Should The American Consider Expansion?

[StallionsModelT]

With three teams in the Top 25 this year it looks like The American is starting to distance itself from the rest of the G5. Would expansion be something worth looking at? What if BYU, Boise State, and Air Force are more willing to negotiate now? I would think that would have some appeal to the next round of TV negotiations and might give the conference an even better shot at playoff access when the system is expanded to 8 or 10 teams (which is inevitable). You could even do a pod system to cut down on travel.

West - SDSU, BYU, Boise State, Air Force

Central - SMU, Houston, Tulsa, Memphis

South - Tulane, UCF, USF, ECU

North - Cincinnati, Temple, UCONN, Navy

[SMU_Alumni11]

I think expansion would be great to add the four good schools of MWC (AF, BSU, BYU, SDSU) and get the viewership and a somewhat national brand since expands coast to coast. The problem we would face in TV negotiations is that BSU argued to get half of MWC money and BYU has their own independent channel. Sadly though, we need to really increase viewership and increase fan attendance to get better money (no duh, but just saying) but the on field performance for the conference is looking better each year.

[MustangStealth]

BYU is really the only good expansion candidate. Air Force would be worth it to get BYU to come along, but we don't want or need BSU and SDSU.

[PerunasHoof]

Boise State already turned the conference down once and has a good TV deal. I doubt they would come back to the table now, especially when their path is much easier through the MW.

Besides, 16 teams would be a pain with scheduling and I think our conference as is right now is pretty awesome. I think we should focus on the conference becoming a contender (like we are this year) and posturing to renegotiate our TV package.

Also, BYU has a sweetheart TV deal and I think would prefer independence, or if they wanted to join a conference, would have a better option than us.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I don't think Air Force is particularly interested in moving conferences, based on the comments of their Superintendent the last time we played expansion bingo.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

WAC 96 2.0

[Rebel10]

Boise, SDSU, and Air Force have already turned down this conference down once when we got the invitation.

[smupony94]

SDSU wanted to stay but had no travel partner so they had to go back

[Dukie]

Boise, SDSU, and Air Force have already turned down this conference down once when we got the invitation.

True, but things change and sometimes quickly. We tend to focus on performance on the field, but thinking about the AFA Superintendent mention above, the eventual turnover in university leaders and athletic department leaders is just as important. Maryland wouldn't have left the ACC for the Big Can't Count if its president and AD hadn't had deep Big "Ten" roots.

[skyscraper]

No more expansion. Let the other Go5 conferences die on the vine.
Boise screwed us a few years ago and BYU are a PITA to have as conference mates.

[sbsmith]

With three teams in the Top 25 this year it looks like The American is starting to distance itself from the rest of the G5.

That'll depend on how those teams finish and if they can keep this up going forward.

[leopold]

Oh Please.

BYU and BSU aren't going to the MWC-East just to see this powerhouse conference go to h@ll when Fuente, Herman, Morris, and whoever-the-heck-is-coaching-Temple-this-year leaves for better programs. This conference could be horrible in a week if three or four players go down.

If the AAC decides to take anybody it will be because the conference just got raided. Which means our old friends like Rice and Southern Miss will get the call up.

And by-the-by:
If nobody has been paying attention, Southern Miss is becoming Southern Miss again. They are 6-3 and almost won at Nebraska, and are doing it with a very young roster. So I'm sorry to say it, but they will be first.

[Hoofprint]

BYU is really the only good expansion candidate. Air Force would be worth it to get BYU to come along, but we don't want or need BSU and SDSU.

But those are nice travel destinations if we get Boise early in the season.

[blackoutpony]

As a guy who lives in San Diego, this is my Tri-Yearly reminder that SDSU is flat broke and can't afford to do this kind of a conference without P5 money. No California state school can.

BYU will never do it, since they have their own ESPN deal also.

[AustinPerson]

In a few years, a few people in the conference may start talking about dropping SMU and then adding a quality team in SMU's place. That way you don't have to expand to 16.

Maybe SMU will win some games again one day?