DRC: Thoughts on what UConn leaving the AAC could mean for UNT

Brett Vito · June 22, 2019

DRC: Has UNT done enough if the AAC decides to add another all-sports member?

https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/report----uconn-to-leave-aac-what-that/article_9d6ccf39-daab-5d35-9c80-b6dab6678711.html

greenminer · June 22, 2019

Holy moly. If AAC decides to add another all-sports school, this could be either the best off-season season ever, or the worst.

@Brett Vito keep us in the loop, please

greenminer · June 22, 2019

ALSO, The Big East without UCONN always seemed weird to me. I think this is good for my sports world.

akriesman · June 22, 2019

"One can also bet the farm on the fact that SMU would be staunchly opposed to UNT joining the league."

Problem #1, #2, #3, etc.

MeanGreenTexan · June 22, 2019

25 minutes ago, akriesman said:

"One can also bet the farm on the fact that SMU would be staunchly opposed to UNT joining the league."

Problem #1, #2, #3, etc.

Good thing they aren’t the only school in the AAC.

However, I doubt Houston would be excited about us joining either.

Wag Tag · June 22, 2019

34 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Good thing they aren’t the only school in the AAC.

However, I doubt Houston would be excited about us joining either.

If we get a chance to present I like our chances. We know all the positives with also having one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. You look at the lower half of the conf and they really don’t have much to offer now or in the future! I also believe Houston could be a supporter.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Wag Tag

UNT86 · June 22, 2019

There is absolutely no way that SMU will ever allow this to happen. They have and always will look down their noses at us and would rather cancel the program than to admit that we are equals in any way. To be in a conference with us is unthinkable to them.

I'm not sure I would want to anyway. We complain now about natural rivals. Other than SMU and Houston that we play anyway, name one school that would attract our alumni attention. I can't see our Mean Green nation getting any more excited about playing Temple or Tulane than they do Middle Tennessee or Western Kentucky.

NM Green · June 22, 2019

First of all, DFW North is growing into its own little Metro. Getting a player that could bring some of Dallas and Northern most Texas is not that crazy to think about. Little Elm, Frisco, Prosper...seem much more aligned in cultures than they do with Dallas proper. Denton's unique identity is being revealed year by year and presents as another culturally cool part of Texas.

Second, I am tired of this supposed power SMU has over us. They don't own us and I don't think of them as over us at all any more. They can look down us from their imagination. I personally feel we have tremendous upside and are viewed as a program of the future. They seem like a program of the past to me.

The AAC programs don't excite me that much either but they are perceived as a step up in conference. They fit our desired footprint, even though I wish Smastrek would convince others to head west to the MWC. You have Boise over there and UCF over there. I think Boise stirs more interest than UCF but we need an invite first.

With this type of SMU respect we don't even deserve to share the same air with them. Times change, programs evolve and I refuse to see us as "behind" SMU the rest of my days.

Show up with confidence and crush the presentation. Go Wren!

GMG

Wag Tag · June 22, 2019

25 minutes ago, UNT86 said:

There is absolutely no way that SMU will ever allow this to happen. They have and always will look down their noses at us and would rather cancel the program than to admit that we are equals in any way. To be in a conference with us is unthinkable to them.

I'm not sure I would want to anyway. We complain now about natural rivals. Other than SMU and Houston that we play anyway, name one school that would attract our alumni attention. I can't see our Mean Green nation getting any more excited about playing Temple or Tulane than they do Middle Tennessee or Western Kentucky.

At least they have airports!

greenminer · June 22, 2019

I don't know how the AAC truly views us, but I would feel really good about our chances if they can just get The Wren in the room to talk.

NorthTexan95 · June 22, 2019

People talk about CUSA and Sun Belt merging to become two more geographically aligned conferences. CUSA and AAC would make a better partnership and give us a new SWC.

Christopher Walker · June 22, 2019

57 minutes ago, UNT86 said:

I can't see our Mean Green nation getting any more excited about playing Temple or Tulane than they do Middle Tennessee or Western Kentucky.

Surely you jest.

emmitt01 · June 22, 2019

1 hour ago, UNT86 said:

There is absolutely no way that SMU will ever allow this to happen. They have and always will look down their noses at us and would rather cancel the program than to admit that we are equals in any way. To be in a conference with us is unthinkable to them.

I'm not sure I would want to anyway. We complain now about natural rivals. Other than SMU and Houston that we play anyway, name one school that would attract our alumni attention. I can't see our Mean Green nation getting any more excited about playing Temple or Tulane than they do Middle Tennessee or Western Kentucky.

There are exactly ZERO conference usa teams that would draw more attention than UCF or Navy. And I’ll take SMU, Houston, Tulane and Tulsa over any of the “local” CUSA teams.

Rudy · June 22, 2019

I'd love to jump to the MWC, but if we're offered a spot, take the AAC and get out of here.

greenminer · June 22, 2019

1 hour ago, UNT86 said:

There is absolutely no way that SMU will ever allow this to happen.

I still don’t understand this. If SMU is in a room with their AAC peers and all of them want us, what weight does SMU have to throw around and stop it? After what we did to them on the football field last year, too...

I think with each passing season, this mantra that SMU admins bully us out of everything becomes weaker.

p_phelps · June 22, 2019

3 minutes ago, greenminer said:

I still don’t understand this. If SMU is in a room with their AAC peers and all of them want us, what weight does SMU have to throw around and stop it? After what we did to them on the football field last year, too...

I think with each passing season, this mantra that SMU admins bully us out of everything becomes weaker.

We have to look at this more than football, our softball and women's soccer are and have been very very good for a long time... I'm concerned we have not done enough quite yet.. while on the absolutely right path I think the doubters would look at us with past perceptions in the major sports.

That said, hell yeah get us in a different conference. I'm not even 100% sure CUSA is much better than the sun belt...

Edited June 22, 2019 by p_phelps

Mean Green 93-98 · June 22, 2019

3 minutes ago, greenminer said:

I still don’t understand this. If SMU is in a room with their AAC peers and all of them want us, what weight does SMU have to throw around and stop it? After what we did to them on the football field last year, too...

I think with each passing season, this mantra that SMU admins bully us out of everything becomes weaker.

The scenario would not likely be all the presidents and A.D.s saying, "Oh, boy! We REALLY want UNT!!"

But if the others were slightly leaning toward UNT, an adamantly opposed SMU would be plenty to make them lean in another direction.

All that aside, the fact that SMU and the DFW TV market is already in the conference is probably enough to make the American's commissioner, presidents, and A.D.s look in another direction even before SMU offers their input.

Hunter Green · June 22, 2019

11 minutes ago, Mean Green 93-98 said:

The scenario would not likely be all the presidents and A.D.s saying, "Oh, boy! We REALLY want UNT!!"

But if the others were slightly leaning toward UNT, an adamantly opposed SMU would be plenty to make them lean in another direction.

All that aside, the fact that SMU and the DFW TV market is already in the conference is probably enough to make the American's commissioner, presidents, and A.D.s look in another direction even before SMU offers their input.

What argument would smu use to keep us out?

Mean Green 93-98 · June 22, 2019

Just now, Hunter Green said:

What argument would smu use to keep us out?

1. We already have the DFW TV market covered.

2. We don't want them.

What argument did they use in the 70's to keep NT out of the SWC?

Hunter Green · June 22, 2019

Market? I would argue the metroplex doesn't give a flip about smu athletically and they would have to come up with some pretty concrete reasons to keep us out. Pitching a hissy fit doesn't concern me. If smut wants to talk history, what have they done since the seventies? Not much. Their history is 70 - 80 years ago.

Wag Tag · June 22, 2019

4 minutes ago, Mean Green 93-98 said:

1. We already have the DFW TV market covered.

2. We don't want them.

What argument did they use in the 70's to keep NT out of the SWC?

They can’t even sell half their stadium, the covered DFW argument doesn’t fly.

Mean Green 93-98 · June 22, 2019

Just now, Hunter Green said:

Market? I would argue the metroplex doesn't give a flip about smu athletically and they would have to come up with some pretty concrete reasons to keep us out. Pitching a hissy fit doesn't concern me. If smut wants to talk history, what have they done since the seventies? Not much. Their history is 70 - 80 years ago.

You do not appear to be aware of how TV markets and conference affiliations work. Why did the Big 10 take Rutgers several years ago when there were far superior options, as far as athletic accomplishment? Because Rutgers was close enough to bring in the NYC TV market. Do a large percentage of people in the NYC market watch Rutgers football? Of course not.

The same way, we were C-USA's first choice back when the openings came up in 2013 because we gave them access to the DFW market, not because a large percentage of DFW TV viewers watch UNT football.

Hunter Green · June 22, 2019

So the DFW TV market wants to watch CUSA football? I suggest we bring a bigger market share than smu does.

SUMG · June 22, 2019

Having the Athletic Directors Symposium at The Embassy Suites in October.....can only help us in this (conference considerations) as well as scheduling. We get a lot of ADs in town....they see our facilities....it's a good thing.

https://www.adsymposium.us/