DaytonDailyNews.com

DETROIT — Rick Chryst gave a pep talk to the media who were gathered at Ford Field on Tuesday night as a warm-up to today's Mid-American Conference Football Preview.

Although there was no mention of "The Gipper," the words spoken by Chryst, the MAC commissioner, had a Knute Rockne ring to them.

The conference has had three straight good years, Chryst said, adding that the addition of Temple as a full-time football member this year proves that the MAC still is growing and gaining energy.

"If you're not pushing yourself to grow," he said, "you'll be playing catch-up."

The addition of Temple to the MAC's East Division gives the conference 13 teams and unbalanced schedules because there now are seven teams in the East (including the Miami RedHawks) and six teams in the West Division.

That's "awkward," Chryst said, but not a big problem.

"I think people are understanding of it, and they see it as part of a bigger picture," he said. "It didn't stop our growth in 2001 and 2002 (when the MAC had 13 teams).

"There is an excitement about introducing ourselves to a new part of the country," Chryst pointed out.

Temple, located in Philadelphia, becomes the first MAC football team located in the state of Pennsylvania, the first MAC team which is near the East Coast.

Temple's record last season was an unimpressive 1-11 and the team was outscored 496-131, but Chryst said he sees an energy in the program and it's only a matter of time before the Owls turn things around.

He pointed to other numbers, a note of glee in his voice.

• Item one: "We've had six different teams in the (MAC) Championship Game the last three years," Chryst noted, "and we've had nine different teams in bowl games the last three years. Those are signs of a really healthy conference."

• Item two: The commissioner said the MAC has a 12-8 bowl record since 1999, "the second best among Division I-A conferences."

• Item three: MAC schools will host five Big Ten Conference teams this year after playing four Big Ten teams at home in 2006. "In the previous 59 years,"

Chryst said, "there were a total of six."

• Item four: Last year there were 70 players from the MAC on opening-day rosters in the NFL, he noted, and on one Sunday there were five starting quarterbacks from the MAC.

"As it enters its 61st season," Chryst said, "MAC football is extremely healthy."

The regular season will begin Thursday, Aug. 30 with three games, including Miami's opener at Ball State.

The others are Kent State at Iowa State and Buffalo at Rutgers.

C

ontact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.