Report

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.

Ags base gets a not-so-subtle reminder that they are a football school.

Been following the Mountain West for decades and you could act like San Diego State or UNLV. As a former UNLV season ticket holder I loathe SDSU but admire them today. They built an identity, established it on the national stage, nourished it and they keep coming back. UNLV meanwhile has floundered. A once proud program stuck in disillusion. The Rebels could be special again with a steady program and leadership but they have gone all over the board looking to reset. Been trying to reset for decades. I was hoping Krueger would work out but again they look lost. We have an identity and will benefit from nourishing it. I like the direction Jared went with Robinson. Keep being a thorn in our conference mates arse and best Memphis soon. It’s Green it’s good. GMG

New goals: AAC Champions. Sweet Sixteen. GMG