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AAC asked for meeting with Power 5 to discuss inclusion
"Relegated to G5 status...the American has never belonged in that group."

-> In an eight-page letter obtained by Out of Boundsthat was dated May 7, 2021, the members of the American Athletic Conference’s Board of Directors wrote to the Autonomy 5 (A5) conferences – the official name of the Power 5 – to request a meeting to discuss the American’s inclusion in the A5, a meeting that the American requested would include the chairs of the A5 conferences, American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco, select members of the American’s Board of Directors and the board’s chair – a role that University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto is taking over from the outgoing chair, University of Memphis President Dr. David Rudd.
“We are writing to continue our advocacy and to enlist your support for the inclusion of the American Athletic Conference (the ‘American’) in the autonomy group of conferences,” wrote the members of the American’s Board of Directors, each of whom signed the letter, in the letter’s opening sentence. To cite the merits of their inclusion, the American’s Board of Directors then referenced the conference’s achievements during the last academic year: Houston’s Final Four appearance in the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Cincinnati’s Peach Bowl appearance last season, Memphis’ recent NIT title in men’s basketball, UCF and USF’s appearances in the latest NCAA women’s basketball tournament and the conference-record 19 football players from the American who were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“All are manifestations of the American’s depth and recognized success over the past decade,” the letter stated. A copy of the letter is available at the bottom of this newsletter. <-