Vote “None Of The Above”

None of the above
Richard Pryor campaigning for “none of the above” in Brewster’s Millions (1985).

 
Everyone is pitching ideas for the AAC’s 12th team. The summer slowdown forces writers to find new topics and a “who should they add” column is an easy mad lib. But for those of us that think about the AAC on a daily basis, this conversation isn’t so simple.
 
My opinion: there’s no good option for the American right now. And instead of panicking and adding another Tulsa or Tulane, the AAC should just let this play out. Prepare for an 11-team league in 2020 and then work to make a good deal.
 
Otherwise, the only choice is none of the above.
 

The American’s “Best” Options

Here’s our rundown of each program being “considered” and why it wouldn’t work out:
 
BYU – BYU doesn’t need the AAC. The Provo Cougars can schedule nationally, have a nice ESPN contract that pays approximately the same as what the new AAC deal will pay, and their (coming) new deal will get them more access to ESPN-owned bowls.
 
Part of BYU’s deal with ESPN is to broadcast (on delay) all of their games on BYUtv. They also have access to the entire archive of televised games they’ve played on ESPN. This is a big deal for the LDS.
 
BYU’s schedule is set for the next four years (missing one game in 2022) and they have nine games set for 2023 and 7 in 2024. And it’s a good schedule: BYU has 28 P5 games scheduled in the next 5 years with 14 of those at home. They also have 5 games with Boise (3 at home). The Broncos are one of BYU’s biggest draws.
 
That’s 33 premium games over 5 years with 17 of them at home. Why give that up for games with ECU, Tulsa, and Tulane?
 

Boise State – The Broncos are a remarkable program but they aren’t a fit in our league. They were admitted in 2011 but backed out before ever playing a game.
 
Boise would need a place for all of their programs – the MWC isn’t carrying Boise Olympic sports if they move their football. And the AAC doesn’t want them either – sending volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and other teams all the way to Boise for a one-off game will never happen.
 
There’s also the issue of exit fees. Boise would owe the MWC double the amount of their final year’s conference revenue. That would cost Boise in the neighborhood of $11 million and that’s before any entry fees to the AAC. $11 million to move just one program and then figure out where to put the others.
 
On top of that, Boise athletics receives over $13 million a year from student fees and school funds. There very well could be a revolt by students and the administration if Boise athletics wanted to move.
 
At this point, Boise State is a pipedream unless the AAC makes a boneheaded offer that includes their other programs.
 

Army – UH’s Overlord-on-the-Hudson is a classic prisoner of the moment situation. Yes, Army has had two really nice years (11 wins last year, 10 the year before) and they had a very solid 2016. But in the 20 years before that, they wone more than 5 games just one time. From 1998 until today, they’ve had 13 seasons of 3 or fewer wins (13) and just 4 winning seasons.
 
If you drill deeper, the entire picture of the last 3 years shows something else:
 
29 total wins
6 wins vs. FCS teams/transitioning to FBS
5 wins vs. MAC
5 wins vs. CUSA
 
In addition, Army was a disaster in seven seasons in C-USA, their only conference in 130 years of football. Army is not a long term decision for the American.
 

UNLV and Colorado State – Both are a no-go for many of the same reasons as Boise State. The money situation and finding a home for their other sports would prove too difficult.
 
Old Dominion, Western Kentucky, Georgia State – all have been mentioned in articles or on social media. None are serious contenders. Some are LOL bad takes. Why not Rice or ULM if we are dredging up schools.
 
The only reasonable choice is to be patient and see how the landscape changes. There’s no need to rush into anything. The AAC, for the first time in its history, can dictate what happens. Continue improving the conference we have – don’t make a bad deal just to get back to 12 teams.


 

Have you noticed?

 
It’s already football season at GoCoogs.com! From June 1st until a week after UH’s bowl game, we’re non-stop with quality Cougar Football content.

GoCoogs has a new UH football article every single day

We’re planning an avalanche: approximately 300 quality pieces of in-depth Cougar Football content – far more than any other source! 90% of that content will be exclusively for subscribers-only.
 
GoCoogs.com takes Cougar fans beyond the game recap with premium content and exclusive stories you can’t find anywhere else.

40% OFF THE 1ST YEAR

No one writes more Cougar content than GoCoogs! A subscription to GoCoogs includes:

Subscribe to GoCoogs

Get access to all of our content and the Veer forum for just $47.99 for the first year – 40% off of our regular price. Click below to subscribe:

Annual Subscription – $47.99

Or you can subscribe month-to-month:

Monthly Subscription – $8.99

At GoCoogs, you get:

Inside scoops you can’t get anywhere else;
Smart analysis and exclusive stories;
Talkin’ Bout Them Cougars! Our new Cougar football podcast;
Weekly opponent previews;
Profiles of current players;
Our popular series: UH Glory Days;
Unique UH player and recruit profiles;
Q&As with players, coaches, and administrators;
Our subscriber-only message board, The Veer;
And more!

1 Year Subscription – $47.99

 

*Please note: the promotional subscription rate above is valid the day the article is posted but cannot be guaranteed after that. If the subscription links work then great! You’re all set.

But if they do not work, please check our Promotions Page for current specials.
 

Categories:

Recent Content