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During MAC football media day, commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced the adoption of a MAC-themed pirate flag as part of the conference’s identity. This is awesome, folks.
Steinbrecher referred to the conference’s teams and players as “pirates,” and said he wants MAC teams to fly this pirate flag every time they do something significant, like upset a Power 5 team or get another kind of big non-conference win:
“I have provided a MAC Jolly Roger flag to each institution have asked they after each victory, home or away, that the flag be run up the flag pole and remain there until the next game.” - Commissioner Steinbrecher #FlyTheFlag #MACtion pic.twitter.com/J7gvvk8OCy
— #MACtion (@MACSports) July 24, 2018
Steinbrecher said he’s always thought of the MAC as the pirates of college football. He’s sent this flag to every school to be flown after non-conference victories. pic.twitter.com/IxRtgPn3Nx
— Jack Goods (@GoodsOnSports) July 24, 2018
OK first off, I’m not sure there’s anything more badass than a pirate flag, especially for a mid-major conference’s identity, so kudos for the idea here. Like the AAC’s “Power 6” initiative to further Group of 5 teams’ relevancy with the perennial conference powers, this is the MAC’s way of standing up for itself amid revenue sports that tend to favor the bigger leagues.
Stienbrecher: "Let's collectively fly the flag!" Calls MAC schools and players a bunch of "Pirates" #arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
— Jason Arkley (@JasonAmessenger) July 24, 2018
The MAC is coming off of a pretty successful year. In football, 2017 marked its 10th time to have five or more programs receive a bowl bid, and its Power 5 games included wins over Nebraska, Rutgers, Kansas, and Kansas again. And in basketball, Buffalo blew out Pac-12 champion Arizona in the NCAA tournament.
Fly that pirate flag, MAC. I can’t wait to see this come to fruition.