ACC wants UConn if ND comes too

[2Infinity]

The ACC is never adding UConn and Rutgers. But hey, let's keep the dream alive.

As Funster asks you ...where is your proof of this...any proof?! Unlike you, I believe there is enough circumstantial evidence emerging that makes me believe UConn is quite likely to be invited to join the ACC. In fact, I believe that UConn officials may have been told of their favorable standing and are now in the mode of securing votes. That would help explain the phone call to, and now the rumored meeting with, the BC president by Prez Herbst. I'm not certain BC's vote is needed, but why not try to point out to BC, all of the positives which could accrue to them if UConn were admitted. If you're able to convince your chief antagonist, then you may also get any possible fence-sitters to come over to your side as well.

There are other reasons I believe this may already be at this stage. Granted, they are circumstantial in nature, but nonetheless, when gathered from different sources and locations, they begin to have much more credibility. Among them is Coach P's statement that we WILL be in a BCS conference. How does he KNOW this, especially with the future of the BE's automatic BCS bid now in question? Another is the well connected sports radio host in Raleigh suggesting that his sources have told him that UConn is in line to be invited in a matter of weeks. Finally, we have coaches K and Williams stating they would like to see the ACC expand to 16 teams. Why would two high profile basketball coaches who wield a lot clout in their conference say this publicly? Why not just be happy with the two new additions and ONLY talk about them? Could it be because they know the ACC is on the verge of adding one of the strongest basketball programs in the nation to their league? Are these facts? No! However, the composite picture is beginning to cast a favorable light on UConn's garnering an ACC invite.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The idea that a school would wrap a ball and chain around it instead of a life preserver is laughable. When the inevitable day comes that conferences like the BE and Big12 are sunk and lose their BCS bids due to defections, the last thing a school like UConn needs is Providence demanding both a huge chunk of money and/or their TV rights. Signing over your children makes you less attractive for potential conferences.

No one is leaving the Big 12 unless the whole league dissolves, and that is very hard to pull off, which is why everyone is stuck there.

Your plan would be to jump off the boat without a life preserver and hope that the submarine that torpedoed us will let us on board. That seems like the height of stupidity, no?

We are not going to the ACC. It is time we all faced that reality. If the ACC wanted to invite us, they would have invited us. I bet there are a lot of posters on this board who spent a lot of Saturday's at home in high school waiting for girls to leave their boyfriends. I bet most of you were doing her homework for her too. Think through what Swofford is doing. Is there any logical reason for him to add UConn right now? I can't think of one.

UConn has ONE OPTION right now: Saving the Big East. Every other option results in the end of UConn's athletic program. Furthermore, if UConn is about to sign an agreement that will take it off the table for five years, it will force Swofford's hand. If you live in a fantasy world and think the ACC really wants us, my approach is the best approach. If you are a reality based person and you realize they only want to destroy us, my approach is the best approach. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

 

[ctchamps]

No one is leaving the Big 12 unless the whole league dissolves, and that is very hard to pull off, which is why everyone is stuck there.

Your plan would be to jump off the boat without a life preserver and hope that the submarine that torpedoed us will let us on board. That seems like the height of stupidity, no?

We are not going to the ACC. It is time we all faced that reality. If the ACC wanted to invite us, they would have invited us. I bet there are a lot of posters on this board who spent a lot of Saturday's at home in high school waiting for girls to leave their boyfriends. I bet most of you were doing her homework for her too. Think through what Swofford is doing. Is there any logical reason for him to add UConn right now? I can't think of one.

UConn has ONE OPTION right now: Saving the Big East. Every other option results in the end of UConn's athletic program. Furthermore, if UConn is about to sign an agreement that will take it off the table for five years, it will force Swofford's hand. If you live in a fantasy world and think the ACC really wants us, my approach is the best approach. If you are a reality based person and you realize they only want to destroy us, my approach is the best approach. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

Things are just being set up for the players to leave the league. They are going through the process that has already be informally agreed upon by the respective parties.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

As Funster asks you ...where is your proof of this...any proof?! Unlike you, I believe there is enough circumstantial evidence emerging that makes me believe UConn is quite likely to be invited to join the ACC. In fact, I believe that UConn officials may have been told of their favorable standing and are now in the mode of securing votes. That would help explain the phone call to, and now the rumored meeting with, the BC president by Prez Herbst. I'm not certain BC's vote is needed, but why not try to point out to BC, all of the positives which could accrue to them if UConn were admitted. If you're able to convince your chief antagonist, then you may also get any possible fence-sitters to come over to your side as well.

There are other reasons I believe this may already be at this stage. Granted, they are circumstantial in nature, but nonetheless, when gathered from different sources and locations, they begin to have much more credibility. Among them is Coach P's statement that we WILL be in a BCS conference. How does he KNOW this, especially with the future of the BE's automatic BCS bid now in question? Another is the well connected sports radio host in Raleigh suggesting that his sources have told him that UConn is in line to be invited in a matter of weeks. Finally, we have coaches K and Williams stating they would like to see the ACC expand to 16 teams. Why would two high profile basketball coaches who wield a lot clout in their conference say this publicly? Why not just be happy with the two new additions and ONLY talk about them? Could it be because they know the ACC is on the verge of adding one of the strongest basketball programs in the nation to their league? Are these facts? No! However, the composite picture is beginning to cast a favorable light on UConn's garnering an ACC invite.

I think Swofford is a total scumbag and his sole objective is to destroy the Big East and preserve his job, as cheaply as possible. We have lots of evidence of this. See: BCU, Miami, VTech, Syracuse, Pitt. If the ACC wanted to add UConn and Rutgers, it would have added UConn and Rutgers.

He will not add UConn unless he absolutely has no other option. So how do we force his hand? One way is to agree to sign an agreement that would make it impossible for UConn to leave the Big East. My guess is he doesn't have the votes to add UConn even if he wanted to, but he doesn't want or need to do anything. If the Big East schools all beg their way out, and someone else is successful, than Swofford accomplished his objective of destroying the Big East without spending any more money. If the league stays together in some format and he wants the schools later, he will not move until he absolutely has to. We have to force that to happen before the league just implodes on its own.

I think it is silly that so many posters would think that a guy who has tried to destroy UConn's athletic program is a friend and will help us, but hopefully I can disabuse you of that fantasy.

 

[upstater]

According to your scenario there will be five super conferences of 16: the ACC, B12, PAC, SEC and the B!G.

I'd love the reset to go back to someone explaining to me why this four of sixteen model is etched in stone and what is the rational exists that for this model by all those advocating this model.

64 is fewer than 80. Money split among fewer members. I don't understand your point about the B12 by the way. If Okie, OSU, Missouri, TT and Tex are gone from the Big12, how is the B12 a super conference? To get to 16, three conferences have to decimate the Big12.

 

[The Funster]

No one is leaving the Big 12 unless the whole league dissolves, and that is very hard to pull off, which is why everyone is stuck there.

Your plan would be to jump off the boat without a life preserver and hope that the submarine that torpedoed us will let us on board. That seems like the height of stupidity, no?

We are not going to the ACC. It is time we all faced that reality. If the ACC wanted to invite us, they would have invited us. I bet there are a lot of posters on this board who spent a lot of Saturday's at home in high school waiting for girls to leave their boyfriends. I bet most of you were doing her homework for her too. Think through what Swofford is doing. Is there any logical reason for him to add UConn right now? I can't think of one.

UConn has ONE OPTION right now: Saving the Big East. Every other option results in the end of UConn's athletic program. Furthermore, if UConn is about to sign an agreement that will take it off the table for five years, it will force Swofford's hand. If you live in a fantasy world and think the ACC really wants us, my approach is the best approach. If you are a reality based person and you realize they only want to destroy us, my approach is the best approach. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

Sorry, I think people understand your position but simply don't agree with it. You keep saying we are not going to the ACC and offer only one reason why and that is the fact that we haven't been offered yet. There are valid reasons why we haven't been offered yet, reason that do not preclude us ever receiving an offer. You discount that potentiality but offer no reason why.

Plus, you keep making a lot of lovelorn analogies. Personal issues?

 

[Carl Spackler]

If something is worth a dollar, and you can get it for 50 cents, you go get it. I don't have any problem with the ACC taking the action they've taken, or Syracuse and Pittsburgh acting in their own interests.

I will have a problem with the ACC if they don't finish the job they started, and leave the Northeast market in rubble.

Because you know what, universities and students, and chancellors and fans will be annoyed and upset.

But if the ACC causes the northeast television market around live college sports to turn into a disaster, there are some much more powerful business interests in the world that are going to be a lot more pissed at the ACC than university officials and fans.

 

[businesslawyer]

I believe that ND has a tie into BE's BCS bid which they could lose if there are no BE football teams. Someone could clarify this. If they lose this they still have the NBC contract (not sure if details were ever disclosed) and will have to decide if the loss of BCS affiliation can hurt them in the future.

NO. ND does not have a tie in to the Big East's BCS slot -- ND's access to the BCS comes from a separate agreement it has with the BCS. ND going to the BCS does not take the Big East's slot.

ND's bowl tie ins with the Big East at the moment are limited to taking the Champs once in a four year cycle.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Sorry, I think people understand your position but simply don't agree with it. You keep saying we are not going to the ACC and offer only one reason why and that is the fact that we haven't been offered yet. There are valid reasons why we haven't been offered yet, reason that do not preclude us ever receiving an offer. You discount that potentiality but offer no reason why.

Plus, you keep making a lot of lovelorn analogies. Personal issues?

Why would Swofford pay another $30 million a year for something, the New York/New England market, that he can get for free when UConn and Rutgers join the MAC. He has absolutely no incentive to expand, because time helps him. If the Big East dissolves, as he hopes, he is NEVER, EVER offering UConn or Rutgers. Why would he add two future MAC teams? If the Big East looks like it might survive, maybe he sticks another shiv in the conference and takes UConn and Rutgers. He has to think the league is going to survive to do that.

If, as I suspect, he doesn't want UConn or Rutgers anyway and doesn't have the votes to add them if he did, then we get to work on rebuilding the Big East as soon as possible.

 

[mets1090]

Why would Swofford pay another $30 million a year for something, the New York/New England market, that he can get for free when UConn and Rutgers join the MAC. He has absolutely no incentive to expand, because time helps him. If the Big East dissolves, as he hopes, he is NEVER, EVER offering UConn or Rutgers. Why would he add two future MAC teams? If the Big East looks like it might survive, maybe he sticks another shiv in the conference and takes UConn and Rutgers. He has to think the league is going to survive to do that.

If, as I suspect, he doesn't want UConn or Rutgers anyway and doesn't have the votes to add them if he did, then we get to work on rebuilding the Big East as soon as possible.

He would add UConn and/or Rutgers now because eventually they have to get to 16 teams (assuming the 4x16 model emerges) and Rutgers and UConn would make the most sense. The reason he would do it sooner rather than later is because of what you just said. If UConn goes to the MAC, the football program probably loses value. That chops off one of the ACC's options when they do choose to go to 16 teams.

If they can't get ND and another higher value program, they will take UConn IMO.

 

[ctchamps]

NO. ND does not have a tie in to the Big East's BCS slot -- ND's access to the BCS comes from a separate agreement it has with the BCS. ND going to the BCS does not take the Big East's slot.

ND's bowl tie ins with the Big East at the moment are limited to taking the Champs once in a four year cycle.

Thanks.

 

[upstater]

No one is leaving the Big 12 unless the whole league dissolves, and that is very hard to pull off, which is why everyone is stuck there.
Your plan would be to jump off the boat without a life preserver and hope that the submarine that torpedoed us will let us on board. That seems like the height of stupidity, no?

We are not going to the ACC. It is time we all faced that reality. If the ACC wanted to invite us, they would have invited us. I bet there are a lot of posters on this board who spent a lot of Saturday's at home in high school waiting for girls to leave their boyfriends. I bet most of you were doing her homework for her too. Think through what Swofford is doing. Is there any logical reason for him to add UConn right now? I can't think of one.

UConn has ONE OPTION right now: Saving the Big East. Every other option results in the end of UConn's athletic program. Furthermore, if UConn is about to sign an agreement that will take it off the table for five years, it will force Swofford's hand. If you live in a fantasy world and think the ACC really wants us, my approach is the best approach. If you are a reality based person and you realize they only want to destroy us, my approach is the best approach. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

If your bolded remark above is proven wrong this week, do you promise never to make such statements ever again?

 

[2Infinity]

I think Swofford is a total scumbag and his sole objective is to destroy the Big East and preserve his job, as cheaply as possible. We have lots of evidence of this. See: BCU, Miami, VTech, Syracuse, Pitt. If the ACC wanted to add UConn and Rutgers, it would have added UConn and Rutgers.

He will not add UConn unless he absolutely has no other option. So how do we force his hand? One way is to agree to sign an agreement that would make it impossible for UConn to leave the Big East. My guess is he doesn't have the votes to add UConn even if he wanted to, but he doesn't want or need to do anything. If the Big East schools all beg their way out, and someone else is successful, than Swofford accomplished his objective of destroying the Big East without spending any more money. If the league stays together in some format and he wants the schools later, he will not move until he absolutely has to. We have to force that to happen before the league just implodes on its own.

I think it is silly that so many posters would think that a guy who has tried to destroy UConn's athletic program is a friend and will help us, but hopefully I can disabuse you of that fantasy.

NM..I'm not a fan of Swofford's either! I think his tactics are far from admirable! In fact, he's probably a great poker player! lol I don't believe he is attempting to destroy the BE and UConn specifically, but rather to weaken it and cherry-pick the best schools. One thing is certain, he is not being stopped from doing so, by a proactive BE administration! The reality is that the Big East has chosen to dilute it's power by having two factions rather than one. This has caused us to lack unity in mission. After the raid in 2003, the leadership decided to remain in that structure. Even now, after raid 2, they show no signs of altering format. This will only lead to further league weakness, especially as the other leagues consolidate power and become even more so! So the time has come for a top flight university to move on. It's really unfortunate to have to say that...there are so many great BE memories! But if we don't decide our own fate now, someone else will for us!

The reason the ACC has not added UConn, as of yet, is that they don't want to bring in a single school as the 15th. They are waiting on ND to decide if it will join as well. That's seems to be a real long shot at this point. I'm sure they thought the Pac-12 was going to 16 with UT joining. As such, ND may have felt more inclined to make a move into a conference as well...and there was the ACC invite, ready and waiting for them. As it is now, they are a lot less likely to accept, unless they see the BE falling apart entirely, endangering ND's use of the BE. If they don't accept, the next in line would seem to be Rutgers. The ACC will announce whichever two schools it ends up being, together. They will also do so proactively by not waiting for the other conferences to move first! That is where I begrudgingly give Swofford some credit.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

If your bolded remark above is proven wrong this week, do you promise never to make such statements ever again?

If the 4 x 16 never happens in our lifetime, what do I get?

 

[intlzncster]

UConn has ONE OPTION right now: Saving the Big East. Every other option results in the end of UConn's athletic program. Furthermore, if UConn is about to sign an agreement that will take it off the table for five years, it will force Swofford's hand. If you live in a fantasy world and think the ACC really wants us, my approach is the best approach. If you are a reality based person and you realize they only want to destroy us, my approach is the best approach. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

I still don't see how this is an option. No matter what happens, the Big East is dead. Whether it's now...or in a few years. All it takes is one domino to fall somewhere to get a whole lot of participants moving. If any BE school gets a sniff of another conference, they are jumping, television deal or no. Even if the BE starts looking good in a few years, any school with the opportunity will jump, mainly because they think any other school will do the same. We've got the ultimate game theory scenario going right now.

 

[businesslawyer]

I bet there are a lot of posters on this board who spent a lot of Saturday's at home in high school waiting for girls to leave their boyfriends. I bet most of you were doing her homework for her too.

Hey -- there was no reason to come after me personally. It was a long time ago.

 

[Carl Spackler]

the big east in any form that's being discussed is going to be a mess for athletics and revenue sharing. If it's the only way to move forward and retain a BCS affiliation, it's what we've got to do, but it won't make any geographic or monetary sense long term. It will be temporary. There's too much money involved in all of this, and completely destroying any natural rivalries in the northeast among intercollegiate basketball and football? Dumb.

I can guarantee that the media industry will not stand for ratings of intercollegiate sports broadcasts to decline and interest decline in the northeast. Syracuse, Pitt, with only BC to support them in the north east market, are simply not going to draw the interest. There's several years of BC track record to look at. BC, Cuse and Pitt can't play each other every week, and the big name programs down south in both football and basketball aren't coming to town every week either, and not every year either.

An all sports northeast intercollegiate athletic league has got to form eventually for the money involved around the broadcasting. If the ACC isn't strong enough to do it now, eventually they will crack too. They're poised to make it happen now, and the guy that orignially wanted to make it happen three decades ago, unfortunately would be on the outside looking in, well actually looking all around at it - Paterno.

Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Boston College alone are not big enough draws to own the northeast in major intercollegiate sports, nor are UConn and Rutgers alone big enough. Penn State sits inthe middle of all that.

Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Rutgers, UConn, Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech?

there's a conference that owns the most valueable media markets in the world from virginia to boston.

Will the ACC finish what they started and kill the big east? That's what it all really boils down to, for me.

 

[The Funster]

Why would Swofford pay another $30 million a year for something, the New York/New England market, that he can get for free when UConn and Rutgers join the MAC. He has absolutely no incentive to expand, because time helps him. If the Big East dissolves, as he hopes, he is NEVER, EVER offering UConn or Rutgers. Why would he add two future MAC teams? If the Big East looks like it might survive, maybe he sticks another shiv in the conference and takes UConn and Rutgers. He has to think the league is going to survive to do that.

If, as I suspect, he doesn't want UConn or Rutgers anyway and doesn't have the votes to add them if he did, then we get to work on rebuilding the Big East as soon as possible.

Because if he doesn't add UConn and Rutgers, someone else will. Look, I won't speak for Rutgers but UConn is a rising star academically. It's invested a huge amount into the University, academically and athletically. It is accepting a higher level of student and will have a higher level of graduate. It has arguably the top men's and women's hoops program and a growing football program. It features a top soccer program. It's reputation on all fronts is growing. On top of that, we are part of the tristate market. What's not to like? If Swofford's goal is to ruin the BE and thus marginalize UConn then Swofford really is incompetent because there is no way that will happen. If you think the B1G would pass up the opportunity to have two schools in the NE you have another thing coming because Pitt and Cuse along with BC don't lock up this market. No matter what angle you look at, UConn can add value.

That being said, I would much rather rebuild the BE but not with the non football schools. That is the long, hard road, though, and there is no guarantee of success.

The ACC is at the table, the B1G is at the table and so is UConn. UConn has a better hand than you give them credit for and I have a growing feeling that Herbst knows how to play it.

 

[noeynox]

I still don't see how this is an option. No matter what happens, the Big East is dead. Whether it's now...or in a few years. All it takes is one domino to fall somewhere to get a whole lot of participants moving. If any BE school gets a sniff of another conference, they are jumping, television deal or no. Even if the BE starts looking good in a few years, any school with the opportunity will jump, mainly because they think any other school will do the same. We've got the ultimate game theory scenario going right now.

I don't get it either. The Big East is headed toward being a basketball conference once again, and I don't think the Basketball only schools care either. I think they've had it with the FB thing, it is a headache they don't need.

If we/or any remaining FB schools don't get into another BCS league, I could see the FB schools banding together and adding Temple, Buffalo, UMass and UCF maybe ECU or Memphis if TCU doesn't come along. I don't think that is a BCS league, but it may develop into a decent all sports conference with good basketball with a strong eastern presence. Yuck, I hate it, but I think the split may come because BBall wants to wash their hands of the football headache.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

the big east in any form that's being discussed is going to be a mess for athletics and revenue sharing. If it's the only way to move forward and retain a BCS affiliation, it's what we've got to do, but it won't make any geographic or monetary sense long term. It will be temporary. There's too much money involved in all of this, and completely destroying any natural rivalries in the northeast among intercollegiate basketball and football? Dumb.

I can guarantee that the media industry will not stand for ratings of intercollegiate sports broadcasts to decline and interest decline in the northeast. Syracuse, Pitt, with only BC to support them in the north east market, are simply not going to draw the interest. There's several years of BC track record to look at. BC, Cuse and Pitt can't play each other every week, and the big name programs down south in both football and basketball aren't coming to town every week either, and not every year either.

An all sports northeast intercollegiate athletic league has got to form eventually for the money involved around the broadcasting. If the ACC isn't strong enough to do it now, eventually they will crack too. They're poised to make it happen now, and the guy that orignially wanted to make it happen three decades ago, unfortunately would be on the outside looking in, well actually looking all around at it - Paterno.

Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Boston College alone are not big enough draws to own the northeast in major intercollegiate sports, nor are UConn and Rutgers alone big enough. Penn State sits inthe middle of all that.

Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Rutgers, UConn, Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech?

there's a conference that owns the most valueable media markets in the world from virginia to boston.

Will the ACC finish what they started and kill the big east? That's what it all really boils down to, for me.

ACC is trying to destroy the BE with ESPN's blessing. They did not have to expand now, but they did it to weaken the BE so we won't get the next TV deal. If we don't, I hope there is a massive, massive, massive lawsuit against the ACC/ESPN for damages. Someday we will find out exactly what happened behind the scenes, but I would imagine ESPN promised ACC more money if they take Pitt and Cuse. It is cheaper to destroy the BE vs. having to compete for a huge TV deal against ESPN's competitors. If UCONN is damaged in any way, I hope we will be forefront of that lawsuit if we are not part of the club.

Right now, our best option is rebuild the BE so it will maintain the BCS bid until our next move. We don't have many other options left.

 

[noeynox]

There is no doubt ESPN has their hands all over the ACC offering Cuse and Pitt. I think Marinatto did no one any favors screaming out loud about taking the Big East TV contract out into the open market.

If the BE is assured its BCS bid, I agree that is our BEST option. I just don't see it. I also see the BBall schools saying, the heck with this, were only going to be left picking up the pieces again in a few years when a couple of other schools leave.

It is really sad, that the BE presidents could not look each other in the eye and swear solidarity to each other. They stood to cash in collectively. Short of that, the FB schools should have moved out as one unit and added teams as THEY saw fit, without the BBall schools influence.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

There is no doubt ESPN has their hands all over the ACC offering Cuse and Pitt. I think Marinatto did no one any favors screaming out loud about taking the Big East TV contract out into the open market.

If the BE is assured its BCS bid, I agree that is our BEST option. I just don't see it. I also see the BBall schools saying, the heck with this, were only going to be left picking up the pieces again in a few years when a couple of other schools leave.

It is really sad, that the BE presidents could not look each other in the eye and swear solidarity to each other. They stood to cash in collectively. Short of that, the FB schools should have moved out as one unit and added teams as THEY saw fit, without the BBall schools influence.

That's exactly why Marinatto needs to be fired. The minute we turned down the TV deal, he should have got all the FB schools together and ask for total commitment in the form of higher exit fees etc. Had BE raised the fee to $25M or more, CUSE and Pitt might have thought twice before they are leaving. At minimal, we would have got $40M+ out of them.

BE was in line to get a higher TV deal than the ACC. If we get something much less, someone better get sued to make up the difference.

 

[tzznandrew]

That's exactly why Marinatto needs to be fired. The minute we turned down the TV deal, he should have got all the FB schools together and ask for total commitment in the form of higher exit fees etc. Had BE raised the fee to $25M or more, CUSE and Pitt might have thought twice before they are leaving. At minimal, we would have got $40M+ out of them.

BE was in line to get a higher TV deal than the ACC. If we get something much less, someone better get sued to make up the difference.

The BE tried to raise the cost after the first raid, but a higher rate would have been voted down. It would have been voted down again.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

The BE tried to raise the cost after the first raid, but a higher rate would have been voted down. It would have been voted down again.

After we turned down $1.4B TV deal, there better be some commitment from rest of the schools. If some schools are not in, BE should have asked the following question:

1. If we agree to turn down this deal, are we willing to make a commitment to each other that we will stay together for the next TV deal?

If people were waffling, they should have accepted the deal. That would be a leader who got a pulse on the whole college scene. Instead, we got Marinatto and here we are.

 

[2Infinity]

Because if he doesn't add UConn and Rutgers, someone else will. Look, I won't speak for Rutgers but UConn is a rising star academically. It's invested a huge amount into the University, academically and athletically. It is accepting a higher level of student and will have a higher level of graduate. It has arguably the top men's and women's hoops program and a growing football program. It features a top soccer program. It's reputation on all fronts is growing. On top of that, we are part of the tristate market. What's not to like? If Swofford's goal is to ruin the BE and thus marginalize UConn then Swofford really is incompetent because there is no way that will happen. If you think the B1G would pass up the opportunity to have two schools in the NE you have another thing coming because Pitt and Cuse along with BC don't lock up this market. No matter what angle you look at, UConn can add value.

That being said, I would much rather rebuild the BE but not with the non football schools. That is the long, hard road, though, and there is no guarantee of success.

The ACC is at the table, the B1G is at the table and so is UConn. UConn has a better hand than you give them credit for and I have a growing feeling that Herbst knows how to play it.

I agree with you Funster. NM...it almost sounds like you are still thinking of UConn in a way that many of us did back in the early days of BE membership. I even remember Scott Gray calling for UConn to leave the BE and rejoin the Yankee Conference because we just couldn't compete. He said that "rising star" UHart, should take our place in the BE, that THEY would be able to compete! What a buffoon!! Look what's happened since then!

We are a valuable addition to either the ACC or B1G. One of them will want us!

 

[EricSD]

I believe that ND has a tie into BE's BCS bid which they could lose if there are no BE football teams. Someone could clarify this. If they lose this they still have the NBC contract (not sure if details were ever disclosed) and will have to decide if the loss of BCS affiliation can hurt them in the future.

hmm. did not know that...

 

[jpm25]

2) It is not being Debbie Downer. Debbie Downer is dumping all over the Big East because we lost two mediocre football programs. The Big East is our league, and if there is any prayer of ever getting into the ACC, it is dependent on making the Big East a regional power and UConn a very strong athletic program. That won't happen unless we shore up the league.

3) It doesn't have to be a question of when. This can be a very strong league.

defending conference co-champions, no less. If you're right, that says alot about what remains.

 

[ctchamps]

hmm. did not know that...

businesslawyer answers this:

NO. ND does not have a tie in to the Big East's BCS slot -- ND's access to the BCS comes from a separate agreement it has with the BCS. ND going to the BCS does not take the Big East's slot.

ND's bowl tie ins with the Big East at the moment are limited to taking the Champs once in a four year cycle.​

 

[jpm25]

I believe that ND has a tie into BE's BCS bid which they could lose if there are no BE football teams. Someone could clarify this. If they lose this they still have the NBC contract (not sure if details were ever disclosed) and will have to decide if the loss of BCS affiliation can hurt them in the future.

not true - if they finish top 8 in BCS rankings they are guaranteed BCS bid. BE has nothing to do with it. They do leverage our bowl games, and we likely have better bowl games becuase of this relationship.

 

[ctchamps]

not true - if they finish top 8 in BCS rankings they are guaranteed BCS bid. BE has nothing to do with it. They do leverage our bowl games, and we likely have better bowl games becuase of this relationship.

bl corrected me as I showed one post before you wrote this. Didn't know about the top 8 ranking or improved bowl get. All this points to ND staying independent.