With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

(10-20-2018 05:52 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

Bought my latest Megamillions ticket a few minutes ago, would likely have some spare change to throw UT’s way if the right 6 numbers show up.

(10-20-2018 05:52 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

There is not going to be more money down the pipe for UT Athletics (50% of budget covered from UT operating budget including student fees) and we are not in position to play head coach or assistants as much as AAC and Conf USA. UT simply has to do best with what they have and can afford, same as always and not going to change. USF and UCF coaches make 2x UTs.

USF enrollment 50,000+
UCF 60,000+

(10-21-2018 02:59 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  USF enrollment 50,000+
UCF 60,000+

Besides which, what else is there to do in Florida on a Saturday? Might as well go to a game.

(10-20-2018 05:52 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

Re: UCF and USF

It was only a matter of time before more Florida schools popped onto the landscape. Florida is the 3rd most populous state in the country. And up until a couple decades ago, it housed all of 3 FBS (Div 1A then) schools. The same number as more sparsely populated states like Oklahoma and Utah.

It was inevitable that a couple of significant players would come into being, and keep their huge amount of in-state talent from leaving the beaches and sunshine. Boiled down to location, location, location. UCF and USF in very lucky positions to erupt.

(10-21-2018 11:10 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-20-2018 05:52 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

There is not going to be more money down the pipe for UT Athletics (50% of budget covered from UT operating budget including student fees) and we are not in position to play head coach or assistants as much as AAC and Conf USA. UT simply has to do best with what they have and can afford, same as always and not going to change. USF and UCF coaches make 2x UTs.

That sucks. Toledo is the type of program that should strive to play in a conference such as the AAC. We would beat Cincinnati most years.

AAC is a little bit stronger conference, especially in basketball but it is far more spread out. UT, like most increasingly underfunded public institutions, is highly unlikely to reorganize its athletic programs into a far more expensive league that, although better, doesn't make much in television income. The AAC would be good for UT's better sports but it would cost students in increased fees and mean student athletes would spend a lot more time away from class on longer road trips.

Curious why the Big XII, with "only" 10 members, hasn't poached a few of the AAC's consistently strong performers yet. Memphis and Houston are well within their footprint, and UCF and USF would expand their territory to big media markets in Florida.

At that point, the AAC could be looking around other G5s for backfill. But then you're starting to look like CUSA all over again, where the flagships have left.

(10-22-2018 10:54 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(10-21-2018 11:10 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-20-2018 05:52 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  With the emergence of the AAC, and Central Florida, perhaps Conf USA, These teams are recruiting better then any MAC team. The MAC has not been relevant the past 3 years. The better Florida kids are staying home and playing at the likes of USF and UCF, perhaps FAU as well. They certainly are paying their coaches better. More TV exposure on the major ESPN networks are helping their recruiting as well.

Not too long ago I heard a lot of UT fans wanting out of the MAC. Unless there is more money down the pipe for UT athletics, I don't see this happening

There is not going to be more money down the pipe for UT Athletics (50% of budget covered from UT operating budget including student fees) and we are not in position to play head coach or assistants as much as AAC and Conf USA. UT simply has to do best with what they have and can afford, same as always and not going to change. USF and UCF coaches make 2x UTs.

That sucks. Toledo is the type of program that should strive to play in a conference such as the AAC. We would beat Cincinnati most years.

Its about the money and as another posted noted USF and UCF have 2-3x the number of students (hence income from those sources than UT has). Cincinnati has twice number of students. Has been that way for a while and not changing any time soon.

(10-23-2018 06:46 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Curious why the Big XII, with "only" 10 members, hasn't poached a few of the AAC's consistently strong performers yet. Memphis and Houston are well within their footprint, and UCF and USF would expand their territory to big media markets in Florida.

At that point, the AAC could be looking around other G5s for backfill. But then you're starting to look like CUSA all over again, where the flagships have left.

Wait until 2022-2023, it's new TV contracts.