(11-26-2013 01:01 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 10:45 AM)john01992 Wrote:  the b12 has 2 options

option A: we wanna milk this conference for everything its worth before it folds
1. cincy
2. ucf

option B: we want to rebuild this conference and make it viable long term
1. colorado state
2. ucf
3. usf
4. rice

I agree on the first three maybe. You lost me at Rice though...

if the b12 wants to claim that they are a power conference then they need to ACT like a power conference. as it stands right now the b12 has 2 things that every other power conference has and they dont.

1. a conf. championship game

2. an elite academic school. the pac (stanford) the acc (duke) b10 (northwestern) sec (vandy).

as it stands right now texas is an academic outlier in the b12 and if the b12 wants to keep more schools from leaving the first thing they need to do is to beef up the academic branch of the conference. rice is literally the only school that can single handedly silence all the academics within the b12 trying to push for a new conference.

(11-26-2013 04:02 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:01 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 10:45 AM)john01992 Wrote:  the b12 has 2 options

option A: we wanna milk this conference for everything its worth before it folds
1. cincy
2. ucf

option B: we want to rebuild this conference and make it viable long term
1. colorado state
2. ucf
3. usf
4. rice

I agree on the first three maybe. You lost me at Rice though...

I think Memphis, Cinci, USF, and UCF could happen---but now you simply have created a new island in Florida. I could also see BYU, Cinci, ECU, and Memphis---that seems a little more geographically viable. I don't see Rice---If a Texas team gets added it would be Houston. That said, I just don't think the B12 adds another Texas school.

The AAC--could go either way. The badly weakened AAC could lose Tulsa, Houston, and SMU to the MW (with another Texas school--ether UTSA or Tx State). I could see Temple and UConn joining the Big East and slipping football in the MAC. Navy goes back to indy and the rest head to CUSA.

On the other hand, if the AAC lost Cinci USF, and UCF---the AAC could add Umass, Ohio, and ODU and the remaining member would have closer rivals. If the AAC instead loses ECU, Memphis, and Cinci---the AAC can rebuild with UMass, Ohio, and NIU.

The real danger to the AAC is if the Big-12 AND the Big-10 both make moves. That scenario probably wipes the AAC off the face of the earth.

All of that sounds reasonable coog, except that I have never understood people's fascination with UMass. So they have had some success in basketball. They don't move the needle at all in football.

UMass 2013 attendance
- Sept. 7 vs. Maine: 15,624
- Sept. 21 vs. Vanderbilt: 16,419
- Oct. 12 vs. Miami: 21,707
- Oct. 26 vs. Western Michigan: 20,571
- Nov. 2 vs. Northern Illinois: 10,061
- Nov. 16 vs. Akron: 10,599
---------------

Total attendance: 94,981
Avg. attendance: 15,830.2

They had something called Band Day for the Miami game to boost attendance over 21,000. None of the above smacks of big time college football to me.

give them a break with the attendance thing.

1) they are a brand new fbs school playing as an affiliate in a conference that they have literally zero cultural connection with

2) the stadium they play in is 92 miles from their campus

(11-26-2013 05:00 PM)DBpirate Wrote:  The big 12 dosent need another island. They have texas recruits they don't need Florida recruits or the exposure there. Would they like it sure but they don't need it and they don't want to leave the Texas area.

the reason why im such a proponent of florida schools to the b12 is because WVU is a school that historically recruits out of florida not texas. its been 3 full years since wvu announced their move to the b12 and they have just one recruit from texas in their 2013 AND 2014 classes.

im a colorado fan, i saw this first hand. playing in the b12 simply does not give you a texas pipeline. colorado went through a 6 year period where we averaged just 1.8 texas recruits a year. of the 6 non texas schools in the b12, 3 of them have a combined 5 TX recruits and just one of them has more than 8.

texas is a unique state. cali, texas & florida produce most of the talent however texas retains in state recruitsat a much higher rate than cali & FL.

now look at wvu: of the 3 players they had drafted last year, 2 of them were from florida. despite being removed from their FL based conference for 2 years they still have 21 florida players

the answer to the wvu outlier problem is not an addition like cincy

its ucf & usf

The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

I don't think so. How they see themselves is all that matters in this context. Texas is so big, so wealthy, and so good on the field historically that the world truly can be viewed through Texas coloured glasses and it becomes so.

Besides, Texas, both the fans and the administration, like to be the big dog.

I've said it before and I think it will hold true, Texas won't go anywhere. They know they can carry the load for a conference and they will never allow themselves to be just another member anywhere.

There is always one safe bet no matter what you ever do, and that is never underestimate Texas sized arrogance.

(11-26-2013 07:21 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

I don't think so. How they see themselves is all that matters in this context. Texas is so big, so wealthy, and so good on the field historically that the world truly can be viewed through Texas coloured glasses and it becomes so.

Besides, Texas, both the fans and the administration, like to be the big dog.

I've said it before and I think it will hold true, Texas won't go anywhere. They know they can carry the load for a conference and they will never allow themselves to be just another member anywhere.

There is always one safe bet no matter what you ever do, and that is never underestimate Texas sized arrogance.

texas can be the big dog anywhere they go. i am talking strictly academics here and thats the problem here because all that "lone star" BS goes out the window. the only question with texas is can the athletic branch beat out the academic brand of UT

(11-26-2013 07:32 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:21 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

I don't think so. How they see themselves is all that matters in this context. Texas is so big, so wealthy, and so good on the field historically that the world truly can be viewed through Texas coloured glasses and it becomes so.

Besides, Texas, both the fans and the administration, like to be the big dog.

I've said it before and I think it will hold true, Texas won't go anywhere. They know they can carry the load for a conference and they will never allow themselves to be just another member anywhere.

There is always one safe bet no matter what you ever do, and that is never underestimate Texas sized arrogance.

texas can be the big dog anywhere they go. i am talking strictly academics here and thats the problem here because all that "lone star" BS goes out the window. the only question with texas is can the athletic branch beat out the academic brand of UT

Texas wouldn't be the big dog in any other major conference with the exception of maybe the ACC.

You're overestimating the value of your academic perception of UT.

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

Baylor and, to a lesser extemt, TCU are highly respected "teaching" universities (i.e., no research emphasis). ISU and KU are AAU members. Texas Tech and OU have raised billions of dollars during the past 5 years to significantly expand research and improve academics in a bid to become AAU eligible ASAP. Tech is working with Stanford, Cal, Arizona and UT (our AAU sponsor) to make that happen. West Texas is again swimming in oil and gas money so the timing is perfect. No Big 12 school will approach the academics of Rice in our lifetimes but most Big 12 members have committed massive funding to rapidly improve our academic profiles.

Adding two teams? USF and ECU to get coverage all the way down the Eastern Seaboard as far as the area that cares about College Football.

Adding four teams? USF, UCF, ECU and Cincinnati.

The conference absolutely does not need more Texas presence. It needs a strong presence in another strong recruiting state so better to double up in Florida. I know UCF and USF are not major powers now but they would be in a major conference. With the likes of Miami definitely on the decline and with Florida doing who knows what, what a great time to see UCF and USF duking it out with some big boys. ECU also delivers the numbers. They provide a great location for TV coverage. That house is rocking every game, networks would love it IF they were hosting major conference games there.

Cinci? Well they definitely help out WVU up there. They are strong academically. They are strong in basketball to help out the conference get more tournament credits.


Despite all of the above, I just don't see the monetary feasibility of any of it.

(11-26-2013 10:48 AM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  You know, I should have titled this thread "Fantasy realignment -- AAC Edition."

In fact, that should be the title of this AAC board.

FWIW, B12 revenues are projected to go to $30/M per school in 2015. As a B12 fan, I wished the B12 had added Louisville along with WVA. But, now, I see no other viable school out there. Don't get me wrong. There are good schools out there with improving programs. But they are not a fit for B12. So, we ride the 10 team horse to wherever it takes. When its broke, maybe we fix it. For the time being, B12 is certainly not broke.

(11-26-2013 04:02 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:01 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 10:45 AM)john01992 Wrote:  the b12 has 2 options

option A: we wanna milk this conference for everything its worth before it folds
1. cincy
2. ucf

option B: we want to rebuild this conference and make it viable long term
1. colorado state
2. ucf
3. usf
4. rice

I agree on the first three maybe. You lost me at Rice though...

I think Memphis, Cinci, USF, and UCF could happen---but now you simply have created a new island in Florida. I could also see BYU, Cinci, ECU, and Memphis---that seems a little more geographically viable. I don't see Rice---If a Texas team gets added it would be Houston. That said, I just don't think the B12 adds another Texas school.

The AAC--could go either way. The badly weakened AAC could lose Tulsa, Houston, and SMU to the MW (with another Texas school--ether UTSA or Tx State). I could see Temple and UConn joining the Big East and slipping football in the MAC. Navy goes back to indy and the rest head to CUSA.

On the other hand, if the AAC lost Cinci USF, and UCF---the AAC could add Umass, Ohio, and ODU and the remaining member would have closer rivals. If the AAC instead loses ECU, Memphis, and Cinci---the AAC can rebuild with UMass, Ohio, and NIU.

The real danger to the AAC is if the Big-12 AND the Big-10 both make moves. That scenario probably wipes the AAC off the face of the earth.

All of that sounds reasonable coog, except that I have never understood people's fascination with UMass. So they have had some success in basketball. They don't move the needle at all in football.

UMass 2013 attendance
- Sept. 7 vs. Maine: 15,624
- Sept. 21 vs. Vanderbilt: 16,419
- Oct. 12 vs. Miami: 21,707
- Oct. 26 vs. Western Michigan: 20,571
- Nov. 2 vs. Northern Illinois: 10,061
- Nov. 16 vs. Akron: 10,599
---------------

Total attendance: 94,981
Avg. attendance: 15,830.2

They had something called Band Day for the Miami game to boost attendance over 21,000. None of the above smacks of big time college football to me.

Zombie--nobody that's left to pick really moves the needle. UMass is a state flagship---there is some value in that there are not many state flagships left. There is one other option if the AAC imploded than didn't mention. I suppose its also possible that most of CUSA west could snap off and form a new conference with the western remnants of the AAC and maybe a strategic Sunbelt addition.

Houston
Tulsa
SMU
Tulane
La Tech
UTSA
UTEP
N Tx
Rice
Tx St
Arky St
Memphis

*New Mexico St (basketball only)
*Witchita St (basketball only)

(11-26-2013 07:45 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

Baylor and, to a lesser extemt, TCU are highly respected "teaching" universities (i.e., no research emphasis). ISU and KU are AAU members. Texas Tech and OU have raised billions of dollars during the past 5 years to significantly expand research and improve academics in a bid to become AAU eligible ASAP. Tech is working with Stanford, Cal, Arizona and UT (our AAU sponsor) to make that happen. West Texas is again swimming in oil and gas money so the timing is perfect. No Big 12 school will approach the academics of Rice in our lifetimes but most Big 12 members have committed massive funding to rapidly improve our academic profiles.

baylor & tcu are religious schools (theres only like 5 left at the FBS level) which is a huge turn off in the academic world. you cant say that texas has good academic association with tcu/baylor because you are comparing polar opposites (a very large flagship research land grant vs private, non research religious schools)

the aau is trying to shrink its membership not expand it. tech & ou getting aau is a longshot

no offense to isu & ku (and i will try to say this nicely) but they are two of the weakest members within the aau. they may be aau but none of their fellow aau schools look to them as academic peers. (if they did they would of been in the b10 by now)

any (insert b12 school) will need several decades of academic success to improve their academics to match the level of where UNL, CU, mizz & aggie were before they left the b12

(11-26-2013 07:57 PM)Tallgrass Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 10:48 AM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  You know, I should have titled this thread "Fantasy realignment -- AAC Edition."

In fact, that should be the title of this AAC board.

FWIW, B12 revenues are projected to go to $30/M per school in 2015. As a B12 fan, I wished the B12 had added Louisville along with WVA. But, now, I see no other viable school out there. Don't get me wrong. There are good schools out there with improving programs. But they are not a fit for B12. So, we ride the 10 team horse to wherever it takes. When its broke, maybe we fix it. For the time being, B12 is certainly not broke.

I agree on all points. For perception's sake alone, no way the Big 12 takes 3 directional schools out of 4 new additions. SEC and B1G are 100% state flagships. Adding more than 1 directional school would make the B12 appear to be slipping by comparison. Hell, adding one might do it.

IMO, Big 12 schools will ride the GOR for 8-10 years and then split to join other power conferences except for Baylor, TCU, ISU and KSU. Less likely, but still possible, is for the Big 12 to merge with all or part of the ACC after its poached by the B1G and perhaps the SEC.

(11-26-2013 08:15 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:45 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

Baylor and, to a lesser extemt, TCU are highly respected "teaching" universities (i.e., no research emphasis). ISU and KU are AAU members. Texas Tech and OU have raised billions of dollars during the past 5 years to significantly expand research and improve academics in a bid to become AAU eligible ASAP. Tech is working with Stanford, Cal, Arizona and UT (our AAU sponsor) to make that happen. West Texas is again swimming in oil and gas money so the timing is perfect. No Big 12 school will approach the academics of Rice in our lifetimes but most Big 12 members have committed massive funding to rapidly improve our academic profiles.

baylor & tcu are religious schools (theres only like 5 left at the FBS level) which is a huge turn off in the academic world. you cant say that texas has good academic association with tcu/baylor because you are comparing polar opposites (a very large flagship research land grant vs private, non research religious schools)

the aau is trying to shrink its membership not expand it. tech & ou getting aau is a longshot

no offense to isu & ku (and i will try to say this nicely) but they are two of the weakest members within the aau.

any (insert b12 school) will need several decades of academic success to improve their academics to match the level of where UNL, CU, mizz & aggie were before they left the b12

I know the AAU wants to shrink its membership. That's why I said Tech is working to become AAU "eligible". However, you should take notice of Tech's supporters and sponsor in this endeavor. Chancellor Hance is a brilliant politician and strategist. His drawl causes people to underestimate his savvy and charm. Lol.And did I mention that Tech is sitting amongst another huge oil and gas boom?

(11-26-2013 08:29 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 08:15 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:45 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:10 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The thing is, Texas, The University of Texas, can carry a conference.

true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

Baylor and, to a lesser extemt, TCU are highly respected "teaching" universities (i.e., no research emphasis). ISU and KU are AAU members. Texas Tech and OU have raised billions of dollars during the past 5 years to significantly expand research and improve academics in a bid to become AAU eligible ASAP. Tech is working with Stanford, Cal, Arizona and UT (our AAU sponsor) to make that happen. West Texas is again swimming in oil and gas money so the timing is perfect. No Big 12 school will approach the academics of Rice in our lifetimes but most Big 12 members have committed massive funding to rapidly improve our academic profiles.

baylor & tcu are religious schools (theres only like 5 left at the FBS level) which is a huge turn off in the academic world. you cant say that texas has good academic association with tcu/baylor because you are comparing polar opposites (a very large flagship research land grant vs private, non research religious schools)

the aau is trying to shrink its membership not expand it. tech & ou getting aau is a longshot

no offense to isu & ku (and i will try to say this nicely) but they are two of the weakest members within the aau.

any (insert b12 school) will need several decades of academic success to improve their academics to match the level of where UNL, CU, mizz & aggie were before they left the b12

I know the AAU wants to shrink its membership. That's why I said Tech is working to become AAU "eligible". However, you should take notice of Tech's supporters and sponsor in this endeavor. Chancellor Hance is a brilliant politician and strategist. His drawl causes people to underestimate his savvy and charm. Lol.And did I mention that Tech is sitting amongst another huge oil and gas boom?

yeah im not at all trying to bash tech. im just noting that the academic issue is an immediate problem that needs a short term fix. building their academic core up from within is a long term solution.

(11-26-2013 08:36 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 08:29 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 08:15 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:45 PM)FreshPrinceOfDarkness Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 07:17 PM)john01992 Wrote:  true: however like i said ==> they are an academic outlier and thats gonna be a very big problem going forward

Baylor and, to a lesser extemt, TCU are highly respected "teaching" universities (i.e., no research emphasis). ISU and KU are AAU members. Texas Tech and OU have raised billions of dollars during the past 5 years to significantly expand research and improve academics in a bid to become AAU eligible ASAP. Tech is working with Stanford, Cal, Arizona and UT (our AAU sponsor) to make that happen. West Texas is again swimming in oil and gas money so the timing is perfect. No Big 12 school will approach the academics of Rice in our lifetimes but most Big 12 members have committed massive funding to rapidly improve our academic profiles.

baylor & tcu are religious schools (theres only like 5 left at the FBS level) which is a huge turn off in the academic world. you cant say that texas has good academic association with tcu/baylor because you are comparing polar opposites (a very large flagship research land grant vs private, non research religious schools)

the aau is trying to shrink its membership not expand it. tech & ou getting aau is a longshot

no offense to isu & ku (and i will try to say this nicely) but they are two of the weakest members within the aau.

any (insert b12 school) will need several decades of academic success to improve their academics to match the level of where UNL, CU, mizz & aggie were before they left the b12

I know the AAU wants to shrink its membership. That's why I said Tech is working to become AAU "eligible". However, you should take notice of Tech's supporters and sponsor in this endeavor. Chancellor Hance is a brilliant politician and strategist. His drawl causes people to underestimate his savvy and charm. Lol.And did I mention that Tech is sitting amongst another huge oil and gas boom?

yeah im not at all trying to bash tech. im just noting that the academic issue is an immediate problem that needs a short term fix. building their academic core up from within is a long term solution.

Very true. Even an "immediate" fix will take years if not 1-2 decades. We saw A&M transform itself from a decent academic school into an AAU member over a period of 10-20 years during the '80s-'90s. Tech has just started on the same path as A&M did before us although we hope to maintain our socially savvy and attractive student body even while accomplishing that goal. That's what separates Red Raiders from Aggies.


P.S. Sorry couldn't help it. Miss the Ags. Lol.

(11-26-2013 08:04 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 04:02 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:01 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 10:45 AM)john01992 Wrote:  the b12 has 2 options

option A: we wanna milk this conference for everything its worth before it folds
1. cincy
2. ucf

option B: we want to rebuild this conference and make it viable long term
1. colorado state
2. ucf
3. usf
4. rice

I agree on the first three maybe. You lost me at Rice though...

I think Memphis, Cinci, USF, and UCF could happen---but now you simply have created a new island in Florida. I could also see BYU, Cinci, ECU, and Memphis---that seems a little more geographically viable. I don't see Rice---If a Texas team gets added it would be Houston. That said, I just don't think the B12 adds another Texas school.

The AAC--could go either way. The badly weakened AAC could lose Tulsa, Houston, and SMU to the MW (with another Texas school--ether UTSA or Tx State). I could see Temple and UConn joining the Big East and slipping football in the MAC. Navy goes back to indy and the rest head to CUSA.

On the other hand, if the AAC lost Cinci USF, and UCF---the AAC could add Umass, Ohio, and ODU and the remaining member would have closer rivals. If the AAC instead loses ECU, Memphis, and Cinci---the AAC can rebuild with UMass, Ohio, and NIU.

The real danger to the AAC is if the Big-12 AND the Big-10 both make moves. That scenario probably wipes the AAC off the face of the earth.

All of that sounds reasonable coog, except that I have never understood people's fascination with UMass. So they have had some success in basketball. They don't move the needle at all in football.

UMass 2013 attendance
- Sept. 7 vs. Maine: 15,624
- Sept. 21 vs. Vanderbilt: 16,419
- Oct. 12 vs. Miami: 21,707
- Oct. 26 vs. Western Michigan: 20,571
- Nov. 2 vs. Northern Illinois: 10,061
- Nov. 16 vs. Akron: 10,599
---------------

Total attendance: 94,981
Avg. attendance: 15,830.2

They had something called Band Day for the Miami game to boost attendance over 21,000. None of the above smacks of big time college football to me.

Zombie--nobody that's left to pick really moves the needle. UMass is a state flagship---there is some value in that there are not many state flagships left. There is one other option if the AAC imploded than didn't mention. I suppose its also possible that most of CUSA west could snap off and form a new conference with the western remnants of the AAC and maybe a strategic Sunbelt addition.

Houston
Tulsa
SMU
Tulane
La Tech
UTSA
UTEP
N Tx
Rice
Tx St
Arky St
Memphis

*New Mexico St (basketball only)
*Witchita St (basketball only)

I see (Geography) what you did, Attack... this ^^^ isn't a sexy conference at all, however.

(11-27-2013 02:05 AM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 08:04 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 04:02 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:01 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  I agree on the first three maybe. You lost me at Rice though...

I think Memphis, Cinci, USF, and UCF could happen---but now you simply have created a new island in Florida. I could also see BYU, Cinci, ECU, and Memphis---that seems a little more geographically viable. I don't see Rice---If a Texas team gets added it would be Houston. That said, I just don't think the B12 adds another Texas school.

The AAC--could go either way. The badly weakened AAC could lose Tulsa, Houston, and SMU to the MW (with another Texas school--ether UTSA or Tx State). I could see Temple and UConn joining the Big East and slipping football in the MAC. Navy goes back to indy and the rest head to CUSA.

On the other hand, if the AAC lost Cinci USF, and UCF---the AAC could add Umass, Ohio, and ODU and the remaining member would have closer rivals. If the AAC instead loses ECU, Memphis, and Cinci---the AAC can rebuild with UMass, Ohio, and NIU.

The real danger to the AAC is if the Big-12 AND the Big-10 both make moves. That scenario probably wipes the AAC off the face of the earth.

All of that sounds reasonable coog, except that I have never understood people's fascination with UMass. So they have had some success in basketball. They don't move the needle at all in football.

UMass 2013 attendance
- Sept. 7 vs. Maine: 15,624
- Sept. 21 vs. Vanderbilt: 16,419
- Oct. 12 vs. Miami: 21,707
- Oct. 26 vs. Western Michigan: 20,571
- Nov. 2 vs. Northern Illinois: 10,061
- Nov. 16 vs. Akron: 10,599
---------------

Total attendance: 94,981
Avg. attendance: 15,830.2

They had something called Band Day for the Miami game to boost attendance over 21,000. None of the above smacks of big time college football to me.

Zombie--nobody that's left to pick really moves the needle. UMass is a state flagship---there is some value in that there are not many state flagships left. There is one other option if the AAC imploded than didn't mention. I suppose its also possible that most of CUSA west could snap off and form a new conference with the western remnants of the AAC and maybe a strategic Sunbelt addition.

Houston
Tulsa
SMU
Tulane
La Tech
UTSA
UTEP
N Tx
Rice
Tx St
Arky St
Memphis

*New Mexico St (basketball only)
*Witchita St (basketball only)

I see (Geography) what you did, Attack... this ^^^ isn't a sexy conference at all, however.

Lol....No, it really isn't sexy at all. I'm sure the paycheck would also be pretty unsexy. My preference would be to head to the MW with SMU, Tulsa, and one other Texas school. However, the Houston administration has always avoided going west and SMU has been even more vocal about that preference-----So, despite not being very sexy, I have to admit its possible the administration would opt for a regional central time zone conference over a western conference where our schools would be at a disadvantage due to elevation and time zone differences.

(11-26-2013 06:40 PM)john01992 Wrote:  as it stands right now texas is an academic outlier in the b12 and if the b12 wants to keep more schools from leaving the first thing they need to do is to beef up the academic branch of the conference. rice is literally the only school that can single handedly silence all the academics within the b12 trying to push for a new conference.

Right......... There is one conference and one conference only where academics is in the conversation (yes it is a consideration elsewhere but not a real factor) and that is the B10.

Why? Because in that conference academics also brings in money to the pot. In other conferences it looks nice but does not move the needle.

No they won't add a school that is piss poor in academics but so long as they are middle of the road it won’t' hurt them.

Rice brings nothing to the table that a major conference wants. Everything they hang on us (UH) is 10 fold against rice.

Attendance..... Athletic Success (minus baseball)..... Location (hurts us and Rice for B12 consideration)...... and on and on.

Rice is not going anywhere in the P5. It could play musical chairs in the G5 but that is it.