DuelingDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 10:37 AM)SMUfan Wrote: First of all you have to make sure the AAC is worth joining. That sounds odd for me to say since I believe I was the 2nd person on here a couple of years ago to say that UAB would be joining the AAC.
What if the AAC loses Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, USF? Maybe even Temple if the Big 12 went to 16. Does an AAC look attractive with the leftovers consisting of ECU, Navy and Tulane?
Possible to the Big 12:
#13 Memphis
#14 USF
#15 Boise St
#16 Temple
Possible to the Mountain West who are interested in Central Time zone schools:
SMU
Tulsa
Right now it's hard to know. Hopefully we will know soon.
Lots of uncertainty … regardless of groupings and membership, UAB is going to want to be aligned with the best group possible. It is more likely the AAC will be the core grouping for that possibility than the alternatives, other than possibly Big 12 someday evolving into that group
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10-11-2021 10:46 AM |
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mixduptransistor
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 10:37 AM)SMUfan Wrote: First of all you have to make sure the AAC is worth joining. That sounds odd for me to say since I believe I was the 2nd person on here a couple of years ago to say that UAB would be joining the AAC.
What if the AAC loses Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, USF? Maybe even Temple if the Big 12 went to 16. Does an AAC look attractive with the leftovers consisting of ECU, Navy and Tulane?
Possible to the Big 12:
#13 Memphis
#14 USF
#15 Boise St
#16 Temple
Possible to the Mountain West who are interested in Central Time zone schools:
SMU
Tulsa
Right now it's hard to know. Hopefully we will know soon.
The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
UAB has been held back so long that we're way behind the curve. UAB should be in the same conference as Memphis, Cincinnati, Houston, Tulsa, USF, etc, period.
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10-11-2021 10:50 AM |
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HiddenDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
Memphis and Boise are clearly 13 and 14 for the Big 12. USF is a longshot for the Big 12 and Temple and Tulsa has absolutely no shot.
That said, the AAC is extremely unstable right now so the question would be is leaving CUSA with Judy McLeod leading the way still worth leaving for a diminished AAC? Probably so.
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10-11-2021 11:20 AM |
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demiveeman
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
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10-11-2021 11:34 AM |
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mixduptransistor
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 11:34 AM)demiveeman Wrote: (10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
Fair enough, C*USA is an embarrassment and getting out of that regime and the sinking brand would be an improvement, it's just sad that we've let our peers get so far out ahead that it's probably going to be impossible to catch up to them
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10-11-2021 11:42 AM |
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HiddenDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 11:42 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: (10-11-2021 11:34 AM)demiveeman Wrote: (10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
Fair enough, C*USA is an embarrassment and getting out of that regime and the sinking brand would be an improvement, it's just sad that we've let our peers get so far out ahead that it's probably going to be impossible to catch up to them
This in a nutshell.
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2021 12:06 PM by HiddenDragon.)
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10-11-2021 12:05 PM |
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SMUfan
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 11:34 AM)demiveeman Wrote: (10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
Curious! How many of you would seriously go to the Mountain West?
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10-11-2021 12:07 PM |
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KevMo4UAB
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 12:07 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 11:34 AM)demiveeman Wrote: (10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
Curious! How many of you would seriously go to the Mountain West?
I believe he was just making a point.
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10-11-2021 12:38 PM |
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Auburn_Blazer
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 12:07 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 11:34 AM)demiveeman Wrote: (10-11-2021 10:50 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: The AAC is barely worth joining now. If Memphis leaves then there's no point
The fact that our commissioner hasn't been fired yet? Yeah, I'd leave for almost any other conference at this point - Sun Belt and Mountain West included - just to get away from Judy MacLeod's "leadership".
Curious! How many of you would seriously go to the Mountain West?
I don't know if you're joking or not but I probably would. Not great for travel but playing MWC would routinely have 2 ranked football teams on your schedule, and then it's a really underrated basketball conference. Not sure how I'd be able to get to an away game though.
For recent AAC discussion - if Memphis, SMU, etc. truly leave then I'd assume that the regional conference alignment would be the next step. It's not taken seriously right now because AAC probably still ends up with $3M/yr even after Cinci, Houston, UCF leave, but losing it's other name brand schools probably puts it at the same level as CUSA & SBC. If offered, moving to AAC is absolutely a risk that UAB has to take. I think B12 is bluffing on adding additional schools. Once B12 gets to the negotiating table they're absolutely going to hit the 12 slices of pie vs. 14 slices of pie argument the AAC kept using to avoid expansion.
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10-11-2021 12:42 PM |
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HiddenDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
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10-11-2021 01:46 PM |
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SMUfan
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
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10-11-2021 02:00 PM |
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DuelingDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
UAB isn't going to want that league. Too many regional rural schools that are not institutional peers.
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10-11-2021 02:01 PM |
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kdblazer
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 02:00 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
Do you foresee SMU joining a conference with the following:
West: Wyoming, Idaho, TX St, Texas Austin, NMST
EAST: SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, ULL, ULM
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10-11-2021 02:27 PM |
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SMUfan
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 02:27 PM)kdblazer Wrote: (10-11-2021 02:00 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
Do you foresee SMU joining a conference with the following:
West: Wyoming, Idaho, TX St, Texas Austin, NMST
EAST: SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, ULL, ULM
How did you come up with that?
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10-11-2021 03:49 PM |
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GreenFreakUAB
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
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10-11-2021 04:10 PM |
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kdblazer
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 03:49 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 02:27 PM)kdblazer Wrote: (10-11-2021 02:00 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
Do you foresee SMU joining a conference with the following:
West: Wyoming, Idaho, TX St, Texas Austin, NMST
EAST: SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, ULL, ULM
How did you come up with that?
The same way you came up with your scenario. Any one scenario is possible but not all are possible. UAB is a major urban research university. Now out of the schools listed, do any of them fit UABs profile?
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10-11-2021 04:14 PM |
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HiddenDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 02:00 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
Although I wouldn't have a problem with it, it really would be viewed as going backwards for UAB. Additionally,
1. Would ESPN increase the current TV deal with the new additions? If so how much?
2. What would be the current state of the AAC? Have they lost Memphis, USF, and SMU to the Big 12?
I think we could get more visiting fans from those SBC schools than the AAC schools as well. But it's the SBC and several folks have pointed out on this board those schools are not like minded schools with UAB.
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10-11-2021 04:21 PM |
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SMUfan
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 04:14 PM)kdblazer Wrote: (10-11-2021 03:49 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 02:27 PM)kdblazer Wrote: (10-11-2021 02:00 PM)SMUfan Wrote: (10-11-2021 01:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: If the MWC was able to create a true eastern division then I would absolutely have no issues with UAB being a part of that. I think having Fresno St, SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii, and Air Force come to Birmingham would create more interest than ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, and USF. On the flip side, their fans may not travel to Birmingham but outside of ECU it ain't like the AAC programs fan bases travel that well. And I am sure something could be worked out with the Olympics sports.
But what about a Sun Belt with USM, Marshall, UTSA and UAB? How many more tickets could you sell?
East: App, Coastal, GS, GA St, Troy, Marshall, UAB
West: Ark St, Louisiana, USA, TX St, ULM, UTSA, USM
I'm concerned the AAC is going to fall apart.
Do you foresee SMU joining a conference with the following:
West: Wyoming, Idaho, TX St, Texas Austin, NMST
EAST: SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, ULL, ULM
How did you come up with that?
The same way you came up with your scenario. Any one scenario is possible but not all are possible. UAB is a major urban research university. Now out of the schools listed, do any of them fit UABs profile?
Mine is possible (not probable). Since there has been talk of Marshall, USM and UTSA going to the Belt.
Your's is pitiful since you have FCS Idaho along with NM St and Texas.
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10-11-2021 04:24 PM |
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HiddenDragon
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RE: Can UAB afford the AAC
(10-11-2021 10:37 AM)SMUfan Wrote: First of all you have to make sure the AAC is worth joining. That sounds odd for me to say since I believe I was the 2nd person on here a couple of years ago to say that UAB would be joining the AAC.
What if the AAC loses Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, USF? Maybe even Temple if the Big 12 went to 16. Does an AAC look attractive with the leftovers consisting of ECU, Navy and Tulane?
Possible to the Big 12:
#13 Memphis
#14 USF
#15 Boise St
#16 Temple
Possible to the Mountain West who are interested in Central Time zone schools:
SMU
Tulsa
Right now it's hard to know. Hopefully we will know soon.
Not sure why you keep mentioning Temple because they have not been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Big 12. The people in the know with the Big 12 expansion discussions have clearly stated USF and SMU would be #15 and #16 if they decide to go to 16 teams. The holdup is the Big 12 waiting to see what the PAC 12 will get for their upcoming TV deal.
Not sure Tulsa would want to pay the AAC exit fees to leave for the MWC if it's not financially beneficial for them. SMU is going to stay in the AAC and wait to see what the Big 12 does.
Like I said, I do believe the AAC will be a former shell of itself in 5 years. And just like when CUSA 2.0 lost all of it's schools, the AAC will be looking at a similar fate. It's hard to fathom but at one point UAB use to get a couple of million dollars from the CUSA TV deal. How times have changed.
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10-11-2021 04:29 PM |
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