Got to think the favorites are USM and ODU, and then Rice and Charlotte.

Other options are WKU and MU, depending on who leaves the AAC and the need for geographic backfill.

Personally, as a WKU fan, I think people are undervaluing the potential looks we will get. Cinci and Memphis are very close to WKU, and if either or both leave (very likely), we are in great geographic position.

WKU has top 3 facilities of all AAC "options," and is the best all around sports competitor not in the AAC. Just last year, for example, we won more conferences championships and a bowl game in the history of CUSA. We double anyone else in championships since we joined two years ago.

Cons against us likely joining is bad football attendance, not great academic fit, small market.

So, what does everyone else think will happen? Civil discussion please!

This whole thing is going to get nasty....

(07-19-2016 08:14 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  This whole thing is going to get nasty....

Nasty will show up, don't you worry

(07-19-2016 08:04 PM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  Got to think the favorites are USM and ODU, and then Rice and Charlotte.

Other options are WKU and MU, depending on who leaves the AAC and the need for geographic backfill.

Personally, as a WKU fan, I think people are undervaluing the potential looks we will get. Cinci and Memphis are very close to WKU, and if either or both leave (very likely), we are in great geographic position.

WKU has top 3 facilities of all AAC "options," and is the best all around sports competitor not in the AAC. Just last year, for example, we won more conferences championships and a bowl game in the history of CUSA. We double anyone else in championships since we joined two years ago.

Cons against us likely joining is bad football attendance, not great academic fit, small market.

So, what does everyone else think will happen? Civil discussion please!

Let the pimping begin....

USM has a long storied history with a lot of the AAC but there are other factors now.

ODU and Charlotte maybe, but I doubt that the AAC would take on FBS project schools at this time.

After that....

USM and ODU are the only two from CUSA I can see getting looks at the moment

UAB has too much to prove at the moment, Charlotte would be blocked by ECU, etc.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

I'd be surprised if anyone leaves anywhere right now

I like USM to the AAC. If they were squeaky clean I'd say book it, but they're on the way back at least. I've heard ODU called a bit of a "project" (true in football on account of being relatively green still) but I think we might get the nod too if the dominoes fall right.

(07-19-2016 08:41 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  USM has a long storied history with a lot of the AAC but there are other factors now.

ODU and Charlotte maybe, but I doubt that the AAC would take on FBS project schools at this time.

After that....

There is a school with a 54 market that they dominate, solid football and tradition, good basketball (finally), good baseball (finally) and nearby high schools producing players sought after by big name schools (finally) making it a decent recruiting stop, plus great fan support. And, also, pretty much in the middle of the footprint. Also very close to Ohio/Pennsylvania recruiting hotbeds if Cincy is out.

Just have to get past that no decent airport thing, no baseball stadium thing, and a small budget.

But I hope we don't beg for it. If they want us, fine. If not, we'll keep doing what we do. Finding ways to do more with less.

I personally don't give a rats ass where Western plays as long as there are schools in S. Fla or close to the Gulf coast...other than Texas. At this point in life as a fan as long as Western is winning and they have a few games (football/basketball) with in a couple hours drive to the Gulf or Atlantic...

I'm OK

With that what are the exit and entry fees for CUSA and the AAC?....I would guess at least 2 million each way

Can S. Miss afford to pay that? I would think ODU could and UNCC would get the money but Marshall would be close to being like S. Miss. Any deep pockets that will pay both at either school? I know for a fact that Western has at least two donors that would pay one or both fees.

To me at this point the only thing that matters is.....

Just win!!! and win some more. Oh and warm weather, sunshine, beach and ocean. I'm in it for the long haul (ever how many years that is) and I'm in it to watch Western play.

Nothing said on a message board is going to impact anything that happens. All it will do is create current and future bad blood. I don't care where Marshall plays or who they play, I'll be in the stands. I'll just leave it at that.

(07-19-2016 09:06 PM)banker Wrote:  Nothing said on a message board is going to impact anything that happens. All it will do is create current and future bad blood. I don't care where Marshall plays or who they play, I'll be in the stands. I'll just leave it at that.

Don't you hate it when we think a like? read my post above yours

(07-19-2016 09:09 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:06 PM)banker Wrote:  Nothing said on a message board is going to impact anything that happens. All it will do is create current and future bad blood. I don't care where Marshall plays or who they play, I'll be in the stands. I'll just leave it at that.

Don't you hate it when we think a like? read my post above yours

Yeah...kinda scary

(07-19-2016 09:09 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:06 PM)banker Wrote:  Nothing said on a message board is going to impact anything that happens. All it will do is create current and future bad blood. I don't care where Marshall plays or who they play, I'll be in the stands. I'll just leave it at that.

Don't you hate it when we think a like? read my post above yours

My guess is we tend not to,get along on here because we are much more alike then either of us would like to admit. It's actually pretty apparent in the way we post.

(07-19-2016 08:54 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 08:41 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  USM has a long storied history with a lot of the AAC but there are other factors now.

ODU and Charlotte maybe, but I doubt that the AAC would take on FBS project schools at this time.

After that....

There is a school with a 54 market that they dominate, solid football and tradition, good basketball (finally), good baseball (finally) and nearby high schools producing players sought after by big name schools (finally) making it a decent recruiting stop, plus great fan support. And, also, pretty much in the middle of the footprint. Also very close to Ohio/Pennsylvania recruiting hotbeds if Cincy is out.

Just have to get past that no decent airport thing, no baseball stadium thing, and a small budget.

But I hope we don't beg for it. If they want us, fine. If not, we'll keep doing what we do. Finding ways to do more with less.

Marshall might have some academic issues for CUSA to AAC IMO. But then again, this whole realignment/expansion things makes for strange bedfellows.

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I don't want to be that guy but I would feel 90%+ certain UAB would never come up in a AAC meeting.

Let me ask... Let's say AAC loses 3 of the following schools (Memphis, UConn, Cincy, Houston) are we still lining up to pay $2 Million to join the rest?

All I can say is: I am hopeful that MT can and will maintain important rivalries and keep a quality schedule wherever we end up, CUSA or otherwise.

(07-19-2016 09:26 PM)ICB Wrote:  Let me ask... Let's say AAC loses 3 of the following schools (Memphis, UConn, Cincy, Houston) are we still lining up to pay $2 Million to join the rest?

I agree, while I would enjoy maybe playing ECU, to me they are not much different than playing Marshall or USM. No matter what happens to WKU ...... I'm happy as long as we continue to schedule strong out of conference

(07-19-2016 09:21 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 08:54 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 08:41 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  USM has a long storied history with a lot of the AAC but there are other factors now.

ODU and Charlotte maybe, but I doubt that the AAC would take on FBS project schools at this time.

After that....

There is a school with a 54 market that they dominate, solid football and tradition, good basketball (finally), good baseball (finally) and nearby high schools producing players sought after by big name schools (finally) making it a decent recruiting stop, plus great fan support. And, also, pretty much in the middle of the footprint. Also very close to Ohio/Pennsylvania recruiting hotbeds if Cincy is out.

Just have to get past that no decent airport thing, no baseball stadium thing, and a small budget.

But I hope we don't beg for it. If they want us, fine. If not, we'll keep doing what we do. Finding ways to do more with less.

Marshall might have some academic issues for CUSA to AAC IMO. But then again, this whole realignment/expansion things makes for strange bedfellows.

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I don't want to be that guy but I would feel 90%+ certain UAB would never come up in a AAC meeting.

What academic issues are you talking about ? Please elaborate.

(07-19-2016 09:40 PM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:21 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 08:54 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 08:41 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  USM has a long storied history with a lot of the AAC but there are other factors now.

ODU and Charlotte maybe, but I doubt that the AAC would take on FBS project schools at this time.

After that....

There is a school with a 54 market that they dominate, solid football and tradition, good basketball (finally), good baseball (finally) and nearby high schools producing players sought after by big name schools (finally) making it a decent recruiting stop, plus great fan support. And, also, pretty much in the middle of the footprint. Also very close to Ohio/Pennsylvania recruiting hotbeds if Cincy is out.

Just have to get past that no decent airport thing, no baseball stadium thing, and a small budget.

But I hope we don't beg for it. If they want us, fine. If not, we'll keep doing what we do. Finding ways to do more with less.

Marshall might have some academic issues for CUSA to AAC IMO. But then again, this whole realignment/expansion things makes for strange bedfellows.

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I don't want to be that guy but I would feel 90%+ certain UAB would never come up in a AAC meeting.

What academic issues are you talking about ? Please elaborate.

Non-Qualifiers.