AAC Re-Alignment

[malonish]

In theory, one could have 5 people show up physically to games and still get plenty of TV dollars. But no doubt attendance and viewership are generally correlated.

[ponyboy]

That's a great point.

[Charleston Pony]

Adding all those western teams might allow for a better TV deal that might actually increase per team revenues because we could cover all time zones for ESPN and CBS but why do I think a 14 team coast to coast conference smells too much like the failed WAC 16?

[SMUstang]

The WAC 16 wasn't funded properly. It attempted to provide a home for all the homeless. And there was too much discord among some of it's members. It wouldn't surprise me if the WAC brought football back. WATCH TWITTER TOMORROW.

[AusTxPony]

I always thought it was a bit ahead of its time. Not a bad conference in today's world if Houston replaced Rice. Especially with so many 14 team conferences around.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

WAC 96 - The sun never sets on the WAC!

[Charleston Pony]

WAC was not a good home for SMU or at least is wasn't for those of us living on the east coast. I'm not wild about playing in a western division of the American where games at SDSU would start at 10:00 eastern time, or even later but I do agree going to 14 and adding SDSU, Boise and one other (either Air Force or UNLV) might enhance the American as a coast to coast conference

[SMUstang]

I think we'll see Boise State, BYU and Air Force in the conference, plus a good bit more money per school, when they work out the details, which will take some time because there's a lot to resolve. But the end result for the American, and the individual schools, will be worth it.

[Dukie]

Adding all those western teams might allow for a better TV deal that might actually increase per team revenues because we could cover all time zones for ESPN and CBS but why do I think a 14 team coast to coast conference smells too much like the failed WAC 16?

The schools/teams that would be in an expanded AAC in 2020 are miles ahead of where the WAC 16 was. Never mind that SMU, TCU, and Rice were absolutely reeling at the time. New Mexico, San Jose State, UTEP, Wyoming ... far too many weak sisters with tiny TV markets.

[SMUstang]

If the rumors on twitter are right, it's just a matter of time until the American is a true P6 14 team conference.

[ponyboy]

That would not suck.

[Dukie]

If the rumors on twitter are right, it's just a matter of time until the American is a true P6 14 team conference.

I can't deal with the twattering machine. What is being said? Thx!

[SMUstang]

Just one of the tweets.

Great read! Devil is always in the details. I wonder if collectively BSU, BYU and Air Force would hitch their wagons together to the AAC and do a East-West thing? PAC 12 won’t happen. Big 12 unlikely. Indy can’t survive.

[SMU_Alum11]

Just one of the tweets.

Great read! Devil is always in the details. I wonder if collectively BSU, BYU and Air Force would hitch their wagons together to the AAC and do a East-West thing? PAC 12 won’t happen. Big 12 unlikely. Indy can’t survive.

I rather have San Diego st one of three considered teams. Mainly because I like to travel to SD over the others.

[Dukie]

Just one of the tweets.

Great read! Devil is always in the details. I wonder if collectively BSU, BYU and Air Force would hitch their wagons together to the AAC and do a East-West thing? PAC 12 won’t happen. Big 12 unlikely. Indy can’t survive.

Thanks. Interesting idea. This is cutthroat, and I realize even two years ago SMU would have been on the wrong side of the cut, but the best way to get all three might be creating a new 12-team, all-sports league and deciding who in the current AAC would not be invited (hi, ECU). Or figuring out how to keep Navy but otherwise shrinking things.