The fact that the big 3 will more than triple their revenue shows that Aresco sold the conference too cheap. The AAC was destined to lose its top schools after it changed its name from the big east which IMO was the most egregious error Aresco committed.
Credit him for branding the AAC, but it was birthed as a G5 conference and will always be a G5 conference.
UTSA or Rice to replace Houston. Buffalo and UAB or Marshall would be my picks to replace leaving schools.
I think the TV deal mostly spoke to the structural challenges of being on the outside. What we’re seeing now is the reward for being on the right side. I don’t think Aresco could have done much to change that. I don’t think he gets all that much credit for us establishing ourselves as a cut above the other G5’s, though.
I am also okay with the name change. The “shell of its former self” narrative was engulfing the entire project. I was ready for the change. I just hated the name we chose.
The AAC will still have an inside track to NY6. They are going to be attractive if Aresco invites teams strategically.
It’s a close call, but I’d rather be 12-1 Boise State or SDSU than 12-1 Memphis or SMU.
This popped up on my feed. Someone is bitter
wow, somebody has a pinecone up their asp
LMAO! Chuck Landon is such a pen!$…ironically his Marsha Floundering Terds won’t be invited to the AAC even after the 3 schools leave. Now I do think that UAB should be considered by the AAC.
Per Rick Neuheisel this morning - UAB, Charlotte, and Rice are leading candidates…
You have to know a conference like the AAC has had studies done and have a slew of options ready to go based on various different metrics. Tons of great schools out there, they will reload quickly and continue on their mission. I think Aresco has been a great commissioner, methodical and diplomatic, with a great public relations team.
I like UAB, don’t know anything about UNC Charlotte but their campus looks great with a newish stadium that was built to expand easily, Rice has almost no fan support but keeping the Houston market and academics obviously is a huge plus. UTSA has great fan support and SA is a boom town right now. I would also look at Texas State.
I’d say “What does he know?” but he seemed to peg the Big 12 so…
That is a really stupid piece.
It’s not the AAC’s fault Conference USA fell to last place. They chose weak teams based on a market theory that didn’t pan out.
Second, nobody is going to say “We can’t financially compete with the AAC” so let’s just stay put. That includes Marshall who is I am sure working on their presentation as we speak.
Third, the Sun Belt won’t actually be superior, but even if it were there isn’t a team in that league that wouldn’t accept an AAC invite. They may even accepts a Conference USA invite.
I could probably go on.
How do people get paid to write this stuff?
I think the article is pretty spot on with the AAC’s best options other than San Diego State.
UTSA or Texas State to take Houston’s spot
Ohio University to take Cincinnati’s spot
Georgia State to take UCF’s spot
For #4, Conference’s highest ranked expansion candidate to take UCONN’s spot
My take is that the AAC is going to take schools in large enough cities and rural schools with large viewership.
Remember it’s all about money and TV networks want large viewership to give conferences good payouts.
I’m starting to believe the AAC might take a serious look at adding Rice for 3 reasons
That’s exactly why I think they may add Rice. If they added Tulane, they will definitely add Rice who is sitting in the #8 TV market.
Rice would be a very Tulane-like addition. So yeah, could absolutely see it.
I could also see them looking at the possibilities and saying that none of the teams are likely to add value and at least Rice adds brand. If you invite Rice and they lose it’s kind of like “Well they’re Rice.” If you invite Coastal Carolina and they lose it’s like “WTF are we supposed to do with Coastal Carolina?” (kind of like ECU, who was good-ish when they were invited).
It’s not what I’d do, but I could see it.
The AAC was never an endpoint it was an arena. Some will live, some will die and some will be just wounded.
That is is the same as the new Big 12 except the gladiators are bigger and stronger.
Time to get better Coogs. Kill or be killed.
Below is my list I think the AAC will pull from. App State and Coastal Carolina are good programs in tiny towns. AAC will have to look at their viewership to see if they draw enough of the national audience.
My picks:
UTSA - San Antonio
Georgia State U - Atlanta
Rice - Houston
UAB - Birmingham
FAU - Miami metro
Charlotte - Charlotte, North Carolina
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