Southern Miss has been the odd man out when it comes to conference realignment, but there's a chance that could change in the not too distant future.

With the Big 12 possibly deciding to expand this summer, the American Athletic Conference is almost sure to feel the impact.

Southern Miss athletic director Bill McGillis is making sure USM’s case for the AAC is heard. He made the trip to Orlando this weekend to attend the AAC Tournament in Orlando.

SUN HERALD: Big 12 expansions could give Southern Miss shot at AAC

I'm sure it's been said, many times and many ways, but at least Billy Mac is *trying*.

I'd very much miss USM but could not blame them for the move. I can't even argue that it would be lateral like I used to claim.

If the AAC loses any teams I feel like they're not going to remain at 10. Currently they only have 8 baseball schools (Temple, SMU, Tulsa, and Navy don't play) so if they lose any of the 5or 6 that have been mentioned they'll be down to possibly 6 baseball schools. I realize baseball isn't what's driving expansion but it's something that has to be considered as a conference sponsored sport. Whether it is USM or someone else it's a given IMO that they'll go back to 10.

It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Probably the AD's of all the teams knocked out of the conference USA tourney are in Orlando now, politicking.

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

IMO, ULL & GaSt are probably the two programs CUSA would have a chance of "poaching" from the Belt right now. ULL, most likely in order to realign with old rivals who moved over to CUSA and GaSt, simply because they are a better overall regional fit. Again - just IMO.

Good luck to USM in their aspirations to move up to the AAC.

It would be hilarious if FIU, FAU, or UTSA got the invite after they have been lampooned by nearly everyone else in this conference. The chances of that happening are slim but I would love it.

It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

Anyone (especially any CUSA holdover) who says they don't want to be in the AAC is likely full of ****.

(03-12-2016 02:50 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

Not all USM fans. The writer that wrote that article has never been liked by the majority of USM fans . Now, he seems to be greatest writer in the world. I will be damned if I am going to get all worked up and salivate like a dog in heat over this stuff. If it happens, so be it, but as I have said, this conference is where we are and I think if we win while in this conference, we will be fine.

Competitively, there's not much difference. 85 scholarships and all. It's a lateral move mostly. Fewer newbies. Houston! Crickets.

(03-12-2016 02:00 PM)Southern Miss Alum Wrote:  Southern Miss has been the odd man out when it comes to conference realignment, but there's a chance that could change in the not too distant future.

With the Big 12 possibly deciding to expand this summer, the American Athletic Conference is almost sure to feel the impact.

Southern Miss athletic director Bill McGillis is making sure USM’s case for the AAC is heard. He made the trip to Orlando this weekend to attend the AAC Tournament in Orlando.

SUN HERALD: Big 12 expansions could give Southern Miss shot at AAC

Nice thread to post during a conference championship game. Holy crap it's not always about you guys.

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Why wouldn't the AAC just add LA Tech?

1) It's been firmly established now that "large market" schools have zero advantage over "smaller market" schools when it comes to conference TV contracts.

2)LA Tech has very competitive football and basketball programs. Some of the best football and basketball wins in CUSA have been by the Bulldogs.

3) Just in the last two years, the LA Tech football team has won 18 games and 2 Bowl championships, including wins over Illinois from the Big Ten and Ark St, which was undefeated in the SBC. LA Tech also has 3 players participating in the NFL combine, more than some entire conferences.

4) The Bulldog mens basketball team has won over 100 games the last 4 years and won 3 straight conference regular season championships (2 in CUSA & 1 in the WAC) before finally finishing 3rd and winning only 23 games this year. LA Tech also boasts having players win back-to-back CUSA "Player of the Year" awards.

5) LA Tech travels very well as as conference mate

6) LA Tech is a Tier One national university in academics as rated by US News and World Report. There are only 3 Tier One national universities in CUSA (Rice UNCC and LA Tech) and 2 in the state of Louisiana (LSU & LA Tech), and LA Tech is counted in both.

7) Oh....and LA Tech beats ULL at everything.

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

I thought they were going straight to the Big 12? Hopefully we can get those clowns back on our FB schedule soon instead of an FCS school.

(03-12-2016 04:31 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Why wouldn't the AAC just add LA Tech?

1) It's been firmly established now that "large market" schools have zero advantage over "smaller market" schools when it comes to conference TV contracts.

2)LA Tech has very competitive football and basketball programs. Some of the best football and basketball wins in CUSA have been by the Bulldogs.

3) Just in the last two years, the LA Tech football team has won 18 games and 2 Bowl championships, including wins over Illinois from the Big Ten and Ark St, which was undefeated in the SBC. LA Tech also has 3 players participating in the NFL combine, more than some entire conferences.

4) The Bulldog mens basketball team has won over 100 games the last 4 years and won 3 straight conference regular season championships (2 in CUSA & 1 in the WAC) before finally finishing 3rd and winning only 23 games this year. LA Tech also boasts having players win back-to-back CUSA "Player of the Year" awards.

5) LA Tech travels very well as as conference mate

6) LA Tech is a Tier One national university in academics as rated by US News and World Report. There are only 3 Tier One national universities in CUSA (Rice UNCC and LA Tech) and 2 in the state of Louisiana (LSU & LA Tech), and LA Tech is counted in both.

7) Oh....and LA Tech beats ULL at everything.

There are several CUSA schools that would be a solid addition to that league. LaTech certainly would be.

IA with whoever posted about baseball since AAC only has 8 teams currently and maybe in danger of losing one or two more to Big 12

My post was to point that anyone is replaceable and boo freaking who if someone moves on. It would be irrelevant.

(03-12-2016 04:31 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Why wouldn't the AAC just add LA Tech?

1) It's been firmly established now that "large market" schools have zero advantage over "smaller market" schools when it comes to conference TV contracts.

2)LA Tech has very competitive football and basketball programs. Some of the best football and basketball wins in CUSA have been by the Bulldogs.

3) Just in the last two years, the LA Tech football team has won 18 games and 2 Bowl championships, including wins over Illinois from the Big Ten and Ark St, which was undefeated in the SBC. LA Tech also has 3 players participating in the NFL combine, more than some entire conferences.

4) The Bulldog mens basketball team has won over 100 games the last 4 years and won 3 straight conference regular season championships (2 in CUSA & 1 in the WAC) before finally finishing 3rd and winning only 23 games this year. LA Tech also boasts having players win back-to-back CUSA "Player of the Year" awards.

5) LA Tech travels very well as as conference mate

6) LA Tech is a Tier One national university in academics as rated by US News and World Report. There are only 3 Tier One national universities in CUSA (Rice UNCC and LA Tech) and 2 in the state of Louisiana (LSU & LA Tech), and LA Tech is counted in both.

7) Oh....and LA Tech beats ULL at everything.

It's going to come down to similar budget to the AAC schools and academics... That is who will get the nod

(03-12-2016 04:57 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  It's going to come down to similar budget to the AAC schools and academics... That is who will get the nod

Then ODU is it.