Little Mike must be ecstatic over the apparent Big 12 decision to forego/table expansion. He can continue to build his conference and maybe wedge into the P6 after all. Admittedly I have not been a fan, but he certainly runs the AAC much better than Bowlsby does his domain.

Too early to say. But if this holds true, then he did pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not? If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

(09-27-2016 11:39 AM)westwolf Wrote:  Little Mike must be ecstatic over the apparent Big 12 decision to forego/table expansion. He can continue to build his conference and maybe wedge into the P6 after all. Admittedly I have not been a fan, but he certainly runs the AAC much better than Bowlsby does his domain.

Has that been published anywhere? Anywhere reputable, that is?

Fat lady isn't even warming up. She's still in bed.

I would like to see the MWC as the P7 conference as well. Look at how many teams from the MWC have been considered as well?

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Too early to say. But if this holds true, then he did pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not? If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

I dont think Aresco pulled a rabbit out of his hat so much as it is the Big12 just cant get on the same page. The AAC isn't going to be a P5, but it is absolutely on its way to a huge raise if it stays intact.

Aresco needs to add to the brand even more in advance of the next contract (ala B1G, SEC, ACC and PAC-12). Target VCU/Wichita State as non-football members to strengthen basketball, and go after Army and Air Force as football-only members to strengthen the football side of things.

Aresco and the AAC will never have a more opportune and advantageous moment that right now to solidify the AAC.

(09-27-2016 12:27 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  I would like to see the MWC as the P7 conference as well. Look at how many teams from the MWC have been considered as well?

Aren't you a Boise fan? You guys, BYU, SDSU, and Air Force need to come to the AAC. If BYU wants to be stubborn, then CSU.

West:
Boise
SDSU
BYU/CSU
Air Force
Houston
SMU
Tulsa
Tulane

East:
Cincy
UConn
Memphis
Navy
ECU
UCF
USF
Temple

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not?

Probably not. The term "Power Conference" isn't anything official, it was invented by ESPN to describe the 5 conferences enormous advantages over everyone else. We would need to get the same enormous advantages first (huge TV deal, NY6 bowl contract) and then make a case for getting in on autonomy voting

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

Most AAC programs are good enough to be members of a power conference, but each P5 has 1-2 superpower, blue blooded, flagship program that call the shots in negotiations. We don't have anyone like that. Which will make it hard to get those big TV & Bowl deals.

(09-27-2016 12:30 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Too early to say. But if this holds true, then he did pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not? If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

I dont think Aresco pulled a rabbit out of his hat so much as it is the Big12 just cant get on the same page. The AAC isn't going to be a P5, but it is absolutely on its way to a huge raise if it stays intact.

But you still haven't answered the underlying question. If Houston, Cincy, USF, UCF, UConn, etc. are all good enough to warrant serious consideration to be added to a power conference (and by the way at least 4 of those WERE in a previous power conference), then why can't the AAC be a power conference again. Give me a logical, well thought out, reason. Not just because the power brokers don't like it and said so. Is there some hard cap on upward mobility?

(09-27-2016 12:20 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Fat lady isn't even warming up. She's still in bed.

Exactly.

July 19, 2016, 2:55 pm CT: USA Today senior CFB writer says expansion is dead, for at least several years. Practically 100% of the U.S. sports media agrees. Message board denizens celebrate.

July 19, 2016, 3 pm CT: Big 12 announces a unanimous vote to move forward with expansion efforts.

September 27, 2016: Media reports expansion is likely dead. Most media types agree. Message board denizens celebrate.

To be continued...

If Big 12 snubs expansion this year, this is what Aresco should do:

AAC GOR, with a buy out. Something unprecedented, like $50M to get out of the GOR should the Big 12 change its mind next year for example.

(09-27-2016 01:03 PM)MechaKnight Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not?

Probably not. The term "Power Conference" isn't anything official, it was invented by ESPN to describe the 5 conferences enormous advantages over everyone else. We would need to get the same enormous advantages first (huge TV deal, NY6 bowl contract) and then make a case for getting in on autonomy voting

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

Most AAC programs are good enough to be members of a power conference, but each P5 has 1-2 superpower, blue blooded, flagship program that call the shots in negotiations. We don't have anyone like that. Which will make it hard to get those big TV & Bowl deals.

OK, I get your point. We have no Texas or Oklahoma. Having said that, what really is the difference between a Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis, and UConn and, for example a Texas Tech, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, an West Virginia.

Really, what's the difference? (I'm not knocking those schools, some are good programs and I'd love to join them).

(09-27-2016 01:06 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 12:30 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Too early to say. But if this holds true, then he did pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not? If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

I dont think Aresco pulled a rabbit out of his hat so much as it is the Big12 just cant get on the same page. The AAC isn't going to be a P5, but it is absolutely on its way to a huge raise if it stays intact.

But you still haven't answered the underlying question. If Houston, Cincy, USF, UCF, UConn, etc. are all good enough to warrant serious consideration to be added to a power conference (and by the way at least 4 of those WERE in a previous power conference), then why can't the AAC be a power conference again. Give me a logical, well thought out, reason. Not just because the power brokers don't like it and said so. Is there some hard cap on upward mobility?

Yes. Not enough competition in the media for our services, no matter how good we get. P5 grossly overpaid. G5, especially AAC, grossly underpaid.

Difference is we have no bell cows to drive up interest.

SEC has Bama, LSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, etc.

B10 has OH State, Michigan, PSU, MSU, Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc.

ACC has FSU and Clemson and very recently UL, and formerly, Miami.

B12 has OU, Texas, and lately TCU and Baylor.

P12 has USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Stanford.

Notre Dame has itself.

AAC has Houston this year, and Navy, Temple and Memphis recently. But nothing long term that drives huge media rights.

(09-27-2016 01:06 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 12:30 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Too early to say. But if this holds true, then he did pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not? If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

I dont think Aresco pulled a rabbit out of his hat so much as it is the Big12 just cant get on the same page. The AAC isn't going to be a P5, but it is absolutely on its way to a huge raise if it stays intact.

But you still haven't answered the underlying question. If Houston, Cincy, USF, UCF, UConn, etc. are all good enough to warrant serious consideration to be added to a power conference (and by the way at least 4 of those WERE in a previous power conference), then why can't the AAC be a power conference again. Give me a logical, well thought out, reason. Not just because the power brokers don't like it and said so. Is there some hard cap on upward mobility?

You've answered your own question here. The power brokers don't share well with others. The BCS era where schools like Boise, Cincinnati were going to BCS Bowl games scared the heck out of them. They created the current system in an effort to cut those schools off at the knees.

(09-27-2016 01:10 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  If Big 12 snubs expansion this year, this is what Aresco should do:

AAC GOR, with a buy out. Something unprecedented, like $50M to get out of the GOR should the Big 12 change its mind next year for example.

Nobody but Tulsa signs it, schools start casting one eye toward the Big 12 and the other toward their contingency plan, Arseco looks like a donkey.

What contingency??? The CUSA? Sun Belt? Independence??

Sorry, but if you're East of the Mississippi, there is nothing else equivalent, once you've climbed the ladder up to the AAC level. It's either down, or up.

(09-27-2016 01:11 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 01:03 PM)MechaKnight Wrote:  

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Question, with the B12 seriously considering a number of AAC schools, if somehow Aresco can keep his league in tact, can the AAC get consideration as a power conference, and if not, why not?

Probably not. The term "Power Conference" isn't anything official, it was invented by ESPN to describe the 5 conferences enormous advantages over everyone else. We would need to get the same enormous advantages first (huge TV deal, NY6 bowl contract) and then make a case for getting in on autonomy voting

(09-27-2016 11:51 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  If these programs were good enough to be seriously considered for a power conference, why can't the AAC be a power conference.

Most AAC programs are good enough to be members of a power conference, but each P5 has 1-2 superpower, blue blooded, flagship program that call the shots in negotiations. We don't have anyone like that. Which will make it hard to get those big TV & Bowl deals.

OK, I get your point. We have no Texas or Oklahoma. Having said that, what really is the difference between a Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis, and UConn and, for example a Texas Tech, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, an West Virginia.

Really, what's the difference? (I'm not knocking those schools, some are good programs and I'd love to join them).

The difference is the top AAC is equal to a Kansas and KSU...etc. They don't command the TV$$ and neither does the top AAC programs.
Take away Ok and UT, the Big 12 is nothing more than another G5 conference.

I don't recall the last time Kansas was ranked in football...probably when Mangino coached.

Meanwhile the AAC consistently has teams in the top 25 and even the top 10. I get that the AAC doesn't have a Texas or OU, but that is the only difference.

(09-27-2016 02:22 PM)Carolina Stang Wrote:  I don't recall the last time Kansas was ranked in football...probably when Mangino coached.

Meanwhile the AAC consistently has teams in the top 25 and even the top 10. I get that the AAC doesn't have a Texas or OU, but that is the only difference.

Kansas had a great season 8 or 9 years ago when they went 12-1 (I think) and made a BCS Bowl. It's been very bleak ever since.
Cheers!