If SMU Is Invited to Pac 12 . .

[MountainDew]

I really think the SBC is the best option right now and for the next couple years at least, especially with the expansion of the playoffs. If we stay G5, which is very very likely, SBC is our place and it should only get better.

Now time to play a little devil's advocate...What do we have to offer a conference?

-A good athletic budget? No
-Good fan support? No
-The "big market" that some of these conferences want? No
-Winning tradition? Not sure you can make that argument. Softball has really been the only consistent winner for years.
-Good facilities? Baseball, softball, and basketball all good...but Cajun Field is crumbling.

[R1Letterman]

I really think the SBC is the best option right now and for the next couple years at least, especially with the expansion of the playoffs. If we stay G5, which is very very likely, SBC is our place and it should only get better.

Now time to play a little devil's advocate...What do we have to offer a conference?

-A good athletic budget? No
-Good fan support? No
-The "big market" that some of these conferences want? No
-Winning tradition? Not sure you can make that argument. Softball has really been the only consistent winner for years.
-Good facilities? Baseball, softball, and basketball all good...but Cajun Field is crumbling.

excellent points. however, remember that many already in said p5 include the money received from the p5 conference in their budget figure, only with those monies are they that much higher than ours. also not sure about p5, but there are a few, and many in aac play at non campus stadiums yet “get credit” for higher stadium capacity and “good facilities” that their athletic budgets didn't pay for or build

[no1cajunfan]

More media speculation last couple days suggesting the Pac 12 must soon expand to survive. While SMU and San Diego St. were previously mentioned candidates, earlier today was first time I've heard Tulane and UNLV as potential Pac 12 invites getting their conference to 14 schools. Still debatable if Pac 12 sticks together. All speculation at this point but could result in two AAC openings.

Not sure what the average athletic budget is in the AAC but I'm sure it is way way more than our current 38-40 mil a year UL has. If by some grace of God, we get an invite we will be the ULM of that conference and I don't think that's a good place to be.

[Big Buds]

Not sure what the average athletic budget is in the AAC but I'm sure it is way way more than our current 38-40 mil a year UL has. If by some grace of God, we get an invite we will be the ULM of that conference and I don't think that's a good place to be.

Why would you leave the SBC for a watered down version of the AAC? The SBC is finally in a position of power when it come to the G5.

Unless Louisiana gets some P5 interest, I want no part of anything other than the SBC. I honestly love our new look conference.

[CajunNation]

We should NEVER turn down an opportunity to be in the same Division with Rice, SMU, Tulane and Memphis. The series with Rice last weekend should have made that clear. The opportunity to have a nasty rivalry with Tulane should be clear. The benefits of recruiting the Metroplex should be clear. The opportunity to have Memphis basketball in the Dome should be clear.

What is not clear is an avenue to make this happen. The Big12/AAC conveyor belt is closed, probably for good.

[ZoomZoom]

The one thing about moving to another conference is if yoyr program turns down a move, it’s probable a peer program will be chosen. Then your conference is probably going to get a lesser program as a replacement.

Just look at the WAC/SLC/A-SUN swap meet. Lots of buyer’s remorse, especially a few SLC teams. Grass was not greener.

[Big Buds]

We should NEVER turn down an opportunity to be in the same Division with Rice, SMU, Tulane and Memphis. The series with Rice last weekend should have made that clear. The opportunity to have a nasty rivalry with Tulane should be clear. The benefits of recruiting the Metroplex should be clear. The opportunity to have Memphis basketball in the Dome should be clear.

What is not clear is an avenue to make this happen. The Big12/AAC conveyor belt is closed, probably for good.

SMU will be in the new PAC/MW in the coming years. Tulane and Rice might actually be soon to follow as the PAC is literally going to get shredded. Navy will eventually go Independent so that leaves you with CUSA 5.0 in the AAC. At that point, the SBC is clearly the best G5, I can make an argument it’s the best G5 today, and you invite ECU and Memphis a seat at the table and we move to 16 members.

Furthermore, I’d much rather a rivalry with Southern Miss, TXST and stAte than Rice! I’ll give you Tulane, that would be fun. But Rice?!

[no1cajunfan]

Not sure what the average athletic budget is in the AAC but I'm sure it is way way more than our current 38-40 mil a year UL has. If by some grace of God, we get an invite we will be the ULM of that conference and I don't think that's a good place to be.

To answer my own question i did a quick google search of AAC budgets and the seven schools i could find (since others were private) averaged 56.1 million per year with East Carolina at the bottom with 43.3 and Houston with 67.2. After Houston is Cincinatti 62.5, Temple 61.7, UCF 60.8, USF 51.1 and Memphis 47.1. Looks like we need around 10 mil a year more just to be near the bottom.

[no1cajunfan]

Ill take rice any day over tx st.

[Big Buds]

To answer my own question i did a quick google search of AAC budgets and the seven schools i could find (since others were private) averaged 56.1 million per year with East Carolina at the bottom with 43.3 and Houston with 67.2. After Houston is Cincinatti 62.5, Temple 61.7, UCF 60.8, USF 51.1 and Memphis 47.1. Looks like we need around 10 mil a year more just to be near the bottom.

Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are in the Big12.

[Big Buds]

Ill take rice any day over tx st.

Why exactly? They are awful in athletics. Plus they are a private school. From a culture standpoint not an ideal rival.

[Turbine]

Find out the conference TV money before declaring Louisiana is better off staying put.

Right now $2 million of Louisiana's budget is from Conference TV money.

What would it be in the destination conference, then add or subtract what Louisiana's overall budget would be with the move.