Gonna miss my once every two year trip up to see Temple play at the Rent. Maybe the series continues in the future, idk. The picture has become a little clearer now and since Temple has been in this position, I figured i'd give my perspective. None of this is earth shattering or probably a new discussion point for you guys.
1. No bowl game or access bowl game affiliation. What are they going to sell recruits on? UConn has had a hard enough time as it is recruiting during the rebuilding of the program. My first thought was maybe UConn could get access to the ESPN pool, but that won't happen with ESPN unhappy with UConn. So the only hope is getting an at large and being 6-6.
2. Scheduling - Yes, UConn has some advantages compared to Umass, but not ND or BYU. 2020 we all know is a problem, but going further the power conferences are all trending to 9 game conference schedules. Most P5s want to maximize home games as well for revenue purposes and getting them to come to The Rent will be tough. If you can get 1 P5 a year, that would be a "win". So will a mostly G5?independent schedule get fans to come out? They didn't for an AAC schedule. Even if you get two p5 games a year, if you are losing 40-10, will it even matter?
3. Fans- Will fans still come to games if UConn is still losing, even with a strong home schedule like BYU (best case scenario)? BYU has advantages built in with money flow from the church and playing older players after missions, even they have struggled to be competitive as an independent.
4. Recruiting - Again, not a great recruiting area and now what is the selling point? TV on SNY would help I guess but I doubt that will be a game changer. The recent commits have mostly been FCS level correct? So can UConn put a product on the field to be competitive even with a schedule on Umass level? Facilities? Pretty much all the schools have great facilities now.
I just don't see how this works out for football at all in the future and the move only makes sense overall if the football expenses are cut drastically to justify the move (FCS/cutting program). The fear I see from the UConn football fan perspective is another really bad year in 2019. The talk will grow to kill the program. Then a bad schedule in 2020 with a possible underwhelming team will lead to worse fan support and more talk to kill the program.
I'd say it is a 70-30 chance UConn is not playing FBS football by 2021...I hope it works out because I have a few friends that are UConn alums and support the football program. They just don't see how this works out.
I've gotta say. This is a quality post.
Bottom line is that UConn will hold a FBS program together with spit and baling wire until at least mid next decade, when some of the P5 media rights contracts expire/renew. Honestly though, nothing you bring up has not been bandied about yet. This move was based on money pure and simple. Not the sport of basketball, and certainly not football. The deal that Aresco agreed to was untenable for UConn. Just like that.
1. Bowl games, to me, are the biggest loss so far. UConn will still be the pick for a bowl over a 5-7 program. 80-something slots are a lot to fill, but 5-7 teams aren't invited every year. Be that as it may, money.
2. UConn is not claiming ND status, and is closer to BYU than UMass. UConn has a following and they have a regional network willing to maximize the UConn brand. Above that, the network will presumably not make UConn foot the bill or provide their own production behind a $4.99/month/fan paywall.
2A-3. Football games and many basketball games were lightly attended as is. Winning brings out the fans. Fans spend the money, which in UConn's case doesn't matter much, as Football and half of basketball are played in rented facilities.
4. UConn has never been respected on a national basis as far as football recruiting.
As equally a football fan as basketball, I was with you when I heard the news, but this move was not done for football (clearly). It was done for the athletic department. I don't think UConn makes this move if not for the AAC-ESPN renewal in the manner in which it was done. I doubt they make the move if there's not a wink and a nudge agreement for control of their tier 3 media, which Aresco ceded to ESPN and for which SNY has been paying 7 figures/year for since 2014.
The Big East media deal pays about $4 mil, as I understand it. SNY will gobble up Women's basketball and home football. Plus UConn will spend a fraction of what they were paying for team travel and they won't have to cover the yet-to-be-determined production nut. Revenues + Cost Savings = healthier bottom line.
