(01-29-2016 11:42 AM)Kittonhead Wrote: (01-29-2016 10:47 AM)Baylorbears11 Wrote: If the AAC had two schools poached, I'd be curious to see where they go with expansion. Assuming the two are some combination of Cincy/Memphis/Houston/UConn, I could see the AAC going several directions. They could try to rebuild their eastern presence with Ohio and UMASS, they could go for more southern penetration with UAB and UTSA, or they could make a push out west to cripple the MWC and become the dominant G5 by taking BSU, CSU, BYU and UNLV. Going to 14/16 might seem impractical for a monetary standpoint, but I think the next tv contracts are going to be all about trimming fat. ESPN can pay more for the AAC if it means that they are no longer paying the MWC as much. A gutted MWC is far less valuable than an AAC with the most valuable MWC properties. This becomes more true the further down you go.
What Boren is saying is the B12 will take BYU/UConn to max out the value of the B12 network.
That means the AAC isn't going West for expansion and its opening is in the East.
Army-They may feel pressure if the B12 moves to 12 with BYU to take the last opening for a while in the AAC.
UMass-The school might be willing to accept an AAC football only membership. This allows the AAC to keep its TV contract for FB at 12 with out adding travel or cutting into the basketball pie.
Buffalo-If the AAC is thinking all sport member that plays decent football Buffalo could be a choice worth considering. Its hard to ignore the state of NY and its 20 million people.
ODU-A good compromise pick between the southern and East Coast contingencies in the AAC. The school is lacking tradition at the top level of college sports.
Ohio-This school is a former conference mate of Cincinnati, Temple and UCF. Has expansions drafted for both its FB and BB arenas to take them to the AAC level. I think if Cincinnati leaves the AAC it doesn't make sense for Ohio to consider.
Why on earth would one take UMass as a football only?
There is one strategy that is best for the AAC if they are poached, but I doubt it works. Go west. Offer Air Force and Colorado St as a package. Or, go even bigger and offer 4 MW schools as a package (all sports full membership invites).
If that doesn't work---and I don't think it will since it will be a weakened AAC trying to pull it off---I think they would have 2 choices. Stand pat---or become a true "student athlete" conference built around a solid academic reputation (ACC light).
First, you take Wichita to restock basketball. Then, you add UMass and Buffalo (USNWP #75 and an AAU school). That puts every AAC school but one in the USNWR top 200, with many in the top 100.
At that point, the AAC would have Temple, UMass, Navy, and Buffalo in the northeast (maybe UConn too, depending on who was taken). Now have Aresco go talk to Army, as that's a division I think Army could fit into.
If you get Army, you can go back to AF with one slot left and say--"Hey, do you want to join a conference with the other 2 academies? Last chance---and you're on the clock."
If they join, that's a conference with solid academic credentials, a real identity, and a some decent TV value. Im personally not a big fan of the UMass/Buffalo thing because their attendance is bad and their programs are weak in football performance---but I could see presidents doing something like that.
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American looking at CUSA teams?
That was awesome!
