Hustle Belt: FanShots

Is Temple finally leaving this hick conference?

2012-02-22T18:43:44Z

Is Temple finally leaving this hick conference?

The NYT's Pete Thamel reports that Temple is in talks to join the Big East for all sports -- not just football -- as early as next season.

National praise for MAC defensive players (which do exist)

2012-02-21T01:46:47Z

National praise for MAC defensive players (which do exist)

Andy Staples made a neat all-college football team comprised of players who were two-star recruits out of high school (or worse), and while no MAC offensive players made the list, Kent State's Roosevelt Nix and Buffalo's Khalil Mack were two of the 11 defensive players named.

I reckon if Eric Page and Bernard Pierce didn't declare for the NFL draft as juniors they might've had chances to represent the conference on the other side of the ball, but Mack and Nix are both excellent choices who should continue to be productive for two teams badly needing winning seasons in 2012.

Tim Beckman Bites the Bullet

2012-02-17T15:12:14Z

Tim Beckman Bites the Bullet

Tim Beckman took a pretty big risk, but also did the right and respectful thing by returning to Toledo's senior banquet to try and mend bridges with the seniors who were perhaps most P.Oed at Beckman's departure for Illinois.

Good on you, Timmy.

The ball's over there. He's wondering where he should be. There ain't but one ball. How hard can it...

2012-02-16T17:12:29Z

The ball's over there. He's wondering where he should be. There ain't but one ball. How hard can it be?

One of many gems in Zac Jackson's column on Charlie Coles, who was referring to Jon Harris trying to get in position to rebound.

It's a great column but what really demonstrates the value of Coles in the MAC and college basketball is that even though Miami as a sports franchise may not be revered, damn near everybody in the conference loves and respects this man. And I'm pretty sure they'd pay good money to listen to him talk about basketball at great lengths. I certainly do hope he has much left "in the tank."

Oh, and Buffalo AD Warde Manuel left for UConn.

2012-02-14T03:43:36Z

Oh, and Buffalo AD Warde Manuel left for UConn.

In "old news I just noticed" right now, UB athletic director Warde Manuel left his job to take the same position for the University of Connecticut. Our Bull Runners look at what he did, namely improving the APR of the subpar programs and building continued success, if not championships.

Happy Dan Dakich Day!

2012-02-13T13:45:25Z

Happy Dan Dakich Day!

February 13 is always Dan Dakich Day in my heart. Read this post from a year ago to find out why.

Your daily Temple-football-to-somewhere-else rumor.

2012-02-08T21:09:22Z

Your daily Temple-football-to-somewhere-else rumor.

CBS Sports sez that Conference USA contacted Temple to gauge their interest in moving away from the MAC.

For those not in the know: C-USA is the current conglomerate that contains departed MAC ex-brother Marshall and weird cousin UCF and may or may not merge with the Mountain West, which includes Hawaii, whose mountains are volcanic.

There are only two real facts we can take from this: somebody from the Conference USA called somebody from Temple, and Hawaii has volcanoes. Everything else is conjecture and/or pipe dreams. For now. Realignment!

A note on MAC baseball/softball coverage

2012-02-07T21:06:44Z

A note on MAC baseball/softball coverage

I was asked earlier if we would have any MAC baseball (and/or softball) posting this season. The softball season starts Friday! (Link goes to the MAC media preseason poll.)

Anyways, I just wanted to announce that any coverage would be sporadic at best, because it doesn't sound like they're going to display any baseball/softball games for free on MAC-Sports.com on a regular basis. It's up to the school to give up those rights and many of those videostreams are premium/paid accounts. So I can peruse box scores and pick out the best lines but that's about it.

If you want to add to the coverage, as always, you can add a FanShot/FanPost or contact me directly if you're interested in doing more. We love our non-rev athletes! We also love free time.