My hope as a Memphis fan for AAC hoops:

* Memphis, Wichita, Tulsa, SMU and Temple are collectively solid every year (they don't have to be collectively outstanding ... just solid).

* UAB and Charlotte (which offers a quality history) ramp up fast.

* USF gets respectable (it has been in the past)

* Rice and North Texas (my wildcards of the six newcomers) come out of nowhere to be solid.

* The four others (ECU, Tulane, UTSA and FAU) are not collectively horrendous year in and out.

IF all those things happen (highly unlikely), the AAC will be as good as the MWC, WCC and A10 and flirt with enjoying "major" status.

However, the safer prediction is that only one to two of those five things unfolds and the league will be painfully mid-major in basketball.

(10-22-2021 09:54 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  I'm sure a lot of incumbent AAC programs feel that way. I just don't think independence is a viable option for anyone.

AAC tv payout is still at the top of the G5.

Temple still needs to build an On-Campus Stadium. The Linc is really taking advantage of Temple. The alumni really need to get the politicians involved to get a Temple Stadium site set.

It's absolutely hideous that the Linc is charging a state school $2 million to use a stadium that was built entirely with state funds. PA really ****** up by not getting a clause in the contract that allowed Temple to play there for free.

Part of me wonders if Temple could get a reduced buyout with the AAC. It's starting to look more and more like their football success was the result of hiring one really exceptional coach (Rhule), and their basketball is starting to struggle. That might be fixable with a better coach, but it would probably be an easier fix in the A-10.

The money is always going to be an issue, though. I haven't been able to figure out what the A-10 deal is worth, but I can't imagine a scenario in which Temple would be able to maintain anything close to the AAC money if they left. That being said, their football team does have the advantage of being located on the border of PA and south Jersey, where there is a lot of football talent to recruit. That's something that isn't really true for the other northeastern independents.

(10-22-2021 01:11 PM)TheyCallMeBruce Wrote:  Part of me wonders if Temple could get a reduced buyout with the AAC. It's starting to look more and more like their football success was the result of hiring one really exceptional coach (Rhule), and their basketball is starting to struggle. That might be fixable with a better coach, but it would probably be an easier fix in the A-10.

The money is always going to be an issue, though. I haven't been able to figure out what the A-10 deal is worth, but I can't imagine a scenario in which Temple would be able to maintain anything close to the AAC money if they left. That being said, their football team does have the advantage of being located on the border of PA and south Jersey, where there is a lot of football talent to recruit. That's something that isn't really true for the other northeastern independents.

why would the AAC give Temple a reduced buyout exactly?

(10-22-2021 01:47 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:11 PM)TheyCallMeBruce Wrote:  Part of me wonders if Temple could get a reduced buyout with the AAC. It's starting to look more and more like their football success was the result of hiring one really exceptional coach (Rhule), and their basketball is starting to struggle. That might be fixable with a better coach, but it would probably be an easier fix in the A-10.

The money is always going to be an issue, though. I haven't been able to figure out what the A-10 deal is worth, but I can't imagine a scenario in which Temple would be able to maintain anything close to the AAC money if they left. That being said, their football team does have the advantage of being located on the border of PA and south Jersey, where there is a lot of football talent to recruit. That's something that isn't really true for the other northeastern independents.

why would the AAC give Temple a reduced buyout exactly?

They don't care if Temple is in the conference and with all the Texas schools it seems like they don't after the comments from Temple administration about reducing travel miles.

(10-22-2021 04:25 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:47 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:11 PM)TheyCallMeBruce Wrote:  Part of me wonders if Temple could get a reduced buyout with the AAC. It's starting to look more and more like their football success was the result of hiring one really exceptional coach (Rhule), and their basketball is starting to struggle. That might be fixable with a better coach, but it would probably be an easier fix in the A-10.

The money is always going to be an issue, though. I haven't been able to figure out what the A-10 deal is worth, but I can't imagine a scenario in which Temple would be able to maintain anything close to the AAC money if they left. That being said, their football team does have the advantage of being located on the border of PA and south Jersey, where there is a lot of football talent to recruit. That's something that isn't really true for the other northeastern independents.

why would the AAC give Temple a reduced buyout exactly?

They don't care if Temple is in the conference and with all the Texas schools it seems like they don't after the comments from Temple administration about reducing travel miles.

The AAC has no desire to have Temple leave. Temple has no grounds for demanding a reduced exit fee. Temple was involved in the expansion process and isn’t looking to leave which makes reduced exit fees a moot point.