MAC Morning Dump: Canisius coach, MAC track and field success, small school NFL hopes

I freely admit that I am a sucker for a good sports movie. There is literally no better type of movie for a date with a special someone. There's sporting type things to keep me interested, likely some greater message of good or morality to keep my non-sports fan ladyfriend interested, and that's why I like to call harmony in HustleBelt Manor.

In the last few years, there was no greater intersection of "Awwwww..." and "Yay sports!" then The Blind Side. Whether the story of up by the bootstraps humanity exhibited for a low income young man, the tao of sport proving to cut through race and socioeconomic status, or the inner workings of Taco Bell franchisees in the deep south was your draw, it was a movie that nearly everyone seemed to at least enjoy on the surface.

The story of Michael Oher, who celebrates his 30th birthday today, is one that both inspires me and makes me feel like a lazy sack of excrement for doing so little for humanity and/or the world (other than making jokes on the internet, obvi). Call me old fashioned, but The Blind Side is what movies should do: challenge us, make us think, entertain us, bring people closer together. They shouldn't make us all bicker about the feasibility of a super hero civil war and the details left off of whatever costume the Super Hornet Lantern Man decides to wear to save the world. But that's for another Morning Dump, I suppose. Happy birthday to Michael Oher, now enjoy some MAC news and notes to celebrate!daily

Canisius Hires Reggie Witherspoon | Bull Run
Former Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoo has landed a head coach position at Canisius. Witherspoon took over a Bulls program mired in NCAA drama and turned in a 13-season career that got him MAC Coach of the Year twice. His ties to New York and general coaching skill make this a great pick up.

Eagle Qualifies for NCAA Track & Field | EMU Eagles
Eastern Michigan has landed a competitor in the NCAA Track and Field Finals for the first time, as Willy Fink has qualified for the 3000m steeplechase.

Gustafson Overcomes ACL Tear for MAC Championship | Sentinel-Tribune
In other track and field news, Aliyah Gustafson overcomes injury to win a MAC Championship and NCAA Regional berth today.

Small School Rookies Hope to Prove they are NFL Worthy | SBNation
As a fan of the small school, MAC fans should hope these NFL hopefuls are successful. The more success a small school player has in landing on an NFL roster, the easier it is to get them here as recruits to build the brand of MACtion.