Totally different vibe than when we left C-USA. I felt nothing for that conference and was so happy to leave it behind. While it was disappointing when the AAC lost BCS status, I did appreciate that every school here invested in athletics and wasn't just along for the ride. Every school, in some way, contributed successes in the big 3 sports and no one was here to leech. It was a fine place to play football and though it dropped off a bit towards the end, was a pretty fun basketball conference as well. Truly, had the AAC been allowed to ascend as a true power conference I wouldn't have been too disappointed staying, but you can't say no to playing in-state rivals and exponentially increasing your revenue. I wish you all the best of luck and hope to see the AAC representing in the playoff most years
It’s been great. This board has easily been the best fan board in the country.
Wishing the remaining legacy Big East/ AAC schools a future in a power 5 conference soon and the joining schools the best luck. Keep the torch lit folks.
Cheers
(This post was last modified: 06-30-2023 08:35 PM by Acres.)
I have to say---I enjoyed our days in this conference far more than I enjoyed our period in CUSA---which is odd because there is so much overlap in terms of membership. I think it may be that the leadership of the group that came together in the AAC seemed much more committed to doing what was necessary to compete against the P5 than our CUSA days (I know that was true of our school for sure). The fans of the AAC teams that inhabited this board constituted a "Band of Brothers" that made it fun to fight the good fight against the cartel. I suspect thats a big part of the reason I enjoyed our time in the AAC so much more than our CUSA days. Despite our school having been lucky enough to score a golden ticket---I remain a believer in the idea that every team in every conference should begin the season with a chance to make it to the playoff (and I think the new 12 team playoff will do that). Even though I'll be watching more B12 games---I suspect old habits will be hard to break. I no doubt will remain a guy who watches waaay too much P6 football. Im kinda lucky---with Rice in the conference---Im still going to be able to catch a live AAC football game in my home town when the mood strikes (I usually try to attend one Rice game a year).
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2023 11:26 AM by Attackcoog.)
I thank the departed AAC members for their contributions toward largely realizing (to the extent not thought possible by the pundits) the P-6 initiative.
I wish you each the best of success and FWIW will be rooting for your schools.
The AAC was absolutely a great conference for UCF, loved it from day 1. I still see USF and some other fans on their boards comment about how they have to get out of this conference. That's what they said back in 2013, but you need to love the conference you're in and perform. I'm sure FAU, Charlotte, etc are going to absolutely love being in this conference and that pride will be reflected on campus with the athletes, students etc. When you behave like you're better than something then it seeps into everything, it's corrosive.
(06-25-2023 02:35 PM)_C2_ Wrote: This is like high school graduation. We're moving to bigger and better things but before we go I just wanted to say that it's been a pleasure associating with you guys, going back to the C-USA board for many of you.
Some of my favorite posters were PirateTreasureNC, TampaKnight, CalallenStang, OldTiger (presumably, may he rest in peace), Randaddyminer, ShockerBob and many more. I myself was Caltex2 before moving over here and shortening it. We had good times over years and bonded over C-USA (and, then, AAC) sports and brought each other's spirits up.
Based on the message boards alone, going to the Big 12 is gonna suck as that message board is beyond dead, a total ghost town. I won't completely abandon this place but there's increasingly less reasons for me to be here very often. Cheers AAC crew, it's been real.
(06-28-2023 02:51 PM)TUCandoit Wrote: Good luck UH and UCF in the future. I hope you do well. I think Houston is set up a little better to succeed right away with all the turbulence in Texas with realignment. UCF I think will be a contender after a few years and a force for many years after that. I wish you guys the best!
_____________________________________________________________
And then.....there was 1!
Only USF is left from the old BE who doesn't have a happy ending-----yet.
At least they are trending and trending better than any other AAC team. AAU status recently and a new stadium is a done deal.
I feel terrible for the USF fans who, I feel, had the biggest screw job of it all in realignment, (along with Cin and UConn...but USF got the biggest screw job). They were/are meant for better.
I believe they are on their way towards that P5 goal.
Good Luck Bulls.
The American has been a good conference for Cincinnati to be a part of and it will continue to be. Good luck to everyone and I'll always root for the AAC unless we're playing against someone from the league. I do hope to see Memphis in the B12 at some point. That is probably what I'll miss the most as we've had quite a history together over the past decades - hoops in particular.
(06-28-2023 02:51 PM)TUCandoit Wrote: Good luck UH and UCF in the future. I hope you do well. I think Houston is set up a little better to succeed right away with all the turbulence in Texas with realignment. UCF I think will be a contender after a few years and a force for many years after that. I wish you guys the best!
_____________________________________________________________
And then.....there was 1!
Only USF is left from the old BE who doesn't have a happy ending-----yet.
At least they are trending and trending better than any other AAC team. AAU status recently and a new stadium is a done deal.
I feel terrible for the USF fans who, I feel, had the biggest screw job of it all in realignment, (along with Cin and UConn...but USF got the biggest screw job). They were/are meant for better.
I believe they are on their way towards that P5 goal.
Good Luck Bulls.
To be fair, USF had no business in the Big East, added merely for the conference to keep a presence in Florida. It sucks to be demoted but they're back to a happy medium. With the AAU status and new stadium, USF can at least realistically dream of being added back to the club.
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2023 02:39 AM by C2__.)
Gonna miss Memphis, they were right there with us and Cincy in the mix at the top of the AAC. I know how highly I regard the KZ led Knight and it took 2 OT to beat the Tigers.
Every game during the Norvell era was a nail biter
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2023 05:20 PM by Endeavor..)
(07-01-2023 05:06 PM)Endeavor. Wrote: Gonna miss Memphis, they were right there with us and Cincy in the mix at the top of the AAC. I know how how highly I regard the KZ led Knight and it took 2 OT to beat the Tigers.
Every game during the Norvell era was a nail biter
Yep, and now he's at FSU, you guys are in the B12 and Memphis is...well left out and left behind yet again.
