East Coast Football Alliance

[Ldandy]

UConn is committed to the Big East, but UConn has said it still needs to figure out its football plan.

UConn is the catalyst for change here, changing the status quo. Not the other three.

This is the second time I’ve explained why I’m here. Why are you?

You make no flipping sense. How in the hell is UConn a catalyst for change for other schools? Uconn can already schedule any of these FCS Programs whenever they wish. What are they going to do, demand that these other programs upgrade to FBS if they want a game with UConn? Delaware will just collect their check from somebody else. As for why I'm here, that really need not concern you. I post in threads about UConn that interest me because I'm a fan of the football program. I don't come here to push some bizarre agenda understood by exactly one person on Earth.

 

[Pudge]

You make no flipping sense. How in the hell is UConn a catalyst for change for other schools? Uconn can already schedule any of these FCS Programs whenever they wish. What are they going to do, demand that these other programs upgrade to FBS if they want a game with UConn? Delaware will just collect their check from somebody else. As for why I'm here, that really need not concern you. I post in threads about UConn that interest me because I'm a fan of the football program. I don't come here to push some bizarre agenda understood by exactly one person on Earth.

Fact is ... UMass & UCONN being independent - with access to any sources of revenue makes the revenue prospects to a few better. I don’t know what their options are realistically. But expenses - regardless of division - are increasing. There’s no life raft for us. We are going to play them.

 

[Ldandy]

Fact is ... UMass & UCONN being independent - with access to any sources of revenue makes the revenue prospects to a few better. I don’t know what their options are realistically. But expenses - regardless of division - are increasing. There’s no life raft for us. We are going to play them.

That's been my point to Zizou. Out of necessity UConn and Umass are going to be playing schools like Nova, JMU, and Delaware already. They'll show up for a game and the AD will cut them a check. Why would any of these schools go through the expense of upgrading 20 more full scholarships for football and a required 20 more full scholarships on the women's side to satisfy Title 9, when they can already get these teams on their schedule by doing nothing more than picking up the phone?

The AAC is barely getting 5 million dollars(after expenses) with a lineup of teams that have competed for and won NY6 Bowl Games. "The Alliance" or whatever its being called would be lucky to get Sunbelt Money and distribution. How does this offset the additional costs? Putting an FBS label on Nova or Delaware isn't going to be some kind of magic formula for attendance or fan support if their schedule remains basically unchanged. Maybe ND or Penn State will play you in a pro football stadium once every 50 years as an away team. Seems worth it.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Like the Energizer Bunny in pink fur and sunglasses, he just keeps going and going and going

 

[Zissou]

You make no flipping sense. How in the hell is UConn a catalyst for change for other schools? Uconn can already schedule any of these FCS Programs whenever they wish. What are they going to do, demand that these other programs upgrade to FBS if they want a game with UConn? Delaware will just collect their check from somebody else. As for why I'm here, that really need not concern you.

Dandy you be thick.

They point isn’t playing these programs as FCS. That’s a stain on the schedule. The entire point is to play as FBS. There is some comfort in the Indy schedule with more numbers in that pool. Take a breath, step back, and try to grasp the concept.

UConn is the school that is making a change, and today has an “undecided” path forward. That is why they are the catalyst for change. The other programs are status quo for now.

I really don’t care why you are here, I was just asking to be nice since you asked me a few times.

I remember about a month ago when y’all were all distressed about me advocating for a Big East invite. It turns out only a vocal 9% were against, and you all talked each other into a delusion that it wasn’t possible.

UConn has some work to do on its football position. Until they do, don’t count out reasonable solutions. It might be a little scary at first, but you’ll get used to it.

 

[Ldandy]

Dandy you be thick.

They point isn’t playing these programs as FCS. That’s a stain on the schedule. The entire point is to play as FBS. There is some comfort in the Indy schedule with more numbers in that pool. Take a breath, step back, and try to grasp the concept.

UConn is the school that is making a change, and today has an “undecided” path forward. That is why they are the catalyst for change. The other programs are status quo for now.

I really don’t care why you are here, I was just asking to be nice since you asked me a few times.

I remember about a month ago when y’all were all distressed about me advocating for a Big East invite. It turns out only a vocal 9% were against, and you all talked each other into a delusion that it wasn’t possible.

UConn has some work to do on its football position. Until they do, don’t count out reasonable solutions. It might be a little scary at first, but you’ll get used to it.

Answer this question please. How is playing a bunch of teams that you already play as an FCS Program suddenly better because both are FBS? Fans will not give a flying duck* if Delaware is FBS or FCS, they will still be Delaware.

UConn upgraded to play Miami, VPI, BC, Cuse, Pitt etc. Through bad luck and bad business practices they ended up where they are. You had a chance to join them once upon a time and passed. Why the hell would any AD voluntarily sign up to join them in purgatory now?

What you are proposing is throwing good money after bad. UConn's Choice to leave The AAC was to preserve basketball and start digging out of the giant hole that was athletics post OBE. It was self preservation not some grand plan to lead a dinky east coast alliance of lost boy programs. Stay where you are, play basketball and be happy. Odds are far better that UConn joins you in FCS a few seasons from now than all the programs you are advocating join them.

 

[Zissou]

Answer this question please. How is playing a bunch of teams that you already play as an FCS Program suddenly better because both are FBS?

From a UConn perspective playing more than 1 FCS program hurts your national perception and your bowl prospects.

From a Nova, UD, JMU perspective, playing regional rivals in a FBS alliance allows for the rest of the schedule to be filled with interesting FBS matches from regional teams that are in other conferences. Navy, MD, Penn State, ND, etc.

Look at the average football expenses in the MAC. Why does managing an FBS program to MAC expenses seem impossible to you?

 

[Ldandy]

From a UConn perspective playing more than 1 FCS program hurts your national perception and your bowl prospects.

From a Nova, UD, JMU perspective, playing regional rivals in a FBS alliance allows for the rest of the schedule to be filled with interesting FBS matches from regional teams that are in other conferences. Navy, MD, Penn State, ND, etc.

Look at the average football expenses in the MAC. Why does managing an FBS program to MAC expenses seem impossible to you?

1)UConn can't control whether a bunch of FCS Schools bump up to FBS to give them a better schedule. They'll schedule one or two of these FCS Games a year and live with whatever the perception of that is.

2)Nova already plays a bunch of regional rivals in The CAA including Delaware and James Madison. The rest of the schedule would not be filled with interesting games like Penn State, UMD and ND. It would be filled with a bunch of dreck like New Mexico State and Liberty. You probably can get one of these top teams on the road or score a "Home" game against one of them at The Linc as a part of some larger scheduling arrangement same as Temple has done in the past. Once again is this worth subsidizing 40 more full scholarships, adding coaching staffs, support personnel, additional travel costs etc. etc. etc.?

3)It doesn't seem impossible, it seems pointless. Every school in The MAC loses money on athletics. Villanona already subsidizes athletics by close to 20 million dollars. Why exactly is deepening that hole so appealing to you? You will not make money on football playing at the level you are proposing. If this was a debate 20 years ago regarding Nova joining the OBE as a football member I would say go for it. I like the idea of more regional FBS Schools not less. That said the type of schedule that you are proposing is not going to move the needle for anybody.

 

[Zissou]

1)UConn can't control whether a bunch of FCS Schools bump up to FBS to give them a better schedule. They'll schedule one or two of these FCS Games a year and live with whatever the perception of that is.

2)Nova already plays a bunch of regional rivals in The CAA including Delaware and James Madison. The rest of the schedule would not be filled with interesting games like Penn State, UMD and ND. It would be filled with a bunch of dreck like New Mexico State and Liberty. You probably can get one of these top teams on the road or score a "Home" game against one of them at The Linc as a part of some larger scheduling arrangement same as Temple has done in the past. Once again is this worth subsidizing 40 more full scholarships, adding coaching staffs, support personnel, additional travel costs etc. etc. etc.?

3)It doesn't seem impossible, it seems pointless. Every school in The MAC loses money on athletics. Villanona already subsidizes athletics by close to 20 million dollars. Why exactly is deepening that hole so appealing to you? You will not make money on football playing at the level you are proposing. If this was a debate 20 years ago regarding Nova joining the OBE as a football member I would say go for it. I like the idea of more regional FBS Schools not less. That said the type of schedule that you are proposing is not going to move the needle for anybody.

1- I never said UConn could control this. They would have to collaborate.

2- the vast majority of athletic departments have expenses that exceed direct revenue. Nova could choose to prioritize these scholarships. The MAC does and they manage it OK. UConn’s landscape is completely different. UConn is state funded, the state is broke, and UConn has grossly overspent.

3- the cost increase would be modest, and the gains would be modest. The cost increases may be greatly offset by revenue.

I take it you don’t like the idea and don’t fully grasp the concepts, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

 

[Zissou]

Every school in The MAC loses money on athletics.

How many schools in the AAC turn a profit from athletics?

 

[don356]

When you cut into the numbers my friend there are only a handful of schools across the country who turn a real profit from athletics. That includes the P5 schools. Much funny math involved, and that's from someone with a cpa.

 

[Zissou]

When you cut into the numbers my friend there are only a handful of schools across the country who turn a real profit from athletics. That includes the P5 schools. Much funny math involved, and that's from someone with a cpa.

Exactly.

 

[Ldandy]

When you cut into the numbers my friend there are only a handful of schools across the country who turn a real profit from athletics. That includes the P5 schools. Much funny math involved, and that's from someone with a cpa.

This is true, so why double down on losing money? The market for TV Deals for programs like UCF and BSU was bad enough, and they have won BCS Games, what could anybody honestly expect Delaware and James Madison to command?

 

[Ldandy]

1- I never said UConn could control this. They would have to collaborate.

Scheduling them as FCS Opponents is one form of collaborating. How exactly does the opportunity to regularly play Uconn, Umass and maybe Army get all of these other schools to approve the not insignificant cost of an FBS Football Team when they can already get games with them?

2- the vast majority of athletic departments have expenses that exceed direct revenue. Nova could choose to prioritize these scholarships. The MAC does and they manage it OK. UConn’s landscape is completely different. UConn is state funded, the state is broke, and UConn has grossly overspent.

Right. So why are you so hell bent in joining them. You should have done it in the late 90s. What benefit is there in this now?

3- the cost increase would be modest, and the gains would be modest. The cost increases may be greatly offset by revenue.

What revenue? Did you see the AAC's Deal? The one that features football schools like UCF, CIncy and UH that people would actually watch on television? Did you read what The MWC, which includes media darling Boise State, is up against? There is no money for low end G5 Teams. Not for The Sunbelt, MAC, CUSA none of them. Once again you need to offset the cost of 40 more scholarships, more coaches, support staff, facilities, travel etc.

I take it you don’t like the idea and don’t fully grasp the concepts, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

I don't like or dislike the idea. On one hand I'm all for Eastern Football and the idea of additional opportunities for PA Kids to get full scholarships at Villanova, Delaware or wherever is welcome in my book. That said I simply don't see where the money is going to come from to make it worthwhile to the schools in question. Cable dollars are drying up, and outside of Uconn I don't see any fan bases that would support a streaming format to watch this collection of schools. It was fun discussing this, but we'll just have to agree to disagree on the viability of this.

 

[Zissou]

Dandy, Aresco negotiated 2 bad deals. It probably didn’t help that the AAC is a mash up conference of left overs. There is no real identity, and no real brand value.

The East Coast Football Alliance allows for only very modest revenue, but given modest MAC level expenses can offset costs.

The FCS teams moving up are actually more right sized already. UConn has to trim its costs to better fit in its landscape of a publicly funded program an a fiscally challenged state.

The perspective isn’t a P5 level program. You may not be able to grasp this as a Penn Stater of a UConn fan still chasing the P5.

This plan is a compromise and making the best of a non P5 independent status. Create some reasonable regional rivalries all at the FBS levels, get a few attractive matches on the schedule each year outside of the alliance, seek a modest revenue position, and strive for the seasons where a team could be ranked and go to a bowl.

All of this happens while the hoop team plays in a power basketball conference with a good TV deal, and some freedom for the women’s program.

Dandy, without the alliance, please list your view of who may be on the schedule 3 years from now. Who are the 12 teams, and which are home and which are away?

 

[HuskyDogArt]

This is an alliance of convenience for scheduling and TV negotiations. It wouldn't have been possible a few years ago as FCS to FBS moves had to be via a conference invite. Liberty changed that with their challenge to move directly to Independent.

This is 5 games in an Alliance schedule. The remaining 7 games would be open to schedule. It is a compromise to a full independent schedule. Either negotiate the Alliance winner into the PinStripe or create a new bowl for the Alliance winner.

Make a TV agreement with Fox, SNY,or YES.

Keep it at this size unless a desired program wants to join as they aren't happy with their own position. Think Temple, Navy, Cincy, Buffalo.

It's not a conference. It's an alliance of football independents.

Hey, since you are making a crazy conference, put UMaine, UNH, and URI and ODU...

 

[Adios]

#FreeHuskyFanDan

Let him loose on Zissou. Please.

 

[billybud]

Zissou posted:

Dandy, without the alliance, please list your view of who may be on the schedule 3 years from now. Who are the 12 teams, and which are home and which are away?

In 2023 UConn has a basic core scheduled already to build on...

Duke...home
NC State...home
Boston College...away
Lafayette...home

On shortish notice, it will be dicey building the schedule out and some teams will be scheduled on availability, not first choice.

UConn has scheduled home and homes (most with two games remaining to be played) with NC State, Boston College, Illinois, UMass, Indiana, Central Connecticut, Holy Cross, Purdue...and a one off with Clemson (away).

I see some future mix of games like these future scheduled P5 matches along with games against non P5 teams like Appy State, Coastal Carolina, Buffalo, Charlotte, etc.

 

[Zissou]

The AAC did not look like a power conference yesterday.

 

[HuskyDogArt]

UConn to the Big East is certainly a mission complete. Now I’ll help you fix football.

You helping us fix UConn football? I've not heard such BS since the Democrat debates...

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The AAC did not look like a power conference yesterday.

It’s not. MW might be better.

 

[Vowelguy]

The goal is to make the best of an independent schedule in a compromise.

I doubt Army has any problems finding opponents.

 

[Pudge]

You helping us fix UConn football? I've not heard such BS since the Democrat debates...

Hmmm

Are you on Twitter

 

[Vowelguy]

This is an alliance of convenience for scheduling and TV negotiations. It wouldn't have been possible a few years ago as FCS to FBS moves had to be via a conference invite. Liberty changed that with their challenge to move directly to Independent.

This is 5 games in an Alliance schedule. The remaining 7 games would be open to schedule. It is a compromise to a full independent schedule. Either negotiate the Alliance winner into the PinStripe or create a new bowl for the Alliance winner.

Make a TV agreement with Fox, SNY,or YES.

Keep it at this size unless a desired program wants to join as they aren't happy with their own position. Think Temple, Navy, Cincy, Buffalo.

It's not a conference. It's an alliance of football independents.

Villanova had an opportunity to join Big east football. James Madison was offered by the Sun Belt.
Both turned them down. And yet we are supposed to believe they are going to upgrade to FBS to go independent?

No.
No.
And no.

 

[HuskyDogArt]

Answer this question please. How is playing a bunch of teams that you already play as an FCS Program suddenly better because both are FBS? Fans will not give a flying duck* if Delaware is FBS or FCS, they will still be Delaware.

UConn upgraded to play Miami, VPI, BC, Cuse, Pitt etc. Through bad luck and bad business practices they ended up where they are. You had a chance to join them once upon a time and passed. Why the hell would any AD voluntarily sign up to join them in purgatory now?

What you are proposing is throwing good money after bad. UConn's Choice to leave The AAC was to preserve basketball and start digging out of the giant hole that was athletics post OBE. It was self preservation not some grand plan to lead a dinky east coast alliance of lost boy programs. Stay where you are, play basketball and be happy. Odds are far better that UConn joins you in FCS a few seasons from now than all the programs you are advocating join them.

If UConn drops down to FCS, they'll never see another dime from me. If they Drop down to FCS, the only way I'd support them is they drop football and go in with LAX...