(12-21-2020 09:40 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  After Boise State backed out of the Indy Bowl, they can go to the Pac12.... Them and USC are a bunch of spoiled brats... lost all respect for USC and Boise St this bowl season both afraid of playing ARMY

I don't know why Boise isn't playing. USC would have probably had to move out of town to practice. Probably not worth the hassle.

I think the logistics are too hard to add Boise to the AAC. Maybe Boise could schedule non-conference series with a few AAC schools if that would be helpful. Boise is just too far away from the rest of the conference.

(12-21-2020 09:03 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 08:40 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 05:47 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 05:40 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Not surprisingly, the impasse is that Boise State wants full membership, but the AAC wants to offer them for football only, and that's a no-go for Boise because the Big West is not inviting Boise to (re)join the BW.

Quote:Emails between Boise State senior associate athletic director and football chief of staff Brad Larrondo and then-athletic director Curt Apsey in August and September show the athletic department worked behind the scenes on a potential move.

“Curt, I spent a little bit more time on Friday and over (the) weekend doing some additional research and calculating relating to the AAC,” Larrondo wrote on Sept. 28. “I know the option of FB and MBB/WBB only is not going to probably work and Big West is not an option either at this time, so we’re down to an all sports move or not moving.”

Apsey responded the next afternoon, writing to Larrondo, “Brad, at this point the AAC has told Dr. (Marlene) Tromp they are only interested in football. I would think that mindset would change if there were other schools in the West up for consideration which I think will eventually happen. Still talking to the president, the AAC and the Big West. Conversations are ongoing.”

Simple solution. Have the AAC throw the Big West some annual basketball games and baseball games as long as Boise is in both leagues, and call it a day.

UCSB's 2020 men's soccer schedule originally had road games at SMU and USF on it, so it can be done for other sports too.

What about the WAC? Sounds like its about to become far more stable conference than it has been in the past few years and it probably would be more than happy to take them. Seattle, NMSU, Grand Canyon University (Phoenix), Dixie St (Utah), Utah Valley---and likely 6 Texas schools coming on board when its all said and done. I suspect those Texas schools will be in another division so the Bronco's wont have to travel there much. The real key is the the league will finally have the kind of numbers that will make the WAC pretty stable.

If the AAC member schools thought that Boise State would be a gigantic benefit to them and their conference, they would have already offered full membership.

If Boise State was desperate to get out of the Mountain West, they would have dumped all of their other sports in any conference they could find, even the WAC.

But neither of those have happened, so it's likely that neither Boise nor the AAC members are dead-set on it. Maybe when all the ADs and school presidents take a hard look at their own interests and practical considerations, this one goes into the "Sounds nice, but" category rather than the "Must have" category.

I think thats a reach. I think the AAC does believe that Boise adds value to the conference---but that its just too far away for anything other than a "football only" membership. I dont think I would say Boise is "desperate" to exit the MW---but it appears they would prefer to exit. They either need to find a suitable home for their olympic sports or convince the AAC that a full membership is viable. So...right now there is no deal. I remember back in 2011---when Boise accepted thier Big East invite---they shortly thereafter negotiated a non-football invite to the WAC--but backed out when they became concerned that the WAC was too unstable and could fall apart completely. Today---if their expansion plan actually happens, the WAC would have ts numbers up to the point that it becomes pretty darn stable.

This is reminding me all too well of the Gonzaga-to-Big East rumors just a couple of years ago. Yes, as an institution, Gonzaga would fit right in like a glove. However, the geography cannot be changed nor the logistics optimal for integrating them into the conference.

In this case, not only is geography working against including Boise but, I suspect, the money may not be forthcoming. Not with the upcoming contracts of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and PAC coming down the pike.

I think Boise can take a few pages out of the Notre Dame notebook and have a mix of P5 opponents, service academies and a few other private programs as an independent.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ighlights/

The American Athletic Conference has discussed adding Boise State as a 12th football member, sources tell CBS Sports. Documents obtained by CBS Sports also indicate these conversations have taken place.

A potential move by Boise State could destabilize the Mountain West and strengthen the AAC's access to the College Football Playoff whether or not the field expands beyond four teams in the future.

Boise State has not yet moved because it has failed to find a geographically-desirable conference as a home for its other sports. The AAC would accept Boise State as a football-only member. The league has been playing with 11 football teams since UConn left last year.

Boise State had been in discussions with the American earlier this year about a move, sources tell CBS Sports. The talks heated up again this fall.

IF BSU and SDSU were to leave then I think the MWC could stay at 10 and just split their shares amongst the remaining members. I base my speculation on the fact that the MWC doesn't seem to be all that worried about BSU leaving and the rule changes with respect to conference championship games. If the MWC were to be demoted on the conference pecking order as a result then there's no incentive to go back to 12.

If the MWC were to lose Boise, and only Boise, do they bring in a replacement or just severe their relationship with Hawaii and drop to 10?

Who is the new 12 if they replace Boise? NMSU? UTEP? UNT? Montana?

(12-21-2020 11:10 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ighlights/

The American Athletic Conference has discussed adding Boise State as a 12th football member, sources tell CBS Sports. Documents obtained by CBS Sports also indicate these conversations have taken place.

A potential move by Boise State could destabilize the Mountain West and strengthen the AAC's access to the College Football Playoff whether or not the field expands beyond four teams in the future.

Boise State has not yet moved because it has failed to find a geographically-desirable conference as a home for its other sports. The AAC would accept Boise State as a football-only member. The league has been playing with 11 football teams since UConn left last year.

Boise State had been in discussions with the American earlier this year about a move, sources tell CBS Sports. The talks heated up again this fall.

Dobbs only mentioned one conference. So I'll say again.
bribe the Big West members with annual series in men's basketball and baseball, and that will seal the deal.

(12-21-2020 11:52 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the MWC were to lose Boise, and only Boise, do they bring in a replacement or just severe their relationship with Hawaii and drop to 10?

Who is the new 12 if they replace Boise? NMSU? UTEP? UNT? Montana?

I think the natural replacement would be NMSU. I guess we know why the WAC is aggressive with expansion with NMSU possibly leaving very soon.

Theoretically, it's possible that Boise and NMSU can switch places. Boise places their Olympic sports in the WAC and then bring their football to independence or another conference. UNM might have something to say about that, though. I don't think the MWC would want to sever its ties with Hawaii, unless UH is unable to get a new stadium.

(12-21-2020 11:55 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:10 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ighlights/

The American Athletic Conference has discussed adding Boise State as a 12th football member, sources tell CBS Sports. Documents obtained by CBS Sports also indicate these conversations have taken place.

A potential move by Boise State could destabilize the Mountain West and strengthen the AAC's access to the College Football Playoff whether or not the field expands beyond four teams in the future.

Boise State has not yet moved because it has failed to find a geographically-desirable conference as a home for its other sports. The AAC would accept Boise State as a football-only member. The league has been playing with 11 football teams since UConn left last year.

Boise State had been in discussions with the American earlier this year about a move, sources tell CBS Sports. The talks heated up again this fall.

Dobbs only mentioned one conference. So I'll say again.
bribe the Big West members with annual series in men's basketball and baseball, and that will seal the deal.

Wouldn't the Big West ADs want money instead? Give each BW school money to make up the difference between, say, sending UCSB teams to Boise versus sending those teams to Davis.

(12-22-2020 12:04 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:52 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the MWC were to lose Boise, and only Boise, do they bring in a replacement or just severe their relationship with Hawaii and drop to 10?

Who is the new 12 if they replace Boise? NMSU? UTEP? UNT? Montana?

I think the natural replacement would be NMSU. I guess we know why the WAC is aggressive with expansion with NMSU possibly leaving very soon.

NMSU isn’t going anywhere or wanted by any FBS conferences.

(12-22-2020 12:06 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:55 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:10 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ighlights/

The American Athletic Conference has discussed adding Boise State as a 12th football member, sources tell CBS Sports. Documents obtained by CBS Sports also indicate these conversations have taken place.

A potential move by Boise State could destabilize the Mountain West and strengthen the AAC's access to the College Football Playoff whether or not the field expands beyond four teams in the future.

Boise State has not yet moved because it has failed to find a geographically-desirable conference as a home for its other sports. The AAC would accept Boise State as a football-only member. The league has been playing with 11 football teams since UConn left last year.

Boise State had been in discussions with the American earlier this year about a move, sources tell CBS Sports. The talks heated up again this fall.

Dobbs only mentioned one conference. So I'll say again.
bribe the Big West members with annual series in men's basketball and baseball, and that will seal the deal.

Wouldn't the Big West ADs want money instead? Give each BW school money to make up the difference between, say, sending UCSB teams to Boise versus sending those teams to Davis.

Yes. But that's moreso a Boise issue than American.

The previous travel subs demanded was a dealbreaker. If I was negotiating the travel subsidies, I would say "okay Boise, we will accept whatever the bare minimum is. But in exchange, we're going to increase the exit fees 10 fold." Boise paid the Big West $1.5 million in 2012 after choosing to remain in the MWC If they backed out before joining once again, this time the fee would be $15 million. Again, this is what I would push for.

I'm trying to gauge this from the AAC side, IF they want Boise football of course. How they can sweeten the pot for the Big West to take back Boise State? Offering annual ooc series in basketball and various olympic sports is one way. Contests in Baseball, volleyball and men's soccer would help both conferences out.

Dodd did not mention the WAC or WCC. That might just be his personal opinion they're not involved, or those other conferences just might not be involved at all.

(12-21-2020 11:23 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  IF BSU and SDSU were to leave then I think the MWC could stay at 10 and just split their shares amongst the remaining members. I base my speculation on the fact that the MWC doesn't seem to be all that worried about BSU leaving and the rule changes with respect to conference championship games. If the MWC were to be demoted on the conference pecking order as a result then there's no incentive to go back to 12.

There is just one slot open. The AAC's current issue is a scheduling problen due to an odd number of football teams (11). So, its add one or 3---not two---and frankly---I doubt its 3 as that would require ESPN to pony up over 14 million extra dollars a year to make the move anywhere near revenue neutral.

(12-22-2020 12:38 AM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 12:06 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:55 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(12-21-2020 11:10 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ighlights/

The American Athletic Conference has discussed adding Boise State as a 12th football member, sources tell CBS Sports. Documents obtained by CBS Sports also indicate these conversations have taken place.

A potential move by Boise State could destabilize the Mountain West and strengthen the AAC's access to the College Football Playoff whether or not the field expands beyond four teams in the future.

Boise State has not yet moved because it has failed to find a geographically-desirable conference as a home for its other sports. The AAC would accept Boise State as a football-only member. The league has been playing with 11 football teams since UConn left last year.

Boise State had been in discussions with the American earlier this year about a move, sources tell CBS Sports. The talks heated up again this fall.

Dobbs only mentioned one conference. So I'll say again.
bribe the Big West members with annual series in men's basketball and baseball, and that will seal the deal.

Wouldn't the Big West ADs want money instead? Give each BW school money to make up the difference between, say, sending UCSB teams to Boise versus sending those teams to Davis.

Yes. But that's moreso a Boise issue than American.

The previous travel subs demanded was a dealbreaker. If I was negotiating the travel subsidies, I would say "okay Boise, we will accept whatever the bare minimum is. But in exchange, we're going to increase the exit fees 10 fold." Boise paid the Big West $1.5 million in 2012 after choosing to remain in the MWC If they backed out before joining once again, this time the fee would be $15 million. Again, this is what I would push for.

I'm trying to gauge this from the AAC side, IF they want Boise football of course. How they can sweeten the pot for the Big West to take back Boise State? Offering annual ooc series in basketball and various olympic sports is one way. Contests in Baseball, volleyball and men's soccer would help both conferences out.

Dodd did not mention the WAC or WCC. That might just be his personal opinion they're not involved, or those other conferences just might not be involved at all.

The WAC seems like the easiest and best fit that would likely be willing to take the Boise sports. If the WAC ends up getting all these Texas teams to join, then its numbers rise to the point that Boise would not need to be concerned about its stability---It would no longer be a concern that it might collapse on any given day. If NMSU stays, then the league would at least have a rival basketball school that was of solid quality. Its not ideal---but the travel is reasonable and there are no ridiculous subsidies and strings attached. The Big Sky seems like a good geographic match as well.

Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

Well the AAC didn’t get a reprieve on their waiver due to COVID-19 that I seen so the clock is still ticking for the AAC to get to 12 unless they go unbalanced divisions or 10 conference games.

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

(12-22-2020 01:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

Well the AAC didn’t get a reprieve on their waiver due to COVID-19 that I seen so the clock is still ticking for the AAC to get to 12 unless they go unbalanced divisions.

I think this is more of "Boise, find a home for basketball and then get back to us" from the AAC. I don't really think the AAC would make the first move and raid the MWC. But I can see where they let Boise make all the moves and then invite them. The closest example is the SEC and Texas A&M. The SEC didn't raid the Big XII. They made A&M and later Missouri work an exit deal with the Big XII and once that was done, they got invited. I can see a similar situation with Boise and the AAC.

The move doesn’t make sense to me without other Western schools. You never want to be an island or fly solo. At a minimum, BYU and Air Force would need to be involved to make me comfortable.

AAC
East: Central Florida, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, Temple, Tulane
West: Air Force (Mt West), Boise St (Big Sky), BYU (WCC), Houston, Navy (Patriot), SMU, Tulsa
Non-football: Dayton, Saint Louis, VCU, Wichita St

Mt West
Mountain: Colorado St, New Mexico, Utah St, UTEP, UTSA, Wyoming
West: Fresno St, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego St, San Jose St, UNLV

CUSA
East: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Marshall, Old Dominion, Western Kentucky
West: Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee St, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB