Topic: AAC's Aresco: 'We're only dealing with candidates who have approached us'

[GreenSteve]

?We do want to get back to either 10 or 12 [schools],? Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel on Friday. ?We have some good candidates and we?re only dealing with candidates who have approached us ? who have expressed an interest in us.?

https://news.yahoo.com/aac-mike-aresco-discusses-timetable-173400970.html

[herdfan129]

I mean... what did you expect? Lol

[MUther]

If they are only dealing with schools that approached them, then it is not the pipedream people said it was that they are targeting MWC teams.  Either this statement he made is false, because targeting schools is dealing with them or the MWC schools are more interested than we previously believed.  I don't care either way, really, I just look at them having to figure it out again in a couple years if they add those schools.  I don't see it as sustainable. 

I think it would be the best outcome, though.  MWC takes 2-3 Texas schools to backfill.  AAC takes 1-2 CUSA schools.  SB takes 2-4 schools.  CUSA is gutted but still split east/west and is no longer viable.  Nothing left to compare to or hold onto and we make an easy transition out of the mess.   Not so sure USM is a good option anymore though to go with us.  They are really low.  Worse than the lowest bottom feeders in FBS.   ULM just beat Troy who beat USM.  Pretty nasty.

[banker]

Wouldn?t believe that for a second without him defining what he means by it. For example, Boise expressed interest last go around. Is he saying that if they didn?t make a new inquiry that he wouldn?t reach out, or does their previous interest qualify? He?s talking to everybody he thinks would improve the product. If not then he needs fired for not doing his job.

[goherd24]

If they are only dealing with schools that approached them, then it is not the pipedream people said it was that they are targeting MWC teams.  Either this statement he made is false, because targeting schools is dealing with them or the MWC schools are more interested than we previously believed.  I don't care either way, really, I just look at them having to figure it out again in a couple years if they add those schools.  I don't see it as sustainable. 

I think it would be the best outcome, though.  MWC takes 2-3 Texas schools to backfill.  AAC takes 1-2 CUSA schools.  SB takes 2-4 schools.  CUSA is gutted but still split east/west and is no longer viable.  Nothing left to compare to or hold onto and we make an easy transition out of the mess.   Not so sure USM is a good option anymore though to go with us.  They are really low.  Worse than the lowest bottom feeders in FBS.   ULM just beat Troy who beat USM.  Pretty nasty.

USM is one coach away just like all of us, and aresco is a snake in the grass

[DJdaHERDfan]

Aresco is playing poker, fellows.
He knows what the Sunbelt is about to do.

He is carefully wording what he says as to not show his hand until all rocks have been turned over and his league decides on what schools to invite.

[banker]

Aresco is playing poker, fellows.
He knows what the Sunbelt is about to do.

He is carefully wording what he says as to not show his hand until all rocks have been turned over and his league decides on what schools to invite.

Agree - how would it look for the AAC if they named schools they wanted and then those schools decided on the Belt instead?

[chris88]

I'm glad if Marshall not reaching out to AAC.  We have no business in either league IMO and hold out hope for a new eastern based league.  I think it would be easy to convince ECU out of the leftover AAC and APPY/Coastal out of the SB. Liberty is better in FB than anyone left in AAC and has sent teams to NCAA last 2 times. Add JMU with a good overall sports program + ODU, WKY, and maybe MTSU and you have a winner imo that would generate comparable tv revenue with much less travel and much better rivalry potential.

[elginherd]

I'm glad if Marshall not reaching out to AAC.  We have no business in either league IMO and hold out hope for a new eastern based league.  I think it would be easy to convince ECU out of the leftover AAC and APPY/Coastal out of the SB. Liberty is better in FB than anyone left in AAC and has sent teams to NCAA last 2 times. Add JMU with a good overall sports program + ODU, WKY, and maybe MTSU and you have a winner imo that would generate comparable tv revenue with much less travel and much better rivalry potential.

A new eastern-based conference that includes any CUSA member is very improbable...make that very, very improbable.
Who would give the new conference a good media deal? Why would anyone from the SBC or AAC leave unless it was to move to the Big 12?

[chris88]

A new eastern-based conference that includes any CUSA member is very improbable...make that very, very improbable.
Who would give the new conference a good media deal? Why would anyone from the SBC or AAC leave unless it was to move to the Big 12?

Better overall conf. More regional travel, and rivalries. Why would an ECU fan want to be stuck with what is left in AAC? Why would Appy State and Coastal want to be stuck in a far flung league with high expenses and no rivalries?  Fans of all those schools would be able to drive to watch their teams play to over half the leagues teams. Wouldn't a league with likes of Appy, Marshall, ECU, Coastal, Liberty, JMU, WKY, ODU, Charlotte, and others have as much TV appeal as an Appy/Coastal less SBC? IMO we need a more permanent home with less travel. The MAC, SB, AAC all no longer fit that bill. I would more excited about any of those new teams coming to Hton than what we have in CUSA now.  BB would be about same quality without all the extra travel and if you were able to bring Memphis (not as likely) BB would be better. Soccer would be on par with CUSA as you could still retain WVU, UK, and SCarolina as affiliate members. Time to rid ourselves of Texas and other deep south schools we have nothing in common with. At least explore the idea with the ADs and TV people. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to hear they are indeed looking into it to gauge interest.

[whf]

IMHO, when all is said and done, C-USA loses probably two to the AAC, and C-USA adds two to fill in for them.

I personally think several SBC teams can still see the long term benefits to being in C-USA over their current conference; for both football and overall improvement in other sports.

IF UAB and UTSA go to AAC, then WKU and MTSU move to the west and we pick up two east conference teams; probably Liberty and JMU.

C-USA East (Virginia - 3, West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida - 2)
Liberty
JMU
ODU
Marshall
Charlotte
FIU
FAU

C-USA West  (Texas - 3, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky)
UTEP (For a bit longer)
UNT
Rice
LaTech
USM
MTSU
WKU

Now if I were in charge of the SBC, I would be working daily to make this move; add the following:

LaTech
UAB
Marshall
FAU

Four good football additions and three very solid Basketball additions. Without such a move, I see no need to switch to the SBC.

[herdfan129]

IMHO, when all is said and done, C-USA loses probably two to the AAC, and C-USA adds two to fill in for them.

I personally think several SBC teams can still see the long term benefits to being in C-USA over their current conference; for both football and overall improvement in other sports.

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