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

(09-28-2021 06:35 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:20 PM)ICB Wrote:  I’m sure someone will correct me if I am overthinking things… but when the project was pushed to build Protective and other major facility upgrades, would we have done that with the possibility of remaining in CUSA? I’ve told friends, I just don’t think a $200M stadium gets built for the games to be shown on Stadium and Facebook. Protective wants their name mentioned over and over again on ESPN. The city and county want bigger named opponents coming in to sell hotel rooms. I just can’t see investors making such a investment without something greater coming.

I know some heavy-hitters (3rd party or larger so take it with salt) who wouldn't have put a dime toward the practice facility or stadium if the expectation was to be in CUSA or Sunbelt

Obviously the goal was to make this investment with the hopes of getting into a better conference. However, anyone who made this investment with that hope should have known nothing is a guarantee. Hell, even if we get into the AAC, it won't be the AAC they envisioned us getting into.

(09-28-2021 08:46 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  We’re gonna get screwed

The burden of being a UAB fan...

(09-28-2021 08:49 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:35 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:20 PM)ICB Wrote:  I’m sure someone will correct me if I am overthinking things… but when the project was pushed to build Protective and other major facility upgrades, would we have done that with the possibility of remaining in CUSA? I’ve told friends, I just don’t think a $200M stadium gets built for the games to be shown on Stadium and Facebook. Protective wants their name mentioned over and over again on ESPN. The city and county want bigger named opponents coming in to sell hotel rooms. I just can’t see investors making such a investment without something greater coming.

I know some heavy-hitters (3rd party or larger so take it with salt) who wouldn't have put a dime toward the practice facility or stadium if the expectation was to be in CUSA or Sunbelt

Obviously the goal was to make this investment with the hopes of getting into a better conference. However, anyone who made this investment with that hope should have known nothing is a guarantee. Hell, even if we get into the AAC, it won't be the AAC they envisioned us getting into.

I agree. First and foremost, I thought this stadium was built because:

1. UAB needed it.
2. The city needed it.

I had no idea investors helped finance this thing because they believed UAB would get into a better conference. Now I know.

Of course people knew these investments would help with conference realignment discussions. But I don’t think that was the primary purpose. I think we’ve known all along that these were necessary things to elevate us to a powerhouse G5 team. You don’t have to be in the AAC or any specific conference to be a top 25 program.

UAB will likely be part of whatever happens with the AAC. I don’t think their plans for a large western contingent will come together. But regardless of that, UAB needs to continue to pour money into football and athletic upgrades in general because this arms race of super conference creation isn’t over.

(09-28-2021 09:34 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Of course people knew these investments would help with conference realignment discussions. But I don’t think that was the primary purpose. I think we’ve known all along that these were necessary things to elevate us to a powerhouse G5 team. You don’t have to be in the AAC or any specific conference to be a top 25 program.

UAB will likely be part of whatever happens with the AAC. I don’t think their plans for a large western contingent will come together. But regardless of that, UAB needs to continue to pour money into football and athletic upgrades in general because this arms race of super conference creation isn’t over.

Right. The "lowly" Sun Belt has has had multiple Top 25 teams over the last few years. The MAC has had multiple teams in NY6 bowls. We can achieve our goals from CUSA. We've had opportunities to do it and we have a great opportunity to end the season ranked in the top 25. Regardless of what happens, the G5 conferences will be more equally balanced than ever after all moves are made.

(09-28-2021 08:52 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 08:49 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:35 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:20 PM)ICB Wrote:  I’m sure someone will correct me if I am overthinking things… but when the project was pushed to build Protective and other major facility upgrades, would we have done that with the possibility of remaining in CUSA? I’ve told friends, I just don’t think a $200M stadium gets built for the games to be shown on Stadium and Facebook. Protective wants their name mentioned over and over again on ESPN. The city and county want bigger named opponents coming in to sell hotel rooms. I just can’t see investors making such a investment without something greater coming.

I know some heavy-hitters (3rd party or larger so take it with salt) who wouldn't have put a dime toward the practice facility or stadium if the expectation was to be in CUSA or Sunbelt

Obviously the goal was to make this investment with the hopes of getting into a better conference. However, anyone who made this investment with that hope should have known nothing is a guarantee. Hell, even if we get into the AAC, it won't be the AAC they envisioned us getting into.

I agree. First and foremost, I thought this stadium was built because:

1. UAB needed it.
2. The city needed it.

I had no idea investors helped finance this thing because they believed UAB would get into a better conference. Now I know.

If people put money in places where there is just a need, the world would be free of many issues. Most people like to see a return on their investments. Again, not saying that was an assurance, but I would think the conversations were had.

I'm sure there will be tweet in the near future that will completely swing the pendulum in the other direction from today's reveal.

(09-28-2021 10:00 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  I'm sure there will be tweet in the near future that will completely swing the pendulum in the other direction from today's reveal.

Them’s is fighting words in this thread, haven’t you noticed?

...didn't Aresco mention something a few weeks back about "we are fixing to see the 'era' of 16 or more member conferences"? So, if that's the case, he could drag in 4 from the west and 4 from the east and get that once the Big XII newbies leave the AAC... I KNOW he said something about not stopping at 2 adds...

(09-28-2021 08:52 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 08:49 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:35 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:20 PM)ICB Wrote:  I’m sure someone will correct me if I am overthinking things… but when the project was pushed to build Protective and other major facility upgrades, would we have done that with the possibility of remaining in CUSA? I’ve told friends, I just don’t think a $200M stadium gets built for the games to be shown on Stadium and Facebook. Protective wants their name mentioned over and over again on ESPN. The city and county want bigger named opponents coming in to sell hotel rooms. I just can’t see investors making such a investment without something greater coming.

I know some heavy-hitters (3rd party or larger so take it with salt) who wouldn't have put a dime toward the practice facility or stadium if the expectation was to be in CUSA or Sunbelt

Obviously the goal was to make this investment with the hopes of getting into a better conference. However, anyone who made this investment with that hope should have known nothing is a guarantee. Hell, even if we get into the AAC, it won't be the AAC they envisioned us getting into.

I agree. First and foremost, I thought this stadium was built because:

1. UAB needed it.
2. The city needed it.

I had no idea investors helped finance this thing because they believed UAB would get into a better conference. Now I know.

I wouldn't say the investors knew there was NO guarantee. They setup the Foundation and made the right connections, talked to the right people, etc. They had/have a structure to influence the right people whether at UAB or other teams/conferences. I'm certain that mitigated much of the risk.

(09-28-2021 10:01 PM)Engblazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:00 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  I'm sure there will be tweet in the near future that will completely swing the pendulum in the other direction from today's reveal.

Them’s is fighting words in this thread, haven’t you noticed?

That statement was suppose to be positive. Since UAB wasn't mentioned in the tweet today just maybe the next one will explicitly mention UAB and everyone can go crazy on the positive side of things.

(09-28-2021 10:10 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:01 PM)Engblazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:00 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  I'm sure there will be tweet in the near future that will completely swing the pendulum in the other direction from today's reveal.

Them’s is fighting words in this thread, haven’t you noticed?

That statement was suppose to be positive. Since UAB wasn't mentioned in the tweet today just maybe the next one will explicitly mention UAB and everyone can go crazy on the positive side of things.

I realize that. I stated earlier that it’s been a constant stream of stuff saying UAB is in then out then in then out and everyone just goes crazy with every single one lol. People were mad that I said to just chill because some rumors do not mean we are out off the running. I was agreeing with you

(09-28-2021 10:12 PM)Engblazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:10 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:01 PM)Engblazr Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:00 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  I'm sure there will be tweet in the near future that will completely swing the pendulum in the other direction from today's reveal.

Them’s is fighting words in this thread, haven’t you noticed?

That statement was suppose to be positive. Since UAB wasn't mentioned in the tweet today just maybe the next one will explicitly mention UAB and everyone can go crazy on the positive side of things.

I realize that. I stated earlier that it’s been a constant stream of stuff saying UAB is in then out then in then out and everyone just goes crazy with every single one lol. People were mad that I said to just chill because some rumors do not mean we are out off the running. I was agreeing with you

I'm not understanding the risk involved in building a new stadium. I thought it was more of an investment.

...not sure who this dude is, but pulled it from another page (guess that's ok... ) - the 'done deal' is of course the CSU and AFA to AAC talk:


Matt Brown
@MattBrownEP
·
11m
Been hearing the same thing myself for about a week. Not a done deal, but I would be very surprised if this doesn't happen.

I also expect UAB to eventually be in this group.

(09-28-2021 10:24 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  ...not sure who this dude is, but pulled it from another page (guess that's ok... ) - the 'done deal' is of course the CSU and AFA to AAC talk:


Matt Brown
@MattBrownEP
·
11m
Been hearing the same thing myself for about a week. Not a done deal, but I would be very surprised if this doesn't happen.

I also expect UAB to eventually be in this group.

Yeah but the first tweet got most of the attention ....you know how it goes.

(09-28-2021 10:31 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 10:24 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  ...not sure who this dude is, but pulled it from another page (guess that's ok... ) - the 'done deal' is of course the CSU and AFA to AAC talk:


Matt Brown
@MattBrownEP
·
11m
Been hearing the same thing myself for about a week. Not a done deal, but I would be very surprised if this doesn't happen.

I also expect UAB to eventually be in this group.

Yeah but the first tweet got most of the attention ....you know how it goes.

...well, we Blazers have pessimism engrained in our DNA, sadly... ...but things are vastly different at this point in our history... lots of work yet to do, but the ceiling is still up there for us to reach...

I think there’s a decent chance that the AAC invites 6 teams, but that could happen in stages. And they’re gonna need a couple in the East.

Lots of Belt "insiders" seem to think CUSA is about to implode. It somehow became a foregone conclusion that USM is leaving and there is a good chance another CUSA program follows. I dont understand the logic in all of this but I don't expect UAB to stay in a deeply diminished version of CUSA. Either we are going to the AAC, all of this talk of CUSA being picked apart is overstated, or there's another move on the table. Things should really get interesting in the coming weeks for the G5.

(09-28-2021 11:31 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  Lots of Belt "insiders" seem to think CUSA is about to implode. It somehow became a foregone conclusion that USM is leaving and there is a good chance another CUSA program follows. I dont understand the logic in all of this but I don't expect UAB to stay in a deeply diminished version of CUSA. Either we are going to the AAC, all of this talk of CUSA being picked apart is overstated, or there's another move on the table. Things should really get interesting in the coming weeks for the G5.

...There has been quite a bit of talk on other boards by USM and Marshall folks who are pretty much saying they each are 'actively pursuing / in talks with' the SBC for membership... I see USM as a great fit at this point in time for the Belt, and maybe Marshall, but they could have an outside shot at the AAC, although if the Belt goes into the 'Mid-Atlantic' region for members and grabs ODU, Charlotte, and perhaps James Madison (who appears to be wanting to make a move up), Marshall would have a good 'cell' of local rivals in the Belt. Couple that with talks of the Mountain West maybe interested in a couple of the C-USA Texas teams, and it may be a tough thing for C-USA to recover from...