(02-13-2014 08:27 AM)indycat Wrote:  Heard Mo Egger driving home yesterday; he had contacted the AAC office to get an explanation for why UC wasn't playing UCF. The response was that the schedule was done in July 2013 but aside from a lot of other doubletalk from the conference media guy there really was no plausible explanation why this game won't happen.

I can't imagine any scenario where a new conference struggling to create some national identity and fan interest wouldn't have a game between what are arguably the two best teams in the conference.

Maybe they were afraid UC wouldn't be hanging around the AAC for that game. We could only hope.

That part makes zero sense to me. If schedules are done years in advance, why don't conferences release them in 2 or 3-year buckets at a time?

(02-13-2014 08:31 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:27 AM)indycat Wrote:  Heard Mo Egger driving home yesterday; he had contacted the AAC office to get an explanation for why UC wasn't playing UCF. The response was that the schedule was done in July 2013 but aside from a lot of other doubletalk from the conference media guy there really was no plausible explanation why this game won't happen.

I can't imagine any scenario where a new conference struggling to create some national identity and fan interest wouldn't have a game between what are arguably the two best teams in the conference.

Maybe they were afraid UC wouldn't be hanging around the AAC for that game. We could only hope.

That part makes zero sense to me. If schedules are done years in advance, why don't conferences release them in 2 or 3-year buckets at a time?

UC had UCF, Boise State, and SDSU on its conference schedule before everything fell apart. I tend to believe the league found a formula that worked and stuck with it. Good chance UC plays UCF in 2015 in my view. Long term if UC is in the American unless they are in the same division with the them its not like they will play UCF every season. The Knights could fall back to the pack next season and fans will be happy that Houston and ECU are at home because those games will decide the league championship. UCF didn't dominate the league last season, they won a bunch of close games and got great QB play. Maybe they are just decent and skipping them won't be a big deal.

We have to hope that all of the conference teams step up, including UC. UC struggled to beat some teams in the league and lost to USF last year. What is the guarantee that UC is going to win all of their conference games this year?

Houston has great potential. They bring back a very good QB and they will be in a new stadium. ECU has great potential.

Is it the SEC? Of course not! It's only been a football league for a year though. I'm willing to give it a chance - what other choice do I (we) have? Everybody is saying UC will be getting an upgrade in conferences but I sure haven't read anything that makes me believe it. So all that I can hope for is that the conference UC is in gets better each year. It got off to a pretty good start with UCF winning a BCS game.

(02-13-2014 08:45 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:31 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:27 AM)indycat Wrote:  Heard Mo Egger driving home yesterday; he had contacted the AAC office to get an explanation for why UC wasn't playing UCF. The response was that the schedule was done in July 2013 but aside from a lot of other doubletalk from the conference media guy there really was no plausible explanation why this game won't happen.

I can't imagine any scenario where a new conference struggling to create some national identity and fan interest wouldn't have a game between what are arguably the two best teams in the conference.

Maybe they were afraid UC wouldn't be hanging around the AAC for that game. We could only hope.

That part makes zero sense to me. If schedules are done years in advance, why don't conferences release them in 2 or 3-year buckets at a time?

UC had UCF, Boise State, and SDSU on its conference schedule before everything fell apart. I tend to believe the league found a formula that worked and stuck with it. Good chance UC plays UCF in 2015 in my view. Long term if UC is in the American unless they are in the same division with the them its not like they will play UCF every season. The Knights could fall back to the pack next season and fans will be happy that Houston and ECU are at home because those games will decide the league championship. UCF didn't dominate the league last season, they won a bunch of close games and got great QB play. Maybe they are just decent and skipping them won't be a big deal.

You'd have to think with the recent history of success UCF has had on the football field, in a very similar trajectory as Cincinnati, the AAC would have banked on neither of them falling off a cliff after one season. Maybe Central Florida or UC falls to the middle of the pack but based on that recent history chances they probably won't.

(02-13-2014 08:10 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The biggest issue regarding attendance is going to be game dates and times not who UC plays.

We will have to wait and see, but I fear this schedule just screams Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night games.

(02-13-2014 09:02 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:45 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:31 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:27 AM)indycat Wrote:  Heard Mo Egger driving home yesterday; he had contacted the AAC office to get an explanation for why UC wasn't playing UCF. The response was that the schedule was done in July 2013 but aside from a lot of other doubletalk from the conference media guy there really was no plausible explanation why this game won't happen.

I can't imagine any scenario where a new conference struggling to create some national identity and fan interest wouldn't have a game between what are arguably the two best teams in the conference.

Maybe they were afraid UC wouldn't be hanging around the AAC for that game. We could only hope.

That part makes zero sense to me. If schedules are done years in advance, why don't conferences release them in 2 or 3-year buckets at a time?

UC had UCF, Boise State, and SDSU on its conference schedule before everything fell apart. I tend to believe the league found a formula that worked and stuck with it. Good chance UC plays UCF in 2015 in my view. Long term if UC is in the American unless they are in the same division with the them its not like they will play UCF every season. The Knights could fall back to the pack next season and fans will be happy that Houston and ECU are at home because those games will decide the league championship. UCF didn't dominate the league last season, they won a bunch of close games and got great QB play. Maybe they are just decent and skipping them won't be a big deal.

You'd have to think with the recent history of success UCF has had on the football field, in a very similar trajectory as Cincinnati, the AAC would have banked on neither of them falling off a cliff after one season. Maybe Central Florida or UC falls to the middle of the pack but based on that recent history chances they probably won't.

Correct. UCF won 9 games in 2009, 10 games in 2010, 5 in 2011, 10 in 2012, and 12 in 2013. 2011 was a really weird year where UCF lost 6 games by a TD or less.

UC has been similar.

The AAC could see this.

(02-13-2014 09:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:10 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The biggest issue regarding attendance is going to be game dates and times not who UC plays.

We will have to wait and see, but I fear this schedule just screams Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night games.

Yes - that is a problem.

(02-13-2014 09:32 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 09:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:10 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The biggest issue regarding attendance is going to be game dates and times not who UC plays.

We will have to wait and see, but I fear this schedule just screams Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night games.

Yes - that is a problem.

I have not missed a more than a couple home games in 25 years and will have season tickets at PBS awaiting my new pavilion seats at NIP but Tuesday, Weds games may find me trying to sell my tickets on Stubhub for $10. The AAC can stick them where the sun don't shine.

I will most likelyy make Tuesday and Wednesday games, but I will come alone. On Saturdays, I will bring my wife and daughter along. On Fridays, none of us will be there.

Let's hope we get some Saturday late afternoon or night games. I love those.

(02-13-2014 09:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 08:10 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The biggest issue regarding attendance is going to be game dates and times not who UC plays.

We will have to wait and see, but I fear this schedule just screams Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night games.

The Wed game last season was a joke. A Thursday or Friday night game is ok.
Tuesday is off limits to the ACC, the TV contract does not allow for that and for a Wed night game it is very very limited for the conference.

It's not that I'm unwilling to give this conference a chance or that I am upset about not having UCF on the schedule, it's the totality of it all. Sort of like, you know summer vacation is going to end and then one day it does. I know most of this is old hat, but Syracuse, Pitt, WV, and now UL are gone and replaced with Tulane, Memphis, Temple etc etc. The ironic thing is national respect didn't come (as much as was deserved) anyway when we were outpacing those more storied programs, so I guess I shouldn't care. But there is a reason every Bearcat fan wants out so, just whispering to a stream I guess. I know there are really good players on these teams and that some of these programs are on the rise. I figure once we are in the thick of it, I will feel better about the situation and just want to beat their arses. Now just seems like a point in time to reflect where we have been and where we are going. Whatever the case, I will be supportive as ever.

I cant wait to see my favorite team play at home and away.