Air Force thinking of leaving the MWC?

[SalinasSpartan]

3 hours ago, CaffeinatedCoog said:

The presidents wont go for Liberty...ever.   As for UAB, they are where they belong.  Their fanbase, support, and budget havn't changed a bit since we were there.  I think its cool they are doing well and saved their football program.  I was actually rooting for them during that period.  But its not "a new UAB".  Its "the same ole UAB".   For instance---the new stadium---that's nice---but it aint UAB's stadium.   UAB will be paying the city rent and will be sacrificing concession/parking revenue streams that other schools with stadiums use to fund athletic operations.  The reality?  They hired a cheap FCS coach that fit their low budget ($600K) and hit a jackpot.   That always nice----but counting on the lottery isnt a long term career path.  Even with the winning---they cant even get 20K to show up.  Its the same ole UAB.  We spent 20 years in a conference with them.  I know exactly who they are.   They are a perfect fit for the current CUSA.   

 

Honestly---Id like to see the AAC either split the i#12 slot into "non-football" and "football only"  invites to maximize the positive impact of the addition.  Or, barring that strategy---just sit tight at 11.  Im fine with that.  A little scheduling issue is not really that big a deal.  It not a good enough reason to reach so desperately for a poor addition.  If we stay patient, maybe a BYU/Air Force level candidate will eventully come along.  

Does the CCG have its own TV deal? If it’s part of the ESPN deal would sitting tight at 11 and losing the CCG reduce the payouts? 

[Did I hear a WOOSH?]

9 hours ago, JoeBlo said:

But college baseball isn't middling?

 

Baseball isn't middling, it's big money.  College baseball >>>>college soccer even without the prospect of pro baseball.  That's perhaps a topic for another thread.  You have no argument from me about UCF's history in basketball, it's pathetic...but I hope that the current trajectory continues.  Either way from a conference member perspective I'm more interested in commitment to your programs moving forward than how you did in the past.  I'm sure you can appreciate that.

[Did I hear a WOOSH?]

11 hours ago, UofMTigers said:

I'm pretty sure ESPN can pro-rate our payment sans UConn. So we get 6.94 x11 and ESPN gets UConn's 6.94 million to cover the lost revenue. (IMHO that's fair)

I have no preference between BYU/Army/Air Force...but with that said, I don't think BYU and Army have any interest in us for a variety of reasons. That leaves AF as our best hope unless there is a rule change (I give that a 25% chance).

So essentially the AAC could face the possibility of being in a world where they are force to expand and BYU/Army/AF all say 'no thanks'...then, and only then, would I support UAB for membership for all the reasons I've laid out here. I'm also not above being bribed so if Liberty wants to offer the AAC say 30 million plus the 5 million dollar entrance fee paid over their first 6 years in the conference, OK (if ESPN goes along with it)...that money coupled with UConn's 17 million dollar exit fee plus ESPNs TV deal revenue would ensure our financial stability for the next 6 years. If I'm OK with BYU and SMUs money...I shouldn't be 'above' taking Liberty's money too :-)

**edit** my 30 million dollar figure is based on Liberty offering CUSA 24 million. 6 years is UConn's payment timeline. They have to pay 10 million (the actual exit fee) by their exit date and the remaining 7 million (early exit fee) over 6 years.

I'm not sure how the numbers work out, nobody does but in my estimation it is addition by subtraction with Tulsa despite the reality that they are likely in the AAC long term.  You have made your point clear on your preferences, I just don't see UAB being a realistic option.  I would have them tied for 7th with Georgia State on my list of what makes sense..and that is really far down.  

[CaffeinatedCoog]

3 hours ago, SalinasSpartan said:

Does the CCG have its own TV deal? If it’s part of the ESPN deal would sitting tight at 11 and losing the CCG reduce the payouts? 

I dont think so.   To the best of my knowledge its part of the media deal.  That said, it doesnt mean there isnt a clause in the deal that reduces the payout if the conference loses the CCG.  

[SleepingGiantFan]

This board desperately needs an AAC Tribute forum.

[SangerBulldog]

21 minutes ago, SleepingGiantFan said:

This board desperately needs an AAC Tribute forum.

The merger begins.

[RSF]

The Dallas Mavericks will be putting a statue of Dirk Nowitzki in front of the AAC.

 

 

 

 

Although, thats probably not the tribute or the AAC being addressed.....

[Del Scorcho]

Air Force better be prepared to be bored I guess

Quote

Few around here seemed to care much about hosting the Tulanes and Tulsas of the world. No one ever circled East Carolina or SMU on the calendar.Football in the AAC — for UConn, by UConn — was boring.

 

https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-uconn-football-david-benedict-column-20191024-kepakk45xvccpcujkf22e26bhy-story.html

[bigd]

9 minutes ago, Del Scorcho said:

Air Force better be prepared to be bored I guess

 

https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-uconn-football-david-benedict-column-20191024-kepakk45xvccpcujkf22e26bhy-story.html

To be fair, Air Force definitely has a different profile from most MW schools (large public universities) as seen from Bob being their only online fan representative on this board.

In a lot of ways they have more in common with small private schools in the AAC west such as Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, Navy, etc. These schools all have low enrollments and small fan bases with higher academic standards.

Plus the mission of Air Force football is to play around the country and serve as advertising for the Academy, that would work better in the AAC.

 

I can definitely see the fit, and it would be really cool if they could get Army to join them.

[jdgaucho]

40 minutes ago, bigd said:

To be fair, Air Force definitely has a different profile from most MW schools (large public universities) as seen from Bob being their only online fan representative on this board.

In a lot of ways they have more in common with small private schools in the AAC west such as Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, Navy, etc. These schools all have low enrollments and small fan bases with higher academic standards.

Plus the mission of Air Force football is to play around the country and serve as advertising for the Academy, that would work better in the AAC.

 

I can definitely see the fit, and it would be really cool if they could get Army to join them.

 

Then it comes back to Air Force basketball and the others sports.  Where do they go?  

[MWC Tex]

18 minutes ago, jdgaucho said:

 

Then it comes back to Air Force basketball and the others sports.  Where do they go?  

The WAC of course.

[nvspuds]

Or the Summit, or the MVC..Or the Big Sky...They would have options..

[bigd]

21 minutes ago, jdgaucho said:

 

Then it comes back to Air Force basketball and the others sports.  Where do they go?  

The Summit would be a really good fit for them, they'd have a natural rival with Denver. It's becoming a pretty solid league.

[SleepingGiantFan]

1 hour ago, bigd said:

To be fair, Air Force definitely has a different profile from most MW schools (large public universities) as seen from Bob being their only online fan representative on this board.

In a lot of ways they have more in common with small private schools in the AAC west such as Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, Navy, etc. These schools all have low enrollments and small fan bases with higher academic standards.

Plus the mission of Air Force football is to play around the country and serve as advertising for the Academy, that would work better in the AAC.

 

I can definitely see the fit, and it would be really cool if they could get Army to join them.

Bob's a Wyo fan. He's simply been too lazy to change his location from the default.

As to AFA, are the Falcons going to leave once the lousy new TV deal is announced? Let's hope so. Time for somebody to start the dominoes falling to break up this square-pegs-in-round-holes conference. Besides, Craig Thompson has undoubtedly earned enough that he could retire to the Bahamas.

[jdgaucho]

2 minutes ago, nvspuds said:

Or the Summit, or the MVC..Or the Big Sky...They would have options..

 

It all depends on what they value most.  

[jdgaucho]

12 minutes ago, MWC Tex said:

The WAC of course.

 

Only if the AFA brass threw academic standards out the window.  Because otherwise nothing would appeal to the AFA brass better than Tarleton State, Dixie State, Chicago State and Grand Canyon.

[Ibanez]

You guys are giving our AAC stalkers a big chubby with all of this AF leaving talk. They aren't going anywhere. And if they did I am almost positive that Hawai'i would get voted out to get to 10. Then we would just do the round robin in football and basketball. I am also sure they would try and boot SJSU as well but I am not sure they work be able to it under the bylaws.

I doubt we would add anyone if we do lose a member. Hair basically saw it that as much during media days.

Maybe losing Air Force isn't a big deal. Every MWC fan I have talked to on Twitter, Facebook, or at the games have all said they wouldn't care or were for them leaving. I didn't expect that.

[Ibanez]

17 minutes ago, SleepingGiantFan said:

Bob's a Wyo fan. He's simply been too lazy to change his location from the default.

As to AFA, are the Falcons going to leave once the lousy new TV deal is announced? Let's hope so. Time for somebody to start the dominoes falling to break up this square-pegs-in-round-holes conference. Besides, Craig Thompson has undoubtedly earned enough that he could retire to the Bahamas.

Our of curiosity, what are you wanting this conference to look like? 

[CaffeinatedCoog]

5 hours ago, bigd said:

To be fair, Air Force definitely has a different profile from most MW schools (large public universities) as seen from Bob being their only online fan representative on this board.

In a lot of ways they have more in common with small private schools in the AAC west such as Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, Navy, etc. These schools all have low enrollments and small fan bases with higher academic standards.

Plus the mission of Air Force football is to play around the country and serve as advertising for the Academy, that would work better in the AAC.

 

I can definitely see the fit, and it would be really cool if they could get Army to join them.

 

Thats the only reason I think there is any chance.  That western division would be all academies or private schools with Houston being the lone traditional public institution.  

[UofMTigers]

1 hour ago, CaffeinatedCoog said:

 

Thats the only reason I think there is any chance.  That western division would be all academies or private schools with Houston being the lone traditional public institution.  

they can look at Houston + the two teams they'll end up playing in the East as recruiting trips.