BE Presidents: Hold your horses!

[upstater]

The time frame I am talking about is very small. Correct my memory if I am wrong, but I believe the announcement of Maryland and Rutgers happened about Nov 20, and the announcement of Louisville to the ACC, about Nov 28. Aside from second hand quotes and speculation, I do not recall any evidence of an "internal fight" during this specific time frame, concerning UConn. I do not question your description about Tobacco Road and UConn prior to Nov 20 and a few days after. In fact, you are supporting my thesis in that UConn was the prime target after Nov 20.

The FSU comments came last summer. The UNC comments came the day after. And no, UConn wasn't the prime target of the conference, just of Tobacco Road. My point is that UConn was by no means off limits because of APR issues.

In fact, Louisville also is on probation because of APR issues on football.

 

[housekeys]

The FSU comments came last summer. The UNC comments came the day after. And no, UConn wasn't the prime target of the conference, just of Tobacco Road. My point is that UConn was by no means off limits because of APR issues.

In fact, Louisville also is on probation because of APR issues on football.

Not what I am saying.

I am guessing that UConn was off limits to the ACC because it was already chosen by the B1G (but for some reason the announcement is pending - perhaps because of APR or something else). Without a public announcement the ACC did not know this until they approached UConn. Maybe not the prime target, but they were definitely the front runner, in the beginning, at least.

Look at what I am saying. I don't know about you, but if I was Warde or Susan and knew UConn was heading to the B1G, in due time, I too would be in the Virgin Is. enjoying the sun. I would also be using the word "be patient" often.

The whole APR issue being the reason for the delay is definitely a stretch. But it is just too obvious not to consider it as a reason.

 

[hthusky74]

Not what I am saying.

I am guessing that UConn was off limits to the ACC because it was already chosen by the B1G (but for some reason the announcement is pending - perhaps because of APR or something else). Without a public announcement the ACC did not know this until they approached UConn. Maybe not the prime target, but they were definitely the front runner, in the beginning, at least.

Look at what I am saying. I don't know about you, but if I was Warde or Susan and knew UConn was heading to the B1G, in due time, I too would be in the Virgin Is. enjoying the sun. I would also be using the word "be patient" often.

The whole APR issue being the reason for the delay is definitely a stretch. But it is just too obvious not to consider it as a reason.

And do you really think that they would be able to keep that a secret this long?

 

[hthusky74]

I spoke to a UConn Asst. AD before the Georgetown game. I asked him a question that I knew wouldn't be answered definitively even if there was a definitive answer. I asked what's the status on us getting into a better conference. He said be patient, there are a lot of changes yet to come, and that we would end up in a good place. Does that mean he knows something or is it just wishful thinking? Of course, that is what about 90% of the threads on this site are debating.

 

[housekeys]

And do you really think that they would be able to keep that a secret this long?

No. And that is perhaps the number one reason why this may all be garbage.

But remember when it comes to CR, there were a lot of surprises that came out of nowhere. Mixed with speculation and what people want to hear, anything can happen. But, no, it would be very difficult to keep a secret, I agree.

 

[Limbo Land]

In a five sentence statement Herbst uses the word patience twice. It seems every time she has referenced our conference situation since Lousiville was picked by the ACC she has used the word patience.
She is asking us to be patient. My guess, or my hope, is that she knows there is someplace better for us.

I am slowly coming to think along the same lines. Either everything the university has been doing has been one big coincidence or they are planning to make a move somewhere. I know that we have been screwed by the ACC time and time again and our leaders have screwed us (Blumenthal) but we really need to look at the last 6 months..
1. Move to Hockey East
2. Finally getting funding for Basketball complex
3. Movement on Hartford Civic Center (XL Center whatever it was a mall)
4. Huge investment on professors
5. AAU push
6. State aid raining in as we are in fiscalhole
7. Major research and technology park planned
8. We don't' look like yahoos anymore begging people to take us like Cincy

The continued call for patience in a desperate situation has to mean we are either still working behind the scenes or something has been decided. I think things are looking up and until mens basketball is out of tournament ban time nothing is being announced.

 

[Point6]

I am slowly coming to think along the same lines. Either everything the university has been doing has been one big coincidence or they are planning to make a move somewhere. I know that we have been screwed by the ACC time and time again and our leaders have screwed us (Blumenthal) but we really need to look at the last 6 months..
1. Move to Hockey East
2. Finally getting funding for Basketball complex
3. Movement on Hartford Civic Center (XL Center whatever it was a mall)
4. Huge investment on professors
5. AAU push
6. State aid raining in as we are in fiscalhole
7. Major research and technology park planned
8. We don't' look like yahoos anymore begging people to take us like Cincy

The continued call for patience in a desperate situation has to mean we are either still working behind the scenes or something has been decided. I think things are looking up and until mens basketball is out of tournament ban time nothing is being announced.

If we are already in the B1G, maybe President Herbst could let us boneyarders know in code by using the phrase "all we need is just a little patience" in her next e-mail blast on the subject? This, or any other phrase from a Guns and Roses lyric, and we will get the message.

 

[d1reality]

I spoke to a UConn Asst. AD before the Georgetown game. I asked him a question that I knew wouldn't be answered definitively even if there was a definitive answer. I asked what's the status on us getting into a better conference. He said be patient, there are a lot of changes yet to come, and that we would end up in a good place. Does that mean he knows something or is it just wishful thinking? Of course, that is what about 90% of the threads on this site are debating.

A good place right now is a relative term. With desperation for a Big 10 or ACC invite looking bleaker every day, and schools backing out on their Big East commitments and others splitting to form their own league - any place could be considered better. Conference USA or MAC may be about right if things keep trending.

 

[housekeys]

I spoke to a UConn Asst. AD before the Georgetown game. I asked him a question that I knew wouldn't be answered definitively even if there was a definitive answer. I asked what's the status on us getting into a better conference. He said be patient, there are a lot of changes yet to come, and that we would end up in a good place. Does that mean he knows something or is it just wishful thinking? Of course, that is what about 90% of the threads on this site are debating.

This train of thinking raises an interesting hypothetical question.

Make believe we are in the time-frame of the ACC choosing Syracuse and Pitt. UConn just got blind sided. Say that Delany comes along and says, "UConn sit tight, we have a spot reserved for you, but __(fill in the conditions or reasons__) ". What would you do? What would you do if, later on, the ACC comes along courting you? What would Susan do in both situations?

Do you commit to a B1G promise or do you ask/demand something more legal/written? Do you then turn around and shop yourself to the ACC?

I especially would like the opinion from 'yarders with legal insight or whose job revolves around contracts and deal making (- mafia deals, cartels... )

Personally, I would accept it in a heartbeat, with few questions asked. Remember to put yourself in that time-frame, not now, because knowing what we know now, the answer is obvious.

 

[junglehusky]

I think nothing is certain, except for the fact that if UConn fans stop buying tickets and support for bball / football starts heading south, that will reduce the chances of getting in a major conference, regardless of what that unknown chance currently is. Hence the need to "sell" Houston, UCF etc as viable conference mates. UConn fans can say this conference is a worse fit for us than the OBE / NBE and they'd be telling the truth, but Herbst and Manuel have to pretend it's not in order to prevent the fanbase from dropping off, since nobody except Jim Delany knows when the next CR moves will happen and until then we're going to have to sell those tickets.

 

[housekeys]

I think nothing is certain, except for the fact that if UConn fans stop buying tickets and support for bball / football starts heading south, that will reduce the chances of getting in a major conference, regardless of what that unknown chance currently is. Hence the need to "sell" Houston, UCF etc as viable conference mates. UConn fans can say this conference is a worse fit for us than the OBE / NBE and they'd be telling the truth, but Herbst and Manuel have to pretend it's not in order to prevent the fanbase from dropping off, since nobody except Jim Delany knows when the next CR moves will happen and until then we're going to have to sell those tickets.

I agree with this. We need to act like (and should be) the perfect conference mate. We have to be enthusiastic and fill the seats and support the school, which is exactly what Susan is asking. Ultimately a good product can not be ignored for long. We need to maintain the good product we have.

 

[housekeys]

If we are already in the B1G, maybe President Herbst could let us boneyarders know in code by using the phrase "all we need is just a little patience" in her next e-mail blast on the subject? This, or any other phrase from a Guns and Roses lyric, and we will get the message.

Do you have any of her messages in audio? Maybe we can play it backwards and the secret will come out???

 

[Chief00]

NO offense but I stated before anyone that Andre Would be at UConn.

UConnBill you did say that first - that Andre would go to UConn. What I was taking credit for was saying in August 2011 that he was going to UConn in September of 2011. At the time it was assumed if he did go to UConn it would be in 2012/2013.
Last year was so unstable for all the reasons already mentioned I wish he had waited another year - but would he come here with no post season?

 

[Chief00]

You don't get to tout things like "I predicted they would in all NCAA tournament games." So did almost every Husky fan.
You don't get to tout things like "I predicted Kevin Ollie would be a good coach." Huh? That means you have inside information?
Nobody debated that Clyde Vaughan was a good big man coach. It borders on Ahab-like insanity to suggest we could and should have kept someone on the public's payroll who was arrested for soliciting a prostitute. As if that wouldn't have been easily used against us in recruiting on top of all the other issues.
They were not punished severely for Nate Miles, which is what you had suggested would happen. You were proven wrong, and then, after that suggested that the APR BS was somehow related, and that it validated you're point of view.
You overesteemed Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and borderline committed libel against Dyson.

Also, going around and calling the president of the university Suzy is offensive (no offense to suzyq, who obviously goes by that). It suggests you are somehow superior to her in ways that more than a little suggestive of sexism....coupled with you criticizing her of speaking up against men. Doesn't make you look good, chief, not at all.

I said the combination APR and Recruiting/Miles sanctions would be severe - it was.
I will call Susan Susan. And her conference realignment record speaks for itself.
Truth is a defense from Libel.

 

[tzznandrew]

I said the combination APR and Recruiting/Miles sanctions would be severe - it was.
I will call Susan Susan. And her conference realignment record speaks for itself.
Truth is a defense from Libel.

The first thing you said is not true: you said that Recruiting/Miles would be a problem. That wasn't true. APR is not related, and you argued, after the fact, that they were.

I think Herbst has been very good thus far. I'm not sure her immediate reaction to Syracuse and Pitt leaving was best, but I think she's handled herself fine since.

The best defense from libel is saying things which can't be proven wrong, in your case.

Honestly, I've read many on the court things you've posted before and thought they were interesting. You "behind-the-scenes" bits...

 

[The Funster]

From the ashes there are a lot of good things that are (may be) emerging. We have a new FB facility. We are breaking ground on a new BB facility. UConn FB players are getting attention. UConn may start to become a sympathetic figure in the CR picture. I don't think there is any question that UConn will wind up in a good spot, most likely in the (reconstituted) ACC. While I still dream of the B1G, the ACC would give us the chance to play against a lot of our rivals.

 

[hthusky74]

Do you have any of her messages in audio? Maybe we can play it backwards and the secret will come out???

I already did. It says "Paul is a dead man" Is she referring to our football coach? lol

 

[Nostical]

We need to act like the perfect conference mate. We have to be enthusiastic and fill the seats and support the school

This is the only thing we as fans can control. So far, we've not done too well. Consider the following:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/98496197/Kickoff v NC St.png

This is the TV image of what viewers saw at the kickoff of last year's home game vs NC St. It's what all those viewers tuning in from North Carolina and the ACC saw. Don't for a minute think images like this don't create bad impressions and make it easier for those who don't favor our interests to label our program (fairly or unfairly) in a negative way. Would the image look any different if we had a winning and more exciting team? Sure, ultimately, but what needs changing has to happen despite our record. This is like a job interview. We're interviewing for the B1G or ACC and at the beginning of our games when the folks tune in, it looks like we came to that interview with unpolished shoes and our tie askew. Not a great impression.

Look at these 10 sec videos of the Rent vs NC St. and then of NC St a few weeks later vs Va Tech, both at the end of their respective pregames. Keep your eye on the stands. Notice anything different? This is about demonstrating our passion as fans. While we on the Boneyard certainly do our part, we're not doing our all. If you're not in your seat by kickoff, you're part of the problem.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/987504
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/987488

 

[housekeys]

This is the only thing we as fans can control. So far, we've not done too well. Consider the following:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/98496197/Kickoff v NC St.png

This is the TV image of what viewers saw at the kickoff of last year's home game vs NC St. It's what all those viewers tuning in from North Carolina and the ACC saw. Don't for a minute think images like this don't create bad impressions and make it easier for those who don't favor our interests to label our program (fairly or unfairly) in a negative way. Would the image look any different if we had a winning and more exciting team? Sure, ultimately, but what needs changing has to happen despite our record. This is like a job interview. We're interviewing for the B1G or ACC and at the beginning of our games when the folks tune in, it looks like we came to that interview with unpolished shoes and our tie askew. Not a great impression.

Look at these 10 sec videos of the Rent vs NC St. and then of NC St a few weeks later vs Va Tech, both at the end of their respective pregames. Keep your eye on the stands. Notice anything different? This is about demonstrating our passion as fans. While we on the Boneyard certainly do our part, we're not doing our all. If you're not in your seat by kickoff, you're part of the problem.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/987504
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/987488

Ouch. The UConn athletic department needs to see these. Very telling and I think most of us are aware of this. Apathy and complacency are huge problems. Given our dire situation within CR and our coaching transition, it should not be a big surprize. Under no circumstance, however, should UConn and the fans, accept this. One side of me wants to give excuses, like we are not the only ones, the economy, blah, blah.. Probably true, but as fans of the the school, we should not accept it. Certainly the athletic department should not. No doubt we need to reinvigorate the fan base. Incentives, marketing, whatever. We clearly have work to do. We need to stay hungry. Hope the school is on top of this and doing something about it. Some good news on the CR front wouldn't hurt. Ultimately, to sustain it, we must keep on winning.

 

[UConnNick]

The time frame I am talking about is very small. Correct my memory if I am wrong, but I believe the announcement of Maryland and Rutgers happened about Nov 20, and the announcement of Louisville to the ACC, about Nov 28. Aside from second hand quotes and speculation, I do not recall any evidence of an "internal fight" during this specific time frame, concerning UConn. I do not question your description about Tobacco Road and UConn prior to Nov 20 and a few days after. In fact, you are supporting my thesis in that UConn was the prime target after Nov 20. But what I am implying is that after the first couple of days of courting UConn, the ACC was told by us we are heading to the B1G, in due time (not sure why the delay). This last statement of mine is a guess and just a theory. If it is true, that would explain practically all the bizarre events that follow up to this point, including the sudden (as I remember it) change in the ACC decision making process, that basically focused only on Louisville. The cold shoulder treatment from the BE commissioner and the C7. Nothing that was published was directly from the ACC. It was just speculation about the internal disagreement on UConn. These articles made sense at the time because there was no other way to explain that UConn was no longer on the table.

I do not want to give false hope to anyone, but just trying to make sense out of it. This is the only way, as a UConn fan, that things can be explained. I am trying to replay the timeline and view articles ( the majority of which were just speculation, mind you) that either support or dismiss what I am saying. My greatest hope is based on this one fact: I know that UConn is not a worthless commodity.

While I'm sure UCONN fans would wholeheartedly welcome your theory, its pretty far fetched. First, it would imply that UCONN and the Big 10 have some sort of secret agreement allowing UCONN in at a later date. I also am fairly well convinced that any Big 10 agreement to admit UCONN will be conditional on expanding Rentschler to 55-60,000, which requires the Conn. state legislature and taxpayer money to become involved. For all of that to happen, you can't conduct business in secret as a governmental entity without violating a whole bunch of FOI laws.

I think BS College, Florida State and Clemson torpedoed UCONN's ACC membership because the ACC was wet pants scared that the latter two were about to bolt to the SEC. Pronoucements from Herbst and Manuel that we should practically embrace our new conference brethren, if they know something completely different, would border on the kind of duplicity that BS College was guilty of the first time around in 2003.

 

[housekeys]

While I'm sure UCONN fans would wholeheartedly welcome your theory, its pretty far fetched. First, it would imply that UCONN and the Big 10 have some sort of secret agreement allowing UCONN in at a later date. I also am fairly well convinced that any Big 10 agreement to admit UCONN will be conditional on expanding Rentschler to 55-60,000, which requires the Conn. state legislature and taxpayer money to become involved. For all of that to happen, you can't conduct business in secret as a governmental entity without violating a whole bunch of FOI laws.

I think BS College, Florida State and Clemson torpedoed UCONN's ACC membership because the ACC was wet pants scared that the latter two were about to bolt to the SEC. Pronoucements from Herbst and Manuel that we should practically embrace our new conference brethren, if they know something completely different, would border on the kind of duplicity that BS College was guilty of the first time around in 2003.

I appreciate your opinion and I agree, it sure is far fetched. So was the invite to Rutgers, until it happened. I know I linked to message board banter but still. If you want more reputable speculation, google JC just a few weeks back. But you do make good points, however. I just can't imagine getting a B1G invite with a 40,000 Rent. What can I tell you?

As for some secret agreement, this is a miss-characterization. It could be something as simple as a handshake and nothing else. Why would this be illegal? I hear the word "collegiality" a lot; this may be all it is. There is some anecdotal evidence to indicate something is up. Google Delany's comments around Dec 6 2012. But no one should expect Herbst/Manual, or anyone in the know, to publicly focus on anything but the NBE, whether an invite is forthcoming or not.

Your theory on BCU, FSU and Clemson is as good as mine, except that it does not explain the BE cold shoulder treatment of UConn. Sure UConn has made it known it wants out, and that may warrant some BE frowns , but not publicly. The BE administration has had no problem ignoring us at every opportunity and in public. Reality is reality and you can't speculate unless you stretch some of what is happening. That is definitely what I am doing.