More conference realignment talk

[Coleman]

Sacred Heart, Merrimack to Join Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Next Season
Billy McGuire  October 25, 2023

http://fairfieldmirror.com/sports/sacred-heart-merrimack-to-join-metro-atlantic-athletic-conference-maac-next-season/




Also, it looks like Army football only to the AAC is official.

This is sure to send ripples across college basketball

[Coleman]

So how do you pronounce MAAC?

Assuming that the MAC is "mack," does that mean the MAAC is "make?"  Or do you elongate the a-sound like "Maaaack?"

And if the answer is "just like the MAC," then that's just stupid and they need to rebrand.

It is "Mack," but you have to say it with a fancy northeastern WASP transatlantic accent

[The Sultan]

The Midwestern MAC is MAC Attack or Maction, never just MAC.  So, NE MAAC can be Mack

Maybe to you younger folk. But to us older midwesterners, who saw the likes of Central Michigan and Toledo battle for the right to play PCAA champs Fresno State in the California Raisin Bowl, it's just MAC.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

So how do you pronounce MAAC?

Assuming that the MAC is "mack," does that mean the MAAC is "make?"  Or do you elongate the a-sound like "Maaaack?"

And if the answer is "just like the MAC," then that's just stupid and they need to rebrand.

Airing this week on ESPN+
The MAC vs. MAAC basketball challenge.

[The Sultan]

Airing this week on ESPN+
The MAC vs. MAAC basketball challenge.

YES! Winner keeps the "mack" pronunciation for a year.

[Uncle Rico]

Maybe to you younger folk. But to us older midwesterners, who saw the likes of Central Michigan and Toledo battle for the right to play PCAA champs Fresno State in the California Raisin Bowl, it's just MAC.

Always the first bowl game of the year. 

[MurphysTillClose]

The Midwestern MAC is MAC Attack or Maction, never just MAC.  So, NE MAAC can be Mack

I like this.

[Oldgym]

YES! Winner keeps the "mack" pronunciation for a year.

And calls itself the Mack Daddy

[WhiteTrash]

Airing this week on ESPN+
The MAC vs. MAAC basketball challenge.

Didn't it used to be on The Ocho?

[tower912]

The MAC vs. MAAC basketball challenge.

Sponsored by Apple.

[shoothoops]

Airing this week on ESPN+
The MAC vs. MAAC basketball challenge.

I probably watch more sports on ESPN plus than anywhere else. (It's spread around a bit)

[Otule's Glass Eye]

VCU rumored to be in talks to join the AAC

https://x.com/hitmenhoops/status/1717213461900374247?s=46&t=5FASZRHgruhjFLVJKu-4pQ

[Scoop Snoop]

Story in top right of attached. Your take? Val is the polar opposite of Yormark in terms of keeping quiet about future plans, so this surprised me a bit.

https://scorezagsscore.com › 2023 › 10 › 24 › big-east-commissioner-val-ackerman-no-better-fit-for-g

[shoothoops]

VCU rumored to be in talks to join the AAC

https://x.com/hitmenhoops/status/1717213461900374247?s=46&t=5FASZRHgruhjFLVJKu-4pQ

https://x.com/vcuramnation/status/1717222440789496062?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng

[Herman Cain]

I think WSU and OSU are going to prevail in their litigation
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38744725/osu-wsu-ask-court-strip-all-departing-pac-12-schools-board-seats

[Aughnanure]

Story in top right of attached. Your take? Val is the polar opposite of Yormark in terms of keeping quiet about future plans, so this surprised me a bit.

https://scorezagsscore.com › 2023 › 10 › 24 › big-east-commissioner-val-ackerman-no-better-fit-for-g

Link is broken but think you're referring to this. It did raise my eyebrows.

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman: "There's no better fit for Gonzaga than the Big East, if you look at the kind of school they are, basketball focus, their enrollment, their budget, it's totally on point." Said they stay in touch with them.

https://x.com/nypost_brazille/status/1716937085561770074?s=46&t=it8D1ecjv7y0DPlekdEgBw

[WhiteTrash]

I think WSU and OSU are going to prevail in their litigation
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38744725/osu-wsu-ask-court-strip-all-departing-pac-12-schools-board-seats

I think you are right. OSU and WSU appear to rightfully have the upper hand in this issue, but obviously severely disadvantaged  in the big picture.

Not a good look for UW, UO and the rest. Perhaps Washington and Oregon legislators will impose a UCLA "tax" payment to Cal type arrangement on UW and UO. I support those intergovernmental transfers of resources. 

[The Sultan]

I think you are right. OSU and WSU appear to rightfully have the upper hand in this issue, but obviously severely disadvantaged  in the big picture.

Not a good look for UW, UO and the rest. Perhaps Washington and Oregon legislators will impose a UCLA "tax" payment to Cal type arrangement on UW and UO. I support those intergovernmental transfers of resources. 

That's going to be harder to do in Oregon and Washington's case.  UCLA and Berkeley are both part of the University of California System, so the System just had to do the transfer with Board approval.  OU is governed separately from OSU. Ditto UW and WSU.  So these transfers will have to be done at the State level and usually legislature don't really want to be involved in that.  And they may not have much of authority anyway - Wisconsin is very much an outlier in how deep the legislature can get involved in the operations of the UW System.

[Scoop Snoop]

Link is broken but think you're referring to this. It did raise my eyebrows.

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman: "There's no better fit for Gonzaga than the Big East, if you look at the kind of school they are, basketball focus, their enrollment, their budget, it's totally on point." Said they stay in touch with them.

https://x.com/nypost_brazille/status/1716937085561770074?s=46&t=it8D1ecjv7y0DPlekdEgBw

I checked the link via "preview" and it worked for me, but thanks for catching the problem.

I think Vals' comments are extremely interesting. Sounds somewhat similar to what she said before UCONN joined the BE. She doesn't make very many remarks like this one.

[WhiteTrash]

That's going to be harder to do in Oregon and Washington's case.  UCLA and Berkeley are both part of the University of California System, so the System just had to do the transfer with Board approval.  OU is governed separately from OSU. Ditto UW and WSU.  So these transfers will have to be done at the State level and usually legislature don't really want to be involved in that.  And they may not have much of authority anyway - Wisconsin is very much an outlier in how deep the legislature can get involved in the operations of the UW System.

Good info, makes sense. I support the state's rights to govern and administer these types of issues as they see fit. 

[The Sultan]

I checked the link via "preview" and it worked for me, but thanks for catching the problem.

I think Vals' comments are extremely interesting. Sounds somewhat similar to what she said before UCONN joined the BE. She doesn't make very many remarks like this one.

I'm pretty sure Val didn't just bring up Gonzaga. I think she was asked specifically about them.

[muwarrior69]

Here is a direct link on Val's remarks.

https://scorezagsscore.com/2023/10/24/big-east-commissioner-val-ackerman-no-better-fit-for-gonzaga-than-the-big-east/

[JakeBarnes]

Here is a direct link on Val's remarks.

https://scorezagsscore.com/2023/10/24/big-east-commissioner-val-ackerman-no-better-fit-for-gonzaga-than-the-big-east/

If the Big East is adding, that's also another reason to think Gavitt Games might be on hold. Trying to put a positive spin on that.

[The Sultan]

VCU rumored to be in talks to join the AAC

https://x.com/hitmenhoops/status/1717213461900374247?s=46&t=5FASZRHgruhjFLVJKu-4pQ

This is somewhat unfortunate because I always thought they could be a good addition to the BE. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

This is somewhat unfortunate because I always thought they could be a good addition to the BE.

Longshot - Maybe they are floating this rumor to apply some leverage in regards to the Big East?