Peace in our time...the AAC has a good chance of building a very strong brand:

No more moves are expected any time soon, either, much to the dismay of Cincinnati and UConn. Both schools are trying to strike a come-hither pose that might lure the ACC or the Big Ten or the NBA Eastern or any conference that may rescue them from the American.

Of the five equity conferences, only the SEC schools have not signed their media rights to the league. No university in the conference has any desire to look elsewhere -- the SEC generates more money than the rest of the conferences. The ACC schools had never granted their rights because they didn't feel it was necessary. No one had left the league since South Carolina in 1971. But when Maryland left, and speculation over which of the league's members would go where refused to simmer, the presidents realized what they had to do.

The decision benefited not only the ACC members, but everyone else, too -- it took the most desirable schools off the market. Don't misunderstand; the ACC took action to protect itself. But the conference presidents also realized that their decision would reduce the fever pitch that had gripped the FBS the same as it had in previous rounds of conference-hopping.

"That was part of our conversation," Swofford said. "It creates stability not only for our conference but the overall landscape."

The changes are done. We have become accustomed to Nebraska in the Big Ten and Texas A&M in the SEC. Colorado has won a Pac-12 men's basketball tournament. Five of the eight programs that played Big East football in 1997 will play ACC football in 2014. Rutgers and Maryland will renew their once-annual backyard rivalries with Penn State in the Big Ten.

"Change is not easy for people," Swofford said. "It's not easy to manage. It's not easy for people to accept. But it's also a constant in life. There's just been, in terms of this particular topic, a lot more of it in a relatively condensed period of time. So it feels even more dramatic."

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, Swofford believes intercollegiate athletics is better off now than it was 16 years ago. But the relief in his voice is apparent. Realignment is receding. At long last, we can set aside the pencils and write conference standings in ink.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...-era-ended

In 5, 4, 3, 2,.....

He pretty much said that UC and UConn are acting like whores.

(02-14-2014 03:30 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  He pretty much said that UC and UConn are acting like whores.

For good reason though. Same as all of you were doing to get out of CUSA. If in fact things have settled for a while, we just have to make the best of it. All of our schools have to maintain the success they've had and try to improve the areas where they aren't strong. If we are all stuck together, we have to figure out how to make it work and make it worth more than the table scraps that we are being paid now.

(02-14-2014 03:32 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:30 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  He pretty much said that UC and UConn are acting like whores.

For good reason though. Same as all of you were doing to get out of CUSA. If in fact things have settled for a while, we just have to make the best of it. All of our schools have to maintain the success they've had and try to improve the areas where they aren't strong. If we are all stuck together, we have to figure out how to make it work and make it worth more than the table scraps that we are being paid now.

When did UCF publicly beg to get out of CUSA?

I agree with Maisel. Unless the Big 10 shakes things up before their next TV deal in 2016, it looks like the odds are stacked against realignment until 2024-2026 when the Big 12, Pac 12, ACC TV deals and GOR expire, not to mention the 12-year football playoff deal.

By 2025ish, the Big 10 and SEC may be making so much money that the ACC and/or Big 12 schools may want to join them.

(02-14-2014 03:39 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:32 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:30 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  He pretty much said that UC and UConn are acting like whores.

For good reason though. Same as all of you were doing to get out of CUSA. If in fact things have settled for a while, we just have to make the best of it. All of our schools have to maintain the success they've had and try to improve the areas where they aren't strong. If we are all stuck together, we have to figure out how to make it work and make it worth more than the table scraps that we are being paid now.

When did UCF publicly beg to get out of CUSA?

Maybe not your administration, I really wouldn't know. I know your beat writer was on that quest for you guys though. I know Memphis had FedEx money dangled out there, and ECU put together some infomercials. Maybe UCF did pledge it's undying loyalty to CUSA but if that's the case, why are you not there anymore?

I sure hope the situation with UC and UConn is covered in every thread.

Ivan should have started that article, after ESPN ordered the ACC to invite..............

(02-14-2014 03:42 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:39 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:32 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:30 PM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  He pretty much said that UC and UConn are acting like whores.

For good reason though. Same as all of you were doing to get out of CUSA. If in fact things have settled for a while, we just have to make the best of it. All of our schools have to maintain the success they've had and try to improve the areas where they aren't strong. If we are all stuck together, we have to figure out how to make it work and make it worth more than the table scraps that we are being paid now.

When did UCF publicly beg to get out of CUSA?

Maybe not your administration, I really wouldn't know. I know your beat writer was on that quest for you guys though. I know Memphis had FedEx money dangled out there, and ECU put together some infomercials. Maybe UCF did pledge it's undying loyalty to CUSA but if that's the case, why are you not there anymore?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to move up and better your situation. Its just that there is a proper way to do things. UCF wanted to move up, but they did it the right way. UCF probably wants to be in the B12 as much as UC does. You just wouldn't hear about it because they aren't talking about it.

(02-14-2014 03:46 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  I sure hope the situation with UC and UConn is covered in every thread.

now that was funny.

If anyone is making the case (on the field) to get out of the AAC, it was UCF last year.

If basketball mattered at all, UConn would already be gone.

But alas, from the mouth of my favorite SMU QB ever (Don Meredith)..."If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, wouldn't it be a very merry Christmas!"

As a firsthand observer let me say that UConn has comported itself with dignity and class. I'm sure they desperately want to go to the ACC and who can blame them, but they've publicly and privately worked to make the AAC as good as possible.

Cincy on the other hand, has acted like a *****. But I can relate b/c Memphis did the same thing for years.

Quote:"That was part of our conversation," Swofford said. "It creates stability not only for our conference but the overall landscape."

Now the ACC is worried about stability in the college football landscape? After pillaging the Big East for 10 years?

Give me a break. Swofford does not have one ounce of concern for the overall landscape.

The shuffling at the gang of five level may yet continue even if the P5 are done.

(02-14-2014 03:55 PM)MechaKnight Wrote:  

Quote:"That was part of our conversation," Swofford said. "It creates stability not only for our conference but the overall landscape."

Now the ACC is worried about stability in the college football landscape? After pillaging the Big East for 10 years?

Give me a break. Swofford does not have one ounce of concern for the overall landscape.

Exactly that ******* only wants stability now that he realizes the ACC is at/near the bottom of the P5 totem pole. Not nearly as fun for him when he's the one sweating if teams are leaving.

The Texoma crew is going to leave.

The AAC has to use the ESPN exposure to build the conference up and then get creative when the time comes to sign a new contract in 5-6 years. We are at least more stable than the old BE was when it tried to make it to the open market, if the P5 are truly done poaching the AAC for the next 10 to 15 years, the AAC at least should have no problem making it to the open market in one piece, what that is worth is anybody's guess at this point.

(02-14-2014 03:58 PM)72Tiger Wrote:  The shuffling at the gang of five level may yet continue even if the P5 are done.

Why? What would be the point?

Nobody in the G5 is poaching the AAC. Houston and SMU may have flirted last year when the AAC looked shaky, but that bridge is crossed. And CUSA MAC SBC aren't poaching the AAC.

And nobody is poaching the MWC. Boise STate proved that. And forget CUSA Sun Belt MAC.

Nobody is poaching the MAC--the AAC and MWC doesn't want them, and they have no reason to go to CUSA, never mind the Sun Belt.

The AAC and MWC don't want anyone in CUSA, the MAC or Sun Belt. Maybe you could argue for a complete realignment of CUSA and the Sun Belt on geographic lines, but I doubt it--Lousiana Tech is no more likely to join up with ULL and ULM to save travel expenses than Tulane is to join up with Lousianan Tech.

So nobody in the G5 is poaching anybody. The MAC and Sun Belt each have an open spot, but they're in no apparent hurry to fill them, and all of the candidates are FCS callups. (Except for the very far-fetched MAC-boots-UMass-who-joins-the-Belt scenario).

(02-14-2014 05:05 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:58 PM)72Tiger Wrote:  The shuffling at the gang of five level may yet continue even if the P5 are done.

Why? What would be the point?

Nobody in the G5 is poaching the AAC. Houston and SMU may have flirted last year when the AAC looked shaky, but that bridge is crossed. And CUSA MAC SBC aren't poaching the AAC.

And nobody is poaching the MWC. Boise STate proved that. And forget CUSA Sun Belt MAC.

Nobody is poaching the MAC--the AAC and MWC doesn't want them, and they have no reason to go to CUSA, never mind the Sun Belt.

The AAC and MWC don't want anyone in CUSA, the MAC or Sun Belt. Maybe you could argue for a complete realignment of CUSA and the Sun Belt on geographic lines, but I doubt it--Lousiana Tech is no more likely to join up with ULL and ULM to save travel expenses than Tulane is to join up with Lousianan Tech.

So nobody in the G5 is poaching anybody. The MAC and Sun Belt each have an open spot, but they're in no apparent hurry to fill them, and all of the candidates are FCS callups. (Except for the very far-fetched MAC-boots-UMass-who-joins-the-Belt scenario).

If the stipends and other P5 ideas go through, it's more than likely that some of the G5 schools won't want to or be able to follow suit. The AAC will be fine, but the lower G5 conferences may have to reshuffle because of this.

(02-14-2014 05:15 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 05:05 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(02-14-2014 03:58 PM)72Tiger Wrote:  The shuffling at the gang of five level may yet continue even if the P5 are done.

Why? What would be the point?

Nobody in the G5 is poaching the AAC. Houston and SMU may have flirted last year when the AAC looked shaky, but that bridge is crossed. And CUSA MAC SBC aren't poaching the AAC.

And nobody is poaching the MWC. Boise STate proved that. And forget CUSA Sun Belt MAC.

Nobody is poaching the MAC--the AAC and MWC doesn't want them, and they have no reason to go to CUSA, never mind the Sun Belt.

The AAC and MWC don't want anyone in CUSA, the MAC or Sun Belt. Maybe you could argue for a complete realignment of CUSA and the Sun Belt on geographic lines, but I doubt it--Lousiana Tech is no more likely to join up with ULL and ULM to save travel expenses than Tulane is to join up with Lousianan Tech.

So nobody in the G5 is poaching anybody. The MAC and Sun Belt each have an open spot, but they're in no apparent hurry to fill them, and all of the candidates are FCS callups. (Except for the very far-fetched MAC-boots-UMass-who-joins-the-Belt scenario).

If the stipends and other P5 ideas go through, it's more than likely that some of the G5 schools won't want to or be able to follow suit. The AAC will be fine, but the lower G5 conferences may have to reshuffle because of this.

This...point blank no movement at the P5 level and the AAC will flourish...