As I said, and as we already knew, the lucrative AAC TV deal was largely based upon FOOTBALL and UConn did not remotely factor into the value that the AAC brought.

This was just confirmed by the Navy AD when commenting on the AAC TV deal.

@ChrisVannini
22m22 minutes ago
More
Navy AD Chet Gladchuk doesn't believe UConn's impending departure will significantly affect the AAC TV deal.

"The ratio of interest by ESPN on the AAC, it was overwhelming in football. … I don’t think losing UConn is going to affect us to any degree of any significance.”

(06-24-2019 12:46 PM)va-eagle Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:29 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:06 AM)va-eagle Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 10:04 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I'm curious what the new ESPN contract will look like once UConn leaves. There is no question that the AAC was bad for UConn - all the AAC supporters chiming in here can't deny that. You have to wonder if Temple is next - that's another school that is like 500 miles from its nearest conference rival.

You have to wonder if Navy is next. Army isn't joining same league as Navy because that would screw up the Army-Navy game date. The true flagship of AAC just bounced and will put it's football as a Indy. Can't see Navy sticking around long.

Why would UCONN leaving have any bearing on Navy’s status? They don’t even play bball in the AAC. From all accounts, the midshipmen are happy...very happy with the increased exposure and resulting dollars. (The Army deal is separate and they kept Sat. CBSSN games). The access bowl and the exposure it gives is also in play. Anyone remember 2016, when the committee made the decision to delay declaring the G5 rep. until after the Army/Navy game? It ended up all for naught, but many were complaining of AAC bias and undo favoritism as Navy was behind WMU in the polls at the time.

What’s the incentive for leaving? Not that they couldn’t eventually leave, but just having a hard time seeing how it could be related to UCONN as they are in very different situations. If anything, UCONN was probably ticked b/c Navy got to keep their special deal and they didn’t.

Where in conference realignment has a conference been better off when a flagship program leaves? Not in any of the many cases.

Yes, I remember the 2016 situation being a problem. If Navy had won the CCG, some bowl teams would have had to wait an extra week to find out who they were playing and prepare. Fans would have had to wait an extra week to make travel arrangements. Those are both negatives.

I don’t think anyone is arguing the AAC is better w/o UCONN. Well, I take that back there are some pretty crazy posts/posters out there -lol. The disagreement seems to be on how much of a hit it is. According to multiple sources, the media contract appears to remain unchanged or has no expectations of significant change...I’ve read both. Husky football hasn’t helped conference sos or G5 rankings. So, I guess an argument of addition by subtraction could be made there. Basketball takes a big hit even though the AAC has not relied on UCONN for an additional bid...compared to say a one bid vs. two bid league. They did win a national championship which can never be replaced. Perception is the biggest hit (to me anyway) even if performance (multibid league) remains relatively stable. The AAC has a scheduling agreement with the SEC and has been in talks with the PAC. I’m not sure the exclusion of UCONN affects those types of arrangements one way or the other. If it does, then it will be a negative for sure.

IDK, it’s an interesting question and very well may end up as a unique situation...or not. It would certainly be an interesting case study 5-10 years down the road...especially if they end up in FCS like many are speculating.

@ChrisVannini
15m15 minutes ago
More
Whether or not the AAC replaces UConn also ties into the TV deal.

Navy AD Gladchuk: "It means there’s one less distribution to make. It means we get a little more of the revenue sharing. Anyone that comes in has got to be a plus rather than a fiscal detriment.”

@ChrisVannini
22m22 minutes ago
More
Navy AD Chet Gladchuk doesn't believe UConn's impending departure will significantly affect the AAC TV deal.

"The ratio of interest by ESPN on the AAC, it was overwhelming in football. … I don’t think losing UConn is going to affect us to any degree of any significance.”

(06-24-2019 09:56 AM)topper1296 Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 04:16 AM)grapes Wrote:  Simple

Connecticut couldn't fathom being a "left over school" in the American. They could see their fate years ahead they we're never going to be selected by a higher power with the location and football program they have.

The American is going to be raided, and my guess is

UCF
Houston
Memphis
Cincinnati

Will all join the Big 12 after it has also been raided.

This is also my thought. Lose those programs and the AAC losses their status from being the tallest little person in the G5. Once that happens, maybe the SBC, CUSA and AAC will get together and make some moves that make more geographically sense since I don't think budget issues among the G5 will be going away anytime soon.

After the AAC is raided I believe CUSA will be the most effected conference.
Multiple teams will join the AAC and it will still be the best of the rest regardless of the best teams leaving.

(06-23-2019 09:36 AM)The Knight Time Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 09:21 AM)Dawgxas Wrote:  This is a big hit to AAC basketball. The Big East is still perceived as a power basketball conference. The AAC is definitely not especially considering one of their teams just ditched them for a true power conference

lol I love how willing you are to assert things as facts when they aren't, so long as you're wildly complaining about the AAC. Here, click this link:

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2019/conferencerpi

The BE and AAC were basically neck and neck and both were ahead of the PAC12. And then way down at #13 you have CUSA.

UConn had nothing to do with the AAC's RPI strength last year either. Wichita and Memphis were both down last year which will course correct by next year, given Memphis has the #1 class in the country.

The AAC is going to be equal or better than the BE just as it has been. That's a fact. UConn simply wanted to play other northeast teams so they left.

The Big East was better than the AAC and will continue to be better than the AAC in basketball. The addition of UConn will simply strengthen that.

Last year several Big East teams were down, including Villanova but they were still better than the AAC. Memphis improving will help that conference though.

(06-24-2019 03:04 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 09:36 AM)The Knight Time Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 09:21 AM)Dawgxas Wrote:  This is a big hit to AAC basketball. The Big East is still perceived as a power basketball conference. The AAC is definitely not especially considering one of their teams just ditched them for a true power conference

lol I love how willing you are to assert things as facts when they aren't, so long as you're wildly complaining about the AAC. Here, click this link:

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2019/conferencerpi

The BE and AAC were basically neck and neck and both were ahead of the PAC12. And then way down at #13 you have CUSA.

UConn had nothing to do with the AAC's RPI strength last year either. Wichita and Memphis were both down last year which will course correct by next year, given Memphis has the #1 class in the country.

The AAC is going to be equal or better than the BE just as it has been. That's a fact. UConn simply wanted to play other northeast teams so they left.

The Big East was better than the AAC and will continue to be better than the AAC in basketball. The addition of UConn will simply strengthen that.

Last year several Big East teams were down, including Villanova but they were still better than the AAC. Memphis improving will help that conference though.

To be fair---the fact the AAC was even close during those years is pretty impressive when you consider both UConn and Memphis were way down during that period.

(06-24-2019 11:27 AM)deb025 Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:06 AM)va-eagle Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 10:04 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I'm curious what the new ESPN contract will look like once UConn leaves. There is no question that the AAC was bad for UConn - all the AAC supporters chiming in here can't deny that. You have to wonder if Temple is next - that's another school that is like 500 miles from its nearest conference rival.

You have to wonder if Navy is next. Army isn't joining same league as Navy because that would screw up the Army-Navy game date. The true flagship of AAC just bounced and will put it's football as a Indy. Can't see Navy sticking around long.

Temple and Cincy too. They'll rejoin UConn in the Big East by at least 2025 if they don't get in the Big 12 by then.

Good analysis

(06-24-2019 11:55 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:35 AM)EagleNationRising Wrote:  I honestly still think that there is some monetary benefits for the move. It hasn’t been spoken aloud yet, but I’m sure it’s there.

Sure, I haven't run through them yet, but the Big East is likely to begin receiving as much money via TV and NCAA Tourney distributions than UConn would get from the CFB Playoff pool (and that's even with the AAC getting the Access Bowl) with fewer expenses as a result of most Big East schools not playing football at all. Getting to re-establish traditional basketball rivalries is just icing on the cake.

The better question isn't why. There is obviously a number of reasons and no single factor that contributed to the decision, but the better question is what does it mean for the AAC. And then the rest of the G5 writ large.

There probably isn't a single school the AAC can add to replace UCONN in terms of market, basketball, and academic pedigree. The biggest thing that the AAC is losing is the New York media market by this move. So, what's the impact in the new TV deal? That's going to have significant impact. How much? Who knows. So, the question is would either the addition of Army as football only member or Buffalo provide enough equity to make up for that loss. The answer is probably no, but those are really your only two options to stay in New York. And Buffalo is a stretch, because that's upstate and not NYC.

So, that leaves the AAC looking elsewhere to keep from getting hammered on the TV deal. NIU could be in play to try to bring the Chicago market in play as an offset to losing NY. But again that's not likely to be enough.

Regardless of the internal politics, decision making, and value or lack thereof to football at UConn this is not a good look for the AAC. IMO, this is the first time they've looked vulnerable. And if we read between the tea leaves, UConn's decision wasn't just a here and now moment type decision. There is something on the horizon that - IMO - demonstrates the first crack in the foundation of the AAC. That said, that league is still better off than we are, but it's a sign of things to come. And as someone who has studied this topic and was intimately involved in what happened in the first two rounds of the realignment/expansion/contraction or whatever you want to call it I see something bigger behind this. This isn't just a one-off move. This is going to be felt by all of us down the line in some form or fashion. It may take a couple of years, but there is more to this than just UConn wanting to be basketball buds again with Villanova and St. Johns.

Good post

Imagine if the ACC lost Duke or the PAC-12 lost UCLA?

The AAC just lost their best basketball brand and the NY market. It is going to sting and the ramifications are far reaching. DEB said it best UConn is the first domino look for Temple and Cincy to be next

(06-24-2019 06:32 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Imagine if the ACC lost Duke or the PAC-12 lost UCLA?

The AAC just lost their best basketball brand and the NY market. It is going to sting and the ramifications are far reaching. DEB said it best UConn is the first domino look for Temple and Cincy to be next

I think I heard this morning UConn never finished higher than third in the AAC.

I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will correct me.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

The AAC fans can spin all they want but UConn leaving is not good perception wise. They lost their only land grant, flagship institution and a top 15 basketball program that has four national championships. They suck in football, everybody knows that but it’s not like Tulsa, Tulane or SMU are world beaters.

UConn is the third school (the other two are Boise State and Cal State-San Diego) that told the AAC to take a hike. Probably four if we count BYU asking for preferential treatment.

With that being said, the AAC is still the best G5 conference in football and basketball and it’s not even close. The school getting that call whether is from this conference or another one will be lucky to play in the AAC.

(06-24-2019 06:35 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 06:32 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Imagine if the ACC lost Duke or the PAC-12 lost UCLA?

The AAC just lost their best basketball brand and the NY market. It is going to sting and the ramifications are far reaching. DEB said it best UConn is the first domino look for Temple and Cincy to be next

I think I heard this morning UConn never finished higher than third in the AAC.

I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will correct me.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

They won the NC on the AAC’s first season. Granted, they won it all with players they recruited in the Big East but they still won it. If I’m not mistaken, they never won a regular season title in the five seasons they played with an AAC banner on their jerseys.

No other AAC school comes close to UConn in terms of basketball.

UConn Mens have 4 National Championships in the last 20 years.

The rest of the AAC - 0

UConn Womens have 10 National Championships in the last 20 years.

The rest of the AAC - 0

That should put things in perspective. It is like the ACC losing Duke

(06-24-2019 05:35 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 03:04 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 09:36 AM)The Knight Time Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 09:21 AM)Dawgxas Wrote:  This is a big hit to AAC basketball. The Big East is still perceived as a power basketball conference. The AAC is definitely not especially considering one of their teams just ditched them for a true power conference

lol I love how willing you are to assert things as facts when they aren't, so long as you're wildly complaining about the AAC. Here, click this link:

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2019/conferencerpi

The BE and AAC were basically neck and neck and both were ahead of the PAC12. And then way down at #13 you have CUSA.

UConn had nothing to do with the AAC's RPI strength last year either. Wichita and Memphis were both down last year which will course correct by next year, given Memphis has the #1 class in the country.

The AAC is going to be equal or better than the BE just as it has been. That's a fact. UConn simply wanted to play other northeast teams so they left.

The Big East was better than the AAC and will continue to be better than the AAC in basketball. The addition of UConn will simply strengthen that.

Last year several Big East teams were down, including Villanova but they were still better than the AAC. Memphis improving will help that conference though.

To be fair---the fact the AAC was even close during those years is pretty impressive when you consider both UConn and Memphis were way down during that period.

Georgetown has been way down as well and I would say they have more upside (long term) than Memphis.

No way to spin this but ouch that’s gotta sting.

Dawgxas is spot on here.

Dawgxas is the truth.

Tell my wife that!

(06-24-2019 06:35 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 06:32 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Imagine if the ACC lost Duke or the PAC-12 lost UCLA?

The AAC just lost their best basketball brand and the NY market. It is going to sting and the ramifications are far reaching. DEB said it best UConn is the first domino look for Temple and Cincy to be next

I think I heard this morning UConn never finished higher than third in the AAC.

I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will correct me.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

After their NC in 2013-2014, UConn finished 5th, 6th, 6th, 8th, and 9th.

(06-24-2019 11:55 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 11:35 AM)EagleNationRising Wrote:  I honestly still think that there is some monetary benefits for the move. It hasn’t been spoken aloud yet, but I’m sure it’s there.

Sure, I haven't run through them yet, but the Big East is likely to begin receiving as much money via TV and NCAA Tourney distributions than UConn would get from the CFB Playoff pool (and that's even with the AAC getting the Access Bowl) with fewer expenses as a result of most Big East schools not playing football at all. Getting to re-establish traditional basketball rivalries is just icing on the cake.

The better question isn't why. There is obviously a number of reasons and no single factor that contributed to the decision, but the better question is what does it mean for the AAC. And then the rest of the G5 writ large.

There probably isn't a single school the AAC can add to replace UCONN in terms of market, basketball, and academic pedigree. The biggest thing that the AAC is losing is the New York media market by this move. So, what's the impact in the new TV deal? That's going to have significant impact. How much? Who knows. So, the question is would either the addition of Army as football only member or Buffalo provide enough equity to make up for that loss. The answer is probably no, but those are really your only two options to stay in New York. And Buffalo is a stretch, because that's upstate and not NYC.

So, that leaves the AAC looking elsewhere to keep from getting hammered on the TV deal. NIU could be in play to try to bring the Chicago market in play as an offset to losing NY. But again that's not likely to be enough.

Regardless of the internal politics, decision making, and value or lack thereof to football at UConn this is not a good look for the AAC. IMO, this is the first time they've looked vulnerable. And if we read between the tea leaves, UConn's decision wasn't just a here and now moment type decision. There is something on the horizon that - IMO - demonstrates the first crack in the foundation of the AAC. That said, that league is still better off than we are, but it's a sign of things to come. And as someone who has studied this topic and was intimately involved in what happened in the first two rounds of the realignment/expansion/contraction or whatever you want to call it I see something bigger behind this. This isn't just a one-off move. This is going to be felt by all of us down the line in some form or fashion. It may take a couple of years, but there is more to this than just UConn wanting to be basketball buds again with Villanova and St. Johns.

it just shows that no conference has learned the lesson of the 16 team WAC from years ago.

far flung conferences don't work. Markets are BS outside of the P5 (p6 in hoops with the Big East - something UConn realizes). The P5 are the only leagues that draw real eyeballs to TV and therefore real $$$. Because neutral fans will watch those games. Neutrals (outside of degenerate gamblers) do not watch G5 football or mid major hoops. it's niche viewing.

All these leagues get secondary tv slots, weekday games, get booted to online platforms....nothing that makes enough money from media to make a real difference, and make up for the increased travel and loss of local interest and rivalry in order to compete at the highest level. It's why they all lose money and rely on subsidies or go broke.

i can't think of many schools in any of those leagues (CUSA/AAC/Sun Belt) that want to be in them. The MAC and Mountain West are the most stable because they have geographic sense and lengthy history together.

it's just a matter of time before the G5 does a full reshuffle and goes back to more regional, sensible leagues across the board.