Why the American Athletic Conference Could Still Add a New Member, and Could Still Influence East Tennessee

Anyone notice Army has been the primary FBS school recruiting the Tri-Cities recently?

So now, if Fletcher Page of the Cincinnati Enquirer is to be believed, the American Athletic Conference will be just fine at 11 football playing members, thank you.

Why split of a television revenue pie 12 ways when it only has to be split up 11?

Perhaps because ESPN can now re-open the American’s television contract?

Connecticut athletic administration was not too happy about Huskies basketball games being regulated to ESPN + in the American’s new television contract with The Worldwide Leader, set to take place in the next decade.

But with Connecticut’s departure, ESPN can now renegotiate the American’s contract.

And don’t think they won’t.

When ESPN was first thought of, it was projected as a cable channel that would broadcast sports in Connecticut, with the Huskies being the jewel of the network.

A larger vision was soon discovered, but still, ESPN doesn’t figure to want to give the American the money they originally did. A top 30 market, as Storrs is, without any major professional sports is a desirable fan base that will watch Huskies games en masse.

Which leads me to believe that eventually the American will want to have a 12th member for…