ECU was voted by coaches as the no. 1 most deserving G5 school to join a P5 conference in the below linked ESPN poll less than 2 years ago after defeating back-to-back top 25 teams & rising up the polls. The flavor of the month or year gets the headlines but it also represents a strong indication that there's a direct and significant correlation between winning and perceived value.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...or128-poll

Luckily the best thing about the AAC is the parity. Virtually all of the programs have the ability to rise up and gain national notoriety from year to year and usually a few schools will do so every year. That's what may end up saving this conference. So much parity that a clear candidate won't ever emerge. We all have our bright spots and we all have our warts. That's why it works. That's why we are all together in the 1st place. A group of schools that don't fit into the P5 mold per se but also don't fit in w/t other conferences either. The best hope IMO is to continue to collectively rise and stay as unified as possible given the unstable climate we all operate in. Let's embrace our outcast status and just hustle harder than everyone else!

Oh look another opinionated expansion thread...

(06-03-2016 01:55 AM)B easy Wrote:  ECU was voted by coaches as the no. 1 most deserving G5 school to join a P5 conference in the below linked ESPN poll less than 2 years ago after defeating back-to-back top 25 teams & rising up the polls. The flavor of the month or year gets the headlines but it also represents a strong indication that there's a direct and significant correlation between winning and perceived value.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...or128-poll

Luckily the best thing about the AAC is the parity. Virtually all of the programs have the ability to rise up and gain national notoriety from year to year and usually a few schools will do so every year. That's what may end up saving this conference. So much parity that a clear candidate won't ever emerge. We all have our bright spots and we all have our warts. That's why it works. That's why we are all together in the 1st place. A group of schools that don't fit into the P5 mold per se but also don't fit in w/t other conferences either. The best hope IMO is to continue to collectively rise and stay as unified as possible given the unstable climate we all operate in. Let's embrace our outcast status and just hustle harder than everyone else!

Lol you go with that. The reason we are together is because some of us haven't taken advantage of time they have been in the big team, others have been screwed by politics, and some are young schools. All of them are the top of the outside looking in. Look at folks trajectory and let that be your guide and that's why ECU is not in the p5.

If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either way. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

We may not be a fit for the B12, but the Philly market is 5x larger than the New Orleans market. Philadelphia alone is larger than the entire New Orleans market.

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

(06-03-2016 09:53 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

I don't disagree but you can buy a lot of really nice facilities with an extra 20 million a year. You need vision when making these decisions which has been what has separated the Big 10 and SEC from the rest. They are always forward thinking hence as the previous poster indicated with the Rutgers and MD additions to the Big 10. Who is to say with the additional funds Tulane couldn't turn its athletic program into something like Baylor's (Minus the recent issues). Baylor for a long period of time was terrible at everything.

Tulsa had four 10+ win seasons from 2007 to 2012. When do we get our call up?

SMDH

(06-03-2016 10:11 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:53 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

I don't disagree but you can buy a lot of really nice facilities with an extra 20 million a year. You need vision when making these decisions which has been what has separated the Big 10 and SEC from the rest. They are always forward thinking hence as the previous poster indicated with the Rutgers and MD additions to the Big 10. Who is to say with the additional funds Tulane couldn't turn its athletic program into something like Baylor's (Minus the recent issues). Baylor for a long period of time was terrible at everything.

Tulane actually does have a lot of things going for it. Tulane is great academically, it could grow its facilities with the extra 20 million as you stated, it is located in a great recruiting territory, and it resides in a city that everyone loves to visit. The problem is that New Orleans is one of the smaller TV markets of the schools up for consideration. It also doesn't help that the population of New Orleans still hasn't fully rebounded from Katrina.

(06-03-2016 07:33 AM)Knightbengal Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 01:55 AM)B easy Wrote:  ECU was voted by coaches as the no. 1 most deserving G5 school to join a P5 conference in the below linked ESPN poll less than 2 years ago after defeating back-to-back top 25 teams & rising up the polls. The flavor of the month or year gets the headlines but it also represents a strong indication that there's a direct and significant correlation between winning and perceived value.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...or128-poll

Luckily the best thing about the AAC is the parity. Virtually all of the programs have the ability to rise up and gain national notoriety from year to year and usually a few schools will do so every year. That's what may end up saving this conference. So much parity that a clear candidate won't ever emerge. We all have our bright spots and we all have our warts. That's why it works. That's why we are all together in the 1st place. A group of schools that don't fit into the P5 mold per se but also don't fit in w/t other conferences either. The best hope IMO is to continue to collectively rise and stay as unified as possible given the unstable climate we all operate in. Let's embrace our outcast status and just hustle harder than everyone else!

Lol you go with that. The reason we are together is because some of us haven't taken advantage of time they have been in the big team, others have been screwed by politics, and some are young schools. All of them are the top of the outside looking in. Look at folks trajectory and let that be your guide and that's why ECU is not in the p5.

To be fair, notwithstanding the tittle of the thread, the argument was more that winning correlates more w/ 'perceived value' and I don't doubt that at all. That's why you see so many touting Boise St & Memphis as viable candidates despite not being ranked in the USNWR and other reputable academic ranking outlets. I don't even think BSU is even categorized as a 'national university.' Now are they really viable candidates or is it more a media creation. We know Memphis is trying hard and I believe they've been mentioned by some Big 12 sources as well so maybe their recent winning on the football field may actually have real and substantial influence and appeal.

Moreover, the ESPN poll linked above does show how winning can put you in the news & it show's how winning can influence perception not only in the media but with coaches as well. Much of the banter and belief of value on this board obviously stems from reports and news stories. So if the media is swayed by winning then so are many that follow the media. I think it's fairly telling that just 19 months ago ECU was looked at as 'most deserving' of P5 inclusion by a poll of both G5 and P5 coaches because after one 5-6 season and losing a coach ECU is barely mentioned as a viable candidate at this point (likely 6th or 7th on the list at best). UCF was perhaps 2nd on the list last year and then after one awful season ostensibly they fall back to the pack with USF and perhaps even behind schools like UH & Memphis. Accordingly, winning certainly affects perceived value and given the influence media has on our society, perceived value creates actual value to some extent. Everyone loves a winner.

Now winning isn't dispositive (the only factor) but it certainly matters more than some admit around here.

(06-03-2016 10:11 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:53 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

I don't disagree but you can buy a lot of really nice facilities with an extra 20 million a year. You need vision when making these decisions which has been what has separated the Big 10 and SEC from the rest. They are always forward thinking hence as the previous poster indicated with the Rutgers and MD additions to the Big 10. Who is to say with the additional funds Tulane couldn't turn its athletic program into something like Baylor's (Minus the recent issues). Baylor for a long period of time was terrible at everything.

Right but then you're going back to "What can the Big 12 do for Tulane" instead of "What can Tulane do for the Big 12"

That's never worked in any negotiations. Your main features are the TV market and the academic standards of the school.

I for one am not overly convinced that the Big 12 cares about the 51st TV market...especially when they have the 50th (Memphis) and 36th (Cinci) in front of them -- then if you want to bring the Florida schools into the equation, that's another conversation. Tulane has the worst TV market of all of them.

New Orleans is New Orleans just like Orlando is Orlando -- again, does that really matter? Probably not. It's just an extra added luxury that would be added on top of all of the other things that should be advertised.

And finally, academics, that's something Tulane has going for it that only UConn and SMU can compete with in this conference. However, when placed on the balance beam, the "reasons not to" are heavily in favor at this point in the conversation.

Tulane is good for the AAC and the AAC is good for Tulane, that's about where it's going to stay.

(06-03-2016 10:28 AM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  Tulsa had four 10+ win seasons from 2007 to 2012. When do we get our call up?

Did you win 2 basketball national championships and come off an appearance in a BCS bowl during that time?

(06-03-2016 10:47 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 10:11 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:53 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

I don't disagree but you can buy a lot of really nice facilities with an extra 20 million a year. You need vision when making these decisions which has been what has separated the Big 10 and SEC from the rest. They are always forward thinking hence as the previous poster indicated with the Rutgers and MD additions to the Big 10. Who is to say with the additional funds Tulane couldn't turn its athletic program into something like Baylor's (Minus the recent issues). Baylor for a long period of time was terrible at everything.

Right but then you're going back to "What can the Big 12 do for Tulane" instead of "What can Tulane do for the Big 12"

That's never worked in any negotiations. Your main features are the TV market and the academic standards of the school.

I for one am not overly convinced that the Big 12 cares about the 51st TV market...especially when they have the 50th (Memphis) and 36th (Cinci) in front of them -- then if you want to bring the Florida schools into the equation, that's another conversation. Tulane has the worst TV market of all of them.

New Orleans is New Orleans just like Orlando is Orlando -- again, does that really matter? Probably not. It's just an extra added luxury that would be added on top of all of the other things that should be advertised.

And finally, academics, that's something Tulane has going for it that only UConn and SMU can compete with in this conference. However, when placed on the balance beam, the "reasons not to" are heavily in favor at this point in the conversation.

Tulane is good for the AAC and the AAC is good for Tulane, that's about where it's going to stay.

I honestly don't disagree with you but I also wouldn't be shocked if they were called. I am pretty sure they were mentioned the last time around and if I recall correctly Texas was the one who wanted Tulane. Maybe one of the Tulane guys recalls exactly. So while I agree with what you are saying the Texas AD just came out and said they wouldn't want another island like WVU to be created. So you have geography, history and academics and potentially and ally in Texas. Those are a lot of things that could go their way. At the end of the day you could make a case for pretty much all of the teams in the American outside of maybe Tulsa or SMU for the Big 12 and the only reason I am dropping them is team exist in their markets already. I guess we will see what happens. I honestly would like to see the American stay together and grow but I would also like to see it make at least 10 million a year in tv money and I doubt that happens but who knows.

(06-03-2016 10:42 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 07:33 AM)Knightbengal Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 01:55 AM)B easy Wrote:  ECU was voted by coaches as the no. 1 most deserving G5 school to join a P5 conference in the below linked ESPN poll less than 2 years ago after defeating back-to-back top 25 teams & rising up the polls. The flavor of the month or year gets the headlines but it also represents a strong indication that there's a direct and significant correlation between winning and perceived value.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...or128-poll

Luckily the best thing about the AAC is the parity. Virtually all of the programs have the ability to rise up and gain national notoriety from year to year and usually a few schools will do so every year. That's what may end up saving this conference. So much parity that a clear candidate won't ever emerge. We all have our bright spots and we all have our warts. That's why it works. That's why we are all together in the 1st place. A group of schools that don't fit into the P5 mold per se but also don't fit in w/t other conferences either. The best hope IMO is to continue to collectively rise and stay as unified as possible given the unstable climate we all operate in. Let's embrace our outcast status and just hustle harder than everyone else!

Lol you go with that. The reason we are together is because some of us haven't taken advantage of time they have been in the big team, others have been screwed by politics, and some are young schools. All of them are the top of the outside looking in. Look at folks trajectory and let that be your guide and that's why ECU is not in the p5.

To be fair, notwithstanding the tittle of the thread, the argument was more that winning correlates more w/ 'perceived value' and I don't doubt that at all. That's why you see so many touting Boise St & Memphis as viable candidates despite not being ranked in the USNWR and other reputable academic ranking outlets. I don't even think BSU is even categorized as a 'national university.' Now are they really viable candidates or is it more a media creation. We know Memphis is trying hard and I believe they've been mentioned by some Big 12 sources as well so maybe their recent winning on the football field may actually have real and substantial influence and appeal.

Moreover, the ESPN poll linked above does show how winning can put you in the news & it show's how winning can influence perception not only in the media but with coaches as well. Much of the banter and belief of value on this board obviously stems from reports and news stories. So if the media is swayed by winning then so are many that follow the media. I think it's fairly telling that just 19 months ago ECU was looked at as 'most deserving' of P5 inclusion by a poll of both G5 and P5 coaches because after one 5-6 season and losing a coach ECU is barely mentioned as a viable candidate at this point (likely 6th or 7th on the list at best). UCF was perhaps 2nd on the list last year and then after one awful season ostensibly they fall back to the pack with USF and perhaps even behind schools like UH & Memphis. Accordingly, winning certainly affects perceived value and given the influence media has on our society, perceived value creates actual value to some extent. Everyone loves a winner.

Now winning isn't dispositive (the only factor) but it certainly matters more than some admit around here.

Everything you say is correct, however the problem is the people who are influenced by winning (media, fans and coaches) aren’t the ones who hold the decision making power when it comes to deciding on the P5 expansion choices.

I think one of the biggest overblown perceptions is the value Boise States on field performance brings to realignment. With their lack of academic standing and lack of market their only BCS option was the Big East, and now IMO a P5 won’t touch them.

Case in point, Colorado joined the PAC 12 in 2011. In the 5 season period from 2006 to 2010 Colorado was 21-40 with its best season being 6-7. Boise in that same period was 61-5, had 2 undefeated seasons and in their worst season was 10-3.

If winning held that much weight BSU would have been in a BCS conference / P5 years ago.

If I’m not mistaking the lowest USNWR ranked P5 university is Louisville at 168, someone can correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe there is a P5 university that is listed as NR by USNWR.

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:37 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  If football success had anything to do with it Rutgers would be in the AAC and Boise State would be in the Big 12. TCU is the only school that won their way into the club on the field.

Maryland spent a decade losing money and being terrible at everything before the B1G bailed them out. Because Maryland has a great market, academics, and history. Things the Presidents that vote Yes or No care about way more than who won last weekend.

This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

Small yes, really nice, also yes. Just curious, you been to the facilities lately (don't waste my time lying)?

(06-03-2016 10:47 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 10:11 AM)PT_american Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:53 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 09:21 AM)PiratePanther189 Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 08:54 AM)PT_american Wrote:  This is why I think Tulane actually has a chance even though most find it laughable. They have a market that fits perfectly into the geographical footprint of the Big12, academics and history. I am certainly not advocating they will be the school selected but I wouldn't be shocked either. They are certainly investing in the program which won't hurt.

At the end of the day I don't know if the Big 12 will expand or not and if they do who they would actually select. There are certainly a lot of similar candidates with the majority residing in the American which bodes well for the conference either well. Means the conference is loaded with teams perceived to be on the cusp. Even though in reality there are plenty of institutions in the American that are more deserving than teams already in P5 conferences. Such is life I guess.

Tulane's facilities and athletic department look more like James Madison's than Baylor's.

Use that as perspective

I don't disagree but you can buy a lot of really nice facilities with an extra 20 million a year. You need vision when making these decisions which has been what has separated the Big 10 and SEC from the rest. They are always forward thinking hence as the previous poster indicated with the Rutgers and MD additions to the Big 10. Who is to say with the additional funds Tulane couldn't turn its athletic program into something like Baylor's (Minus the recent issues). Baylor for a long period of time was terrible at everything.

Right but then you're going back to "What can the Big 12 do for Tulane" instead of "What can Tulane do for the Big 12"

That's never worked in any negotiations. Your main features are the TV market and the academic standards of the school.

I for one am not overly convinced that the Big 12 cares about the 51st TV market...especially when they have the 50th (Memphis) and 36th (Cinci) in front of them -- then if you want to bring the Florida schools into the equation, that's another conversation. Tulane has the worst TV market of all of them.

New Orleans is New Orleans just like Orlando is Orlando -- again, does that really matter? Probably not. It's just an extra added luxury that would be added on top of all of the other things that should be advertised.

And finally, academics, that's something Tulane has going for it that only UConn and SMU can compete with in this conference. However, when placed on the balance beam, the "reasons not to" are heavily in favor at this point in the conversation.

Tulane is good for the AAC and the AAC is good for Tulane, that's about where it's going to stay.

What folks don't understand is that it is not only the size of the market but the demand from the consumers in said market. Meaning, Philly dwarfs NOLA, hell even Orlando does, but the number of folks watching college football in each market are actually very similar.

Market demand matters, potential matters, recruiting matters, academics matter (at least to the presidents), endowment matters, winning matters (oops). I will say it again, Tulane is a long shot but there is a much better chance then most understand. We have made some great strides the last few months, we need time (crossing my fingers that Texas doesn't give in to expansion).

(06-03-2016 11:18 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 10:42 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 07:33 AM)Knightbengal Wrote:  

(06-03-2016 01:55 AM)B easy Wrote:  ECU was voted by coaches as the no. 1 most deserving G5 school to join a P5 conference in the below linked ESPN poll less than 2 years ago after defeating back-to-back top 25 teams & rising up the polls. The flavor of the month or year gets the headlines but it also represents a strong indication that there's a direct and significant correlation between winning and perceived value.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...or128-poll

Luckily the best thing about the AAC is the parity. Virtually all of the programs have the ability to rise up and gain national notoriety from year to year and usually a few schools will do so every year. That's what may end up saving this conference. So much parity that a clear candidate won't ever emerge. We all have our bright spots and we all have our warts. That's why it works. That's why we are all together in the 1st place. A group of schools that don't fit into the P5 mold per se but also don't fit in w/t other conferences either. The best hope IMO is to continue to collectively rise and stay as unified as possible given the unstable climate we all operate in. Let's embrace our outcast status and just hustle harder than everyone else!

Lol you go with that. The reason we are together is because some of us haven't taken advantage of time they have been in the big team, others have been screwed by politics, and some are young schools. All of them are the top of the outside looking in. Look at folks trajectory and let that be your guide and that's why ECU is not in the p5.

To be fair, notwithstanding the tittle of the thread, the argument was more that winning correlates more w/ 'perceived value' and I don't doubt that at all. That's why you see so many touting Boise St & Memphis as viable candidates despite not being ranked in the USNWR and other reputable academic ranking outlets. I don't even think BSU is even categorized as a 'national university.' Now are they really viable candidates or is it more a media creation. We know Memphis is trying hard and I believe they've been mentioned by some Big 12 sources as well so maybe their recent winning on the football field may actually have real and substantial influence and appeal.

Moreover, the ESPN poll linked above does show how winning can put you in the news & it show's how winning can influence perception not only in the media but with coaches as well. Much of the banter and belief of value on this board obviously stems from reports and news stories. So if the media is swayed by winning then so are many that follow the media. I think it's fairly telling that just 19 months ago ECU was looked at as 'most deserving' of P5 inclusion by a poll of both G5 and P5 coaches because after one 5-6 season and losing a coach ECU is barely mentioned as a viable candidate at this point (likely 6th or 7th on the list at best). UCF was perhaps 2nd on the list last year and then after one awful season ostensibly they fall back to the pack with USF and perhaps even behind schools like UH & Memphis. Accordingly, winning certainly affects perceived value and given the influence media has on our society, perceived value creates actual value to some extent. Everyone loves a winner.

Now winning isn't dispositive (the only factor) but it certainly matters more than some admit around here.

Everything you say is correct, however the problem is the people who are influenced by winning (media, fans and coaches) aren’t the ones who hold the decision making power when it comes to deciding on the P5 expansion choices.

I think one of the biggest overblown perceptions is the value Boise States on field performance brings to realignment. With their lack of academic standing and lack of market their only BCS option was the Big East, and now IMO a P5 won’t touch them.

Case in point, Colorado joined the PAC 12 in 2011. In the 5 season period from 2006 to 2010 Colorado was 21-40 with its best season being 6-7. Boise in that same period was 61-5, had 2 undefeated seasons and in their worst season was 10-3.

If winning held that much weight BSU would have been in a BCS conference / P5 years ago.

If I’m not mistaking the lowest USNWR ranked P5 university is Louisville at 168, someone can correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe there is a P5 university that is listed as NR by USNWR.

WVU is currently at #175 but I see your point.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...s/wvu-3827

As my last statement in the above post says it's not dispositive but if there's no other factors dragging you down then it can be extremely compelling. Perhaps as compelling as any other factor out there which is why BSU is even mentioned. The OP's point was that all of us have some positive attributes but that we all also have some factor(s) dragging us down which could possibly and ironically be the glue that keeps us together for some time and perpetuates the overall health and sustainability of the conference. To an extent, I don't disagree with that assertion.