Originally Posted by Wallage
Lets assume UD and another A10 team left for the AAC. Lets say its VCU.
As the AAC is currently constructed I think its a no brainer for UD to go to if invited. The top of the AAC is better and the bottom has way more upside than the bottom of the A10. BG may not get USF to the tourney much, but theres no way he doesn't recruit enough athletes to make them competitive.
The AAC gives us a massively upgraded conference schedule at a time when non-con scheduling is getting tougher. UConn, UC, Memphis, SMU, Wichita St, Temple...all teams we'd love to schedule H/H with in the non-con and cant.
There would be some risk involved in a jump to the AAC. The biggest and probably most immediate would be UCONN and UC leaving. In that scenario the AAC + VCU would still be still be better than the A10 minus VCU - top roughly equivalent and still a better bottom.
There is risk involved in staying in the A10 too. What if VCU and SLU jump to the AAC? We'd be left with an equivalent of the Colonial. Not terrible, also not where we want to be.
Competing with football money...we're doing that already every time we recruit a guy with P5 offers.
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Risk and compatibility: Absent FB the non-FB schools are not a good fit in a hybrid conference. The old Big East taught us that. Why not follow the "AAC model" and work hard to improve the A10? I don't see any effort, movement...even talk,...about improving the A10. The AAC commissioner is talking all the time about steps being taken by member schools to improve the conference and become the "Power 6" conference.
The A10 could have a goal...talk and walk...of becoming the undisputed "best non-FB BB conference". That kind of talk/action might even attract one or two schools who want the same thing. And since it means investment, it might persuade one or two current members to switch. Schools have different objectives. We know exactly what UD's objectives are...some A10 schools have similar objectives and some clearly do not. The latter can find a new home and a few schools from other conferences may like what they see in the "new A10".
This isn't dreaming or wishing for a miracle. It's recognition that schools are different and have different priorities. All A10 schools will never have UD's goals and priorities. But most should at least have compatible objectives. Currently that is not the case.
