(04-23-2020 11:55 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(04-23-2020 10:37 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  For the record, Liberty has over 20k residential.

So in terms of the present discussion, it's left out by a smaller margin than it would be left out on based on 12,000 residential.

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(04-23-2020 11:27 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  The other independents are different, and I think they would really rather be in a league for football. UConn read the tea leaves and determined they were better off going independent in FB and getting back to the BE and out of the unpopular (for them) AAC. However, I believe UConn would take any FB only membership right now.

I actually am not confident that UConn would necessarily take a FB-only spot in the MAC if it was on offer. The terms of the Temple/UMass FB-only pair (which never came to pass) were two OOC away and two OOC home games in BBall from each FB-only school. That means over a three year cycle, every MAC school would play the "better" of the BBall schools and host one of the two.

And that's the issue: I am skeptical that UConn would give up the flexibility of scheduling four OOC games in return for a schedule that would be easier to put together in Football. It flies against putting the priorities that UConn demonstrated in abandoning the AAC for the new Big East.

Indeed, AFAIU there is no indication that UConn has any interest in trying to get a FB-only deal in the MAC, at least in the form of reports of any UConn contacts with the MAC to find out what deal might work.

The only thing available for anyone short of the ACC with UConn is FB only. They just pulled all their other sports from the AAC to the Big East which is why their FB program got tossed out. They’re not bringing all their sports to the MAC to take their FB team, they’d rather shut it down or roll the dice on Indy status.

(04-23-2020 08:42 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  I do not see any school leaving the MAC for any league but the AAC or a P5. They already have what they want: history dating back decades together, very tight geographical footprint, and a TV contract that gets them on regularly and pays well compared to C-USA and the SB.

Scratch Buffalo, Toledo, Miami, Ohio, Miami and anyone else in the MAC off these lists.

In a normal situation I'd think you'd look at it this way.

There is a concern however in MAC quarters is that programs are going to cut back to the FCS level on salaries while a few are still committed to spending.

For that reason I could see more interest in setting up that new East Coast league with a those who are committed to spend.

And I'm 99% confident any new east coast conference will include Applachian State because its the best FB brand outside the AAC.

VCU might be interest if ODU is included in the package. Dayton wouldn't normally consider it but being left behind in the A10 might force their hand.

(04-24-2020 03:00 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(04-23-2020 08:42 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  I do not see any school leaving the MAC for any league but the AAC or a P5. They already have what they want: history dating back decades together, very tight geographical footprint, and a TV contract that gets them on regularly and pays well compared to C-USA and the SB.

Scratch Buffalo, Toledo, Miami, Ohio, Miami and anyone else in the MAC off these lists.

In a normal situation I'd think you'd look at it this way.

There is a concern however in MAC quarters is that programs are going to cut back to the FCS level on salaries while a few are still committed to spending.

For that reason I could see more interest in setting up that new East Coast league with a those who are committed to spend.

And I'm 99% confident any new east coast conference will include Applachian State because its the best FB brand outside the AAC.

VCU might be interest if ODU is included in the package. Dayton wouldn't normally consider it but being left behind in the A10 might force their hand.

That's flattering as an App State alum, and I agree that App would be included in a new G5 eastern league, but I dont think we are quite there yet. Maybe the hottest brand right now, but not the biggest. Southern Miss, Marshall, and Toledo are bigger brands. Maybe others.

And I'm assuming that no MW teams, BYU, or Army are supposed to be taken into account because there are several of them bigger than App, easily.

App is working hard to get there, though. That's for sure.

Thanks for the kind words towards App.

(04-24-2020 03:35 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(04-24-2020 03:00 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(04-23-2020 08:42 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  I do not see any school leaving the MAC for any league but the AAC or a P5. They already have what they want: history dating back decades together, very tight geographical footprint, and a TV contract that gets them on regularly and pays well compared to C-USA and the SB.

Scratch Buffalo, Toledo, Miami, Ohio, Miami and anyone else in the MAC off these lists.

In a normal situation I'd think you'd look at it this way.

There is a concern however in MAC quarters is that programs are going to cut back to the FCS level on salaries while a few are still committed to spending.

For that reason I could see more interest in setting up that new East Coast league with a those who are committed to spend.

And I'm 99% confident any new east coast conference will include Applachian State because its the best FB brand outside the AAC.

VCU might be interest if ODU is included in the package. Dayton wouldn't normally consider it but being left behind in the A10 might force their hand.

That's flattering as an App State alum, and I agree that App would be included in a new G5 eastern league, but I dont think we are quite there yet. Maybe the hottest brand right now, but not the biggest. Southern Miss, Marshall, and Toledo are bigger brands. Maybe others.

And I'm assuming that no MW teams, BYU, or Army are supposed to be taken into account because there are several of them bigger than App, easily.

App is working hard to get there, though. That's for sure.

Thanks for the kind words towards App.

Thanks. You didn't get the call from CUSA last time over market and being unproven if the winning would translate to the FBS level.

With all of the winning App has done plus a finish in the CFP Top 25 there is no reason they wouldn't be included this time around. I would be more nervous if I was Charlotte of being left out of a conference when CUSA breaks up with such a small time stadium capacity.

But I think at the end of the day those who are committed to spending will get together in a conference, probably the bigger universities compared to smaller once with less students to produce fees. There might be an exception for a couple of schools deemed to be particularly good.