(12-11-2013 08:32 AM)7 Wrote:  The AAC is better than the MAC.

C-USA.....no.

+1 AAC is absolutely a logical move, not the holy grail but definitely many steps above the MAC. If an outside team is ever going to be considered for a playoff spot it that team will come from the AAC. The MAC has a stigma in football it will not get rid of.

I say AAC if we could do football only, and perhaps move our other sports to OVC or another mid-major regional conference. No need to have track and baseball flying all over the country for conference games.

Yep. This topic has been beaten down in a hundred threads, but I'll chime in again. No one has ever jumped from the MAC to a power conference. The AAC is a required step IMO if we ever want to be considered for a power conference. I think it's pretty clear that an undefeated team from the AAC or MWC will get a GO5 bowl invite before a MAC team. It's just the way it is. If we would've crashed and won this year, it would've changed that perception forever. But, we didn't.

The MAC tv contract is about $100K per team and the AAC is about $1M.

It is absolutely the next logical step.

The AAC is the logical next step if we want to dream bigger as in the BIG12. That league has historically been a launching point to a larger conference. If we want BIG12 then we should move to the AAC and let our program season a bit before making the next move. Moving from MAC to BIG12 seems very unrealistic. It would also help if our basketball was better as the AAC is a far better hoops league than the MAC as well. If we maintain football and improve in hoops we would be very attractive to another conference.

Has there ever been indication that the NIU athletic department would consider a jump to a new conference?

(12-11-2013 08:32 AM)7 Wrote:  The AAC is better than the MAC.

C-USA.....no.

They won't be next year football wise. Louisville and Rutgers are leaving. UCF and Cincy could compete for the MACC. Nobody else could. And, this would no way help improve our home attendance. B12 is the only chance for a move, and we aren't ready.

The Big12 is the only place to go sadly, the old Big East would have been perfect for us. The AAC would be, at best, a potentially small and perhaps temporary upgrade, and probably not worth the bother.

If the best of the AAC, MAC and USA formed a new conference, this would be the ultimate last move in realignment!?!

(12-11-2013 10:06 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  The Big12 is the only place to go sadly, the old Big East would have been perfect for us. The AAC would be, at best, a potentially small and perhaps temporary upgrade, and probably not worth the bother.

If the best of the AAC, MAC and USA formed a new conference, this would be the ultimate last move in realignment!?!

have to be careful to not bite off nore then we can chew. I would like the MAC Commissioner put the screws to the MAC teams to up their commitmnt to football and basketball. If EMU or Kent can't do it, then they have to leave. I like the familiarity with the other MAC teams and rivalries that are being created.

(12-11-2013 09:43 AM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 08:32 AM)7 Wrote:  The AAC is better than the MAC.

C-USA.....no.

They won't be next year football wise. Louisville and Rutgers are leaving. UCF and Cincy could compete for the MACC. Nobody else could. And, this would no way help improve our home attendance. B12 is the only chance for a move, and we aren't ready.

Perception is what is important.
EMU Umass CMU WMU Akron Kent
or
UCF USF SMU ECU Cincinnati Navy UConn Memphis

Who would you rather have on a home schedule?

Does NIU have the money to join a mid-major conference with teams spread out all over the country? Especially since the Huskies only play 5 home games a year (partially kidding).

B1G will never happen because they require AAU membership. B12 is the only longshot worth talking about.

The AAC TV deal is $2MM per school; the MAC is $100K.

The 2014 AAC lineup's mean in the BCS computers was better by about 4 spots. It's not much but it's better, and I think there's no arguing the perception is better, which is really the key here when you consider access bowl bids will be decided by a committee. I'm concerned that the only way a MAC team makes the access bowl is if they go undefeated and no AAC or MWC goes undefeated, or they have 1 loss and every MWC and AAC team has at least 2 losses.

Coaching salaries are much higher in the AAC and they have 4 bowl tie ins with AQ conferences (SEC, ACCx2, B12); the MAC just lost their only one.

AAC has ESPN games on Thursday and Friday instead of ESPN2 games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Negatives for AAC move as I see it:

- Increased travel costs. May have to join Horizon or Summit for other sports.
- Lose regional rivalries.
- Concern that the new league will disintegrate at some future time. The closest team to NIU (Cincinnati) is probably desperate for a way out.

Most realignment stuff I have read has us pretty low on the list for possible adds to the BIG 12 with AAC, MWC, and BYU in front. Do we have more long term potential than some of those candidates? Absolutely. The problem is the BIG 12 isn't going to add a team that takes a decade plus to integrate. They want a team that will hit the ground running or be close to it since there are revenue impacts in play. The only way we put ourself into the conversation is by moving to a MWC or AAC and going head to head with the programs being considered with us. If you do a quick comparison of Cincinnati athletics versus us the differences are very noticeable. Playing in the MAC has done us well but the ceiling is much lower than the AAC. There is also a big perception issue. At some point we need to take that next step up if the BIG 12 is the long term goal.

(12-11-2013 10:24 AM)Max Power Wrote:  B1G will never happen because they require AAU membership. B12 is the only longshot worth talking about.

The AAC TV deal is $2MM per school; the MAC is $100K.

The 2014 AAC lineup's mean in the BCS computers was better by about 4 spots. It's not much but it's better, and I think there's no arguing the perception is better, which is really the key here when you consider access bowl bids will be decided by a committee. I'm concerned that the only way a MAC team makes the access bowl is if they go undefeated and no AAC or MWC goes undefeated, or they have 1 loss and every MWC and AAC team has at least 2 losses.

Coaching salaries are much higher in the AAC and they have 4 bowl tie ins with AQ conferences (SEC, ACCx2, B12); the MAC just lost their only one.

AAC has ESPN games on Thursday and Friday instead of ESPN2 games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Negatives for AAC move as I see it:

- Increased travel costs. May have to join Horizon or Summit for other sports.
- Lose regional rivalries.
- Concern that the new league will disintegrate at some future time. The closest team to NIU (Cincinnati) is probably desperate for a way out.

Thanks for putting this together. I was going to say something similar, but couldn't really formulate it.

As for the increased travel costs or lack of regional rivalries (which is happening in every conference), it's going to be that way on everyone in the AAC. Check out the map below... In general, each school is somewhat 'paired off' with one other school in their general vicinity, and that's it (with the exception of the cluster Northeast). This also begs the question whether another MAC program like Toledo, Ball St, or Ohio would consider pairing off with us and jumping ship. Without that happening - and someone coming with us - I think it'd be tough, but I also think Memphis/Cincinnati could also be that 'paired-off' school for us (if Cinci doesn't leave as soon as someone gives them a chance to; although Cinci leaving could open the door for NIU/Toledo/Ohio/someone to enter).



I think this is also important to note:
"ESPN will control all football telecasts with 90 percent on one of ESPN’s national networks or ABC. The same networks will also broadcast 113 men’s basketball games and at least 50 women’s basketball games."

The AAC is a step up in money/national exposure/perception. Although the Big 12 is a pipe dream and makes a little more sense regionally, I think logically the AAC should be a realistic consideration. Also, check out SMU's attendance this year - it's not like some of those teams would be outshining us in that regard.

(12-11-2013 10:48 AM)DeadMoney16 Wrote:  The AAC is a step up in money/national exposure/perception. Although the Big 12 is a pipe dream and makes a little more sense regionally, I think logically the AAC should be a realistic consideration. Also, check out SMU's attendance this year - it's not like some of those teams would be outshining us in that regard.

I would agree AAC is our only shot.

Also, guys, it doesn't REALLY matter how good we are. Conferences care only a little about that. Its butts in the seats and eyes on the TV and with our small fan base, I don't hold out much hope. Even Boise State, who is probably much larger as a fanbase, is still stuck in their small conference.

(12-11-2013 11:03 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 10:48 AM)DeadMoney16 Wrote:  The AAC is a step up in money/national exposure/perception. Although the Big 12 is a pipe dream and makes a little more sense regionally, I think logically the AAC should be a realistic consideration. Also, check out SMU's attendance this year - it's not like some of those teams would be outshining us in that regard.

I would agree AAC is our only shot.

Also, guys, it doesn't REALLY matter how good we are. Conferences care only a little about that. Its butts in the seats and eyes on the TV and with our small fan base, I don't hold out much hope. Even Boise State, who is probably much larger as a fanbase, is still stuck in their small conference.

Boise State was going to the Big East and backed out. If they're not in the PAC or Big 12, I think the MWC is best for them.

(12-11-2013 10:12 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 09:43 AM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 08:32 AM)7 Wrote:  The AAC is better than the MAC.

C-USA.....no.

They won't be next year football wise. Louisville and Rutgers are leaving. UCF and Cincy could compete for the MACC. Nobody else could. And, this would no way help improve our home attendance. B12 is the only chance for a move, and we aren't ready.

Perception is what is important.
EMU Umass CMU WMU Akron Kent
or
UCF USF SMU ECU Cincinnati Navy UConn Memphis

Who would you rather have on a home schedule?

Honestly, I don't think the casual NIU fan (the alum who talks about coming to games, but always finds some reason not to) would find that AAC schedule much more appealing.

It would be an upgrade, but I don't think there's anything there that would get the silent majority excited.

(12-11-2013 11:03 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 10:48 AM)DeadMoney16 Wrote:  The AAC is a step up in money/national exposure/perception. Although the Big 12 is a pipe dream and makes a little more sense regionally, I think logically the AAC should be a realistic consideration. Also, check out SMU's attendance this year - it's not like some of those teams would be outshining us in that regard.

I would agree AAC is our only shot.

Also, guys, it doesn't REALLY matter how good we are. Conferences care only a little about that. Its butts in the seats and eyes on the TV and with our small fan base, I don't hold out much hope. Even Boise State, who is probably much larger as a fanbase, is still stuck in their small conference.

Well, Boise would be in the AAC if not for their incredible sweetheart deal from the MWC to stay:
"Because Boise State was in limbo between two conferences, the Mountain West was able to exempt the Broncos’ home games from its existing TV contract and sell them separately on the open market."

I have always loved the MAC but if we could get football into the AAC I would do it in a heartbeat. Here are the 12 teams that will be in the AAC as of 2015:

Cincinnati
UConn
Houston
Memphis
SMU
South Florida
Temple
UCF
East Carolina
Tulane
Tulsa
Navy

I would very much enjoy games against those teams. The AAC could take us and maybe Army or one of our MAC brethren to make it an even 14 teams. Most of the rest of our sports could go into the Horizon League where travel is even better than the MAC. The MAC would likely keep our Wrestling and Soccer teams since they have lots of affiliate members in those sports anyway. A win all around. Of course this makes too much sense to happen. Our best, most realistic bet is to continue to build the MAC with the goal of it being the top non-AQ conference.

NIU actually does well in TV ratings. The Orange Bowl ratings year were up 44% and did very well in Chicago, and NIU's TV pull this year would rank them near the top of the AAC.

2013 Conference TV ratings for NIU:

Wed 11/13 ESPN2 NIU/Ball St 1.04MM
Wed 11/20 ESPN2 NIU/Toledo 1.05MM
Tue 11/26 ESPN2 NIU/WMU 881k

2013 Conference TV ratings for the AAC, with departing Louisville and Rutgers games in red:

Fri 10/18 ESPN UCF/Louisville 2.2MM
Thu 10/10 ESPN Rutgers/Louisville 1.66MM
Thu 10/31 ESPN USF/Houston 1.13MM
Fri 11/8 ESPN2 Louisville/UConn 1.04MM
Thu 11/21 ESPN Rutgers/UCF 972k
Fri 10/11 ESPN Temple/Cincy 872k
Fri 10/18 ESPN Louisville/USF 605k
Wed 10/30 ESPN2 Cincy/Memphis 437k
Sat 11/9 ESPN2 Houston/UCF 431k
Sat 11/26 ESPNU Houston/Louisville 348k
Sat 11/23 ESPNEWS Cincy/Houston 283k
Sat 10/5 ESPNEWS Rutgers/SMU 241k
Sat 11/16 ESPNEWS Cincy/Rutgers 155k
Sat 10/26 ESPNEWS Houston/Rutgers 137k
Sat 10/12 ESPNEWS Memphis/Houston 79k
Sat 10/19 ESPNU UConn/Cincy 56k

It'll be interesting to see how the access bowl spots play out. Reputation wise, AAC & MW are going to be deemed more successful and if NIU gets screwed out of the Access Bowl because we're in the MAC, I'm gonna be a very angry person and write strongly worded letters to every committee member.
Success of a football program is not the only requirement so I'm just gonna sit back and dream of bigger & better things because it's not happening anytime soon