If Big 12 raids AAC, commissioner Mike Aresco says his league will be OK
By Tony Barnhart
Posted on July 29, 2016

EXCERPTS:

“In these situations, communication is critical,” said Aresco, who was a long-time television executive before getting into college administration. “I’ve been talking to the (athletic directors) and the president of the schools that might leave, and it looks like some of them will. We’re talking to each other and trying to figure out the future. We expect everyone who leaves will leave on good terms.”

****

Aresco also has heard that the Big 12 is looking at bringing in some schools as football-only members.

“Right now, we’re shadow boxing a little because we don’t know what is going to happen,” he said. “But have already started our contingency planning for just about every scenario. Whatever happens, we’ll have a plan. We’ll be fine.”

****

He did say that if only two schools left, staying at 10 would be an option for the AAC because conferences with 10 members now can play a championship football game.

“We’ve been working with the shadow of this (expansion) over our heads for the past two years. We haven’t been sitting back and waiting for things to happen,” Aresco said. “No matter what happens, we will have a conference.”

http://gridironnow.com/big-12-expansion-...ign=buffer

I wonder who the FB only members might be?

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

I think BYU and/or Boise. But if one of them doesn't make it, like Boise, then I think it is less likely that BYU is FB only by itself.

Also, if BYU or Boise is getting in, then you know they are going to at least 14, b/c at 12 with BYU, then the AAC wouldn't be losing multiple teams.

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

i was literally about to post this ...looks like the top teams already know they are leaving, atleast one of them..or "think" they are

says 10 stay at 10.. but otherwise, he says their ave been a plan in motion for 2 years incase ..if 1, 3 or 4

and doesnt expect much fallout, and is well aware the exit fees will be negotiated down and is fine with that, and wants teams to leave on good terms

overall great interview by aresco, he has really handled this situation well

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

True, but the only logical ones are BYU and Boise, due to geography. I suppose you could throw in UCF, USF and ECU, too, but I would say that's less likely with WVU already east.

And UConn football only would make no sense at all, since they have such great BB programs.

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Damn right skippy. Every candidate.

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

(07-29-2016 08:55 AM)pesik Wrote:  i was literally about to post this ...looks like the top teams already know they are leaving, atleast one of them..or "think" they are

says 10 stay at 10.. but otherwise, he says their ave been a plan in motion for 2 years incase ..if 1, 3 or 4

and doesnt expect much fallout, and is well aware the exit fees will be negotiated down and is fine with that, and wants teams to leave on good terms

overall great interview by aresco, he has really handled this situation well

That "shadow over our heads for 2 years" quote pretty much kills the idea that the Big 12 just now decided to expand. They have been considering this quite a long time.

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

I'm pretty sure they are talking about BYU and Boise, b/c I heard that the Big 12 mentioned the possibility of those two to Memphis.

But I don't think Boise is getting in now, and BYU if in would then likely come all sports.

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Memphis had an open invite when they first formed as I'm sure UConn and Cincy did too. So it wouldn't be the first time.

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Big East would take UConn in such a deal. Not sure about UC since Xavier is there.

Given Cincy's silence I think they know they have been picked and are leaving.

The fees should not be negotiated down in any way. Now the 27 month thing I could care less about, but it's likely that money will be needed to keep the rest of the members from losing money on the deal for the remainder of the TV deal.

(07-29-2016 09:06 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Big East would take UConn in such a deal. Not sure about UC since Xavier is there.

I don't want this result but I don't see why the Big East wouldn't want UC just because Xavier is there. There's little to no overlap in fan base, UC brings consistent tourney credits and UC/XU two times a year = two electric games per season.

(07-29-2016 09:06 AM)Titans3775 Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:51 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  I wonder who the FB only members might be?

Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Memphis had an open invite when they first formed as I'm sure UConn and Cincy did too. So it wouldn't be the first time.

It's not going to happen this time around. The Big East is a stable basketball conference with like minded universities. The conference isn't going to go back down that road again.

(07-29-2016 09:09 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:06 AM)Titans3775 Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Memphis had an open invite when they first formed as I'm sure UConn and Cincy did too. So it wouldn't be the first time.

It's not going to happen this time around. The Big East is a stable basketball conference with like minded universities. The conference isn't going to go back down that road again.

I suspect you're right.

Aresco should be a d!ck and ruin this for the Big 12 by spoiling it. I'd laugh real hard if he just came out and said "School A and School B have informed us that they are leaving the conference, we wish them the best in the big 12."

(07-29-2016 09:09 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:06 AM)Titans3775 Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 09:02 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:57 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-29-2016 08:54 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Every candidate would also take a football only if offered

Every candidate would, but some more than others would kinda balk for a little while about it. Cincy and Memphis for example might not love the idea because there's very little guarantee the Big East would take them in hoops, the AAC wouldn't let them stay, and then it's a pretty massive drop off after that.

The A10 has the potential for a major windfall if the Big12 expansion takes an unexpected turn. I don’t see the Big East even considering a school that plays FBS football.

Memphis had an open invite when they first formed as I'm sure UConn and Cincy did too. So it wouldn't be the first time.

It's not going to happen this time around. The Big East is a stable basketball conference with like minded universities. The conference isn't going to go back down that road again.

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