Aresco Exemplifies What Being a Conference Commissioner is About

http://www.bcsnn.com/aac/777-mike-aresco...er-is.html

I like what Aresco is doing. He is the right man for the job. He sets his goals high but still has a plan and an expectation to achieve those goals. I really love his TV background and emphasis on exposure.

I'm glad he's a lawyer also because he knows how to advocate for all of us. More importantly, he's playing it smart right now; he's acting friendly with the P5 and allowing them to do their thing but still voicing up about the AAC's merit for inclusion.

However, I believe that if the P5 go too far then the gloves come off and we pursue the anti-trust suit because by dictating access to major bowls based off of affiliation as opposed to on field success, a case can be made that it intrinsically creates a monopoly that only serves to further decrease the ability to compete more and more every year (the very thing that US anti-trust laws are meant to combat). The fact that the G5 is underrepresented on the playoff panel and the fact that all other college sports provide a clear path to a national championship only serve to augment the anti-trust argument.

A good lawyer always tries to resolve a dispute amicably. That is what Aresco is doing and he has a lot of close ties to the leadership in the P5. At the same time, I'm sure he's posturing in a way to ensure that we have every opportunity to remain relevant (i.e., he is not giving the P5 headaches but behind closed doors he is likely letting them know that he could if they go too far). Regardless of merit (which I believe we would have a lot of as far as an anti-trust suit is concerned), a good lawyer knows that no one wants to get bogged down in expensive and murky litigation, particularly when there's a chance that the P5 could suffer substantial and game changing loss if we were successful.

I almost kind of miss the fact that quo can't come in and play devil's advocate on this one. Say what you want about the guy but he did always know how to stir things up & that just makes this board a lot more interesting.

I think Aresco knows that, at the end of the day, the P5 *need* a league like the AAC/MWC to compete with.

The reasoning is simple, it's a zero sum game.

If the P5 breakoff and form their own league, who sits at the bottom? Another P5 league/program.

That won't sit well with those presidents/ADs. They need someone's shoulders to stand on top of (rightly or wrongly).

Aresco nailed it with that speech or opening remarks.

(08-01-2014 10:34 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  I almost kind of miss the fact that quo can't come in and play devil's advocate on this one. Say what you want about the guy but he did always know how to stir things up & that just makes this board a lot more interesting.

Did Quo get banned?

I hope every loud, screaming critic of Aresco gives the guy some credit now. This league needs Aresco's passion and connections more than ever right now. If anybody can lead this league to bigger and better things it is Aresco. I am impressed with what I see. This guy took a chance on ECU and got us out on the last life boat from a sinking ship. I will always be grateful for that move by Aresco.

(08-01-2014 10:59 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 10:34 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  I almost kind of miss the fact that quo can't come in and play devil's advocate on this one. Say what you want about the guy but he did always know how to stir things up & that just makes this board a lot more interesting.

Did Quo get banned?

Yep. Captain contrarian got shown the door.

(08-01-2014 11:04 AM)ElectricCoogaloo Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 10:59 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Did Quo get banned?

Yep. Captain contrarian got shown the door.

That seems a bit harsh, but his trolling was absolutely endless.

(08-01-2014 01:05 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 11:04 AM)ElectricCoogaloo Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 10:59 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Did Quo get banned?

Yep. Captain contrarian got shown the door.

That seems a bit harsh, but his trolling was absolutely endless.

The mods do a good here, and it is a thankless job to boot. I would imagine they gave ample warning. I applaud them.

(08-01-2014 10:34 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  I almost kind of miss the fact that quo can't come in and play devil's advocate on this one. Say what you want about the guy but he did always know how to stir things up & that just makes this board a lot more interesting.

One hell of a speech... Very well done Mr. AAC Commissioner.

(08-01-2014 09:02 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  However, I believe that if the P5 go too far then the gloves come off and we pursue the anti-trust suit because by dictating access to major bowls based off of affiliation as opposed to on field success

It will be tough to prove that this is actually happening. On paper nobody has an automatic bid to the playoff. All other bowls are exhibition games that contract directly with the school or conference. Theoretically the Peach Bowl could contract to take the AAC champ whenever it's not hosting a semi-final. To prove collusion we would need to show that the Access Bowls have been told by the P5 that they will be cut out of the playoff rotation if they contract with a G5 conference.

(08-01-2014 10:40 AM)ElectricCoogaloo Wrote:  If the P5 breakoff and form their own league, who sits at the bottom? Another P5 league/program.

That won't sit well with those presidents/ADs. They need someone's shoulders to stand on top of (rightly or wrongly).

You may be overestimating how much power the lower end P5 schools have. Does Alabama care if Vandy goes 0-12 every year? Those lower tier schools might not like being losers, but it might be out of their hands if they want to keep taking those huge paychecks.

I don't think we'll get left out in the end. We invest in ourselves and try to improve and compete and contribute to the sport. They want to get away from the schools that join FBS just to cash a paycheck and make no attempt to compete.

Love to hear the audio/video of this. Anyone know of a link? Doesn't pop up immediately on google.

Found video of Aresco addressing the AAC Presidents: