If SMU Is Invited to Pac 12 . .

[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.

[no1cajunfan]

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

Perception...agree or disagree Rice has a better athletic impression nationally than Tx St. Secondly Houston is only a three-hour drive so more fans will attend, and third Houston is a great place to recruit.

[no1cajunfan]

I know they were joining in 2023 but has the Big 12 made it official yet?