AAC introduces new name: American Conference
As part of the change, the American also introduced what it believed to be the first conference-wide live and animated mascot -- an eagle named Soar -- and a new motto: 'Built to Rise.'
In a statement posted to its website, the conference said the new name 'reinforces a sharper, more modern identity' while also 'eliminating confusion' with other similarly named groups. One of those likely was the ACC -- the better-known Atlantic Coast Conference.
The league said it will be referred to as American Conference on first reference and simply The American on following references.
As for 'Soar,' the tough but friendly looking bird will be used as a community ambassador throughout the conference and was 'designed to fuel both school spirit and conference business growth,' according to the American.
'The American has built a brand that differentiates us in a crowded collegiate landscape by establishing and elevating what makes us distinctive,' commissioner Tim Pernetti said, per ESPN. 'This modernization is rooted in who we are and where we're headed. It prioritizes clarity, momentum, and the competitive advantage driving every part of our conference forward.'
The American Conference has 15 member schools, starting with UAB, Charlotte, East Carolina, FAU, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, South Florida, Temple University, UTSA, Tulane and Tulsa. Army and Navy are football-only members, and Wichita State participates in only basketball and Olympic sports.
Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
19 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Former Czech ice hockey great Josef Černý has died. He was 85.
Associated Press PRAGUE (AP) — Josef Černý, one of the highest-scoring forwards in the former Czechoslovakia who helped his country win three Olympic medals, has died. He was 85. His former Czech club, Kometa Brno, announced his death on Thursday. Černý hit 75 goals in his 210 appearances for Czechoslovakia. With 478 goals in the domestic league and in international games, he was the sixth best scorer in the country, according to the Sport daily. He said he considered his 'biggest one' to be the second goal in a memorable 2-0 victory over the Soviet Union at the 1969 world championship in Stockholm. That was the first major tournament after the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia in August of the previous year that crushed a period of liberal reforms known as the Prague Spring. 'I scored more than 400 goals but the Russian one I value the most,' he once said. Černý played in the team that finished runner-up at the Olympic tournament in Grenoble in 1968, and claimed bronze in 1964 in Innsbruck and in 1972 in Sapporo. He also won four silver medals and four bronzes at world championships. He retired from international hockey briefly before the 1972 worlds in Prague that Czechoslovakia won. In his 21 seasons in the domestic league, he became the first player to score 400 goals. Černý rejected an option to emigrate in fear of the persecution of his family, he once said. After retirement, he turned to coaching at home and in Austria and Italy. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Czech ice hockey association offered condolences to his relatives, calling him 'a legendary forward.' ___ AP sports: in this topic
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Tiger Woods' Ex-Coach Calls Scottie Scheffler 'More of Jack' Nicklaus
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scottie Scheffler is in the thick of his golden era, and he doesn't seem to be blinking. Scheffler has now won 12 times since March 2024, including three of the four majors and an Olympic gold. His latest triumph came last week at Royal Portrush, where the World No.1 raised the Claret Jug after a commanding four-shot victory at the 153rd Open Championship. It marked the third leg of the career Grand Slam, leaving only the U.S. Open to complete the set. Woods' ex-coach Butch Harmon compares Scottie Scheffler to Jack Nicklaus Soon after his win, the golf world erupted with comparisons of Scheffler and 15-time major winner, Tiger Woods. Scheffler's dominance, especially his ability to stay focused, has drawn parallels to Woods' from quite some time. Even Xander Schauffele stated, "He's doing some Tiger-like stuff," per the PGA Tour. But amid all the comparisons with the Big Cat, one voice close to Woods offered a different take. Image Collage of Tiger Woods and his former coach Butch Harmon during the 1999 British Open and Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug at the 2025 Open Championship. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Image Collage of Tiger Woods and his former coach Butch Harmon during the 1999 British Open and Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug at the 2025 Open Championship. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images Butch Harmon, who coached Woods from 1993 to 2004, dialed into SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio on Monday to share his views. "In all the comparisons and stuff to Tiger and this and that, I think his greatest attribute that he has is he's the closest thing to Jack Nicklaus I've ever seen mentally," Harmon stated per video posted on X. "He makes no mental mistakes. He dumps the ball in the middle of the green when he has to. His iron control is beautiful. He reminds me more of Jack than he does of Tiger — Tiger in the winning ways, but Jack in the way he plays golf. I've never quite seen a guy that can mimic Nicklaus the way he does". Harmon's praise wasn't just about the stats but the similarity in their styles as well. Scheffler's strategic, mistake-free approach mirrors Nicklaus' famed course management. And Harmon, who's seen both legends up close, believes Scheffler's mental game is what sets him apart. Facts prove Scottie Scheffler's resemblance to Jack Nicklaus Back in May, after Scheffler won the Memorial Tournament, Nicklaus told reporters, "He plays a lot like I did." The Golden Bear emphasized Scheffler's ability to play smart with a lead, something Nicklaus mastered over decades. Not only that, but after clinching the Open, Scheffler's 15-month-old son Bennett crawled toward him on the 18th green. The toddler tripped, face-planted, and was scooped up by Scheffler as he balanced the Claret Jug in one hand, son in the other. Image Collage of Scottie Scheffler with son Bennett after his 2025 Open Championship win Vs Jack Nicklaus with son Gary after the 1973 PGA Championship victory. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Image Collage of Scottie Scheffler with son Bennett after his 2025 Open Championship win Vs Jack Nicklaus with son Gary after the 1973 PGA Championship victory. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images It was a scene reminiscent of Nicklaus at the 1973 PGA Championship, when his 4-year-old son Gary ran to him. The 18-time major winner also carried off Gary, per The Associated Press. Nicklaus later called that photo his "favorite photo in golf," later taking it to Facebook, captioning it, "Family first, golf second." Scheffler echoed that sentiment after winning the Claret Jug. "I would say my greatest priorities are my faith and my family," Scheffler said, per the AP. "Those come first for me. Golf is third, in that order." So while the Tiger comparisons with the World No.1 may be inevitable, Wood's former coach Harmon, and perhaps Nicklaus himself, see something deeper. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below! More Golf: Phil Mickelson's Attitude Toward Scottie Scheffler Evolves After The Open
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
NBC SPORTS FINALIZES GAME ANALYST TEAM AND ADDS FINAL PLAY-BY-PLAY VOICE FOR NBA COVERAGE BEGINNING THIS FALL
1986 No. 1 Pick Brad Daugherty, Five-Time NBA Champion Derek Fisher, and NBA Veterans Robbie Hummel, Austin Rivers, and Brian Scalabrine to Join NBC Sports' NBA Coverage as Game Analysts Michael Grady Joins as Play-by-Play Voice 2025-26 NBA Season Begins Oct. 21 on NBC and Peacock STAMFORD, Conn. – July 24, 2025 – NBC Sports finalized its NBA game analyst and play-by-play rosters today with the additions of analysts Brad Daugherty, Derek Fisher, Robbie Hummel, Austin Rivers, and Brian Scalabrine, and play-by-play voice Michael Grady. The 2025-26 NBA season begins on NBC and Peacock on Oct. 21. Daugherty, Fisher, Hummel, Rivers, and Scalabrine round out a game analyst roster for NBC Sports which also includes previously announced NBA veterans Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, and Grant Hill. Grady joins Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, and Terry Gannon as NBC Sports' play-by-play voices for the NBA. This group will handle up to 100 regular season games -- including five games a week for portions of the season -- plus the playoffs. 'We're excited to introduce this group to NBA fans and can't wait for them to set up and break down games for viewers all season long,' said NBC Sports Executive Producer Sam Flood. 'This team would win a lot of games on the court and now they have the opportunity to take their talents to NBC and Peacock.' Brad Daugherty, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, played nine seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he was a five-time NBA All-Star and had his No. 43 retired by the team. Daugherty had a storied college career at the University of North Carolina, playing two seasons alongside Michael Jordan and earning two first-team All-ACC selections and a second-team All-America selection. As a co-owner of Hyak Motorsports and stockcar enthusiast, Daugherty joined NBC Sports in 2020 as a NASCAR pre- and post-race analyst. A five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002, 2009-2010), Derek Fisher played 18 seasons in the NBA and appeared in 287 playoff games, second only to LeBron James on the all-time list. The No. 24 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Little Rock, Fisher played in eight NBA Finals (seven with the Lakers, one with the Oklahoma City Thunder). After retiring in 2014, Fisher spent time as the head coach of the New York Knicks and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. A two-time AP Honorable Mention All-American during an impressive career at Purdue (2007-2012), Robbie Hummel was selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft and played two seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since 2023, Hummel has been an analyst for NBC Sports' presentation of Big Ten men's basketball and served as a men's basketball analyst on NBCUniversal's Paris Olympic coverage. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Duke, Austin Rivers played 11 seasons in the NBA, making the playoffs eight times. He spent his career with seven teams (New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves). Rivers' father is NBA champion-head coach Doc Rivers, who coached Austin for three-and-a-half seasons with the Clippers. Following his retirement in 2023, Rivers began his broadcasting career as a studio analyst for ESPN before joining NBC Sports in 2025 as a college basketball analyst. Rivers will occasionally work as an NBC Sports studio analyst as well. A second-round pick out of USC in the 2001 NBA Draft, Brian Scalabrine played 11 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics. During his career, he played in four NBA Finals, winning one in 2008 with the Celtics and becoming a city fan favorite. Since the 2020-21 NBA season, he has been NBC Sports Boston's primary game analyst for Celtics' games. He makes weekly appearances on the network's Celtics Insider show as well as other NBC Sports Boston programming throughout the year. Scalabrine will occasionally work as an NBC Sports studio analyst as well. Michael Grady has been the play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Bally Sports North since the 2022-23 NBA season, which led him to ESPN's rotation of NBA play-by-play announcers at the start of the 2024-25 season. He has also called NBA games for TNT Sports. Grady began his career as the PA announcer at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana Pacers and Fever, and in 2017, began serving as a sideline reporter for the Brooklyn Nets on YES Network and started calling select games for the team in 2020. Grady will continue to call some games for the Timberwolves. The NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when the 2025-26 season tips off. Throughout the course of the season, NBC Sports will present up to 100 regular season NBA games -- including five games a week for portions of the season -- plus the playoffs. NBC and Peacock will present coverage on Tuesday nights beginning in October. After Sunday Night Football coverage concludes in 2026, NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock. Peacock will also livestream national Monday night games starting Oct. 27. *** In July 2024, NBCUniversal and the NBA announced an 11-year agreement to present NBA and WNBA regular-season and playoff basketball games across numerous platforms beginning with the 2025-26 season. For more information on the agreement, click here. NBC Sports has already announced that Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, and Grant Hill will serve as game analysts; Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter as studio analysts; Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed as studio hosts; and Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, and Terry Gannon as play-by-play voices. Michael Jordan has been announced as a special contributor. Emmy Award-winning producer Frank DiGraci is NBC Sports' NBA coordinating producer. In a nod to its original era of NBA coverage from 1990-2002, NBC Sports is bringing back Roundball Rock, one of the most iconic and beloved theme songs in sports history, and will use an AI-generated voice of the late Jim Fagan, a longtime NBC Sports narrator whose voice was synonymous with its NBA coverage and promotion. ABOUT NBC SPORTS NBC Sports connects sports fans to the moments that matter most with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports produces, programs, and promotes premier content across numerous linear and digital platforms, including NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering and presenting many of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Big Ten Conference, Big East Conference, Notre Dame, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, USGA, PGA of America, The R&A, Churchill Downs, Premier League, and many more. It is renowned for making big events bigger and has produced some of the most-watched sporting events in U.S. media history, including Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and Sunday Night Football, primetime television's No. 1 show for 14 consecutive years. --NBC SPORTS--
