2008 Woodie Awards
MAC East gives fans excitement
By: Andrew Harner
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports Commentary
The gap in power within the 2008 Mid-American Conference is fairly easy to see - just take a look at the standings.
So far in MAC play, the West division's record is 8-3 while the East's record is just 1-6. Overall on the season the West sits at 16-12 and the East at 10-23.
The West has the more nationally known players such as Ball State's Nate Davis, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Western Michigan's Tim Hiller. I'm sure there are people out there who know Buffalo's Drew Willy, Kent State's Eugene Jarvis and BG's Tyler Sheehan are, but they are fewer and farer between.
But just because the West has a better record, flashier players and a team with votes in the AP poll (BSU) doesn't mean it's worth forgetting about what happens in the East.
Just take a look at some of the best games MAC teams have played this season. In the first three weeks, MAC East teams played some of the most memorable games of the MAC season.
In week one, the Falcons upset then No. 25 Pittsburgh 27-17, Ohio gave then No. 3 Ohio State a run for their money in week two as they led 7-6 at halftime and 14-12 with 14 minutes left before losing 26-14 and BG played now ranked No. 17 Boise State to a 20-7 loss in which the Falcons didn't allow the Broncos to score in the second half.
Even in conference play, the East has shown that it can hang with the big dogs of the West. Central Michigan, the preseason favorite to win the MAC championship, has narrowly escaped defeat from East teams in their first two MAC games beating Ohio 31-28 and Buffalo 27-25.
Within the East, Buffalo and Temple played to one of the most exciting finishes in all of college football this season. Back in week three, the game was knotted at 21 until the final 2:27 when things started to get wild.
Buffalo broke the 21-21 tie with a 25-yard field goal, but Temple took their time to respond and dropped a touchdown on the Bulls with just 38 seconds left. However, Buffalo would not be denied as Willy completed a 35-yard hail-mary pass to Naaman Roosevelt on the final play of the game to seal the 30-28 victory.
So far in MAC play, the West division's record is 8-3 while the East's record is just 1-6. Overall on the season the West sits at 16-12 and the East at 10-23.
The West has the more nationally known players such as Ball State's Nate Davis, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Western Michigan's Tim Hiller. I'm sure there are people out there who know Buffalo's Drew Willy, Kent State's Eugene Jarvis and BG's Tyler Sheehan are, but they are fewer and farer between.
But just because the West has a better record, flashier players and a team with votes in the AP poll (BSU) doesn't mean it's worth forgetting about what happens in the East.
Just take a look at some of the best games MAC teams have played this season. In the first three weeks, MAC East teams played some of the most memorable games of the MAC season.
In week one, the Falcons upset then No. 25 Pittsburgh 27-17, Ohio gave then No. 3 Ohio State a run for their money in week two as they led 7-6 at halftime and 14-12 with 14 minutes left before losing 26-14 and BG played now ranked No. 17 Boise State to a 20-7 loss in which the Falcons didn't allow the Broncos to score in the second half.
Even in conference play, the East has shown that it can hang with the big dogs of the West. Central Michigan, the preseason favorite to win the MAC championship, has narrowly escaped defeat from East teams in their first two MAC games beating Ohio 31-28 and Buffalo 27-25.
Within the East, Buffalo and Temple played to one of the most exciting finishes in all of college football this season. Back in week three, the game was knotted at 21 until the final 2:27 when things started to get wild.
Buffalo broke the 21-21 tie with a 25-yard field goal, but Temple took their time to respond and dropped a touchdown on the Bulls with just 38 seconds left. However, Buffalo would not be denied as Willy completed a 35-yard hail-mary pass to Naaman Roosevelt on the final play of the game to seal the 30-28 victory.
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