B1G Ramblings

[Kolumbo]

The B1G just invited 4 extremely good football programs which will likely provide losses to even Ohio State and Michigan
The B1G did invite UCLA but basketball is still not as strong overall as it should be
UConn Football will improve significantly in a conference, and even more so in a "power" conference
Early on, sure, UConn will provide many wins for B1G football programs, including the lower rung programs
B1G should have a presence in New England
Sounds like multiple wins for the B1G to invite UConn
The Big 12 should look to grab UConn asap seeing all of the upside
And yet....

 

[hank970]

The B1G just invited 4 extremely good football programs which will likely provide losses to even Ohio State and Michigan
The B1G did invite UCLA but basketball is still not as strong overall as it should be
UConn Football will improve significantly in a conference, and even more so in a "power" conference
Early on, sure, UConn will provide many wins for B1G football programs, including the lower rung programs
B1G should have a presence in New England
Sounds like multiple wins for the B1G to invite UConn
The Big 12 should look to grab UConn asap seeing all of the upside
And yet....

Get real. If UConn wasn't able to compete in the AAC, what makes you think it would thrive in the B1G? Furthermore, why would the B1G want to establish a sports presence in a part of the country whose residents couldn't care less about college athletics?

 

[buddy]

The B1G just invited 4 extremely good football programs which will likely provide losses to even Ohio State and Michigan
The B1G did invite UCLA but basketball is still not as strong overall as it should be
UConn Football will improve significantly in a conference, and even more so in a "power" conference
Early on, sure, UConn will provide many wins for B1G football programs, including the lower rung programs
B1G should have a presence in New England
Sounds like multiple wins for the B1G to invite UConn
The Big 12 should look to grab UConn asap seeing all of the upside
And yet....

Yet, it seems that no one that matters believes in UConn. Thus, the predicament.

 

[Kolumbo]

Get real. If UConn wasn't able to compete in the AAC, what makes you think it would thrive in the B1G? Furthermore, why would the B1G want to establish a sports presence in a part of the country whose residents couldn't care less about college athletics?

1. Jim Mora
1A. Cash

Your second query is moot. There are certainly college football fans in the Northeast. Bring in a steady stream of Penn State, Ohio state, Michigan, USC, even nearby Rutgers, ticket sales would be through the roof. Given the close proximity to Boston and NYC and the number of B1G alumni in the Northeast, The Rent would be sold out every game.

 

[hank970]

Yet, it seems that no one that matters believes in UConn. Thus, the predicament.

1. Jim Mora
1A. Cash

Your second query is moot. There are certainly college football fans in the Northeast. Bring in a steady stream of Penn State, Ohio state, Michigan, USC, even nearby Rutgers, ticket sales would be through the roof. Given the close proximity to Boston and NYC and the number of B1G alumni in the Northeast, The Rent would be sold out every game.

Ticket sales would also be through the roof if I could somehow share a concert stage with Taylor Swift, admittedly a very unlikely prospect.

 

[Kolumbo]

No. The rent would fill mostly with UConn fans and plenty of visiting fans. I don't argue that the ACC would be a great fit, but the ACC has passed at every turn. This thread is about the B1G.
I would imagine Nebraska home games are filled by Nebraska fans while Rutgers home games have plenty of visitors. Who cares. As long as they are playing conference games with a conference paycheck.

 

[billybud]

flugaur has just reported that The B1G payout will go to $90 million plus for most members in 2026.

It sounds like a new addition would either have to be worth big media money or take a much smaller share...a methodology already in place.

 

[NH Husky]

I’d gladly take their money and the media money to reinvest in football. Our AD has shown a great ability to develop winning programs given the resources and playing against interesting competition.
The total population of CT, NY, and MA is about the same as number 2 Texas crammed into a much smaller area (easier access). Toss in the rest of NE and you’re approaching CA. Put an interesting product on the field and people will show up.

 

[Rufus]

Interesting article on the logistics of the B1G volleyball schedule.

New territory: Breaking down 2024 18-team Big Ten volleyball schedule - Volleyballmag.com

Two of the new members of the Big Ten conference go from the frying pan into the fire for their first Big Ten volleyball road trips. USC and UCLA will play their respective first league road matches at Nebraska during the last week of September to kick off the 10-week conference schedule. Those...

volleyballmag.com

 

[noeynox]

Ticket sales would also be through the roof if I could somehow share a concert stage with Taylor Swift, admittedly a very unlikely prospect.

How did UConn compete while in the Big East? That's more relevant than anything that happened in the AAC.

 

[Rufus]

Oregon shows off its new basketball court, includes B1G logo -

Court redesign at Matthew Knight Arena brings pride and history of Oregon Ducks into Big Ten era

The new design at Matthew Knight Arena is far more complex than just a basketball court.

duckswire.usatoday.com

 

[CL82]

Mostly UConn basketball.

(But also a good market, and New England presence.)

 

[hank970]

How did UConn compete while in the Big East? That's more relevant than anything that happened in the AAC.

UConn football was good enough to share in a couple of football championships in the Old Big East. That was relevant back then, but no longer. We've since made thirteen trips around the Sun. Thus, it might be more relevant nowadays to ask why Huskies' football faltered in the AAC while others in the conference prospered?

 

[noeynox]

UConn football was good enough to share in a couple of football championships in the Old Big East. That was relevant back then, but no longer. We've since made thirteen trips around the Sun. Thus, it might be more relevant nowadays to ask why Huskies' football faltered in the AAC while others in the conference prospered?

Is that really hard to understand? They got the rug pulled from right under them as they were gaining traction. Thrown into a league with a bunch of schools they had nothing in common with and losing the revenue associated with being in a BCS league.

 

[CL82]

Really? Wow, that is shocking! Thanks so very much for pointing that out!

 

[djct1999]

Mostly UConn basketball.

(But also a good market, and New England presence.)

Honest question, if UConn ever did land in The P4, how long would it take for this program to be competitive and a consistent fringe top 25 football team. I say 1 full cycle, 4 years. You?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Other than Notre Dame, neither of the Big 10 or SEC will ever let another school in as an equal member, ever. Why would they?

 

[CL82]

Honest question, if UConn ever did land in The P4, how long would it take for this program to be competitive and a consistent fringe top 25 football team. I say 1 full cycle, 4 years. You?

It all depends and how you define competitive. With the roster improvements we've seen in the off-season, we should be be able to be the worst teams of the P4 and maybe be in games against the bottom third of the P4. That's competitive.

But being a fringe top 25 team consistently? That's actually a pretty high standard. First, we have to incrementally beef up our roster. As we continue to improve will be able to stretch and get better players, which in turn will help us to continue to improve. But being a consistent top 25 team means that we have to have completed that process and sustained it for a while. Just a wild ass guess, but I would say minimally that would take four cycles, so 16 years. I'm not sure that you can be "consistently successful" just through the portal. Bringing in a team of mercenaries annually you will undoubtedly have hits and misses. Meanwhile, your developmental pieces are likely getting rated by the big boys.

Don't get me wrong, we can have a whole lot of enjoyable football in between now and then as we continue to grow, but football improvement isn't easy. Success requires too many quality pieces.

 

[Rufus]

How UCLA thrived in basketball free agency after its 'NIL grew exponentially'

After a season of harsh realities, UCLA has assembled it's first true "free agency" class under Mick Cronin. Can their new transfers revitalize the team?

www.latimes.com

 

[hank970]

Is that really hard to understand? They got the rug pulled from right under them as they were gaining traction. Thrown into a league with a bunch of schools they had nothing in common with and losing the revenue associated with being in a BCS league.

Can you acknowledge that UConn wasn't the only school to have the rug pulled from under it, and that others in the same circumstance opted to land on their feet and make the best of it rather than quitting and running? UConn made a conscious decision to leave the AAC and join the NBE, and its basketball program has obviously benefited from the move, so why the discontent?

 

[Figurehead]

Oregon shows off its new basketball court, includes B1G logo -

Court redesign at Matthew Knight Arena brings pride and history of Oregon Ducks into Big Ten era

The new design at Matthew Knight Arena is far more complex than just a basketball court.

duckswire.usatoday.com

 

[Rufus]

Big Ten expansion: Best, worst scenarios for USC, Oregon, Washington, UCLA in first season as league members

How will the four Pac-12 transplants fare in their maiden Big Ten voyage?

www.cbssports.com