(10-28-2021 11:51 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 10:00 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:57 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:40 PM)Monarch Pride Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:29 PM)goliath74 Wrote:  Are you saying that if AAC chose ODU, you would not go? Or are you salty that you weren't in their place?

Do you really think we didn’t get offered?

Yes, as should you. No CUSA team was turning down the AAC invite.

Why? Because everyone knew if they didn’t someone else would.

This is also the reason ODU took the SBC invite, they knew if they didn’t WKU would and they’d be left with four others.

ODU has held for years they wanted a more regional conference. AAC with the new adds doesn't fit that bill. They tried to hold CUSA together by adding JMU and Liberty, but that failed for multiple rumored reasons. So they got as close as feasible to what they wanted. Same division as 6 other schools within driving distance. Enough to minimize crossover games and thus travel and clustered together enough to avoid a "travel partner" scheme (hopefully) that takes the student athletes off campus and out of the classroom for 4-5 days on road trips. And once Memphis, SMU, and Wichita leave... all of which are scheming, ODU is in a better conference in terms of athletic performance. So while I could sit here and cherrypick scenarios where we could have ended up better than we did, joining 6 far flung schools that our fans don't care about in the AAC while anyone there of significance is scheming to get out, in exchange for similar money to they are getting anyway, isn't one of them.

I keep seeing this argument that the AAC is more "far flung" than the SB for ODU. I just dont see it, unless the AAC would require more cross-divisional play. The SB is definitely better than CUSA in that regard, but the AAC and SB seem about the same. I guess the AAC requires one more flight but its not that different.

SB East to ODU
App- 5.5 hr
CCU- 5.5 hr
JMU- 3.5 hr
Marshall- 7+ hr
GSU- Flight
GaSo- Flight

AAC East to ODU

Temple- 5 hr
ECU -2+ hr
UNCC- 5 hr
Navy- 4hr (technically in west)
UAB-Flight
USF- Flight
FAU- Flight

Navy is football only. My concern with travel is with basketball and olympic sports. Also doubt we fly to the Georgia schools. We didn't even fly to UAB and MTSU in CUSA. I am under the impression that with the SB setup, for basketball, only 3 out of 18 games will be outside driving distance, assuming we play our division twice and have 6 crossover games (3 home, 3 road).

(10-28-2021 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 11:51 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 10:00 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:57 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:40 PM)Monarch Pride Wrote:  Do you really think we didn’t get offered?

Yes, as should you. No CUSA team was turning down the AAC invite.

Why? Because everyone knew if they didn’t someone else would.

This is also the reason ODU took the SBC invite, they knew if they didn’t WKU would and they’d be left with four others.

ODU has held for years they wanted a more regional conference. AAC with the new adds doesn't fit that bill. They tried to hold CUSA together by adding JMU and Liberty, but that failed for multiple rumored reasons. So they got as close as feasible to what they wanted. Same division as 6 other schools within driving distance. Enough to minimize crossover games and thus travel and clustered together enough to avoid a "travel partner" scheme (hopefully) that takes the student athletes off campus and out of the classroom for 4-5 days on road trips. And once Memphis, SMU, and Wichita leave... all of which are scheming, ODU is in a better conference in terms of athletic performance. So while I could sit here and cherrypick scenarios where we could have ended up better than we did, joining 6 far flung schools that our fans don't care about in the AAC while anyone there of significance is scheming to get out, in exchange for similar money to they are getting anyway, isn't one of them.

I keep seeing this argument that the AAC is more "far flung" than the SB for ODU. I just dont see it, unless the AAC would require more cross-divisional play. The SB is definitely better than CUSA in that regard, but the AAC and SB seem about the same. I guess the AAC requires one more flight but its not that different.

SB East to ODU
App- 5.5 hr
CCU- 5.5 hr
JMU- 3.5 hr
Marshall- 7+ hr
GSU- Flight
GaSo- Flight

AAC East to ODU

Temple- 5 hr
ECU -2+ hr
UNCC- 5 hr
Navy- 4hr (technically in west)
UAB-Flight
USF- Flight
FAU- Flight

Navy is football only. My concern with travel is with basketball and olympic sports. Also doubt we fly to the Georgia schools. We didn't even fly to UAB and MTSU in CUSA. I am under the impression that with the SB setup, for basketball, only 3 out of 18 games will be outside driving distance, assuming we play our division twice and have 6 crossover games (3 home, 3 road).

If true, that is a good setup. There are definitely ways to make it better for everyone if all the schools are committed to reducing travel, reducing time out of class and fostering rivalries. These SunBelt leaders and schools seem to understand that.

(10-28-2021 12:20 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 11:51 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(10-28-2021 10:00 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 09:57 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Yes, as should you. No CUSA team was turning down the AAC invite.

Why? Because everyone knew if they didn’t someone else would.

This is also the reason ODU took the SBC invite, they knew if they didn’t WKU would and they’d be left with four others.

ODU has held for years they wanted a more regional conference. AAC with the new adds doesn't fit that bill. They tried to hold CUSA together by adding JMU and Liberty, but that failed for multiple rumored reasons. So they got as close as feasible to what they wanted. Same division as 6 other schools within driving distance. Enough to minimize crossover games and thus travel and clustered together enough to avoid a "travel partner" scheme (hopefully) that takes the student athletes off campus and out of the classroom for 4-5 days on road trips. And once Memphis, SMU, and Wichita leave... all of which are scheming, ODU is in a better conference in terms of athletic performance. So while I could sit here and cherrypick scenarios where we could have ended up better than we did, joining 6 far flung schools that our fans don't care about in the AAC while anyone there of significance is scheming to get out, in exchange for similar money to they are getting anyway, isn't one of them.

I keep seeing this argument that the AAC is more "far flung" than the SB for ODU. I just dont see it, unless the AAC would require more cross-divisional play. The SB is definitely better than CUSA in that regard, but the AAC and SB seem about the same. I guess the AAC requires one more flight but its not that different.

SB East to ODU
App- 5.5 hr
CCU- 5.5 hr
JMU- 3.5 hr
Marshall- 7+ hr
GSU- Flight
GaSo- Flight

AAC East to ODU

Temple- 5 hr
ECU -2+ hr
UNCC- 5 hr
Navy- 4hr (technically in west)
UAB-Flight
USF- Flight
FAU- Flight

Navy is football only. My concern with travel is with basketball and olympic sports. Also doubt we fly to the Georgia schools. We didn't even fly to UAB and MTSU in CUSA. I am under the impression that with the SB setup, for basketball, only 3 out of 18 games will be outside driving distance, assuming we play our division twice and have 6 crossover games (3 home, 3 road).

If true, that is a good setup. There are definitely ways to make it better for everyone if all the schools are committed to reducing travel, reducing time out of class and fostering rivalries. These SunBelt leaders and schools seem to understand that.

I'm hoping so. If the Belt moves to a "travel partner" setup like we had in CUSA with 4-5 day road trips and blurry or weak divisional lines, I will be disappointed.

(10-23-2021 10:22 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:18 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Imo I think ODU is the school who said they didn't want to get into debt to get into the AAC. I also think ODU made the right choice by going to the SB. The SB will be the best G5 football league in a few years.

Based on what evidence?

Look at the AAC added and you'll find it.

(10-28-2021 12:28 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:22 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:18 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Imo I think ODU is the school who said they didn't want to get into debt to get into the AAC. I also think ODU made the right choice by going to the SB. The SB will be the best G5 football league in a few years.

Based on what evidence?

Look at the AAC added and you'll find it.

At what point does the AAC become the current CUSA. Adding as many members as they did from CUSA won't do them any favors after a couple more current AAC teams leave.

(10-28-2021 12:28 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:22 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:18 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Imo I think ODU is the school who said they didn't want to get into debt to get into the AAC. I also think ODU made the right choice by going to the SB. The SB will be the best G5 football league in a few years.

Based on what evidence?

Look at the AAC added and you'll find it.

I honestly think the MWC has claim to that title. That is not meant to be a slight at the Sunbelt who will be better than the new CUSA and possibly the new AAC.

(10-28-2021 12:28 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:22 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(10-23-2021 10:18 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Imo I think ODU is the school who said they didn't want to get into debt to get into the AAC. I also think ODU made the right choice by going to the SB. The SB will be the best G5 football league in a few years.

Based on what evidence?

Look at the AAC added and you'll find it.

The AAC will be losing all or most of its good teams in the near future. Id put App, CCU, Marshall, and Louisiana up against ECU, FAU, UAB and UTSA any day. It will at worst be equal, and likely advantage SBC. Of course thats after Memphis, SMU, and USF are gone too. The MWC will likely be the conference to beat.