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

(09-16-2021 07:22 PM)UAB99 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly cross country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.

How many people travelled to mtsu? Lol who cares I’d rather play in the better conference which is by far the AAC

We had a bigger road crowd for the championship game than we’ve had for any other non-bowl game. Game 1 this year, may be the exception to that.

UAB fans outnumbered MTSU fans in their own stadium, that day.

(09-16-2021 07:40 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:22 PM)UAB99 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly cross country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.

How many people travelled to mtsu? Lol who cares I’d rather play in the better conference which is by far the AAC

We had a bigger road crowd for the championship game than we’ve had for any other non-bowl game. Game 1 this year, may be the exception to that.

UAB fans outnumbered MTSU fans in their own stadium, that day.

Was the stadium half full?

(09-16-2021 07:44 PM)UAB99 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:40 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:22 PM)UAB99 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly cross country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.

How many people travelled to mtsu? Lol who cares I’d rather play in the better conference which is by far the AAC

We had a bigger road crowd for the championship game than we’ve had for any other non-bowl game. Game 1 this year, may be the exception to that.

UAB fans outnumbered MTSU fans in their own stadium, that day.

Was the stadium half full?

No.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

What’s y’all’s point? You know recruits don’t like playing in empty stadiums, home or away.

My point is, there’s nothing we can do about it, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t care. People do want to support their teams on the road, as long as it’s meaningful ball and reasonable distance. Our crowd at USM got bigger and bigger as that streak went on. Don’t know what it looked like in ‘19 as I didn’t go that time.

I just answered a question.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Never thought this would happen but you can't say Aresco didn't swing for the fences.......again.

https://mobile.twitter.com/sdutzeigler/s...19305?s=19

[quote='HiddenDragon' pid='17644473' dateline='1631844785']
Never thought this would happen but you can't say Aresco didn't swing for the fences.......again.

I wouldn't rule anything out. AF has an agreement that Navy is a permanent OOC opponent. If they join the AAC then it frees them up to get another (see higher paying) OOC opponent.

(09-16-2021 09:31 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 09:13 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Never thought this would happen but you can't say Aresco didn't swing for the fences.......again.

I wouldn't rule anything out. AF has an agreement that Navy is a permanent OOC opponent. If they join the AAC then it frees them up to get another (see higher paying) OOC opponent.

You can rule this out. According to Navy insiders, they have no interest in sharing a conference with either Army or Air Force. Besides, Air Force stands to make more money staying in the MWC then going to the AAC without Boise, potentially Memphis, and UC, UH, and UCF leaving.

(09-16-2021 09:45 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 09:31 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 09:13 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Never thought this would happen but you can't say Aresco didn't swing for the fences.......again.

I wouldn't rule anything out. AF has an agreement that Navy is a permanent OOC opponent. If they join the AAC then it frees them up to get another (see higher paying) OOC opponent.

You can rule this out. According to Navy insiders, they have no interest in sharing a conference with either Army or Air Force. Besides, Air Force stands to make more money staying in the MWC then going to the AAC without Boise, potentially Memphis, and UC, UH, and UCF leaving.

You may very well be right.

You gotta take the swing even if you miss. Then you move on to next plan. UAB is in good position regardless.

AAC needs to hedge their bets. If they can't get any MWC teams they need to add UAB, Marshall, App St, and Coastal or Louisiana.

I think they’d be wise to get the top two programs from C-USA and top two from the Belt.

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly across country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.


*note to self- don’t try to post a comment after waking from a nap.

The Birmingham Metropolitan Area is growing.

(09-16-2021 10:15 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  AAC needs to hedge their bets. If they can't get any MWC teams they need to add UAB, Marshall, App St, and Coastal or Louisiana.

In addition to UAB, I think Aresco will go with:

1. UTSA - (31st largest TV market, tremendous upside, only college game in town)
2. Buffalo - (53rd largest TV market, largest public university in NY. AAU member, tremendous upside)
3. FAU - (18th largest TV market, over 30,000 students, tremendous upside)

As much as I love App St., Coastal, and Louisiana I just don't think that is the direction Aresco wants to take the AAC.

(09-16-2021 10:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:15 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  AAC needs to hedge their bets. If they can't get any MWC teams they need to add UAB, Marshall, App St, and Coastal or Louisiana.

In addition to UAB, I think Aresco will go with:

1. UTSA - (31st largest TV market, tremendous upside, only college game in town)
2. Buffalo - (53rd largest TV market, largest public university in NY. AAU member, tremendous upside)
3. FAU - (18th largest TV market, over 30,000 students, tremendous upside)

As much as I love App St., Coastal, and Louisiana I just don't think that is the direction Aresco wants to take the AAC.

Coastal is a one hit wonder, liberty might be as well

(09-16-2021 10:39 PM)blazinrunner Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly across country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.


*note to self- don’t try to post a comment after waking from a nap.

The Birmingham Metropolitan Area is growing.

Both are true. Metro continues slow rise. Inner city continues decline.

So are we going to AAC? I think App St is the only truly established Sun Belt school.

(09-16-2021 10:52 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:46 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:15 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  AAC needs to hedge their bets. If they can't get any MWC teams they need to add UAB, Marshall, App St, and Coastal or Louisiana.

In addition to UAB, I think Aresco will go with:

1. UTSA - (31st largest TV market, tremendous upside, only college game in town)
2. Buffalo - (53rd largest TV market, largest public university in NY. AAU member, tremendous upside)
3. FAU - (18th largest TV market, over 30,000 students, tremendous upside)

As much as I love App St., Coastal, and Louisiana I just don't think that is the direction Aresco wants to take the AAC.

Coastal is a one hit wonder, liberty might be as well

I think Coastal and Louisiana are legit. If the AAC loses Memphis and another school to the Big 12, I could see one of these schools getting an invite.

(09-16-2021 11:06 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  So are we going to AAC? I think App St is the only truly established Sun Belt school.

I think that is a foregone conclusion but I am still holding out for the slightest hopes of possibly getting into the Big 12. That said, if Memphis has to be replaced I could see App St getting an invite. Not sure how ECU would feel about them though.

I think it's got to be a measured risk to take Liberty from controversy standpoint (not that LIberty is inherently bad, but they have journalist buzzards that hang around them and any perceived "shenanigans" is going to embroil whatever conference they are in), but success dropping off is less likely.