(02-08-2020 12:23 AM)MidknightWhiskey Wrote: (02-07-2020 08:21 PM)SteveAztec Wrote: Thanks for getting me updated on Tulsa. I know very little about the AAC except it is a better Conf. than the MWC & a place where San Diego State needs to be.
Here is why I back Fresno State & UNLV into the AAC along with the Aztecs & Boise.
-Fresno is a semi big City and has the greatest followers of their program in California. Fresno is a Sports crazy city and the love one team in California and one team only...The Fresno State Bulldogs. Great facilites, great attendance, proud program that is looking to grow.
-UNLV has the highest upside of any team in the MWC. Big City, growing to be bigger. A destination location for travelers that every fan base would love to do. The Thomas & Mack for basketball is fantastic and seats around 19,000. Their football sucks, but here is where potential comes in. The Raiders are almost finished with their Stadium in Las Vegas which is fabulous. UNLV is going to play some games in that Stadium and if they get into a bigger Conf. that excited the locals they might play all of their games there. I never look at UNLV's records when thinking about them being in a bigger Conf. Their upside is Gigantic.
I am so high on the potential of Fresno State and UNLV coming into the AAC with the Aztecs that I put the 4 teams I would want in order like this...
1. San Diego State
2. Fresno State
3. UNLV
4. Boise State
****If we add BYU to the list, I put them at 3 with UNLV and Boise State as 4a and 4b****
5. Air Force (you can't wrong with a military shcool)
6. Colorado State
7. Reno
8. San Jose State (6-7-8 are interchangeable to me)
9. New Mexico
10. Utah State
11. Wyoming (9-10-11 No way IMO)
Solid breakdown, admittedly I am not overly familiar with the MWC teams. We all tend to pay more attention to our conference teams and other teams in our geographic area.
I'm in favor of SDSU, great hoops, great academics and good football arguably great depending on the quality level one gives the MWC. The questions revolve around travel & time differentials. A lot of people have argued that more geographic teams would need to be added, hence your list. It doesn't seem like there's much of an appetite to go past 12 in the AAC but I'm sure if there was incentive for it IE power status & CFP inclusion on the inevitable CFP expansion then it'd be done in a heartbeat.
Your vouching for Fresno definitely made me perk up. They're typically competitive in the MWC and if they have a city behind their team that's huge. I know UCF's AD was there early in his career.
Vegas I'm sketchy on (and have been for all the pro sports teams too), just a destination isn't enough to validate a team add. I feel like you may like them for the same reason I like Tulane, they're in an awesome party city close enough that it's a crazy party weekend for away games.
Boise I still like for FB only but any kind of expanded add I don't think can have them bc they've positioned themselves as the old school mobster collecting protection money in the MWC.
BYU likes playing in their own sandbox pretending their the Mormon Notre Dame. If we don't lose members to the Big 12 we'll eventually fully achieve P6 and BYU wont accept an invite until then. But by then we wont need them so I'd put them in the never category.
Air Force I like from a quality add especially with how incredible Navy has done BUT I'm worried that 2 triple option chop blocking teams will put everyone on the IR.
CSU in my mind is ECU, both have similar records recently. Both have decent fan bases despite their recent losing records. Similar enrollments, North Carolina has about double the population as Colorado but it also has double the Universities.
No one else is reasonably worth a breakdown.
But like I said I don't really follow your conference that closely so let me know if I'm off on these.
I think you are pretty much right on. And as you say, we usually pay close attention to our Conf., so we know more about our own. Let me take your paragraphs one by one with a little extra analysis...
-Fresno State. Yes, most out of State don't realize what they bring to the table. There are more than 1 Million people in Fresno and the close surrounding areas in what is called "The Valley". Not a lot of transplants, so home grown crazy fans. Also not far from Fresno to the south is Bakersfield, a City of about 300,000 who I would guess most are Fresno State fans. To the north (a couple of hours) is Merced and Modesto. Both growing areas and close to 1/2 million people there between the two areas. These all in "The Valley" and Fresno State claims (and it is probably true) that they own the entire Valley with fans. One more point on Fresno fans. Their base base of crazy loyal fans is nothing new or bandwagon. Fresno has been that way since the 1970's.
-UNLV. I think many see it as a sketchy choice. And in a way that is very fair. The University has not supported football very well. Attendance is horrible and the football Stadium is small. My hot button on Las Vegas its growth. That place is growing so fast it is unbelievable. And I am talking about areas away from the Strip. Real citizens of the City. With the Raiders Stadium almost done, I feel a jump into the AAC would bring UNLV into the Raiders Stadium for most all home games.
Of course basketball needs no introduction, although hoops is down too. The Arena is big and nice and in bad years the Rebels still draw pretty good.
-Boise State. Sometimes I don't give Boise enough credit. Boise is beautiful city and approaching 1/2 million in the City and surrounding areas. Football is king and they draw very well.
Here is something about Boise State many don't realize. Their basketball is on the rise. They are very good and have been very good for about 7 years. They are only going to get better. Fans are starting to support and I think the Arena holds about 10,000.
-CSU. You say decent fan support and that they have. And a brand new football Stadium. I have nothing against CSU. I can't put my finger on it, but in the West at San Diego State we all tingly inside when we play Fresno, UNLV, San Jose State, and Boise. When we CSU there is no feeling. I don't know why, they just don't seem to fit. My thoughts on CSU could very well be that I am a lifelong Californian and in the west in general through life I only cared about states California and Nevada. Colorado wasn't on my radar.
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SDSU outlines plan for Mission Valley stadium site
