(06-23-2013 11:10 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 10:51 AM)panite Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 07:40 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(06-22-2013 01:20 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  BYU is a great fit in the multi-bid WCC where all members are private, religious institutions. Why leave that?

Well, it's currently multi-bid, but a significant enough of a jump from conferences like the MVC as a whole (take out Gonzaga, and it's like CAA). Who knows how long the thing between Gonzaga and St. Mary's works out, and how often others in the pack put up mildly impressive seasons. It's a good league, but I think BYU's recruiting in the sport will suffer for it.

Personally, I think the WCC is great...but it's a relationship of mutual convenience. Kind of like a smaller, fully private A-10 of the west. Great for the hoops.

panite Wrote:If BYU does not make the cut in the next realignment aka make it into the B-12 if and when they expand, they will rejoin the MWC on their own terms aka Boise type terms plus control all of their TV revenue beyond 1st tier conference games which was one of the major reasons as to why they left in the first place.

I don't think they want to be in a conference with schools they left behind over a decade ago. Television was part of their leaving for independence, but it was more of a stature thing. Losing both Utah and TCU forced this conference to re-absorb old conference-mates that BYU was instrumental in precluding when forming the MWC. It's one thing to share...it's another when it's with whom you're sharing.

BYU was willing to put their Olympic sports into the WAC with Benson again for 4 or 5 games a year to enable their independent football schedule while they experimented with with football independence before the MWC ripped the WAC a part when the conference got wind of it. When BYU tires of trying to fill its late October and November schedules and tires of going to the same one or two bowls along with being shut out of the play off at large spot, it will regroup with the MWC on its own terms after striking out with the B-12 again if that move doesn't happen. All they will have to do is look like they are approaching the AAC with a deal and the MWC commissioner will give them everything they want.

BYU has shown its willingness to make its own best future. It did so when it decided to form all new new conference (the MW) and did so when it chose independence. I also seriously doubt they want to be in a conference with Utah State, so I don't think the current MW is likely an option.

I could easily see BYU forming something with some of it's old MW buddies and some of the schools of the AAC.

West

BYU
Boise
SDSU
Fresno
UNLV
Houston
SMU
Air Force

EAST

(8 of the following schools)
UConn
Temple
Navy/VCU Olympics
Cinci
Memphis
ECU
USF
UCF
Tulane
S Miss
Tulsa

I can't see this best of rest conference being too big or it defeats the purpose of leaving the MWC or AAC. But it would still have to be big enough for divisions, so 12 seems to be a good number.

west
BYU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State

East
UConn, Cincy, USF, UCF, Houston, Memphis

(06-23-2013 11:29 AM)goofus Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 11:10 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 10:51 AM)panite Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 07:40 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(06-22-2013 01:20 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  BYU is a great fit in the multi-bid WCC where all members are private, religious institutions. Why leave that?

Well, it's currently multi-bid, but a significant enough of a jump from conferences like the MVC as a whole (take out Gonzaga, and it's like CAA). Who knows how long the thing between Gonzaga and St. Mary's works out, and how often others in the pack put up mildly impressive seasons. It's a good league, but I think BYU's recruiting in the sport will suffer for it.

Personally, I think the WCC is great...but it's a relationship of mutual convenience. Kind of like a smaller, fully private A-10 of the west. Great for the hoops.

panite Wrote:If BYU does not make the cut in the next realignment aka make it into the B-12 if and when they expand, they will rejoin the MWC on their own terms aka Boise type terms plus control all of their TV revenue beyond 1st tier conference games which was one of the major reasons as to why they left in the first place.

I don't think they want to be in a conference with schools they left behind over a decade ago. Television was part of their leaving for independence, but it was more of a stature thing. Losing both Utah and TCU forced this conference to re-absorb old conference-mates that BYU was instrumental in precluding when forming the MWC. It's one thing to share...it's another when it's with whom you're sharing.

BYU was willing to put their Olympic sports into the WAC with Benson again for 4 or 5 games a year to enable their independent football schedule while they experimented with with football independence before the MWC ripped the WAC a part when the conference got wind of it. When BYU tires of trying to fill its late October and November schedules and tires of going to the same one or two bowls along with being shut out of the play off at large spot, it will regroup with the MWC on its own terms after striking out with the B-12 again if that move doesn't happen. All they will have to do is look like they are approaching the AAC with a deal and the MWC commissioner will give them everything they want.

BYU has shown its willingness to make its own best future. It did so when it decided to form all new new conference (the MW) and did so when it chose independence. I also seriously doubt they want to be in a conference with Utah State, so I don't think the current MW is likely an option.

I could easily see BYU forming something with some of it's old MW buddies and some of the schools of the AAC.

West

BYU
Boise
SDSU
Fresno
UNLV
Houston
SMU
Air Force

EAST

(8 of the following schools)
UConn
Temple
Navy/VCU Olympics
Cinci
Memphis
ECU
USF
UCF
Tulane
S Miss
Tulsa

I can't see this best of rest conference being too big or it defeats the purpose of leaving the MWC or AAC. But it would still have to be big enough for divisions, so 12 seems to be a good number.

west
BYU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State

East
UConn, Cincy, USF, UCF, Houston, Memphis

Yeah, but its nationwide and part of the power of a nationwide conference would be being large enough to have draw in most regions of the country. If your going to leave areas uncovered, its going to be areas like New Mexico that only have 2 million people in the entire state. With a 9 game schedule, a 16 team league allows 2 cross divisional games, so you at least have some contact with the other division. The idea in such a spread out conference would be to utilize divisional play for non revenue sports. A 16 team conference with 2 8 team divisions allows for moderately regional divisional play for non-revenue sports. The 16 team size also allows the conference to get representatives in more areas of the county thus making it more attractive to TV. Heres my picks.


WEST

BYU
SDSU
Fresno
Air Force
SDSU
UNLV
Houston
SMU

EAST

UConn
Temple
Navy (football only)--with VCU or UMass Olympic Sports
Cinci
Temple
Memphis
UCF
USF


New Mexico, Colorado St, Tulsa, and Tulane get looks as #9 in the west in an 18 team model. Army, Tulane, and S Miss are the primary additional options in the east for a #9. Personally, I don't like the 18 team model because it limits contact with the other division to one crummy game a year.

(06-23-2013 11:29 AM)goofus Wrote:  I can't see this best of rest conference being too big or it defeats the purpose of leaving the MWC or AAC. But it would still have to be big enough for divisions, so 12 seems to be a good number.

west
BYU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State

East
UConn, Cincy, USF, UCF, Houston, Memphis

This was the obvious answer for these schools, but some were attracted to the Big East's AQ status like moths to a flame. Didn't we all have an idea that playoff's were coming and that at minimum the Big East's AQ status was on shaky ground? If any of these schools want to be part of the "haves" then they need to pony up the exit fees and make this conference happen in the next 2-3 years so that they can gain some legitimacy before the GoRs begin to expire.

(06-23-2013 12:12 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 11:29 AM)goofus Wrote:  I can't see this best of rest conference being too big or it defeats the purpose of leaving the MWC or AAC. But it would still have to be big enough for divisions, so 12 seems to be a good number.

west
BYU, Boise, SDSU, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State

East
UConn, Cincy, USF, UCF, Houston, Memphis

This was the obvious answer for these schools, but some were attracted to the Big East's AQ status like moths to a flame. Didn't we all have an idea that playoff's were coming and that at minimum the Big East's AQ status was on shaky ground? If any of these schools want to be part of the "haves" then they need to pony up the exit fees and make this conference happen in the next 2-3 years so that they can gain some legitimacy before the GoRs begin to expire.

Its going to require that BYU either lead the effort, or at least be fully on board with the effort---otherwise, its never going to get off the ground. I don't see BYU being ready to do something like this for a while. They will want to know that the Big-12 isn't calling anytime soon and that they are not happy with independence. Personally, I think its more likely we see some sort of Notre Dame type of agreement between BYU and an existing G-5 conference (probably the MW or AAC) than the creation of a nationwide "best of the rest" conference that includes BYU. Understand, I'd much prefer the "best of the rest" concept, but Im afraid a Notre Dame deal is far more likely.

(06-23-2013 10:56 AM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  I think BYU will stay Indy just as ND and Army does. They aren't going back to the MWC. I think they are perfectly happy with their current arrangement. The only thing that would change is when the Big 12 decides to go back to 12...my bet is on Cincy and BYU then.

Cinn and BYU seem to be the prime contenders since the ACC circled the wagons with the GOR. Especially since the ACC teams they were trolling for didn't take the bait and the B-12 therefore could not set their hook. Also the B-12 burnt itself in the L'Ville sweepstakes too other wise you would be looking at the current B-12 plus L'Ville and Cinn or BYU to get back to 12 teams and a Championship Game. With that said UConn would be heading to the ACC next year in place of L'Ville to replace Maryland.

I think BYU would be an easier get than people realize. The PAC is never going to invite BYU. The BigXii negotiations did not go well, and I think that bridge is pretty much burned. When BYU went Indy it was in the wake of peers Utah and TCU moving up and with strong scheduling agreements with ND and Texas (who at the time was very much promoting the idea of Indy themselves). With UT reinvested in the BigXii, ND canceling scheduled games (which almost assuredly includes its obligation to appear in Provo), and TCU/Utah opening up a wide revenue and recruiting gap, the only real positive to come from independence was the exposure provided by BYUTV. If the conference can assure no Sunday play and find a way for BYU to retain some content for BYU-TV (something akin to the LHN) then I think it would be workable.

PS: the AAC/BigEast and MWC sure blew a lot of opportunities. It seemed pretty clear to me that the BE's BB/FB schism was going to break that conference, although it took longer than I expected. As for the MWC, I never understood why Houston and BOise weren't added in the mid 2000's. I think we would have gone down a best of the rest path had either Big East FB split off earlier or had Houston been paired up with Boise/SDSU/BYU earlier.

(06-23-2013 02:12 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  PS: the AAC/BigEast and MWC sure blew a lot of opportunities. It seemed pretty clear to me that the BE's BB/FB schism was going to break that conference, although it took longer than I expected. As for the MWC, I never understood why Houston and BOise weren't added in the mid 2000's. I think we would have gone down a best of the rest path had either Big East FB split off earlier or had Houston been paired up with Boise/SDSU/BYU earlier.

Since Boise went on its run, Ive always been interested in something that would get those schools in the same conference......I really thought it was very close to happening there for a while. That's probably the biggest disappointment I have with the how things turned out with the AAC.

I'd be willing to bet that BYU would be more likely to take a FB only membership to the American than a membership to the MWC. They would prefer to play in the markets of the American, which could go to 14 (12 all sports, 2 FB only) in that set up. They could still play west coast teams OOC. A Western Division could look like this....

BYU (FB)
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
Tulane
Memphis
UTEP (as #14)

Would leave the East like this...

Navy (FB)
UConn
Temple
Cincy
ECU
UCF
USF

But at this point the money isn't there in either conference...they still make more on their own from ESPN in football. If the money went was there I would bet they would take it. Of course if they could get a Boise deal from the MWC, maybe they consider that as well.

(06-23-2013 02:44 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  I'd be willing to bet that BYU would be more likely to take a FB only membership to the American than a membership to the MWC. They would prefer to play in the markets of the American, which could go to 14 (12 all sports, 2 FB only) in that set up. They could still play west coast teams OOC. A Western Division could look like this....

BYU (FB)
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
Tulane
Memphis
UTEP (as #14)

Would leave the East like this...

Navy (FB)
UConn
Temple
Cincy
ECU
UCF
USF

But at this point the money isn't there in either conference...they still make more on their own from ESPN in football. If the money went was there I would bet they would take it. Of course if they could get a Boise deal from the MWC, maybe they consider that as well.

The American and MWC are both doomed by the dead weight at the bottom. The only answer for the better schools in those conferences is addition by subtraction.

(06-23-2013 02:44 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  I'd be willing to bet that BYU would be more likely to take a FB only membership to the American than a membership to the MWC. They would prefer to play in the markets of the American, which could go to 14 (12 all sports, 2 FB only) in that set up. They could still play west coast teams OOC. A Western Division could look like this....

BYU (FB)
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
Tulane
Memphis
UTEP (as #14)

Would leave the East like this...

Navy (FB)
UConn
Temple
Cincy
ECU
UCF
USF

But at this point the money isn't there in either conference...they still make more on their own from ESPN in football. If the money went was there I would bet they would take it. Of course if they could get a Boise deal from the MWC, maybe they consider that as well.

I would think BYU and Boise would make a lot more sense than BYU and UTEP.

This thread got me thinking-what about a football-only conference?

The AAC chased too many competing interests: TV payout, academic prestige, general sports funding, strong basketball & strong football. They took a little of everything & going by the comments in this thread, wound up pleasing no one. A football-only conference would allow a more narrow focus. Teams would be free to place their olympics sports in a conference that mollifies those other concerns. BYU found a good home for olympic sports in another conference. Ditto Army, Navy & Hawaii. Once the Big East buyout finishes, maybe some of the other AAC schools could park their sports in the A10?

Boise & AFA are cool but both would probably prefer to stay with the MWC. Neither has a natural home for olympic sports. Maybe the WCC could bend the rules for AFA paired with Denver. Maybe Boise feels less slighted renting a spot in the Big West if everyone else in the conference has to find a home for other sports. I doubt it. AFA is comfortable in the Front-Range & Boise gets a sweetheart deal from the MWC.

I don't mean to get too specific about who "deserves" in & invite pissing matches between fan bases. I'm just trying to get an idea of who would even want in. It's a non-starter unless you could scrape together about 8-10 programs. Mostly, I wonder if the AAC-to-the-A10 idea could ever work.

(06-23-2013 02:30 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  
Since Boise went on its run, Ive always been interested in something that would get those schools in the same conference......I really thought it was very close to happening there for a while. That's probably the biggest disappointment I have with the how things turned out with the AAC.

It's too bad the C7 didn't bolt earlier. Had the Big East/AAC been in a position to approach Boise, SDSU, UNLV, and BYU as all sports members it would have happened. The Big East essentially screwed up its FB future by catering to the BB schools. Had the C7 actually been invested in the Big East conference, they could have worked out a scheduling deal with the WCC to find an all sports home for Boise, SDSU, UNM, and UNLV. If I were a fan of an AAC school I would despise the C7 for screwing up the conference's football prospects and then leaving.

(06-23-2013 03:05 PM)IronOrr Wrote:  This thread got me thinking-what about a football-only conference?

The AAC chased too many competing interests: TV payout, academic prestige, general sports funding, strong basketball & strong football. They took a little of everything & going by the comments in this thread, wound up pleasing no one. A football-only conference would allow a more narrow focus. Teams would be free to place their olympics sports in a conference that mollifies those other concerns. BYU found a good home for olympic sports in another conference. Ditto Army, Navy & Hawaii. Once the Big East buyout finishes, maybe some of the other AAC schools could park their sports in the A10?

Boise & AFA are cool but both would probably prefer to stay with the MWC. Neither has a natural home for olympic sports. Maybe the WCC could bend the rules for AFA paired with Denver. Maybe Boise feels less slighted renting a spot in the Big West if everyone else in the conference has to find a home for other sports. I doubt it. AFA is comfortable in the Front-Range & Boise gets a sweetheart deal from the MWC.

I don't mean to get too specific about who "deserves" in & invite pissing matches between fan bases. I'm just trying to get an idea of who would even want in. It's a non-starter unless you could scrape together about 8-10 programs. Mostly, I wonder if the AAC-to-the-A10 idea could ever work.

NCAA rules don't allow FBS "football only" conferences. By rule, 8 members must play a certain number of Olympic sports together in order to sponsor FBS football. In other words, an FBS football league is merely a sponsored sport of a fully functioning D-1 Olympic conference. An FBS conference can have a few "football only" members, as long as at least 8 FBS schools within the league play the required number of Olympic sports together in a single D-1 conference and that conference sponsors the FBS league.

(06-23-2013 03:05 PM)IronOrr Wrote:  This thread got me thinking-what about a football-only conference?

The AAC chased too many competing interests: TV payout, academic prestige, general sports funding, strong basketball & strong football. They took a little of everything & going by the comments in this thread, wound up pleasing no one. A football-only conference would allow a more narrow focus. Teams would be free to place their olympics sports in a conference that mollifies those other concerns. BYU found a good home for olympic sports in another conference. Ditto Army, Navy & Hawaii. Once the Big East buyout finishes, maybe some of the other AAC schools could park their sports in the A10?

Boise & AFA are cool but both would probably prefer to stay with the MWC. Neither has a natural home for olympic sports. Maybe the WCC could bend the rules for AFA paired with Denver. Maybe Boise feels less slighted renting a spot in the Big West if everyone else in the conference has to find a home for other sports. I doubt it. AFA is comfortable in the Front-Range & Boise gets a sweetheart deal from the MWC.

I don't mean to get too specific about who "deserves" in & invite pissing matches between fan bases. I'm just trying to get an idea of who would even want in. It's a non-starter unless you could scrape together about 8-10 programs. Mostly, I wonder if the AAC-to-the-A10 idea could ever work.

That's exactly how the AAC failed to attract western teams in the first place. Any "best of" conference needs to be football first, all sports, and unified. I actually think the best conference would be 10 teams, all sports. UCONN, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Houston, BYU, Boise, UNM, UNLV, SDSU. Round robin in football and annual H-H in BBall establish unity.

Petition the NCAA to allow a "conference championship game" between this conference and the BigXii during CCG week. If the Big Xii, balks, it makes this conference more aggressive and confident.

(06-23-2013 03:20 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-23-2013 03:05 PM)IronOrr Wrote:  This thread got me thinking-what about a football-only conference?

The AAC chased too many competing interests: TV payout, academic prestige, general sports funding, strong basketball & strong football. They took a little of everything & going by the comments in this thread, wound up pleasing no one. A football-only conference would allow a more narrow focus. Teams would be free to place their olympics sports in a conference that mollifies those other concerns. BYU found a good home for olympic sports in another conference. Ditto Army, Navy & Hawaii. Once the Big East buyout finishes, maybe some of the other AAC schools could park their sports in the A10?

Boise & AFA are cool but both would probably prefer to stay with the MWC. Neither has a natural home for olympic sports. Maybe the WCC could bend the rules for AFA paired with Denver. Maybe Boise feels less slighted renting a spot in the Big West if everyone else in the conference has to find a home for other sports. I doubt it. AFA is comfortable in the Front-Range & Boise gets a sweetheart deal from the MWC.

I don't mean to get too specific about who "deserves" in & invite pissing matches between fan bases. I'm just trying to get an idea of who would even want in. It's a non-starter unless you could scrape together about 8-10 programs. Mostly, I wonder if the AAC-to-the-A10 idea could ever work.

NCAA rules don't allow FBS "football only" conferences. By rule, 8 members must play a certain number of Olympic sports together in order to sponsor FBS football. In other words, an FBS football league is merely a sponsored sport of a fully functioning D-1 Olympic conference. An FBS conference can have a few "football only" members, as long as at least 8 FBS schools within the league play the required number of Olympic sports together in a single D-1 conference and that conference sponsors the FBS league.

OK, I was thinking of the Pioneer league but they're FCS. Got it.

Was basketball ever on the table for BYU's Big East invitation? If not, should it have been? I kind of think there was more to that failed pairing than the Big East's lack of cohesion...

Who knows about the potential for a best-of conference. I just think the inventory's out there to build one, with probably the biggest non-P5'er out there in independent land, as well as the geography component no longer as prohibitive as maybe it was in the past (or maybe it is, and we'll see it soon enough). Also, you have programs moving a lot of money around in terms of facility upgrades and whatnot...all of this just for $1-2m of television coin? I don't think so...

(06-23-2013 08:17 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Was basketball ever on the table for BYU's Big East invitation? If not, should it have been? I kind of think there was more to that failed pairing than the Big East's lack of cohesion...

Who knows about the potential for a best-of conference. I just think the inventory's out there to build one, with probably the biggest non-P5'er out there in independent land, as well as the geography component no longer as prohibitive as maybe it was in the past (or maybe it is, and we'll see it soon enough). Also, you have programs moving a lot of money around in terms of facility upgrades and whatnot...all of this just for $1-2m of television coin? I don't think so...

The Big East missed a great opportunity. They had a pretty good idea, but they were always somewhat limited in their objectives out west. If they had thought a little bigger, if they had been a little bolder, and if the C-7 had announced their intention to leave a little earlier in the game---things may have turned out much differently.

(06-23-2013 07:27 AM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  I don't think the point of the American is to compare it to the P5 conferences...Its not one of those...and its not supposed to be. That is the biggest difference between it and the Big East, which was a "pretend" football conference. It only had 8 members, which ultimately led to its downfall, IMO. If it wanted to be a power conference, it would have had to build up more football programs to support that title. 8 was most definitely not enough.

Now the conference will stand on its own and although the other G5 conferences want to see it fail, they are in the position to have to make something happen. We have seen a team or two make some noise, but the conferences as a whole have not. What the American has is the ability to makes moves nationally from multiple programs no matter what sport. Having multiple quality programs are the biggest aspirations for the MAC or Sun Belt and may be unattainable going forward. CUSA will remain to be seen...the MWC may have that ability because of its geographic advantages.

It is going to take a few years to see American Conf attention transpire in the national media...but results eventually will garner attention and respect. OOC scheduling is paramount, this is not an anytime, anywhere conference...OOC schedules have to be strategically worked out to give American programs the ability to win OOC games...that means home and home scheduling, more neutral site games in basketball, and no body bag games.

I don't think it is fair to say that other G5 conferences want to see the AAC fail. Rather, what I think is that the other four conferences want to see a conference that in all manners except its newness is perfectly representative of a G5 conference return to the same status that the rest of them suffer from.

What you say about individual teams making noise while whole conferences have not is absolutely true, and is the bane of the G5's existence. This fact alone gives the P5 its prime excuse when putting down the successful G5 teams: competition.

The part about the AAC making moves nationally while other conferences lack that is not true. All conferences can make moves nationally. That is a factor of wins and losses, not of prestige. In terms of having schools positioned for those wins and losses, all of the G5 have that factor to some degree. To use CUSA as an example, their outlook is more long term with three football startups in universities in large cities with existing large athletic departments. Add to that additions like Western Kentucky with their basketball history, ODU with their women's basketball history, FAU and UTSA with recent baseball success, and MTSU with its all-around sports success, and you have a conference that has reason to be optimistic in the long term before you even get to the five holdovers. The other three conferences also have their reasons to see the glass as half-full...the AAC has no monopoly in this area.

AAC's positioning as a representative of the G5 is goin to hurt it in the media in the long term. Results can cause a flair up of attention on occasion, but in general, the G5's accomplishments are always going to get pushed off the front page the moment some P5 recruit wakes up early in the morning and puts his t-shirt on backwards in the darkness.

In theory OOC scheduling is where the AAC could differentiate itself. The conference deliberately went after programs in large cities with capital improvement projects in the works. These types of things intrigue P5 opponents...especially those with major alumni bases in the city. In practice, the brutal economics of being in the G5 are going to bring the AAC down to the level of the other four conferences, where buy games are a fact of life, and P5 teams don't play neutral site without guarantees that are often embarrassing confirmation of the G5 team's stature in the world of amateur athletics.

(06-23-2013 07:40 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(06-22-2013 01:20 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  BYU is a great fit in the multi-bid WCC where all members are private, religious institutions. Why leave that?

Well, it's currently multi-bid, but a significant enough of a jump from conferences like the MVC as a whole (take out Gonzaga, and it's like CAA). Who knows how long the thing between Gonzaga and St. Mary's works out, and how often others in the pack put up mildly impressive seasons. It's a good league, but I think BYU's recruiting in the sport will suffer for it.

Personally, I think the WCC is great...but it's a relationship of mutual convenience. Kind of like a smaller, fully private A-10 of the west. Great for the hoops.

Pacific coming back to the WCC should help the conference's cause.