(09-01-2016 09:30 PM)EvilVodka Wrote: I like WKU and they'd be an excellent addition...IMO the American should look at trying to become the best eastern conference of the G5
Western Kentucky
Southern Miss
NIU
Old Dominion
Appalachian State
UMass
Consolidate the east
Rice doesn't help do that
Here's the problem the AAC faces.
Currently, the AAC schools have a pretty solid group that compares very favorably to the rest of the G5---
**all have athletic budgets that exceed at least the 30-35 million level (most are significantly higher)
**all but one are top 200 USNWR national universities
**most approach or exceed 30K in football attendance
**All but one have significant football success within the last 5 years.
**More than half also field excellent to respectable basketball programs creating a solid multi-bid league
**All have committed to paying enough to hire high quality coaching for the G5 level
**All have committed to significantly upgrade facilities.
**All but one brings a large TV market
There are not any more eastern G5's that check all those boxes. In fact, there are very few that check more than a couple of those boxes. The AAC is currently an exceptionally good all around G5 conference based on football performance, brand, basketball performance, TV market, financial commitment, academics, and attendance.
It wont be if it tries to become the "best" football conference. That would require that it sacrifice virtually everything else to bring in schools that may--or may not--continue to excel in football. The best bet is to put together a semi-merger with the top 6 or so MW schools.
The best remaining option is to do nothing. Only add schools that check at least "most" of the boxes. Maybe use the hybrid to rebuild via the very limited use of "football only" schools and "non-football schools". You can dangle full membership as a carrot to get these associate members to build their profile to the point that they check all or at least most of the boxes.