The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-16-2021 03:08 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Let's look at it and assume Boise and Memphis are off the board

West
San Diego State - GOOD
Colorado State - NOT GOOD
Air Force - NOT GOOD
SMU - GOOD
Tulsa - OK
Navy* / Wichita State - NAVY is not good
(Boise State)

East
South Florida -NOT GOOD
East Carolina - OK
Temple - NOT GOOD
Tulane - GOOD
UAB
(Memphis)
need another team -- FAU? Marshall?

Is that enough to still make it happen? Strong enough to warrant the TV deal to support stretching from coast to coast?

I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

(09-16-2021 03:33 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:30 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:27 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 02:48 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 02:43 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  How do they not make sense? Air Force, Colorado State, and San Diego state are better than anything we currently have west of the Mississippi. Even if Boise and Memphis bounce, the core is still solid. That also gives some time to sort out the next schools to target, because right now there is no clear cut favorite in my mind.

Air Force is a bit of a drag in basketball, but San Diego state, Colorado state, and noise were all in the top 51 NET rankings last year.

They don't make sense without Boise. Traveling across the country wouldn't make sense for them, either. The TV value isn't there without Boise State. But Boise isn't joining the AAC without a West Coast division, if they join AAC at all. It has to be all 4 or probably not at all.

If you take all 4 Mtn West candidates that puts you at 12. With the article saying "Boise State and UAB have been discussed most prominently among the five expansion candidates" that makes me think the Plan A is UAB + 3 from the Mtn West. So of the 4 Mtn West schools listed, only 3 would get invited if Plan A succeeds.

Actually the 4 MWC teams would put the AAC at 11 with UAB being #12 for football. Remember Wichita is only a basketball member.

Memphis
SMU
Tulane
Tulsa
ECU
Temple
USF
Navy/Wichita

That's 8 in both football and basketball. They only need 4 adds to have 12 in football and basketball.

Yup. Forgot Navy. Well I guess we'll see where the chips fall. I much rather prefer the lineup with the MWC schools over any CUSA school. Matter of fact, the only CUSA school I would want in the AAC with UAB is UTSA.

If you're the AAC, you have to shoot this shot even if you miss.

Strategically, though, I think you could end up regretting not taking a bite out of the Belt.

Sun Belt's bottom third is very weak but the top is pretty good in football, and very entertaining, and would be strengthened considerably if they could pry 2-4 from C-USA somehow.

If the AAC took 3 teams from the Mtn West I could see them adding Rice, UNT, and UTSA. Then I wouldn't be surprised to see USM, Marshall, FAU, and Charlotte look to the Sun Belt.

(09-16-2021 03:52 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  If you're the AAC, you have to shoot this shot even if you miss.

Strategically, though, I think you could end up regretting not taking a bite out of the Belt.

Sun Belt's bottom third is very weak but the top is pretty good in football, and very entertaining, and would be strengthened considerably if they could pry 2-4 from C-USA somehow.

You're right. Aresco can say he tried.

I believe Memphis and Boise will be announced going to the Big 12 as soon as the date for TX and OK is decided.

While I have always thought grabbing MW teams was next to impossible, this article makes it seem like a real possibility. Honestly, I would be really excited about that lineup. AAC currently has 5 eastern-based teams left (Temple, USF, Memphis, Tulane, & ECU) they only need 1. If they can get 3 MW teams, make sure that Olympic sports travel is mainly divisional, and keep the $7 million paydays... It would be HUGE! We would play the 5 eastern-based teams every year and 3 from (Boise St, SMU, Tulsa, Air Force, Navy, Col St) with only 1-2 on the road. Imagine... Boise St, Air Force, Navy... coming to Protective Stadium... yeah that will sell a few tickets.

(09-16-2021 04:07 PM)ICB Wrote:  While I have always thought grabbing MW teams was next to impossible, this article makes it seem like a real possibility. Honestly, I would be really excited about that lineup. AAC currently has 5 eastern-based teams left (Temple, USF, Memphis, Tulane, & ECU) they only need 1. If they can get 3 MW teams, make sure that Olympic sports travel is mainly divisional, and keep the $7 million paydays... It would be HUGE! We would play the 5 eastern-based teams every year and 3 from (Boise St, SMU, Tulsa, Air Force, Navy, Col St) with only 1-2 on the road. Imagine... Boise St, Air Force, Navy... coming to Protective Stadium... yeah that will sell a few tickets.

Agreed. If the AAC can pull this off it would be a huge step forward for UAB.

Another thing to consider is if ESPN is willing to guarantee the $7M payout stays the same as a way to attract the top of the MWC, then they would effectively have a monopoly on the top of the G5. Move UAB and the top 3 MWC teams into the AAC and have complete control of AAC and Sun Belt. MWC leftovers take a step back and CUSA becomes even more of an afterthought.

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:08 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Let's look at it and assume Boise and Memphis are off the board

West
San Diego State - GOOD
Colorado State - NOT GOOD
Air Force - NOT GOOD
SMU - GOOD
Tulsa - OK
Navy* / Wichita State - NAVY is not good
(Boise State)

East
South Florida -NOT GOOD
East Carolina - OK
Temple - NOT GOOD
Tulane - GOOD
UAB
(Memphis)
need another team -- FAU? Marshall?

Is that enough to still make it happen? Strong enough to warrant the TV deal to support stretching from coast to coast?

I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

What are you using to classify good and not good?

(09-16-2021 04:49 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:08 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Let's look at it and assume Boise and Memphis are off the board

West
San Diego State - GOOD
Colorado State - NOT GOOD
Air Force - NOT GOOD
SMU - GOOD
Tulsa - OK
Navy* / Wichita State - NAVY is not good
(Boise State)

East
South Florida -NOT GOOD
East Carolina - OK
Temple - NOT GOOD
Tulane - GOOD
UAB
(Memphis)
need another team -- FAU? Marshall?

Is that enough to still make it happen? Strong enough to warrant the TV deal to support stretching from coast to coast?

I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

What are you using to classify good and not good?

Looks like football. Which is not solely our focus. Sunbelt does nothing for us in hoops.

Looks like Mountain west schools are getting $4 mil from current tv revenue. AAC is getting $7 mil.

AAC is going to have to convince MWC schools that it’s not going to be a lateral move from that standpoint because we know aac deal is going to take a huge renegotiated paycut. MWC deal is up in 2024-25 or 26, I think. That’s with cbs sports and FS1

(09-16-2021 04:49 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:08 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Let's look at it and assume Boise and Memphis are off the board

West
San Diego State - GOOD
Colorado State - NOT GOOD
Air Force - NOT GOOD
SMU - GOOD
Tulsa - OK
Navy* / Wichita State - NAVY is not good
(Boise State)

East
South Florida -NOT GOOD
East Carolina - OK
Temple - NOT GOOD
Tulane - GOOD
UAB
(Memphis)
need another team -- FAU? Marshall?

Is that enough to still make it happen? Strong enough to warrant the TV deal to support stretching from coast to coast?

I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

What are you using to classify good and not good?

How I view their football program. Basketball wasn't involved. Big 12 said their decision was 75% football and 25% basketball. It's open for debate.

(09-16-2021 04:38 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:07 PM)ICB Wrote:  While I have always thought grabbing MW teams was next to impossible, this article makes it seem like a real possibility. Honestly, I would be really excited about that lineup. AAC currently has 5 eastern-based teams left (Temple, USF, Memphis, Tulane, & ECU) they only need 1. If they can get 3 MW teams, make sure that Olympic sports travel is mainly divisional, and keep the $7 million paydays... It would be HUGE! We would play the 5 eastern-based teams every year and 3 from (Boise St, SMU, Tulsa, Air Force, Navy, Col St) with only 1-2 on the road. Imagine... Boise St, Air Force, Navy... coming to Protective Stadium... yeah that will sell a few tickets.

Agreed. If the AAC can pull this off it would be a huge step forward for UAB.

Another thing to consider is if ESPN is willing to guarantee the $7M payout stays the same as a way to attract the top of the MWC, then they would effectively have a monopoly on the top of the G5. Move UAB and the top 3 MWC teams into the AAC and have complete control of AAC and Sun Belt. MWC leftovers take a step back and CUSA becomes even more of an afterthought.

Great point. That incentive for espn becomes even stronger if they can then move Southern Miss and Marshall to the Sun Belt.

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

I would call the Sun Belt the "lil guy" version of the SEC. It's a good regional conference that plays a level of football that is above most of the other G5 conferences and the AAC without the three members leaving. I would love it for football but it would absolutely kill our basketball program. CUSA Basketball is average, the SBC is blah!

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

I have an idea you'd like then: SMU to the 'Belt and UAB takes their place in the AAC.

(09-16-2021 05:01 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:49 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:40 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:08 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Let's look at it and assume Boise and Memphis are off the board

West
San Diego State - GOOD
Colorado State - NOT GOOD
Air Force - NOT GOOD
SMU - GOOD
Tulsa - OK
Navy* / Wichita State - NAVY is not good
(Boise State)

East
South Florida -NOT GOOD
East Carolina - OK
Temple - NOT GOOD
Tulane - GOOD
UAB
(Memphis)
need another team -- FAU? Marshall?

Is that enough to still make it happen? Strong enough to warrant the TV deal to support stretching from coast to coast?

I'm starting to rethink this AAC. Let's compare it to joining the Sun Belt.

APP St - GOOD
Louisiana - GOOD
Coastal Carolina - GOOD
GA Southern - Fair
GA State - Never know
Troy - Respectable
Ark State - Fair
South AL - Fair
TX State - Not good
ULM - Not good
#11 UAB
#12 ?

Not sure?

Travel is so much better if in the Belt.

What are you using to classify good and not good?

How I view their football program. Basketball wasn't involved. Big 12 said their decision was 75% football and 25% basketball. It's open for debate.

So Air Force is not good because? They have three ten win seasons in the last 7 years.

Navy is not good because? South Florida?

Are we just going off like the past year or two for these teams?

Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly across country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.


*note to self- don’t try to post a comment after waking from a nap.

(09-16-2021 07:09 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:58 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 06:40 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Travel is also better in the A sun or SWAC.

Focus

If you are flying, what difference does it really make at that point? I think a lot of folks get to hung up on travel.

It’s easier to drive to a close proximity and have a good showing from your base on the road than to have to fly cross country and worrying about a rental car or an Uber with a complete stranger, and a hotel. Fans do want to go to games on the road.

Isn’t just about team travel expenses, to fans.

All we’ve got in cusa to choose from right now is MTSU and USM for a reasonable drive. Trying to make it just as hard if not harder in AAC.

At least sunbelt has a regional feel.

Are we willing to continue to have empty stadiums across the conference due to that non traveling base issue?
I don’t guess any of us have a choice at this point.

Birmingham is shrinking and we already have trouble getting folks to our games.

How many people travelled to mtsu? Lol who cares I’d rather play in the better conference which is by far the AAC

That’s what I was getting at. We are already traveling long distances. Short of really regionalizing everything, we aren’t going to have drives me opponents no matter the conference.