AAC commissioner Mike Aresco again wants to abolish the Power 5/Group of 5 divide

Greenrex · March 10, 2023

A few highlights from the article which is behind a paywall:

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco marked the start of the AAC men’s basketball tournament Thursday by releasing a statement that once again took issue with what Aresco believes is an unhealthy division between Power 5 and Group of 5 conferences at the FBS level.

“In recent weeks I have seen references to the ‘Power Five’ in interviews and public conversations which suggest that the P5 is virtually the exclusive focus in college athletics,” Aresco wrote in the statement. “This is profoundly misguided, especially in the current environment.”

Aresco spoke with The Athletic on Thursday afternoon from Dickies Arena, the host venue for the AAC tournament, to expand on his comments and what he believes is the negative stigma the power-conference distinction has created for the AAC and others.

Time to ‘rethink’ the divide?

“What’s with this P5/G5 business? It’s time to rethink it,” Aresco told The Athletic. “Let’s just talk about FBS schools. Let’s give everybody a fair shake.”

In the wake of the more recent conference realignments and the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff to a 12-team format, Aresco has been increasingly bothered by the continued separation of P5 and G5 programs within the public discourse. “I’ve been reading more and more articles about P5 this, P5 that. It’s like the G5 doesn’t exist,” said Aresco. “That’s not healthy for college sports. You get tired of that divide, and I think it’s harmful.”

Another impetus for Aresco’s statement was recent reporting on the P5 conferences working together on potential federal legislation in regard to name, image and likeness. An internal memo circulated within the Atlantic Coast Conference outlining those efforts was recently obtained via public record request by On3. “We haven’t been (included). We didn’t know this was going on,” said Aresco. “We know (the P5) have secret meetings and other things, we know that. We’d prefer that we’re included.”

While Aresco believes the P5 label to be a media creation, he acknowledges that five “autonomous conferences” were established by the NCAA back in 2014. But he feels that designation is largely outdated now as well. “I’m not sure it’s necessary anymore,” said Aresco. “They haven’t passed any autonomous legislation in quite a while, and we’re right there. We do everything (the Autonomous 5 conferences) do.”

Regardless, it’s an issue Aresco believes the NCAA and conference commissioners need to address, and a conversation he intends to continue stoking, stating that he might pen another open letter further detailing his perspective.

“The biggest frustration is to be ignored. No one likes to be ignored. When I see articles that talk about the best quarterbacks or coaches in the P5, c’mon. When I see that constantly, I get angry,” said Aresco. “The NCAA talks a lot about inclusivity, and what happens? We’re excluded in a lot of this, and it’s just not right. Either you’re going to fight or just give up, and I would never give up.”

https://theathletic.com/4293727/2023/03/09/aac-mike-aresco-power-5-group-5/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983

NT80 · March 10, 2023

3 hours ago, Greenrex said:

In the wake of the more recent conference realignments and the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff to a 12-team format, Aresco has been increasingly bothered by the continued separation of P5 and G5 programs within the public discourse.

I totally agree with him. Especially with realignments in the news so much. When programs get moveups and become so-called P5s, what changed with them? Nothing.

Edited March 10, 2023 by NT80

NT80 · March 10, 2023

Did Judy ever do anything in support of G5s, other than ruin CUSA with poor media contracts?

Mike Jackson · March 10, 2023

And I think this points to where the buck actually stops with the issues with FBS football. Our government has abdicated its responsibility to hold these programs representing public institutions accountable. Because either of these endeavors are for-profit and completely private funded and just tacitly associated with the school via sharing trademark/brand, or they are a part of the university. That’s where the dissolution of CFA the college football alliance was definitively shortsighted and in my opinion, misguided. Anyone with a sage legal mind should have seen this coming.

The future existence, a College Football is secured. As long as young people want to play the sport and people want to watch the sport it with evolve and continue. Money is a consideration for every endeavor we partake in, but it can’t be the primary focus of everything partake in. The government should immediately put legislation forward limiting the number of universities that can collude together financially to the exclusion of all other universities that play football at the DI level. We already have antitrust laws in place governing the private sector, so the legal background is already there. When we lose things like our flagship state universities, representing the systems of A&M, UT- Austin, and Tech playing each other regularly, it is the fault of government as much as it is the leaders at these schools, probably more so probably more so.

These universities serve the public, not just corporate interest. Because all these media outlets are not going, broke or shutting down because if there is no college football.

You can’t treat FBS football like it is just a TV show that was just recently created for national TV and get the best results. And by a large they are trying to remove the “college” and the communities they serve from football.

letsgiveacheer · March 10, 2023

He is spot on, but I am afraid this will fall on deaf ears.

I do recognize the irony in that this communique came from the same man who coined the term "Power Six"!

Coach Andy Mac · March 11, 2023

3 hours ago, letsgiveacheer said:

He is spot on, but I am afraid this will fall on deaf ears.

I do recognize the irony in that this communique came from the same man who coined the term "Power Six"!

So would you rather like Judy to do it?

El Paso Eagle · March 11, 2023

26 minutes ago, Coach Andy Mac said:

So would you rather like Judy to do it?

I have faith in Mike. When he started "P6," most people scoffed at it, but it stuck. I think his record shows there is a method and an endgame to what he does.

GrayEagle · March 11, 2023

Given the situation, I'd rather have Mike Aresco in our corner than any other. The old P6 came from when they were the Big East Conference and the basketball teams were in the highest group. So, it was legitimate in that sense. I won't see it in my lifetime but Mike will come up with something to either do away with the sub-class or get the American included. Maybe we'll also become an elite basketball conference. The other possibility is get the football programs up to what Houston, Cincinnati and UCF were able to do. I'm hoping that we have found the formula...good facilities, good coaches, good recruiters.

Edited March 11, 2023 by GrayEagle