(10-31-2019 02:56 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I think it's UConn @ UVA

Either way, that's a better schedule for them than an AAC schedule would have been.

I don’t know that the 2020 Indy home schedule is necessarily better but it’s different and has a much more local flavor:

Indiana: they were going to get to host this P5 regardless
UMass: again, already scheduled. They are going to be the Huskies’ primary rivalry
Maine: local FCS
Army: local service academy does them a solid, allows the Huskies to pick up the travel costs of going to San Jose. The additional games with Army are really the one big appeal of Indy status
Liberty: fellow Indy willing to visit them
NMSU?: fellow Indy willing to visit them
MTSU?: well if you give me $1 million to not play a football game in Oxford, MS I’d probably be game for a H and H too

Of the 4 presumed additional home games, I’d take Army roughly every other year over Navy at Home once every 4 so the advantage there goes to Indy status.

I’d take any AAC school over MTSU, NMSU, or Liberty. Advantage AAC x 3

(10-31-2019 07:53 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  MTSU?: well if you give me $1 million to not play a football game in Oxford, MS I’d probably be game for a H and H too

If it winds up being a series then so be it, but I'm pretty sure the language in the contract was that UConn would schedule "a game" with MTSU. My understanding is that it's basically an in-season home-and-home where Uconn's taking the buy game money from playing at Mississippi and using it to pay MTSU to play a one-off road game. MTSU is getting their money either way, so it's no skin off their back, and they get a less difficult road game and thus an easier path to bowl eligibility so they probably come out slightly ahead.

But, like I said, if they play an away game at MTSU in a couple years then that's fine too. Middle Tennessee didn't have to work with us on this, after all.

If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

ECU isn't going anywhere, the AAC is a good platform for them. I honestly think that now the Big East/UConn situation has been resolved the American is going to be pretty stable unless the Big 12 blows up.

The Mid-Atlantic is probably the right region to keep an eye on, though. NCA&T's most viable path to FBS is probably a MEAC/indy alignment and if the ADs on the geographic fringes of CUSA continue to be unhappy with the sprawl of the conference and accompanying cost of Olympic travel, I could see ODU and Charlotte start to eyeball the A10 and wonder.

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

The CFP gives out good money and G5 conferences not the SunBelt and CUSA also have good money. So it's all a push and pull using extra buy games to make up for some of the lost revenue. The key is if recruiting and winning can be successful. If you suck, no one is coming. We/UMass have struggled and have a long road. The right coaching staff will make a HUGE difference here, not the scheduling.

(11-01-2019 09:56 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

ECU isn't going anywhere, the AAC is a good platform for them.

You would think it should be, but clearly it hasn't been. Compared to where they were 10 years ago, everything about ECU football is worse off than it was then, off and on the field.

Sure, you can always blame coaching, but if Mike Houston fails, he will be the third coach in a row to fail while in the AAC. At that point, it might be time to conclude that its something other than coaching that is going wrong.

(11-01-2019 11:04 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:56 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

ECU isn't going anywhere, the AAC is a good platform for them.

You would think it should be, but clearly it hasn't been. Compared to where they were 10 years ago, everything about ECU football is worse off than it was then, off and on the field.

Sure, you can always blame coaching, but if Mike Houston fails, he will be the third coach in a row to fail while in the AAC. At that point, it might be time to conclude that its something other than coaching that is going wrong.

There's a big difference between a high-end basketball school that happens to sponsor football leaving the AAC for the Big East and a solidly football-first institution opting to leave the AAC for, presumably, either the CAA or the SoCon. It's just not going to happen. I've said it before, but the UConn/Big East situation was a pretty unique matter both because of the history involved and the fact that the Big East itself is pretty unique in terms of level of play and payout among non-football-sponsoring conferences.

(11-01-2019 11:04 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:56 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

ECU isn't going anywhere, the AAC is a good platform for them.

You would think it should be, but clearly it hasn't been. Compared to where they were 10 years ago, everything about ECU football is worse off than it was then, off and on the field.

Sure, you can always blame coaching, but if Mike Houston fails, he will be the third coach in a row to fail while in the AAC. At that point, it might be time to conclude that its something other than coaching that is going wrong.

Is it worse or did everyone else get better.

From fbschedules.com, here is what is completed so far:

09/03 - UMass
09/12 - at Illinois
09/19 - at Virginia
09/26 - Indiana
10/10 - Maine
10/24 - at Ole Miss
10/31 - Liberty
11/14 - at San Jose State
11/28 - Army

At the time they withdrew from the AAC, UConn had four early season games scheduled, 2 at home vs. FBS opponents, 1 at home vs. an FCS opponent, and 1 road FBS opponent. To comply with FBS requirements, they needed 4 home games v. FBS opponents, 1 v. an FCS opponent, and a schedule with a maximum of 4 FCS opponents overall. This meant finding 5 more FBS opponents, at least two of which had to be willing to play at UConn. Mission accomplished.

By getting Army and San Jose St. to cancel their series, and getting UVA and Liberty to postpone theirs, they generated four available FBS opponents, two of which were scheduled to play on the road already, which got UConn to 4 FBS home games. Getting MTSU to postpone its game at Ole Miss, made the Ole Miss available, getting UConn to 8 total FBS opponents. As noted above, UConn and MTSU are looking for a mutual date for UConn to travel there, which will get them to 9 FBS opponents. Worst case, UConn can bring in two more FCS opponents to finish its schedule.

(11-01-2019 11:46 AM)orangefan Wrote:  From fbschedules.com, here is what is completed so far:

09/03 - UMass
09/12 - at Illinois
09/19 - at Virginia
09/26 - Indiana
10/10 - Maine
10/24 - at Ole Miss
10/31 - Liberty
11/14 - at San Jose State
11/28 - Army

At the time they withdrew from the AAC, UConn had four early season games scheduled, 2 at home vs. FBS opponents, 1 at home vs. an FCS opponent, and 1 road FBS opponent. To comply with FBS requirements, they needed 4 home games v. FBS opponents, 1 v. an FCS opponent, and a schedule with a maximum of 4 FCS opponents overall. This meant finding 5 more FBS opponents, at least two of which had to be willing to play at UConn. Mission accomplished.

By getting Army and San Jose St. to cancel their series, and getting UVA and Liberty to postpone theirs, they generated four available FBS opponents, two of which were scheduled to play on the road already, which got UConn to 4 FBS home games. Getting MTSU to postpone its game at Ole Miss, made the Ole Miss available, getting UConn to 8 total FBS opponents. As noted above, UConn and MTSU are looking for a mutual date for UConn to travel there, which will get them to 9 FBS opponents. Worst case, UConn can bring in two more FCS opponents to finish its schedule.

I'm under the impression that MTSU will be traveling to UConn, not the other way around, which is why they're still getting the buy game payout. Could be wrong, won't know until it's finalized.

(11-01-2019 11:50 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 11:46 AM)orangefan Wrote:  From fbschedules.com, here is what is completed so far:

09/03 - UMass
09/12 - at Illinois
09/19 - at Virginia
09/26 - Indiana
10/10 - Maine
10/24 - at Ole Miss
10/31 - Liberty
11/14 - at San Jose State
11/28 - Army

At the time they withdrew from the AAC, UConn had four early season games scheduled, 2 at home vs. FBS opponents, 1 at home vs. an FCS opponent, and 1 road FBS opponent. To comply with FBS requirements, they needed 4 home games v. FBS opponents, 1 v. an FCS opponent, and a schedule with a maximum of 4 FCS opponents overall. This meant finding 5 more FBS opponents, at least two of which had to be willing to play at UConn. Mission accomplished.

By getting Army and San Jose St. to cancel their series, and getting UVA and Liberty to postpone theirs, they generated four available FBS opponents, two of which were scheduled to play on the road already, which got UConn to 4 FBS home games. Getting MTSU to postpone its game at Ole Miss, made the Ole Miss available, getting UConn to 8 total FBS opponents. As noted above, UConn and MTSU are looking for a mutual date for UConn to travel there, which will get them to 9 FBS opponents. Worst case, UConn can bring in two more FCS opponents to finish its schedule.

I'm under the impression that MTSU will be traveling to UConn, not the other way around, which is why they're still getting the buy game payout. Could be wrong, won't know until it's finalized.

That should be right, because not counting a game against UConn, MTSU already has 2 home non-con games and 6 home games total for 2020.

(11-01-2019 11:28 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 11:04 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:56 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(11-01-2019 09:23 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  If they pull this off, it will embolden other programs to do the same. Each new Indy school makes it easier for others to join the ranks.

ECU really likes the American, but if they didn't they could also make it.

ECU isn't going anywhere, the AAC is a good platform for them.

You would think it should be, but clearly it hasn't been. Compared to where they were 10 years ago, everything about ECU football is worse off than it was then, off and on the field.

Sure, you can always blame coaching, but if Mike Houston fails, he will be the third coach in a row to fail while in the AAC. At that point, it might be time to conclude that its something other than coaching that is going wrong.

There's a big difference between a high-end basketball school that happens to sponsor football leaving the AAC for the Big East and a solidly football-first institution opting to leave the AAC for, presumably, either the CAA or the SoCon. It's just not going to happen. I've said it before, but the UConn/Big East situation was a pretty unique matter both because of the history involved and the fact that the Big East itself is pretty unique in terms of level of play and payout among non-football-sponsoring conferences.

No question, ECU would be silly to leave the AAC for the CAA or SoCon. The only option worth exploring would be going independent.

UConn was unique in that it had an even better basketball conference waiting in the wings in which to place its hoops.

All of that said, my point wasn't so much about saying what ECU should do about their football problem, it was about what the nature of the problem is. I think it might be the AAC, not coaching.

The AAC has been a positive home for some of its members and a detriment to others. That is not uncommon in college football. And, in the case of ECU, it could eventually benefit from AAC membership. Then again, it might not.

(11-01-2019 05:09 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  No question, ECU would be silly to leave the AAC for the CAA or SoCon. The only option worth exploring would be going independent.

Well they certainly wouldn't be going independent in all sports, and I'm not convinced an A10 invite is sitting there. The reality of ECU going independent in football is likely leaving the AAC for the CAA or SoCon. Good luck selling that.

(11-01-2019 05:09 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  All of that said, my point wasn't so much about saying what ECU should do about their football problem, it was about what the nature of the problem is. I think it might be the AAC, not coaching.

The AAC is definitely a pretty competitive conference and the longer you're in a down spell the harder it gets to climb out of it. However, I've never gotten the impression that the ECU fans actively wanted out of the conference, just that they'd like their teams to do better, which is an important distinction - even if UConn had been winning heavily in the AAC UConn fans were still going to be dissatisfied. I don't think ECU leaving the AAC for whatever options they'd have would be as viable as UConn leaving for the Big East is, or theoretically a CUSA team leaving for the A10 might be.

(10-31-2019 05:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 02:56 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I think it's UConn @ UVA

Either way, that's a better schedule for them than an AAC schedule would have been.

How so? The SOS has to be much lower than playing AAC teams, it that what you mean by better?

(10-31-2019 05:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 02:56 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I think it's UConn @ UVA

Either way, that's a better schedule for them than an AAC schedule would have been.

If you are talking basketball.

UVA, Illinois and Indiana? Good basketball programs. Ole Miss-didn't they lose to Memphis this year? Those are their 4 P5s. This year, the AAC schedule is far stronger than what they have.

UConn will either drop football or go FCS in a few years. I don't think D1 is a good place for them.

(11-01-2019 08:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 05:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 02:56 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I think it's UConn @ UVA

Either way, that's a better schedule for them than an AAC schedule would have been.

If you are talking basketball.

UVA, Illinois and Indiana? Good basketball programs. Ole Miss-didn't they lose to Memphis this year? Those are their 4 P5s. This year, the AAC schedule is far stronger than what they have.

That is great for OOC. Same for Ole Miss. How is UMass, Army, Liberty, Maine, SJSU better than UC, Navy, UCF, Houton, Temple etc.

(11-01-2019 08:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 05:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-31-2019 02:56 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I think it's UConn @ UVA

Either way, that's a better schedule for them than an AAC schedule would have been.

If you are talking basketball.

UVA, Illinois and Indiana? Good basketball programs. Ole Miss-didn't they lose to Memphis this year? Those are their 4 P5s. This year, the AAC schedule is far stronger than what they have.

I wasn't talking about tough, but appeal. Ole Miss is a more appealing opponent than Memphis. They are an SEC flagship school.

That's what makes a schedule, appeal. Far better to get say North Carolina in the schedule than App State, even if App State is better. Better to have FSU than UCF, even if UCF is better etc.