Big 12 and ACC are fumbling with their expansion apprehensiveness? They will become 2nd class BBall citizens as well if they continue.

[Mora4Prez]

Not even as rage bait, but I don’t know if I’d accept an ACC invitation at this point. I think that conference is going downhill fast and the big 12 is the better bet. We’re the best free agent brand wise in college sports. The ACC has lost almost all of their bowl games and has one team ranked in the top 25 in men’s basketball. It’s definitely a great short to medium term play so maybe you take that and then jump ship to the big 12 but I think holding out might be the better move.

 

[CL82]

In actuality, the situation is if you are pro Big East, then you are pro "I wish UConn's AD was dead in ten years"

I initially read "AD" as Athletic Director. I was thinking "wow, that's a disturbing take."

 

[SU1968]

Why must FBS football be part of the equation. Have you followed anything that has happened in conference realignment?

The day that the UConn leadership drops the FBS goal is the day they should go down to FCS or drop football altogether. Big boy football is a dream without the financial backing.

 

[Kolumbo]

We feel like there should be 2 likely options, ACC and Big 12, but neither has materialized yet. Big Ten and SEC chances are miniscule. Things will change but we want/need them to change more quickly. The Big 12 would be great but that conference may keep waiting to see if and when the ACC starts to rattle loose. The AAC has Wichita State as basketball only and that hasn't worked out real well. The PAC is bringing in Gonzaga. Even the ACC has the leach known as ND as a partial member. Everyone below the P2 is going to do what they can to try to keep up.

This is 95% in jest, of course. A merger of the AAC and Big East is not something we would entertain, but if we are just spit-ballin'. Maybe an alliance of some sort. On the football side you have Army, Navy, Memphis, South Florida, East Carolina, Tulane, UTSA, North Texas who all went bowling this year I believe. In total there would be 24 basketball and 15 football affiliate members within the alliance.

 

[Husky68]

Wow, you are the anti-Tylenol medicine! According to you there are but two choices. Funny, I have heard this in a court-room where you are either innocent or guilty and yet the court may decide to drop a case - you are neither guilty or innocent. They may have a mistrial and again - oh yea free to go and they start the prosecution over or not. They may find you guilty but of a lesser charge. They may find you in contempt - I know I think this about you! - the number of likes I will guess will be those who feel the same and the number of dislikes simply don't like the tone of my post or feel I am wrong. And then there is this point about arguments -"There is your side, their side, and the truth". Guess which side you left out???

In a court of law you are never "innocent or guilty" you are "guilty or not guilty". I'd say this back and forth argument is guilty of boneyardidness in the 1st degree.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The day that the UConn leadership drops the FBS goal is the day they should go down to FCS or drop football altogether. Big boy football is a dream without the financial backing.

Does this post imply that you believe that one day Syracuse will have a major basketball program?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not even as rage bait, but I don’t know if I’d accept an ACC invitation at this point. I think that conference is going downhill fast and the big 12 is the better bet. We’re the best free agent brand wise in college sports. The ACC has lost almost all of their bowl games and has one team ranked in the top 25 in men’s basketball. It’s definitely a great short to medium term play so maybe you take that and then jump ship to the big 12 but I think holding out might be the better move.

My concern is that by the time the Big 12 or ACC gives us an invitation, there will not be much benefit to joining. If these were normal businesses, the 5th and 4th players in a consolidating market would partner up. College athletic conferences are not normal businesses.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

How about this. Go to your wife and tell her that you think Kate Upton is a better option for you than your wife. You are aware that there is no realistic path for you to have any kind of relationship with Kate Upton, but the idea sounds pretty good to you, so you are going to focus on that rather than your own marriage. Let us know how it goes.

How about this? If you and your wife have daughters who want to play major college field hockey, or swimming & diving, or gymnastics, or lacrosse, or several other sports, and want them to go to a Big East school then they’re s - out of luck. It’s a conference that by and large ignores women’s college sports. The Big East is a conference that only cares about men’s basketball and MSG. It’s a league that’s been on life support for a while now, and of the women’s programs besides basketball that the Big East does support, how many are currently ranked?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I've posted way to much about this stuff for over 20+ years, even back when the Boneyard was on Rivals. So I usually stay out of it now and I like the current BE/INDY set-up. Especially if Uconn could get a big bump up for their next TV contract for FB in 2026, with an upgraded home schedule. But what would be the pie in the sky FB TV number? ( $4-5 mil at best, it sure as hell will never be Notre Dame's. NBC TV deal).

That said with NIL and now revenue sharing coming next year, the Big East is more likely to transition to a "FCS" level basketball conference than anything Uconn controls. Just look at SEC hoop$ this year with the money they have from FB/TV....So when you have hoops guys like Fran F. pushing for Uconn to the Big 12, the best Uconn's AD can "hope" for is an ACC/ESPN vs. the Big 12 battle to steal Uconn away/ to upgrade their hoops. ( Especially with new Big East TV deal said to be around $6-7 mil per school vs. both the ACC/Big 12 near $40 mil ( inc. bowl payouts, etc. ...as always follow the money trail !)

Let's not over-react to one season. The Big East was clearly the #2 conference last year. Xavier, Creighton and Providence all had injuries this season, or the Big East is right in the mix with the Big 10 and Big 12 as the second best league this season. The Big East teams are in major cities with good fan support and have always done well with attendance, which is a sign that there is strong fan support.

The P2 may try to break away, but that means the ACC, Big 12 and Big East are all in trouble. I have trouble seeing the scenario where the P4 is saved and the Big East is not. I would like a home for the football program, but not if UConn, as a state school, has to pick up the entire tab itself like SMU did. That is not a viable solution.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

How about this? If you and your wife have daughters who want to play major college field hockey, or swimming & diving, or lacrosse, or several other sports, and want them to go to a Big East school then they’re s - out of luck. It’s a conference that by and large ignores women’s college sports. The Big East is a conference that only cares about men’s basketball and MSG. It’s a league that’s been on life support for a while now, and of the women’s programs besides basketball that the Big East does support, how many are currently ranked?

Is this your argument for the AAC?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The SEC could add USC, Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan, and it would be the P1.

I can't be the only person that has thought of this. The SEC could slit the Big 10's throat and climb out from under a lot of anti-trust risk simply by adding 4 schools.

 

[Blue Idiaco]

I think Penn State needs to be there, maybe more than Oregon. But point stands

 

[freescooter]

Everyone's brain is tired of the endless bashing by the Big East haters without taking ownership of the fact that being anti-UConn in the Big East means you are pro UConn in the AAC. Those are the two choices.

That is how YOU see the choice. I think we need to do whatever is necessary to get into the ACC or the B12. I think those are viable options. If there is a way to get into the B10, we should do that, too though I can’t see how that would happen.

I don’t think the Big East is viable as a major conference much longer. 3 bids last year. If we only get 3 this year it will be telling. Then I’m Not sure it is one now. And if you tell the truth, you think that is a real possibility too. Otherwise the idea of merging the ACC and NBE wouldn’t enter your mind.

And in fact my idea had been to merge the NBE and WCC basketball only leagues as a way to bring Gonzaga into the fold and extend the reach of the conference for media purposes with an East and West division. Now Gonzaga is out so that plan probably doesn’t make sense any longer unless someone else emerges from that league.
So tell me which of the recent mergers you have seen that were basketball onlies into football leagues. You imply they have occurred. Other than Gonzaga to the P12 I haven’t seen any.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

That is how YOU see the choice. I think we need to do whatever is necessary to get into the ACC or the B12. I think those are viable options. If there is a way to get into the B10, we should do that, too though I can’t see how that would happen.

I don’t think the Big East is viable as a major conference much longer. 3 bids last year. If we only get 3 this year it will be telling. Then I’m Not sure it is one now. And if you tell the truth, you think that is a real possibility too. Otherwise the idea of merging the ACC and NBE wouldn’t enter your mind.

And in fact my idea had been to merge the NBE and WCC basketball only leagues as a way to bring Gonzaga into the fold and extend the reach of the conference for media purposes with an East and West division. Now Gonzaga is out so that plan probably doesn’t make sense any longer unless someone else emerges from that league.
So tell me which of the recent mergers you have seen that were basketball onlies into football leagues. You imply they have occurred. Other than Gonzaga to the P12 I haven’t seen any.

Wanting something to happen is not a plan or a choice. It is pointless wishcasting. Making UConn's athletic program as strong as it can be, which includes the Big East being a strong conference, is how UConn gets invited to a better conference for our athletic program, not your endless bitching.

Do you think any of the 8 Big East football schools in 2004 would be in major conferences today if they just gave up and blamed it on the league they were in? The NBE of 2004 worked out just fine for everyone but USF and UConn. Some of the reasons it didn't work out for UConn was bad timing, some of that was bad luck. If would have been 16 of 16 teams screwed if all of those schools fans and Administrations just bitched and moaned non-stop about how unfair life was and waited around for the invitation from a bigger league to come in.

There are a lot of times that I feel like a big chunk of the UConn fanbase just reeks of quitter and victimhood, and I can't be the only one that feels this way.

 

[Ha Who]

This thread was a good one at the start. Probably time to lock it down

 

[John]

UConn has an offer from the ACC or Big 12? Really? Where has this been reported? How did you find this out? Have you been to a car wash or a basement in West Virginia?

Does UConn have an AAC offer? They must considering how often you (and only you) keep bringing it up.

 

[cellocgg]

Wanting something to happen is not a plan or a choice. It is pointless wishcasting. Making UConn's athletic program as strong as it can be, which includes the Big East being a strong conference, is how UConn gets invited to a better conference for our athletic program, not your endless bitching.

Do you think any of the 8 Big East football schools in 2004 would be in major conferences today if they just gave up and blamed it on the league they were in? The NBE of 2004 worked out just fine for everyone but USF and UConn. Some of the reasons it didn't work out for UConn was bad timing, some of that was bad luck. If would have been 16 of 16 teams screwed if all of those schools fans and Administrations just bitched and moaned non-stop about how unfair life was and waited around for the invitation from a bigger league to come in.

There are a lot of times that I feel like a big chunk of the UConn fanbase just reeks of quitter and victimhood, and I can't be the only one that feels this way.

UConn didn't "give up," we took a gamble by leaving the AAC and joining the Big East. This gamble payed off big time and we have just had some of the best years in our history with a bright future ahead of us. UConn has obviously been in talks with the B12 so the P4 want isn't "wishful thinking". I don't think our B12 bid died and lots of B12 figures on social media don't think so either

It's not wrong to admit the Big East isn't UConn's home. We aren't getting financially compensated the way we should as a large state school vs our conference peers. I think UConn is ultimately worthy of the P4 and I'm excited to see what's in store for us. These talks take time

Saying the fanbase reeks of "quitter" is crazy when you're the one calling for us to essentially sideline our Athletic Dept. future just to ride the Big East wave that is coming to a massive halt sooner than you think. If you want us to be Seton Hall/Providence/St Johns etc so bad why don't you just be fans of those teams? That is not our destiny

 

[nelsonmuntz]

UConn didn't "give up," we took a gamble by leaving the AAC and joining the Big East. This gamble payed off big time and we have just had some of the best years in our history with a bright future ahead of us. UConn has obviously been in talks with the B12 so the P4 want isn't "wishful thinking". I don't think our B12 bid died and lots of B12 figures on social media don't think so either

It's not wrong to admit the Big East isn't UConn's home. We aren't getting financially compensated the way we should as a large state school vs our conference peers. I think UConn is ultimately worthy of the P4 and I'm excited to see what's in store for us. These talks take time

Saying the fanbase reeks of "quitter" is crazy when you're the one calling for us to essentially sideline our Athletic Dept. future just to ride the Big East wave that is coming to a massive halt sooner than you think. If you want us to be Seton Hall/Providence/St Johns etc so bad why don't you just be fans of those teams? That is not our destiny

You say I want to stay in the Big East in response to a post of mine that you quoted where I explain how UConn gets out of the Big East.

 

[John]

The day that the UConn leadership drops the FBS goal is the day they should go down to FCS or drop football altogether. Big boy football is a dream without the financial backing.

You guys should think about dropping men’s basketball.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Your long term goal is to turn UConn into Seton Hall North. We heard you the first time.

UConn will win in acc and big 12 if they go.

Football, also, wont Finish in last place. It just wont.

Mora has a team to 9 wins in his third year with no conference. He seems to like it here, isn't hung up on football nostalgia and committmenr/portal and knows how to build a roster year over year as an nfl coach.

I think great recruiters of high school kids will be emphasized and development and preparing your players for future success (nfl or portal) is the goal.

P2 young players in portal.

Mora pitch:

I think you can be a starter and a difference maker here next August. You come here, play well
,I will tell you to go into the portal next year.

We will fight like hell to keep you, but if you go into the portal that means we have had success.

I will never try and stop you. Just give you advice and honest feedback.

 

[JohnFSilver]

You guys should think about dropping men’s basketball.

Lol. When UConn and Syracuse were on even football playing field what happened?

 

[cellocgg]

You say I want to stay in the Big East in response to a post of mine that you quoted where I explain how UConn gets out of the Big East.

So you want to get out of the Big East by staying in the Big East?

 

[Blades]

Let's not over-react to one season.
The P2 may try to break away, but that means the ACC, Big 12 and Big East( is) in trouble.... I have trouble seeing the scenario where the P4 is saved and the Big East is not.

No future seasons are what I'm talkin' about and where the pro model of college sports is going...#facts. $$$... And I like the BE too, just don't see it being able to keep up in any way with the P-4, who will literally be buying players/talent the BE can't.

That said with NIL and now revenue sharing coming next year, ( new Big East TV deal around $6-7 mil per school vs. both the ACC/Big 12 near $40 mil ( inc. bowl payouts, etc. ...as always follow the money trail !)

 

[cellocgg]

Your long term goal is to turn UConn into Seton Hall North. We heard you the first time.

These are the kinds of programs the Big East diehards apparently want us to be associated with. Maybe we'll be able to afford our own social media intern!

 

[UConnDan97]

This thread is off the rails.

The future of any athletic department is primarily dictated through their football program. We can like it or we can hate it, but we have to accept it. UConn football isn't going away. In fact, in Dave Benedict's own words, it's time to "double down".

The Big East is a short-term home. We know it. They know it. Schools like Georgetown and Villanova will never invest in big time football (one could argue they are struggling to invest in basketball too).

The very moment that either the Big12 or ACC realize the immense value we bring, we're gone...