4thDownBlazer
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conference realignment
despite what many of us hope or think should happen, UAB is likely to get left out of any conference realignment mix. The Big12 announcing they will in fact expand hurts us in my opinion. If they waited to expand until 2019, which we originally thought was the case; we would've been in much better position to make a jump to AAC because we would've had time on our side to prove our worthiness. However now that its looking like this all will happen in 2017, I do not think we will have enough time to prove ourselves. momentum is strong in our city limits and our footprint, however from an outside view looking in, it seems risky for a conference to take us right now. Therefore, this leaves us in conference usa. I think eventually, conference usa and the sunbelt will have to partner and merge in order to survive.
Thoughts?
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07-25-2016 12:29 PM |
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the_blazerman
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RE: conference realignment
Doug Segrest, is that you?
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07-25-2016 12:45 PM |
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Big Dee
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RE: conference realignment
Should kicked off this year
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07-25-2016 12:56 PM |
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GreenAndGold
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RE: conference realignment
It won't matter. Within the next 5 years, the P5 and the G5 will split even more. The guaranteed money of P5 vs. G5 is staggering. UA's TV cut alone > UAB Athletics entire budget. TV $ will dry up for all G5 schools (look at the latest TV deal).
Kudos to schools like Houston that have positioned themselves to become P5.
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07-25-2016 01:03 PM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: conference realignment
There are several factors that affect UABs conference future that are not in UAB's control. We exist in a state that has cut educational funding among the highest in America while schools in other states have not cut at all or not so much (2016-2017 SETF is still $500 million less than it was a decade ago) . UAB has just now gotten permission to build its first new football facility since the program's origin. Ground breaking is said to be next month.
We exist in a UA System that is run by a BOT that has shown primary concerns for a sister campus' programs and needs. This has not gone unnoticed by other conferences. While they may be sympathetic to our plight, they are not likely to act out of sympathy.
UAB exists among schools that are growing in enrollment and wealth - can we match up with them? Other conferences will be projecting where UAB will be in 2025 and 2035. Will these be good for UAB? Will schools like GA State, USA, FIU, FAU and such leapfrog UAB as did USF, UCF, Memphis, and ECU?
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07-25-2016 01:04 PM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 01:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: Shoot for the stars and maybe you land on the moon. If you don't bother to shoot at all you're guaranteed to hit nothing. Look towards the foundation to lead the way
That is true, but you must be able to load the gun before you can shoot for anything. My concern is that UAB exists in a state and UA System that is presently loading its educational gun with blanks.
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07-25-2016 01:23 PM |
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linus
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RE: conference realignment
moving up is always preferable, but if we don't you could make a pretty good all sports conference out of
UAB-great hoops, promising football, decent baseball
Coastal Carolina-National champs baseball, some pretty decent basketball teams. If they build football the same way they've built those it could be great.
Georgia State-Atlanta market, taking over Turner Field, upcoming hoops
Charlotte-next to Atlanta the most dynamic city in the south, great market
marshall-good football and hoops \
ODU-promising in all sports, a great women's sports history, great market
Western-football ok, great hoops history
USM-good football history
James Madison-along with ODU would give us access to mid-atlantic/VA market. A stadium i would kill for
Middle Tennessee-Nashville market, decent football, hoops,
La Tech-access to Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets. solid football, great women hoops history
That would be a conference largely devoid of RPI killers and pretty competitive
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07-25-2016 01:57 PM |
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BlazerFromMD
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RE: conference realignment
James Madison gives you access to Harrisonburg, VA and not much more. They do not have any impact in the nearest major markets, DC and Richmond. They're kind of like the Troy of Virginia.
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07-25-2016 03:16 PM |
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WesternBlazer
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 01:57 PM)linus Wrote: moving up is always preferable, but if we don't you could make a pretty good all sports conference out of
UAB-great hoops, promising football, decent baseball
Coastal Carolina-National champs baseball, some pretty decent basketball teams. If they build football the same way they've built those it could be great.
Georgia State-Atlanta market, taking over Turner Field, upcoming hoops
Charlotte-next to Atlanta the most dynamic city in the south, great market
marshall-good football and hoops \
ODU-promising in all sports, a great women's sports history, great market
Western-football ok, great hoops history
USM-good football history
James Madison-along with ODU would give us access to mid-atlantic/VA market. A stadium i would kill for
Middle Tennessee-Nashville market, decent football, hoops,
La Tech-access to Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets. solid football, great women hoops history
That would be a conference largely devoid of RPI killers and pretty competitive
Ga State and Coastal Carolina would fill the hole in CUSA and make it a conference of contiguous states(Ga and SC)...
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07-25-2016 03:19 PM |
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4thDownBlazer
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RE: conference realignment
south Alabama would be better than JM in my opinion. either way, all these teams we are mentioning didn't even have football 10 years ago..
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07-25-2016 03:37 PM |
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linus
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 03:16 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote: James Madison gives you access to Harrisonburg, VA and not much more. They do not have any impact in the nearest major markets, DC and Richmond. They're kind of like the Troy of Virginia.
I disagree. There's a huge alumni base in Northern Va. It's the school of choice for those who can't get into Tech
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07-25-2016 05:02 PM |
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mixduptransistor
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RE: conference realignment
You guys are awfully optimistic that UAB would even be allowed to go to the AAC. Don't be surprised should it ever even be offered for some excuse to scuttle it
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07-25-2016 07:01 PM |
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biglizard
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 07:01 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: You guys are awfully optimistic that UAB would even be allowed to go to the AAC. Don't be surprised should it ever even be offered for some excuse to scuttle it
I think there's enough political capital saved up at this point the board (or Watts for that matter) don't want to seem obstructionist. If it can be shown to enhance the brand and increase value they'd go for it
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07-25-2016 08:15 PM |
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panama
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conference realignment
(07-25-2016 03:19 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote: (07-25-2016 01:57 PM)linus Wrote: moving up is always preferable, but if we don't you could make a pretty good all sports conference out of
UAB-great hoops, promising football, decent baseball
Coastal Carolina-National champs baseball, some pretty decent basketball teams. If they build football the same way they've built those it could be great.
Georgia State-Atlanta market, taking over Turner Field, upcoming hoops
Charlotte-next to Atlanta the most dynamic city in the south, great market
marshall-good football and hoops \
ODU-promising in all sports, a great women's sports history, great market
Western-football ok, great hoops history
USM-good football history
James Madison-along with ODU would give us access to mid-atlantic/VA market. A stadium i would kill for
Middle Tennessee-Nashville market, decent football, hoops,
La Tech-access to Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets. solid football, great women hoops history
That would be a conference largely devoid of RPI killers and pretty competitive
Ga State and Coastal Carolina would fill the hole in CUSA and make it a conference of contiguous states(Ga and SC)...
Coastal cannot expand their HS stadium and are a public with 9k students. They scare me.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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07-25-2016 11:05 PM |
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legalblazer
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 07:01 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: You guys are awfully optimistic that UAB would even be allowed to go to the AAC. Don't be surprised should it ever even be offered for some excuse to scuttle it
I heard that they called Mackin last time when Memphis joined and Mackin was instructed not to return the call.
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07-26-2016 10:58 AM |
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bladhmadh
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RE: conference realignment
(07-26-2016 12:34 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: Don't think that is true. That said Mackin is gone and the foundation would lead the charge hand in hand with the city.
I heard the same
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07-26-2016 02:25 PM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: conference realignment
(07-25-2016 07:01 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote: You guys are awfully optimistic that UAB would even be allowed to go to the AAC. Don't be surprised should it ever even be offered for some excuse to scuttle it
Perhaps if there was someone here who could say "While I was in the AD's office during the 6 months between 12/2/14 and 6/1/15, we got calls from conferences ABC and XYZ inviting UAB to join if dropped from C-USA", we could be more confident the AAC would consider us now. I am not so concerned that administrative forces might actively block us as I'm concerned that UAB is seen as neither able to be captain of its own ship nor determinate of its own fate. Not many want to marry the proverbial "Momma's dominated boy" or "Daddy's dominated girl".
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07-26-2016 03:20 PM |
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