Four MAC teams were Division II back in the day: Central & Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Northern Ilinois. From 1968-72 the MAC champ played the Southern Conference Champ in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. Toledo was the MAC powerhouse back then, winning 3 straight Tangerine Bowls from '69 to '71. Tony Eason was the Toledo QB, becoming the 1st black to QB an other than HBCU team. Toledo ran up 20-something consecutive wins in the Eason era. Sadly, Eason was relegated to the CFL after graduation, in a vestige of racism/segregation.
Curiously, the Southern Conf. but not the MAC, was relegated to 1AA in 1978. In 1981 the NCAA set the MAC champ against the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (later renamed the Big West) champ in an annual bowl game in Fresno, the California Raisin Bowl. The bowl died from lack of interest in 1991.
There is more daylight between the BCS and the MAC than there is between the MAC and CAA. VU is on record as saying a move to MAC-level would not be in the interest of the program or University, as UMASS & Temple have found out. Someday, perhaps sooner rather than later, the MAC will be relegated to FCS. That's my opinion, based in part on GECat74's accurate observation.
Curiously, the Southern Conf. but not the MAC, was relegated to 1AA in 1978. In 1981 the NCAA set the MAC champ against the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (later renamed the Big West) champ in an annual bowl game in Fresno, the California Raisin Bowl. The bowl died from lack of interest in 1991.
There is more daylight between the BCS and the MAC than there is between the MAC and CAA. VU is on record as saying a move to MAC-level would not be in the interest of the program or University, as UMASS & Temple have found out. Someday, perhaps sooner rather than later, the MAC will be relegated to FCS. That's my opinion, based in part on GECat74's accurate observation.
