(06-23-2019 10:55 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  So many schools have stayed the FCS designation rather than move up. Football is expensive and in the northeast where pro teams exists, college football goes mostly unnoticed. UConn likely regretted leaving the BE the day after doing so but could not admit their mistake. College football will continue to thrive in the south in cities that don’t have pro teams; otherwise, it is going to struggle and more schools will make money decisions like this.

Look for UMass and UConn to work together to form a football only FBS league with the other independents and high level FCS schools..

Without FBS football the BE is their ceiling. They were hoping for an ACC or BIG10 invite still. This may signal a resignation to the fact that those invites aren’t coming or maybe they think they are just as well positioned in the BE. Staying with the FB schools during the BE split was in hopes of climbing the ladder and this move is for their fan base who’d rather play BB in the BE against their old rivals. JMO of course.

(06-23-2019 05:42 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 10:55 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  So many schools have stayed the FCS designation rather than move up. Football is expensive and in the northeast where pro teams exists, college football goes mostly unnoticed. UConn likely regretted leaving the BE the day after doing so but could not admit their mistake. College football will continue to thrive in the south in cities that don’t have pro teams; otherwise, it is going to struggle and more schools will make money decisions like this.

Look for UMass and UConn to work together to form a football only FBS league with the other independents and high level FCS schools..

Without FBS football the BE is their ceiling. They were hoping for an ACC or BIG10 invite still. This may signal a resignation to the fact that those invites aren’t coming or maybe they think they are just as well positioned in the BE. Staying with the FB schools during the BE split was in hopes of climbing the ladder and this move is for their fan base who’d rather play BB in the BE against their old rivals. JMO of course.

I think their MBB recruiting (and who knows maybe even WBB) are suffering compared to their past levels. The AAC just doesn’t resonate at the same level as the old Big East did when it was considered a power conference.

Their admin is finally admitting they’re a basketball school and New England doesn’t care about CFB at a high level. They are admitting their football program is second fiddle (even third fiddle if we’re being honest). They are now trying to salvage their MBB program before it fades any more than it already has since the last round of realignment.

UConn is a rare exception to the "football is king" line of thinking. They're doing the right thing with this move. For them, basketball is king and they've fallen off the throne in the AAC. I wouldn't say they don't care where their football program ends up, but it's not worth scarifying being at the upper echelon of the college basketball world.

Building a stadium 22 miles/half hr off campus was incredibly DUMB. Nice G5 stadium, but a giant albatross. Far off campus stadiums just don’t work outside of maybe being some legacy P5 powerhouse. And Connecticut’s stadium is 2nd in distance from campus to only UCLA & the iconic Rose Bowl.
https://thetab.com/us/uconn/2016/02/03/u...adium-2110

They thought the Patriots were moving in as well

(06-23-2019 08:48 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Building a stadium 22 miles/half hr off campus was incredibly DUMB. Nice G5 stadium, but a giant albatross. Far off campus stadiums just don’t work outside of maybe being some legacy P5 powerhouse. And Connecticut’s stadium is 2nd in distance from campus to only UCLA & the iconic Rose Bowl.
https://thetab.com/us/uconn/2016/02/03/u...adium-2110

A very important distinction regarding Rentschler Field is that it is owned by the state of Connecticut and not UConn or any of UConn's associated foundations.

So the question will be what will be the next domino to fall after UConn officially announces?

Big East- speculation is it will be a singular add and they won’t try to make it 12 with two divisions of 6.

AAC- some have stated the easiest band aid may be to work on another football only/all sports combo like Army/Vcu. I guess I’d ask if the first one (it’s early) Navy/Wichita State has been successful for the conference and their members? The service academy’s are on brand in a way “American” but does Army or Air Force football really help the league break down the door of the CFP?

Independent football- the likely next step for UConn football and the list of independent grows leaving open the possibility of a regional football only FBs conference in the mid-long term future.

Other conference movement- some have suggested that the AAC could attempt to poach some MW teams and expand to 16 teams total based on a richer tv contract.

All eyes are on 2023 when some of the next media rights deals are set to expire- could UConn leaving and what the AAC does expedite UCF, Houston, Memphis, and Cincy trying to get a life raft to a P5 sooner?

(06-23-2019 02:11 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 02:06 PM)olddawg Wrote:  I'd love an invite from the AAC as much as anybody. And I truly believe that's the only conference (other than the pipedream "East Coast Conference") that the admin would act on. But despite many valid reasons why we should be in the mix of schools being considered, I don't see it happening. They are a conference that has worked hard to separate themselves with the P6 moniker. Adding an FCS football school, even one like JMU that defeats their members on the gridiron, would not further their public relations cause. Our upside would be tremendous with membership there, but can't see us overcoming the FCS stink as discussions commence. It would truly be a shame too, because several of the current AAC members have reached full potential and will never improve on what they are now. Maybe if we were to knock off WVU and had a good year in basketball...

Here's CBS Sports early take. Some of the suggestions are insulting, but they are already in the "Club"
https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...placement/

100% agree, olddawg. Bottom line, I think JMU's lack of serious attention and investment in men's hoops is going to kill any chances. If JMU would've become a much bigger player in MBB over a decade ago, I'd like our chances but we didn't. Not just a new arena, but head coaches, buzz around the program due to multiple conference titles and advancing in the NCAAT, etc.

Once again, those who want greener pastures focus far too much on football when the real difference is in MBB (IMO). To get the votes of the likes of Memphis, Wichita State, and so forth, we are viewed as nothing in MBB unfortunately.

Be patient - If Lou can get us to 500 this year we will see progress.

(06-24-2019 07:16 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Big East- speculation is it will be a singular add and they won’t try to make it 12 with two divisions of 6.

AAC- some have stated the easiest band aid may be to work on another football only/all sports combo like Army/Vcu. I guess I’d ask if the first one (it’s early) Navy/Wichita State has been successful for the conference and their members? The service academy’s are on brand in a way “American” but does Army or Air Force football really help the league break down the door of the CFP?

Independent football- the likely next step for UConn football and the list of independent grows leaving open the possibility of a regional football only FBs conference in the mid-long term future.

Other conference movement- some have suggested that the AAC could attempt to poach some MW teams and expand to 16 teams total based on a richer tv contract.

All eyes are on 2023 when some of the next media rights deals are set to expire- could UConn leaving and what the AAC does expedite UCF, Houston, Memphis, and Cincy trying to get a life raft to a P5 sooner?

I'll try to add a best I can to your list:

BE - This makes all the sense in the world for the Big East conference. Hopefully UConn can capitalize on its true rivalries soon enough. Maybe they can start scheduling ND as an OOC to really bring some excitement back.

AAC - This conference has been a geographic mess since it started. Adding Army (which has been good recently) would give the AAC full control over the Army-Navy game, but if it is a conference game, not sure if they will need to move it earlier in the season to accommodate Conference Championships. Adding a football only member would mean they would look to add another school for all other sports (like VCU). The question would be whether any A-10(14) team would see the AAC as an upgrade to their current MBB situation; the conferences typically have the same number of NCAA bids, although 2019 was a down year for A-10(14).

Indy - UConn, we all appreciate the efforts you made to establish yourselves as a football school, but it ain't working. Like the preppy kid in HS that tries to be goth for a week, just return that junk to Hot Topic and get yourself some more Abercrombie shirts. Just drop down to FCS, or cut your losses entirely.

MW - It would be interesting to see if AAC tries to expand geographically, when most conferences are looking (or should look) to regionalize to save on transportation costs. Maybe they can function as essentially two 8 team leagues for football, but basketball and Olympic sports would still be a nightmare.

Future - The AAC might have a long-term deal, but the contract does not preclude AAC teams from leaving to go to a P5 conference, and ESPN has a safeguard against the "top brands" leaving the AAC (not triggered by UConn leaving). Those dominoes could still fall, but the direction is still speculative.

All in all, a good move for Big East and UConn. Could be even better for UConn if they drop football down a level. It'll hurt to concede defeat, but it's better than hemorrhaging money, right? Right??? AAC is fine for now, but poaching could still be an issue in 2021 as media rights deals get re-negotiated.

You raise a good point ie Army Navy- isn’t this an NBC property? I think Tv contracts all play into this. Btw who better to understand and advocate for Jmu then all sports partner of the AAC- espn? Rece Davis once said- “James Madison father of the constitution, mother of College game day”. Espn has seen the ratings and how jmu presents/compete on the big stage- CGD, super regionals, college lax championship, multiple college football games, etc.

(06-24-2019 10:02 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  You raise a good point ie Army Navy- isn’t this an NBC property? I think Tv contracts all play into this. Btw who better to understand and advocate for Jmu then all sports partner of the AAC- espn? Rece Davis once said- “James Madison father of the constitution, mother of College game day”. Espn has seen the ratings and how jmu presents/compete on the big stage- CGD, super regionals, college lax championship, multiple college football games, etc.

CBS signed a contract with Army & Navy to televise their game thru the 2028 season. The AAC made some concessions with their ESPN contract before Navy joined the AAC for FB only that included Navy home games to continue contractually with CBS (with exception of 1 non-Air Force home game each year that ESPN can/does choose...CBS still has exclusive rights to every other year when Navy hosts Air Force). I highly doubt CBS wants to give up that exclusive mid-December window for the Army-Navy game. But, they may make accommodations if both Army and Navy scream loud enough that Army needs a FB conference home (if invited).

edit note: the other demand Navy made to the AAC before joining was that home Navy FB games in Annapolis would stay on Saturdays and not moved to Thursday/Friday

The other problem UConn has is the tiny (for school size, just 8K+) Gampel Pavilion for basketball. P5 schools generally have much larger indoor facilities. Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena, for instance, holds something over 23K at capacity. I was there for a UConn game when it was literally stuffed to the rafters. The noise level was unbelievable!! If UConn wanted to truly be a P5 basketball school, they'd have to build a better arena. I forget why, but I read on another board that there's some reason they can't.

(06-24-2019 11:08 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  The other problem UConn has is the tiny (for school size, just 8K+) Gampel Pavilion for basketball. P5 schools generally have much larger indoor facilities. Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena, for instance, holds something over 23K at capacity. I was there for a UConn game when it was literally stuffed to the rafters. The noise level was unbelievable!! If UConn wanted to truly be a P5 basketball school, they'd have to build a better arena. I forget why, but I read on another board that there's some reason they can't.

When they need a bigger arena they play in Hartford. Back in the old Big East days almost all of their home games were there. Not sure if that is still true.

(06-23-2019 02:06 PM)olddawg Wrote:  I'd love an invite from the AAC as much as anybody. And I truly believe that's the only conference (other than the pipedream "East Coast Conference") that the admin would act on. But despite many valid reasons why we should be in the mix of schools being considered, I don't see it happening. They are a conference that has worked hard to separate themselves with the P6 moniker. Adding an FCS football school, even one like JMU that defeats their members on the gridiron, would not further their public relations cause.

Our upside would be tremendous with membership there, but can't see us overcoming the FCS stink as discussions commence. It would truly be a shame too, because several of the current AAC members have reached full potential and will never improve on what they are now. Maybe if we were to knock off WVU and had a good year in basketball...

Here's CBS Sports early take. Some of the suggestions are insulting, but they are already in the "Club"
https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...placement/

Which is why some of us have advocated in the past that we move up to a conference (i.e. the Sunbelt or CUSA) that our admins and our fans may not exactly be enthralled with so we'd be in the mix for a top conference expansion when it comes. Now its too late for that to help us in this specific scenario.

the AAC cannot stay at 11 for football.

scheduling is very difficult when you have a team sitting out every week/weekend from Oct on as conference schedules are in full swing. That's why almost all fb conferences seek an even number.

for other sports, not as big a deal. you can make it work when you have the option to play 7 different days in a week.

(06-24-2019 12:11 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  the AAC cannot stay at 11 for football.

scheduling is very difficult when you have a team sitting out every week/weekend from Oct on as conference schedules are in full swing. That's why almost all fb conferences seek an even number.

for other sports, not as big a deal. you can make it work when you have the option to play 7 different days in a week.

Then why push UConn's football away?

UMass might get that call if they want all-sports member. They would DEF leave the A-10 for AAC if invited.

Also UConn FB will either get a FB-only home in C-USA/MAC or they'll ride the Indy train.

(06-24-2019 12:28 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 12:11 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  the AAC cannot stay at 11 for football.

scheduling is very difficult when you have a team sitting out every week/weekend from Oct on as conference schedules are in full swing. That's why almost all fb conferences seek an even number.

for other sports, not as big a deal. you can make it work when you have the option to play 7 different days in a week.

Then why push UConn's football away?

because it's an opportunity to add someone better.....BYU, Air Force, Army.

and maybe some hard feelings. UConn has been pretty vocal about its displeasure with the AAC. And the AAC has to think UConn will always have an eye on leaving somewhere.

(06-24-2019 12:11 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  the AAC cannot stay at 11 for football.

scheduling is very difficult when you have a team sitting out every week/weekend from Oct on as conference schedules are in full swing. That's why almost all fb conferences seek an even number.

for other sports, not as big a deal. you can make it work when you have the option to play 7 different days in a week.

I dunno. I get your point and it is a good one. But, I'd stop short of saying "cannot". It certainly can be done and has been done. When the ACC added Florida State in the early 90's, the conference did just fine with 9 members for a decade (mostly dominated in FB by the Noles).

A case can be made that the AAC should just take its time and see how it goes with 11. They can always add later on if they feel the need. With division-less rules potentially on the horizon as a requirement for a conference FB championship game, the ability to play a legit round-robin 20-game MBB schedule (P5's are moving to 20 game conference schedules already), even a round-robin 10-game conference FB schedule is doable.

I think the Big 12-2 already has the best model with 10 programs for scheduling purposes. It would be refreshing to see conferences wanting to apply some common sense and actually contract instead of building these mega conferences like the WAC did years ago to monumental failure. 11 cuts of the conference kitty instead of 12 is a positive too. If the AAC takes its time and doesn't overreact, they could come out of this smelling like a rose. And again, if they choose to replace UConn to get to 12, they'll have plenty of good athletic programs to choose from.

Having said all that, they'll probably add some school 15 minutes after UConn makes it official later this week.


edit note: going to a 10-game AAC round-robin schedule would be near impossible for Navy I realize...they will demand to have the flexibility to play the USMA, USAFA and Notre Dame.

12 vs 11 scheduling.

seems like it would be easier with odd teams for football and even number for the other sports.

maybe its not this simple, but dont all football teams have a bye week? odd man out gets the bye/ and or ooc game?

for hoops and other sports it seems the travel partnering is the way to go and requires an even number of teams.