After the most recent MAC Council of Presidents meeting, the topic of MAC expansion was in the air. Gaining new teams in conference has the ability to help both the MAC and NIU.

To cut right to the chase, any time a conference seeks new entrants the level of competition is changed. It’s a move that will hopefully make the conference better.

Picking the right teams would affect the MAC dramatically. Bowl tie-ins would possibly open up and well as the skill of our conference in basketball would get better.

The necessity for a Huskies rivalry is an issue that John Peters, NIU president and the Chairman of Council of Presidents for the MAC, would also like to see addressed.

“You’ve got to be Division IA in football and Division I in basketball and be similar to us,” Peters said.

The Peters wish list:

– A regional team to play in all MAC sports.

– Someone who can raise the level of play in both football and basketball.

– A logical rivalry as far as location goes.

– Someone who can be competitive with NIU in both football and basketball.

What college could the MAC find that could fill this criteria?

The Salukis of Southern Illinois.

SIU would be everything NIU and the MAC could dream about. The biggest advantage would be in basketball.

The MAC would be gaining a team that has been to the NCAA tournament three years in a row, including a trip to the sweet 16 in 2002.

The Salukis’ ability to effect football goes without saying. SIU finished the 2004 regular season ranked No. 1 in Division IAA. It also has made the NCAA playoffs two years in a row, as well.

As far as competitiveness in MAC football goes, here’s a stat to digest. In the last two years, SIU has played both Eastern Michigan and NIU. Although both were losses, the combined margin was only four points including a double OT game at EMU.

NIU was barely able to hold on for the win against the Salukis. A one-point victory in a game that kept Huskie fans on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

SIU would also set up a geographic rivalry with the Huskies. The trip from DeKalb to Carbondale would only be a five and a half hour drive – perfect distance for a weekend tailgating trip.

The actual name of the rivalry is already there, too: The civil war, an epic battle between north and south year in and year out. All that’s needed would be the trophy to play for.

So if the MAC board of directors is honestly looking to expand, SIU should get a serious look. Besides, the are already enough MAC teams in the state of Ohio and Michigan.