SMU/AAC front page of the DMN Sports section

[PK]

Nice article on SMU officially becoming part of the AAC. Big AAC Logo and "SMU" with the Mustang logo in red taking up most of the front page.

Story on line may require subscription, but here it is.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/colleg ... posure.ece

[cutter]

SMU’s preparations are in full swing. The school is adding marketing, video and social media positions solely for athletics.

[crazy horse]

Watered-down?

I'll take the American all day over the conference of misfit toys that CUSA has become.

[SMU 86]

Watered-down?

I'll take the American all day over the conference of misfit toys that CUSA has become.

I think he is talking about "slightly watered down" in comparison to the old Big East.

[PonyPlayer4]

Can't deny that we trimmed the fat in this new conference for the most part.

[StallionsModelT]

Depending on how things play out over the next couple of years, the American could become the clear-cut "contender" conference. Other than Boise State there are no serious contenders in the remaining "Group of 5". If the league can make its mark maybe you renegotiate a TV deal that can improve what we already have and possibly add a couple of schools to ensure that the American stays on the top of the "Group of Five".

West - SMU, Houston, Tulsa, Tulane, Air Force, BYU, Boise State
East - Memphis, Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, East Carolina, USF, UCF


That conference would be quite competitive.

[GreenbeltPony]

You left out Navy.

[StallionsModelT]

Oops. My bad. You could add San Diego State to the West and Navy to the East. That's 16.

[blackoutpony]

Depending on how things play out over the next couple of years, the American could become the clear-cut "contender" conference. Other than Boise State there are no serious contenders in the remaining "Group of 5". If the league can make its mark maybe you renegotiate a TV deal that can improve what we already have and possibly add a couple of schools to ensure that the American stays on the top of the "Group of Five".

West - SMU, Houston, Tulsa, Tulane, Air Force, BYU, Boise State
East - Memphis, Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, East Carolina, USF, UCF


That conference would be quite competitive.

That's what we tried doing originally and we couldn't get it to work out. I agree it would be awesome, but with BYU having their own ESPN deal and Boise getting to keep the money from their home games, they have no reason to come and join us at our pathetic 1 or 2 mil a year. Not for a very VERY long time at least

[StallionsModelT]

Yes under the current TV deal there is no incentive for either BYU or Boise to join the American. However, if the conference can prove itself on the field as being the clear cut #1 contender and with the added exposure of ESPN you might be able to get Boise State, San Diego State, Air Force, etc. to come back to the negotiating table. Remember Aresco has said this TV deal has the potential to be re-worked. The current teams have to prove it on the field first.

[PonySnob]

Hopefully the conference will start doing very well in all of it's non-conference games. Going 0-4, 1-3 in non-conference and not beating any true "BCS" teams will not help the conference prove itself................

[The PonyGrad]

One concern for the future is that the American may be the clear cut conference that is best after the 5, Boise may have a big advantage by not facing that competition week in and week out, as AAC teams knock each other off.

[blackoutpony]

One concern for the future is that the American may be the clear cut conference that is best after the 5, Boise may have a big advantage by not facing that competition week in and week out, as AAC teams knock each other off.

That's what Boise was hoping when they originally bailed

[PonyKai]

King of the Midgets they forever will be.

[SMU 86]

King of the Midgets they forever will be.

They have beaten many BCS teams, more than any non-BCS team. They schedule smartly.