(04-25-2014 11:29 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I think Aresco at least knows what the reality is. He may say differently but I think he sees value in G5 solidarity

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I disagree. I do not think Aresco wants to be associated with the G5 as do any of the schools in the AAC. This is not a slam on the rest of the G5 but the AAC schools are in different financial boats that most of the G5 schools.

I think you will find Aresco, being directed by the AAC schools, to fight to keep pace with P5 no matter what the cost. The AAC has a tremendous amount of money sitting in its war chest. That just in itself gives the conference an edge that the other G5 do not have. Again, this is not about bragging rights, it is simply a matter of cash and vision for the AAC schools. The next big moment for the AAC will be whether or not the conference is able renegotiate its current contract with ESPN. Aresco mentioned this in an interview a month ago, and said that the AAC has a window in which to do so. If the AAC does receive more money, then I think you will see even less cooperation from the AAC with the rest of the G5.

If the AAC can not keep up financially with the P5, than I would love to see new conferences form within the G5 that are more regional in nature. My sense however, is that the AAC is willing to spend millions and millions of dollars to stay viable with the P5. Most of the schools in the AAC see themselves as P5 schools already.