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https://www.si.com/college/2021/10/12/co...t-football

Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status...8126911492

In fact, the AAC is targeting several schools to fill voids left by Houston, Cincinnati and UCF, which announced in September that they plan to join the Big 12 as soon as 2024. One of the conference’s top targets is C-USA member UAB, multiple sources tell SI. The Blazers and the league are holding ongoing discussions.

UAB would complete a feel-good tale if the deal comes to fruition. The program disbanded its football program in 2014 before restarting it in 2017. It has flourished under coach Bill Clark, claiming three straight division titles and the Conference USA championship with an 11-win campaign in 2018. Just this year, the school opened a 47,000-seat, $175 million stadium in downtown Birmingham.

I don't know what's up with CUSA leadership.

Literally Ozzy's "shot in the dark" was playing while I read this

Judy McCleod's message to the G5:

In related news, my teenage nephew is going to ask for a roll in the hay with Bella Hadid. Let's see how it plays out...

In all fairness, these would be a pretty good setup, as listed in the article.

"The western conference would include SMU, North Texas, Rice, UTEP, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, Wichita State, UAB, Memphis and UTSA."

The eastern conference would feature East Carolina, Charlotte, Old Dominion, Temple, Marshall, FAU, FIU, South Florida, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and two potential new additions. (Coastal Carolina, App State?)

No way the AAC schools ever go for this, though. They'll laugh and just grab their choice of 1-4 teams and move on.

(10-12-2021 02:01 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  In all fairness, these would be a pretty good setup, as listed in the article.

"The western conference would include SMU, North Texas, Rice, UTEP, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, Wichita State, UAB, Memphis and UTSA."

The eastern conference would feature East Carolina, Charlotte, Old Dominion, Temple, Marshall, FAU, FIU, South Florida, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and two potential new additions. (Coastal Carolina, App State?)

No way the AAC schools ever go for this, though. They'll laugh and just grab their choice of 1-4 teams and move on.

If this was any where close to reality, this idea would've been vetted by all concerned parties and the trigger pulled before we even knew what was going on. Otherwise it's sort of joke...lets merge your 4-7 mil league with our 1-2 mil league and we'll all be better for it

You can see where it would be very appealing to about half of CUSA. The only value a deal like this could have for us and a couple of others is that a merger would mean we wouldn't have just changed conferences if we could sell the Big XII on. UAB and Memphis is a future round.

IMHO that's not enough for anyone to take it seriously. Judy screwed this conference up and she's about to be laughed out of town

No matter if the AAC balks at this or not. This will probably come to fruition out of necessity once Memphis, SMU, and USF leaves for the Big XII.

(10-12-2021 02:14 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 02:01 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  In all fairness, these would be a pretty good setup, as listed in the article.

"The western conference would include SMU, North Texas, Rice, UTEP, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, Wichita State, UAB, Memphis and UTSA."

The eastern conference would feature East Carolina, Charlotte, Old Dominion, Temple, Marshall, FAU, FIU, South Florida, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and two potential new additions. (Coastal Carolina, App State?)

No way the AAC schools ever go for this, though. They'll laugh and just grab their choice of 1-4 teams and move on.

If this was any where close to reality, this idea would've been vetted by all concerned parties and the trigger pulled before we even knew what was going on. Otherwise it's sort of joke...lets merge your 4-7 mil league with our 1-2 mil league and we'll all be better for it

Who is the 1-2 million dollar.....oh you're talking about the SBC. Gotcha!

(10-12-2021 03:24 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  No matter if the AAC balks at this or not. This will probably come to fruition out of necessity once Memphis, SMU, and USF leaves for the Big XII.

You may be right but I don't think the Big XII expands. The table is set for while unless the Big X or Pac 12 start some smack. When the Big XII media rights deal is renewed, that'll tell us everything we need to know. As for the remaining team outside of that, play on the field will become the separator not just perception and that will drive the remaining media rights transactions.

Nah, it won't come to fruition as currently configured. The Big 12 if it adds team is also probably in line to lose teams. AAC and MWC teams will trip over themselves to get to the Big 12, and the AAC would then form best of the rest from MWC, SBC and C-USA depending on how the dominoes fall.

A year or two ago, SBC and C-USA could have done some trading. That's off the table now. It is a complete non-starter for anyone left in the American.

(10-12-2021 03:30 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 03:24 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  No matter if the AAC balks at this or not. This will probably come to fruition out of necessity once Memphis, SMU, and USF leaves for the Big XII.

You may be right but I don't think the Big XII expands. The table is set for while unless the Big X or Pac 12 start some smack. When the Big XII media rights deal is renewed, that'll tell us everything we need to know. As for the remaining team outside of that, play on the field will become the separator not just perception and that will drive the remaining media rights transactions.

Of course it is the best interest of UAB if the Big XII doesn't expand. But everything I am hearing out of Big XII country is that it will happen sooner than later for Boise and Memphis. Any further expansion after that will depend on the new PAC 12 tv deal that ends after the 2023 season.

And another reason why the Big XII may consider going to 16 is because the networks will want as much inventory as possible and one consideration being discussed is going to 16 teams and playing 9 divisional games to create this additional inventory. Of course the Big XII will know what it get for 14 or 16 teams and go with whatever is the better deal.

In either case, I think the writing for the AAC is on the wall. If Aresco wasn't so busy trying to kill of the MWC or doing a hostile takeover of the remaining Big 12 members, he probably would have best served pursuing a merger with the MWC. I will not be the least bit surprise if a reorganization happens with or without the wishes of the AAC.

(10-12-2021 03:51 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 03:30 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 03:24 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  No matter if the AAC balks at this or not. This will probably come to fruition out of necessity once Memphis, SMU, and USF leaves for the Big XII.

You may be right but I don't think the Big XII expands. The table is set for while unless the Big X or Pac 12 start some smack. When the Big XII media rights deal is renewed, that'll tell us everything we need to know. As for the remaining team outside of that, play on the field will become the separator not just perception and that will drive the remaining media rights transactions.

Of course it is the best interest of UAB if the Big XII doesn't expand. But everything I am hearing out of Big XII country is that it will happen sooner than later for Boise and Memphis. Any further expansion after that will depend on the new PAC 12 tv deal that ends after the 2023 season.

And another reason why the Big XII may consider going to 16 is because the networks will want as much inventory as possible and one consideration being discussed is going to 16 teams and playing 9 divisional games to create this additional inventory. Of course the Big XII will know what it get for 14 or 16 teams and go with whatever is the better deal.

In either case, I think the writing for the AAC is on the wall. If Aresco wasn't so busy trying to kill of the MWC or doing a hostile takeover of the remaining Big 12 members, he probably would have best served pursuing a merger with the MWC. I will not be the least bit surprise if a reorganization happens with or without the wishes of the AAC.

The only way the reorg actually occurs is if ESPN, CBS, FOX and others provide some sort of guidance on what make since from value stand point (give their blessing).

Here is the actual letter:

(10-12-2021 04:33 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  Here is the actual letter:

Well, obviously North Texas knows that the AAC doesn't want them!

They should look on the bright side: it won't be C-UAB anymore, but C-UNT!

Ahhh did you just type C-UNT????

(10-12-2021 04:42 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  Ahhh did you just type C-UNT????

With malice and forethought it appears

The North Texas President if Chairman of the C-USA Board and signed this letter on behalf of the ENTIRE board, so it means nothing in regards to UNT's chances of leaving for MWC or AAC.

UNT aint going nowhere...that split Bball court is way to valuable to leave CUSA