(08-04-2022 06:08 PM)Blazer B Wrote:  

(08-03-2022 07:32 PM)dcg141 Wrote:  Instead of negotiating a deal to merge with the MW he panicked and brought in schools that bring nothing to the table. The whole "metro" idea is flawed and is never going to work. Merging could have brought the strongest remaining schools to together vs the crap shoot he is taking. He should have been fired the day after the announcement and the whole deal canceled. Once all the exit fee's are paid and the bell cow's leave ESPN is going to renegotiate the contract and its not going to be pretty. He also caved with the exit fees. The remaining schools need to be looking for every way possible to get out of the train wreck this guy created.

The “metro” plan seems more to revolve around $$$ than markets. Money being spent by the AAC additions trump anything being done by the other schools the AAC could of chosen.

Still does not pass the smell test. That's the cover story to sell it. UNCC can spend all the money they want. At the end of the day they are still UNCC. ESPN is playing the American. Aresco needs to stop being a pushover and ask why they want to weaken the AAC.

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Aresco understood TV and how to negotiate. Teams that BENEFITED from the exposure he brought, dollars he brought, and the access bowl slot he single handedly achieved.

Think back to the founding of the AAC and what everyone was saying... Aresco almost achieved the best case scenario for the AAC growth in the first decade. Lord without him things could have been FAR worse.

Anyone who thinks otherwise basically wants a commissioner who has a magic wand...

(08-04-2022 06:59 PM)Bull Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Aresco understood TV and how to negotiate. Teams that BENEFITED from the exposure he brought, dollars he brought, and the access bowl slot he single handedly achieved.

Think back to the founding of the AAC and what everyone was saying... Aresco almost achieved the best case scenario for the AAC growth in the first decade. Lord without him things could have been FAR worse.

Anyone who thinks otherwise basically wants a commissioner who has a magic wand...

Exactly. I'm sure he could have squeezed a few more pennies on the first contract, but he played the lowball NBC contract that included a ton of exposure to a fiddle. He knew the same exposure on the mouse networks was worth so much more, even if it paid the same NBC offered. He played long ball to put the conference in the best position for that second contract.

Then again, maybe many young adults don't remember the details 10 years ago, because people in their young 20s were in elementary and middle school back then. Ok, I just scared myself lol.

(08-04-2022 05:50 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:12 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 01:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 12:40 PM)Pirate Rep Wrote:  50/50 probably was more accurate if you consider all components of the situation last year. There is no way Aresco could have known that UT/OU would violate Big 12 conference bylaws neutering the pressure of those two as well as ESPN. From a legal standpoint the Big 12 got lucky it's still in existence today. Aresco/AAC had the better relationship with ESPN and the leverage went away from the actions of those two schools basically not wanting to wind up in court. If you don't believe me, Todge can explain all the legal details.

If only the PAC had acted to expand back then. They wouldn't be in any jeopardy now, and the AAC probably would have picked up a few good schools.

Nope. The residual schools, even if only a few left, would have invited many from the AAC and even the MWC to reload. They would have been swimming in money from the exit fees and retained NCAA credits that they would not have to share with the newbies, however many they would be.

That really depends on how many schools left and which. If All that was left was say ISU, KSU, WVU and Baylor... I am not certain that would have been enough for a rebuild. Also not certain it would have been worth it to the AAC schools to pay the exit fees.

You telling me you wouldn't leave for a conference of
UCF
USF
Cincy
WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
Memphis
BYU
Boise
SMU
Colorado State

That conference pays at least 14 million a year. More than enough to cover the exit fee. Maybe teams would have waited the full 27 months though.

Wow, I see what you did there... "That conference pays at least 14 million a year." if true, wouldn't it be a better financial road to just invite...

WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
BYU
Boise
Colorado State

...and...

UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
SMU

...could all have saved exit fees and travel expenses under the AAC banner.

(08-04-2022 10:26 PM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 05:50 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:12 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 01:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  If only the PAC had acted to expand back then. They wouldn't be in any jeopardy now, and the AAC probably would have picked up a few good schools.

Nope. The residual schools, even if only a few left, would have invited many from the AAC and even the MWC to reload. They would have been swimming in money from the exit fees and retained NCAA credits that they would not have to share with the newbies, however many they would be.

That really depends on how many schools left and which. If All that was left was say ISU, KSU, WVU and Baylor... I am not certain that would have been enough for a rebuild. Also not certain it would have been worth it to the AAC schools to pay the exit fees.

You telling me you wouldn't leave for a conference of
UCF
USF
Cincy
WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
Memphis
BYU
Boise
SMU
Colorado State

That conference pays at least 14 million a year. More than enough to cover the exit fee. Maybe teams would have waited the full 27 months though.

Wow, I see what you did there... "That conference pays at least 14 million a year." if true, wouldn't it be a better financial road to just invite...

WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
BYU
Boise
Colorado State

...and...

UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
SMU

...could all have saved exit fees and travel expenses under the AAC banner.

I guess you could....... but temple, Tulsa etc....what you do with that?

And also, those big 12 remainers.......think of the hundreds of millions of exit fees they would give up....for what? AAC?

(08-01-2022 07:46 AM)Pirate Rep Wrote:  https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/s...131886002/

Link to the current status of FBS article. Some may not like Mike. It's easy to sit back and be critical. At least he's a voice of reason that is solution oriented. He's better at his job than many in the industry. Circumstance dictates a lot, but Mike calls it the way it is.

He sounds desperate to me. Like a cornered animal.

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

Sure. That ESPiN contract was trash, right. Where would UCF be still in the CUSA.

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Damn, I agree with you.

In all seriousness, the conference teams beating those pesky A5 teams in the last few years helped. He was the inside man, though, that also helped.

(08-05-2022 12:31 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Damn, I agree with you.

In all seriousness, the conference teams beating those pesky A5 teams in the last few years helped. He was the inside man, though, that also helped.

Ill go a step further... without Aresco getting the AAC TONS of exposure by leveraging the NBC deal with ESPN, that it was a major catalyst in helping Cinci, Houston and UCF to rise in prominence.

No other G5 conference had anything near what we had. When USF was in the BIg East, we didnt get as good of coverage as those three did in the AAC.

Someone above said something about people wanting a commissioner with a magic wand... and that is the ONLY way her could have done better.

(08-05-2022 08:28 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-05-2022 12:31 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Damn, I agree with you.

In all seriousness, the conference teams beating those pesky A5 teams in the last few years helped. He was the inside man, though, that also helped.

Ill go a step further... without Aresco getting the AAC TONS of exposure by leveraging the NBC deal with ESPN, that it was a major catalyst in helping Cinci, Houston and UCF to rise in prominence.

No other G5 conference had anything near what we had. When USF was in the BIg East, we didnt get as good of coverage as those three did in the AAC.

Someone above said something about people wanting a commissioner with a magic wand... and that is the ONLY way her could have done better.

Sunbelt coverage has been pretty good since Covid. Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, and App State have been in the Top25 lately.

I’ll concede the ESPN deal was good. Not sure if he gets the credit for the quality of the programs and our market value… but sure he negotiated the deal better than Marinatto.

If the baseline is Marinatto then Aresco is a fantastic AD!

Marinatto literally fainted when he got the realignment news in 2011.

(08-04-2022 10:47 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 10:26 PM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 05:50 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:12 PM)otown Wrote:  Nope. The residual schools, even if only a few left, would have invited many from the AAC and even the MWC to reload. They would have been swimming in money from the exit fees and retained NCAA credits that they would not have to share with the newbies, however many they would be.

That really depends on how many schools left and which. If All that was left was say ISU, KSU, WVU and Baylor... I am not certain that would have been enough for a rebuild. Also not certain it would have been worth it to the AAC schools to pay the exit fees.

You telling me you wouldn't leave for a conference of
UCF
USF
Cincy
WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
Memphis
BYU
Boise
SMU
Colorado State

That conference pays at least 14 million a year. More than enough to cover the exit fee. Maybe teams would have waited the full 27 months though.

Wow, I see what you did there... "That conference pays at least 14 million a year." if true, wouldn't it be a better financial road to just invite...

WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
BYU
Boise
Colorado State

...and...

UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
SMU

...could all have saved exit fees and travel expenses under the AAC banner.

I guess you could....... but temple, Tulsa etc....what you do with that?

And also, those big 12 remainers.......think of the hundreds of millions of exit fees they would give up....for what? AAC?

The remaining BIG XII would wait for the depart date, collect exit fees, dissolve the conference and pocket exit fees and NCAA credits and move on... As for the rest of the AAC? No problem it appears that conferences are heading for 20+ membership.

As long as the payout is at least 14 million a year per team who cares how many members get to participate, more AAC large markets means more inventory, more eyeballs, and that means bigger profit margins for Media Rights owners.

(08-05-2022 10:08 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 10:47 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 10:26 PM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 05:50 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  That really depends on how many schools left and which. If All that was left was say ISU, KSU, WVU and Baylor... I am not certain that would have been enough for a rebuild. Also not certain it would have been worth it to the AAC schools to pay the exit fees.

You telling me you wouldn't leave for a conference of
UCF
USF
Cincy
WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
Memphis
BYU
Boise
SMU
Colorado State

That conference pays at least 14 million a year. More than enough to cover the exit fee. Maybe teams would have waited the full 27 months though.

Wow, I see what you did there... "That conference pays at least 14 million a year." if true, wouldn't it be a better financial road to just invite...

WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
BYU
Boise
Colorado State

...and...

UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
SMU

...could all have saved exit fees and travel expenses under the AAC banner.

I guess you could....... but temple, Tulsa etc....what you do with that?

And also, those big 12 remainers.......think of the hundreds of millions of exit fees they would give up....for what? AAC?

The remaining BIG XII would wait for the depart date, collect exit fees, dissolve the conference and pocket exit fees and NCAA credits and move on... As for the rest of the AAC? No problem it appears that conferences are heading for 20+ membership.

As long as the payout is at least 14 million a year per team who cares how many members get to participate, more AAC large markets means more inventory, more eyeballs, and that means bigger profit margins for Media Rights owners.

Fact is at the time, Administrators were making business decisions based upon an outdated historic business model. They couldn't think strategically into the future with the discipline to make change.

Now the future has been presented to them by the Big 10 and the SEC. Sooner or later the line of thinking will have to change for the others versus the P2. Autonomy of the P5 is out the door. Their interest is no longer aligned with the disparity of funding created.

The merger of the AAC and the Big 12 was a good idea, but holding onto an outdated model of raiding and self protection won out that time.

All the focus was holding UT & OU to account for leaving them. The beloved cash cow betrayed the the Big 12 and the focus was on making them pay. In time, the time for choosing will be forced upon the lesser funded. It can't be avoided.

In the meantime, the P2 will enjoy the money plus winning 90% of the time against a lesser funded opponent. The funding will effect all sports programs. They are in a different classification.

The biggest clue to the future and how to beat them at their own game is the P2 floating changes to the CFP. They want to coddle the P8 with a little bit of money to buy their wins and keep the advantage as long as they can. They've set the table in their favor and will ride it as long as it's allowed.

Somebody will look at this and realize their is more than one way to skin a cat. I wish it was then or now, but I'm confident a choice will be forced. It may even take watching the SEC or Big 10 winning 15 football natty's in a row!

(08-05-2022 10:08 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 10:47 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 10:26 PM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 05:50 PM)otown Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 02:38 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  That really depends on how many schools left and which. If All that was left was say ISU, KSU, WVU and Baylor... I am not certain that would have been enough for a rebuild. Also not certain it would have been worth it to the AAC schools to pay the exit fees.

You telling me you wouldn't leave for a conference of
UCF
USF
Cincy
WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
Memphis
BYU
Boise
SMU
Colorado State

That conference pays at least 14 million a year. More than enough to cover the exit fee. Maybe teams would have waited the full 27 months though.

Wow, I see what you did there... "That conference pays at least 14 million a year." if true, wouldn't it be a better financial road to just invite...

WVU
Iowa State
Kansas State
Baylor
BYU
Boise
Colorado State

...and...

UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
SMU

...could all have saved exit fees and travel expenses under the AAC banner.

I guess you could....... but temple, Tulsa etc....what you do with that?

And also, those big 12 remainers.......think of the hundreds of millions of exit fees they would give up....for what? AAC?

The remaining BIG XII would wait for the depart date, collect exit fees, dissolve the conference and pocket exit fees and NCAA credits and move on... As for the rest of the AAC? No problem it appears that conferences are heading for 20+ membership.

As long as the payout is at least 14 million a year per team who cares how many members get to participate, more AAC large markets means more inventory, more eyeballs, and that means bigger profit margins for Media Rights owners.

I know this is all hypothetical but there's a lot there that doesn't seem to pass the smell test to me.

Exit fees and NCAA credits aren't paid instantly so that means teams would have to stay in the Big 12 a while. Look at the terms for the 3 AAC teams leaving, it takes years to pay the base exit fee and then even more years to pay the early exit fee.

The Big 12 brand is the strongest among the AAC, Big 12, MWC. Why would the best teams left in each not meet up at the strongest brand with the strongest bowl ties, etc.

You also don't want to dilute the value per team by keeping the bottom half of the AAC. If you take the top third or so of the AAC, top third of the MWC, and remaining Big 12 teams, you'll get your best per team value.

Remember this happened when the AAC was formed. Only Cincy, UConn, and USF were left yet the Big East/AAC brand was strong enough to attract 7 CUSA teams, Temple, and Navy. Instead of CUSA inviting the 3 teams, 7/12 CUSA teams left.

(08-05-2022 09:49 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(08-05-2022 08:28 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-05-2022 12:31 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:15 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(08-01-2022 08:02 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Not a fan of Aresco, overpromises and underdelivers.

Wants to be considered P6, still a G5.
Wants to be an autonomy conference, still a non-autonomy conference.
Wants to poach Big 12 teams, gets poached by Big 12.

He largely says the things that will appease the fan base and never delivers it.

and out of curiosity, what could he have done different?

Thats the point I made above. Being blunt, I find it rich that the teams that bailed and made it harder for his vision to come true, are the ones criticizing him.

At no time did he ever have the power to do better because the schools behind him were always looking to leave... and the TV partners and other conferences knew it.

Damn, I agree with you.

In all seriousness, the conference teams beating those pesky A5 teams in the last few years helped. He was the inside man, though, that also helped.

Ill go a step further... without Aresco getting the AAC TONS of exposure by leveraging the NBC deal with ESPN, that it was a major catalyst in helping Cinci, Houston and UCF to rise in prominence.

No other G5 conference had anything near what we had. When USF was in the BIg East, we didnt get as good of coverage as those three did in the AAC.

Someone above said something about people wanting a commissioner with a magic wand... and that is the ONLY way her could have done better.

Sunbelt coverage has been pretty good since Covid. Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, and App State have been in the Top25 lately.

I’ll concede the ESPN deal was good. Not sure if he gets the credit for the quality of the programs and our market value… but sure he negotiated the deal better than Marinatto.

If the baseline is Marinatto then Aresco is a fantastic AD!

Marinatto literally fainted when he got the realignment news in 2011.

Better than the AAC? Is the Sunbelt getting paid more?