Contentment with the new big East as a permanent home

[UConnJim]

The Big 12 is at worst the 3rd best football league and ranks as the #1 basketball conference.
There is no process to take away their autonomy designation. It's foolishness to think they'll lose status with those metrics.

The New Big 12 is like the old Big East football conference after Miami and Virginia Tech left. The old BE was a legacy BCS conference and remained so in name only when the top 2 schools left. Nobody really thought BE schools were contenders for the BCS championship, although WVU made a run one year. And, the new BE was a pretty good football conference, but nobody cared about that. The Alliance left out the Big 12, so you can see how the other autonomous conferences feel about the Big 12.

This is year 8 of the College Football Playoff and none of the future Big 12 teams have made the playoffs. And, the records of the new Big 12 additions will be negatively impacted by playing each other so those schools will have more losses.

Finally, the main reason to be in a P5 conference is money and the Big 12 will be by far the lowest payout conference. And, every one of the schools want to get out of the conference as soon as possible just like the old Big East (and the AAC).

 

[Get a Job]

UConn basketball would decline in the Big Ten? How is Rutgers doing? Better than ever?

The Big 12 champion in football would be automatically included in an expanded playoffs EVERY year... Geez.

Deducing conclusions based on facts clearly isn't a strong suit here. Making up stories to suit personal imaginations does well here.

If you're responding to @Zissou, I think he meant that the quality of basketball in the Big Ten is inferior to the Big East, not that UConn basketball would regress in quality.

 

[Zissou]

If you're responding to @Zissou, I think he meant that the quality of basketball in the Big Ten is inferior to the Big East, not that UConn basketball would regress in quality.

Reading comprehension is fundamental

 

[MU in MKE]

I wouldn't blame UConn for leaving for the B10 or ACC, but to answer the original question... I know I personally would be very content if nothing changed and I think most people should be. Football generally drives the bus, but UConn is a basketball school and besides, most schools lose money on football.

Between the quality of opponents, TV coverage, brand identity, cost savings... there's not much to dislike unless you're only concerned about FB and don't think the independent thing will work out. Otherwise, soak it all in and enjoy it... the BE should be your happy place.

 

[August_West]

Side note. Do the people who complain that football is not good donate and go to games? Maybe if they showed the same support people do for basketball things would get better.

Been there done that.

that "maybe" has been answered.

They got worse. A LOT worse.

Many people were guilted by the AD during hoops halcyon days to sinking a lot of money into that disaster.

whats that saying? Fool me once.....blah blah blah.

We are going on fooled 4 times. At least.

I wish football succeeded during that short window we had to actually make some waves and position ourselves in a good spot for CR. We blew it, and then we blew it again, and now it is sadder than a puddles pity party ballad.


Time to cut bait on that mishegoss.

 

[Improviser]

Been there done that.

that "maybe" has been answered.

They got worse. A LOT worse.

Many people were guilted by the AD during hoops halcyon days to sinking a lot of money into that disaster.

whats that saying? Fool me once.....blah blah blah.

We are going on fooled 4 times. At least.

I wish football succeeded during that short window we had to actually make some waves and position ourselves in a good spot for CR. We blew it, and then we blew it again, and now it is sadder than a puddles pity party ballad.


Time to cut bait on that mishegoss.

The Giants and Knicks have plenty of support and filled arenas. Their fans believe the mishegoss too. So too do the Jets fans.

Sometimes, throwing money at problems doesn't work.

Sometimes it does.

 

[August_West]

The Giants and Knicks have plenty of support and filled arenas. Their fans believe the mishegoss too. So too do the Jets fans.

Sometimes, throwing money at problems doesn't work.

Sometimes it does.

You just named 3 Professional sports teams in a metro area of 22 million.

The difference is those franchises have plenty of money to throw at it. UConn does not.

 

[gampelcrazies]

You just named 3 Professional sports teams in a metro area of 22 million.

The difference is those franchises have plenty of money to throw at it. UConn does not.

It may not fix everything but if people donated and bought tickets like they do for basketball it would help the program out a lot.

 

[superjohn]

It may not fix everything but if people donated and bought tickets like they do for basketball it would help the program out a lot.

Winning is the only thing that helps, you aren't going to have enthusiasm for the worst team in the country no matter who it is. If UConn basketball had the worst program in the country they would have trouble selling tickets as well. You start winning some games and people go.

 

[ThabeetDown]

Been there done that.

that "maybe" has been answered.

They got worse. A LOT worse.

Many people were guilted by the AD during hoops halcyon days to sinking a lot of money into that disaster.

whats that saying? Fool me once.....blah blah blah.

We are going on fooled 4 times. At least.

I wish football succeeded during that short window we had to actually make some waves and position ourselves in a good spot for CR. We blew it, and then we blew it again, and now it is sadder than a puddles pity party ballad.


Time to cut bait on that mishegoss.

This was a lot of words to just say cut the football program.

What are we even doing in this thread anymore?

 

[McLovin]

The Big 12 is at worst the 3rd best football league and ranks as the #1 basketball conference.
There is no process to take away their autonomy designation. It's foolishness to think they'll lose status with those metrics.

As for the NBE, that option could have been initiated at any time. That league was never saying no to bringing in UConn, considering that all of their members are so much weaker than UConn. They don't get much money and UConn helps them more than the NBE helps UConn.
UConn could've easily waited to see what the AAC looks like coming out of realignment, to THEN decide if it was time to give up on P5 status, aka autonomy.

Does everyone realize that if the Big 12 wanted UConn and UConn wanted to be in the Big 12, we would be in the Big 12? Being in the NBE (instead of still in the AAC) would not have stopped the Big 12 from extending us the invite if they wanted us. That’s how realignment works.

People on here are living in a fairytale land if they think we would have gotten an invite solely because we were still in the AAC. The reality is our football would have still suck today regardless if we stayed in the AAC and we’d still be 750 miles from the closest Big 12 school(s). 2 reasons we were never getting a Big 12 invite.

It was smart to move to the NBE when we did and will not stop any conference who wants us from knocking on the door.

 

[CashewCrew]

we’d still be 750 miles from the closest Big 12 school(s).

This is really all that needs to be said. It makes zero practical sense.

 

[don356]

If you're responding to @Zissou, I think he meant that the quality of basketball in the Big Ten is inferior to the Big East, not that UConn basketball would regress in quality.

I think making the claim that B10 basketball is inferior to the newly configured Big East made folks heads spin. LOL

 

[Improviser]

Winning is the only thing that helps, you aren't going to have enthusiasm for the worst team in the country no matter who it is. If UConn basketball had the worst program in the country they would have trouble selling tickets as well. You start winning some games and people go.

Scheduling responsibly helps in building a winner and in winning.

This means not scheduling teams way better that will kill you and demoralize your players such as at present, scheduling Army and Clemson and likely UCF and Houston.

Villanova with a winning record has responsibly scheduled decent teams they are capable of beating. Yes, schedule a few teams that are a bit of a reach but not an overreach. Though, I grant you, playing Wyoming close was a revelation.

Calhoun in the early years, gradually upgraded the schedule as he upgraded the talent.

 

[Zissou]

I think making the claim that B10 basketball is inferior to the newly configured Big East made folks heads spin. LOL

The newly configured B10 added Rutgers and Nebraska. The Big East added UConn.

I’ll lean Big East and count up the titles.

 

[Jbirdp5]

This is 100% correct. The big 12 will continue to be an autonomous power 5 conference, whether people here like it or not. The discussion of UConn getting into the big 12 is independent of that…but there will still be 5 power conferences and the big 12 is included. There is zero evidence to suggest otherwise - it is an interesting talking point though.

Zero evidence to suggest otherwise? The teams that made the conference special haven’t left the conference yet and the conference hasn’t had to negotiate anything yet…neither side has a smoking gun of evidence at this time
When changes get made to the cfp and when they negotiate a deal then there will be evidence for both sides to debate.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

The only way we leave is if the ACC gets double raided by the SEC and B1G in about a decade.

If BC stays in the ACC, we don't get in. The blood feud continues, unless those that started the damn thing resigns, retires or dies.

 

[BapeKidd88]

Does everyone realize that if the Big 12 wanted UConn and UConn wanted to be in the Big 12, we would be in the Big 12? Being in the NBE (instead of still in the AAC) would not have stopped the Big 12 from extending us the invite if they wanted us. That’s how realignment works.

People on here are living in a fairytale land if they think we would have gotten an invite solely because we were still in the AAC. The reality is our football would have still suck today regardless if we stayed in the AAC and we’d still be 750 miles from the closest Big 12 school(s). 2 reasons we were never getting a Big 12 invite.

It was smart to move to the NBE when we did and will not stop any conference who wants us from knocking on the door.

Here's another question:

Do you think the Big 12 Conference didn't consider UConn because of all the whining about playing Texas/Kansas/Oklahoma teams?

The Big 12 will be the best Hoops conference in the country, and likely 3rd in football at worst (because of their geography and the blue bloods).

IMO, in all of the teams the AAC has placed in the B1G/ACC/Big 12 (5 between Houston, Rutgers, UCF, Louisville and Cincinnati), I think it's proved to be the defacto proving grounds of sending teams to the P5. It can't be understated that football is a crucial component to getting invited to the Power group. So, if you hope to have any shot of winning the PR game and generating the public support that will get the P5 admins to act in your favor, it helps (a lot) to play well in the AAC and show you wont be an anchor to their football product. Playing a bunch of random indy teams just doesn't provide the frame of reference to generate public support for your bid.

I still think that all of the noise around UConn's wanting to regionalize and be basketball-centric also eliminated any glimmer of an opportunity for a Power invitation. That's an extremely difficult sell to the powers that be.

 

[McLovin]

Here's another question:

Do you think the Big 12 Conference didn't consider UConn because of all the whining about playing Texas/Kansas/Oklahoma teams?

The Big 12 will be the best Hoops conference in the country, and likely 3rd in football at worst (because of their geography and the blue bloods).

IMO, in all of the teams the AAC has placed in the B1G/ACC/Big 12 (5 between Houston, Rutgers, UCF, Louisville and Cincinnati), I think it's proved to be the defacto proving grounds of sending teams to the P5. It can't be understated that football is a crucial component to getting invited to the Power group. So, if you hope to have any shot of winning the PR game and generating the public support that will get the P5 admins to act in your favor, it helps (a lot) to play well in the AAC and show you wont be an anchor to their football product. Playing a bunch of random indy teams just doesn't provide the frame of reference to generate public support for your bid.

I still think that all of the noise around UConn's wanting to regionalize and be basketball-centric also eliminated any glimmer of an opportunity for a Power invitation. That's an extremely difficult sell to the powers that be.

Are you delusional?

1) Louisville and Rutgers had accepted P5 invites well before playing a lame duck season in the AAC. Their performance (or lack thereof) in that 1 year had nothing to do with their invite status.

2) UConn football did not play well in the AAC and is seen as an anchor to any serious football conference. Also, BYU is an Indy football team and got the invite to the Big 12, so your argument is further falling apart. Plus, our football schedule now has 5-6 P5 games per year against teams like Indiana, NC State, BC, Syracuse, Maryland, etc. You can’t seriously tell me that’s less beneficial as a “proving ground” than a schedule loaded with conference games against Tulane, USF and SMU.

3) I stated this above, yes, geography has everything to do with UConn not getting an invite to the Big 12. No, it wasn’t the “complaining” of the fan base that kept us out. It’s the fact that we are thousands of miles from most of their members that hurt us. UConn has stated it views itself as a top tier university (both academically and in sports) and being in the Big East, along other well respected universities like Villanova and Georgetown, is more beneficial from a PR standpoint than aligning ourselves with Eastern Carolina University and Tulsa.

 

[BapeKidd88]

Are you delusional?

1) Louisville and Rutgers had accepted P5 invites well before playing a lame duck season in the AAC. Their performance (or lack thereof) in that 1 year had nothing to do with their invite status.

2) UConn football did not play well in the AAC and is seen as an anchor to any serious football conference. Also, BYU is an Indy football team and got the invite to the Big 12, so your argument is further falling apart. Plus, our football schedule now has 5-6 P5 games per year against teams like Indiana, NC State, BC, Syracuse, Maryland, etc. You can’t seriously tell me that’s less beneficial as a “proving ground” than a schedule loaded with conference games against Tulane, USF and SMU.

3) I stated this above, yes, geography has everything to do with UConn not getting an invite to the Big 12. No, it wasn’t the “complaining” of the fan base that kept us out. It’s the fact that we are thousands of miles from most of their members that hurt us. UConn has stated it views itself as a top tier university (both academically and in sports) and being in the Big East, along other well respected universities like Villanova and Georgetown, is more beneficial from a PR standpoint than aligning ourselves with Eastern Carolina University and Tulsa.

1.) It doesn’t matter if the league was called OBE or AAC, Louisville and Rutgers got poached from the Aresco league, headquarters in Providence RI. They are very much part of the 5 who got the call ups.

2.) BYU hasn’t performed well as an Indy. It’s one of their least successful periods in their history (despite their recent success). Thus, being an Indy had zero to do with their P5 invite. It had everything to do with their unique national/global brand, which is unique to them (in a similar way to the Naval Academy. UConn doesn’t have that calling card, and it’s ridiculous to compare the two situations. Hypothetically, UConn is IN COMPETITION with AAC schools (like USF and SMU) for any future spot. Consequently, UConn somehow needs to clearly show how it measures up - if a league is going to project UConn as being a cut above, imo.

3.) Being grouped in with FCS schools like Villanova and Georgetown is a bigger hinderance than being grouped in with FBS schools. East Carolina and Tulsa have played in leagues with TCU, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, USF, etc; all before they got their P5 spots. UConn wasn’t hurt in the least by playing them. However, UConn has stigmatized itself as a “Power” candidate by its seemingly low prioritization of football. The Big Boys don’t see Villanova and Georgetown as their peers. They see them as schools that are peddling religious doctrines and care little about big time football.

 

[Zissou]

3.) Being grouped in with FCS schools like Villanova and Georgetown is a bigger hinderance than being grouped in with FBS schools. East Carolina and Tulsa have played in leagues with TCU, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, USF, etc; all before they got their P5 spots. UConn wasn’t hurt in the least by playing them. However, UConn has stigmatized itself as a “Power” candidate by its seemingly low prioritization of football. The Big Boys don’t see Villanova and Georgetown as their peers. They see them as schools that are peddling religious doctrines and care little about big time football.

If you are in the BIG Ten then the conference provides for your basketball and football future.

if you are in the AAC, your don’t have a solid path in either. UConn waited for the next TV deal and it was a bust. So the paths for basketball and football are more challenging.

The Big East is the hoops path. No one looks past Villanova in hoops nor the Big East for its schedule, strength, and conference tournament. It’s true that this is a basketball first conference. That many members are Catholic is an aside, as it doesn’t seem to prevent Notre Dame’s football aspirations.

Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina… there are certainly P5 basketball blue bloods that the Big Boys in football don’t respect as their peers.

So what are UConn’s aspirations? To compete with Bama and Georgia and Clemson for the CFP?

 

[McLovin]

1.) It doesn’t matter if the league was called OBE or AAC, Louisville and Rutgers got poached from the Aresco league, headquarters in Providence RI. They are very much part of the 5 who got the call ups.

2.) BYU hasn’t performed well as an Indy. It’s one of their least successful periods in their history (despite their recent success). Thus, being an Indy had zero to do with their P5 invite. It had everything to do with their unique national/global brand, which is unique to them (in a similar way to the Naval Academy. UConn doesn’t have that calling card, and it’s ridiculous to compare the two situations. Hypothetically, UConn is IN COMPETITION with AAC schools (like USF and SMU) for any future spot. Consequently, UConn somehow needs to clearly show how it measures up - if a league is going to project UConn as being a cut above, imo.

3.) Being grouped in with FCS schools like Villanova and Georgetown is a bigger hinderance than being grouped in with FBS schools. East Carolina and Tulsa have played in leagues with TCU, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, USF, etc; all before they got their P5 spots. UConn wasn’t hurt in the least by playing them. However, UConn has stigmatized itself as a “Power” candidate by its seemingly low prioritization of football. The Big Boys don’t see Villanova and Georgetown as their peers. They see them as schools that are peddling religious doctrines and care little about big time football.

If and when the BIG and ACC decide to expand, they will first look to poach each other. Then they will look at UConn, Kansas and WVU. Then they will look at the rest of the Big 12 schools. Then for good humor, they will accept and then laugh at the applications from SMU and USF.

In no world other than your fantasy does “AAC membership” give any school an inside track to an invite to the BIG or ACC (as stated previously, UConn had no real intention to join the Big 12 with their current member makeup, we are only going for a spot in those 2 conferences).

 

[McLovin]

1.) It doesn’t matter if the league was called OBE or AAC, Louisville and Rutgers got poached from the Aresco league, headquarters in Providence RI. They are very much part of the 5 who got the call ups.

2.) BYU hasn’t performed well as an Indy. It’s one of their least successful periods in their history (despite their recent success). Thus, being an Indy had zero to do with their P5 invite. It had everything to do with their unique national/global brand, which is unique to them (in a similar way to the Naval Academy. UConn doesn’t have that calling card, and it’s ridiculous to compare the two situations. Hypothetically, UConn is IN COMPETITION with AAC schools (like USF and SMU) for any future spot. Consequently, UConn somehow needs to clearly show how it measures up - if a league is going to project UConn as being a cut above, imo.

3.) Being grouped in with FCS schools like Villanova and Georgetown is a bigger hinderance than being grouped in with FBS schools. East Carolina and Tulsa have played in leagues with TCU, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, USF, etc; all before they got their P5 spots. UConn wasn’t hurt in the least by playing them. However, UConn has stigmatized itself as a “Power” candidate by its seemingly low prioritization of football. The Big Boys don’t see Villanova and Georgetown as their peers. They see them as schools that are peddling religious doctrines and care little about big time football.

And also, when we rebuild football, beating up SMU and ECU will be less beneficial to “projecting UConn as a cut above” than beating the P5 schools on our schedule whose conferences we want to join.

If we can get the football program back to competence, beating future opponents like NC State, Duke, BC, Maryland, Wake Forest, UNC, Indiana, Syracuse, Purdue, etc. and playing competitive games against schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Clemson, etc. will put us on the big boys radar more than 9 games a year against AAC competition.

Our football program now has at least 4 P5 games scheduled each year over the next few seasons, with more to come. Something not possible if we played a 9 game AAC slate of Tulane, Tulsa, SMU, ECU, USF, etc. What better way to prove we belong back in the big time than by playing and actually beating the schools we wish to join?

 

[MJ1]

Bottom line, BYU was invited as an independent, if UCONN can right the Football ship they don’t need the AAC.
UCONN would get an invite as an independent in Football with great Basketball teams both Men and Women.