(05-29-2014 05:33 PM)BigEastHomer Wrote: (05-29-2014 05:19 PM)Attackcoog Wrote: The goal is to not be mentioned in the same breath with the MW, SB, CUSA, and MAC.
We're not. I can't remember the last time one of those conferences won a BCS bowl game and the Hoops National Championships in the same year (because they've never come remotely close) Those accomplishments speak to National relevance.
Yes, but in football, the American is going to be grouped right now right along with the others as far as most people and media are concerned. One BCS win is not going to cut it (we've seen too many non-AQs win too) and hoops is a different animal all together. It's a good first step, but only the first step in getting to where the conference is viewed completely differently by most than the other G5.
Let's look at the general media/public view of the conferences before the last round or realignment.
(note: I'm emphasizing media/general public. Everyone is different, but this is viewpoint I think held among the greatest number of people):
1-5. SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-10, ACC (note: by the end, SEC was clearly viewed as the best with various arguments for and against the others as #2).
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6. Big East: The Big East was an AQ conference, but was generally thought the weakest by far (accurately or not, I'm only talking perception here). They did surprisingly well in BCS games, but biggest names were only equal to the 2nd level big names in other conferences (although West Virginia just about closed that gap at their height).
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7. Mountain West: Some viewed this as actually stronger than the Big East, but in general was seen by the late 00s as far and way the strongest non-AQ, but still aways from the AQs.
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8-11. Conference USA, WAC, MAC, Sunbelt: To the general public without a rooting interest, these were all essentially the same. Conference USA and the WAC were viewed a bit better with more intense audiences (Boise State helping the WAC a lot), but really I don't think I know many people who would have thought all that much different about any of these conferences.
After realignment, the order went to more like this for at least the short term:
1-5: SEC, Big Ten, ACC, PAC-12, Big 12
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6-10.American, Mountain West, Conference USA, MAC, Sunbelt (among closer observing fans, the American and Mountain West are far stronger, but among the general public, it's pretty much a wash at this point).
The American's goal over the next half decade to decade should be to clearly re-establish the middle tier that used to exist and they can do that. Sustained success or at least a few solid seasons for multiple teams (that part is key, it can't be one program) is the key. If you get that, then you put the American as the clear #6 and the effect of that is huge.