Official per ESPN

Sorry - I see the news in the large thread now. Mods, delete please?

Army needs to hitch their wagon to a conference they have a shot to win.

He knows that's not happening in the Sun Belt.

I like this title better lol.

(10-25-2023 12:50 PM)Eagle in the gym Wrote:  Sorry - I see the news in the large thread now. Mods, delete please?

Nah, I'm fine with this being a separate thread.

AAC is officially in desperation mode. Army does nothing to raise the bar.

(10-25-2023 01:12 PM)JCGSU Wrote:  AAC is officially in desperation mode. Army does nothing to raise the bar.

Solid for brand and TV numbers. Absolutely meh at best for the on field product.

(10-25-2023 01:12 PM)JCGSU Wrote:  AAC is officially in desperation mode. Army does nothing to raise the bar.

Army is a program the AAC has been trying to add the entire existence of the AAC. Army is a program they would have proactively added without losing members if they would have said yes at the time. This is actually the first time in AAC history they actually landed the top option they wanted to land. Liberty is a desperation add, Army is the add the league has dreamed about since day 1.

Yeah this is probably a good move for the AAC in terms of keeping the TV dollars high enough to keep the member schools happy. It does nothing for the product, which is an issue they'll have to continue to focus on, but at least ESPN probably won't rip up their contract yet.

Will be interesting to see what the cut of the money Army will get. Can't imagine them taking less than Navy but that would put them above all of the CUSA 6. Don't see the CUSA 6 being thrilled with that either.

(10-25-2023 01:46 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yeah this is probably a good move for the AAC in terms of keeping the TV dollars high enough to keep the member schools happy. It does nothing for the product, which is an issue they'll have to continue to focus on, but at least ESPN probably won't rip up their contract yet.

I don't think ECU is going to be paid $7M/year by ESPN when a new TV deal is negotiated in ~2030-2031, and I don't think Army changes that.

If this is the dream product since day 1 for the AAC it shows why that conference has issues.

(10-25-2023 02:29 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(10-25-2023 01:46 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yeah this is probably a good move for the AAC in terms of keeping the TV dollars high enough to keep the member schools happy. It does nothing for the product, which is an issue they'll have to continue to focus on, but at least ESPN probably won't rip up their contract yet.

I don't think ECU is going to be paid $7M/year by ESPN when a new TV deal is negotiated in ~2030-2031, and I don't think Army changes that.

Oh I agree. I'm talking more about the ability of ESPN to renegotiate the terms prior to 2030.

It's a good pull for the AAC I think. Great brand to have in the conference. Their performance in football won't be that big of a boon but Army is always a good draw for opposing team's home teams. AAC seems to be stable for thru the end of the decade for now.

Go Army! Go AAC!

(10-25-2023 02:29 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(10-25-2023 01:46 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yeah this is probably a good move for the AAC in terms of keeping the TV dollars high enough to keep the member schools happy. It does nothing for the product, which is an issue they'll have to continue to focus on, but at least ESPN probably won't rip up their contract yet.

I don't think ECU is going to be paid $7M/year by ESPN when a new TV deal is negotiated in ~2030-2031, and I don't think Army changes that.

That $7mill isn't doing anything for their AD anyway. Hell they can brag about the money all they want, but it means nothing if you can't win. Casual fans don't tune in to watch boring football.

(10-25-2023 12:52 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  Army needs to hitch their wagon to a conference they have a shot to win.

He knows that's not happening in the Sun Belt.

They definitely have name recognition, but all the rule changes have killed what they do.

Good add for them. Although Army is 0-2 against the SBC, they *are* 1-0 against the Neu AAC.

Good add for the AAC. Fits their brand/model and promotes G5 stability.

(10-25-2023 03:04 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(10-25-2023 02:29 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(10-25-2023 01:46 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yeah this is probably a good move for the AAC in terms of keeping the TV dollars high enough to keep the member schools happy. It does nothing for the product, which is an issue they'll have to continue to focus on, but at least ESPN probably won't rip up their contract yet.

I don't think ECU is going to be paid $7M/year by ESPN when a new TV deal is negotiated in ~2030-2031, and I don't think Army changes that.

That $7mill isn't doing anything for their AD anyway. Hell they can brag about the money all they want, but it means nothing if you can't win. Casual fans don't tune in to watch boring football.

I'd love to know what they're doing with that money, because it's such a big talking point when it comes to ECU's future conference alignment.

If teams making $2M-$3.5M are constantly beating you, it feels like the extra money is being wasted to me.