Virginia Tech was once passed on by the ACC before politicians got involved. Syracuse was on its way to the ACC and had to remain in the Big East. Houston was likely to be passed on by the Big 12 and their governor stepped in. I'm assuming they will find their way in now. Even Utah's senator was super active in fighting for Utah. Baylor had political help getting in the Big 12. CT is the home of ESPN and our Governor and University President have done what? I guess it is easier sending student-athletes to Hartford to plead for more state money like they did this year.
Many people seem to love Herbst, but didn't this all happen under her watch? At a time when hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake, she hired an AD from the MAC. He may have been a very good hire, but Uconn needed someone with strong ties to the ACC...someone who could influence decision makers and give the ACC confidence that Uconn could right it's ship. We can knock Louisville all we want, but they told their story well enough that the ACC ignored their academics. All we seem to hear from Uconn is "it is what it is". Hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake.
Many people seem to love Herbst, but didn't this all happen under her watch? At a time when hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake, she hired an AD from the MAC. He may have been a very good hire, but Uconn needed someone with strong ties to the ACC...someone who could influence decision makers and give the ACC confidence that Uconn could right it's ship. We can knock Louisville all we want, but they told their story well enough that the ACC ignored their academics. All we seem to hear from Uconn is "it is what it is". Hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake.