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Memphis, Tulane, USF, UTSA commit to AAC amid Pac-12 interest
- By Halldan1
- Pirate Hoops Chat
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- Pete Thamel
- Kyle Bonagura
Memphis, Tulane, USF, UTSA commit to AAC
Some of the highest-profile targets of the Pac-12's expansion have rebuffed its interest, as Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA all publicly committed to stay in the American Athletic Conference on Monday.
Some of the highest-profile targets of the Pac-12's expansion have rebuffed its interest, as Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA publicly committed to stay in the American Athletic Conference on Monday.
The schools announced their intentions on social media, which solidifies the AAC in the short term and leaves the six-team Pac-12 in flux as it searches for at least two more members to complete its rebuild.
The Pac-12 added Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State in recent weeks, with the goal to create a clear-cut fifth-best football conference. The school is in discussions with Gonzaga as a basketball addition, which sources told ESPN would come with a full revenue share. ESPN is also reporting preliminary discussions with Saint Mary's for the Pac-12.
But some of the Pac-12's momentum to become the top football conference outside the Power 4 leagues has stalled, as Memphis loomed as the linchpin of any potential additions.
The schools issued statements filled with standard jargon about student-athletes and academics, but the reality is that a significant financial risk loomed if any of them decided to join the Pac-12. AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti has aggressively tried to leverage private equity money to help boost cash flow in his league.
The four schools released a joint statement that read, in part: "While we acknowledge receiving interest in our institutions from other conferences, we firmly believe that it is in our individual and collective best interests to uphold our commitment to each other."
Exit fees from the AAC loomed as a big factor, as SMU paid $25 million to leave under a 27-month window. Factoring in revenue loss, it would cost a projected $27.5 million for each school to exit, as the Pac-12 is slated to start play in 2026.
The biggest factor working against the Pac-12 in luring the high-profile AAC programs was that it couldn't guarantee them a set monetary amount. The conference is working with its consulting partner, Navigate, to reconstruct the league. The costs and toll of travel also played a role in the decision-making. Navigate has been at the forefront of the outreach calls for the Pac-12, sources said.
While the Pac-12 has offered revenue projections of more than $12 million, there's no guarantee it would land there, considering it doesn't know who the final members will be. That has prevented the conference from getting an idea from television partners on what a deal would be worth, and that uncertainty presented a risk for the AAC schools. Memphis, Tulane and USF make close to $9 million in revenue from the league all-in between media rights, bowl deals and NCAA units.
As the Pac-12 whiffed on some of its top targets, the Mountain West has been scurrying to solidify its league. ESPN reported that the Mountain West is offering outsized deals to Air Force and UNLV as incentives to stay. The conference is offering all eight of its members extra money and guaranteeing that they won't move backward in their media contract.
ESPN has confirmed that Air Force has pledged its commitment to stay in the Mountain West. That is in the form of a memorandum of understanding that will allow the league to work toward a television deal and grant of rights.
ICONS OF THE GAME
- By NYShoreGuy
- Pirate Hoops Chat
- 2 Replies
The location line was really misspelled unionfale?
ICONS OF THE GAME: College Basketball’s New Event Honors Coaching Legends Who Paved The Way - Seton Hall University Athletics
Icons of the Game is dedicated to the coaching pioneers who broke barriers and paved the way for today's coaches, who carry on their legacies. The inaugural ...shupirates.com
Unionfale, N.Y. – College basketball has a new event with a major purpose.
Icons of the Game is dedicated to the coaching pioneers who broke barriers and paved the way for today's coaches, who carry on their legacies. The inaugural event will be a doubleheader played at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, when Seton Hall takes on Hofstra and UMass meets Louisiana Tech.
The Pirates and Pride are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. and television information will be released at a later date. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.ticketmaster.com/icons-of-the-game-uniondale-new-york-11-13-2024/event/0000613083E5108B
The first-ever Icons event will pay tribute to several college and professional coaching legends who achieved significantly, both on and on the court. The 2024 honorees include John McLendon, Clarence "Big House" Gaines, John Chaney, John Thompson II, and more.
The matchup between Seton Hall and Hofstra will mark the first time the two programs have faced each other in more than 50 years, with the last game occurring in 1970. This will be the first ever meeting between UMass and Louisiana Tech.
All four programs are led by head coaches – Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall, Speedy Claxton of Hofstra, Frank Martin of UMass, and Telvin Hester of Louisiana Tech – who have established themselves as exemplary leaders on and off court, making positive impacts on their respective communities.
Icons of the Game are brought to you by The 44 Group and joined by coaching legend, Tubby Smith, supporting the event. Set to become a major annual college basketball happening, some of the nation's top men's and women's program will participate in 2025.