ADDING UCONN TO THE BIG TEN WOULD BE ACTUALLY GOOD. HERE'S WHY.

[gioff23]

Don't understand this. We are superior to Rutgers. If they get invited to play in the NFC East next year, that still doesn't change the underlying fact. You are or are not superior because of your accomplishments -- not what conference you are in.

While true in almost every fact pattern, the challenge is that the P5 is designed to make this somewhat irrelevant in that we can't (or believe we will) REMAIN superior if we remain in the AAC and they in the BIG. We can survive now on exit fee money from BigEast, but at some point we won't be able to compete if we get a conf payout of a few million and they collect 40MM/year.

Besides, is being invited to play in the NFCEast a step up from the BIG?

 

[Palatine]

http://www.crimsonquarry.com/2016/1...t-uconn-to-the-big-ten-conference-connecticut

Nice stuff, enjoyable read. If this was posted before, enjoy it again.

 

[businesslawyer]

While true in almost every fact pattern, the challenge is that the P5 is designed to make this somewhat irrelevant in that we can't (or believe we will) REMAIN superior if we remain in the AAC and they in the BIG. We can survive now on exit fee money from BigEast, but at some point we won't be able to compete if we get a conf payout of a few million and they collect 40MM/year.

Besides, is being invited to play in the NFCEast a step up from the BIG?

It is possible (not definite but possible) that being incompetent in the Big Ten, at some time in the future, will be superior to what you can accomplish outside the P-5. That does not make Rutgers superior. It does not stop UConn from being superior. It is one possible outcome in the future. there are others.

 

[Jerry1714]

I do not follow this stuff much anymore because its depressing, but whats a realistic time frame the Big 12 and Big 10 will be making decisions about expansion? I assume it will center around TV contracts being renewed?

 

[CL82]

I do not follow this stuff much anymore because its depressing, but whats a realistic time frame the Big 12 and Big 10 will be making decisions about expansion? I assume it will center around TV contracts being renewed?

20 minutes?

 

[BlueHen]

Seems like public opinion is improving. The B1G really shouldn't let the Big 12 come into its territory.

The B1G may not like the idea of the Big XII moving into its territory, but it will survive. If the P5 ever reduces to the P4 the B1G will likely still be standing. The B1G may like UConn, but it can live without us.

That may not hold true for the ACC. IMHO the ACC and the Big XII are fighting for the last P4 spot (I think the B1G, SEC and Pac-12 are safe). The ACC allows the Big XII into its backyard at its own risk. The ACC should grab UConn and Cincinnati immediately. It shuts the Big XII out of New York and may even further destabilize the Big XII by keeping West Virginia on an island. Sure the Big XII could add Memphis, but Cincy > Memphis.

UConn, Cincinnati and BYU might be the best available schools for the Big XII, the ACC should make a defensive move and grab two of them.

 

[Palatine]

UConn is already a better academic school than the half the B10. And the arrow is pointed up.

We have better athletic programs than most of the B10.

We are a much cleaner program than B10 bell cow Ohio State. Not even close. Our reputation for being a NCAA violator stems from the fact we actually make our players go to class. And some of them have turned out to be awful students. That's not cheating, it is our integrity getting us in trouble. Yep, our kids also occasionally do something stupid. But these tiny compared to most of the college universe especially when you consider the first sentence of this paragraph

 

[SixRings]

I wish someone would take the comment posted early with all of the B1G schools and number of NC's and insert UConn into it and repost. I don't think many of the B1G schools realize how successful UConn has been. Funny how the bottom trash defend their position by saying if UConn was any good they would already be in a P5 conference.

 

[jfuchs91]

I wish someone would take the comment posted early with all of the B1G schools and number of NC's and insert UConn into it and repost. I don't think many of the B1G schools realize how successful UConn has been. Funny how the bottom trash defend their position by saying if UConn was any good they would already be in a P5 conference.

For what it's worth, I was discussing this article with a B1G fan earlier today and he said Rutgers/Maryland were added largely because of recruiting grounds and the northeast's recruiting was just bad. I countered with UConn's NFL draft picks compared to other B1G schools, similar to what was posted here comparing to Big XII schools.

Here's the list:

NFL Draft Picks 2005-2015
Ohio State: 57
Wisconsin: 44
Iowa: 42
Nebraska: 40
Penn State: 39
Michigan: 37
Michigan State: 31
UConn: 25
Rutgers: 23
Illinois: 22
Maryland: 21
Purdue: 21
Minnesota: 15
Indiana: 13
Northwestern: 13

UConn is smack dab in the middle of producing NFL talent among B1G schools. This is especially impressive given it was in UConn's first 10 years as an FBS program.

 

[TruthNnumbers]

I wish someone would take the comment posted early with all of the B1G schools and number of NC's and insert UConn into it and repost. I don't think many of the B1G schools realize how successful UConn has been. Funny how the bottom trash defend their position by saying if UConn was any good they would already be in a P5 conference.

Is this what you mean?

National titles/B1G titles by school:

PSU 47/75

Michigan 36/376

Wisconsin 28/193

OSU 28/207

Maryland 27/6

Iowa 25/106

Indiana 24/171

UConn 20

MSU 20/95

Nebraska 19/8

Illinois 18/237

Minnesota 18/163

Johns Hopkins 9/1

Northwestern 8/73

Purdue 3/71

Rutgers 1/0


Note that the U of Chicago who left in 1946 had 73 B1G conference championships. As an IU fan I like to keep this handy for those times when Purdue fans get out of hand. It’s bad enough they only have 71 B1G titles but to still be behind U of Chicago is ridiculous. Then there’s MSU who didn’t join until 1950 with 95, PSU who joined in 1990 with 75 and even Northwestern beats them with 73, lol Purdue. Maryland and Nebraska will both likely pass them in less than 50 years. Heck Johns Hopkins may pass them at some point with just 2 teams in the conference. I say we keep Rutgers and keep cashing those checks add UConn and beg the MAC to take Purdue…sound good?

Sorry I thought you were talking about national championships.

 

[amory]

The B1G may not like the idea of the Big XII moving into its territory, but it will survive. If the P5 ever reduces to the P4 the B1G will likely still be standing. The B1G may like UConn, but it can live without us.

That may not hold true for the ACC. IMHO the ACC and the Big XII are fighting for the last P4 spot (I think the B1G, SEC and Pac-12 are safe). The ACC allows the Big XII into its backyard at its own risk. The ACC should grab UConn and Cincinnati immediately. It shuts the Big XII out of New York and may even further destabilize the Big XII by keeping West Virginia on an island. Sure the Big XII could add Memphis, but Cincy > Memphis.

UConn, Cincinnati and BYU might be the best available schools for the Big XII, the ACC should make a defensive move and grab two of them.

Makes a lot of sense, but boy are they still sore about that lawsuit from a decade ago...

I hope the ACC burns to the ground

 

[Redding Husky]

I've believed for many years Big 10 expansion could end up as follows:

1) Penn State & Nebraska for football
2) Rutgers & Missouri for TV sets (I missed on Maryland)
3) UConn & Kansas for basketball

That takes care of football, TV dollars, and basketball ... the holy trinity of college sports.

 

[Ldandy]

First off anyone who has not read the article I recommend doing so. Its highly entertaining. That said it in no way compares to the comments section. It is literally comedy gold. Props to Dooley. This dude does yeoman's work spreading the UCONN to P5 Message. Just for fun I have to post a few of the comments on that article from The Rutgers Faithful and the replies from IU Fans.

From RU Fan-

There is so much wrong with this 28 replies
That my blood is boiling right now. IU fans/CQ people won’t listen to logic, but just for the hell of it I will reiterate some points other posters made:
NYC doesn’t care about UConn. They may not care about RU, but it is certainly more than UConn and there was actually a measurable profit from adding Rutgers. I don’t think UConn would have had the same impact.
UConn’s non-bball sports are god awful.
Have you been to Storrs? It’s in the middle of fuc**** nowhere. Awful awful college town.
Rutgers absutely fills up its football stadium. The picture you posted, I was there (in the band), that was for the MD game. The last game of our shi*** season. Those stands were full for many games prior. Can’t blame the fans for decreased morale after that dumpster fire of a season. But I assure you our stadium fills and is an intense environment, FAR MORE than UConn.
UConn fans are terrible. Connecticut is a terrible state. You don’t even understand what trash you’d be inviting to the conference. You think it can’t get worse? Oooohh would they prove you wrong.
Also, Crimson Quarry, you sure talk about Rutgers a lot…. WHY? You could have easily made a case for UConn and minimally mentioned Rutgers. I’d actually classify this as a dual UConn RU article on an Indiana website…

Me-

UCONN's non bball sports are god awful? LOL That's news to me. Maybe he should check the National Title lists.

Storrs is an awful college town? WTF is Piscataway then?

Rutgers absolutely fills up its stadium? Sure for Penn State, Ohio State, and UM. For everybody else not so much. Last I checked UCONN had to put in temporary seating to accommodate the demand for Michigan Tickets. I'd love to see attendance figures if Rutgers hosted SMU or Tulsa

UCONN fans are terrible? Again that's news to me. I've been here for a few years and everyone has been pretty cool to me. Sure there are a few s in every group, but for the most part UCONN Fans represent their school well. Contrast that with Rutgers Fans who treated PSU Fans with more disrespect then I have ever experienced in my life during our visit to Piscataway. Adults yelling disgusting slurs at families with small children. Others had professionally produced signs and t-shirts depicting child sexual abuse. Over a football game? horrible. I have been all over the B1G and have been treated with respect and never got anything more than good natured ribbing. Huge difference in NJ.

Rutgers Fan-

Rutgers
Is not as terrible as you goons make us out to be.
Do you even truly look at us?
Football is decent, soccer is fantastic, wrestling is amazing, womens basketball is respected and our other sports are trying. Our academics are solid and we have some programs that are in the top 3 of the B1G. It is going to take time, but you clowns are unfairly not giving us any.
Why do Rutgers fans come over and yell? Because your hate reasons are ridiculously over-exaggerated. Imagine if a fan base * on all aspects of IU contantly and for no truly fair reason? That’s how many Rutgers fans feel about CQ and you can be damn sure we’re gonna come here and TRY to defend ourselves.
Rutgers* ..."Writer" at OffTackleEmpire.com


Me-

Football is decent? False. Fair weather fan base, crap stadium, below average recent success, historical ineptitude, unproven and highly inexperienced coaching staff, below average recruiting class subject to further poaching.

Soccer is fantastic? I guess finishing 3rd in your conference and being shut out in the final four is fantastic by Rutgers Standards.

Wrestling is amazing? Umm I guess so. If amazing is being ranked outside the top 10, losing out on every top tier in state recruit, and having exactly 1 All American across 10 weight classes at last year's NCAA Tournament. AMAZING!!!!

Women's basketball is respected? They are an upper mid tier program with zero shot at a title. Their HC is also way overrated.

Our other sports are trying? Cool lets give them participation trophies like they hand out in little league.

IU Fan-

Oh.
You’re trying? You just need some more time? Well, why didn’t you say so! I forgot that the Big Ten was in the business of offering remediation-level classes in college athletics.

Me-

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!

 

[NYUConn]

Oh.
You’re trying? You just need some more time? Well, why didn’t you say so! I forgot that the Big Ten was in the business of offering remediation-level classes in college athletics.

Actual LOL at this.

 

[CTMike]

Rutgers is completely and utterly delusional. Everything stated is demonstrably false. Rutgers is worse than UConn at everything except hitting the P5 lottery.

 

[BlueHen]

Rutgers Fan-

...Football is decent, soccer is fantastic, wrestling is amazing, womens basketball is respected and our other sports are trying...

They should use that as the school catchphrase: 'Rutgers athletics, a trying experience.'

 

[SixRings]

Does an IU fan really have so many more NC's where they can act that arrogant about UConn? Soccer and swimming are strong but men's bball and fb are average and not as good as UConn in last 20 years. Men's bball not even close.

 

[NYUConn]

Does an IU fan really have so many more NC's where they can act that arrogant about UConn? Soccer and swimming are strong but men's bball and fb are average and not as good as UConn in last 20 years. Men's bball not even close.

Indiana 5 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987
Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014

They also have more overall Final Four appearances than us.

We've had a great run, but let's not pretend that Indiana is some men's basketball scrub.

 

[Ldandy]

Does an IU fan really have so many more NC's where they can act that arrogant about UConn? Soccer and swimming are strong but men's bball and fb are average and not as good as UConn in last 20 years. Men's bball not even close.

IU's fans were mostly complimentary of UCONN or at least neutral. There were a few who opposed inclusion based on losing traditional rivalries and geography. Most of the UCONN bashing was coming from RU Fans and an OSU Fan with a peculiar interest in Rutgers.

 

[TruthNnumbers]

Does an IU fan really have so many more NC's where they can act that arrogant about UConn? Soccer and swimming are strong but men's bball and fb are average and not as good as UConn in last 20 years. Men's bball not even close.

I must have missed something, I thought the article was about wanting UConn in the conference and they were talking down to Rutgers fans...I'll have to re-read some of this I guess. I thought the arrogant about UConn stuff was from Rutgers fans not IU.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Indiana 5 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987
Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014

They also have more overall Final Four appearances than us.

We've had a great run, but let's not pretend that Indiana is some men's basketball scrub.

Did you miss the "in the last 20 years" part? We're going on 3 decades since IU's last title, they only have two FF appearances since then, and the most recent one was 14 years ago. We can stop pretending that's still a blueblood program.

 

[Pudge]

First off anyone who has not read the article I recommend doing so. Its highly entertaining. That said it in no way compares to the comments section. It is literally comedy gold. Props to Dooley. This dude does yeoman's work spreading the UCONN to P5 Message. Just for fun I have to post a few of the comments on that article from The Rutgers Faithful and the replies from IU Fans.

From RU Fan-

There is so much wrong with this 28 replies
That my blood is boiling right now. IU fans/CQ people won’t listen to logic, but just for the hell of it I will reiterate some points other posters made:
NYC doesn’t care about UConn. They may not care about RU, but it is certainly more than UConn and there was actually a measurable profit from adding Rutgers. I don’t think UConn would have had the same impact.
UConn’s non-bball sports are god awful.
Have you been to Storrs? It’s in the middle of fuc**** nowhere. Awful awful college town.
Rutgers absutely fills up its football stadium. The picture you posted, I was there (in the band), that was for the MD game. The last game of our shi*** season. Those stands were full for many games prior. Can’t blame the fans for decreased morale after that dumpster fire of a season. But I assure you our stadium fills and is an intense environment, FAR MORE than UConn.
UConn fans are terrible. Connecticut is a terrible state. You don’t even understand what trash you’d be inviting to the conference. You think it can’t get worse? Oooohh would they prove you wrong.
Also, Crimson Quarry, you sure talk about Rutgers a lot…. WHY? You could have easily made a case for UConn and minimally mentioned Rutgers. I’d actually classify this as a dual UConn RU article on an Indiana website…

Me-

UCONN's non bball sports are god awful? LOL That's news to me. Maybe he should check the National Title lists.

Storrs is an awful college town? WTF is Piscataway then?

Rutgers absolutely fills up its stadium? Sure for Penn State, Ohio State, and UM. For everybody else not so much. Last I checked UCONN had to put in temporary seating to accommodate the demand for Michigan Tickets. I'd love to see attendance figures if Rutgers hosted SMU or Tulsa

UCONN fans are terrible? Again that's news to me. I've been here for a few years and everyone has been pretty cool to me. Sure there are a few s in every group, but for the most part UCONN Fans represent their school well. Contrast that with Rutgers Fans who treated PSU Fans with more disrespect then I have ever experienced in my life during our visit to Piscataway. Adults yelling disgusting slurs at families with small children. Others had professionally produced signs and t-shirts depicting child sexual abuse. Over a football game? horrible. I have been all over the B1G and have been treated with respect and never got anything more than good natured ribbing. Huge difference in NJ.

Rutgers Fan-

Rutgers
Is not as terrible as you goons make us out to be.
Do you even truly look at us?
Football is decent, soccer is fantastic, wrestling is amazing, womens basketball is respected and our other sports are trying. Our academics are solid and we have some programs that are in the top 3 of the B1G. It is going to take time, but you clowns are unfairly not giving us any.
Why do Rutgers fans come over and yell? Because your hate reasons are ridiculously over-exaggerated. Imagine if a fan base * on all aspects of IU contantly and for no truly fair reason? That’s how many Rutgers fans feel about CQ and you can be damn sure we’re gonna come here and TRY to defend ourselves.
Rutgers* ..."Writer" at OffTackleEmpire.com


Me-

Football is decent? False. Fair weather fan base, crap stadium, below average recent success, historical ineptitude, unproven and highly inexperienced coaching staff, below average recruiting class subject to further poaching.

Soccer is fantastic? I guess finishing 3rd in your conference and being shut out in the final four is fantastic by Rutgers Standards.

Wrestling is amazing? Umm I guess so. If amazing is being ranked outside the top 10, losing out on every top tier in state recruit, and having exactly 1 All American across 10 weight classes at last year's NCAA Tournament. AMAZING!!!!

Women's basketball is respected? They are an upper mid tier program with zero shot at a title. Their HC is also way overrated.

Our other sports are trying? Cool lets give them participation trophies like they hand out in little league.

IU Fan-

Oh.
You’re trying? You just need some more time? Well, why didn’t you say so! I forgot that the Big Ten was in the business of offering remediation-level classes in college athletics.

Me-

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!

Love this kind of stuff.

First ... there is NOTHING done at Rutgers that tells you that they can build a Program in a real sport. That is what Delaney & their due diligence should have turned up.

Comparative? Calhoun build a 4 NC Power from the backwoods of Storrs; an amazing feat. In the bigtime sport. Auriemma, given the keys, built the BEST Women's Program in the history of college sports and still has another decade to run. There is nothing at Rutgers near that. In fact, their Mens BB, excepting 1976, has always been bottom quartile of whatever league they are in. Stringer is what you say: she has gotten lost in the woods in the last half dozen years.

Look more closely: UConn Baseball is the finest Northeastern Program. With significant challenges, they rose above everybody from Maryland through NE. UConn Men's Ice Hockey went from 0 to top 10 attendance amongst the 60 Programs in College Hockey in one year. Solid fanbase; good recruiting area; and now, we are going to see this thing grow. Women's Field Hockey - one of the best Programs. Men's Soccer - traditionally one of the leaders in attendance since the early 1970s; yearly participant in NCAA tournament. Women's Soccer - darn good. There seems to be nothing Rutgers does that UConn does not do better. Wrestling? Frankly ... most of the Universities have dropped wrestling. I bet the reality is not what he claims. Do they ever have ONE wrestler win his class?

I happen to believe our Football and theirs are comparable. We just came from a different origin. As much as they claim all this attendance success yada yada ... in 2003 as both Programs were in the NEW BE, they really struggled to get 20,000 for a game I went to versus Syracuse. I think they have a natural recruiting advantage; one that Schiano really exploited. Still, I think they have a scary culture that came to the fore in this past year. Too many kids have been involved in violence, drunk driving, burglaries and skating out the door. If that is what New Brunswick/Piscataway gives you, then I think any conference would prefer to be in the Storrs woods.

Frankly ... this UConn campus is not going to look the same very soon to whomever at Rutgers has been there in the last few years. It was a cow town. It is now a Globally ranked University that is rising.

 

[Matrim55]

Did you miss the "in the last 20 years" part? We're going on 3 decades since IU's last title, they only have two FF appearances since then, and the most recent one was 14 years ago. We can stop pretending that's still a blueblood program.

They're still a blueblood program - they've just fallen on hard times. Once they upgrade from Crean next summer they'll be a consistent top 15 team and capable of making Final 4 runs most years, like Kansas or UNC.

 

[NYUConn]

Did you miss the "in the last 20 years" part? We're going on 3 decades since IU's last title, they only have two FF appearances since then, and the most recent one was 14 years ago. We can stop pretending that's still a blueblood program.

I clearly didn't miss "last 20 years" which is why I hedged mine with "we've had a great run."

If you think they aren't a blueblood program than you're either three cups into the UConn homerism Kool Aid (which I am totally fine with) or really ignorant of the basketball landscape in general.

I mean it's kind of a ridiculous thing to say that no titles since three final fours and 1 title in 29 years nullifies their entire storied history as a blue blood program when nobody from the B1G has won a national title since 2000.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I clearly didn't miss "last 20 years" which is why I hedged mine with "we've had a great run."

If you think they aren't a blueblood program than you're either three cups into the UConn homerism Kool Aid (which I am totally fine with) or really ignorant of the basketball landscape in general.

I mean it's kind of a ridiculous thing to say that no titles since three final fours and 1 title in 29 years nullifies their entire storied history as a blue blood program when nobody from the B1G has won a national title since 2000.

IU is not regarded with the UNCs, Kansases, or Kentuckys of the world. Indiana is more like UCLA - a once-great program that, despite earnest effort year-after-year, can never seem to regain their old glory. I'm not saying I wouldn't love to have them on our schedule every year, but Indiana's standing in the CBB community is nowhere near what it used to be.

 

[NYUConn]

IU is not regarded with the UNCs, Kansases, or Kentuckys of the world. Indiana is more like UCLA - a once-great program that, despite earnest effort year-after-year, can never seem to regain their old glory. I'm not saying I wouldn't love to have them on our schedule every year, but Indiana's standing in the CBB community is nowhere near what it used to be.

I don't know a single, respectable college bball analyst or journalist who would not consider Indiana or UCLA blue bloods.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I don't know a single, respectable college bball analyst or journalist who would not consider Indiana or UCLA blue bloods.

Do you think they're considered to be elite programs right now? Do you think they're considered to be on-par with Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, or UNC?

 

[NYUConn]

Do you think they're considered to be elite programs right now? Do you think they're considered to be on-par with Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, or UNC?

"Elite" programs. What does that even mean? Indiana has made the NCAA tournament in 6 out of the last 10 seasons and the Sweet 16 twice in that time. UCLA has made 9 out of the last 10 seasons with 3 trips to the Final Four in that time.

Are they marquee coaching jobs? Hell yes, people will be tripping over themselves to coach at Indiana and UCLA much like they would at Kentucky, Kansas, Duke or UNC.

 

[CallMeBruce]

"Elite" programs. What does that even mean? Indiana has made the NCAA tournament in 6 out of the last 10 seasons and the Sweet 16 twice in that time. UCLA has made 9 out of the last 10 seasons with 3 trips to the Final Four in that time.

Are they marquee coaching jobs? Hell yes, people will be tripping over themselves to coach at Indiana and UCLA much like they would at Kentucky, Kansas, Duke or UNC.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2013/3/27/4154834/ucla-coaching-search-shaka-smart-vcu

 

[NYUConn]

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2013/3/27/4154834/ucla-coaching-search-shaka-smart-vcu

Wow. Check mate. You took my hyperbole as gospel.