I am under the impression that this new ESPN deal allows for 1 team to leave the AAC without penalty to the payout. Is that accurate?

(06-24-2019 11:37 AM)papa_dawg Wrote:  I am under the impression that this new ESPN deal allows for 1 team to leave the AAC without penalty to the payout. Is that accurate?

If this is correct, I would imagine there is no incentive to add another school to the mix that will not exponentially help or add value. You don't need 12 for a championship game and none of the CUSA programs or non-Army schools are without huge flaws. I would sit tight and wait.

(06-24-2019 11:43 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:37 AM)papa_dawg Wrote:  I am under the impression that this new ESPN deal allows for 1 team to leave the AAC without penalty to the payout. Is that accurate?

If this is correct, I would imagine there is no incentive to add another school to the mix that will not exponentially help or add value. You don't need 12 for a championship game and none of the CUSA programs or non-Army schools are without huge flaws. I would sit tight and wait.

Correct, so sad for Southern Miss. and Marshall fans.

(06-24-2019 11:43 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:37 AM)papa_dawg Wrote:  I am under the impression that this new ESPN deal allows for 1 team to leave the AAC without penalty to the payout. Is that accurate?

If this is correct, I would imagine there is no incentive to add another school to the mix that will not exponentially help or add value. You don't need 12 for a championship game and none of the CUSA programs or non-Army schools are without huge flaws. I would sit tight and wait.

The main reason floated that I’ve read (from media types) is for balanced divisions. Unbalanced scheduling could be a pain.

I think the main reason the AAC will not sit it out is their fear that Texas and Oklahoma will leave the Big XII, and they will backfill with two of Cincy/Memphis/Houston. The AAC would only have 9 football members--does this eliminate their conference championship game, or will any number do at this point? The membership losses would let ESPN cut the money they pay the AAC. Then is the AAC without UConn and two of Cincy/Memphis/Houston, and with less TV dollars, that much better than C-USA? Is it enough better that schools will pony up the exit and entrance fees to join? If not, then the AAC is in a weak position, and even they will not believe the P6 stickers any more.

Backfilling UConn may not be about making the AAC whole again as much is it is about hurting another conference by taking one of their top teams, and maintaining the gap they need to convince the broadcasters that they are worth more money than any other G5 conference.

(06-24-2019 12:04 PM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:43 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:37 AM)papa_dawg Wrote:  I am under the impression that this new ESPN deal allows for 1 team to leave the AAC without penalty to the payout. Is that accurate?

If this is correct, I would imagine there is no incentive to add another school to the mix that will not exponentially help or add value. You don't need 12 for a championship game and none of the CUSA programs or non-Army schools are without huge flaws. I would sit tight and wait.

The main reason floated that I’ve read (from media types) is for balanced divisions. Unbalanced scheduling could be a pain.

But is balanced divisions worth the amount of money saved by being a 11 team conference? If so then I think the best play here would be a football only Army. No team in any of the G5 conferences are going to make up for what Uconn is taking away. Why try right now?

(06-24-2019 12:33 PM)Nugget49er Wrote:  I think the main reason the AAC will not sit it out is their fear that Texas and Oklahoma will leave the Big XII, and they will backfill with two of Cincy/Memphis/Houston. The AAC would only have 9 football members--does this eliminate their conference championship game, or will any number do at this point? The membership losses would let ESPN cut the money they pay the AAC. Then is the AAC without UConn and two of Cincy/Memphis/Houston, and with less TV dollars, that much better than C-USA. Is it enough better that schools will pony up the exit and entrance fees to join? If not, then the AAC is in a weak position, and even they will not believe the P6 stickers any more.

Backfilling UConn may not be about making the AAC whole again as much is it is about hurting another conference by taking one of their top teams, and maintaining the gap they need to convince the broadcasters that they are worth more money than anyone other G5 conference.

The gap is already so wide and they couldn't hurt us anymore that we hurt ourselves. If they took a team from CUSA it would be a blessing because payouts would increase for the 13 left. It would be more incentive for us to push back to 12. CUSA is bloated and dying and there is no team here that would be a devastating blow to what has already occurred. We would actually have more direction for change once we saw who would leave.

You would have a very difficult time kicking a team out to go from 12 to 13. I agree. Sounds good--just not feasible.

(06-24-2019 01:43 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  You would have a very difficult time kicking a team out to go from 12 to 13. I agree. Sounds good--just not feasible.

Agreed, but easier than kicking two out. But then again, the Sunbelt did it!

The Sun Belt had requirements in the number of sports to remain a member. Denver chose not to field those sports(was given time/deadlines). Eventually they chose their own departure. SBC would not give waivers or additional time. UNO left due to their budget.

Very different situation for C-USA.

(06-24-2019 05:44 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 04:15 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 04:14 PM)Cardiff Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 04:06 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 03:59 PM)Cardiff Wrote:  That check hasn’t been signed. It probably never will be.

considering they haven't been to the NCAA in 3 years and haven't contributed to the bowl pool I don't think they have any leverage there.

UConn doesn’t need leverage. They’re not asking AAC to do anything.

UConn is telling the AAC that they will break the lease as of July 1, 2020. If AAC wants $10 million in exchange for that, AAC will have to sue them.

they agreed to the buylaws then they joined...if you break a lease there are penalties.

conferences are run by lawyers for a reason.

Are y’all so sure about that?

Did UConn sign away their tier 3 media rights when they joined the old big east (current AAC)?

Probably not. And I doubt that the AAC can compel UConn to do so under its bylaws (I don’t know this, just speculating)

AAC: let’s all sign this Shiny New media contract with great (for most of us) tier 3 payouts!!!
UConn: meh
AAC: if you don’t we’ll kick you out
UConn: fine we’ll explore other options.
AAC: wait come back! If you don’t we’ll charge you $10mil for us kicking you out
UConn: we could sue YOU for trying to take our tier 3 rights without compensation. But we won’t, cause we’re nice guys (plus we really want to go to the BE anyway). Lets just call it even.

having to pay an exit fee to leave a conference has nothing to do with tier 3 rights, besides new TV deal doesn't kick in for a year....they'll be gone by then

they're blessed it's only 10 million...I believe Maryland payed 30 to leave for the B1G

Ain't nobody gonna kick nobody out. And, I think it's pretty unlikely anybody in CUSA is leaving anytime soon. Still think the Big Musical Chairs are gonna be relatively still until around 2023. Isn't that when the Long Horn Network, B12 and a couple of other Cartel folks start renegotiating their own deals? And, will any of that affect any of our members? I doubt it. Look for something when the B12 either implodes, or adds one or two. Till then, forget about it.

(06-24-2019 02:27 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  Ain't nobody gonna kick nobody out. And, I think it's pretty unlikely anybody in CUSA is leaving anytime soon. Still think the Big Musical Chairs are gonna be relatively still until around 2023. Isn't that when the Long Horn Network, B12 and a couple of other Cartel folks start renegotiating their own deals? And, will any of that affect any of our members? I doubt it. Look for something when the B12 either implodes, or adds one or two. Till then, forget about it.

That doesn't mean I can't hope and pray for some of you teams to not be here when checks get handed out.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...548603001/

The Big East held a vote to approve the addition of the Connecticut Huskies as an 11th member of the conference, according to a report via Twitter from CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

USA TODAY Sports reported Saturday that UConn was working toward a departure from the American Athletic Conference, and was expected to accept an invitation to rejoin the Big East.

Conference bylaws require UConn to pay a $10 million withdrawal fee and give 27 months' notice before leaving, according to The Associated Press.

Many details of the departure remain unclear — including the future plans for UConn's football program. The American is unlikely to allow the Huskies to remain in the league as a football-only member.

Would be no shock if The American opts to replace UConn with … no one. American has its new/improved/forthcoming TV deal, and UConn leaving means more money for all remaining schools. AAC presidents might not see a viable replacement and vote to indefinitely drop from 12 to 11.

(06-24-2019 03:24 PM)usm99 Wrote:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...548603001/

The Big East held a vote to approve the addition of the Connecticut Huskies as an 11th member of the conference, according to a report via Twitter from CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

USA TODAY Sports reported Saturday that UConn was working toward a departure from the American Athletic Conference, and was expected to accept an invitation to rejoin the Big East.

Conference bylaws require UConn to pay a $10 million withdrawal fee and give 27 months' notice before leaving, according to The Associated Press.

Many details of the departure remain unclear — including the future plans for UConn's football program. The American is unlikely to allow the Huskies to remain in the league as a football-only member.

Would be no shock if The American opts to replace UConn with … no one. American has its new/improved/forthcoming TV deal, and UConn leaving means more money for all remaining schools. AAC presidents might not see a viable replacement and vote to indefinitely drop from 12 to 11.

Good stuff.

https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men...story.html

UConn will pay the American Athletic Conference a $17 million exit fee in order to leave the conference next summer, according to numerous sources.

The AAC on Friday announced that terms and fees associated with the university’s departure have been finalized, without disclosing financial particulars.

According to sources, UConn’s exit fee will be payable in two lump sums this year and next, and incremental payments of roughly $1 million annually for the next six years.

“We all understood that there was a minimum exit fee that we were aware of in our bylaws," UConn athletic director David Benedict said. "And the additional money over and above that, when you look at the grand scheme of things, we’ll be able to recover that money in short order based on the cost savings in travel as well as the increased sales we’re going to have, and all of the indirect benefit we’re going to receive.”

UConn will officially exit the conference after the upcoming 2019-20 season. An agreement between UConn and the AAC had been the final hurdle between the school and its entry into the Big East Conference. With the deal signed, UConn is clear to join its new league on July 1, 2020.

The AAC will withhold all conference revenues that would have otherwise been paid to UConn in 2019 and 2020. That money amounts to roughly $5.1 million for the initial payment and is expected to again be between $5-6 million next year.

That will leave the university owing $6-plus million.

UConn announced in June that it would join the Big East and delivered to the AAC a notice of withdrawal on July 1. Per terms of its agreement with the AAC, UConn was required to give 27 months notice and pay $10 million.

Because the Huskies will leave early — 27 months from July 1 is Oct. 1, 2022 — they were forced to negotiate a higher exit fee.

“I’m very pleased with how the conference office and we were able to work through this,” Benedict said. “We’ll let the exit speak for itself. But we’re excited to be finished with that step and obviously look forward to our last year as a member of the American Athletic Conference, and we’ll turn our eyes to the next chapter when this chapter is over with.”

The conference is said to have sought a much higher exit fee while UConn tried to negotiate something closer to $15 million or below. The sides eventually found a compromise, which involves maintaining an aspect of their partnership: UConn has agreed to schedule four home-and-home basketball series with AAC teams, men’s or women’s. No teams or years have been assigned.

As expected, UConn will not be allowed to remain in the AAC as a football-only member.

“I can confirm that we’re going to be pursuing an FBS, Division I football program,” Benedict said. “We absolutely are committed to being a competitive program and I remain optimistic about our ability to achieve that goal. A lot of that has to do with a lot of conversations that I’ve been having over the past couple weeks with people intimately involved in the process. So I’m excited to move on and really dig in to football now that the exit has been finalized.”

(07-26-2019 09:47 AM)usm99 Wrote:  https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men...story.html

UConn will pay the American Athletic Conference a $17 million exit fee in order to leave the conference next summer, according to numerous sources.

The AAC on Friday announced that terms and fees associated with the university’s departure have been finalized, without disclosing financial particulars.

According to sources, UConn’s exit fee will be payable in two lump sums this year and next, and incremental payments of roughly $1 million annually for the next six years.

“We all understood that there was a minimum exit fee that we were aware of in our bylaws," UConn athletic director David Benedict said. "And the additional money over and above that, when you look at the grand scheme of things, we’ll be able to recover that money in short order based on the cost savings in travel as well as the increased sales we’re going to have, and all of the indirect benefit we’re going to receive.”

UConn will officially exit the conference after the upcoming 2019-20 season. An agreement between UConn and the AAC had been the final hurdle between the school and its entry into the Big East Conference. With the deal signed, UConn is clear to join its new league on July 1, 2020.

The AAC will withhold all conference revenues that would have otherwise been paid to UConn in 2019 and 2020. That money amounts to roughly $5.1 million for the initial payment and is expected to again be between $5-6 million next year.

That will leave the university owing $6-plus million.

UConn announced in June that it would join the Big East and delivered to the AAC a notice of withdrawal on July 1. Per terms of its agreement with the AAC, UConn was required to give 27 months notice and pay $10 million.

Because the Huskies will leave early — 27 months from July 1 is Oct. 1, 2022 — they were forced to negotiate a higher exit fee.

“I’m very pleased with how the conference office and we were able to work through this,” Benedict said. “We’ll let the exit speak for itself. But we’re excited to be finished with that step and obviously look forward to our last year as a member of the American Athletic Conference, and we’ll turn our eyes to the next chapter when this chapter is over with.”

The conference is said to have sought a much higher exit fee while UConn tried to negotiate something closer to $15 million or below. The sides eventually found a compromise, which involves maintaining an aspect of their partnership: UConn has agreed to schedule four home-and-home basketball series with AAC teams, men’s or women’s. No teams or years have been assigned.

As expected, UConn will not be allowed to remain in the AAC as a football-only member.

“I can confirm that we’re going to be pursuing an FBS, Division I football program,” Benedict said. “We absolutely are committed to being a competitive program and I remain optimistic about our ability to achieve that goal. A lot of that has to do with a lot of conversations that I’ve been having over the past couple weeks with people intimately involved in the process. So I’m excited to move on and really dig in to football now that the exit has been finalized.”

It's a huge hit to their basketball. Penny Hardaway knows it. With UConn in there, you could pretend to be an elite conference. Without, the Big East and ACC will hold sway on every top recruit. Now if UConn and UMass can somehow join the Mac for football-only, they'll both be set.

(07-26-2019 10:43 AM)USM@FTL Wrote:  It's a huge hit to their basketball. Penny Hardaway knows it. With UConn in there, you could pretend to be an elite conference. Without, the Big East and ACC will hold sway on every top recruit. Now if UConn and UMass can somehow join the Mac for football-only, they'll both be set.

Really? Memphis had a top 3 recruiting class in Cusa even under that dope Josh Pastner, while our bb rivals . . . . . . were USM and UAB, and UConn was nowhere in sight.

Maybe most AAC fans don't care since they play UConn H-H yearly and like they say familiary breeds contempt and the more significant games were against Wichita, Houston, Temple, UCF, and Cincy. Since their NC, they've not been a factor. Here's their record and conf finish since then--

2014-15
20-15 5th place

2015-16
25-11 6th place

2016-17
16-17 6th place

2017-18
14-18 8th place

2018-19
16-17 9th place

Precious Achiuwa from NYC signed with Memphis as a no. 17 recruit. He was heavily recruited by UConn. James Wiseman no. 1 recruit signed by Memphis could have gone anywhere he wanted. In fact, Memphis' no. 1 class could all have gone to UConn if they wanted. 2020 recruits were in 6th grade when UConn was relevant.

Your saying that they signed with Memphis for the opportunity to play against UConn makes no sense when they could have played for UConn.

I would rather keep UConn than not, but it's not as significant a blow to the AAC as you make it to be.

(07-26-2019 10:43 AM)USM@FTL Wrote:  It's a huge hit to their basketball. Penny Hardaway knows it. With UConn in there, you could pretend to be an elite conference. Without, the Big East and ACC will hold sway on every top recruit. Now if UConn and UMass can somehow join the Mac for football-only, they'll both be set.

I don't see the MAC, CUSA or the Sun Belt inviting UMass or UConn as Football only. The MAC has already told Temple and UMass to kick rocks once, why take UMass back. My guess is NMSU, UMass and UConn will have a choice to make come somewhere between 2023-2025 when realignment hits again (That's when all the GORs run out) to either drop down to IAA or drop football altogether then.