The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-09-2021 09:53 AM)ICB Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 09:17 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-08-2021 11:29 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(09-08-2021 11:15 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-08-2021 10:20 PM)ICB Wrote:  Based on week 1, yes CUSA would be better. But the other things to consider are media deal and leadership. Ours suck

Yes the media deal, the deal that ESPN can now renegotiate with UC, UCF, and UH leaving for the Big 12. UAB isn't getting 7 mil a year with those schools gone. God forbid if Memphis leaves and Navy goes back to Indy status. Probably looking at 1 - 1.5 mil if we"re lucky.

Leadership, I hope Aresco hangs around but I'm not sure he's up to rebuilding the AAC again. He's kinda saying the right things but at the same time he's no spring chicken. I don't think he hangs around another three years.

Those are all real possibilities. But none are known. Basically the pessimistic view on everything. It also possible that Memphis will be around 5 or more years after we join, also possible the deal could be be 4-5 million a year, also possible Aresco retires in 10 years.

But what I know is CUSA media deal sucks, Judy sucks, and before this year, CUSA sucked.

If something is possible then it has to be taken into consideration and shouldn't be ignored. Me being pessimistic or you crossing your fingers and hoping for the best isn't going to change the outcome.

UAB could be paying millions in exit fees to go into a conference with a bunch of unknowns. Most of you think it's worth it and that's fine.

Would you say Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, Tulane, USF made a poor choice years ago? They all pretty much paid higher exit fees and could be rejoining teams they left several years ago. I am not crossing my fingers, I am weighing all options. If you are going to be successful at anything it comes with taking calculated risks and in this case the upside outweigh the risks you mentioned.

I am waiting on you to address the possibility of UAB not taking the invite and 3 of the better programs from C-USA make the jump. Which is very likely should UAB decline the invite.

Those teams were going to an automatic qualifier conference at the time so of course they made the right decision. It was more exposure and a helluva lot more money. Even when original BE members were leaving the remaining members still had a chance at a huge payday but Mike Tranghese got greeded and it backfired.

This is not the same situation because the AAC is not a power conference. Again, I've stated that poor leadership alone is worth leaving CUSA. I don't think there is a possibility of UAB turning down an invite nor have I ever suggested as much. But you guys seem to be under some illusion that the AAC is going to look solely to CUSA for replacement teams and I don't think that is the case at all. There are no better programs in CUSA at the moment than UAB.

I hoped UAB would be joining a conference that would reap huge financial benefits, be a step up in competition, and excite our fanbase and the city. The AAC without UC, UH, UCF, and possibly Memphis and Navy in opinion doesn't accomplish that in my humble opinion.

The only way I get the warm fuzzies about this move is if Aresco is able to keep the current TV contract intact or at the very least can still keep it around 4 million per team.