Sun Herald article (from a Southern Miss POV)
excerpt:
...The conference most likely to feel the brunt of Big 12 expansion is the American Athletic Conference.
Cincinnati seems like the most likely program to move from the AAC to the Big 12, but Houston, Central Florida, Memphis, UConn and South Florida are all sure to gain serious consideration. Out west, BYU and Colorado State seem like the most attractive targets.
So what does all this mean for Southern Miss and the rest of the Conference USA?
It certainly creates an opportunity for multiple C-USA programs if the AAC loses three or more programs. If the AAC loses one, it may mean a chance for a single C-USA school. If the AAC loses two schools, it may sit still at 10 members.
If you're a USM supporter, you're hoping that the Big 12 takes a big bite out of the AAC by taking three or more programs. There's no sure thing that USM is at the top of the AAC list if it loses a single member.
If the AAC is in search of three or more members, the Golden Eagles can be a serious candidate.
As I reported in March, USM athletic director Bill McGillis has made an effort to put the school in a good position with the AAC. He traveled to Orlando for the AAC basketball tournament this season.
The AAC's best options if it needs to reload are: Old Dominion, Southern Miss, Texas-San Antonio, Rice, Marshall, UMass and Florida Atlantic.....
In the cascade effect, it's logical to speculate that C-USA just might be raided by AAC. I get Southern Miss being in the mix and putting themselves in the mix. Their football tradition gives them some credibility to make that assertion. I'd say Marshall would be in the same boat for similar reasons. Not real sure about media markets for those two, but football tradition and good attendance carry lots of weight.
I generally don't get the assessments after those two. How Middle Tennessee is not thrown in at the top of that list right after Marshall and Southern Miss boggles the mind. There is some real potential in a number of C-USA programs, including MTSU!
Rice has academic reputation to add to a conference along with a huge media market. Decent sports for Rice, but not a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination. Baseball maybe? Not sure that's a major factor.
UTSA has potential and a media market. That's about it. Media market and location are good for them, but they haven't realized any potential in sports to this point. They are all potential to this point beyond the media market.
UNT has same argument as UTSA if not a little better of a position. At least they have had some sports success every once in a while along the way.
ODU is attractive for a number of reasons. Good men's and women's basketball. Good media market. Potential as in a region that is hungry to support development of a big D1 program in the region.
Then it seems FAU & FIU keep getting mentioned. I just don't get it! IMO, they have proven to be poor picks for C-USA. Still, people list them as top candidates while MT is not even suggested. Those programs are hurting the conference at this point IMO. Sure Miami is a top media market, but it is a terrible spectator sports town. It just doesn't seem to be a part of the culture unless it's a real big event i.e. U of Miami vs FSU, Miami Dolphins playing a huge game, big event baseball games. As for FAU & FIU and media market, they sure helped with the awful media deal C-USA just signed. So what else are the offering? A low basketball RPI is about all I can tell.
Of all the recent additions to C-USA, in these first few years has there been a more ready and successful program than MTSU? The only missing credit is the C-USA football championship; however, MT has at least been competitive each year in football competing at the top of the conference. Both men's and women's basketball have been a force and among the best in C-USA. The Nashville media market is no slouch either. Not to mention that Nashville has been trending as one of the best, active, growing, vibrant cities in America the last 5 years or so, in other words, one of the hottest cities in the country. Again, MT athletics across the entire dept has been one of if not the best in C-USA. Sure football and basketball are the big sports, but the overall athletic dept is a significant part of the resume in regards to conferences. MT still has plenty of potential and room to grow as well.
WKY is a good conference partner and rival for us. They have grabbed a conf title in football, but we've owned them in basketball in recent years. MT still gets it's wins in football vs WKU just like vs Marshall. MT just hasn't been able to get over the hump to get that conf title in football. I suspect that is about to change within the next few years. This season is a real possibility! Overall, I'm not sure where WKU fits in regarding conference appeal, but they are sure are a heck of a lot better of a choice than FAU & FIU. IMO, MT & WKU are a dang appealing duo to add to many-a-good conferences especially AAC if the openings present themselves.
Lastly, LaTech typically has quality sports. I'm just not sure how their location or lack of media market helps them, or hurts them to be more accurate.