(02-22-2023 07:58 PM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 07:32 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  FIU would not be an outlier with FAU as a member.

Point taken, but their athletic reputation and facilities are sub par. Honestly I dont know why they took FAU, I think there were better options. Their basketball Gym has to be the worst BB facility in FBS D1. I know their are schools like Houston Christian and others who play in D1 for (FCS or no football) who have poor facilities, but not who play in the AAC. Yes Tarleton still plays in a gym, but at least they did some upgrades to make it look better and that is only until the new arena is built sometime next year. We are also still in transition to D1. FAU has been in D1 for over 20 years and they still play in that garbage facility. How they got an invite to the AAC is mysterious. Blackmail perhaps?

UTSA also plays basketball in a sub-par gym. The AAC expansion candidates had some things in common. Willing to spend on athletics and located in a large dma and surrounded by lots of div 1 level recruits.

FIU passes the eye test so long as you don't look too close. They are in a big market. They do spend and have the ability to generate additional funds off the backs of a huge enrollment.

The problem is they have been a mess of mismanagement and apathy for years. Their budget has been fairly high, but it doesn't seem like any of it actually gets invested in facilities or athletics in general. Under the right administration they could do really well. They did get a new AD recently, maybe he rights the ship.

(02-23-2023 09:36 AM)freshtop Wrote:  FIU passes the eye test so long as you don't look too close. They are in a big market. They do spend and have the ability to generate additional funds off the backs of a huge enrollment.

The problem is they have been a mess of mismanagement and apathy for years. Their budget has been fairly high, but it doesn't seem like any of it actually gets invested in facilities or athletics in general. Under the right administration they could do really well. They did get a new AD recently, maybe he rights the ship.

That is a pretty dead-on-balls accurate description of FIU. Even when they had the people in place, the leadership wasn't competent enough to keep them.

(02-22-2023 07:58 PM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 07:32 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  FIU would not be an outlier with FAU as a member.

Point taken, but their athletic reputation and facilities are sub par. Honestly I dont know why they took FAU, I think there were better options. Their basketball Gym has to be the worst BB facility in FBS D1. I know their are schools like Houston Christian and others who play in D1 for (FCS or no football) who have poor facilities, but not who play in the AAC. Yes Tarleton still plays in a gym, but at least they did some upgrades to make it look better and that is only until the new arena is built sometime next year. We are also still in transition to D1. FAU has been in D1 for over 20 years and they still play in that garbage facility. How they got an invite to the AAC is mysterious. Blackmail perhaps?

It is easy they won at the D1 level and have the budget to move to the AAC Tarletion have not won at the D1 level and does not have the budget to move to FBS "as of now"

The PAC12 may go with ION for their TV deal. If that happens, then Corner schools to B12 UW/OREGON to B1G WAZZU/OREGON ST to MWC....Maybe the WAC can pick up Cal and Stanford! Cal Baptist may block the move unless Cal and Stanford commit to upgrading their facilities!

(01-30-2023 11:39 AM)whupemall Wrote:  The AAC very much wants Ga State, but I'm not so sure the feeling is mutual. It's not a question of the American having more "prestige" or whatever. Of course it does (especially when it comes to financials, media markets, and basketball).

But right now, Ga State is very happy building a still-young athletic program in a conference (and division) with a cross-state rival in Ga Southern, and well-known, well-respected regional rivals such as App and Coastal.

Give the Panthers 5-10 more years of growth as an athletic program. Give the revamped AAC time to improve beyond its current status and really set itself as a cut above the rest of the G5. Maybe then, Ga State will be interested. But right now? It's not happening.

The newbies in the AAC are getting paid as much as all Sun Belt members right now. If Memphis, SMU, and Navy leave, what's going to happen to the AAC television contract?

The problem for Georgia State isn't whether they are happy or not, it's that it doesn't make sense financially to pay a penalty to exit and entry fee to the AAC for the same amount of revenue.

Big 12 about to poach the Pac! Here we go!

(03-04-2023 04:16 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  Big 12 about to poach the Pac! Here we go!

Seems more likely than ever based off the rumors smoldering right now. The PAC not taking the early bird special from ESPN has really bit them in the ass.

Rumors of 4 programs being added to the PAC which tells me they expect to lose more than just USC/UCLA. Colorado State being one of the targets in the most recent leaks tells me Colorado (and the other 4 corner programs) are probably out the door barring some sort of last second miracle on the media deal front. ION is not a last second miracle.

The gist so far is that the PAC wants to continue to value academics over athletics. Colorado State, Rice, Tulane, Tulsa, etc. are being looked at over Boise State, Fresno State, UNLV, UTSA, etc. Some of the former would be solid all-around additions. Others... not so much.

Regardless of what happens, the new look PAC will likely have trickle down ramifications on other G5 leagues. MWC and AAC first, then C-USA/SBC/MAC/SBC maybe even FCS.

The realignment rollercoaster is heading up the hill.

IMO the BIGTen is not ready (yet) for Oregon or Washington till 2028/29.

IF the PAC is able to get a "tolerable" media deal--- then they hold together for ~5 yrs.

Should know the figures in two weeks OR LESS. THEN-- everybody will have a better idea of the "near" future.

Once media deal occurs- the first question for C-USA folks should be:

Is the PAC going to add one/ two/ none??? This could be very significant.

(03-06-2023 05:14 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  IMO the BIGTen is not ready (yet) for Oregon or Washington till 2028/29.

IF the PAC is able to get a "tolerable" media deal--- then they hold together for ~5 yrs.

Should know the figures in two weeks OR LESS. THEN-- everybody will have a better idea of the "near" future.

Once media deal occurs- the first question for C-USA folks should be:

Is the PAC going to add one/ two/ none??? This could be very significant.

I think they will add and will do so to line their own pockets out the door. Get a new media deal with incentives to add programs from certain markets, then add the programs on partial shares. Collect the extra revenue themselves, bail in 5 years.