(11-01-2023 12:50 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has been made comments about wanting to leave the MWC since 2019.

https://gazette.com/sports/air-force-coa...fb6ce.html

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun wonders if Mountain West is 'really a match' for Falcons

Quote:Calhoun had made several references to the topic prior to the season, particularly at a media gathering in Denver that included coaches from Colorado and Colorado State in which he suggested the Falcons might be better off in a different conference or no conference at all.

Quote:“We are in a league where, to be blunt, I don’t know if it’s the route maybe should go,” he said. “Yet for our guys, the way they played tonight and the preparation and just the focus all week long was pretty strong, which is a really strong indicator of the quality of the leadership that we have.”

Asked to clarify what he meant by the route they should go, he said, “I just don’t know if it’s really a match. I don’t know if it’s best. I don’t know if... Now, we are. And we’re lucky to be, just the quality of the schools of the other member institutions that are a part of it.”

Now, we are?

I have no idea what dude is saying, but as soon as OSU and WSU join or merge or whatever they are doing, the AAC dream can finally die.

(11-03-2023 07:13 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:50 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has been made comments about wanting to leave the MWC since 2019.

https://gazette.com/sports/air-force-coa...fb6ce.html

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun wonders if Mountain West is 'really a match' for Falcons

Quote:Calhoun had made several references to the topic prior to the season, particularly at a media gathering in Denver that included coaches from Colorado and Colorado State in which he suggested the Falcons might be better off in a different conference or no conference at all.

Quote:“We are in a league where, to be blunt, I don’t know if it’s the route maybe should go,” he said. “Yet for our guys, the way they played tonight and the preparation and just the focus all week long was pretty strong, which is a really strong indicator of the quality of the leadership that we have.”

Asked to clarify what he meant by the route they should go, he said, “I just don’t know if it’s really a match. I don’t know if it’s best. I don’t know if... Now, we are. And we’re lucky to be, just the quality of the schools of the other member institutions that are a part of it.”

Now, we are?

I have no idea what dude is saying, but as soon as OSU and WSU join or merge or whatever they are doing, the AAC dream can finally die.

WSU and OSU have already said they intent to stay the Pac-2.

Who knows if this merge ever happens.

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:17 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:11 PM)surrealpirate Wrote:  

(10-31-2023 08:27 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  Hopefully, none. I just don't get the fascination with the idea of putting all 3 military academies in one conference. Air Force will continue to play Army and Navy every year for the indefinite future. So it's not like there's any danger of those series ending.

IMO the value would be two-fold. You would be (1) bringing in another national brand and (2) with having all 3 academies, it would help to give the AAC an actual identity.

That said, I don't see an overwhelming amount of value the academies would get from having all 3 of them in one conference. It would free up an extra OOC game for Army and Navy, and 2 for Air Force (though those would likely get swallowed up scheduling the front range schools that didn't move with them). I could be overlooking some other obvious benefits though.

Military academies are also frugal. Army is using the extra money from the AAC to fund their stadium renovation. Plus, Army and Navy are in the regionally and academically sensible Patriot League otherwise.

AFA is a great fit in the MWC, plays traditional Front Range foes etc, and that's what their alumni want.

The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

(11-03-2023 07:56 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:17 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:11 PM)surrealpirate Wrote:  IMO the value would be two-fold. You would be (1) bringing in another national brand and (2) with having all 3 academies, it would help to give the AAC an actual identity.

That said, I don't see an overwhelming amount of value the academies would get from having all 3 of them in one conference. It would free up an extra OOC game for Army and Navy, and 2 for Air Force (though those would likely get swallowed up scheduling the front range schools that didn't move with them). I could be overlooking some other obvious benefits though.

Military academies are also frugal. Army is using the extra money from the AAC to fund their stadium renovation. Plus, Army and Navy are in the regionally and academically sensible Patriot League otherwise.

AFA is a great fit in the MWC, plays traditional Front Range foes etc, and that's what their alumni want.

The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

If that happens, I agree. Although, I don’t think that will happen.

(11-03-2023 07:56 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:17 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:11 PM)surrealpirate Wrote:  IMO the value would be two-fold. You would be (1) bringing in another national brand and (2) with having all 3 academies, it would help to give the AAC an actual identity.

That said, I don't see an overwhelming amount of value the academies would get from having all 3 of them in one conference. It would free up an extra OOC game for Army and Navy, and 2 for Air Force (though those would likely get swallowed up scheduling the front range schools that didn't move with them). I could be overlooking some other obvious benefits though.

Military academies are also frugal. Army is using the extra money from the AAC to fund their stadium renovation. Plus, Army and Navy are in the regionally and academically sensible Patriot League otherwise.

AFA is a great fit in the MWC, plays traditional Front Range foes etc, and that's what their alumni want.

The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

I don't think the donors and alumni who didn't want the move to the AAC to happen will be swayed if the scenario you describe here unfolds. For one thing, I don't think the NY6 bid means as much to them as the conference. For another, this G5 - NY6 regime is likely in its last year anyway.

But we'll see.

(11-03-2023 07:56 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

In my opinion, that shouldn't happen. You can't convince me that this 1-loss Tulane is better than this undefeated Air Force, yet.

If Air Force "donors and alumni" have anyone to blame, it's the person who scheduled Robert Morris and Sam Houston State as their 2 non-conference/non-academy games. Moving to another G5 conference won't help if you schedule an FCS and a CUSA as the only two opponents you have control over.

(11-03-2023 08:21 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:56 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:17 PM)esayem Wrote:  Military academies are also frugal. Army is using the extra money from the AAC to fund their stadium renovation. Plus, Army and Navy are in the regionally and academically sensible Patriot League otherwise.

AFA is a great fit in the MWC, plays traditional Front Range foes etc, and that's what their alumni want.

The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

I don't think the donors and alumni who didn't want the move to the AAC to happen will be swayed if the scenario you describe here unfolds. For one thing, I don't think the NY6 bid means as much to them as the conference. For another, this G5 - NY6 regime is likely in its last year anyway.

But we'll see.

Next year, the NY6 gets absorbed within the CFP, and the financial stakes get higher, if anything.

Seems like AFA football only to the AAC and AFA other sports to the WCC could work

Which of these two options would be a better fit for Air Force and/or Colorado State — the MWC's two easternmost schools — going forward?

AAC ................. MWC
*Army .............. Boise State
Charlotte .......... Fresno State
East Carolina ..... *Hawaii
FAU ................. .Nevada
Memphis ........... New Mexico
*Navy ............... Oregon State (?)
North Texas ....... San Diego State
Rice .................. San Jose State
Temple .............. UNLV
Tulsa ................. Utah State
Tulane ............... Washington State (?)
UAB .................. Wyoming
USF
UTSA

The schools in blue are potential call-ups to a super-sized Big XII or a rebooted ACC (Boise included for David St).

Hard to imagine San Diego State not being a part of Yormark's expansion plans at some point. What will an MWC with no presence in SoCal be worth as far as exposure and media rights goes when the league's TV contract is up for renewal in 2026?

And what happens to any MWC exit penalties with a Pac-12 reverse merger? Would such a maneuver provide AFA and any other school(s) a Get Out of Jail Free card? And won't WSU and OSU make sure any new Pac-12 will be structured so they're free to pursue any opportunities they might have as Big XII expansion candidates?

(11-03-2023 08:21 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:56 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-03-2023 07:09 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:23 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(11-01-2023 12:17 PM)esayem Wrote:  Military academies are also frugal. Army is using the extra money from the AAC to fund their stadium renovation. Plus, Army and Navy are in the regionally and academically sensible Patriot League otherwise.

AFA is a great fit in the MWC, plays traditional Front Range foes etc, and that's what their alumni want.

The AFA staff were EXTREMELY vocal about the displeasure of not moving to the AAC a few years back. Just wait until you hear the griping when they go undefeated and lose out the CCG to Tulane.

They were? The alumni and donors were extremely vocal about the potential move, and then it didn't happen.

Yes, and if an undefeated AFA misses the NY6 over a 1 loss Tulane, you are going to see some fur fly and those same "donors and alumni" are going to tuck tail and swear they never said that.

I don't think the donors and alumni who didn't want the move to the AAC to happen will be swayed if the scenario you describe here unfolds. For one thing, I don't think the NY6 bid means as much to them as the conference. For another, this G5 - NY6 regime is likely in its last year anyway.

But we'll see.

Oh, I dont think they will be swayed either. Those folks were so short-sighted that I dont know if they have the ability to know what they did.

But the overall fallout and finger pointing on them is going to be immense. I could see Calhoun getting in front of a microphone and having a Tommy West moment.