(11-08-2016 09:30 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  Army, from what we have heard was not interested in the past because they felt like they could bot be competitive. Maybe now they may feel different since they are getting stronger..... and with additional cash, they could get a better coach!
They would be a football only addition, just like Navy. They have no desire to leave the patriot league and they shouldnt.

Air Force I believe would join if we could get Army to do so. They have openly state that they have a desire to be in the same conference with the other two and their new leadership isnt as tied to the MWC as the past. Also, they look for better timeslots to promote their academy and the AAC is by far the better choice.

I think the 2 of them would add alot of branding and promotional value, along with a national following. In addition, it wouldnt total destroy the MWC, which I think ESPN wants to avoid.

Dream scenario for me is to land Army, use them to get Air Force, then use that to get CSU and then pitch BYU. Thats a 16 team conference I could really enjoy

They have gotten stronger because of their current coach.

(11-05-2016 03:01 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(11-05-2016 02:56 PM)Pitt Co Pirates Wrote:  They need to be added to our conference. A no brainer!!!!

In terms of expansion, I think that's the only thing 95% of the members on this board can agree too.

AFA + Army FB Only, All in the West Division

Wichita, VCU, Dayton, Oly sports.

EAST
• UCF
• USF
• ECU
• Temple
• Cinci
• UConn
• Tulane
  

WEST
• Army
• Navy
• AFA
• Houston
• Tulsa
• SMU
• Memphis

With Basketball, we have UConn, Memphis, Temple, Tulsa, SMU, Cinci, Wichita, Dayton, VCU.... Power 6 conference.

This an idea that sounds good on paper but has no chance b/c it would make our meager TV revenues even less for each team. Basketball has no bearing on power conference status b/c if it did the old Big East wouldn't have been broken up.

The AAC would best served by maximizing value in our next TV contract and waiting for the Big12 to fall apart in 7 years. We will then have better inventory to select from or we could forge a wholesale merger with B12 leftovers.

(11-06-2016 10:27 AM)fanhood Wrote:  I just do not understand why the AAC wants all of the Service Academies. They have very low ceilings. Furthermore, playing the Triple Option is a pain (My Alma Mater, the Citadel runs it, and it is a great equalizer). Army, Navy, and Air Force will occasionally have good years, but will never be a Houston, or Boise. Their ceilings are just low.

Eyeballs. Perception. Political clout.

All three can bring quality OOC matchups and brand recognition. The military trifecta would be huge for the American. Would help with media contract extension/negotiations.

With Army, Navy, and Air Force, the AAC would also likely see bowl affiliations strengthened and improved.

Ugh. Please, not AF. You know not what you do.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QW8nol3mXXM

(11-05-2016 03:01 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(11-05-2016 02:56 PM)Pitt Co Pirates Wrote:  They need to be added to our conference. A no brainer!!!!

In terms of expansion, I think that's the only thing 95% of the members on this board can agree too.

AFA + Army FB Only, All in the West Division

Wichita, VCU, Dayton, Oly sports.

EAST
• UCF
• USF
• ECU
• Temple
• Cinci
• UConn
• Tulane
  

WEST
• Army
• Navy
• AFA
• Houston
• Tulsa
• SMU
• Memphis

With Basketball, we have UConn, Memphis, Temple, Tulsa, SMU, Cinci, Wichita, Dayton, VCU.... Power 6 conference.

This is a P6:


Ecu / navy f
Ucf / byu f
Usf / smu
Cincy / boise
Temple / tulsa
UConn / houston
Memphis / army f
Tulane / air force f

(11-10-2016 11:39 PM)acc4life Wrote:  

(11-05-2016 03:01 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(11-05-2016 02:56 PM)Pitt Co Pirates Wrote:  They need to be added to our conference. A no brainer!!!!

In terms of expansion, I think that's the only thing 95% of the members on this board can agree too.

AFA + Army FB Only, All in the West Division

Wichita, VCU, Dayton, Oly sports.

EAST
• UCF
• USF
• ECU
• Temple
• Cinci
• UConn
• Tulane
  

WEST
• Army
• Navy
• AFA
• Houston
• Tulsa
• SMU
• Memphis

With Basketball, we have UConn, Memphis, Temple, Tulsa, SMU, Cinci, Wichita, Dayton, VCU.... Power 6 conference.

This is a P6:


Ecu / navy f
Ucf / byu f
Usf / smu
Cincy / boise
Temple / tulsa
UConn / houston
Memphis / army f
Tulane / air force f

That certainly is P6, but I was thinking do the academies now then possibly pick up WVU & TCU down the road when the Big 12 implodes. Don't really care for Boise since they tried to extort money from the AAC when they backed out of their original agreement.

If the AAC had been forced to recover from Big12 poaching, sure. At the moment, the path to success is to keep this twelve team lineup; maintain performance at this level on the field and in ratings; keep pace with the P5s and increase the gap with the little four. The P6 narrative is important. Its detractors need to note that there is no expectation of the P5s saying "Mike is right - let's take a pay cut to bring them into the club," rather that we win by keeping pace and being in the "haves" when the big shift happens in 2025.
Some other thoughts on the other two Academies:
- Yes, I see a Navy advantage to remaining a cut above our two rivals.
- Scheduling flexibility of having them in conference is nice, but nowhere near enough to overcome first point.
- I think you overestimate the political clout. First, the football factories would happily leave us behind, 'Murica or not.
- Second, there is just as much possibility of backlash: "Why are my tax dollars being spent on football factory instead of making officers?!?!" That is definitely an undercurrent out there, even despite factual errors (e.g. $0 federal money goes to the Navy football program). And it includes pro-defense fiscal conservatives, not just lefty fringe. Gotta tread real carefully - when it comes to Congress, if you're explaining you're losing.
- I think you also overestimate the value of bringing the CiC trophy under one roof. Increase is marginal: American already owns the Navy portion of it...lots more eyes were on Navy ND than Army AF in the same timeslot Saturday. Even Army Navy, you own half, other half is marginal gain. And you inherently downgrade it the instant you bring it in: if Army-Navy game is on Thanksgiving weekend half the years or worse every year instead of alone on second Saturday of December....NO WAY does it get 7.1 million viewers. You could kill that golden-egg-goose pretty quickly.

(11-06-2016 10:27 AM)fanhood Wrote:  I just do not understand why the AAC wants all of the Service Academies. They have very low ceilings. Furthermore, playing the Triple Option is a pain (My Alma Mater, the Citadel runs it, and it is a great equalizer). Army, Navy, and Air Force will occasionally have good years, but will never be a Houston, or Boise. Their ceilings are just low.

Doesn't Air Force have a better (maybe much better) record than Houston over the past few decades? Houston got good about 45 minutes ago.

(11-10-2016 04:04 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(11-06-2016 10:27 AM)fanhood Wrote:  I just do not understand why the AAC wants all of the Service Academies. They have very low ceilings. Furthermore, playing the Triple Option is a pain (My Alma Mater, the Citadel runs it, and it is a great equalizer). Army, Navy, and Air Force will occasionally have good years, but will never be a Houston, or Boise. Their ceilings are just low.

Eyeballs. Perception. Political clout.

All three can bring quality OOC matchups and brand recognition. The military trifecta would be huge for the American. Would help with media contract extension/negotiations.

With Army, Navy, and Air Force, the AAC would also likely see bowl affiliations strengthened and improved.

(11-11-2016 10:43 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  Doesn't Air Force have a better (maybe much better) record than Houston over the past few decades? Houston got good about 45 minutes ago.

That's a long 45 minutes. Houston has one of the better records over the past decade.

2 13 win seasons in the last 5 years.