(07-09-2016 10:08 AM)Jayesseagle Wrote: (07-09-2016 06:52 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote: Lets pretend UC and Memphis aren't being announced to B12 soon....
I would go to 16: add Boise, AF, SDSU, Col St.,
Gives us coast to coast best of rest, kills MWC, our only other competition to the NY6 Bowl (ACC did same thing to Big East and it worked beautifully for them)
West
Boise
AF
SDSU
Col St
Tulsa
UH
SMU
Tulane
East
UC
Memphis
UCF
USF
ECU
UCONN
Temple
Navy
This just gets to me...y'all want to add teams like BYU, AF, SDSU, and Colorado St ??? I can understand BYU..but those other 3 ? Are you serious? Ask yourselves, do you want the AAC to be filled with teams that present a strong competitive league on the field, the court, and on the diamond...or do you want the AAC to be filled with teams that are across the nation that create long travel, no competition, no true rivals...only based on TV markets ? San Diego St ? Colorado St ? Air Force ? BYU is the only one mentioned that had any kind of football presence of those mentioned...but it's still no logic to add them because of where they are located. I know I'm biased but the one that make the most sense to be added are Southern Miss....and Northern Illinois (savcool), period! Both of these programs are proud, competitive on the field year in and year out..and both need that extra help to reach that next level which would help both schools and the AAC. Most of you in the AAC are very knowledgeable about USM, even way before CUSA was ever created..and we've had good relationships with you all. You know what Southern Miss and Northern Illinois can and will bring to the table..a strong presence on the field, recruiting, chances to make the AAC banner proud with bowls, championships, and possibly another 2 teams to compete for the Access bowl.
It seems to me that the members of the AAC want to water down the league with teams that aren't going to be too competitive so it won't take away from the higher ups in the AAC already, but just add them for money and markets but won't be a factor of knocking them from the catbirds seat atop the standings. You know what programs like Southern Miss and Northern Illinois can do with resources as you all have. Both of the schools can compete with you all now being in CUSA and the MAC even those two conferences are below the AAC in rankings but the fear of them passing you by by joining the AAC scares most of you. Look at how it was when we were all on the same leveling field in CUSA..! I didn't post this to say that any member of the AAC is not competitive on an aspect but you all know this. It's as plain as black and white...USM and NIU would be 2 of the best choices the AAC could add!
For me it’s all about the money and closing the gap between the P5 and also widening the money gap between the AAC and the other G5 conferences.
Football performance is definitely part of the equation when it comes to choosing candidates for the AAC (I believe at one point last season 4 teams were ranked in the top 25), but that’s only a part of it. The other 4 important factors are market size (the AAC currently has 3 of the top 10, 5 of the top 25, and 8 of the top 50 markets), academic standing (of the 12 AAC members 5 are ranked inside the top 100 including Navy #6 National Liberal Arts and Tulane #41 National Universities, only 1 school did not publish their ranking), athletic budget (average AAC athletic budget is 45 million with UConn over 70 million), and basketball profile (4 teams made the NCAA Tournament last season and SMU who was ineligible finished with an RPI of 13).
Looking at USM and Northern Illinois compared to the names of the other programs being mentioned.
USM – Market rank 167. USNWR rank not published. Budget 24 million. Basketball RPI 319
Northern Illinois – Market rank 132. USNWR rank not published. Budget 27 million. Basketball RPI 136.
Army – Market rank 1. USNWR 22 National Liberal Arts Universities. Budget 41 million. Basketball NA, football only.
San Diego State – Market rank 28. USNWR 149. Budget 49 million. Basketball RPI 42.
Airforce – Market rank 90. USNWR 29 National Liberal Arts Universities. Budget 50 million. Basketball RPI 226.
Colorado State – Market rank 18. USNWR 127. Budget 38 million. Basketball RPI 182.
For better or worse the AAC has been put together like a business. Things like familiar rivalries are important to the fans but very low on the priority list for the AAC university presidents and ADs.