No one likes to be last and the Big 12 is considered last amongst the power conferences. If the American was given power conference status it would do two things for the Big12. One the Big 12 would no longer be considered the last power conference that honor would go to the American and we would accept it with pride. And two when the Big 12 does expanded at some point if the American has power conference status then the Big 12 would have a better group of schools to choose from of course it would be the same group of schools but we would all have upped our status in recruiting money prestige etc. The Big 12 would already know who could compete and grow their program at that level because they would be taking schools that would already be at the Power conference level. They would use us like the ACC used the Big East .

(05-13-2016 07:26 PM)Bleeds_Purple Wrote:  No one likes to be last and the Big 12 is considered last amongst the power conferences. If the American was given power conference status it would do two things for the Big12. One the Big 12 would no longer be considered the last power conference that honor would go to the American and we would accept it with pride. And two when the Big 12 does expanded at some point if the American has power conference status then the Big 12 would have a better group of schools to choose from of course it would be the same group of schools but we would all have upped our status in recruiting money prestige etc. The Big 12 would already know who could compete and grow their program at that level because they would be taking schools that would already be at the Power conference level. They would use us like the ACC used the Big East .

I don't see it happening but its a nice dream.

Not going to happen

What the Big 12 can do is expand to 2 more members then sign a scheduling agreement with the Pac-12 and The American.

That would secure them 10 games after that, right now a majority of these schools have been booking an FCS program, two G5 teams or a G5 program and low-end P5 program.

Here's a thought... If this expansion stuff doesn't come to fruition, it could be a good thing for the AAC. I know it sounds like captain obvious, but I am talking about the unity of the conference. Last season we had 4 teams in the Top 25. Each team in the AAC is stepping it up big time to be the cinderella at the ball.

With everyone building better programs and focused on getting to the top level of Collegiate Athletics, we are all in a great spot. We need to get better. All of us. We need the money to flow. We need more basketball credits and football NY6 games. We need to keep building.

(05-13-2016 08:28 PM)Realignment Wrote:  What the Big 12 can do is expand to 2 more members then sign a scheduling agreement with the Pac-12 and The American.

That would secure them 10 games after that, right now a majority of these schools have been booking an FCS program, two G5 teams or a G5 program and low-end P5 program.

Did you really make an account just for realignment?....

Maybe if the Big12 folds we can pick up the left overs to inch us closer to that P5 status.

My guess is that Iowa St and WVU get left out... Maybe K State... Maybe Baylor... AAC would welcome them openly.

(05-13-2016 08:30 PM)UHCougar07 Wrote:  Here's a thought... If this expansion stuff doesn't come to fruition, it could be a good thing for the AAC. I know it sounds like captain obvious, but I am talking about the unity of the conference. Last season we had 4 teams in the Top 25. Each team in the AAC is stepping it up big time to be the cinderella at the ball.

With everyone building better programs and focused on getting to the top level of Collegiate Athletics, we are all in a great spot. We need to get better. All of us. We need the money to flow. We need more basketball credits and football NY6 games. We need to keep building.

This.

No one predicted the success the AAC has enjoyed at such an early stage.

As the fan of a school in the middle of the expansion rumors... I would be more than happy to remain in this conference if it were granted "power" status, even if we were at a bit of a money disadvantage a la the Big East. I was perfectly happy there and would be perfectly happy here if we could sit somewhere about halfway between the C-USA's/MAC's and Big Ten's/SEC's of the world in terms of TV money.

(05-13-2016 07:26 PM)Bleeds_Purple Wrote:  No one likes to be last and the Big 12 is considered last amongst the power conferences. If the American was given power conference status it would do two things for the Big12. One the Big 12 would no longer be considered the last power conference that honor would go to the American and we would accept it with pride. And two when the Big 12 does expanded at some point if the American has power conference status then the Big 12 would have a better group of schools to choose from of course it would be the same group of schools but we would all have upped our status in recruiting money prestige etc. The Big 12 would already know who could compete and grow their program at that level because they would be taking schools that would already be at the Power conference level. They would use us like the ACC used the Big East .

This is the kind of thinking that has almost ruined college football.

The ACC is clearly the worst of the insiders.

(05-13-2016 08:30 PM)UHCougar07 Wrote:  Here's a thought... If this expansion stuff doesn't come to fruition, it could be a good thing for the AAC. I know it sounds like captain obvious, but I am talking about the unity of the conference. Last season we had 4 teams in the Top 25. Each team in the AAC is stepping it up big time to be the cinderella at the ball.

With everyone building better programs and focused on getting to the top level of Collegiate Athletics, we are all in a great spot. We need to get better. All of us. We need the money to flow. We need more basketball credits and football NY6 games. We need to keep building.

Whether the Big 12 expands now, or not, most of the schools in the AAC are building, and will continue to build, their programs. But not to make the AAC better. To climb the P5 wall before the train leaves the station.

That's always going to be the situation in this conference.

(05-14-2016 09:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 08:30 PM)UHCougar07 Wrote:  Here's a thought... If this expansion stuff doesn't come to fruition, it could be a good thing for the AAC. I know it sounds like captain obvious, but I am talking about the unity of the conference. Last season we had 4 teams in the Top 25. Each team in the AAC is stepping it up big time to be the cinderella at the ball.

With everyone building better programs and focused on getting to the top level of Collegiate Athletics, we are all in a great spot. We need to get better. All of us. We need the money to flow. We need more basketball credits and football NY6 games. We need to keep building.

Whether the Big 12 expands now, or not, most of the schools in the AAC are building, and will continue to build, their programs. But not to make the AAC better. To climb the P5 wall before the train leaves the station.

That's always going to be the situation in this conference.

Never bought the train leaving the station analogy. I know it's instinctive human perception but it's a bit shortsighted IMHO. There have always been individuals and entities standing in the way of the subservient. If history has taught us anything it's that the 'underprivileged' can overcome through hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity. It won't be easy but every school in this conference can have a seat at the table (whether individually or collectively). Forever is a very long time and all you can do is take it a day at a time. Every day we all must continue to strive towards our collective goals. There's a place in the landscape for a 'challenger' league and every school in this conference has warts but we all also has enough history, potential, and drive to continue to carve a nice niche for ourselves.

(05-14-2016 10:56 AM)B easy Wrote:  

(05-14-2016 09:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 08:30 PM)UHCougar07 Wrote:  Here's a thought... If this expansion stuff doesn't come to fruition, it could be a good thing for the AAC. I know it sounds like captain obvious, but I am talking about the unity of the conference. Last season we had 4 teams in the Top 25. Each team in the AAC is stepping it up big time to be the cinderella at the ball.

With everyone building better programs and focused on getting to the top level of Collegiate Athletics, we are all in a great spot. We need to get better. All of us. We need the money to flow. We need more basketball credits and football NY6 games. We need to keep building.

Whether the Big 12 expands now, or not, most of the schools in the AAC are building, and will continue to build, their programs. But not to make the AAC better. To climb the P5 wall before the train leaves the station.

That's always going to be the situation in this conference.

Never bought the train leaving the station analogy. I know it's instinctive human perception but it's a bit shortsighted IMHO. There have always been individuals and entities standing in the way of the subservient. If history has taught us anything it's that the 'underprivileged' can overcome through hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity. It won't be easy but every school in this conference can have a seat at the table (whether individually or collectively). Forever is a very long time and all you can do is take it a day at a time. Every day we all must continue to strive towards our collective goals. There's a place in the landscape for a 'challenger' league and every school in this conference has warts but we all also has enough history, potential, and drive to continue to carve a nice niche for ourselves.

I think the P5 conferences have a different ending in mind.

(05-14-2016 06:40 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  The ACC is clearly the worst of the insiders.

The ACC has more brands by far.

(05-14-2016 06:40 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  The ACC is clearly the worst of the insiders.

I agree...

"Florida State won the 2013 national football championship and a year later qualified for the inaugural College Football Playoff. Clemson reached the CFP final last season, losing an epic title game to Alabama, 45-40.

In men’s basketball, Duke claimed the 2015 NCAA championship, followed by North Carolina and Syracuse advancing to the Final Four this past season. ACC teams won 36 NCAA tournament games the past two years, more than any other two conferences combined -- the Big Ten won 20, the Big 12 and Big East 14 each, the Pacific 12 a dozen, and the SEC nine.

The ACC is the only conference to be represented in the College Football Playoff and men’s basketball Final Four each of the last two years. Moreover, Virginia is the reigning College World Series baseball champion, and an ACC team has reached the NCAA women’s basketball title game three years running."

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-bl...-post.html

AAC just needs to keep winning OOC games like Memphis over Ole Miss, Temple over Penn St., Cincy over Miami, etc.

There are some great opportunities in 2016 that will likely get national television coverage.

Any of the following games would be great for the AAC. 4 or 5 wins out of this group would make a huge statement:

Houston v. Oklahoma in NRG
Florida St. at USF
ECU at Virginia Tech
Memphis at Ole Miss
Temple at Penn St.
Louisville at Houston
ECU at South Carolina
Navy v. Notre Dame

Other games that wouldn't make the same splash on their own, but that collectively would build a solid AAC resume if the AAC schools were to win at least a majority of them:

NC State at ECU
Tulane at Wake Forest
Maryland at UCF
Virginia at UConn
Syracuse at UConn
UConn at Boston College
USF at Syracuse
Cincy at Purdue
Kansas at Memphis

Any AAC wins from the following would be amazing on the national stage, but not needed, as the AAC school will be a substantial underdog:

SMU at Baylor
TCU at SMU
Tulsa at Ohio St.
UCF at Michigan

(05-16-2016 08:47 AM)CardinalJim Wrote:  

(05-14-2016 06:40 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  The ACC is clearly the worst of the insiders.

I agree...

"Florida State won the 2013 national football championship and a year later qualified for the inaugural College Football Playoff. Clemson reached the CFP final last season, losing an epic title game to Alabama, 45-40.

In men’s basketball, Duke claimed the 2015 NCAA championship, followed by North Carolina and Syracuse advancing to the Final Four this past season. ACC teams won 36 NCAA tournament games the past two years, more than any other two conferences combined -- the Big Ten won 20, the Big 12 and Big East 14 each, the Pacific 12 a dozen, and the SEC nine.

The ACC is the only conference to be represented in the College Football Playoff and men’s basketball Final Four each of the last two years. Moreover, Virginia is the reigning College World Series baseball champion, and an ACC team has reached the NCAA women’s basketball title game three years running."

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-bl...-post.html

Which changes nothing. The Big 12 has more at the top and less deadweight. The ACC also has 14.5 teams while the Big 12 is numerically challenged with 10. More BC's, Wake Forests, Virginias and Syracuses. The Big 12 has Kansas (football) and TCU (basketball) as its deadwight.