I know it's just my $.02, but I think the AAC is headed in the wrong direction if it just buries its head in the sand and lets Boise St. and the MWC continue to steal the big stage. The AAC must be proactive.

Here's how I would guess the American could lure Boise St. and BYU and ensure that it gets the G5 access bowl bid each year (its rather long, so bear with me):

- Invite Boise St., BYU, CSU, UNLV, Fresno St., and SDSU (I would have said Air Force, because the military connection is a great branding play for the American, but Air Force is pretty adamant about keeping its Olympic sports close by; whereas, CSU will do anything it can to improve its situation - so let the Falcons have New Mexico and Wyoming).

- Simply add a new West division or pod and rename the soon-to-be AAC West to AAC Central.

- Support de-regulation of the conference championship game (w/ Big 12 and ACC), so that the American football championship would take the top-2 teams, not necessarily division winners. So, divisions or pods are for scheduling purposes and bragging rights - but the American championship game participants are the most likely to be ranked and thus finish with a strong ranking.

- Add an unofficial understanding that all AAC teams must play at least one P5 opponent OOC.

This adds:

- the two best available football programs to the American (Boise St. and BYU), making matchups like ECU-BYU and Cincinnati-Boise St. and Boise St.-BYU part of the American's brand. This increases the likelihood that there are more quality AAC matchups for the TV partners each week - which increases the TV partners' willingness to pay more.

- quality strength of schedule and ensures that the conference champ is the top G5 contender.

- minimal disruption to the current American football structure - by simply adding the new West division.

- top-TV markets (by TV households) in #17 Denver (1.5 million), #28 San Diego (1.05 million), #34 Salt Lake City (897K), #41 Las Vegas (718K), #54 Fresno (568K). (for comparison, Cincinnati is #36 with 893K, Memphis is #50 with 653K, New Orleans is #51 with 641K, and Tulsa is #60 with 530K) - which increases TV pay potential.

- likely triggers a re-negotiation of the current American TV deal. The new matchups and new markets will likely lead to an increase in per-team payout.

- two teams in California for recruiting and access to #2 Los Angeles (5.5 million) and #6 Bay Area markets (2.47 million).

- at least 2 or 3 western games each weekend to help TV partners fill out some of the West Coast TV time slots - which increases potential TV payout.

- 6 new members that consistently rank in the top tier of non-P5 programs for home game attendance (30K-60K home game attendance).

- Las Vegas, Poinsettia, and Famous Idaho Potato Bowls to the conference. The AAC would likely also go after the Christmas Bowl (Los Angeles) and perhaps the Heart of Dallas, New Mexico, and Hawai'i Bowls.

- strong basketball competition. Note the following RPIs: #26 Colorado St., #30 San Diego St., #36 Temple, #43 UNLV, #44 Boise St., #51 BYU, #52 SMU....


This leaves the MWC with Utah St., Air Force, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and SJSU. The winner from that group, even if undefeated, will not be a serious threat to the American champ for the G5 bid.

(12-29-2014 04:17 PM)YNot Wrote:  I know it's just my $.02, but I think the AAC is headed in the wrong direction if it just buries its head in the sand and lets Boise St. and the MWC continue to steal the big stage. The AAC must be proactive.

Here's how I would guess the American could lure Boise St. and BYU and ensure that it gets the G5 access bowl bid each year (its rather long, so bear with me):

- Invite Boise St., BYU, CSU, UNLV, Fresno St., and SDSU (I would have said Air Force, because the military connection is a great branding play for the American, but Air Force is pretty adamant about keeping its Olympic sports close by; whereas, CSU will do anything it can to improve its situation - so let the Falcons have New Mexico and Wyoming).

- Simply add a new West division or pod and rename the soon-to-be AAC West to AAC Central.

- Support de-regulation of the conference championship game (w/ Big 12 and ACC), so that the American football championship would take the top-2 teams, not necessarily division winners. So, divisions or pods are for scheduling purposes and bragging rights - but the American championship game participants are the most likely to be ranked and thus finish with a strong ranking.

- Add an unofficial understanding that all AAC teams must play at least one P5 opponent OOC.

This adds:

- the two best available football programs to the American (Boise St. and BYU), making matchups like ECU-BYU and Cincinnati-Boise St. and Boise St.-BYU part of the American's brand. This increases the likelihood that there are more quality AAC matchups for the TV partners each week - which increases the TV partners' willingness to pay more.

- quality strength of schedule and ensures that the conference champ is the top G5 contender.

- minimal disruption to the current American football structure - by simply adding the new West division.

- top-TV markets (by TV households) in #17 Denver (1.5 million), #28 San Diego (1.05 million), #34 Salt Lake City (897K), #41 Las Vegas (718K), #54 Fresno (568K). (for comparison, Cincinnati is #36 with 893K, Memphis is #50 with 653K, New Orleans is #51 with 641K, and Tulsa is #60 with 530K) - which increases TV pay potential.

- likely triggers a re-negotiation of the current American TV deal. The new matchups and new markets will likely lead to an increase in per-team payout.

- two teams in California for recruiting and access to #2 Los Angeles (5.5 million) and #6 Bay Area markets (2.47 million).

- at least 2 or 3 western games each weekend to help TV partners fill out some of the West Coast TV time slots - which increases potential TV payout.

- 6 new members that consistently rank in the top tier of non-P5 programs for home game attendance (30K-60K home game attendance).

- Las Vegas, Poinsettia, and Famous Idaho Potato Bowls to the conference. The AAC would likely also go after the Christmas Bowl (Los Angeles) and perhaps the Heart of Dallas, New Mexico, and Hawai'i Bowls.

- strong basketball competition. Note the following RPIs: #26 Colorado St., #30 San Diego St., #36 Temple, #43 UNLV, #44 Boise St., #51 BYU, #52 SMU....


This leaves the MWC with Utah St., Air Force, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and SJSU. The winner from that group, even if undefeated, will not be a serious threat to the American champ for the G5 bid.

LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

(12-25-2014 01:23 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  Wow you guys are haters....your like George Castanza getting a toupee and refusing to date a woman cause she's bald. I ll be the one who says it, "YOU'RE BALD!!!!!!!!!!" My goodness...

I never did get into that show. Was there really a bald woman?

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

We'd prefer that also.

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

what would byu gain from MWC teams jumping to AAC? I don't get how that's a good thing for BYU....is it there some particular schools you hope get left behind and are weakened by it? Do you dislike the MWC commissioner? Curious what you want to happen?

(12-30-2014 03:15 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

what would byu gain from MWC teams jumping to AAC? I don't get how that's a good thing for BYU....is it there some particular schools you hope get left behind and are weakened by it? Do you dislike the MWC commissioner? Curious what you want to happen?

I don't want to destroy the MWC. It's not about that. UNLVfan is bitter and trying to turn it into a hate on the MWC thing.

I want BYU in the AAC, but only if as part of a western expansion, which absolutely includes most of the better MWC teams.

BYU and Boise St., SDSU, UNLV, etc. in an AAC West division/pod.

(12-30-2014 06:26 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-30-2014 03:15 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

what would byu gain from MWC teams jumping to AAC? I don't get how that's a good thing for BYU....is it there some particular schools you hope get left behind and are weakened by it? Do you dislike the MWC commissioner? Curious what you want to happen?

I don't want to destroy the MWC. It's not about that. UNLVfan is bitter and trying to turn it into a hate on the MWC thing.

I want BYU in the AAC, but only if as part of a western expansion, which absolutely includes most of the better MWC teams.

BYU and Boise St., SDSU, UNLV, etc. in an AAC West division/pod.

You obviously do want to destroy the MWC. If for some reason, the AAC takes Boise, SDSU, Fresno, Colorado State, New Mexico, or UNLV, the MWC is done. If you want to be with any of those teams you can join the MWC even after you didn't want to be in a conference with them after Utah left, if not you can stay Indy or join the AAC and play football games in Storrs, Annapolis, and Tampa.

Wgaf about the MWC?

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

Dude, they didn't jump because they weren't appealing enough to be INVITED, and they never will be. Some people enjoy residing in "LaLa" land.

I don't get it. Boise and San Diego were invited, accepted and went running back to the MWC when the TV contract didn't turn out to be as lucrative as expected. Add to that Boise got the access bowl right where they are at and have a Texas type of deal with the MWC.

Why would they leave? The financial situation hasn't changed. You can invite them all day, everyday and it still isn't going to happen if there is no benefit in doing so.

(12-25-2014 10:59 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(12-24-2014 11:01 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  I'd rather it be the MWC and AAC winning out, than other G5 conferences winning against either of us.

Not me, I want the MWC to fall back to the other 3 and us move on to true tweener status.

Nobody in a P5 conference believes that a tweeter status exists. P5 dreams are pretty much just wishful thinking now. A few had made it, only to be kicked out. That's really got to hurt, and I feel for you guys that used to be in the Big East. With the Big 12's announcement that they'll be staying at 10 members, it looks like there may be no moves this year in conference realignment. I think that's good news for everybody except for Cincinnati and one of either Memphis, UCF, USF, or Houston. I thought you guys would lose two members to them after the Big 12 was snubbed for a playoff spot.

(12-30-2014 06:26 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-30-2014 03:15 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

what would byu gain from MWC teams jumping to AAC? I don't get how that's a good thing for BYU....is it there some particular schools you hope get left behind and are weakened by it? Do you dislike the MWC commissioner? Curious what you want to happen?

I don't want to destroy the MWC. It's not about that. UNLVfan is bitter and trying to turn it into a hate on the MWC thing.

I want BYU in the AAC, but only if as part of a western expansion, which absolutely includes most of the better MWC teams.

BYU and Boise St., SDSU, UNLV, etc. in an AAC West division/pod.

You of all people should remember the WAC 16 from 1996-1998 and it's pod system. Epic failure. Ironically, I believe if the WAC had simply added TCU and UNLV at that time the WAC would have been in the BCS. Instead they added a whopping 6 teams and it destroyed long standing rivalries causing its demise. The WAC of the the 70's, 80's and 90's before the expansion was a true tweener with several bowls in an era of few bowls. (Aloha, Holiday, and before that fiesta) BYU even got into the Cotton and Citrus bowls in the mid 90's, and TCU got the Sun Bowl in 98. Air Force, regularly got Liberty and Independence bowl bids in the 80's and 90's as well. Look at them now. The WAC no longer sponsors football. Growing up, My Iowa hawkeyes played in 3 holiday bowls vs WAC teams and went 2-0-1 with a winning margin of 4 points total in the 3 games. These were 2nd and 3rd place big 10 Iowa teams. I still scratch my head when I think about the WAC and it's unheard of self destruction. The same thing would happen if the AAC became a 16 team league.--in one of your posts you suggested the AAC add 5 MWC schools plus BYU making it an 18 team league. That's nuts. Why don't you guys join the AAC right now as is? A 13 team football league and 12 team basketball league is doable. Why the need to add a bunch of others?

(12-31-2014 06:04 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

Dude, they didn't jump because they weren't appealing enough to be INVITED, and they never will be. Some people enjoy residing in "LaLa" land.

Actually, after Air Force and BYU turned the AAC down, Aresco did turn to UNLV and Fresno to appease SDSU and Boise. It appears that both schools said they weren't interested. It was all over the internet....maybe just rumors but I remember reading a lot about it.

(12-31-2014 02:14 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-31-2014 06:04 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

Dude, they didn't jump because they weren't appealing enough to be INVITED, and they never will be. Some people enjoy residing in "LaLa" land.

Actually, after Air Force and BYU turned the AAC down, Aresco did turn to UNLV and Fresno to appease SDSU and Boise. It appears that both schools said they weren't interested. It was all over the internet....maybe just rumors but I remember reading a lot about it.

I think by that time Boise was wavering and talking to MWC about returning and UNLV was being asked to put their other sports in with SDSU in the west coast.

(12-31-2014 02:20 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(12-31-2014 02:14 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-31-2014 06:04 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

Dude, they didn't jump because they weren't appealing enough to be INVITED, and they never will be. Some people enjoy residing in "LaLa" land.

Actually, after Air Force and BYU turned the AAC down, Aresco did turn to UNLV and Fresno to appease SDSU and Boise. It appears that both schools said they weren't interested. It was all over the internet....maybe just rumors but I remember reading a lot about it.

I think by that time Boise was wavering and talking to MWC about returning and UNLV was being asked to put their other sports in with SDSU in the west coast.

You could be right....i do remember a lot of "chatter" about UNLV, and later Fresno

(12-31-2014 02:14 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(12-31-2014 06:04 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 06:16 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:34 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 04:28 PM)UNLVFan90 Wrote:  LMAO. Not happening, bud. We all know you hate the MWC. No MWC team will make a lateral move to the AAC.

You can call it a lateral move all day, but Laramie v. Orlando, Reno v. Philadelphia, and Logan v. Houston is really no comparison.

UNLV would jump in a heart beat if Boise St., SDSU, and BYU were part of the equation.

UNLV didn't jump when Boise and SDSU were set to join last time. I am perfectly content being in a nice geographical conference. I would much rather travel to Reno, San Jose, and Fresno than Orlando, Philadelphia, and Storrs.

Dude, they didn't jump because they weren't appealing enough to be INVITED, and they never will be. Some people enjoy residing in "LaLa" land.

Actually, after Air Force and BYU turned the AAC down, Aresco did turn to UNLV and Fresno to appease SDSU and Boise. It appears that both schools said they weren't interested. It was all over the internet....maybe just rumors but I remember reading a lot about it.

Yep. UNLV president was very emphatic in the press he had been contacted and that he was not interested in splitting his sports between two different conferences. Fresno pres said the same thing and both said they opreferred to be in a western based league

UNLV president was the head of the TV negotiations that led to the return of Boise as well