(07-09-2020 03:45 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  Alright, so we settled it then.

A) AAC goes with uneven divisions if denied the waiver

B) Rice to the ACC Coastal (which could be an improvement)

I'd like to amend B: with Tulane, and only if Virginia Tech is moved to the Atlantic.

Georgia Southern trying to tie themselves to App State to weasel into this conversation.

UAB is the choice here all things considered.

(07-09-2020 04:01 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 03:45 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  Alright, so we settled it then.

A) AAC goes with uneven divisions if denied the waiver

B) Rice to the ACC Coastal (which could be an improvement)

I'd like to amend B: with Tulane, and only if Virginia Tech is moved to the Atlantic.

4th out of 8 ain't bad!

For those bringing up UAB’s new “on-campus” stadium, isn’t it owned/operated by the city of Birmingham? And while it’s not far from UAB, isn’t it at the BJCC instead of actually on campus? I’m happy they’ll have a nice place to play, but they sure seem to get a lot more credit for it than I would have thought.

(07-09-2020 04:03 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Georgia Southern trying to tie themselves to App State to weasel into this conversation.

UAB is the choice here all things considered.

GT_Fletch was the one that mentioned both schools, not me. I'm not pimping anyone for the AAC and if I'm them I don't add anyone if I can't get Army, BYU, or Boise.

I was just illustrating the silliness of the media market lie that refuses to die.

(07-09-2020 04:23 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  For those bringing up UAB’s new “on-campus” stadium, isn’t it owned/operated by the city of Birmingham? And while it’s not far from UAB, isn’t it at the BJCC instead of actually on campus? I’m happy they’ll have a nice place to play, but they sure seem to get a lot more credit for it than I would have thought.

That's rivalry talk.......I like that. South Bama elevation to CUSA: Approved!

(07-09-2020 02:58 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 01:27 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 01:07 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 11:30 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  Why is App State or Georgia Southern not on this list?

I don't consider either an AAC candidate (just want to make that clear).

However, since the premise is "had to pick one" I can tell you if the AAC were consulting ESPN and asking who among the schools that would accept an invite will dilute their TV money the least I can promise you Georgia Southern and App State will be higher on the list than Georgia State, UNCC, and probably most of the teams listed in the poll.


For those that still haven't figured it out, ESPN doesn't give a rat's *** about media markets. They're going to pay more for teams that get eyeballs on TVs. ESPN's favorite Sun Belt matchup to choose for TV is Georgia Southern versus Appalachian State, two teams in towns with a combined population under 60,000. It's been chosen every year since both teams entered the conference and every other Sun Belt game has been untelevised at least twice since then.

The 2019 GA Southern-App St game drew 195k viewers. It was the lowest rated game with ratings released for that week, and the 8th-lowest rated game of the 2019 season for games with ratings released.

The 2018 GA Southern-App St game drew 105k viewers. It was the lowest rated game with ratings released for that week, and the lowest rated game of the 2018 season for games with ratings released.

The 2017 GA Southern-App St game drew 102k viewers. It was the 2nd lowest-rated game of the week ahead of only Buffalo-Bowling Green, and trailed Eastern Michigan-Central Michigan's 115k (both GSU/AppSt & CMU/WMU were on ESPNU).

The data can be found here:
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/college...v-ratings/

1. Those comparisons are useless. Where do the games rank among ESPNU games for the SBC, CUSA, and MAC? All but a handful of G5 teams on ESPNU and it won't get ratings as good as any 2 of the other teams on ESPN2.

2. Even if we ignore that, it doesn't change what I'm saying about which programs from the Sun Belt ESPN chooses to show.

Here's the ESPNU ratings between CUSA/MAC/SBC schools released publicly (https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/college...ratings/). 2018/2019 are very limited for some reason (only 2 examples each), but 2017 data was a lot more comprehensive:

2019
WMU-NIU 238K
GASO-APP 195K

2018
OHIO-MIA 213K
APP-GASO 105K

2017
KENT-AKR 242K
TOL-BG 175K
NIU-TOL 156K
TXST-ULL 153K
WMU-TOL 132K
USA-GAST 130K
IDAHO-TROY 130K
EMU-CMU 115K
CMU-KENT 112K
GASO-APP 102K
WMU-BUFF 90K
BG-BUFF 89K
UTSA-LT 81K
ULL-ARKST 72K
BG-KENT 70K

2017 APP/GSU drew less than the 3 FCS games ESPNU released ratings for: SHSU-PVAMU, TXSO-FAMU, & Colgate-Cal Poly.

This statement:

Quote:I can tell you if the AAC were consulting ESPN and asking who among the schools that would accept an invite will dilute their TV money the least I can promise you Georgia Southern and App State will be higher on the list than Georgia State, UNCC, and probably most of the teams listed in the poll.

isn't true. Georgia Southern ratings are indifferentiable from run-of-the-mill MAC/SBELT schools and thus wouldn't be pushed by ESPN executives.

If you have a bunch of schools with indifferentiable ratings, tv executives would push for who has "potential" (ie. DMA rankings) if they push for anyone at all.

(07-09-2020 03:44 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  TV markets to mean anything anymore fellas LOL. Games are streamed and all the existing markets are owned by P5 schools.

Markets are not important for G5 ratings, but they'll absolutely play a role when AAC/university presidents are voting:

1) AAC is an overwhelmingly urban league. Those presidents desire to be with like-minded schools in alike markets.

2) Student recruitment: Atlanta is at the top of the list for southern markets you want exposure in for prospective students. Birmingham and Norfolk have appeal. Exposure in Huntington/Statesboro/etc doesn't go anywhere.

3) Football recruitment: Atlanta is a hotbed to recruit football players. Birmingham and Norfolk are desirable places to recruit football players.

The above 3 bullet points (institutional fit, student recruitment, football recruitment) will be near the top of each president's list if/when they're evaluating potential members.

(07-09-2020 04:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  This statement:

Quote:I can tell you if the AAC were consulting ESPN and asking who among the schools that would accept an invite will dilute their TV money the least I can promise you Georgia Southern and App State will be higher on the list than Georgia State, UNCC, and probably most of the teams listed in the poll.

isn't true. Georgia Southern ratings are indifferentiable from run-of-the-mill MAC/SBELT schools and thus wouldn't be pushed by ESPN executives.

If you have a bunch of schools with indifferentiable ratings, tv executives would push for who has "potential" (ie. DMA rankings) if they push for anyone at all.

So basically, the only year with any real ESPNU data is one of our worst years of football ever where we came into the game 0-8 and even then it was middle-of-road.

Like I said, ESPN picks the Sun Belt games they do for a reason.

Buffalo, they have AAU status, a decent market, and improving performance from their football and basketball programs.

Rice would be my option #2, they have academics as good as anyone, and also have SWC history as well as a little rivalry with Houston.

(07-09-2020 04:52 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 04:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  This statement:

Quote:I can tell you if the AAC were consulting ESPN and asking who among the schools that would accept an invite will dilute their TV money the least I can promise you Georgia Southern and App State will be higher on the list than Georgia State, UNCC, and probably most of the teams listed in the poll.

isn't true. Georgia Southern ratings are indifferentiable from run-of-the-mill MAC/SBELT schools and thus wouldn't be pushed by ESPN executives.

If you have a bunch of schools with indifferentiable ratings, tv executives would push for who has "potential" (ie. DMA rankings) if they push for anyone at all.

So basically, the only year with any real ESPNU data is one of our worst years of football ever where we came into the game 0-8 and even then it was middle-of-road.

Like I said, ESPN picks the Sun Belt games they do for a reason.

Kent St was 2-8 (finished 2-10) when playing 6-4 CMU. That game drew higher than APP-GASO. As did 1-5 Texas St (finished 2-10) against 2-3 Louisiana (finished 5-7).

Georgia Southern's ratings aren't bad by any means. They're just the same as any other MAC/SBELT school. There's nothing wrong with that - they're just not the type of ratings ESPN would vouch for to the AAC.

(07-09-2020 10:51 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  I'd say UAB for geography.

They are getting a new stadium and could develop a solid fan base.

Can't be P6 with a Dragon mascot new mascot their in.

(07-09-2020 04:03 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Georgia Southern trying to tie themselves to App State to weasel into this conversation.

UAB is the choice here all things considered.

UAB would have to double their athletic budget. It's also a very small school, with less than full time 10,000 undergrads (9,989 according to Department of Education official report). The total budget is $36,494,380, while that of all but two of the AAC schools is $50M or higher, a few above $60M. (Colorado State is $54M for comparison.) UAB's budget is already subsidized over $15M by the school itself, and $7.2M from student fees -- roughly $750 added to every student's bill. Where is the extra $20M supposed to come from? Ticket sales are only $1.5M

UAB is as high up the food chain as they can afford. The idea of the school upping tax payer subsidy to $25 and students paying $1250 each, for a program that generates less than $2M in ticket sales and less than $5M in donations is ludicrous.

(07-09-2020 03:06 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 02:13 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 10:43 AM)esayem Wrote:  I can see Tulane, SMU, Tulsa, and Navy advocating for Rice. Possibly Houston as well since I don’t really think they compete for the same players, but I’m not sure about that.

Birmingham has a nice location because they’re in the footprint, but not encroaching on any other member’s territory, like Old Dominion would (sort of).

Where can I find the athletic budgets of these schools? I’m going to need more data before I vote.

lol... What is it with you and Rice... You been pushing Rice down AAC's throats for quite some time now.. You ever stop and wonder that perhaps the AAC isn't interested in Rice.

They're the best realistic candidate.

What's the deal with AAC fanboys thinking the AAC can land a bunch of western teams despite the fact that would have happened by now if it were even remotely feasible? Ever stop and think BYU and co. are happy where they are and don't want to join the AAC?

lulz

LOL... No they're not ^^^

And as for BYU... It doesn't really matter if they don't join the AAC... The AAC has performed quite sexy with it's current membership lineup.

If it was up to me I say the AAC remains at 11 and call it a day.

(07-09-2020 07:02 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 03:06 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 02:13 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 10:43 AM)esayem Wrote:  I can see Tulane, SMU, Tulsa, and Navy advocating for Rice. Possibly Houston as well since I don’t really think they compete for the same players, but I’m not sure about that.

Birmingham has a nice location because they’re in the footprint, but not encroaching on any other member’s territory, like Old Dominion would (sort of).

Where can I find the athletic budgets of these schools? I’m going to need more data before I vote.

lol... What is it with you and Rice... You been pushing Rice down AAC's throats for quite some time now.. You ever stop and wonder that perhaps the AAC isn't interested in Rice.

They're the best realistic candidate.

What's the deal with AAC fanboys thinking the AAC can land a bunch of western teams despite the fact that would have happened by now if it were even remotely feasible? Ever stop and think BYU and co. are happy where they are and don't want to join the AAC?

lulz

LOL... No they're not ^^^

And as for BYU... It doesn't really matter if they don't join the AAC... The AAC has performed quite sexy with it's current membership lineup.

If it was up to me I say the AAC remains at 11 and call it a day.

The problem with fanboys is they don't understand how university presidents think.

Looking at the great totem pole of realignment, Rice is oddly outside of where they have been located throughout athletic history. AAU, schools within the AAC that would vouch for them, they're within the footprint (this is obviously increasingly more important these days), excellent baseball (also increasingly important), and $$$.

Unfortunately, I'm diagnosing you with Fanboy Syndrome, and you can't be saved. This isn't a laughing matter anymore. I'm sorry.

PS, I hope the AAC can kick down the door for getting rid of divisions. I know the ACC will support it. I don't believe the other P5 conferences will, because they absolutely don't want to see the ACC maximize their potential.

Rice is a decent add. The main reason you don't add them is because then you might be building a "magnolia" block of schools: SMU, Tulane, Rice, Navy, Tulsa

I'm not sure it's ideal considering how the last iteration blew up.

(07-09-2020 07:14 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  Rice is a decent add. The main reason you don't add them is because then you might be building a "magnolia" block of schools: SMU, Tulane, Rice, Navy, Tulsa

I'm not sure it's ideal considering how the last iteration blew up.

What's wrong with that?

(07-09-2020 07:18 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 07:14 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  Rice is a decent add. The main reason you don't add them is because then you might be building a "magnolia" block of schools: SMU, Tulane, Rice, Navy, Tulsa

I'm not sure it's ideal considering how the last iteration blew up.

What's wrong with that?

Those five schools are going to get too comfortable with each other. The presidents will sit in rooms together and think "why in the hell am I in the business of behaving like a Memphis or UCF?"

1 or 2 privates don't have leverage and will adapt to the league and help it grow. Adding a FIFTH private/academy begins to alter the identity of what the AAC was trying to build.

I would selfishly LOVE another private school - but it's not good for the league.

Rice is a non-starter. There's a reason they weren't/aren't on the radar of the Commish and member institutions. The AAC already has Tulane, Tulsa and SMU as smaller, private research universities. Market, footprint-wise we already have Houston and SMU in Texas. Rice is also located in Houston. How's that Rice basketball program by the way? [crickets]. Personally, my preference is to stay at 11 members. To honor the OP, if I had to pick one from that list it would be UAB primarily for the past conference history, market location, facilities, and football and basketball upside.

(07-09-2020 11:25 AM)Mestophalies Wrote:  

(07-09-2020 10:51 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  I'd say UAB for geography.

They are getting a new stadium and could develop a solid fan base.

UAB is under the thumb of Alabama. They're a non-starter. (You have no idea what year this is.)

As for the pole (What are you? A devilish stripper?),

None of the above. (Probably right tho.)