Rough day for the good old AAC!

[sportsart]

Now that the BCS era is over, the only thing we need to do is finish higher in the rankings than the G5 teams. If we beat P5 teams, as a conference, then we will get a higher ranking.

In other words we should be rooting for AAC teams, in OOC games, because it gives our conference champs (hopefully UConn) a better shot at a big bowl game. Non debatable.

 

[ZooCougar]

Now that the BCS era is over, the only thing we need to do is finish higher in the rankings than the G5 teams. If we beat P5 teams, as a conference, then we will get a higher ranking.

In other words we should be rooting for AAC teams, in OOC games, because it gives our conference champs (hopefully UConn) a better shot at a big bowl game. Non debatable.

Rooting for teams also has no impact on outcome

Let me ask you this. Would you rather see UConn run rampant against a bunch of weak teams? Or finish 3-5 in conference with the sea "others". I am hoping that we kick ass and that everyone falters. We need to be the ones winning all those OOC games and going undefeated in conference. We need to stand out.

 

[IMind]

Now that the BCS era is over, the only thing we need to do is finish higher in the rankings than the G5 teams. If we beat P5 teams, as a conference, then we will get a higher ranking.

In other words we should be rooting for AAC teams, in OOC games, because it gives our conference champs (hopefully UConn) a better shot at a big bowl game. Non debatable.

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.

 

[sportsart]

Rooting for teams also has no impact on outcome

Let me ask you this. Would you rather see UConn run rampant against a bunch of weak teams? Or finish 3-5 in conference with the sea "others". I am hoping that we kick ass and that everyone falters. We need to be the ones winning all those OOC games and going undefeated in conference. We need to stand out.

If we kick ass and everyone falters, who's ass did we kick? A bunch of weak teams. Why is it so hard to understand that if we beat everyone in our conference and our conference mates win all of their OOC games, we look better. It's not rocket science. If we are 12-0 or 11-1 and Cincy, UCF and Houston beat a bunch of P5 teams, don't we look better?

Why are we debating the obvious?

 

[ZooCougar]

If we kick ass and everyone falters, who's ass did we kick? A bunch of weak teams. Why is it so hard to understand that if we beat everyone in our conference and our conference mates win all of their OOC games, we look better. It's not rocket science. If we are 12-0 or 11-1 and Cincy, UCF and Houston beat a bunch of P5 teams, don't we look better?

Why are we debating the obvious?

I think a couple good quality OOC wins gets us what we need. The AAC is going to have a 2-3 quality teams every year. That's what concerns me.

 

[Colt house75]

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.

 

[HawkHusky]

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.

Even Urban Meyer and Ohio State were rooting for Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. That alone should tell you how important conference strength and perception are.

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...s-the-phoniest-smile-youve-probably-ever-seen

 

[IMind]

My point is that bowl wins for the AAC matter as much to UConn as bowl wins for the old Big East did. That is, not at all... The Big East had a great BCS record, a great bowl record in general... and we still were called the Big Least and mocked. It's only going to be worse in the AAC. We have to stand above the AAC... as per the Urban Meyer thing? Whatever... you guys can root for Tulane and UCF all you want... their record isn't going to mean a thing unless we're winning 9,10,11 games a year... and even then it's more likely our wins against Tennessee or BYU that will define us... no one is going to care that UCF beat the snot out of Baylor next September... I mean sure if the AAC over achieves for the next 15 years maybe someone will grudgingly say that the conference is pretty good... but hopefully we're gone by then.

 

[sportsart]

Even Urban Meyer and Ohio State were rooting for Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. That alone should tell you how important conference strength and perception are.

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...s-the-phoniest-smile-youve-probably-ever-seen

That's just silly. Why would a coach root for a conference mate who just ruined their NC dreams? It only matters what tOSU does...screw the rest of the conference.

 

[HawkHusky]

My point is that bowl wins for the AAC matter as much to UConn as bowl wins for the old Big East did. That is, not at all... The Big East had a great BCS record, a great bowl record in general... and we still were called the Big Least and mocked. It's only going to be worse in the AAC. We have to stand above the AAC... as per the Urban Meyer thing? Whatever... you guys can root for Tulane and UCF all you want... their record isn't going to mean a thing unless we're winning 9,10,11 games a year... and even then it's more likely our wins against Tennessee or BYU that will define us... no one is going to care that UCF beat the snot out of Baylor next September.

...Except the fact that UCF beating Baylor will give UCF a higher preseason ranking in Fall 2014. How is it not good for UCONN to be playing (and possibly beat) a higher ranked team?

 

[sportsart]

My point is that bowl wins for the AAC matter as much to UConn as bowl wins for the old Big East did. That is, not at all... The Big East had a great BCS record, a great bowl record in general... and we still were called the Big Least and mocked. It's only going to be worse in the AAC. We have to stand above the AAC... as per the Urban Meyer thing? Whatever... you guys can root for Tulane and UCF all you want... their record isn't going to mean a thing unless we're winning 9,10,11 games a year... and even then it's more likely our wins against Tennessee or BYU that will define us... no one is going to care that UCF beat the snot out of Baylor next September... I mean sure if the AAC over achieves for the next 15 years maybe someone will grudgingly say that the conference is pretty good... but hopefully we're gone by then.

You are clueless. Bowl wins matter for the conference and for teams. The teams that won the biggest bowl games for the Big East are no longer in the conference.

As far as the Big Least comments, they were done by opposing fans or idiot bloggers. Tell me why a conference with a bunch of 7-5 teams benefit UConn.

Tell me why a weak AAC is better than a strong AAC. Don't go off on a tangent. Answer the questions.

 

[HawkHusky]

That's just silly. Why would a coach root for a conference mate who just ruined their NC dreams? It only matters what tOSU does...screw the rest of the conference.

The rationale is puzzling...

 

[IMind]

You are clueless. Bowl wins matter for the conference and for teams. The teams that won the biggest bowl games for the Big East are no longer in the conference.

As far as the Big Least comments, they were done by opposing fans or idiot bloggers. Tell me why a conference with a bunch of 7-5 teams benefit UConn.

Tell me why a weak AAC is better than a strong AAC. Don't go off on a tangent. Answer the questions.

A weak AAC is better than a strong AAC because we're more likely to run the table. End of story.

 

[ZooCougar]

You are clueless. Bowl wins matter for the conference and for teams. The teams that won the biggest bowl games for the Big East are no longer in the conference.

As far as the Big Least comments, they were done by opposing fans or idiot bloggers. Tell me why a conference with a bunch of 7-5 teams benefit UConn.

Tell me why a weak AAC is better than a strong AAC. Don't go off on a tangent. Answer the questions.

I expect us to have a good next 2-3 years. I want us to tear through the conference like a hot knife through butter.

 

[IMind]

You guys honestly think the sports writers and coaches that generate these polls give two sh-ts what UCF does? If you do, then you're clueless... as to the Big Least comments... that's crap it was the general perception of the conference. It's why coaches IN OUR OWN CONFERENCE would rate our teams down in the coaches poll even when it was in their best interest too pump up the conference rep. You guys can sing kumbaya and hold hands around the camp fire all you want. It doesn't matter.

 

[HawkHusky]

A weak AAC is better than a strong AAC because we're more likely to run the table. End of story.

And you'll land in a mediocre bowl game that no one cares about...

 

[HawkHusky]

You guys honestly think the sports writers and coaches that generate these polls give two sh-ts what UCF does? If you do, then you're clueless... as to the Big Least comments... that's crap it was the general perception of the conference. It's why coaches IN OUR OWN CONFERENCE would rate our teams down in the coaches poll even when it was in their best interest too pump up the conference rep. You guys can sing kumbaya and hold hands around the camp fire all you want. It doesn't matter.

Considering UCF will be top ten in the final BCS standings...i'd say yes.

 

[IMind]

And you'll land in a mediocre bowl game that no one cares about...

I hate to break it to you, but that's what's going to happen in the AAC unless you win the conference.

 

[HawkHusky]

I hate to break it to you, but that's what's going to happen in the AAC unless you win the conference.

Exactly. So why wouldn't you want to play better teams for a better chance at a better bowl?

 

[IMind]

Exactly. So why wouldn't you want to play better teams for a better chance at a better bowl?

What chance? If you win 10-11 games in the AAC you'll probably go to a high profile game... you win 12 you have a shot at a playoff spot if the other conferences falter... that's our lot in life. It hardly matters how else you get there or what our conference mates are doing.

Otherwise we're playing the 8th best SEC school in Alabama. The drop off is staggering.

 

[sportsart]

What chance? If you win 10-11 games in the AAC you'll probably go to a high profile game... you win 12 you have a shot at a playoff spot if the other conferences falter... that's our lot in life. It hardly matters how else you get there or what our conference mates are doing.

Otherwise we're playing the 8th best SEC school in Alabama. The drop off is staggering.

Maybe you don't understand how things work going forward. The highest ranked G5 team gets the big bowl bid. If our conference mates are beating OOC P5 teams and we go 11-1 and UCF is 10-2 and Cincy is 10-2 it will look better than an 11-1 NIU team beating up on MAC teams that aren't beating anyone OOC.

We need to have a strong conference to get us the one bowl bid open to the G5.

BTW...we will never have a shot at a play off spot...unless...we go 12-0 and beat a top team in a bowl game, and then start the next year ranked in the top 15 and then go 12-0 again. This scenario would only work IF our conference SOS was extremely high and the AAC teams won all the OOC games.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If UConn is good enough to beat the teams in the AAC, then we should want those teams to be as good as they can be. Ideally, UConn is a FG better than the next best team, and the next best team is great and loses only to UConn. That's the SEC in a nutshell.

Now, realistically, this conference cannot be that good. But I do believe that UCF has long been an under-appreciated sleeper (and better program than USF). Houston and SMU have potential and past success. UConn has potential. Cinci has been consistently good, rarely very good. Should AAC teams start knocking off big name opponents regularly (and beating Baylor certainly qualifies) two things will happen (a) it will cement itself above the MWC, as the BE did and (b) those P5 teams will avoid AAC teams.

We can whine all we want, but the truth of this dumpster fire is that while Basketball is way down, I think football is arguably better than the most recent iteration of the Big East (since WVU left). ECU just had a 10-2 season and won a bowl game as well.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[HawkHusky]

What it comes down to is whether you want to see UCONN in a bowl game year in and out (with a weaker resume), or if you'd rather risk not having a bowl game for the chance of getting that 1 available BCS spot (with a tougher resume).

I'd personally rather shoot for the moon.