American Athletic Conference

[shocks02]

Speaking of Loyola, why did they send ONE cheerleader to the women's mvc tourney? I mean, it was a nice story line to read that the WSU cheer squad let her cheer with them, but where is this huge athletic budget Elgin and Loyola were bragging about? Thanks for the help on making the conference look even worse.... :/

Something about conflicting class schedules.

[Dave Stalwart]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

I had never thought about Stone Cold Stephen F Austin. That's not bad. When the AAC collapses within 5 years becaues UCONN, Memphis, SMU and Cincinnati all leave for the power 5, maybe we could welcome Tulsa, SFA, Murray State and Temple.

[ShockTalk]

I understand that the AAC is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking. Staying in the MVC also carries great risk. When you leave money in a savings account, you risk inflation outpacing you. Going to the AAC is like betting on a stock in this analogy.

Except in this case the savings account is much more risky than the stock. More like a combination of different kinds of mutual funds. If there is a fall out, I'm not as concerned about the landing.

[_kai_]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

Not like there are better alternatives west of the Missouri, but the last thing WSU needs is to have yet another school added to the MVC where it increases our travel distance. We get screwed being the western outlier at every turn.

[ShockBand]

Speaking of Loyola, why did they send ONE cheerleader to the women's mvc tourney? I mean, it was a nice story line to read that the WSU cheer squad let her cheer with them, but where is this huge athletic budget Elgin and Loyola were bragging about? Thanks for the help on making the conference look even worse.... :/

Conflicts with midterms. Academics first means priorities are right.

[Rlh04d]

How often do you watch AAC, Atl-10, or even Big Least? :playful:

My concern about the AAC is it's stability. If they could, Memphis, Cincinnati, and UConn would bolt. I do like what could make up a western division if that went that way.

I don't think your concern is that several teams would bolt if they could. Your concern is that those teams realistically could bolt.

The top teams in the Big East, the MWC, the A10, etc., etc., etc. would all bolt if they could. The only thing that makes those conferences more stable is that they're less likely to have the opportunity to do so. The AAC isn't stable because we all know the ACC and Big 12 aren't done expanding, and those teams will be targets when the next wave of realignment happens.

Hell, every team in the Big 12 would bolt if they could. There is not one team in the Big 12 that wouldn't leave for the SEC, B1G, ACC, or Pac-12 if they had the chance. Yet not one of us would consider not joining the B12 for even a second.

Just like the MVC isn't stable because our teams wouldn't bolt if they could. Every MVC team would leave with half a chance. It's stable because none of us have relevant football teams or massive markets that would make us major targets in realignment.

[Shockerman]

It has to be AAC or bust for us. The only real threat to leave is UCONN to either the B1G or ACC. The positives far outweigh the Risk. Being in a conference with Tulsa, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane and Cincinnati can only be considered a positive. Currently, the AAC is the "6th" conference outside of the P5 and has 3 former BCS members. I will take my chances with them over a somewhat ever decreasing Valley. Especially with Swomo and ISUr with one foot out the door. Because then here comes UMKC and ORU.

[capnkirk]

The worst part of being in the valley is the fact that every school that has left has been replaced with a lesser quality school in terms of sports teams.

[pinstripers]

The worst part of being in the valley is the fact that every school that has left has been replaced with a lesser quality school in terms of sports teams.

Good God..........how true

[Shock Top]

WHEN the Shox knock off the Beakers, conferences might think about pulling the trigger.

One can hope.

[RoyalShock]

WHEN the Shox knock off the Beakers, conferences might think about pulling the trigger.

One can hope.

I don't want any part of a conference that would decide to offer an invite based off of one basketball game.

[adollably]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZlwSOZVwNs

[Dave Stalwart]

I don't want any part of a conference that would decide to offer an invite based off of one basketball game.

I DO. We are in the MVC... :)

[Shock Top]

I don't want any part of a conference that would decide to offer an invite based off of one basketball game.

It's not just because of THAT game, but I believe it could be the potential tipping point on the scale.

[_kai_]

But wouldn't an AAC even without UCONN or Memphis still be more attractive than the MVC?

I've seen people say "the worst thing about the MVC is xxxx" but to me, the worst thing about the MVC is the glaringly obvious bottom feeders who not only don't have the means to invest money, but not even a desire to. One of the better universities in the MVC in terms of athletics is UNI and they dropped Baseball. I see a lot of these MVC football schools also putting money investment into their football programs while their basketball programs still are stagnant. What do you think their goal is with investing in their football program? Dominating the MVC Football Conference? Probably not, it's probably to make themselves more desirable to D-1 football conferences.

My biggest fear is that we lose a couple more current MVC members to D-1 football, and we replace those schools with worse teams than are already in the MVC. And I guarantee you that they will not be looking for teams west of Springfield, MO. We will and will always be the farthest western team, and my guess would be that the MVC would rather expand even further East and we pick up a school where now we travel 800-1000 miles for some piece of crap program.