(06-14-2021 07:11 PM)MidknightWhiskey Wrote:  

(06-14-2021 06:47 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(06-14-2021 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-14-2021 10:21 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-13-2021 08:45 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  You say "I get that" then say words that show you don't get it. From BYU's perspective, "pretty appealing" doesn't change the fact that the PAC-12 is perceived as a power conference and the AAC is not.

Also, the notion that the AAC as presently constituted would have as many or more appearances as the PAC-12 is more than a little optimistic ... BYU is just the most extreme example of "if you are saying our joining will make the AAC a compelling conference to join within a few years after we join ... that implies it's not a compelling conference to join now."

Now, if that optimism is borne out, and you have a situation where people start thinking of both the AAC and the PAC-12 as tweener conferences ... well, if the view is spread widely in the general public, then give BYU a call.

Your misunderstanding his argument. His argument isn’t that BYU would join the ACC because it’s a power conference. His argument is that they might find the AAC’s path to the playoff appealing enough to join—-which would potentially push the AAC over the threshold of being considered a lower level power conference similar to the Big East. I don’t think that’s the case, but if the AAC Champ is in the playoff most years, in a short time the AAC conference race could easily be perceived more interesting and prestigious than BYU”s status as an Indy.....Such a change in the perception landscape could end up causing BYU to review its past assumptions with respect to its indy status.

.... which is a reason why I don't think the AAC should invite BYU. To me, if the AAC just performs the way it has the past seven years, it should be able to achieve its achievable goals without Boise or BYU. We would just be throwing them a life-line and feeding their mouths for little to no benefit.

Nothing is stopping Boise in achieving the exact same thing in the MWC. BYU could do the same in the MWC. They don’t need the AAC and the AAC doesn’t need them. But BYU would NEVER join a G5 conference as long as Utah is in a power conference. They’d rather believe they play a semi P5 schedule as an independent than playing a G5 scheduling in the MWC or AAC.

If that's BYU's decision then that's a flawed mindset. The AAC as it stands today would have BCS AQ status and is making their case for autonomy status. Has gone to the NY6 bowl 5 of the last 7 years. And has had 3 different teams in serious discussions for inclusion in the CFP under its current format. It's possible we achieve autonomy status without BYU but adding BYU to the conference only strengthens the argument. Adding BYU to the MWC gets them none of those things.

The AAC and its members aren't taking a wait and see if someone gives it to me approach to moving up, they're challenging it head on. If BYU decides to wait and see if someone gives it to it's a bad choice. Lets say the AAC does it without them and they call after to come join the party without contributing at all when they were called on to help make it happen I can see the conference saying no thank you unless ESPN wants to make a significant increase to the TV contract.

All that said I think the two happen simultaneously via our CFB overlords at ESPN.

Stop.

The MWC didn’t even get to become the 7th BCS conference even though they met two of the three criteria to qualify. The MWC had a better product at the top (Utah, BYU and TCU) than anything the AAC has. Craig Thompson was all over bragging how his conference was the 7th AQ league and even questioned the Big East spot in the BCS. Do you know what was the MWC’s slogan? “Above the Rest”

Sounds familiar?

I tell AAC fanboys now what I used to tell MWC fanboys over a decade ago. Schools get promoted not entire conferences. As soon as you become a threat, the cartel in complicity with ESPN will destroy you by taking two perhaps three schools and call it a day. That’s exactly what happened to the MWC and the same will happen to the AAC. It’s deja vu all over again.