(02-25-2015 10:13 PM)billybobby777 Wrote: Your a good ship YNOT. I know most BYU fans would prefer Indy over anything other than a P5, a few want to go back to MWC (at least for Olympic sports) but your the guy who wants BYU in the AAC. You seem pretty pro AAC. Now, if BYU failed to get several (or any) MWC schools to follow them into the AAC, would you still want BYU in the conference? I mean, if Tom Holme can't get BYU into a P5, would your idea for second best option be AAC alone without any western partners? I think that seems to be an issue; maybe I'm wrong....
You're right, most BYU fans would say "oh my heck, no" to the AAC without some western partners.
But, if BYU was forced to join a G5 conference for football, I'd take the American every day of the week, except Sunday!
The MWC isn't a bad conference, but it limits BYU's exposure and access to its fan base.
First and foremost is TV. The MWC has improved its television since the Mtn. debacle, but the majority of its games are still on CBSsports - which still limits exposure and access. BYU's exposure and fan access is lightyears ahead of where BYU was 5 years ago - and that's directly owing to ESPN.
While the MWC footprint matches well with about 60% of BYU's alumni and fan base, it completely misses BYU's alumni and fans in Texas, Midwest, and East Coast markets. The American has helped BYU to reach those portions of the fan base - with recent games in Connecticut, Texas, and Florida.
Some fans would argue that BYU would throw the baby out with the bath water by moving eastwards to the AAC and ignoring the western markets. But to that, I say that BYU will continue to play PAC 12 and MWC teams frequently OOC. In fact, it's much easier for BYU to schedule PAC 12 and MWC teams OOC than any other opponents. So, why not build nationwide games into a regular season conference schedule through an AAC relationship?
Don't get me wrong, I would still push for a western AAC expansion that included at least Boise St. and San Diego St. But, I see the American as a much better fit for BYU.
The other issue is Olympic sports, especially basketball. I would love to see BYU play basketball in the AAC, against SMU, Tulsa, Houston, UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis, etc. But, the WCC is actually a decent fit because it reaches a lot of BYU fans and alumni in California, Oregon, and Washington - and of course Utah - while keeping the non-revenue sports' travel costs manageable. Full membership in the AAC just wouldn't make sense for BYU unless it was part of a western expansion.