It's in the other CR thread, but basically should UConn join the Big East, their best first option is to keep football in the AAC as football-only. If that could not be successfully negotiated, then go independent. An Alliance of Eastern Independents would not be a conference (so there could be no conference title game), but would be a scheduling alliance and a TV rights alliance.Where would our football land, independent? I wouldnt mind that.
I think it would be possible for the Alliance to get $5 to $10M per school from a TV deal that might include FS1, SNY, YES, or other regional sports networks. If FS1 took the lead on such a deal, I think you pull in Cincy and Temple, and maybe Navy too. If Aresco didn't keep UConn in the fold, maybe he risks starting competition in the mid Altlantic - North East footprint.
Right now UConn gets maybe $2.2M for TV rights for all sports. The alternative could be $4M to $5M for Men's basketball with the Big East, plus $5M to $10M for football only, plus maybe keeping its own rights for women's basketball.
Your current contract has certainly set low expectations. While there are opinions of future value, what is fact is that Big East Basketball currently is valued more than AAC Football and Basketball combined.
Your current contract has certainly set low expectations. While there are opinions of future value, what is fact is that Big East Basketball currently is valued more than AAC Football and Basketball combined.

I love any thread that advocates the idea that James Madison and Delaware are the keys to getting more tv money...![]()
If your current playmates are EC and Memphis, you're not too good for UD and JMU.I love any thread that advocates the idea that James Madison and Delaware are the keys to getting more tv money...![]()
Please, with the exception of Xavier and a great draw, all of those Big East teams were out in weekend 1 of the tourney this year. Let's quit trying to portray all these new big east schools like they are world beaters. Providence, Seton Hall, Gtown etc. are no different than they were in the old Big East. Memphis has had more success the past 1o years.
1979: Magic over Bird1979 and 2000
No one is portraying any of these programs as world beaters, but I'll play along. Prov, SH, and GTown all were rated higher (KenPom) than Memphis last year. And let's throw in St John's for good measure. They are all better rivalries for UConn than Memphis, considering history and location.
Also Memphis pretty much sets the min academic standard for the AAC - very low.
If your current playmates are EC and Memphis, you're not too good for UD and JMU.

I didn't say we were too good for JMU and UD. I said to think that they were the key to more tv money is pretty dumb.
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"Key" to the Alliance? I would not say they are "Key" - more like part of the solution. Just like Tulsa is not "Key" to the AAC. There are back-ups / options, like ODU in place of JMU. Having 8 programs facilitates scheduling and a TV package. More important is the small footprint / independent approach.
I don't think you have earned the high horse yet. Save the condescension for when you actually have the P5 invite, or a G5 contract for football worth more than $5M a year. Until then, there is more TV money in Big East basketball than AAC football.The fact that you think they are even a small part of the solution tells me everything I need to know. You clearly haven't been following the tv money thing for more than a week...
Better than holding up Memphis as the conference Gold Standard, I'd note UConn has a title for the conference, Larry Brown put SMU basketball back on the map and they continued to be strong last year without him, Cincy is generally good in both hoops and football, and while Houston has been very good in football, they have also surged in hoops.
I don't think you have earned the high horse yet. Save the condescension for when you actually have the P5 invite, or a G5 contract for football worth more than $5M a year. Until then, there is more TV money in Big East basketball than AAC football.
Your current model isn't very good. That is why some of us consider alternatives. UConn to the Big East isn't P5, but it is better than status quo.
No, I meant that for a football school, it was noteworthy that last season they had 21 wins and finished ahead of UConn in conference.If by surging you mean Houston's last NCAA tournament win was in 1984...
I don't think you have earned the high horse yet. Save the condescension for when you actually have the P5 invite, or a G5 contract for football worth more than $5M a year. Until then, there is more TV money in Big East basketball than AAC football.
I don't know how else to say it, other than to say that it's really really really dumb...
What's your solution for UConn's alignment?You seem to think that that justifies your very bad idea. It doesn't.
Well, I didn't arrange the talks between the Big East and UConn, nor was I the one that reported on them. UConn is obviously not satisfied with a $2M TV contract in a Frankenstein conference. So if it's dumb to consider an alternative, it might not be any worse than traveling to Tulsa and Tulane for all of you sports, Rev and non-Rev.
What's your solution for UConn?
What's your solution for UConn's alignment?
As for my solution; I don't have a good one.
Well, put it this way, you could double your current TV money on basketball alone by joining the Big East.
If you don't believe UConn Football has any value as an independent, that is truly an unknown and maybe your right. I bet it does.