AAC expansion

[The Real SamC]

The SBC is a solidly established FBS conference with an ESPN media deal

The SBC’s “media deal” is for about half of what CUSA takes in per team, and is for 15 games. The rest are on ESPN+, which are produced by the school, at the school’s expense.

ESPN pumps their product.

One needs look only at ESPN’s sudden rediscovery that hockey exists after 20 years to understand that. Yeah, I get that.

Scoff if you want, but they have a large influence over that selection committee.

Scoff

What “selection committee”? The bowls for all the leagues are pre-determined, and all G5 bowl set ups are about the same as one another. The best G5 team gets the “access bowl”. That has meant, and probably will always mean, going undefeated. Unless there is more than one undefeated G5 team, league really has nothing to do with it.

But, say there comes a year that there are more than one undefeated G5 (looks like that is the case this year, so far). Exactly which of the other leagues is the SBC getting in over?

Don’t get me wrong. The SBC is a good move for MU right now. But it is a lateral move.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Sam - I say take the lateral! If you pitch it, they will come!!

 

[BleedsGreen33]

The SBC’s “media deal” is for about half of what CUSA takes in per team, and is for 15 games. The rest are on ESPN+, which are produced by the school, at the school’s expense.


One needs look only at ESPN’s sudden rediscovery that hockey exists after 20 years to understand that. Yeah, I get that.

Scoff

What “selection committee”? The bowls for all the leagues are pre-determined, and all G5 bowl set ups are about the same as one another. The best G5 team gets the “access bowl”. That has meant, and probably will always mean, going undefeated. Unless there is more than one undefeated G5 team, league really has nothing to do with it.

But, say there comes a year that there are more than one undefeated G5 (looks like that is the case this year, so far). Exactly which of the other leagues is the SBC getting in over?

Don’t get me wrong. The SBC is a good move for MU right now. But it is a lateral move.

The selection committee for the Access Bowl spot. Remember 2014? How ECU's losses were viewed better than our Wins. That was ESPN driving that bus.

Like it or not part of the reason we blew up in the MAC days was because we were on ESPN and they promoted the crap out of us and MACtion.

 

[darthyader]

Its all semantics... The Mountain West may not be "actively looking" to expand, but if they could pick up UTEP and La. Tech for no cost and deliver a death blow to CUSA they would be dumb not to do it.

La. Tech will not go to the Sun Belt because there is some bad blood there and because La. Tech sees itself as "better" than La. Lafayette and La. Monroe.

If Judy is smart, and we can debate that, she is on the phone this morning begging the Sun Belt execs to "negotiate a merger" so she can save a little face and maybe end up with some sort of advisory position for herself and maybe a few of her top cronies.

I just don't see that happening. CUSA is of no threat to the MW, so why is it necessary to deal a death blow? It isn't. If the MW adds it needs to actually benefit them. Targeting schools like UTSA, SMU, and Memphis would make sense. But AAC schools aren't leaving to the MW for the same reason Boise didn't come to the AAC.

UTEP is in their footprint but has been a non-factor for so long. There's no point to adding them. La. Tech was in the WAC before but this again doesn't do much for the MW. La. Tech doesn't elevate the conference and is on a rural Island way out east.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Agree. Blunt fact about the MAC, as much as nobody wants to hear it, is times are changing, and the old MAC formula just is not working in funding programs anymore, and, when the ESPN over-bid contract runs out, there WILL be schools in the MAC that drop out.

Texas State says hi.

I was unaware that people on message boards ran college programs. The SBC, by a fair margin, is the bottom league in TV revenue. Many programs would love to have more $$.

If that is true, then that is sad. WTF cares about WKU? We have no pre-CUSA history with them. Kentucky and West Virginia border on each other, So what? Why would we tie ourselves down to some school in the central time zone Kentucky wildness? I smell the stench of the basketball office here.

Sun Belt Conference, is all teams that were I-AA last Thursday. Don’t get me wrong, its probably a better fit for us right now, but don’t pretend its a lot different from CUSA, and expect to see some of these schools, all of which are significantly smaller than CUSA schools, decide they have made a mistake and return to lower levels.

After the AAC poaches the CUSA programs, CUSA will have to pay Cabell Midlands media department to stream games - it will be that bad. The watered down CUSA will be well below the MAC and a few FCS leagues. Enjoy!

 

[The Real SamC]

The selection committee for the Access Bowl spot. Remember 2014?

The year we didn’t get it done? Yeah. Make no mistake if we had gone undefeated, we were in. ECU, which finished the regular season with four losses? No, I don’t remember them.

Like it or not part of the reason we blew up in the MAC days was because we were on ESPN and they promoted the crap out of us and MACtion.

1997 - ESPN games: 2, plus one on ESPN+ (which was our late friend dshoe’s syndication package, different from today’s ESPN+ Internet deal )
1998 - ESPN games: 1
1999 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ of that era 1. More games were on Fox Sports Net.
2000 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ 1, and ABC 1.
2001 - ESPN games: 2
2002 - ESPN games: 5, plus ESPN+ 2.
2003 - ESPN games:4, plus ESPN+ 2, and one game produced by ESPN for DirecTV exclusive
2004 - ESPN game: 2, plus on on ABC.

People have this false memory that we were on TV and especially ESPN all the time in the BP era. Fact is most games were not on TV at all.

 

[WV_Celt]

They’re all gone minus one.

Ah hell, definitely read too fast and didn’t see that part.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

The year we didn’t get it done? Yeah. Make no mistake if we had gone undefeated, we were in. ECU, which finished the regular season with four losses? No, I don’t remember them.

Like it or not part of the reason we blew up in the MAC days was because we were on ESPN and they promoted the crap out of us and MACtion.

1997 - ESPN games: 2, plus one on ESPN+ (which was our late friend dshoe’s syndication package, different from today’s ESPN+ Internet deal )
1998 - ESPN games: 1
1999 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ of that era 1. More games were on Fox Sports Net.
2000 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ 1, and ABC 1.
2001 - ESPN games: 2
2002 - ESPN games: 5, plus ESPN+ 2.
2003 - ESPN games:4, plus ESPN+ 2, and one game produced by ESPN for DirecTV exclusive
2004 - ESPN game: 2, plus on on ABC.

People have this false memory that we were on TV and especially ESPN all the time in the BP era. Fact is most games were not on TV at all.

Earth to SAM. I'm not talking about the actual telecast channel. I'm talking about the actual Entity that is ESPN that controls college football. They're going to make sure their product gets in the better bowls. They're not helping out any CUSA teams. ESPN drives the bus. Undefeated CUSA Marshall will have tougher time getting the Access Bowl slot than Undefeated SBC Marshall.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

1997 - ESPN games: 2, plus one on ESPN+ (which was our late friend dshoe’s syndication package, different from today’s ESPN+ Internet deal )
1998 - ESPN games: 1
1999 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ of that era 1. More games were on Fox Sports Net.
2000 - ESPN games: 2, plus ESPN+ 1, and ABC 1.
2001 - ESPN games: 2
2002 - ESPN games: 5, plus ESPN+ 2.
2003 - ESPN games:4, plus ESPN+ 2, and one game produced by ESPN for DirecTV exclusive
2004 - ESPN game: 2, plus on on ABC.

Sam! We would start speaking in tongues to get that kind of exposure on the Mothership these days!! 5 times on ESPN...in one season! Wow - you're making the argument for jumping to the Belt for us....

 

[The Real SamC]

Except, as noted the ENTIRE LEAGUE is on ESPN 15 times a year. The ENTIRE LEAGUE.

Rest of the games, self-produced at our expense and given to the internet.

BTW, anybody who looks at the bowl list and can tell one G5 from another is fooling himself, and anybody who really is really worried about the “access bowl” should look at our record.

 

[19MU88]

After the AAC poaches the CUSA programs, CUSA will have to pay Cabell Midlands media department to stream games - it will be that bad. The watered down CUSA will be well below the MAC and a few FCS leagues. Enjoy!

relax, I think you are over reacting. the AAC just went along way in solving alot of cusa's problems.

 

[awebbOH]

You can try to spin this in any direction, but I think this plainly sucks for the entire school.

 

[herdfan93]

The SBC’s “media deal” is for about half of what CUSA takes in per team, and is for 15 games. The rest are on ESPN+, which are produced by the school, at the school’s expense.

Link?

 

[19MU88]

You can try to spin this in any direction, but I think this plainly sucks for the entire school.

Going to belt with no other options would suck. Now we have an option or two

 

[exHerdSID]

From a money view, why wouldn't the now 8 team CUSA "raid" the SBC and add a couple of independents? If the numbers are correct, CUSA should get around $18 million in exit fees ($3 million times 6 schools). The SBC exit fee is either $2 or $2.5 million. Grab a couple among JMU, Liberty, UMass, and maybe even UConn. Then "buy-in" four SBC teams. Even better, merge in a whole SBC and keep the $18 million to help make up for anticipated lost TV revenue, reform in to nine team divisions. You could even afford to lose a UTEP or a SoMiss, adding a JMU and/or others. No matter what, the TV money is likely going to shrink and you better have a cost-reduction (travel) plan in place.

 

[19MU88]

You can try to spin this in any direction, but I think this plainly sucks for the entire school.

no spin. things are looking good to me. some sunbelt teams would be wise to join the new cusa as it revamps. if not, stay in that shit league that spreads to TX and we can look at liberty and JMU.

 

[bbneutralfan]

Some of you guys aren't seeing the forest through the trees here... Judy was scrambling last week because she is about to be out of a job. CUSA is not going to exist in a couple years.

Now that the AAC has made its announcement the dominoes can fall...

To the AAC --
Charlotte, FAU, UAB, Rice, North Texas, UTSA

To the Mountain West --
UTEP, La. Tech

To the Sun Belt --
Marshall, ODU, FIU, Southern Miss

To the MAC --
Western Kentucky, MTSU

The G5 thus becomes the G4... So we have the P4 (SEC, ACC, Big10, Pac12)... The Middle 1 (Big12) and the G4 (AAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, MAC)

Western Kentucky and MTSU to the MAC? Where in the wide world of sports did I miss that piece of realignment news?

 

[RhinoD]

Western Kentucky and MTSU to the MAC? Where in the wide world of sports did I miss that piece of realignment news?

There is some buzz about WKU on the MAC message board... They would love to have WKU hoops and if all of the other G5 conferences are going to canibalize CUSA, the only schools that make sense geographically for the MAC are Marshall, WKU and MTSU.

Most of the MAC fans agree we won't go back there... I think overall, the MAC folks would rather take WKU and JMU if they end up "needing" to expand to keep up with the Joneses in the other G5 leagues.

 

[WV_Celt]

I think MAC would be great, but also get why others aren’t as gung-ho. Sun Belt has some good opponents like Appy and Coastal, as well as some schools in states that have been pretty good to MU recruitment wise.

 

[IslandHerd1]

Marshall alumni and a bulk of fans live in the south, not the rust belt. Marshall fan interest, engagement and away game travel will soar in a southern league like the SBC. The MAC would be a wtf move, piss off the folks who donated to move the program forward and upward.

Being in a league with remaining CUSA teams just seems like a bad idea, aside from possible financial gains from staying. Although, maybe something good does come out of it.

I selfishly want the easy drive to Statesboro, Boone, Myrtle, Atlanta-Georgia State (puke), Troy is only 6 hours away even.

 

[ru4_mu2]

Marshall alumni and a bulk of fans live in the south, not the rust belt. Marshall fan interest, engagement and away game travel will soar in a southern league like the SBC. The MAC would be a wtf move, piss off the folks who donated to move the program forward and upward.

Being in a league with remaining CUSA teams just seems like a bad idea, aside from possible financial gains from staying. Although, maybe something good does come out of it.

I selfishly want the easy drive to Statesboro, Boone, Myrtle, Atlanta-Georgia State (puke), Troy is only 6 hours away even.

This. I'm not driving from HTGN to Ypsilanti but would make the trip to Conway, Statesboro, etc.... Plus as you stated, our Alumni are more southern and a lot of fans down there.

 

[The Real SamC]

Link?

Sun Belt & ESPN Expand Media Rights Partnership

NEW ORLEANS — Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill announced during his annual State of the Conference on Thursday that the conference has extended its media rights deal with ESPN. The deal now runs through the 2030-31 academic year. The new agreement will result in a more than 50 percent increase...

sunbeltsports.org

 

[The Real SamC]

JMU is I-AA. JMU, and probably 30 or more colleges are in a financial and fan base position to go I-A. They haven’t. Until they do, end of discussion.

The MAC’s TV deal runs out after the 26 football season. It was signed in a different era, when “everybody” paid for ESPN via cable or dish, which “everybody” had. The world has changed and it is hard to believe that It will get anything near the current price. The MAC method of funding sports just is not keeping up with the times and some schools will drop down levels in the future.

Fans going to away games is the most over-rated issue in sports.

 

[RhinoD]

Fans going to away games is the most over-rated issue in sports.

This ^ --- I go to a lot of away games based on where I live (its closer to go to Charlotte or MTSU than is it Huntington, and this year it was only a couple hours to App State) and away fan attendance simply isn't a significant part of the discussion.

The only time away attendance "matters" is for the bowl game, and if you buy tickets they don't really care if you show up or not. You can make a good argument that the best way to help during bowl season is to buy tickets, and then stay home and watch on TV (ratings are as or more important than attendance).

 

[exHerdSID]

JMU can only go I-A if they get into a conference with a TV deal. That's been the hold up. They have a solid fan base, a very decent stadium, building a new arena, etc. While they appear to be in a difficult to reach place, they are 2 hours from Dulles and an hour from Charlottesville where teams go in and out of. I think they are still under some law that requires them to fund a certain percentage from "earned" revenue and not student fees. For the past 30+ years they have been a competitive entry university for Virginia HS students.

 

[MichiganHerd]

You can make a good argument that the best way to help during bowl season is to buy tickets, and then stay home and watch on TV.

That's a bad argument. I would buy a keg and a hooker, stay home, and watch on TV.

 

[GreenDuke]

Every few years when this same discussion comes up I’m reminded of an old - saw.

Htgn and WV

Too far north to be south
Too far south to be north
Too far east to be west
Too far west to be east.

 

[i am herdman]

Every few years when this same discussion comes up I’m reminded of an old - saw.

Htgn and WV

Too far north to be south
Too far south to be north
Too far east to be west
Too far west to be east.

WV was carved out by Lincoln during the Civil War for political reasons. There may even be some constitutional validity to the state(nobody wants or cares about that battle at this point). But, your statement above is correct. It is really a state with a difficult identity.

 

[The Real SamC]

WV was carved out by Lincoln during the Civil War for political reasons. There may even be some constitutional validity to the state(nobody wants or cares about that battle at this point). But, your statement above is correct. It is really a state with a difficult identity.

Correct. To which I would add that the different parts of WV are much more like the places they border upon than they are like one another, which adds to the dysfunction the state has always had.

In sports, Marshall, and WVU, are most always going to be the northernmost, easternmost, westernmost, or southernmost in any conference that gets proposed or actually exists.