Just think if the 2017 team played UNC, Pitt, Stanford, and Georgia Tech in OOC games and went undefeated. I think it would have been very difficult to keep us out. Wouldn’t that have changed the conversation in our favor or at least put some real pressure on the committee. I also wonder if we should strategically accept 2 for 1’s with certain schools we feel will help us in some fashion (Recruiting, Brand Recognition, away games in Georgia for alumni, etc) Just as a side note- I would never accept a 2 for 1 with an in state school. Does nothing for us! Please change my mind on this.
I don't think it would have been difficult to keep us out. It would have been very easy for the committee to point to ANY P5 conference schedule and say it was stronger than ours.
I am for strategic 2 for 1 scheduling ONLY if Dr. Danny White decides its a good deal for us. DW has a long-term, forward-thinking, card counting strategy. He is Dr. Strange seeing a million futures, weighing magnitudes of effect, and prioritizing variables in order of precedence. He's playing 3D chess and we're all only capable of playing "Go Fish".
He's determined that home games, fan base size, and revenue are more important than marquee match ups. When we were kept out of the Big 12, it was because of these things, not because recruits don't recognize us or because our SOS isn't strong enough. Those things come AFTER you get into a "P5" conference, not before. The blue bloods have been around 150 years so they have more fans and they get more in donations.
The "everyone" who always tells us to play "P5" teams are the people who want us to fill our schedule with Bama, tOSU, OU, and Clemson so we can take a bunch of Ls and shut up. And if we beat them, we won't get credit for being good, ESPN will say those teams were having down years...so our SOS isn't that strong after all. Dont believe that bulls*** you've heard about Houston being a lock for the CFI after beating OU in 2016. They would never let a "G5" team in with only one blue blood win. Several other teams beat a blue blood AND played a "P5" schedule and they didnt get in either.
I want everyone to temper their enthusiasm about getting into a "P5" conference too. It is stiff competition and we could easily take several Ls the first few years. After only a few years of average seasons, I don't think UCF fans will turn out they way they have been. We will be back to square 1 except well be going up against tougher competition. This will make Ws come harder and building our brand terribly difficult. Let's kill it where were at for a while. The AAC can be as good as any. Tulane has 3 SEC titles. There's a history of success in several AAC programs, it just needs time to keep growing. The AAC just might scoop up Big 12 teams if their commish keeps f***ing up the way he has been.
Is your mind changed?