by Dick Weiss
NEWPORT, R.I. — The American Athletic Conference has always had the best media day setting in college football. It’s hard to beat this locale, located on the scenic New England coast, for its beautiful sunsets.
But The American wants to be known for more than its hospitality or famous lobster bake.
The league has started a campaign designed to cut the perception gap between this all-sports conference and the more-entrenched group of the SEC, Big 12, ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten, giving it a chance to have a bigger voice in the national championship discussions.