RE: ***Official Move In Day Thread***
Welcome Aboard!
I'll echo the nautical metaphors already used like rowing in the same direction and rising tides lifting all boats. Time for the 15 AAC members to build it up again just like a decade ago.
We will know that we chose well when we see what your institutions do both on-field and off-field.
Off field the AAC Strategic Plan still applies -
Invest, invest, invest. Make actions match words. This is facilities, of course, but it is also coaches: maybe if UT or FSU comes calling it is too much, but a hallmark of the American has been fending off middle-of-the-road autonomy conference programs coming for head coaches or coordinators. And invest in the students and the student-athletes.
Sell. Sell tickets. Sell the program in the community. Other posters have noted that what's really important about markets, is the ability to capitalize on bandwagon situations. Sure it would be great to truly own a state or a region or a city, but generally speaking we don't. Being able to become the hot ticket in town when successful is the next best thing.
Schedule hard. Get the home-and-homes with autonomy conference teams. But yeah, conference strength of schedules matter in multiple sports. Step up.
I'm already seeing a lot of these, so I'm cautiously optimistic.
On-field, just win baby.
We don't need all six to become world beaters immediately. Someone will be at the bottom of the conference regardless. Maybe that's legacy, maybe that's 2023-24 vintage teams, maybe that's a mix. What's big is all of us winning out of conference. Maybe we won't take down the Notre Dames and Alabamas this year. But beating the middle of the road contract-bowl-conference teams adds up. Re-establishing our separation from the G4 will add up a lot. That starts this season, and that applies to all fifteen.
But hey, those things are for the institutions. Ain't nobody here an insider.
For the fans, for this message board, welcome to our little virtual sports pub. There is back-and-forth, there is camraderie, there is a lot of learning about different programs and fanbases, and yeah there is a fair amount of busting each others' chops. On the one hand those who are too thin-skinned won't make it long, but on the other hand, this place keeps it at the level of friendly rivalry; we aren't too toxic and I hope it stays that way.
Please don't say "P5." It's a made up media term. The CFP talks about "contract bowl conferences." For conversations about NCAA governance and status and stuff "autonomy conferences" is good. Both of those terms are more precise.
Definitely don't say "G5." That's not only a made up media term, it is inherently pejorative. It's also rarely true -- there are very few things that the American actually does group up with the other four non-autonomy FBS conferences. Think of all the times that statements about "All 'G5' conferences...." is actually untrue for the AAC: it comes up for attendance, TV exposure, TV viewership, the automatically losing coaches thing... Push back on it. I ALWAYS use non-contract-bowl conference or non-autonomy conference.
I think we should all say P6 and G4 though. As long as media terms are being made up and used we should use these. G4 is more accurate than "G5" in terms of having things in common. Also -- Commissioner Aresco has used both frequently so we shouldn't be shy. Granted, the conference and commissioner have come off "P6" recently. But that's NOT because we don't think we're top six, it's to capitalize on the "P2" reality and hopefully kill off "P5/G5." If P2 (and whatever is used for the non-P2) still lags in traction behind "P5" I expect we'll dust it off but shift P6 to "Playoff 6" starting 8 December 2024.
Please don't feed the trolls. I'm not trying to tell anybody how or what to post, you do you. I prefer to deal with the trolls, especially G4 trolls, first with facts and data -- they're almost always overwhelmingly on our side. Very often they respond with willful ignorance, so at that point it's not worth much more time and energy and I move on to "whatever" and then "buh bye" You don't have to respond to every post. Like I said you do you, but going back to the virtual sports pub analogy, we can deal with them on occasional visits, but let's not drag them in off the streets.
Let's go do this!
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2023 11:41 AM by slhNavy91.)
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