Dunn getting a raise from Randy’s pocket

[Dooley]

I would be absolutely shocked if the Big East is any part of a "power" conference structure when (not if) there is a basketball split. Power conferences are power conferences because they generate absurd amounts of money (that they don't want to share). It has absolutely nothing to do with winning, national championships, rivalries, etc. They generate those absurd amounts of money by being, for the most part, large schools with large alumni/fanbases and being, also for the most part, the dominant brand inside their home markets. Not a single Big East school - not even Villanova or Georgetown - can definitively say that they are their home market's dominant brand.

Factor in the conference demographics that the Big East consists of: small, private schools with small alumni/fanbases and you realize that there is very little room for growth. And when there is very little room for growth, there is very little reason why the giant power conference schools would want to align (read: share money) with them. I know UConn fans will hate this, but the AAC is actually better positioned than the Big East for future earnings growth. When there is a hoops split, the AAC is a *MUCH* safer home for UConn.

The only way the Big East gains access to a power conference basketball system is if the power conference heavyweights value tradition and rivalries...which we have seen time and time again that they don't. Maybe a conference like the Big 10/SEC/ACC will add hoops-only members down the long-term road once the hoops split starts to take shape and, if they do, they'll look to UConn loooooooong before they look at any of the small Big East schools. Zero question about that.

But back to UConn continuing to be cheap at funding football: if at least half of Geno's salary, once he retires, isn't re-distributed to paying for top football coaches, I'll lose my head.

 

[uconnphil2016]

I’m getting sick of No Escalators’ schtick

 

[whaler11]

I’m getting sick of No Escalators’ schtick

His argument is perfectly solid.

The news today is beyond dire.

 

[JMick]

I’m getting sick of No Escalators’ schtick

Never liked that account. I'm sure whoever runs it posts here

 

[uconnphil2016]

His argument is perfectly solid.

The news today is beyond dire.

Saying it sucks is correct. Claiming that joining the NBE is a clear good decision is not correct. No one gives a rats ass about Georgetown or Villanova and we’re just gonna end up in a conference of fading relevancy and without a football program. It’s a resignation into nothingness.

 

[Exit 4]

Never liked that account. I'm sure whoever runs it posts here

The no escalators account makes we want to cheer against basketball. Thats not good.

 

[uconnphil2016]

His argument is perfectly solid.

The news today is beyond dire.

And he fails to acknowledge the complexity of the issue, instead just suggesting that anyone who disagrees with him in any form is a moron. He seems to forget how he felt about Ollie until the 11th hour....

 

[Exit 4]

Saying it sucks is correct. Claiming that joining the NBE is a clear good decision is not correct. No one gives a rats ass about Georgetown or Villanova and we’re just gonna end up in a conference of fading relevancy and without a football program. It’s a resignation into nothingness.

Being the only non catholic school in the NBE would never work.

 

[JMick]

And he fails to acknowledge the complexity of the issue, instead just suggesting that anyone who disagrees with him in any form is a moron. He seems to forget how he felt about Ollie until the 11th hour....

Is it one person or is it a manager account?

 

[JMick]

Being the only non catholic school in the NBE would never work.

It could work. But football would have to be dead, dead

 

[whaler11]

Being the only non catholic school in the NBE would never work.

Tell that to Butler I guess?

 

[uconnphil2016]

Being the only non catholic school in the NBE would never work.

And the only school that isn’t a small college. We don’t fit in that conference in any sense. There’s just no way those small schools are going to be able to compete with the $ flowing in to P5 programs over the long haul. They’re running on borrowed time.

 

[Exit 4]

It could work. But football would have to be dead, dead

I respectfully disagree. Unless we really are ready to play small ball in every sport.

 

[JMick]

I respectfully disagree. Unless we really are ready to play small ball in every sport.

Is there a viable alternative? Because the AAC isn't it

 

[Exit 4]

Tell that to Butler I guess?

You got me....but that isn't difficult to do.

 

[whaler11]

Saying it sucks is correct. Claiming that joining the NBE is a clear good decision is not correct. No one gives a rats ass about Georgetown or Villanova and we’re just gonna end up in a conference of fading relevancy and without a football program. It’s a resignation into nothingness.

And he fails to acknowledge the complexity of the issue, instead just suggesting that anyone who disagrees with him in any form is a moron. He seems to forget how he felt about Ollie until the 11th hour....

His argument is 100% valid.

I’d wait and see if Hurley can save the basketball program - but where they are in untenable and at some point someone needs to make hard decisions.

The football program is as dead as dead can be. There is no way to compete in any FBS league with the classes they are bringing in.

 

[Exit 4]

Is there a viable alternative? Because the AAC isn't it

I love the AAC. Stockholm syndrome!

 

[JMick]

I love the AAC. Stockholm syndrome!

I really think the travel kills us. Hopefully Hurley can figure a way around that, but it's definitely taxing. For the wallet and for the team. It's not as big of a deal for football obviously

 

[uconnphil2016]

Is there a viable alternative? Because the AAC isn't it

You really think the NBE is a better alternative than the AAC?

 

[whaler11]

The no escalators account makes we want to cheer against basketball. Thats not good.

That would however make you a true UConn fan!

 

[JMick]

You really think the NBE is a better alternative than the AAC?

For basketball, yes. For the entirety of UConn athletics I'm not sure yet. I flip back and forth

 

[Exit 4]

I really think the travel kills us. Hopefully Hurley can figure a way around that, but it's definitely taxing. For the wallet and for the team. It's not as big of a deal for football obviously

I have an ultra simplistic point of view on the AAC. It seems to be working okay to very good for most schools. UCF/Memphis/UH/SMU and Temple are doing pretty well. USF/Tulane/ECU/Tulsa/Cincy just okay. The only schools not happy in the AAC are ECU and UConn. And ECU certainly isn't leaving because they will never marry better than this place.

 

[whaler11]

For basketball, yes. For the entirety of UConn athletics I'm not sure yet. I flip back and forth

It’s better for every non-football program in the athletic department except the baseball team.

 

[Exit 4]

If we leave, Buffalo or UMass will take our place in a matter of minutes.

 

[uconnphil2016]

For basketball, yes. For the entirety of UConn athletics I'm not sure yet. I flip back and forth

I think basketball is marginally better. Villanova is obviously better than anyone in our conference and Georgetown should get back to being good. But they haven’t done much in March overall and I don’t see how changing to a marginally better conference still full of teams we don’t really care about will change our fate. Are we really pining to play Butler and DePaul? I don’t care about any of these teams besides Nova and Georgetown

 

[whaler11]

I have an ultra simplistic point of view on the AAC. It seems to be working okay to very good for most schools. UCF/Memphis/UH/SMU and Temple are doing pretty well. USF/Tulane/ECU/Tulsa/Cincy just okay. The only schools not happy in the AAC are ECU and UConn. And ECU certainly isn't leaving because they will never marry better than this place.

This is the same league these schools have pretty much always been in. Cincy and USF got a taste of the big leagues recently but these teams have been in the best of the rest league for a long time.

 

[whaler11]

If we leave, Buffalo or UMass will take our place in a matter of minutes.

There is not a way in the world the AAC invites another northern outlier. ODU would be a better choice than either of those two.

 

[JMick]

I have an ultra simplistic point of view on the AAC. It seems to be working okay to very good for most schools. UCF/Memphis/UH/SMU and Temple are doing pretty well. USF/Tulane/ECU/Tulsa/Cincy just okay. The only schools not happy in the AAC are ECU and UConn. And ECU certainly isn't leaving because they will never marry better than this place.

Well the geography works out better for them than for us...

 

[JMick]

I think basketball is marginally better. Villanova is obviously better than anyone in our conference and Georgetown should get back to being good. But they haven’t done much in March overall and I don’t see how changing to a marginally better conference still full of teams we don’t really care about will change our fate. Are we really pining to play Butler and DePaul? I don’t care about any of these teams besides Nova and Georgetown

Sometimes perception is reality. Throw in the benefit of local travel and it's a no brainer to me. The AAC has more potential but it's not helping us

 

[Exit 4]

There is not a way in the world the AAC invites another northern outlier. ODU would be a better choice than either of those two.

I disagree. But you know its hardly the point which school would fill the vacuum. Instead, everyone should just realize it will be willingly filled in seconds by optimistic and hungry programs ready for their shot.