06-23-2019, 10:18 AM
Has to be some combination of those schools IF we expand at all. Obviously all of this is contingent upon ESPN's acquiescence as both our and their interests need to be carefully aligned in order to make sure that dollar$ make $en$e.
However, BYU may only come if we include their olympic sports and that could be in the AAC's best interest as well (for one, BYU actually has a decent basketball pedigree and would occasionally get us an extra NCAA bid). Consequently, if BYU is all sports then and only then could BSU be as well & only at that point do we consider a proper western wing to the conference whereby you bring in Gonzaga (olympic) and consider SDSU or CSU for all sports (AF would be all sports in that scenario as well but otherwise just FB only).
I believe we have the money, trajectory, & bargaining power to make this happen whereby it would be in the best interest of not only the AAC and ESPN but BYU as well. We just have to iron out the details with our tv partner & the Mormons. In the alternative, if that fails to materialize, we bring in either Army or AF as a football only if we can and regardless of whether either of those service academies agree to join or not we should at least bring in VCU &/or Dayton (VCU would be my top choice) for olympics to offset the loss of UCONN basketball. Otherwise, we don't move at all and simply collect our $7.6 million per team per year in tv revenue. No other moves make fiscal or tactical sense.
Again, if BYU and ESPN are onboard we could make a true coast to coast 'American' Conference that would realistically give the P5 a run for their money:
East
ECU
Cincy
Temple
UCF
USF
Memphis
Tulane
Army (FB)
West
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
BYU
Boise St.
Air Force
CSU or SDSU
Navy (FB)
Gonzaga & VCU olympic to offset Army & Navy football (could even add Dayton or possibly even St. Louis at that point if logistics could be worked out).
However, BYU may only come if we include their olympic sports and that could be in the AAC's best interest as well (for one, BYU actually has a decent basketball pedigree and would occasionally get us an extra NCAA bid). Consequently, if BYU is all sports then and only then could BSU be as well & only at that point do we consider a proper western wing to the conference whereby you bring in Gonzaga (olympic) and consider SDSU or CSU for all sports (AF would be all sports in that scenario as well but otherwise just FB only).
I believe we have the money, trajectory, & bargaining power to make this happen whereby it would be in the best interest of not only the AAC and ESPN but BYU as well. We just have to iron out the details with our tv partner & the Mormons. In the alternative, if that fails to materialize, we bring in either Army or AF as a football only if we can and regardless of whether either of those service academies agree to join or not we should at least bring in VCU &/or Dayton (VCU would be my top choice) for olympics to offset the loss of UCONN basketball. Otherwise, we don't move at all and simply collect our $7.6 million per team per year in tv revenue. No other moves make fiscal or tactical sense.
Again, if BYU and ESPN are onboard we could make a true coast to coast 'American' Conference that would realistically give the P5 a run for their money:
East
ECU
Cincy
Temple
UCF
USF
Memphis
Tulane
Army (FB)
West
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
BYU
Boise St.
Air Force
CSU or SDSU
Navy (FB)
Gonzaga & VCU olympic to offset Army & Navy football (could even add Dayton or possibly even St. Louis at that point if logistics could be worked out).