(06-21-2015 11:45 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-21-2015 11:36 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-21-2015 08:59 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 09:11 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  UMass leaving the MAC I thought is a good move.

Gives them the football only flexibility for joining the AAC. This would surprise a lot of people but I believe UMass has a better shot getting into the AAC football only over getting in all sports.

The Big East had a lot of its football schools come in initially as FB only schools like Virginia Tech that finally earned an all sport place at the table. Navy is also joining the AAC FB only.

Let's say UConn is fed up with the AAC, rejoins the BE and takes Memphis with them. Both schools then move on to play an independent FB schedule.

The southern schools of the AAC may band together against another all sport New England school. They might be okay with UMass though if its just FB Only. They can get ODU all sports and UMass FB only.

1) The AAC is not expanding.

2) UConn and Memphis will never join the Big East.

Saying UConn will leave the AAC for the Big East is like saying Ohio State will leave the Big 10 for the AAC. It ain't gonna happen.

^^^^
THIS.
Oh, God...THIS!!!

The AAC isn't expanding, and if they were expanding I guarantee that there are AT LEAST five more ready and suitable candidates besides UMass, and it will NOT be for a "football only" arrangement except for another Military Service Academy.

And were UConn to go anywhere else it would not be the New-new-Big East which now is composed of purely private-parochial schools.

And for the sake of the game, let me list out which FIVE (realistic) candidates would be available and ready for the AAC before UMass:
1) Southern Mississippi... Has had good football before, comes with built-in rivalries with several members.
2) Northern Illinois... Already been beat to death, so let's skip it.
3) Charlotte... Fits the "Metro" character of the conference and Charlotte is a major media-market, built in history with several members, has a plan already in place to grow their stadium and infrastructure.
4) Ohio/Toledo... Built in rivalry with UC, Toledo already on the cusp of being a "major" sized program. One of these (not both) could be an easy add.
5) Marshall (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little...), built in rivalries with several members, travel partner for UC, fills in the footprint a little.

None of these are likely. (And I didn't even have to throw in Army, Air Force, or any of the MW teams so often bantered about.) But ALL of these are MORE LIKELY than UMass. And if the AAC called them tomorrow, ALL of these programs would be ready to roll in a year.

The AAC won't even return a phone call from the schools you listed 1-5. But if the western schools like BYU, Boise, Air Force, and Colorado State are interested, I'm sure the AAC will be willing to talk.