Big East, C7, AAC, NBE Split/Restructuring Re-Visited (Yada, yada, yada...)

[AZHuskiePop]

Oh, for Pete’s sake, there was no conference left for them to leave. All that was left was us, Cincy, and UCF with Louisville on its way out the door

To answer both questions C7 goal was to destroy the old Big East . Divide the the substantial money in the treasury than reform with their new. Strictly basketball and their Fox contract
Leaving schools like UConn , Cinncy, and USF homeless. . We weren’t invited for two reasons we had a viable football program and we were a public.
A clause in the contract stipulated that a minimum of three schools could reject dissolution.
UConn probably would have been in Conference USA had their plan worked
If they stayed and guided the president they hired away from his grandiose plans
You could have still had the old Big East
which could have includec
The 10 teams of the old league
Plus
Temple
UCF
Memphis
Navy
Army
Houston
SMU
That’s as good a BB conference then they have and a nice little FB conference

 

[dayooper]

Yes, they split the old league into two. The real issue is how they did it because the simplest way would have been to dissolve the old league if all they wanted to do was leave and end it. They had the votes to do that. So, why didn’t they?

First of all, why is this still going on? What does it matter if the C7 left the league or not? It has no bearing on anything anymore.

With that being said (I can’t believe I’m engaging in this), unless you were privy to the negotiations that took place between the schools, then we really don’t have a clue why or why not the C7 didn’t dissolve the conference. Since there are those that are playing the connect the dots game, here are a handful of reasons why the C7 just didn’t dissolve the league:

1. They wanted leave the football schools on amicable terms.

2. They wanted the Big East name and knew they might have a legal battle to use the name if they were dissolve the league and still use the name. By leaving amicably, they were able to negotiate the rights to The Big East name.

3. They didn’t want to leave the other schools in a bind.

4. They wanted rights to the league history and records. By leaving amicably, they avoided a legal battle over that name.

5. There are tournament credits and media rights to think of. By negotiating a leave, they were able to avoid a big legal fight for those monies.

6. Maybe they just got their kicks on a Saturday night not dissolving their league and finding the best solution for everyone.

The people running these schools are smart and understand how the business of college sports works. By just dissolving the league, they would have been locked up in very long and expensive legal battles that wouldn’t look good from the outside.

Edit - The post above says that 3 schools could stop the dissolution of the conference. If true, then they had no choice to negotiate.

 

[Billy Jack]

To answer both questions C7 goal was to destroy the old Big East . Divide the the substantial money in the treasury than reform with their new. Strictly basketball and their Fox contract
Leaving schools like UConn , Cinncy, and USF homeless. . We weren’t invited for two reasons we had a viable football program and we were a public.
A clause in the contract stipulated that a minimum of three schools could reject dissolution.
UConn probably would have been in Conference USA had their plan worked
If they stayed and guided the president they hired away from his grandiose plans
You could have still had the old Big East
which could have includec
The 10 teams of the old league
Plus
Temple
UCF
Memphis
Navy
Army
Houston
SMU
That’s as good a BB conference then they have and a nice little FB conference

Where did you come up with this crazy idea?

By the time that the C7 left, the Big East had already accepted:

Houston
SMU
UCF
Temple
Navy
Memphis
Tulane

No one was being left on an homeless. The C7 became increasingly uncomfortable with the direction that basketball was taking. Tulane was the last straw.

 

[Billy Jack]

There was no provision for 3 members to stop dissolution. That claim did not exist in the by-laws.

 

[Zissou]

Tulane was the last straw.

This is a fact. When the football teams had to reach to Tulane to fill out the schedule, it was just too far of a reach for the C7.

 

[pepband99]

This is a fact. When the football teams had to reach to Tulane to fill out the schedule, it was just too far of a reach for the C7.

Cool - can we stop talking about this now?

 

[Zissou]

To answer both questions C7 goal was to destroy the old Big East . Divide the the substantial money in the treasury than reform with their new. Strictly basketball and their Fox contract
Leaving schools like UConn , Cinncy, and USF homeless. . We weren’t invited for two reasons we had a viable football program and we were a public.

This one is off base. By all accounts, the split was amicable. UConn could have went with the Big East and sought a new home for football. Choosing to go with the AAC was not a bad decision. It kept cash and gave the AAC a chance to negotiate a great contract. It didn’t work out. UConn got the cash, and eventually went back to the Big East, so not bad in the end.

 

[Hoophound]

This one is off base. By all accounts, the split was amicable. UConn could have went with the Big East and sought a new home for football. Choosing to go with the AAC was not a bad decision. It kept cash and gave the AAC a chance to negotiate a great contract. It didn’t work out. UConn got the cash, and eventually went back to the Big East, so not bad in the end.

I know the money was the motivator, but I wish we never participated in the American and went independent in football. I hated the American. It took away my joy for several years that I can’t get back.

 

[Ha Who]

Cool - can we stop talking about this now?

At least it is not in key tweets thread

 

[HitDog]

I know the money was the motivator, but I wish we never participated in the American and went independent in football. I hated the American. It took away my joy for several years that I can’t get back.

Was it the American or we were just mediocre in basketball and couldn’t compete in football?

 

[CL82]

UConn could have went with the Big East and sought a new home for football.

My understanding from the time was that the Big East was not interested in any school committed to playing football at the highest level.

 

[Hoophound]

Was it the American or we were just mediocre in basketball and couldn’t compete in football?

Yes to all of it. I was embarrassed to be in the same league with ECU etc. I felt insecure and anxious about it. Seeing UConn playing basketball against ECU or Tulane in an empty building on ESPNU was just too much for me. Even our football team didn't deserve that ish. Vanderbilt gets to play name opponents and they are just about as bad as us. The UConn brand always deserved better.

 

[Zissou]

My understanding from the time was that the Big East was not interested in any school committed to playing football at the highest level.

The split was amicable and executed to the terms of the existing agreement.

I think the C7 would have welcomed UConn, but it was a moot point in that UConn wasn’t interested. It was prioritizing the cash and the football alignment, with the hopes that a new AAC TV contract would pay.

If UConn would have wanted to align with the C7 from the start, it would have happened.

 

[CL82]

The split was amicable and executed to the terms of the existing agreement.

I think the C7 would have welcomed UConn, but it was a moot point in that UConn wasn’t interested. It was prioritizing the cash and the football alignment, with the hopes that a new AAC TV contract would pay.

If UConn would have wanted to align with the C7 from the start, it would have happened.

Agree to disagree on this. At the time the C7 left the Big East are they were looking to get out of the split interest between the football schools in the non-football schools. I think Connecticut would’ve been welcomed because of its basketball Pedegree, but again, my recollection was only if they downgraded football, which wasn’t happening.

 

[TJT]

The old and new Big East primarily took its new members from the Eastern-8/A-10

OLD BE
Villanova
Pittsburgh
West Vriginia
Rutgers
Va Tech
[was slated to take Temple just before dissolving]

New BE
Xavier
Butler

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Agree to disagree on this. At the time the C7 left the Big East are they were looking to get out of the split interest between the football schools in the non-football schools. I think Connecticut would’ve been welcomed because of its basketball Pedegree, but again, my recollection was only if they downgraded football, which wasn’t happening.

I don’t think we were even considered for inclusion initially
for a variety of reason
Foremost we had a FSB football team and their goal was to divorce from that sport.
We we’re public , a fact the privates though gave us an unfair resource advantage a chronic complaint when we became the dominate team.
Third when they announced they were leaving it was pretty much assumed we were next up for selection to a P5 conference.
Every time UConn was rumored to be considered social media was alive with C7 fans calling us traders for leaving. The silence was deafening when they left.
I know UConn had previously attempted to keep the conference together but by late 2012 we would have been gone if we could.
Everyone was looking out for themselves , there are no hero’s in the story. I wish they stayed I truly believe it could have been successful. I also wish they hired a commissioner who had less grandiose football ambitions and more respect for basketball.
But it is what it is , UConn is what it always was simply a BB school and it’s premier sport resides in the best BB only conference in the US. Only two football playing schools of the old Big East are not in P5 conferences and we’re one of them That’s an honor I could have done without.
whether we can sustain our ambitious athletic program with a BB contract only epecially given our huge
shortfalls we’re having ,remains to be seen.

 

[Zissou]

It’s mostly about money, of course.

The split between FBS and non-FBS was less ideological and more monetary.

The C-7 were not happy with the distribution of funds. They proved their value position after the split (they would have had much smaller media distributions I’d they stayed in what became the AAC).

The conference chasing the diluted football path became both against the mission and against financial logic for the C-7 schools. UConn playing out the AAC potential was logical financially, and they realigned when the AAC finances played out with less value than all had hoped.

If a reconfigured ACC offered both UConn and Nova $30M a year to join, they both might take that leap. It wouldn’t be my choice as a fan, but the cash…

 

[CL82]

It’s mostly about money, of course.

The split between FBS and non-FBS was less ideological and more monetary.

The C-7 were not happy with the distribution of funds. They proved their value position after the split (they would have had much smaller media distributions I’d they stayed in what became the AAC).

The conference chasing the diluted football path became both against the mission and against financial logic for the C-7 schools. UConn playing out the AAC potential was logical financially, and they realigned when the AAC finances played out with less value than all had hoped.

If a reconfigured ACC offered both UConn and Nova $30M a year to join, they both might take that leap. It wouldn’t be my choice as a fan, but the cash…

A lot of circular reasoning here (i.e. the C7 share of what was the eventual AAC deal would have been lower than the eventual biggest deal, but, the AAC deal didn’t include the C7 teams, which lowers the basketball value of the eventual contract). Likewise, the AAC became more expensive for Connecticut to be a part of because all the C7 regional teams left.

I don’t see any scenario in which Villanova is ever attractive to the ACC. Connecticut maybe, as backfill if the conference is raided.

 

[Zissou]

I don’t see any scenario in which Villanova is ever attractive to the ACC. Connecticut maybe, as backfill if the conference is raided.

I don’t think so either, I’m just saying there isn’t a moral high-ground here, it’s cash. If it was put on a platter either school would likely take the cash.

 

[Kolumbo]

A lot of circular reasoning here (i.e. the C7 share of what was the eventual AAC deal would have been lower than the eventual biggest deal, but, the AAC deal didn’t include the C7 teams, which lowers the basketball value of the eventual contract). Likewise, the AAC became more expensive for Connecticut to be a part of because all the C7 regional teams left.

I don’t see any scenario in which Villanova is ever attractive to the ACC. Connecticut maybe, as backfill if the conference is raided.

If/when the ACC loses its best football brands, maybe it decides it wants to be the best basketball conference period. Add UCONN, Nova, & Kansas, ,maybe Georgetown, SJU...Might as well have something to hang your hat on.

 

[CL82]

If/when the ACC loses its best football brands, maybe it decides it wants to be the best basketball conference period. Add UCONN, Nova, & Kansas, ,maybe Georgetown, SJU...Might as well have something to hang your hat on.

I doubt it. The value that basketball brings to a media contract is no more than 1/5 of the total value. I can’t see them adding three schools who’s value is only $.20 on the dollar. Kansas and UConn would be interesting additions, but it appears that ESPN is looking to protect the big 12, so they are unlikely to finance having a member leave the conference

(Notre Dame gets 20% of the ACC’s ESPN media revenue. It’s a fair guess that St. John’s has less value to the conference than Notre Dame.)

 

[Ha Who]

If/when the ACC loses its best football brands, maybe it decides it wants to be the best basketball conference period. Add UCONN, Nova, & Kansas, ,maybe Georgetown, SJU...Might as well have something to hang your hat on.

Can I have your

 

[Kolumbo]

I doubt it. The value that basketball brings to a media contract is no more than 1/5 of the total value. I can’t see them adding three schools who’s value is only $.20 on the dollar. Kansas and UConn would be interesting additions, but it appears that ESPN is looking to protect the big 12, so they are unlikely to finance having a member leave the conference

(Notre Dame gets 20% of the ACC’s ESPN media revenue. It’s a fair guess that St. John’s has less value to the conference than Notre Dame.)

I'm not saying newcomers would get a full share. The ACC won't compete with the other football conferences but it could still be the best at something. Or not. And Kansas could be SOL in realignment so it may have nothing to lose. Focus on hoops.

 

[Zissou]

The value that basketball brings to a media contract is no more than 1/5 of the total value.

The Big East is closer to 5/5

 

[Purple Stein]

And yet I don’t feel myself pining away for the Yankee Conference.

As a Maine fan, I pine for the Yankee Conference. Playing Elon every year sucks.

It doesn’t suck quite as much as this painful, painful thread, though.