A Nova proposal for UConn to the Big East

[buddy]

If the B1G would take UConn hockey in a heartbeat, why haven't they? I think the B1G would take Quinnipiac hockey before they take UConn. Have you ever seen a UConn hockey game? They are pretty bad. What would UConn hockey bring to the B1G that makes them so attractive? At least half of the ACC schools are opposed to UConn that we are aware of: BC, FSU, Cuse, Clemson, GT, NC State. Women's basketball is meaningless in CR. It it was UConn would have been in a P5 Conference years ago. ESPN advised the Big 12 not to expand, thus the Big 12 took heed of that warning, had nothing to do with the ACCN. It is my opinion that your post, although I wish it were true, is the most ridiculous, uninformed post that I have ever read.

I left off Miami as a "no" vote as well.

 

[Zissou]

Unfortunately the networks are no longer in a position to add incremental dollars to anything as they are more entrenched in their survival. I'm more optimistic that conference will again realign simply because the money is going to dry up sooner rather than later.

ESPN will continue to shed costs. Fox, however, is still in growth mode.

It's likely (and reported) that the Fox / Big East contract has an automatic plus-up for adding new members - maybe up to 2 or 4 more. This allows the conference to grow if it sees fit, and brings more content to Fox. The Big East has shown caution in expanding. It did not add in the Dayton, VCU, St Louis, (even Wichita State) type programs to expand for the sake of expansion. UConn, imo, is one of the few programs that make sense for an expansion. The move would be good for UConn, the Big East, and for Fox. Therefore, I think it is one of the few adds that Fox would actively embrace, and might even sweeten for UConn. Also, it would be a modest take from ESPN. UConn for ESPN is a bargain. ESPN pays the entire AAC about as much as it pays Wake Forest.

One of the possibilities of the Wichita add is a coordinated move for a UConn departure that is already in the works. If UConn was moving to the Big East, as there were rumblings of those discussions weeks ago, and the AAC and UConn are actually playing nice and coordinating the move, bringing in Wichita first before announcing a UConn move is very smart. If UConn has negotiated to leave football in the AAC already, both the AAC and UConn have incentives to make the Wichita replacement of UConn for hoops as coordinated as possible.

Why is a Wichita add for a departing UConn a possibility? Because it makes sense.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If the B1G would take UConn hockey in a heartbeat, why haven't they? I think the B1G would take Quinnipiac hockey before they take UConn. Have you ever seen a UConn hockey game? They are pretty bad. What would UConn hockey bring to the B1G that makes them so attractive? At least half of the ACC schools are opposed to UConn that we are aware of: BC, FSU, Cuse, Clemson, GT, NC State. Women's basketball is meaningless in CR. It it was UConn would have been in a P5 Conference years ago. ESPN advised the Big 12 not to expand, thus the Big 12 took heed of that warning, had nothing to do with the ACCN. It is my opinion that your post, although I wish it were true, is the most ridiculous, uninformed post that I have ever read.

You're just a troll obviously. And clueless. Why would UConn join the B1G for hockey when it is in a better league with local rivals? And mid pack of hockey east and among the top attendance teams is certainly not bad.

ACC schools liked UConn enough to vote them in until BC objected and Pitt replaced UConn. Last time, ACC football was in the toilet and they needed to shore it up. That isn't the case now. So even FSU and Clemson may no longer be opposed and I'm fairly sure BC wouldn't be. But they may not expand at all, so it wouldn't matter. But you can't assume any prior views remain as they were.

 

[buddy]

You were the one who suggested that the B1G would take UConn hockey "in a heartbeat" . Time to get real. Maybe a number of years down the road things might change if UConn can sustain itself. But...there is no evidence to suggest otherwise at this time.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You were the one who suggested that the B1G would take UConn hockey "in a heartbeat" . Time to get real. Maybe a number of years down the road things might change if UConn can sustain itself. But...there is no evidence to suggest otherwise at this time.

Seriously? They were looking at Arizona State. UConn is a in a hockey rich region the B1G would like to recruit better against the local teams. It's in a good market. It's competitive in HE already. And it is among the leaders in attendance, nationally. It's UConn that would have no interest in going to the B1G for hockey, unless they got something else out of it. The B1G would love to have UConn for hockey. This isn't even controversial. The B1G folks admit it readily.

 

[dayooper]

Seriously? They were looking at Arizona State. UConn is a in a hockey rich region the B1G would like to recruit better against the local teams. It's in a good market. It's competitive in HE already. And it is among the leaders in attendance, nationally. It's UConn that would have no interest in going to the B1G for hockey, unless they got something else out of it. The B1G would love to have UConn for hockey. This isn't even controversial. The B1G folks admit it readily.

They turned down ASU for various reasons. Yes, UConn hockey would be a good addition to the Big10 hockey conference, but I'm not sure it's what we need right now. We need a team with history and tradition with the the present Big10 schools. Someone that was in either the old CCHA or WCHA. Obviously, North Dakota would be the best addition, but someone like Miami, OH or Denver would fit the bill as well.

Right now isn't the time for UConn hockey in the Big10 from either side. UConn needs to be in Hockey East as long as it's in the AAC, or any other conference not named the Big10. It's where your rivals are, the travel is awesome and it's where you recruit. Notre Dame found that out after just a couple of years away from their area. Hockey is such a regional sport with intense rivalries. The Big10 finding this out the hard way.

I hope that someday we can play you all as a full member of the Big10.

 

[buddy]

Seriously? They were looking at Arizona State. UConn is a in a hockey rich region the B1G would like to recruit better against the local teams. It's in a good market. It's competitive in HE already. And it is among the leaders in attendance, nationally. It's UConn that would have no interest in going to the B1G for hockey, unless they got something else out of it. The B1G would love to have UConn for hockey. This isn't even controversial. The B1G folks admit it readily.

Many heartbeats are going by, yet no invite. I believe UConn would move hockey to the B1G to get a foot in the door. It is just not happening.

 

[mavblues]

Click. Bye, buddy.

 

[buddy]

The truth hurts!

 

[Zissou]

UConn joins the Big East but keeps football in the AAC.

Nova and JMU join the AAC as Football-Only members (or JMU as a full member at the AAC’s option).

What if the AAC says no?​

An interesting alternative would be an Alliance of Eastern Independents. By NCAA rules, this alliance would not be a conference. Rather, it would be a scheduling alliance and a consortium for negotiating a TV deal. Basically the alliance members would contract a scheduling agreement. The scheduling agreement could then be a basis for TV negotiations, with each program in the alliance getting a direct payout from a TV partner.

For example, FS1 (alone or in shared deal with SNY, YES, etc) could facilitate the Alliance by buying the schedule for ~$5M per school per year. For an 8 school alliance, that's a modest $40M for a conference that could stretch the VA to New England TV markets. FS1 would also benefit from UConn to the Big East.

UConn could improve from its ~$2M ESPN deal for all sports, to $4-$5M for Big East basketball, plus the Alliance deal for football, plus its own tier 3 rights. For the future, UConn would be no worse positioned should the P5 lottery open up, assuming it competes on the field.

 

[Zissou]

Like what you're proposing but Cincinnati and Temple would never take a step down and join the A-10 in anything.

They might if the money is right. If not you move down the list of candidates.

The A-10 had three bids last season to the AAC's two. The conferences had nearly identical RPIs.

The first part of the decision is the AAC accepting UConn as football only, or not. The credible risk of competing for the northeast footprint with an Alliance of Independents might help that favorable decision.

 

[SC Husky]

They might if the money is right. If not you move down the list of candidates.

The A-10 had three bids last season to the AAC's two. The conferences had nearly identical RPIs.

The first part of the decision is the AAC accepting UConn as football only, or not. The credible risk of competing for the northeast footprint with an Alliance of Independents might help that favorable decision.

Why not add Cincinnati and UCONN to the Big East? I do realize that Xavier is located in Cincinnati as well. But adding both Cincinnati and UCONN would really strengthen the Big East and Aresco at the point of the AAC losing both schools, may allow Cinci and UCONN to park football in the AAC. Of course this is all fantasy but it's fun to think about. But I am in favor of UCONN's move to the Big East for most of the reasons that you mention.

 

[Zissou]

Why not add Cincinnati and UConn to the Big East? I do realize that Xavier is located in Cincinnati as well. But adding both Cincinnati and UConn would really strengthen the Big East and Aresco at the point of the AAC losing both schools, may allow Cinci and UConn to park football in the AAC. Of course this is all fantasy but it's fun to think about. But I am in favor of UConn's move to the Big East for most of the reasons that you mention.

There are certainly divided opinions on adding any "football schools" to the "basketball first" Big East. Adding UConn only has built more of a consensus for a few reasons. UConn has deeper roots in the Big East as a founding member and a power team that won multiple championships. The NY proximity is good for perception of TV value and also for increasing the demand in MSG for the tournament. Cincy doesn't really have any of that value for the Big East.

With UConn as an 11th program the Big East can still have a double round robin format, where a 12th changes the format.

As a Villanovan with interests in a complementary football deal, including Cincinnati makes sense. For most Big East members it probably doesn't. Basketball decisions purely for the sake of football are not popular.

Personally I would support adding UConn, Cincinnati, and Temple to the Big East, I just think that is a much more difficult road than just adding UConn.

 

[don356]

This is completely ridiculous.

 

[Zissou]

This is completely ridiculous.

So is your $2M per year ESPN contract.

 

[SC Husky]

There are certainly divided opinions on adding any "football schools" to the "basketball first" Big East. Adding UConn only has built more of a consensus for a few reasons. UConn has deeper roots in the Big East as a founding member and a power team that won multiple championships. The NY proximity is good for perception of TV value and also for increasing the demand in MSG for the tournament. Cincy doesn't really have any of that value for the Big East.

With UConn as an 11th program the Big East can still have a double round robin format, where a 12th changes the format.

As a Villanovan with interests in a complementary football deal, including Cincinnati makes sense. For most Big East members it probably doesn't. Basketball decisions purely for the sake of football are not popular.

Personally I would support adding UConn, Cincinnati, and Temple to the Big East, I just think that is a much more difficult road than just adding UConn.

But isn't the football vs non-football issue a non-issue since the Big East doesn't do football? Cincinnati would be a great add as well purely from a basketball perspective. Plus, it's a good school academically.

 

[Zissou]

But isn't the football vs non-football issue a non-issue since the Big East doesn't do football? Cincinnati would be a great add as well purely from a basketball perspective. Plus, it's a good school academically.

There is one block of opinion that the Big East should not have any members that play FBS football. Their view is don't repeat the conflict that ruined the oBE. That includes UConn adding or Nova moving up. Some would say UConn can join only if you drop football to FCS. If we have FBS schools they will always just be temporary members looking to bolt at the first P5 invite.

I think that block is a minority view, but a significant one. You will see a lot of references to "like minded" institutions.

I don't agree with that view. If a few members play FBS football it's not a great risk, especially as they would play football-only in another conference or play independent. If UConn played in the Big East, for example, and bolted in 7 years for a Big10 expansion, I don't care. We would have had a mutual benefit for 7 years. This would not be like tearing apart a BCS power conference to jump ship. It is what it is.

Where NY, Philly, and Boston are Top 10 media markets, Cincy is in the 30s. Where UConn brings a footprint to the NY to Boston area, Cincy would be the second team in a much smaller market. Is their hoops program so good to override all that other stuff? Probably not. Additionally it forces a format change to the double round robin schedule. Temple might be a better choice to double up in Philly, a Top 5 market. But that would not have the same type of support as UConn either, imo.

The Big East is not desperate for expansion. UConn is a unique interest.

 

[CL82]

So is your $2M per year ESPN contract.

True, but the $2M differential between the AAC's contract and the NBE's isn't much of an incentive.

 

[Zissou]

True, but the $2M differential between the AAC's contract and the NBE's isn't much of an incentive.

Well considering that the Big East contract is only for basketball...

If the AAC values football at 80% and basketball at 20%... $4M for Nova equates to a $20M deal for football and basketball.

UConn is getting ten cents on the dollar.

 

[UConnNick]

Sorry, but didn't I see somewhere in that long SB Nation piece that Nova had issues with a no tailgating policy at their home games? If it's true that Nova bans tailgating, then the school administration has no clue how to promote the atmosphere and gameday attendance at the home games. As such, Nova needs to stay right where they are as a IAA program, because they're successful at that level and they're apparently not interested in promoting football. It's a BB school, always has been, always will be. Stay in the Colonial and win some more championships.

 

[Zissou]

Sorry, but didn't I see somewhere in that long SB Nation piece that Nova had issues with a no tailgating policy at their home games? If it's true that Nova bans tailgating, then the school administration has no clue how to promote the atmosphere and gameday attendance at the home games. As such, Nova needs to stay right where they are as a IAA program, because they're successful at that level and they're apparently not interested in promoting football. It's a BB school, always has been, always will be. Stay in the Colonial and win some more championships.

Well that is one option. The tailgating policy is certainly an anchor on the program. Nova is caught between paying costs at the top end of FCS, where there is no revenue potential, and FBS where there would at least be modest revenue. We actually have more of a financial loss at FCS. On top of that we get none of the soft benefits of a FBS program - alumni coming to games etc.

The tailgating fixes itself if we go FBS. Games would be played at Talon Energy Stadium 20 minutes from campus. The tailgating issues between the school and the township don't apply to the offsite stadium. Tailgating there is great.

If we stay in FCS we have an assured financial loss, low fan interest, and no benefits to the Nova community. Or we make a move to G5 where we pay a bit more in annual costs, have some revenue return, and compete in games that matter in a Saturday game day environment that is actually worth the participation effort.

Most Novans don't have dreams of P5. We just want a decent football experience. Our aspirations may be similar to Navy's in that sense.

 

[UConnNick]

Well that is one option. The tailgating policy is certainly an anchor on the program. Nova is caught between paying costs at the top end of FCS, where there is no revenue potential, and FBS where there would at least be modest revenue. We actually have more of a financial loss at FCS. On top of that we get none of the soft benefits of a FBS program - alumni coming to games etc.

The tailgating fixes itself if we go FBS. Games would be played at Talon Energy Stadium 20 minutes from campus. The tailgating issues between the school and the township don't apply to the offsite stadium. Tailgating there is great.

If we stay in FCS we have an assured financial loss, low fan interest, and no benefits to the Nova community. Or we make a move to G5 where we pay a bit more in annual costs, have some revenue return, and compete in games that matter in a Saturday game day environment that is actually worth the participation effort.

Most Novans don't have dreams of P5. We just want a decent football experience. Our aspirations may be similar to Navy's in that sense.

You do realize that a FBS program is required to have a stadium which seats 30k or more? What plans does Nova have for meeting that requirement? You're going to share the Linc with Temple? You keep mentioning Talon Energy Stadium. It seats 18,500 according to its own site. I'm sorry, but it's hard to take any Nova bid to become an FBS program seriously when you have no stadium which qualifies under FBS rules, other than possibly one already being used by Temple.

 

[Zissou]

You do realize that a FBS program is required to have a stadium which seats 30k or more? .

Your statement is just plain incorrect. You are wrong. There is no such requirement. You are playing with alternative facts. Swing and a miss.

Talen Energy has plans to expand to 30K, but it is not part of an FBS requirement.

Check out Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, ODU, Coastal Carolina, etc...

Nova playing 4 home games at Talon Energy Stadium and 2 at the Linc is a solid plan.

 

[CL82]

Well considering that the Big East contract is only for basketball...

If the AAC values football at 80% and basketball at 20%... $4M for Nova equates to a $20M deal for football and basketball.

UConn is getting ten cents on the dollar.

Lol, well yeah, I guess in imaginary money, but since the NBE doesn't play football (at least none that anyone is willing to pay for) the comparison is between $2M and $4M, a $2M difference.

 

[Zissou]

Lol, well yeah, I guess in imaginary money, but since the NBE doesn't play football (at least none that anyone is willing to pay for) the comparison is between $2M and $4M, a $2M difference.

True, but the $2M differential between the AAC's contract and the NBE's isn't much of an incentive.

If UConn was to join the Big East, the payout incentive would be $4-$5M JUST FOR BASKETBALL. UConn would still be free to monetize it's football.

It's not imaginary money. It is real value.

 

[uconnell]

56

???

 

[CL82]

???

Lol, yeah, I've got nothing....

I'm not sure how that happened.

 

[billybud]

Can not fool me...you are a Georgia Tech fan in disguise...they and MIT wizards are the few to know about 56....a number that sets engineers and math geeks a trembling.

56 is: the sum of the first six triangular numbers (making it a tetrahedral number). the sum of six consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17). a tetranacci number and a pronic number.

 

[CL82]

Can not fool me...you are a Georgia Tech fan in disguise...they and MIT wizards are the few to know about 56....a number that sets engineers and math geeks a trembling.

56 is: the sum of the first six triangular numbers (making it a tetrahedral number). the sum of six consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17). a tetranacci number and a pronic number.

Nope. Just a pocket post. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[mavblues]

???

He's a huge Joe DiMaggio fan...