(08-06-2023 08:32 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  if Rice leaps from CUSA to the PAC (even a depleted PAC), that would be an epic zero to hero story. Hallmark movie material.

Don’t forget to include the part where we went from the SWC, one of the original 8 “elite” conferences, to the WAC (borderline power conference at the time) before the WAC imploded. That was 2 implosions in 3 years.

As the saying goes… we’ve been around the block.

And even though we’ve been in the AAC barely over a month, we WOULD NOT be seriously mentioned in this conversation if we were still in CUSA.

But I’m a realignment junkie, so it’s always interesting when my school gets mentioned. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it ain’t. Too early to know how this one will turn out.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little bitter or jaded that Rice went from "why" to "possible PAC 4 invite". But don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them too if so. Hate to lose members as we just got here, but that's how it goes. You want to be included with schools that are wanted.

I do think that like someone else mentioned, don't be surprised when the PAC-4 jump ship as soon as an invite is given and now the remainders have to start all over again. Make sure the money is right and always read the fine print to whoever is chosen, if chosen.

It seems like it would be really shortsighted for any move to the current PAC4. They have no TV deal. No money coming in right now except for past NCAA credits accumulated. They owe millions in debt that has to somehow be paid back to Comcast. The 4 remaining schools will constantly be looking to bolt and leave whatever schools they temporarily cobble together with, so zero stability for the future. They really are the epitome of little-to-nothing-to-offer left-behinds, just their pride and the myopia of those who still associate them with the teams that just left them clouds their judgement. Any new TV deal they might get will be worse than what the other schools that bolted in past two weeks ran screaming away from. Rice would be smart to wait for the ACC implosion/raid and stay East and central-focused. Anything West is a loser for everyone right now. But Rice has not been good or smart in Athletic decisions (with the exception of the OG hiring/support) for more than 60+ years, so why start now? More likely that Dumb Rice will just do the saame ol' Dumb Rice Way things...

(08-06-2023 09:03 PM)rook360 Wrote:  I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little bitter or jaded that Rice went from "why" to "possible PAC 4 invite". But don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them too if so. Hate to lose members as we just got here, but that's how it goes. You want to be included with schools that are wanted.

I do think that like someone else mentioned, don't be surprised when the PAC-4 jump ship as soon as an invite is given and now the remainders have to start all over again. Make sure the money is right and always read the fine print to whoever is chosen, if chosen.

If it's any consolation, I'm looking forward to the Tigers versus the Blazers.

ECU will likely wind up in the SEC and after 20 years of getting our brains beat in we'll finally be able to put up consistent 5-7 win seasons and the occasional birth in the Independence Bowl.

I will remember y'all fondly.

In all seriousness, it was confirmed (by Stephen Igoe at HTC) this evening that Aresco has reached out to The PAC4, seeking a football-only arrangement. Before you laugh, he's a reliable source so take it as you will.

This move could make sense on several levels. First, it would save a ton of money for many of the AAC schools the PAC4 would be interested in; they would not have to pay what would amount to exorbitant amounts of money (I would guess at least $20M-$25M each to leave on such short notice) in addition to money saved on travel. They also would not run the risk of being stuck in out west when/if any of the PAC leave for greener pastures.

There is also a good chance that the PAC4 will merge with or join the MWC, or work out a football-only relationship with them. There are some sticking points: (1) the MWC has a high exit fee that will prove to be problematic and (2) I get the idea that not all of the MWC teams are desired by Stanford and Cal (Boise State, Utah State and SJSU, among others). The MWC could vote to dissolve the conference but why would any of the schools most at risk vote to do so? They would be stuck without enough teams to rebuild the conference if they are not careful.

I don't think that it will happen, as ECU has never been lucky at anything. I've come to expect the worse in these matters... but one day we might actually wind up on the side of fortune (or at least on the side of less poverty).

Good luck to all no matter where we wind up.

clt says this is elite level trolling.

In this instance, perhaps a proper hair metal ballad is apropos.......

(08-06-2023 08:07 PM)OUGwave Wrote:  

(08-06-2023 07:18 PM)Victorygreen04 Wrote:  My prediction is SMU, Tulane and Rice will be gone. So long... Any other predictions?

I’m not sold on Rice being a sure thing, and don’t think they’re automatically grouped with the other two. I might say Memphis is more likely tbh.

People think of these three being similar because they’re private.

But Rice has 8,000 *total* students and only 4,000 undergrads. There are high schools in California larger than that undergrad count.

Tulane has 14,000 students and almost 9,000 undergrads. It’s closer to a BC/Miami profile.

SMU is a little closer to Tulane’s size (12,000/7,000).

While Rice has a larger media market, 4,000 undergrads are truly a drop in the bucket of Houston. Rice is an afterthought there. NOLA is smaller, Tulane highlights are on local news every night. It’s the largest employer in the city, casts a bigger social shadow on its market.

If the PAC remainders take three from the AAC I think it’s SMU, Tulane, and Memphis. If it’s four I think it’s USF. Navy FB only makes a lot of sense.

The current rumor is SMU, Memphis. Tulane if they go to 3. It sounds like the Mountain West has to get down to three teams in order for the conference to fold. They don't want Hawaii, Nevada, San Jose State. That leaves 9 teams. Add the 4 Pac teams and that leaves 3 spots open for AAC teams.

Things tend to get crazy at the last minute, so we'll see.

This could be what it ends up being.

California
Stanford
Oregon State
Washington State
San Diego State
Boise State
Air Force
Colorado State
New Mexico
Fresno State
UNLV
Utah State
Wyoming
SMU
Memphis
Tulane

Sort of a glorified Mountain West to be honest looking at the list. Not convinced that would be a good move for Memphis and Tulane. Especially with the Apple deal.