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Superfan, I like your conferences. Something tells me it'd be a tough sell, though.

Still, the main benefit of this split conference would be reduced travel costs. However, that comes with no longer playing in NYC, Philly and DC. Those are recruiting hotbeds.

The sell would be television not recruiting. The Big East's $500m contract with Fox Sports goes till 2023(?) so the conference won't dissolve until the deal runs out. When it's over, it'll be interesting to see where both parties are. The Big East's ratings flounder because St. John's/DePaul can't get out of their own way. Fox Sports 1 hemorrhages money. If they had to renegotiate today, I doubt that deal is $500 million, but it'll be interesting to see what each is doing by early next decade. Without that money though, those schools will start looking at Plan Bs.

The good news for Loyola is 2023 is plenty of time to build before they start making some noise on a national level. Who would have thought in 2005 that Butler would be a perennial power?

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/stor ... e-shockers

Sounding more and more like a done deal to me...

Blers wrote:http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/18983243/american-athletic-conference-make-decision-adding-wichita-state-shockers

Sounding more and more like a done deal to me...

I honestly don't think that was ever news. The question is do they want to expand and if WSU has any competition for that spot in the conference.

The article states that WSU is the only candidate under consideration.

Yeah, I was more pointing to the significance that it's getting national headlines now. Previously it was just something MVC and AAC fans who were "in the know" were paying attention to. It's a bummer but i'd be pretty surprised if they're around next season.

So, who takes their place in the Valley ?? Valpo ?? UMKC ?? Belmont ?? Indi FW ?? I would like Valpo !!

Blers wrote:Yeah, I was more pointing to the significance that it's getting national headlines now. Previously it was just something MVC and AAC fans who were "in the know" were paying attention to. It's a bummer but i'd be pretty surprised if they're around next season.

I read somewhere that it's too late now to make the switch for the 2017-2018 season so they will be around for at least one more season.

Loyola left the Horizon in April and started in the MVC on July 1. I don't see how it is too late.

If this happens, there's nothing that really indicates that it couldn't be done for next season. Most recent moves have been done in short order. The only thing that would postpone it would be if ESPN says it needs to happen like that. But considering ESPN owns the AAC media deal I would think if they're on board they'd rather have Wichita games against AAC teams than against Valley teams. Those games would generate more eyes which is good for them.

From what we hear from national reporters and a few people who claim to have sources, it's a done deal. I remain cautiously optimistic until it's official though.

Concerns about the AAC blowing up are over-blown. The XII had a chance to make a move this past summer and chose not to, saying none of the schools offered enough. I don't see that changing much. Now, if a team or two does get an invite to a P5 conference, the AAC is still in a stronger position to add stronger candidates than the MVC is. So we would still be in a better position. Also, in the short term, playing UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulsa, Houston and SMU does a lot more to excite the fan base and get more national recognition than playing in the MVC. And assuming current payouts from media deals, Wichita would get between 500k and 600k a year which is much better than what the MVC provides. And speculation on the future contract would get Wichita up to around 1.5M a year in media money as a non-football share.

Outside of all that, the AAC puts us in line with more academically similar institutions. Those in larger metro areas and focused on research. That has been a big point of emphasis from our president from day one. It's why the AAC and MWC were both conferences he was most interested in. This conference would also get us into Texas, where we recruit hard for students and athletes alike.