(12-22-2020 10:24 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 09:07 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  Cant wait to see Boise st play Tulane temple and east carolina yawn

Can’t wait to see ODU play.... oh wait you guys opted out (not that anyone would care to watch you anyways5)

Hows that national title trophy doing? Oops sorry. I guess it's just a consolations being in the big 12. Oops sorry. At least boise state will make you guys a p5. Oops

(12-22-2020 10:24 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 09:07 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  Cant wait to see Boise st play Tulane temple and east carolina yawn

Can’t wait to see ODU play.... oh wait you guys opted out (not that anyone would care to watch you anyways)

Imagine talking crap about potential AAC matchups when ODU (when they’re not opting out) is playing Charlotte, FIU, UTEP, and Rice.

(12-22-2020 12:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:24 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 09:07 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  Cant wait to see Boise st play Tulane temple and east carolina yawn

Can’t wait to see ODU play.... oh wait you guys opted out (not that anyone would care to watch you anyways)

Imagine talking crap about potential AAC matchups when ODU (when they’re not opting out) is playing Charlotte, FIU, UTEP, and Rice.

Ok I know odu is in a bad conference and we opted out. It sucks but boise state will not make the aac a p5. You guys are triple a. Boise state will leave as soon as they can aka Louisville Memphis, if they had an invite, the Florida schools, Cincinnati, and houston. When realignment comes the american will be conference usa

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

I think Boise is trying to make this happen.

(12-22-2020 11:10 AM)NDSUguy Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:52 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  App St has generally fielded good teams, but there is a world of difference in the brand and recognition levels of Boise and any school that the AAC might select from from CUSA/MAC/SB. In the east, Army is the only G5/indy team that has that kind of brand/value that would make them an attractive addition to the AAC---and they arent interested. So--that leaves BYU, Boise, and Air Force---of which--only one has expressed and interest in joining. Thus--Boise it is.

If this were to come to fruition, now would be the time for NDSU to throw its hat in the ring and go football only to the MWC. They are happy with their other sports in the Summit but would do very well right out of the gate in football. This is especially true if BSU left its other sports in the MWC.

That's not an option. The MWC wouldn't let BYU do it. They sure won't let BSU do it. There are consequences to bailing on the conference.

(12-22-2020 12:46 PM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 12:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:24 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 09:07 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  Cant wait to see Boise st play Tulane temple and east carolina yawn

Can’t wait to see ODU play.... oh wait you guys opted out (not that anyone would care to watch you anyways)

Imagine talking crap about potential AAC matchups when ODU (when they’re not opting out) is playing Charlotte, FIU, UTEP, and Rice.

Ok I know odu is in a bad conference and we opted out. It sucks but boise state will not make the aac a p5. You guys are triple a. Boise state will leave as soon as they can aka Louisville Memphis, if they had an invite, the Florida schools, Cincinnati, and houston. When realignment comes the american will be conference usa

TIL Memphis left the AAC. That was fast, too, considering they just won the conference in football last year...

USFFan

PS - aka =/= e.g. (which is also =/= i.e., the more common mistake people make)

(12-22-2020 09:30 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  If the American could somehow add Boise, Air Force and BYU for all sports ... that's a quality 14-team league.

Travel is always going to be an issue in the AAC. Temple has to get to Houston and vice versa.

Seems the best chance to make this work is to add three athletics programs with all sports.

Its a whole nother level when you go west. Its roughly the same distance from Houston to Atlanta as it is Houston to El Paso.

(12-22-2020 11:10 AM)NDSUguy Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:52 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  App St has generally fielded good teams, but there is a world of difference in the brand and recognition levels of Boise and any school that the AAC might select from from CUSA/MAC/SB. In the east, Army is the only G5/indy team that has that kind of brand/value that would make them an attractive addition to the AAC---and they arent interested. So--that leaves BYU, Boise, and Air Force---of which--only one has expressed and interest in joining. Thus--Boise it is.

If this were to come to fruition, now would be the time for NDSU to throw its hat in the ring and go football only to the MWC. They are happy with their other sports in the Summit but would do very well right out of the gate in football. This is especially true if BSU left its other sports in the MWC.

There's a pecking order. NDSU if they go FBS will have to settle for MAC/CUSA/Sun Belt.

And I don't see the AAC adding any Sun Belt schools. They hesitated before adding ECU. They aren't going to add App. St.

Boise can’t really put their non-football sports in the WAC once the FCS football teams join. Would have loved to have them before that. Not much room now, though we could probably figure something out.

Just getting up to speed. Very interesting developments indeed. A few thoughts:

1) Regardless of whether Boise State and the AAC choose to enter into some form of marriage, it is very important for both sides to have these discussions. If a program, or conference, is not in the P5, then it needs to continue to hold conversations about ways to improve their perceptions and develop their programs (i.e. football) to best position themselves for a seat at the table. Good on both parties to at least have informal (or official, now) talks about some type of union.

2) If the present holdup for Boise State coming into the AAC is whether or not they are a full member, the AAC should invite them as a full-member yesterday. The value of Boise State Football alone negates the extra travel for Olympic sports and/or adding another non-football member to compliment them. Adding Boise State Football not only impacts the MWC in a negative way, but it also establishes a pathway where the AAC is clearly in a higher pecking order than the MWC. This would allow for the AAC to potentially acquire other MWC programs over time, creating the fabled "West Division" that never got enough momentum to materialize. That alone is worth Boise State as a full member, IMO.

3) For Boise State, my concern for them would be the same concern/path that UConn took. A school would essentially sacrifice their athletic department in the name of greater good for football, which may or may not work. Like UConn, Boise State would continue to have a fall back in the MWC, whether or not MWC fans would like that or not (the MWC would not ban Boise State from returning, if given the opportunity IMO, especially since Boise State has proven it can provide value to a TV deal). UConn struggled mightily being an outlier, which is what Boise State would be. Could Boise State still recruit the way it does? If Boise State has a losing season, would fans still show up? Will Boise State fans still travel to Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Tennessee regularly? What if Boise State has a multi-season rebuild at some point? (I'm sure the athletic department has answered these questions already, but would be interesting to see the support behind these answers).

For basketball, Boise State would be a quality addition. They have had eight 20-win seasons under Leon Rice, two tournament appearances and solid attendance in a 12k arena.

The intent for the AAC, IMO, would be to get Boise State in full, with long-term plans to eventually get San Diego State and Colorado State as well. These moves could bridge the gap towards bringing in Army (which clearly needs bowl tie-ins), Air Force and BYU to create a true, national tweener conference. That would put all of the non-P5 value under one conference, with a little bit better travel with multiple teams in different areas.

(12-22-2020 12:00 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

But they are even farther away than Boise---and I doubt their brand recognition is nearly as ubiquitous as Boise's. Boise is literally the "go to" college football example for giant killer or BCS Buster. Boise is the original outside the power structure raider of the post-Bowl Coalition era--and has a strong reputation among even casual college fans. The AAC has one open slot. If Boise is interested--its a "no brainer" to take them as a "football only" member. Im not SDSU isnt a nice addition---Im just saying Boise is better.

San Diego is almost the exact same longitude (i.e. east-west) as Boise. It's physically about equidistant for every team. A hundred miles farther for Northern teams. A hundred miles closer for Southern teams.

Also, San Diego is not farther than Boise by plane. San Diego has direct flights to almost everywhere; Boise does not.

So for most athletes (who don't take charter jets), San Diego is much closer.




I agree that SDSU's football quality is not as high as Boise's. But it's higher than Army or Air Force, and equal to BYU.

And SDSU has almost as good brand recognition as those other four due to their basketball success and their location.

Also, SDSU isn't some johnny-come-lately. They've had 9 first-round picks in the NFL draft over the years. Their list of sports alumni is incredibly impressive, headed by Tony Gwynn, Stephen Strasburg, Kawhi Leonard, and Marshall Faulk.

(12-22-2020 12:49 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

I think Boise is trying to make this happen.

That's the tone I got from the quotes in the article. FB only which may change if more western teams are interested. SDSU would absolutely be interested and was pissed when they were forced back to the MWC by Boise during the last realignment shuffle. If it seals the deal with SDSU & BYU I think it'd be worth giving Boise full membership. IIRC last time around the main reason BYU didn't join was that we were unable to come to terms on their tv network/rights.

The AAC has already dominated the NY6 spot, adding Boise would further cement that as they're 1 of 2 non AAC teams to get the NY6 access bowl. 2014 Boise, 2015 Houston, 2016 Western Michigan, 2017 UCF, 2018 UCF, 2019 Memphis, 2020 Cincinnati. This will be taken into account when the CFP contract is being redrawn and the playoff expanded. Aresco is now publicly lobbying for an autobid in an expanded CFP. The bowls would prefer the AAC to a G5 at large. Especially if the AAC then has BYU, Boise & SDSU in their membership.

Boise St. has been slipping a little. There's no guarantee they continue at their current level. They've got no fundamentals that propel them above SDSU or Fresno or even UNLV. Right now they are a plus. Will they be in 10-15 years?

Full membership is a big step.

(12-22-2020 10:35 AM)esayem Wrote:  App State is a more sensible option, but they’d eventually push for all-sports. So if that is something the AAC can live with, do it.

Don't you think Boise will push for all sports eventually too once they are in as a FB only. Plus they will then want 2 more Rocky Mountain all sport western schools down the road too, to cut their travel expenses. Just saying that once a school gets in the door for FB only, the they will eventually want an all sports inclusion down the road, minus the academies.

(12-22-2020 12:46 PM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 12:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:24 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 09:07 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  Cant wait to see Boise st play Tulane temple and east carolina yawn

Can’t wait to see ODU play.... oh wait you guys opted out (not that anyone would care to watch you anyways)

Imagine talking crap about potential AAC matchups when ODU (when they’re not opting out) is playing Charlotte, FIU, UTEP, and Rice.

Ok I know odu is in a bad conference and we opted out. It sucks but boise state will not make the aac a p5. You guys are triple a. Boise state will leave as soon as they can aka Louisville Memphis, if they had an invite, the Florida schools, Cincinnati, and houston. When realignment comes the american will be conference usa

You mentioned half of our conference as being top P5 expansion candidates which means they're P5 worthy. I agree! That's the point, the AAC is at the P level and odu is one of 2 programs that didn't even attempt to play this year (even with the rest of your conference playing!). Want to know the perception of the AAC look at the exodus that happened to Uconn's football program when they went indy from the AAC. Last I looked they had 26 players enter the portal after their move was announced and forced into local recruiting only.

(12-22-2020 01:19 PM)panite Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 10:35 AM)esayem Wrote:  App State is a more sensible option, but they’d eventually push for all-sports. So if that is something the AAC can live with, do it.

Don't you think Boise will push for all sports eventually too once they are in as a FB only. Plus they will then want 2 more Rocky Mountain all sport western schools down the road too, to cut their travel expenses. Just saying that once a school gets in the door for FB only, the they will eventually want an all sports inclusion down the road, minus the academies.

Hawaii??

(12-22-2020 12:00 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

But they are even farther away than Boise---and I doubt their brand recognition is nearly as ubiquitous as Boise's. Boise is literally the "go to" college football example for giant killer or BCS Buster. Boise is the original outside the power structure raider of the post-Bowl Coalition era--and has a strong reputation among even casual college fans. The AAC has one open slot. If Boise is interested--its a "no brainer" to take them as a "football only" member. Im not SDSU isnt a nice addition---Im just saying Boise is better.

Barely. San Diego is 50 miles further west than Boise.

(12-22-2020 01:12 PM)MidknightWhiskey Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 12:49 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

I think Boise is trying to make this happen.

That's the tone I got from the quotes in the article. FB only which may change if more western teams are interested. SDSU would absolutely be interested and was pissed when they were forced back to the MWC by Boise during the last realignment shuffle. If it seals the deal with SDSU & BYU I think it'd be worth giving Boise full membership. IIRC last time around the main reason BYU didn't join was that we were unable to come to terms on their tv network/rights.

The AAC has already dominated the NY6 spot, adding Boise would further cement that as they're 1 of 2 non AAC teams to get the NY6 access bowl. 2014 Boise, 2015 Houston, 2016 Western Michigan, 2017 UCF, 2018 UCF, 2019 Memphis, 2020 Cincinnati. This will be taken into account when the CFP contract is being redrawn and the playoff expanded. Aresco is now publicly lobbying for an autobid in an expanded CFP. The bowls would prefer the AAC to a G5 at large. Especially if the AAC then has BYU, Boise & SDSU in their membership.

The P5 would prefer not to go back to a P6 and split their pie with a whole 'nother conference when they could take 4-5 teams from the AAC.

(12-22-2020 01:26 PM)SDSUguy Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 12:00 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 11:29 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:39 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-22-2020 01:21 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Maybe it's the reason why the AAC has taken their time to fill UConn's replacement otherwise UAB or Old Dominion would've got the call by now. Probably there's been communication on both sides since UConn announced they were going back to the Big East and be an independent in football.....it's just that COVID-19 and the MWC cancelling football season in the summer accelerated those talks.

But the question is, does the AAC really want to get into that mess of football only schools? One thing is to have a service academy as one and another one to have a school that is hundreds of miles that shared a conference for four seasons with SMU and Tulsa. If all sports, the nearest school would be Wichita State and I find it hard to believe the Florida twins, Cincinnati and Temple would like the idea of having their Olympic sport teams travel all the way to Boise.

The WAC would make the most sense. Boise burned those bridges with the Big West in 2012 and probably Idaho would block Boise State in the Big Sky. Boise doesn't fit the WCC profile but maybe BYU might vouch for them. This is more of a "Boise needs the AAC more than the other way around" situation.

The AAC has been very clear on this. There currently appears to be only 4 G5/Indy schools that have the kind of football programs that would instantly add substantial value to the AAC on the very first day they join the conference. Those are BYU, Boise, Army, and probably Air Force. Every other possible addition would be more of a gamble---a project so to speak--where you are gambling on a school's potential--essentially rolling the dice on the chance the school will develop into a "top half of the league" type program and not a bottom of the league anchor. The league did not panic. It wisely opted to not gamble. The AAC has opted not to make a move until one of those 4 value adding programs showed interest--or until another program developed enough organically to make it the type of program that adds value to the league on day one of its membership.

So--to me--its no surprise that the AAC was clearly interested when one of its 4 viable "plug and play" options indicated interest. If Boise can find a place for its olympic sports---this is almost certain to happen.

There's a fifth school that would add immediate value in football: San Diego State. They're not a gamble at all; they've won 90 games in the past 10 years.

And SDSU is getting a new stadium.

And SDSU is the best institutional fit in the G5 except maybe Georgia State, Colorado State, or FIU. Very similar to Temple, Houston, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis.

And Navy would LOVE playing in San Diego. There's 100,000 active duty sailors and marines stationed there.

And finally: SDSU has great basketball. Anyone would love to have their non-football sports.

But they are even farther away than Boise---and I doubt their brand recognition is nearly as ubiquitous as Boise's. Boise is literally the "go to" college football example for giant killer or BCS Buster. Boise is the original outside the power structure raider of the post-Bowl Coalition era--and has a strong reputation among even casual college fans. The AAC has one open slot. If Boise is interested--its a "no brainer" to take them as a "football only" member. Im not SDSU isnt a nice addition---Im just saying Boise is better.

Barely. San Diego is 50 miles further west than Boise.

With direct flights & a very large naval base 10 miles down the road. Easy rivalry to develop there with Navy.

(12-22-2020 10:52 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  App St has generally fielded good teams, but there is a world of difference in the brand and recognition levels of Boise and any school that the AAC might select from from CUSA/MAC/SB. In the east, Army is the only G5/indy team that has that kind of brand/value that would make them an attractive addition to the AAC---and they arent interested. So--that leaves BYU, Boise, and Air Force---of which--only one has expressed and interest in joining. Thus--Boise it is.

I'm a huge fan of brand value, it's really the only thing that matters. In this case though, I just do not think Boise brings enough brand value to significantly move the needle, meaning boosting our TV value.

Maybe I am underestimating Boise, but I think if we go to ESPN and say we're adding Boise, what kind of raise do we get, the answer will be basically "nothing". The $7m for our new TV deal is about what Boise is getting from their sweetheart deal with the MWC.

Plus, there's the trouble factor. Boise is like BYU, they are a prima-donna program that thinks they are worth more than they are. The AAC, while being very disparate in geography and culture, has had a basically harmonious decision making structure - and yes, thank Aresco for that. But to me, Boise is a wildcat. Sooner or later, they will make trouble, IMO. Those who think Boise is going to step in and regard other AAC schools as their "equals" are likely in for a surprise. They might regard Cincy as an equal. Maybe UCF. That will be about it.

Their attitude is that of a natural independent. But I suspect they know they would lose value as an independent - which IMO says something about their value to a conference.