Agree for that we missed the boat and many like the idea of the BigTen but it's more about being practical. We are G5 and fit well in that group, however networks no longer pay big bucks for large conferences, hence they no longer make financial sense. The AAC is fine with splitting the pie with one less mouth at 11. Unless the networks see big value, if the AAC gets raided again, they will stay at 10 or get back to 10. Don't like our odds here and not knowing any insider information that means looking at the rest of the G5 conferences. The old CUSA was superior to the MAC, but now say they are even. CUSA is at 14 teams and has 4 directional teams like the MAC, North Texax, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Southern Mississippi.
So I focus on the MAC and know I'm more pro MAC than the normal fan. That does not matter because we represent no real value for them to go past 12 teams and split the pie 14 ways, they currently receive a 10M media contract and average about 3-4M in total revenue from media and CFP money. Here is a quote from the MAC commissioner taking to an Ohio U donor.
http://www.bobcatattack.com/messageboar ... 2#FirstNewHad an unexpected opportunity to speak with the MAC commish last night. Nice guy. A few takeaways from our 20-minute conversation:
1. No new members on the horizon. Says the MAC has learned its lesson re east coast teams. "Unless UConn (and UMass) is willing to pay us a large annual fee and guarantee men's and women's bball games at home, they bring no value."
Now have floated the idea as did others about a UConn and UMass football only to the MAC, which will allow us to say in the A10. However, not sure if anyone is on board with that idea as the MAC would not share any of their pie with us, but we will gain bowl access, be able to compete for a conference championship, and get a tiny raise in CFP money (Remember all independents not named ND split 0.5% of the pie. With another team, UConn we will dip ruffly to 260k in CFP. If you are in a conference and meet the APR you get 300k.)
So to me it makes some sense to do the FB only with UConn, even thou there is no money in it. We'd be in a division with no direction MAC teams, which are all in the west division. This looks fine, but others will differ.
MAC East:
- Ohio
Miami
UConn - FB only
Buffalo
UMass - FB only
Akron
Kent
It will cost us a little bit and emphasis little in the grand scheme of things. Would like it to be limited to a 4 year term, so if you show value, we get some extra $$$