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MAC teams to fly pirate flag after wins over Power 5 programs this season

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

The Mid-American Conference has done a great job of marketing its brand in recent years, most notably adopting the term “MACtion” for its weeknight nationally televised games. It’s help propel the conference into one of the most interesting Group of Five conferences in the country.

Now, the MAC wants to kick it up a notch.

At MAC Media Days, commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said that teams would fly a pirate flag on campus if they defeat a Power 5 opponent.

 

“The Mid-American Conference and its members are the pirates of the FBS,” Steinbrecher said. “Our ships, our stadiums are not always the largest, but we are manned by highly-motivated troops. Our players and coaches carry a chip on their shoulders to demonstrate an anywhere, anytime attitude. If respect is not freely given, we will earn it and we will take it.

“In the past, I have emailed a copy of the MAC Jolly Roger to schools that have won a non-conference game or a bowl game. This year, we will take that a step farther and provide a MAC Jolly Roger to each of institutions.”

This new idea is particularly relevant to the B1G, as at least one conference team has been defeated by an opponent from the MAC each of the past 12 seasons.

Will a B1G team be the reason a pirate flag is flying at some point in 2018?

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB