No More Rumors - Official AAC Expansion

[Triple B]

2 minutes ago, Gatorbull325 said:

So no LA Tech? Thats like one of the best teams in CUSA. I prefer App State over Rice, but Rice garuntees us at least 1 victory lol

waiting ... waiting ... waiting ...

[Brad]

6 minutes ago, Gatorbull325 said:

So no LA Tech? Thats like one of the best teams in CUSA. I prefer App State over Rice, but Rice garuntees us at least 1 victory lol

For those of you curious now:

 

C-USA LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
 

Charlotte	Athletics	University
FIU	Athletics	University
Florida Atlantic	Athletics	University
Louisiana Tech	Athletics	University
Marshall	Athletics	University
Middle Tennessee	Athletics	University
North Texas	Athletics	University
Old Dominion	Athletics	University
Rice	Athletics	University
Southern Miss	Athletics	University
UAB	Athletics	University
UTEP	Athletics	University
UTSA	Athletics	University
WKU	Athletics	University

[bull2saintleo]

It will be very interesting to see how much involvement ESPN had in this courtship.  I sense it was a lot of the driving force.

You see how The American added 6 from CUSA, and how the Sun Belt is rumored to be courting Southern Miss and Marshall?  It's very telling that the conferences whose games (as of 2021) are solely on ESPN/ABC are plucking from the conference whom ESPN shares broadcast rights with CBS Sports Network, Stadium, and Facebook Watch?

The remainder of the CUSA (UTEP, LA Tech, FIU, MTSU, Old Dominion, and WKU) have to be fuming and wondering where their future is.

Edited October 21, 2021 by bull2saintleo

[USFRaider]

49 minutes ago, shibumi said:

So. Much. THIS.!!

Personally I was trying to hold out until 2023 for the Bama game, but given the relentless nosedive - I dunno - I don't see forking over $2K (or more????) to keep my two seats past this season 

And that really sucks, because we've had season tix since Day 1.   

There's a limit though.  The original "demotion" to the AAC from the Big East was bad enough, but somehow this "demotion" (IMO) through "expansion" feels even worse.  Personally, I can't get excited about any of these newly added teams.

It certainly feels like we're paying "P5" ticket prices for this very subpar product (sorry y'all) and now, even worse, conference.  I'd love to see a season ticket reduction (say, 50%???) so that I can justify another year... but I think we'd have a better shot at a Top 10 ranking this season than that happening.  

And BTW, I agree w/ jchem1995 - I have A LOT of appreciation for all John Lewis (and others in the ticket office) have done over the years, so I hate getting all salty in post that has his name attached to it.  I'm rooting for y'all...  but sadly I may have to finally give up my seats.

I feel your pain. I am out as well.  I might reconsider if they drastically cut season ticket prices as no way in hell I am paying what I have been paying for my two seats in 109 for conference home games with this new toilet of a conference. I have already told my season ticket rep Connor that I won’t be renewing. It’s time to move on.

[Local Bully]

We would be better off going indipendent. We could schedule P4 teams pretty easily because of the Florida talent and our name recognition. If we do then the stadium would be filled and the OCS is a mute point and we could win meaningfull games. AAC like this is not going to playoffs let alone how AAC was before. So that doesn’t matter. USF is better than this and we can’t have FIU or FAU on the same level. Academics alone could take a big hit in perception being associated with them. 

[NewEnglandBull]

Remember the one small positive is that we do keep the same amount for tv $ and should get around $6 million once the 3 leave. Yeah not great, but could be a hell of a lot worse. 

[Sk00b]

1 hour ago, Local Bully said:

name recognition

What name recognition? We don't have any name recognition just like we have no business being in the P5 conversation.

[Sk00b]

49 minutes ago, MikeG said:

I'm just surprised they didn't announce USF was getting kicked out or traded to the CUSA for the bag of beans the AAC received.

You know. Ive always wandered why conferences didnt have a two or three year bottom dweller clause.  Bottom of conference three years in a row and you get booted for the team knocking on the door.

[Local Bully]

7 minutes ago, Sk00b said:

What name recognition? We don't have any name recognition just like we have no business being in the P5 conversation.

Even with the shortcomings from football these past couple of years we still top 50 above other power programs.  We are still recognized around the nation as a top program that achieved a lot of sucess not long ago. Yes there is recognition 

[Sk00b]

18 minutes ago, MikeG said:

It is because there are a number of sports that make up the conference affiliation. You might have a good baseball team or basketball but football sort of sucks--- can't cleave the good for the bad. If we were a one sport athletic department --like the Premier League - sure-- relegation would work.

Heard.  That makes perfect sense. Completely forgot we have other sports haha. It feels like a while since our baseball team tore it up this year!