(06-06-2015 12:18 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  

(06-06-2015 12:08 PM)panite Wrote:  

(06-06-2015 10:25 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  

(06-06-2015 10:19 AM)EmeryZach Wrote:  ^ Waiting for UConn to get that Big 10 invite so we can take your spot in the AAC.

Haha, just kidding.

I wasn't opposed to going MAC for all-sports, but I realize that's hard when you have A-10 basketball.

But obviously UMass has stated they want to be AAC for all-sports and are committed to going Indy in football until we get that invite. If UConn would help and push the AAC to invite UMass we could get it done faster. It would give UConn an instant real rival in the AAC and would be good for the conference, IMHO.

Yes, I know we need to upgrade the stadium, but an invite to the AAC would push to make that happen. Unfortunately at UMass we usually need something like that to help push to get infrastructure upgrades done since we have so many people in the state, and even on campus, who hate seeing any spending on athletics unless it's for a move to a better place.

So tell your UConn officials to help us out! haha.

UConn may eventually help you out, but you need to get your act together first. As of now, the AAC has about five or six better candidates for expansion.

Of course, the AAC needs to get its act together before it can even talk about expansion.

And who are the 4 or 5 better candidates for AAC expansion on your / AAC expansion list. I'll give you BYU and Army to start but they are not coming. Both have shot the AAC / Old BE don't several times. The best the AAC will ever see out of both of them is a scheduling agreement for AAC bowl access.

BYU will remain independent if they don't grab a P5 slot or rejoin the MWC before joining the AAC at this time. The MWC is more stable then the AAC and less susceptible to being raided if realignment continues and BYU does not grab a P5 invite. The MWC also appears to be the stronger G5 conference at this time after pulling down the at large G5 slot for football and 3 NCAA BB bids last year. If BYU joins the MWC for FB only they only have to go through Boise for the G5 access slot in a weaker conference after the top two schools which would be BYU and Boise. Put them in separate divisions and the play off game is a marketing bonanza. Put them in the same division and the division game is a marketing bonanza with the winner primed to win the conference play off game and then take the G5 access slot. The money says they stay independent though.

Preferred AAC expansion candidates, roughly in the order of their desirability:

1) BYU
2) Boise
3) Air Force
4) Army
5) SDSU
6) Colorado State
7) Fresno
8) UMass

Some of the schools have "issues" ... Army doesn't want to join a conference, Boise has many selfish demands, etc. That still leaves a few schools that would be more compatible.

But the AAC isn't expanding. This is all moot. Maybe in 10 years things will be different.

Long-term, the AAC will easily be the strongest P5 conference. It won't be close.

They are the usual suspects but BYU and Army are already scratched, Air Force also has said no, Boise took their chips and went home where they cashed in for a better deal. SDSU went wee wee all the way home with Boise screaming all the way (they really wanted to stay). The western wing went with Boise, Air Force, and SDSU, so Fresno and Colorado St are out.

When the AAC is raided again even if someone like the B-12 takes Cinn and BYU for a northern division for example, the AAC is further weakened making it less likely for any Range school to move east to the AAC. Also you have to believe that UConn is in play for a P5 conference one day too. In the end it will probably be the MWC raiding the AAC one day for Texas schools instead of the AAC raiding the MWC.

The American can survive in good shape if it only looses one or a max of two schools from the usual suspects of CINN, UConn, and / or one of the two Florida schools. However the weaker it gets, it less likely that it will be able to draw MWC schools.