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I have been checked out on football since November more or less and was looking up our 2025 class out of boredom only to find we signed a nationally top 40 ranked running back? Caleb Hawkins received a 89 ranking from 247, making him our second or third highest ranked commit ever I’m surprised there’s not been discussion on him. He was given a rating on January 27th, kudos to 247 for sticking to their guns and giving the rating they saw fit, not considering his offer list in which we were the only FBS school to offer. Competition be damned he is gliding around players on his tape, pretty excited about him. https://247sports.com/player/caleb-hawkins-46152362/ https://www.hudl.com/profile/16377856/Caleb-Hawkins

While I don't think the all option offense is the way to go, I've wanted us to implement a triple option package for a few years now.

In the college sports world, you are largely known by the company you keep. SMU knew that, took a look around at what the AAC had become around them and said we have to get the heck out of here. They took advantage of the chaos and with some deep pockets was able to bolt for the ACC. In terms of the company you keep, one measuring stick is the size of the athletic budgets of your conference members. Our athletic budget has grown significantly in the last 10-15 years. Using FY2023 figures here's what the member institutions spent on their athletic programs. The PAC-12 is better funded than the AAC. I have our FY2024 expenses because I have those numbers. I suspect everyone below has probably grown from the FY2023 dollar amounts. I didn't include SMU, but it had estimates of $75-80M in FY2023 before it left the conference. AAC ----- UAB - $41.5M Charlotte - $39M ECU - $56.9M FAU - $41M Memphis - $66.4M UNT - $47M (up to $53M in FY2024) Rice - not disclosed ($40-45M est.) USF - $70.4M Temple - $68.5M UTSA - $47.6M Tulane - not disclosed ($50-55M est.) Tulsa - not disclosed ($40-45M est.) WSU - $34.6M (non-football member) Army and Navy - not disclosed ($45-50M est.) - football only PAC-12 ----- OSU - $91.5M WSU - $91.5M Boise State- $58.6M Colorado State - $58.2M Fresno State - $51.4M SDSU - $67M USU - $47.9M Gonzaga - not disclosed ($30-40M est.) - non-football member

And the exposure out East has helped us how? We can always schedule OOC games east of the Mississippi if we really think that's important. I think we really need to decide where we want to be in 10, 20, 30 years, what is reasonably attainable for us and what moves will help get us there. I don't think we've reached our potential yet and while a good conference, I don't think the AAC is the pinnacle or final resting place for our program. If we are able to finagle our way into the PAC I don't even that would be our final stop on the conference carousel.