The MAC Finally Grows a Spine, Dabo Drowns at the Podium

The Mid-American Conference formally appealed Western Michigan's loss to Michigan, asking the NCAA to recognize the Broncos as the actual winner after a disputed final second was restored to the clock, allowing Michigan to complete a game-winning 47-yard Hail Mary. This represents a dramatic reversal from the conference's initial position—and a stinging rebuke of Western Michigan's own leadership, which had already surrendered.

The Clock That Shouldn't Have Been There

The MAC commissioner, Dr. John Steinbrecher, argued that replay officials failed to follow established protocol, which calls for using the broadcast programming feed clock when it conflicts with the replay system clock. His conclusion was blunt: had the prescribed protocol been followed, no additional play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won 12-7.

What makes this remarkable is the 180-degree turn. Western Michigan's president, a man named Russ, and head coach Lance Taylor had already publicly accepted the result. Taylor was reading from inspirational posters about adversity and life not being fair. The school's president said there was "nowhere to appeal." The MAC's response, effectively: "Watch me, dummy."