American Athletic Conference

[ICTShockerFan]

I guess Tulsa's RPI is #93, top 100 at least which is better than I thought. I guess I was gauging that comment based on their current lack of support.

I drove down for the game this year, got front row tickets for $14 a piece a week prior to find a mostly empty arena. It seemed many of the fans that where there where Shocker fans. Oh, and a ranked team that made the final four was in town.

Hard to consider a program with such little support a rival, I guess was more where my comment was intended.

[calfan]

As we think about the possibilities, here is an article you might find helpful to consider:

https://blogs.emory.edu/sportsmarketing/hot-topics/conference-realignment/

[GiantHouston]

1. Navy is fully comited to the AAC... Nothing it's change on their side or the AAC

2. As for why the AAC schedule is on hold;

Bearcats Partly To Blame For Holding Up AAC Football*Schedule
By Matt Opper on Mar 4 2014, 9:55a

The problem for UC is this. In an effort to ramp up the Bearcats strength of schedule with an eye towards competing for the group of five spot in the access bowls the Bearcats dropped their opener with Stony Brook for a road match up with Miami (the good one). Dropping Stony Brook was obviously the right decision, but it has put the Bearcats in a bind with completing the schedule.

As it currently stands the Bearcats will have a bye during the first and second weeks of the season, making the week three tilt with the Toledo Rockets the first game of the season for UC. Making things worse the Bearcats third bye of the season is likely to come before the contest with Miami (FL), meaning that UC would have to play nine straight weeks to close out the season.

You would expect UC officials to be diligently working behind the scenes to address that, and they are trying to do just that. The Bearcats are even willing to play a conference road game in week 1 to avoid that fate. So far that work has come to little. Tulane would likely be the conference road game, but they are worried that construction of their on campus stadium will not be completed in time. With no other recourse easily foreseeable its safe to say that this schedule isn't doing the Bearcats any favors.


3. Mike Aresco has not publicly announce the addition of a 12th Olympic athletic sport member, yet... However, several rumors besides 12th member, considering even going to 14 member conference... Nice!!

Having said all that, there's a very good possibility after the 14 football season is over, the AAC may narrow down it's top targets, IMHO.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

[GiantHouston]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

The agreement between the AAC and Navy is for football only.

[Shock Top]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

Don't soil our fun... :/ haha

[Play Angry]

It has been fascinating to follow the conversation on other boards like the MWC and AAC this year re: adding Wichita State.


The tone on both of them was decidedly against at the beginning of the year. Last year's Final Four was a fluke, go for Gonzaga (MWC)/VCU (AAC) instead, so on and so forth.

Now, pretty much all but one absurd poster (who champions Denver instead of WSU) on the MWC site support adding the Shocks and doing it sooner than later, lest we get gobbled up by the A-10. UNLV fans seem especially supportive (along with CSU and New Mexico fans), while San Jose State fans are unsurprisingly the least excited about adding an eastern member.


The AAC board still seems to have a lot of dismissive detractors when it comes to adding us. Football really, really dominates the discussion on that board, which is sorta ironic since all but one or two schools there are totally irrelevant in football.



Message boards are of course a poor barometer to judge our odds of escape and the final destination. But, judging from the internet wastelands, we are more broadly viewed as a palatable option in the West.

[Shock Top]

Best reason(s) for AAC: closer schools, better baseball, old rivals

Best reason(s) for MWC: Vegas conference tourney, ...

(Sorry, my mind has already wonder off course on the thought of a Vegas tourney. I am sure their are other selling points as well)

[Rlh04d]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

Navy, supposedly, isn't interested in the rest of their programs. Competitively they're better matched to their current conference.

[Rlh04d]

Wichita State
Gonzaga
UMass

Gonzaga? In Washington?

Hell of a travel.

Five hour flight from Wichita alone, let alone the eastern members.

[WuDrWu]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

Seriously? Go away. You aren't welcome here.

[ShockerFever]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football? Is there any chance they just decide to take in all of Navy's programs?

Georgetown? Ouch.

[WSUwatcher]

Why is the AAC bringing in only Navy football?

Because that's what Navy wants?

Your question makes it sound like the conference is the one in the driver's seat and Navy is the supplicant. Come on, get serious -- how likely is that?

[GiantHouston]

Gonzaga? In Washington?

Hell of a travel.

Five hour flight from Wichita alone, let alone the eastern members.

I agree... That's quite a travel for some... But not if the AAC goes to 14 or 16 like many of us believe it will hence the SEC/14, ACC/14 and BIG/14 with Rutgers and Maryland, have...The BIG is even considering going to 16.

Realignment is far fom over.

Regardless who goes where, Wichita State in the AAC is sexy... You guys bring good basketball, baseballl and new market to AAC table, perfect fit for our west division, IMHO.

AAC
West Division

Houston
SMU
Memphis
Wichita State
Tulane
Tulsa
Navy

[Perezident]

I agree... That's quite a travel for some... But not if the AAC goes to 14 or 16 like many of us believe it will hence the SEC/14, ACC/14 and BIG/14 with Rutgers and Maryland, have...The BIG is even considering going to 16.

Realignment is far fom over.

Regardless who goes where, Wichita State in the AAC is sexy... You guys bring good basketball, baseballl and new market to AAC table, perfect fit for our west division, IMHO.

AAC
West Division

Houston
SMU
Memphis
Wichita State
Tulane
Tulsa
Navy

I'm sold! Where do I sign?