Stopped by Cougarboard. The general consensus, with few exceptions, seems to be that that the UMass's of the world exist somewhere in between the P5 and G5. They are mad at the Big 12 for not doing what we're discussing with them, and they poo poo a schedule with us. There are also a handful that would rather see the season cancelled for the whole league than have to put together a bad schedule at this point.

BYU seems to be Mac this year.

(08-04-2020 10:39 AM)pesik Wrote:  basing byu on drawing a crowd..is like pretending we arent living in the covid era..

byu has never been a good corporate neighbor to anyone..they literally destroyed the wac 16 in the 90s and abandoned the MWC in the 2000s

byu has publicly said they dont want indy, but will not settle for anything less than p5..they have made it clear we are beneath them. why should we "who are beneath them" be the ones to rescue them

--this is the biggest point i want to make---everyone who is for this is doing so on the premise that if we are "nice" to them we can build a relationship and starting converting some of their fans that in 2025 maybe theyd remember and join

byu plays 5-6 p5 games a year...the aac west with BYU is likely tulane, tulsa, smu, navy and houston...if you were a byu fan would you want to give up those p5 games because we were nice that 1 year??

- niceness or attractiveness will not be the reason byu and their fans want the aac
- the fear of what will happen to their program if they stayed indy is what will..and one horrifically scheduled year could actually start doing that

No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

I don't think it will happen. But, I do think there are real possibilities for a few more AAC v. BYU games.

I'd say match BYU with the AAC teams that only have 1 or 2 OOC games left on the schedule: UCF, @Temple, Tulane, @ECU.

With Houston already on the schedule, that would give BYU and AAC fans a nice taste of what the AAC schedule could look like.

I also note that we also play @Boise St. and SDSU; so, that almost matches what BYU's schedule would be in a 14-team expanded AAC.

(08-04-2020 10:11 AM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 09:33 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  I'd rather have Army... Navy has been good and loyal to the conference, maybe lightning ca strike twice.

Army/Navy game must stay as it is currently, Non conference and played after the season!!!

I love the Army idea.

Problem with Army this year...

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a 14-day quarantine mandated on travelers coming in from any of 34 other states. Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Ohio all included.

Makes it hard to visit West Point, and makes it hard for the Army football team to play an away game and then return.
(and for that matter, that's a problem with anyone scheduling our dear departed Huskies, or hoping to be Syracuse's +1...)

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

(08-04-2020 10:55 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:11 AM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 09:33 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  I'd rather have Army... Navy has been good and loyal to the conference, maybe lightning ca strike twice.

Army/Navy game must stay as it is currently, Non conference and played after the season!!!

I love the Army idea.

Problem with Army this year...

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a 14-day quarantine mandated on travelers coming in from any of 34 other states. Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Ohio all included.

Makes it hard to visit West Point, and makes it hard for the Army football team to play an away game and then return.
(and for that matter, that's a problem with anyone scheduling our dear departed Huskies, or hoping to be Syracuse's +1...)

rutgers is obviously going to find away around it...just follow whatever method they use

(08-03-2020 08:52 PM)CaliWG Wrote:  We’re pretty much down to our last few options at this point and the AAC is by far the most attractive option. It would be a fun opportunity to test the relationship in case it becomes a viable option for the two sides down the road. You have a solid group of programs that could make for an interesting season in a year when the P5s are shutting everyone out.

Why? This seems more like their problem, what would be in it for us?

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

Really? ESPN, CBS, NBC & Fox are all starved for live content. With your logic, why play at all

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

It was my understanding that, when ESPN and other networks look to negotiate media deals with us, they take things like viewership of our games into consideration. At this point, there are very few of us that don't have at least one OOC opponent on our schedule that would draw less eyeballs than BYU.

They are on Houston's schedule, and they are on our future schedule, because they draw eyeballs.

I guess I can't argue with those that say let individual schools schedule them, but don't assign them to the whole league. Just don't be surprised if you catch crap when your game against UTSA or Idaho draw tens of viewers.

Honestly, I'd think it would be a great idea to give BYU a one year membership. Let them take UConns place for one year and be eligible for the CCG. Put BYU in the West, and let Navy or Memphis move east of the year. It would be fun. It would be entertaining. It would be popular on TV and would give the AAC (and BYU) lots of extra press. It would be a significant story all year. I mean---we are Jet Blue. We have to jump on interesting opportunities when they present themselves. Anything that attracts extra viewers to our product is a win for our league in my view.

(08-04-2020 12:09 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Honestly, I'd think it would be a great idea to give BYU a one year membership. Let them take UConns place for one year and be eligible for the CCG. Put BYU in the West, and let Navy or Memphis move east of the year. It would be fun. It would be entertaining. It would be popular on TV and would give the AAC (and BYU) lots of extra press. It would be a significant story all year. I mean---we are Jet Blue. We have to jump on interesting opportunities when they present themselves. Anything that attracts extra viewers to our product is a win for our league in my view.

BYU would finish 3rd or 4th in the West this year, depending on the cross-division schedules. I agree, it could be a lot of fun and turn a lame scenario into something more exciting.

(08-04-2020 12:30 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 12:09 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Honestly, I'd think it would be a great idea to give BYU a one year membership. Let them take UConns place for one year and be eligible for the CCG. Put BYU in the West, and let Navy or Memphis move east of the year. It would be fun. It would be entertaining. It would be popular on TV and would give the AAC (and BYU) lots of extra press. It would be a significant story all year. I mean---we are Jet Blue. We have to jump on interesting opportunities when they present themselves. Anything that attracts extra viewers to our product is a win for our league in my view.

BYU would finish 3rd or 4th in the West this year, depending on the cross-division schedules. I agree, it could be a lot of fun and turn a lame scenario into something more exciting.

That seems about right. You guys would probably have ended up right between SMU and Tulane, which is nothing to sneeze at.

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

And yet in all that mediocrity they still managed to beat USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and an undefeated Boise State team, which allowed your Tigers to get into a NY6 bowl. The fact is that BYU is a dangerous team that would be in the mix for a conference title. And that isn't something you want to deal with, even if they raise the profile of the conference for a year.

(08-04-2020 12:55 PM)CaliWG Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

And yet in all that mediocrity they still managed to beat USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and an undefeated Boise State team, which allowed your Tigers to get into a NY6 bowl. The fact is that BYU is a dangerous team that would be in the mix for a conference title. And that isn't something you want to deal with, even if they raise the profile of the conference for a year.

this is a stupid take...are you just a byu homer???

1) my team "UH" isnt a contender this year i dont care who wins the title..and houston has byu scheduled..adding them would technically mean nothing to my team

2) if i thought byu was going to be elite and a title contender, id actually be for it and see the benefit of adding them...byu competing for a title and playing for something after their 1st loss is something that could motivate them to join a conference

--every preview magazine has already been released byu is not expected to be good or anywhere close to the ucf, memphis or smu

byu has random good wins..but has lost to 2 bottom feeding aac teams (usf and ecu) in those years aswell..
byu has little value in a 1 year addition..

also bring legitimate points not stupid arguments like "you are scared" --you are trying to make it seem like adding a projected 6-7 win team is the greatest thing for the aac..

BYU has value in that they have a devout fanbase with national scope - and that they have good football tradition.

They are currently recruiting in the bottom half of the AAC. I think Kalani is NOT the guy for that job. Tulane shouldn't be running laps around BYU in recruiting.

(08-04-2020 12:55 PM)CaliWG Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

And yet in all that mediocrity they still managed to beat USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and an undefeated Boise State team, which allowed your Tigers to get into a NY6 bowl. The fact is that BYU is a dangerous team that would be in the mix for a conference title. And that isn't something you want to deal with, even if they raise the profile of the conference for a year.

No to saving BYU. We don't really have a relationship with them. Those who were in the WAC with them know they are a pain in the ass sometimes to deal with. Plus Pesik is right this is the time to play hardball with them. We don't just say yes, but if BYU makes a reasonable offer then we consider it as mutually beneficial and that it might build the relationship some as well as a trial run. There is no reason to help them just out of kindness. We're not taking SDSU who is about to get stuck with an aging pro stadium because no one needs to be expanding campus for quite a while and didn't need it before that anyway. No way broke as hell California is paying for that pipe dream and Boise has zero chance of clearing the presidents and burnt the bridge behind them to begin with. The western wing, if BYU came, would be CSU and Air Force not a further expansion to a team who hasn't successfully challanged this conference for ratings or NY6 in five years and a program who lost the coach who ushered in their limited almost success. Those schools make nice stepping stones to BYU and make the west division contiguous if we want. Or flip Tulane for Navy and call it a day.

Yes to throwing a life vest to Army, who might be willing to make a scheduling alliance or join following this year. A team that has relationships previously with some schools here and maintained it positively as a conference member and then left for reasonable reasons. One that has a special relationship and has the one game that will be played and may have the students in attendance. So even if the season goes hard right offering or accepting them gets the conference mentioned even more in that game. A program the presidents would be tickled pink to welcome and who we know will be upholding the highest standards and can match what we do.

Cut blocks over nut shots is my vote this year.

(08-04-2020 01:37 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  Cut blocks over nut shots.

That's just a wise philosophy right there

(08-04-2020 01:24 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 12:55 PM)CaliWG Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:59 AM)pesik Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 10:51 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  No, that's is likely not the motivation at all. It is simply playing BYU is an upgrade to playing an OOC game against a weak G5 or FCS. And there is potential to make additional revenue. Obviously UH liked the idea, it's already a scheduled game.

additional revenue is a myth with no ground basis in reality..ESPN is 100% not going to negotiate to give anyone more money in the covid era especially for a recently signed new contract...its a myth you are spreading and a bad one

byu over the last 3 years- 7-6, 7-6. 4-9

and your UH point backs my point not yours...if you desire byu, just go schedule them individually...no mandate required

And yet in all that mediocrity they still managed to beat USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and an undefeated Boise State team, which allowed your Tigers to get into a NY6 bowl. The fact is that BYU is a dangerous team that would be in the mix for a conference title. And that isn't something you want to deal with, even if they raise the profile of the conference for a year.

this is a stupid take...are you just a byu homer???

1) my team "UH" isnt a contender this year i dont care who wins the title..and houston has byu scheduled..adding them would technically mean nothing to my team

2) if i thought byu was going to be elite and a title contender, id actually be for it and see the benefit of adding them...byu competing for a title and playing for something after their 1st loss is something that could motivate them to join a conference

--every preview magazine has already been released byu is not expected to be good or anywhere close to the ucf, memphis or smu

byu has random good wins..but has lost to 2 bottom feeding aac teams (usf and ecu) in those years aswell..
byu has little value in a 1 year addition..

also bring legitimate points not stupid arguments like "you are scared" --you are trying to make it seem like adding a projected 6-7 win team is the greatest thing for the aac..

This was in response to Atlanta, not you (still getting used to the board format). BYU's success as an Independent has basically ebbed and flowed with the health of its QB. During Independence BYU is 9-4 vs AAC teams. 3 of the 4 losses were with BYU's starting QB being injured, yet 3 of those losses still came down to the last possession (the other was just an awful BYU team). Saying BYU would be a mediocre AAC team shows you're only looking at the records and you aren't familiar with the team. Would BYU win the AAC? Probably not, but they'd be in the mix. And with the team they have coming back they would be in the upper echelon if they stay healthy. But at the very least, they provide some Tier 1 games for TV, which a G5 conference should never ignore. Plus they bring a new TV broadcast window, so they'd actually allow for more AAC games to be shown nationally.

(08-04-2020 01:41 PM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(08-04-2020 01:37 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  Cut blocks over nut shots.

That's just a wise philosophy right there

I agree. I have devised a scheduling plan to keep the Army Navy game seperate for an OOC arrangement and would prefer them in general especially if we only take one.

BYU is most likely necessary if we expand because money and they sit in a top program spot, especially if they start winning again. Taking both of them is probably the best options we have as as they are the valuable programs reasonably available and in Army's case decent in geography. Those are also likely the only programs who will add value to the conference for media money. Throw in Air Force makes sense to help travel and other smaller side benefits with scheduling etc.

Army is the only one of those scenarios that seems remotely realistic and then a ND scheduling alliance seems a more likely outcome from the offer and acceptance than any major change. Otherwise its nothing but longshots all around.

(08-04-2020 10:45 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  Stopped by Cougarboard. The general consensus, with few exceptions, seems to be that that the UMass's of the world exist somewhere in between the P5 and G5. They are mad at the Big 12 for not doing what we're discussing with them, and they poo poo a schedule with us. There are also a handful that would rather see the season cancelled for the whole league than have to put together a bad schedule at this point.

BYU seems to be Mac this year.

Anybody that has been paying attention isn't surprised.