Last week I was able to reach out to and ask a few questions of Hali Oughton, the host for the American Digital Network. I asked her about the AAC’s 2014 football season and what to watch for in 2015, the perception of the conference nationally, some of her favorite spots on AAC campuses to grab some grub or a drink, and more.
You can find her covering anything and everything sports-wise in the AAC on the American Digital Network site, or you can also check out Hali’s work on the conference’s YouTube channel.
Q: The AAC debuted with a bang in 2013, with UCF’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Baylor. Three schools were added in 2014, and with Navy joining this year the league will now feature two divisions and a conference championship game. How do you think the quick and steady evolution of the American has affected its national perception?
“It is exciting to head into the 2015 season knowing that we will finally have our complete group of 12 teams. The three additions this season helped put us on the map even more. East Carolina’s early success against ACC opponents and top 25 status was great for the conference. Three champions were crowned, all of which had great seasons too. With the addition of a team like Navy, it is exciting to bring their fan base into the mix. Both divisions are going to be a battle, and the championship game will feature some of the most competitive football in America. Our Commissioner, Mike Aresco, has said repeatedly that the goal is to have our champion be the top contender out of the “group of five” and get into a New Year’s Six Bowl game.”
Q: The quality of the head coaches in the AAC was already pretty high, but the additions of Tom Herman, Chad Morris and Philip Montgomery are receiving a lot of national praise. Have you spoken with any of the new guys or been able to gauge how the new hires have been received by the conference as a whole?
“I haven’t had the chance to speak with them personally yet, but will for sure have the opportunity to do so in August at Football Media Day. We might even have a chance to sit down with them in the next couple of months as we continue to visit as many campuses as possible.
“The three new hires have brought a lot of excitement. Their resumes speak for themselves. Tom Herman heads to Houston with the first ever CFP Championship ring on his finger, while Phillip Montgomery and Chad Morris are nationally recognized names as well. Houston, SMU, and Tulsa are programs with great fan bases and a lot of potential, and I don’t see any reason why these guys can’t be the ones to take them where they want to go.”
Q: Obviously the addition of Navy, the new divisions, the new coaches and the inaugural conference title game are all big stories to follow when the 2015 football season kicks off, but what else are you excited to see this fall in the AAC?
“First off, we had two new stadiums open this year with Tulane and Houston. Cincinnati will be back in historic Nippert Stadium, which has been undergoing renovation since 2013. It will be exciting to see their program continue to grow and get their fan base back in the center of campus. Also, the conference only loses one starting quarterback in Shane Carden. There’s a lot of young talent in the pocket so it will be great to see how those guys develop in the off-season. Also, I think the non-conference schedule is something to look at. Our teams have proven that they can compete with the best, and so they are going to keep scheduling those games.”
Q4: Looking back at the 2014 season, do you have any favorite moments or stories from on or off the field?
“It was an exciting year that’s for sure. It was a little bit of a roller coaster. Some teams came out of the woodwork and pleasantly surprised us; others came up with big time wins. East Carolina pulling off back-to-back wins against the ACC was a fun month: first the win on the road at [Virginia Tech] and then rolling past UNC at home (as a former Pirate myself, I enjoyed those wins a little extra). But there were some amazing individual moments that no one can argue with. Justin Holman to Breshad Perriman: [a] Hail Mary to win the conference championship on the road at East Carolina. As a college football fan, that to me is what makes it special. Houston’s comeback in the Armed forces bowl was a miracle. Recovering two consecutive onside kicks… how often does that happen?
“For me personally, my favorite part was getting to be on campus for games. That’s how you truly get a feel for the fan base and the passion that a school has. You can’t beat the college atmosphere in my opinion. We went to Memphis and East Carolina in the fall for football and are now making trips to basketball games. We will do the same in the spring for baseball. We hope to eventually hit everybody. That’s the best way to get to know what a school is all about.”
Q: Now, I realize the schools involved have changed a bit, but how many of the campuses have you been able to get to so far? Do you have a favorite memory or experience from being on the road in the AAC? Find any unique or cool on-campus places to grab some food or a drink along the way?
“So I love this question. I have been to every campus besides Tulane and Temple. I will be at Temple on February 14th, so then I can check that one off the list as well. As a former soccer player at East Carolina, I competed at UCF, Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, Houston, and obviously spent quite a bit of time on the ECU campus. I have made trips to USF, Cincinnati and UConn this year for the first time.
“Experiencing a campus as an athlete and a professional is like two different worlds, but I got a great feel for each place I went. They are all so different, but the one thing each campus has in common is a strong and passionate fan base. Since the schools in our league are spread out all over the place, one thing that initially sticks out to me is the food. I’m kind of a foodie myself, so I like to know what the specialties are in each region. At East Carolina, it’s B’s Barbecue and a late night uptown spot called Sup Dogs. At Cincinnati it’s Skyline Chili (spaghetti with chili on it and a million other things if you want it). At Memphis, [it’s] Central BBQ and Rendevous for ribs. Temple has Geno’s and Pat’s, which yes I have tried both, and I am going with the Geno’s Cheesesteak crowd on this one (Wiz Wit). Tulane I’m sure is rocking the Cajun food, which I’m excited to try too.
“The other thing that sticks out is the size of each town. You have your small college towns like Greenville and Storrs and then your metropolitan cities like Orlando, Dallas, and Houston.
“One neat thing about our conference is actually [the] mascots. We have a few that have live mascots, which is unique, [like] Lucy the Bearcat from Cincinnati (pictured below), Stella the Owl for Temple [and] Tom III from Memphis.”
