Big 12 Pausing Expansion

[Scrutineer]

Dave Benedict just sent an email advising the Big 12 is pausing expansion.

Dear UConn Nation, As you know, it’s been both an exciting and turbulent time in college athletics over the past few years. With the emergence of NIL and the transfer portal, the landscape has changed dramatically. Further, conference realignment has significantly blurred the national panorama. Undoubtedly, many of you have followed recent media reports about the Big 12’s renewed interest in UConn as a conference member. It is always our objective to put UConn in the very best position for future success, so we did engage in exploratory dialogue with the Big 12. Ultimately, the Big 12 determined that it will pause on conversations about membership expansion. I encourage all who care deeply about the Huskies to pause and reflect. Certainly, it is flattering to be courted; it says a lot about UConn and what others think of us. Further, we have enjoyed tremendous success since our return to the BIG EAST in 2020, which has included 36 conference championships (across all conferences in which we are affiliated) and, of course, our back-to-back NCAA men’s basketball titles. No matter our conference home, our mission has been, and will always be, to provide an exceptional academic and athletic experience to the outstanding young men and women who proudly wear the UConn uniform. It is our North Star, and we must never forget the shining principle which guides our everyday work. Let’s celebrate who we are and be proud of our greatness. We will push forward, stay grounded in what drives us, and demonstrate our ability to be highly successful in every one of our 21 varsity sports. We will stay focused on achievement in everything we do. And we will continue to position UConn as one of the nation’s premier brands. Your ongoing support, both emotionally and financially, remains critical to ensuring a bright future and maintaining the championship tradition which defines UConn Athletics. Thank you for your dedication to our nearly 600 student-athletes. Go Huskies! Sincerely,

David Benedict Director of Athletics

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Least shocking news, this is what the 3rd or 4th iteration that people thought we were going to the big 12?

 

[HU5KIES]

 

[kansashusky]

oof

 

[Travelman6]

Because of course.

So who goes instead of UConn? Memphis? USF? Tulane? Cuse or Pitt once fsu and Clemson leave the acc?

 

[LIuconn]

lol

 

[UCTitleTown]

Losing 50-7 against a middle of the pack Big10 team can do that.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Because of course.

So who goes instead of UConn? Memphis? USF? Tulane? Cuse or Pitt once fsu and Clemson leave the acc?

BC

 

[Get a Job]

Can someone smarter and more tuned-in than me tell me what Benedict was trying to do with that letter? On its face, it says absolutely nothing, so the interesting angle of it must lie in between the lines.

 

[SubbaBub]

Can someone smarter and more tuned-in than me tell me what Benedict was trying to do with that letter? On its face, it says absolutely nothing, so the interesting angle of it must lie in between the lines.

Reset expectations and quell endless B12 speculation. Nothing major is happening until 2026 when the ACC GOR expires and all hell breaks loose.

 

[NJHusky]

 

[Yardigan]

Can someone smarter and more tuned-in than me tell me what Benedict was trying to do with that letter? On its face, it says absolutely nothing, so the interesting angle of it must lie in between the lines.

It's always in the next to last paragraph: In order to keep championing, you need to double up on both your emotional and financial support

 

[upstater]

3x the B12 has killed the idea of adding UConn. Truly amazing.

 

[uh-no]

Can someone smarter and more tuned-in than me tell me what Benedict was trying to do with that letter? On its face, it says absolutely nothing, so the interesting angle of it must lie in between the lines.

quell boosters who were either militantly for or against joining the big 12.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Terrible day

 

[6in25]

I hear the PAC-12 has a little room

 

[Yardigan]

I hear the PAC-12 has a little room

too soon?

 

[StllH8L8ner]

quell boosters who were either militantly for or against joining the big 12.

Well hopefully those against have deeeep pockets because as much as I like the Big East, running an athletic department in the deep red year after year will catch up to us at some point.

 

[Friarsnoop]

As much as someone will complain about me saying it, this is for the best. The money requirements for UConn to be competitive in the Big 12 is far more than you'll get. The success you've had since returning home should tell you it's the best fit.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Didn’t really make sense for the Big 12 to add us right now.

May as well wait until the ACC and add us in with a group there if possible. We could also try and see if the ACC would accept us at the slight chance they stay together.

If they don’t hope over to the Big 12 anyways

 

[superjohn]

Dave Benedict just sent an email advising the Big 12 is pausing expansion.

Dear UConn Nation, As you know, it’s been both an exciting and turbulent time in college athletics over the past few years. With the emergence of NIL and the transfer portal, the landscape has changed dramatically. Further, conference realignment has significantly blurred the national panorama. Undoubtedly, many of you have followed recent media reports about the Big 12’s renewed interest in UConn as a conference member. It is always our objective to put UConn in the very best position for future success, so we did engage in exploratory dialogue with the Big 12. Ultimately, the Big 12 determined that it will pause on conversations about membership expansion. I encourage all who care deeply about the Huskies to pause and reflect. Certainly, it is flattering to be courted; it says a lot about UConn and what others think of us. Further, we have enjoyed tremendous success since our return to the BIG EAST in 2020, which has included 36 conference championships (across all conferences in which we are affiliated) and, of course, our back-to-back NCAA men’s basketball titles. No matter our conference home, our mission has been, and will always be, to provide an exceptional academic and athletic experience to the outstanding young men and women who proudly wear the UConn uniform. It is our North Star, and we must never forget the shining principle which guides our everyday work. Let’s celebrate who we are and be proud of our greatness. We will push forward, stay grounded in what drives us, and demonstrate our ability to be highly successful in every one of our 21 varsity sports. We will stay focused on achievement in everything we do. And we will continue to position UConn as one of the nation’s premier brands. Your ongoing support, both emotionally and financially, remains critical to ensuring a bright future and maintaining the championship tradition which defines UConn Athletics. Thank you for your dedication to our nearly 600 student-athletes. Go Huskies! Sincerely,

David Benedict Director of Athletics

We're going to have to make a decision on keeping football or getting rid of it completely. There's no light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[superjohn]

Didn’t really make sense for the Big 12 to add us right now.

May as well wait until the ACC and add us in with a group there if possible. We could also try and see if the ACC would accept us at the slight chance they stay together.

If they don’t hope over to the Big 12 anyways

Neither of them want us. We're never going to be positioned better than we are right now and the presidents still don't want us. I don't really see that changing.

 

[nomar]

Losing 50-7 against a middle of the pack Big10 team can do that.

We could have beat them 50-7 and the news today would be exactly the same

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Losing 50-7 against a middle of the pack Big10 team can do that.

I hope the sun comes up tomorrow.

 

[uconngb]

I hope the sun comes up tomorrow.

Have faith Annie

The sun will come up.......tomorrow

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Have faith Annie

The sun will come up.......tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar…something something something somethinnnnnnng…

I don’t think Saturday’s over the knee spanking swayed anyone but it certainly gave the B12 member naysayers something to say “see…this is what we’re talking about”.

Need to bounce back in a big way the next few games.

 

[GemParty]

What if we took the money spent on football and used it all for basketball moving forward.

Kidding. Not kidding.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

What exactly is the point of remaining independent in Football? Can we at least place the Team in a conference for now?

 

[superjohn]

What if we took the money spent on football and used it all for basketball moving forward.

Kidding. Not kidding.

Cutting football completely and the corresponding women's Title IX scholarships has to be something that's seriously talked about. Waiting around for years hoping the Big 12 takes us or until the ACC breaks up and hoping we get a life raft with the other undesirables isn't a plan.

It would free up a tremendous amount of money for basketball.

 

[shizzle787]

What exactly is the point of remaining independent in Football? Can we at least place the Team in a conference for now?

No. Need to stay independent just as Oregon State and Washington State are doing. Need to schedule them going forward home and home in football.