True, but we should be rooting for every team against P5 teams. The less 10-11 win P5 teams the better. We need to follow the Boise State model though... as far a scheduling goes. League + a couple of nobodies + 1 marquee name. Beat the snot out of the league and the MAC teams... limit your exposure. If you're good and you beat the marquee name you're a lock for a top bowl. If you're not... and you lose your marquee name... you still have a 50/50 shot at a good bowl. Boise State didn't get the national recognition by doing the moronic scheduling that Syracuse was doing a few years back... even Notre Dame realized they had to tone it down.
As far as AAC in bowl games? Who cares.
Hey IMIND,
I disagree and agree....I disagree with you on the AAC in bowl games (who cares?????)..I and many on this BY care...perception of the AAC-if we are going to be "stuck" in a non P5 conference, this is the G5 to be stuck in....With the conference doing well,
as TV contracts are re-negotiated, perception is important. I am not holding my breath for the B1G or the ACC anytime soon.
Make the best out of what we have "first".
1) The conference doing well lends itself to better TV contract and marketing perception with ESPN in the next several years.
2)Playoff system set for next year at 4 teams will expand as teams on the edge, especially SEC and B1G teams get shut out. I expect it to go to 8 to 10 teams with several wild cards by 2017 as the P5 bitch about the 4 team selection with several wild cards. There is too much money for the college presidents to pass up and not get in their own pockets instead of to "charitable-half empty bowl games"....and more money for ESPN.....
3) We do need to Kick ass in conference and OOC-with at least 1 marquee game OOC. Next year we have BYU , Boise, Army and Stoney Brook, .....BYU (marquee...ND would not schedule them if otherwise), Boise(national notoriety), Army & SB (must win games). AAC needs ESPN big time in their corner and you do that by beating the #6 Baylor, #5 Florida in 2012 etc. Give them the ammo to sell. THIS IS ALL ABOUT A $460 Billion dollar industry..... state of Connecticut and fanbase need to wakeup.
4) Last and most important.....the marketing out of ESPN has got to turn positive and that only comes from the top and from advertising dollars going to ESPN and tax dollars being further reduced. If the country thinks the AAC is weak because Jesse Fowler and Herbstreit tell the country that it is...the country as a whole believes what it wants to hear....ESPN owns 7 bowls and broadcasts just about EVERY freakin' bowl game. THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT and ESPN NEED TO CUT A better SWEETHEART DEAL.....or get the "freak" out of Bristol.