>
<p>I'm not about to go along with someone like Tom Verducci who suggests that this is an "epidemic" requiring a drastic measure such as lowering the mound, but it is certainly moving to the forefront as something that has become so dominant that it needs to be found out a) if it is truly preventable, b) what can actually concretely be done to prevent it, and c) whether (in the long run) those measures all wind up working.</p>
<p>That's all well and good, you say, but what does all this rambling have to do with my beloved Mid-American Conference baseball? Well, that rabbit hole I stumbled upon took a dead halt when it landed me at Boyd's Nation, a website that does many things - one of which is track the number of instances this season where an NCAA pitcher records an (actual or estimated) pitch count of 120+ pitches. For instance did you know that Sam Street, who pitches for Texas-Pan American, has thrown at least 120 pitches in a start <i>eight times </i> this season? That's out of only 14 total starts - enough to make one wonder if Dusty Baker has taken over the head coaching job this season... okay no, he didn't. Just needed to check.</p>
<p>There are articles upon articles out there to explain what you need to know about the theories behind this trend, but it boils down to this - pitchers are pitching more and more, resting less and less, and building up massive amounts of wear and tear from pitching (an unnatural motion to begin with) at the earliest of ages. Add the amount of this stress that occurs while their bodies are still developing, and you have a natural cocktail destined to produce exploding elbows.</p>
<p>One of the issues raised in this developmental boon is the idea of there being so many instances of collegiate coaches having zero hesitation in leaving their pitchers - usually starters - in for however long they damn well please, regardless of any ramifications that may have beyond the day it occurs. So how does this affect the MAC?</p>
<p>In two ways, as it turns out. In combing through <a target="_blank" href="http://www.boydsworld.com/data/pitchcount.html">the list that Boyd's Nation maintains</a>, it turns out that there have been nearly 300 instances of a starting pitcher staying in the game for at least 120 pitches as of Friday night, and 20 of those belong to the MAC. Not only that, but of the 11 instances that occurred on Friday alone, Western Michigan's Chad Mayle set the new record for this season by throwing <i style="font-weight: bold;">ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX </i>pitches while completing a complete-game, two-hit shutout of Central Michigan.</p>
<p>To some small extent I can understand Mayle's case - you want to let a kid pursue perfection, so letting him stay out there despite his pitch count in order to keep a shutout going is nice. As long as you don't let him rip his arm off in pursuit of a game that is only superficially perfect (he walked six batters on the night). In fact, of the 291 instances, 105 of them were complete games, and 32 of that group were complete-game shutouts. Those are not a horrific thing, and in isolation (unlike Mr. Streets above) aren't a huge deal.</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="likebox-fullwidth"><iframe allowtransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsbnation&width=560&height=185&colorscheme=light&show_faces=true&show_border=false&stream=false&header=false"></iframe></div>
<p><br id="1400518114095"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>But what about repeat offenders? The MAC has some of those, as well. Ball State only appears on the list once, and CMU, WMU and Miami only appear twice each (Six of those seven, all but Mayle's outing, occurred in the first 18 days of April). Then you have the repeat offenders.</p>
<p>Buffalo appears on the list three times, with two of those being 120-130 pitch outings for Mike Burke. Not a huge deal. Then comes the granddaddy of them all: Northern Illinois is responsible for fully <i>half</i> of the instances this season where a MAC pitcher has thrown at least 120 pitches in a start. Most MAC teams only roll with three starting pitchers and they only wind up pitching once a week, but NIU is the only group where <i>all three</i> starters have seen their night end at 120+ pitches multiple times this season.</p>
<p>First up is Jordan Ruckman, who tossed 125 pitches in his lone spot start. Then Alex Klonowski comes in at two starts of 120+ pitches but none over 129 in 14 starts. After that comes Eli Anderson, With four starts of 120+ pitches, three of 130+ pitches, and two of 140+ pitches. That leaves Anthony Andres, who is either better or worse than Anderson depending on your perspective. He only has three instances of 120+ pitches including one 143-pitch outing, but he has also only made 11 starts.</p>
<p>As a complete dunce to the inner workings of college baseball, it seems very odd to me as a great way to have a kid's arm fall off someday - you have three pitchers who are ostensibly bearing the load of 55% or more of your innings pitched, despite the fact that they represent about 25% of your pitching staff. Why lean on players so heavily if it does them little good beyond wearing them out for the future - especially if in some cases, it doesn't even get you the win?</p>
<p>I turn it to you, commenters, as there are many unanswered questions in my mind. Are there obvious mitigating factors I am unaware of that create these scenarios? Are you just as baffled by this as I am? Do you think you yourself could throw a ball 130 times over a few hours and still have an arm left to speak of, let alone going out and doing it again a week later?</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-baseball/2014/5/19/5730166/examining-the-maction-baseball-tommy-johnNicolas A. Lewis2014-04-10T09:13:22-04:002014-04-10T09:13:22-04:00WATCH: WMU Surprises Walk-Ons With Scholarships
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PZb1zAmN-vh0gCsWywvLbY8j8JU=/0x1071:2788x2930/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31414699/180591611.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Four members of the Western Michigan Broncos football team were recently surprised to learn that they have now made the transition from walk-ons to athletes under scholarship.</p> <p>I don't want to detract from the video, so I won't say a ton, but this is just damn cool. I love it when coaches do stuff like this.</p>
<p>But let's recap:</p>
<p>"If you are standing, you've just got lunch for your position." This alone is enough to get a smattering of cheers and hurrahs.</p>
<p>Prefontaine gassers for the guys who had #3 cards. I know enough about PJ Fleck and Steve Prefontaine to know that these guys will be *ahem* thanking coach for that one.</p>
<p>"I'm frickin' hot today." LOLZ.</p>
<p>Fleck's little celebration dance is pretty awesome. I think he should do that after every touchdown and/or big defensive stop this season. But maybe minues the whistle, cause that would confuse everyone.</p>
<p>Fleck really loves Prefontaine apparently.</p>
<p>I think the most important part of this video is that, as excited as these four guys were who got the scholarships, they were still probably the least amped people in the room. It shows great team unity to be that excited for someone else's success and reward.</p>
<p>Congratulations to <span>Andrew Aurand</span>, <span>Jason Meichtry</span>, <span>Alec Moulton</span>, and <span>Dan Quinn</span> for putting in the work necessary to impress the coaching staff, to the point that these boys definitely <em>earned</em> their scholarships.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/4/10/5600694/western-michigans-pj-fleck-surprises-walk-ons-with-scholarshipsNicolas A. Lewis2014-02-12T21:11:44-05:002014-02-12T21:11:44-05:00Rockets' Pearson Shoots Toledo To Ninth MAC Win
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T5dMqbvd3zaWgzeoR2qC_LAEO1E=/0x132:4000x2799/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28524401/20131114_ajl_aa6_041.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Maurice Ndour and company couldn't stop themselves from being painfully streaky with their offensive execution, and in the end they went streaking right back to the team bus with a loss.</p> <p>You might remember <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-basketball/2014/2/1/5368692/toledo-vs-ohio-bobcats-win-95-90-in-overtime" target="_blank">the last time these two teams played</a> to open the month.</p>
<p>All of the usual suspects filled up the stat sheet. <span>Maurice Ndour</span>, <span>Stevie Taylor</span> and <span>Nick Kellogg</span> were dominant for the Bobcats, including more assists than the entire Toledo team. The Rockets on the other hand got Julius "Juice" Brown, <span>J.D. Weatherspoon</span>, and Justin Drummond to take care of business, just not quite well enough to take home the victory.</p>
<p>The road rematch 11 days later was probably the most anticipated game of the season.Then Justin Drummond <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-basketball/2014/2/9/5396044/toledos-justin-drummond-suspended-after-dui" target="_blank">got popped for a DUI and suspended</a> by Todd Kowalczyk.</p>
<p>Then Ohio forward <span>T.J. Hall</span> wound up <a href="http://www.athensohiotoday.com/blogs/bobcat_blog/hall-out-versus-toledo/article_0c75c927-dcd9-5e61-807b-60a16dc35a17.html" target="_blank">not travelling with the team to tonight's game</a>, apparently for "failure to adhere to the team's academic policy."</p>
<p>So a couple of notable names were out, but that wasn't about to take any of the shine off this game. The Rockets, namely Weatherspoon, jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, then Ohio closed the gap. Then they opened a 21-13 lead, and Ohio closed the gap again.</p>
<p>There were sloppy rotations and wide open lanes everywhere on offense for both teams. In the first 12 minutes, Jonathan Williams and Matt Smith missed all four of their shot attempts, but everyone else who stepped on the court for the Rockets shot 9-for-13 - the Bobcats were down 23-20 at the under-eight TV timeout despite shooting a "measly" 9-for-21.</p>
<p>At that point it seemed like neither team was missing their suspended starter, but then something changed. Toledo kept getting open, uncontested looks for Rian Pearson. Ohio kept finding themselves in one-and-done possessions a little too often, and only some of them were ending with even clean looks, let alone baskets. The Rockets even found a neat little way to beat the 2-3 zone - throw alley oop lobs to Weatherspoon over top of it.</p>
<p>We knew coming into this one that Drummond's absence would be unlikely to crush the Rockets with the balanced production they get from Pearson, Brown and Weatherspoon. But for Ohio, a team with only two players (Ndour and Kellogg) averaging more than eight points per game on offense, the margin is narrower and even missing a player like Hall, who isn't the best at anything but is a key rotation cog, can throw everything off.</p>
<p>Ohio definitely missed him in the first half, as they allowed the Rockets to make half their shots. You certainly anticipate a balanced and busy offense like theirs to produce. You do not, however, expect both Brown and Pearson to be in double digit points by the half, as Toledo held a 36-30 lead.</p>
<p><span>Nathan Boothe</span> joined in the action, going from one made basket to double-digit points in the first four minutes of the second half, but Ohio wouldn't go away, as they opened the half making six of eight three-point attempts, including three from Travis Wilkins. The Bobcats gave up an 8-2 run, and then followed it up with a 12-0 run of their own to take a 55-50 lead with about 12 1/2 minutes to play.</p>
<p>I'd argue that a particular sequence late in the second half was a great microcosm of this game. Javarez "Bean" Willis went for a steal at the elbow and didn't get it, but cause a disturbance. This led to <span>Jordan Lauf</span> being wide open in the short corner for a three... which he clanked off the iron. Weatherspoon went all out for the rebound and just barely snagged it to kick it to Pearson - who calmly drilled a jumper and drew the foul.</p>
<p>Pearson was calm and collected throughout a crazy game, as his 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting would suggest. Oh, yeah, he also had six rebounds, three assists, two steals and <i style="font-weight: bold;">zero</i> turnovers. Easy layups, spot up jumpers, a clean three, he was everywhere. Toledo's offensive balance was everywhere; Weatherspoon had eight points with 5 1/2 minutes left in the first frame, and he was the only starter to <i style="font-weight: bold;">not</i> reach at least 12 points.</p>
<p>Ohio had too many odd stretches where their offensive rhythm just unraveled, and they settled for one-and-done possessions with low percentage shots - essentially, playing like they were down 20 when they were never down more than five. Wilkins led the Bobcats with 17 points, most of which came in one hot stretch early in the second half. Ndour was left to handle a suddenly active Boothe without Hall's help and couldn't do it, as he sat several times in the second half before fouling out in the last two minutes.</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3604021/nextclicks.css" rel="stylesheet"></p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-basketball/2014/2/12/5406436/ohio-bobcats-toledo-rockets-mid-american-conferenceNicolas A. Lewis2014-02-07T12:00:06-05:002014-02-07T12:00:06-05:00Examining the MACtion: Can the MAC Afford Success?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BOTvmf9nCE3P4997mW7fqHiSyFY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27651661/20131226_pjc_aa1_143.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Welcome back to a new part of Hustle Belt. We will take some time every week or two in order to take a good long look at a certain topic or event. We began with looking at the major MAC football coaching changes. Now we will move on to the ripple effect that BCS coaching salaries have on the MAC's success.</p> <p>The Toledo Blade <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2014/01/26/Gap-widening-between-power-conferences-MAC.html" target="_blank">recently ran an interesting piece</a> that was centered around the verifiable fact that Chuck Martin, formerly the head coach at Grand Valley State, wound up taking an annual pay cut of <i style="font-weight: bold;">at least</i> $200,000 in order to leave his offensive coordinator position at Notre Dame and sign on the dotted line to become the next head football coach at Miami. It goes on to list specifics:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In 2010 there were 37 assistants on Division I coaching staffs who made at or above the average MAC head coach salary of roughly $358,000, [and] Al Golden of then-MAC member Temple made a league-most $513,868, more than all but nine assistants.</p>
<p>In 2013 there were 86 assistants reaching the MAC average of $400,000, an increase of 135 percent in three years. Among them was former Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit, who was fired by the Broncos after the 2012 season and earned an increase of more than $20,000 as Illinois’ offensive coordinator. [By that time], 38 assistants made more than the $513,900 Frank Solich pocketed at Ohio.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Last season, the 13 head coaches in the MAC made a <i style="font-weight: bold;">grand total</i> of $4,801,867 in salary. To put that in some perspective, Butch Jones started his first season as Tennessee's head coach (a job he left Cincinnati to take, after leaving Central Michigan before that). His <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fsalaries%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hustlebelt.com%2Fmac-football%2F2014%2F2%2F7%2F5356468%2Fexamining-the-maction-can-the-mac-afford-the-leadership-it-needs" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">salary in year one was $4,860,000 and placed him</a> as the fourth-highest-paid coach in the country. Read that again; last season there were four<i> individual</i> head coaches who made more salary than <i>all of the coaches in our conference </i><b style="font-style: italic;">combined</b>.</p>
<p>I'll pause until your head stops spinning...</p>
<p>Seriously, Linda Blair, calm down or we'll never get through this.</p>
<p>The Blade article makes a fair point. The MAC is a conference that just doesn't have the same depth of pocket as other conferences, as none of the MAC athletic departments generated <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fschools%2Ffinances%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hustlebelt.com%2Fmac-football%2F2014%2F2%2F7%2F5356468%2Fexamining-the-maction-can-the-mac-afford-the-leadership-it-needs" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">more than $30 million in revenue in 2012</a>. Compare that with South Carolina, who generated more than triple the revenue of the best MAC school and still wasn't in the top 20 in the country in that category. That top MAC school was EMU, by the way - since UMass is football only.</p>
<p>From that angle, it makes sense that in order to hire a coordinator away from a big school (which for a long time has been the <i>de rigeuer</i> means of getting your next big head coach), you had to either promise money you didn't yet have (and might not ever get) or hope that your preferred coordinator wanted a coaching job badly enough to take a salary reduction and an "intrinsic benefits" package (ego boost, for you non-business-savvy readers).</p>
<p>But is that really to the detriment of the conference? As we've discussed previously, hiring a coordinator to be your next head coach can have disastrous results (see: <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/13/5286518/examining-the-maction-umass-moving-on-from-charlie-molnar-is" target="_blank">Molnar, Charlie</a> and <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/9/5272302/ron-english-eastern-michigan" target="_blank">English, Ron</a>), especially when considering the shift in responsibility that has to happen from coaching part of an elite team to every aspect of a lower level team.</p>
<p>Miami hired a coordinator, but it was a coordinator who was recently removed from a successful head coaching tenure at a lower level. The RedHawks hired an aspiring and ascending coach who got sidetracked into a coordinator gig (as evidenced by the money he so readily sacrificed), not a coordinator "deserving" of a promotion.</p>
<p>The Blade article lists the hires of Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan, Dino Babers at Bowling Green, and even Mark Whipple at Massachusetts as the selection of "unheralded, albeit successful" head coaches from the lower ranks. However, I think that's an unfair diminishing of just what each school accomplished.</p>
<p>Miami, Eastern Michigan, Massachusetts and Bowling Green each gets a coach who has demonstrated their ability to handle an entire program at a lower level (with varying degrees of success and recency). I, for one, would argue that proving you can do the same thing at a new level of competition is an easier transition than stepping down a level into a newer more expanded role that you've never done before (and may actually <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Peter_Principle.html" target="_blank">be more likely to screw up</a>).</p>
<p>The coach gets to prove himself at a new level, while earning a salary that is almost always a raise for him, while also not being a huge departure from what the athletic department paid the previous coach. I appreciate that there are struggles on the horizon, but rather than seeing it as "keeping us from getting the big name coach," I see it as allowing us to exploit the new "market inefficiency" - deserving lower level coaches.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/2/7/5356468/examining-the-maction-can-the-mac-afford-the-leadership-it-needsNicolas A. Lewis2014-02-06T12:01:08-05:002014-02-06T12:01:08-05:00What Makes Cinderella Beautiful?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R1fiB4afHO_QzS7RYO1hd8wfh_4=/0x179:3092x2240/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27979313/459789995.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ed Zurga</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Welcome back to Examining the MACtion. We began with looking at the major MAC football coaching changes, and now we look at basketball. It's difficult to predict which princesses will be making an appearance at the ball if you aren't exactly sure what it takes. We are here to help you be more discerning in your pursuit of referring to teams as "well I picked them, didn't you?"</p> <p>I tend to agree with ESPN's Eamon Brennan that there is<a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/midmajors140127/so-think-mid-major"> certainly an increasingly blurred line between the haves and the have-nots</a> (in college basketball much more so than football); I also <i>dis</i>agree that "mid-major" is any sort of as-useless-as-the-day-it-was-first-uttered cliché that is no longer applicable to the sport.</p>
<p>I think that, despite being pivotal to the name of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.midmajormadness.com/">certain SBN sites</a>, it is still a very useful tool. It is necessary to label the "major" programs like those in the SEC or Big 10 who bring in revenue by the truckload, as well as the monetary bottom feeders that tend to occupy conferences like the SWAC or MEAC.</p>
<p>However, there is certainly a large "middle" ground of teams that are neither "major" nor "minor" players, either with regard to competitive funding or competitive play. I think it is extremely apt to refer to this core of programs as the "mid-majority" (thank you, Kyle Whelliston).</p>
<p>That said, it is inevitable that in every single conference, the cream rises to the top and winds up in the NCAA tournament. For mid-major conferences, there are fewer top-notch programs, which all-in-all tends to narrow the margin of error even for elite mid-major programs like Wichita State, let alone slightly lesser lights such as Toledo. When your conference as a whole is weaker, any one loss can put a much bigger dent in your armor.</p>
<p>I don't know that it is necessarily appropriate to refer to the teams who make it into the tournament from these lower conferences as "Cinderella" - I don't care what the quality of your team or conference is, you don't win 20+ games by accident. Especially if you make the tournament as a conference champion, at the very least you've been the best team in your conference for a week and have thus earned your invitation to the dance just like every other "auto-bid" princess coming through the doors.</p>
<p>That said, the guys at Mid-Major Madness are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.midmajormadness.com/cinderella-watch">doing a Cinderella Watch</a> in the run-up to the NCAA Tournament, and one of the keys of any watch is knowing just what to look for. So what is it that makes Cinderella beautiful? What makes a team that is pegged for upset-laced stardom when springtime rolls around? And which teams can survive the #MACtion long enough to get a shot at a glass slipper?</p>
<p><b>The Right Dress</b></p>
<p>Or, in this case, a good dose of strength of schedule. When it comes to this wardrobe staple, Eastern Michigan has the prettiest dress of the crowd. They got a big boost from playing three road games against ranked opponents in the form of Duke, Syracuse and Kentucky. It's too bad the wheels have fallen off lately, since they're the only MAC squad with a strength of schedule in the Top 100 nationally.</p>
<p>Toledo also boosted themselves in this category with what now appears to be a not only diverse, but strong non-conference schedule whose ranking may keep improving. This is also where Akron is paying the price for five non-conference games against opponents whose RPI is currently over 200.</p>
<p><b>The Perfect Tiara</b></p>
<p>Nothing tops off some sequined, well-fitted evening-wear like the right crown. In this instance, we're talking about big wins. There aren't huge ones, as the two teams I just mentioned plus Ohio and Akron went a combined 0-8 against the current RPI Top 25, but go a little further and you'll find some nice sterling silver to make that outfit pop.</p>
<p>Ohio is the leader in this category, having gone 4-0 against teams between 26 and 100 in the RPI, and would have a fifth win in that category if Akron were just a touch higher. The rest of this crowd has gone 5-6 against similar opposition, though it's fair to point out that a chunk of that has been against each other.</p>
<p><b>Avoiding the Toll of Midnight</b></p>
<p>Everyone knows that once midnight rolls around, if it's just a fairytale you'll find yourself sitting in a pile of pumpkin goo that used to be a chariot of gold carrying you to the basketball promised land. The easiest way to cause the clock to strike midnight prematurely and permanently is to lose to an opponent outside the RPI Top 150.</p>
<p>This is one area of relative equality for our competitors. The MAC currently has five teams ranked between 150 and 200 in the RPI, and every team but Toledo has lost to one of them. EMU lost to Buffalo (158), then Ohio lost to Bowling Green (163). Then, on the same night, Akron lost to Kent State (199), and the Eagles dropped <i>another</i> one to Miami (164).</p>
<p>So who will get to go dancing? The invitation list will be short, as these teams' games against each other are their only remaining quality opponents.</p>
<p>Eastern Michigan is probably the most dangerous - and also unlikely to make it, now that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/2/5/5384670/akron-zips-persevere-in-comeback-win-over-eastern-michigan">last night's close but ugly loss to Akron</a> means four losses in their last five. Akron themselves got a slight boost from that win, but they only have one other game against a current RPI Top 100 team, which are the kind of wins you need to make up the ground they are facing.</p>
<p>Ohio's brought themselves back into the picture with their win against Toledo, then shoved themselves right back down the ladder with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-basketball/2014/2/6/5384844/western-michigan-shocks-ohio-downs-bobcats-90-74">last night's domination by Western Michigan</a>. Toledo got back on track against Bowling Green and now must avoid tripping up against Ball State prior to facing Ohio and EMU, so that they can run the table and look good heading into the conference tournament.</p>
<p>When all is said and done, this is <a target="_blank" href="http://very%20likely%20a%20one-bid%20league">very likely a one-bid league</a>. Perhaps there is a chance that if Toledo and one other of these teams (or even WMU) can win out to end the regular season, and then played each other in the conference tournament championship, that a second team could sneak in. But the overall conference strength is too low for there to be a good chance of multiple slippers being donned this postseason in the MAC.</p>
<p>*<i>all RPI numbers per ESPN's most recent listings at time of writing.</i></p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/2/6/5374600/examining-the-maction-what-makes-cinderella-beautifulNicolas A. Lewis2014-01-13T20:00:01-05:002014-01-13T20:00:01-05:00Examining the MACtion: We All Make UMass-takes
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o66LcvnZSYGkNGUrvAmaNWv1FBQ=/0x139:3031x2160/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26631229/20121210_kkt_ar7_152.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Welcome to a new part of Hustle Belt. We will take some time every week or two in order to take a good long look at a certain topic or event. We began with looking at <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/9/5272302/ron-english-eastern-michigan" target="new">EMU football's coaching change</a>. Now we will move on to the same peek into a similar transition at UMass.</p> <p>So as you may have heard, <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2013/12/8/5188524/mid-american-conference-2013-football-coaching-changes" target="_blank">several MAC football programs spent the past few weeks starting and/or finishing a head coaching search.</a> For some schools, like Bowling Green, it was a matter of the coach heading somewhere "more prestigious" (Dave Clawson to Wake Forest) and <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/2013/12/18/5225936/bowling-green-scores-a-touchdown-with-dino-babers/in/4952565" target="_blank">returning the favor to an FCS school (Dino Babers from Eastern Illinois).</a> For others like Miami, Eastern Michigan, and UMass, it was more of a need to move on from something that just wasn't working. So what happened up in Amherst?</p>
<p>You might be inclined to think that it had something to do with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTGC2vNGkM" target="_blank">that weird training video that was released earlier this fall</a>, but let's remove it from the equation, because while it was several things - odd and amateurish come to mind - it could not be and very likely was not the reason that Molnar got canned.</p>
<p>Let me discuss this particular item for a minute. Having spent last winter, as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, listening to every local moron drag management through the fire for making the players go through "NAVY Seal" training, I know where this is coming from. Those were people who heard the name, made connections in their brain, and turned it into something much more than it really was.</p>
<p>The same is true here. First of all, that training video is evidence of nothing but horseplay, and it quite clearly took place across multiple practices edited together. You can <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/umass/2013/9/26/4774466/umass-football-alumni-petition-charley-molnar-staff-to-stop/in/4542735" target="_blank">see in the video</a> that perhaps not everyone, but large numbers of the players, are not just participating but enjoying doing so. That's not exactly damning evidence.</p>
<p>Yes, <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/umass/2013/9/26/4774466/umass-football-alumni-petition-charley-molnar-staff-to-stop" target="_blank">some petition signatures</a> were rather damning, but some were also pretty damn vague:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I'm Umass football allumni. The direction the program is headed is a joke. The entire coaching staff should be fired"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well that doesn't tell us anything about anything. Look again at what former QB Brandon Hill said (emphasis mine):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I think it was to see who was tougher and to get us going and pump us up a little bit," Hill said. "You’re not going to say no. <b><i>Kids wanted to do it</i></b>. The nature of football is kind of like wrestling and kind of like boxing. <b><i>It’s not like it was forced upon us</i></b>... <b><i>I don’t think I should have been doing it, but I’m not going to say no</i></b> to something the head coach wants you to do, especially with a new coach... You want to try to impress him and you’re going to do anything you can to play."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There you have it. The players, at least some percentage, wanted to do it, they weren't forced to do it, and Hill participated because he wanted to impress his coach even though he thought maybe he shouldn't - which makes it <i>his</i> poor decision, not Molnar's.</p>
<p>Even if the video was anything more substantial than a bunch of kids acting stupid at practice—I disagree and don't think boxing and wrestling have a damn thing to do with football—it wasn't what got Molnar fired. <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/2013/11/28/5156078/charley-molnar-will-return-as-minutemen-coach-in-2014-according-to" target="_blank">He got a vote of confidence a month before his firing</a> and well after the video surfaced. If UMass was going to fire him for that, there was plenty of time to do so.</p>
<p>The statement about his release mentions academics, and the three things that happened in the month between his vote of confidence and firing were:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>lost to Ohio</span></li>
<li><span>lost three transfers</span></li>
<li><span>final grades came out. </span></li>
</ul>
<p>I don't know the exact details yet and can't until the summer when APR numbers get released, but I'm willing to bet that last point is what changed their mind. The team APR was 922 last year (NCAA average of 949) which was the worst in the MAC, and if that didn't improve substantially that provides another stone in the lame duck coach bucket. It's hard to help your students out academically when you have so many other things to worry about, and a low APR can mean many bad things these days.</p>
<p>Realistically, <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/9/5272302/ron-english-eastern-michigan" target="_blank">all the points I made with regard to Eastern Michigan</a>—needing a coach who understands all of the ins and outs of a college football program because he has held the position elsewhere before—apply doubly to UMass. This is a school which has just transitioned to FBS, and because of that is even further down the resources food chain.</p>
<p>In that case you need a coach who has been a head coach before and can guide your school through the transition, not a coach who has to figure out both the coaching thing and the transition thing along with you. It should come as no surprise that you win only <a href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/2013/12/26/5245230/charley-molnar-out-as-umass-coach-after-2-seasons/in/4952565" target="_blank">two games in two seasons</a> (and the two teams you beat were the only teams in the conference worse than you) when you've having to learn that much on the job.</p>
<p>It's unfortunate that Sean McDonnell turned down the opportunity, but with the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/11/5298298/reports-umass-to-name-mark-whipple-next-head-coach-again">latest news that Mark Whipple will be Molnar's replacement</a>, UMass will take a big step in the right direction. They're bringing in someone with not just head coach experience, but also experience with this program (and at levels above and beyond), which can be a big boost to the program's overall aspirations.</p>
<p>I personally will be rooting for Whipple, just because getting the UMass job gets him out of his current job with the perennial sinking ship that is the Cleveland Browns.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/1/13/5286518/examining-the-maction-umass-moving-on-from-charlie-molnar-isNicolas A. Lewis