Athletic limbo: University of Houston pouring cash into sports, but will its 'Power 5' push pay off?

[Zissou]

Left out UConn...and Kansas and Kansas State.

Big East as well. And Temple.

 

[Adios]

Big East as well. And Temple.

Too bad Villanova didn't go FBS...

Because you'd be in the AAC instead of Temple!

And be looking at the possibility of an ACC or Big 12 invite. Oh well.

Go Red Storm!

 

[Zissou]

Too bad Villanova didn't go FBS...

Because you'd be in the AAC instead of Temple!

And be looking at the possibility of an ACC or Big 12 invite. Oh well.

Go Red Storm!

I know this will sound crazy, but Nova and most Nova fans really like the Big East and prefer it over the ACC or Big12. Aside from the money, which is hard to put aside, the "basketball first" mentality is really embraced and the Big East heritage is valued. These feelings would have been much weaker if the Big East had flopped to A10 status and lost luster, but the 3 new members have held their own and of course Nova is very happy with the results of the last three years. The BET at MSG is great with Butler, X, and especially Creighton fans making a showing in NYC. The conference is a nice mix of traditional rivals (it's great to face Georgetown even when they are down) and respectable showings from the new 3.

Nova does have the issue of football stuck in a dismal FCS level (I'm sure you remember). It's difficult to find a FBS path forward, but possible. I don't think many would trade our football position for FBS if it meant hoops having to leave the Big East. Believe it or not, not even for the ACC or B12.

Our position is to excel in hoops, and to hope for a modest improvement in a place for the football program such as independent, CAA FBS, or other. There could be a rise of more independents as cord cutting takes shape.

 

[huskyrob1]

I know this will sound crazy, but Nova and most Nova fans really like the Big East and prefer it over the ACC or Big12. Aside from the money, which is hard to put aside, the "basketball first" mentality is really embraced and the Big East heritage is valued. These feelings would have been much weaker if the Big East had flopped to A10 status and lost luster, but the 3 new members have held their own and of course Nova is very happy with the results of the last three years. The BET at MSG is great with Butler, X, and especially Creighton fans making a showing in NYC. The conference is a nice mix of traditional rivals (it's great to face Georgetown even when they are down) and respectable showings from the new 3.

Nova does have the issue of football stuck in a dismal FCS level (I'm sure you remember). It's difficult to find a FBS path forward, but possible. I don't think many would trade our football position for FBS if it meant hoops having to leave the Big East. Believe it or not, not even for the ACC or B12.

Our position is to excel in hoops, and to hope for a modest improvement in a place for the football program such as independent, CAA FBS, or other. There could be a rise of more independents as cord cutting takes shape.

You must be smoking some top shelf stuff. If Nova got an invite from the ACC or Big 12, they'd be running out of the Big East like Secretariat.

 

[Zissou]

You must be smoking some top shelf stuff. If Nova got an invite from the ACC or Big 12, they'd be running out of the Big East like Secretariat.

Hard for others to understand.

The ACC is less attractive in its current configuration than the ACC classic.

It does feel good to not want to be anywhere else but the Big East.

 

[billybud]

Hard for others to understand.

The ACC is less attractive in its current configuration than the ACC classic.

It does feel good to not want to be anywhere else but the Big East.

Nova is where it needs to be....a good basketball school in a basketball league...

Nova would never be considered by the P5 all sports leagues, so any talk of the ACC is just that...talk.

Truth is, Nova would not be competitive in football....and has no football brand...and thus is and will be in a basketball conference.

 

[huskyrob1]

Hard for others to understand.

The ACC is less attractive in its current configuration than the ACC classic.

It does feel good to not want to be anywhere else

That's what Captain Smith said about the bridge of the Titanic. The Big East cannot go on indefinitely in it's present form. The first signs will be athletic budget cuts in other sports to save their basketball only league. I give it 5 or 6 years before things start falling apart.

 

[Zissou]

That's what Captain Smith said about the bridge of the Titanic. The Big East cannot go on indefinitely in it's present form. The first signs will be athletic budget cuts in other sports to save their basketball only league. I give it 5 or 6 years before things start falling apart.

That is a silly prediction. None of the Big East schools has a history of football revenue nor delusions of P5 future money. The finances are fine and the athletic programs are stable. Nova, for example, has increased its endowment significantly, has record applicants, and is only increasing its position.

FESPN already had a fake Requiem for the Big East, and since it aired the conference has only thrived.

 

[Zissou]

Nova is where it needs to be....a good basketball school in a basketball league...

Nova would never be considered by the P5 all sports leagues, so any talk of the ACC is just that...talk.

Truth is, Nova would not be competitive in football....and has no football brand...and thus is and will be in a basketball conference.

This is pretty accurate. Honestly, UConn is similar in that it has a very good basketball brand and not much of a football brand. UConn does need to protect the investment it has sunk into football and it needs to try to build a football brand. The challenge is to have that be complementary to the Hoops brand and not an anchor dragging it down.

The AAC isn’t horrible but it’s far less than ideal. It is a football first conference that is trying to be the best of the G5 but won’t really be considered a power conference by anyone outside of the AAC. Basketball is secondary, and it is the 7th or 8th best conference.

It’s a tough spot. The Big East would definitely be better for UConn hoops, but would UConn football be better off in the AAC or as an independent or in another affiliation? At this point it seems like a good idea to see what the next AAC contract might bring, but keep options open.

 

[TJT]

Have you seen the differences in population within a 150 mile radius? Temple is #1 in the AAC, UConn is #2.

That is irrelevant when few people outside CT (population 3.6M) care about UConn athletics. The reality is that very few people in NYC and Boston have interest in UConn.

 

[auggie22]

That is irrelevant when few people outside CT (population 3.6M) care about UConn athletics. The reality is that very few people in NYC and Boston have interest in UConn.

Thanks for serving us some reality, tjt. How many people in greater Houston care for the U of Houston? You should publish your numbers so others can benefit from your wisdom.

 

[Hoophound]

That is irrelevant when few people outside CT (population 3.6M) care about UConn athletics. The reality is that very few people in NYC and Boston have interest in UConn.

That’s not true. However, crappy teams make it hard to argue my side. When we are back to being ourselves, you’ll see the fans turn up in those markets like they always have, especially in New York.

 

[Zissou]

 

[Adios]

Nova is where it needs to be....a good basketball school in a basketball league...

Nova would never be considered by the P5 all sports leagues, so any talk of the ACC is just that...talk.

Truth is, Nova would not be competitive in football....and has no football brand...and thus is and will be in a basketball conference.

You are aware Temple was kicked out of the Big East before?

I mean the historic Big East. Not this new incarnation which has one program making noise.

 

[Adios]

That is irrelevant when few people outside CT (population 3.6M) care about UConn athletics. The reality is that very few people in NYC and Boston have interest in UConn.

I am pretty sure UH is the third most popular program in it's own town, at best.

 

[huskyrob1]

That is irrelevant when few people outside CT (population 3.6M) care about UConn athletics. The reality is that very few people in NYC and Boston have interest in UConn.

.... I see more and more celebrities wearing UCONN hats and shirts.

 

[billybud]

You are aware Temple was kicked out of the Big East before?

I mean the historic Big East. Not this new incarnation which has one program making noise.

huh? Seems non sequitur to my post that you quoted...

 

[Adios]

huh? Seems non sequitur to my post that you quoted...

If Villanova upgraded their football, they'd be in the AAC, while Temple would be in the MAC.

 

[TJT]

Thanks for serving us some reality, tjt. How many people in greater Houston care for the U of Houston? You should publish your numbers so others can benefit from your wisdom.

The Houston metro area has 6.9 million residents. The entire state of CT has just 3.6 million. Even in a rather mediocre 7-5 season in 2017, the Cougars football team drew an average of 32,583 to its home games at TDECU Stadium. Its previous season which was more successful at 9-4 drew an average of 38,952 at its home stadium. This 2016 home average number doesn't even include the 71,016 that came out to nearby NRG Stadium in Houston to see the team play Oklahoma (granted there were likely many Sooner fans there as well). Market size has a big impact on both the attendance and tv viewership numbers important to the P5 leagues.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

The reality is that very few people in Boston have interest in UConn.

Lived here nearly 15 years, this is categorically false.

 

[CL82]

The Houston metro area has 6.9 million residents. The entire state of CT has just 3.6 million. Even in a rather mediocre 7-5 season in 2017, the Cougars football team drew an average of 32,583 to its home games at TDECU Stadium. Its previous season which was more successful at 9-4 drew an average of 38,952 at its home stadium. This 2016 home average number doesn't even include the 71,016 that came out to nearby NRG Stadium in Houston to see the team play Oklahoma (granted there were likely many Sooner fans there as well). Market size has a big impact on both the attendance and tv viewership numbers important to the P5 leagues.

The 'Greater Houston Area' encompasses an area about as big as NJ. If you go an equivalent distance around Storrs it has 31M people. Agree that market size has is important to the P5 leagues. UConn wins that debate comfortably.

UConn football is down but when it was humming it packed the Rent. UConn's TV draw is a known commodity. There's a reason why SNY will buy as much of content as possible.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

The Houston metro area has 6.9 million residents. The entire state of CT has just 3.6 million. Even in a rather mediocre 7-5 season in 2017, the Cougars football team drew an average of 32,583 to its home games at TDECU Stadium. Its previous season which was more successful at 9-4 drew an average of 38,952 at its home stadium. This 2016 home average number doesn't even include the 71,016 that came out to nearby NRG Stadium in Houston to see the team play Oklahoma (granted there were likely many Sooner fans there as well). Market size has a big impact on both the attendance and tv viewership numbers important to the P5 leagues.

A mediocre Michigan team came to Ct a few years ago to play a poor UConn team . and we probably could have sold out Yale Bowl .
Who you play is significant.

 

[Irishfan]

.... I see more and more celebrities wearing UCONN hats and shirts.

View attachment 33487

Is this a celebrity?

 

[billybud]

Is it appropriate that he is reading "The Places In Between" ?

Is that the coded message brought forward via magnification?

 

[JeepCSC]

Hard for others to understand.

The ACC is less attractive in its current configuration than the ACC classic.

I had no idea Maryland meant so much to you. That would mean so much to the Terp fans. Validation at last.