The recent tendency to write posts about how this or that school is a "blessing" to the American is somewhat puzzling, and raises the question: Why?

No one felt the need to start counting the blessings for each school until UConn announced their departure.

So, why do so many of us now feel impelled to count our blessings?

There may be plenty of reasons for this trend that could be discussed.

However, here is one possible theory:

The departure of UConn has reminded us all that we can't take any AAC school for granted. Any of them could depart at any time, and for any reason.

The fact that all of the Power Five conferences have the option to adjust their memberships :deal:between 2022 and 2026, and that all of the Power Five schools have the option to consider switching conferences during that period of time has made this issue much more salient and concerning than it would otherwise be.

Recently, many readers on this and other message boards have expressed the opinion that there will be some kind of P5 alignment in the next few years, by 2026, and that it will affect the AAC, in particular.

Realizing this, many AAC fans are beginning to come to terms with the possibility that the departure of UConn may be followed by one or more additional departures within the next 5-6 years.

This thread is missing a poll

(06-25-2020 12:27 AM)WhoseHouse? Wrote:  This thread is missing a poll

Is Jed on an emoji/gif kick? Or is this what mania looks like?

To answer the actual question, I think there has been a lot of ribbing of the schools that haven't performed as well athletically. With ECU and Tulane making good hires in hoops and football, Tulsa being consistently solid in hoops and winning a share of the conference this past season and the departure of our football program, there's nothing negative for people to really focus on. Instead, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic

(06-25-2020 08:21 AM)Nameless Wrote:  Is Jed on an emoji/gif kick? Or is this what mania looks like?

This is what insanity looks like.

I've never thought the AAC was as bad as everyone made it out to be.

Not to say that I'd rather be there than the ACC, but it could be worse. The AAC is much better than the MWC and the three JV conferences we get lumped in with.

(06-25-2020 09:39 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I've never thought the AAC was as bad as everyone made it out to be.

Not to say that I'd rather be there than the ACC, but it could be worse. The AAC is much better than the MWC and the three JV conferences we get lumped in with.

Absolutely. My answer to the question is, most all of us could have easily found ourselves stuck in C-USA. If we could get Power status, I would not want to go anywhere else, with the possible exception of the SEC, but that seems so far out of the realm of possibility, it's hardly worth wasting time thinking about.

USFFan

(06-25-2020 10:22 AM)usffan Wrote:  

USFFan

It's Pandemic driven, I tell you...