Football Options

[SubbaBub]

I seen this posted elsewhere but now we are independent we could try save a bunch of money and have bus rides to games and a more desirable schedule. We may have to play the allowable 2 games against 1AA opponents.

1 URI/Maine/UNH 1AA
2 Villanova.....a strong 1AA opponent and a basketball conference member
3 UMASS This game will be easy to schedule as they are independent
4 Army this game will be easy to schedule as they are independent
5 Buffalo
6 Boston College
7 Syracuse
8 Rutgers
9 Temple
10 Pitt
11 Penn state. probably need to give them a basketball game
12 West Virginia,Virginia tech,Maryland

Won't get those every year. 2 FCS, sure. UMass, sure. Army, not every year as better programs want to play them every year, every other year at best. The next 6 you'd be lucky to get 2 per year. Penn State, never they are booked until 2024. The others you'd be lucky to get 1 per year.

That averages to 6.5 games or just over half the schedule. If you could fill the rest with AAC/MAC/Sunbelt teams (that's still 2 of each every year) you'd have a schedule that isn't far off an AAC level SOS.

 

[ToolzieFan]

76% of all percentages are made up...

40% of all people know that.

 

[storrsroars]

I seen this posted elsewhere but now we are independent we could try save a bunch of money and have bus rides to games and a more desirable schedule. We may have to play the allowable 2 games against 1AA opponents.

1 URI/Maine/UNH 1AA
2 Villanova.....a strong 1AA opponent and a basketball conference member
3 UMASS This game will be easy to schedule as they are independent
4 Army this game will be easy to schedule as they are independent
5 Buffalo
6 Boston College
7 Syracuse
8 Rutgers
9 Temple
10 Pitt
11 Penn state. probably need to give them a basketball game
12 West Virginia,Virginia tech,Maryland

You could conceivably get a Penn State or Pitt or WVU on the schedule, but don't expect a home and home. PSU's only non-P5 home and home series between 2015-2025 is with Temple. OTOH, WVU and Pitt may like having an old rival on their skeds... but again, might be 2-for-1s with both. Unless you throw in a home game for them with the women's team...

 

[BY06518]

They're aren't entirely killing football, one way or another. So until we know what is happening with football, we can't entirely assess this move.

1) Complete Kill --> already been said not an option.
2) Back to FCS --> highly unlikely
3) Independent --> we've kicked this around, and if this is the case we're in trouble football-wise
4) MAC --> if they let us in, I guess that can work, though they'd have to take another team (UMass?) to make it even. Not a great crop of opponents, but more winnable games and less travel. Pretty much the same history as with AAC. Maybe they can get wins and turn this around.
5) AAC --> has been nixed. UConn basketball is valuable enough, though, that I wonder if we couldn't negotiate playing some of these teams in basketball a certain number of games a year (4?) in an effort to stay in the league? Probably not an option, but just kicking it around. Obviously a very good football conference and the best of the option on the table. Would also mean they could just target a basketball only.

Where do we land?

Kill it like the bug that it is

 

[Guapo]

Independence with help from Fox

 

[Guapo]

You could conceivably get a Penn State or Pitt or WVU on the schedule, but don't expect a home and home. PSU's only non-P5 home and home series between 2015-2025 is with Temple. OTOH, WVU and Pitt may like having an old rival on their skeds... but again, might be 2-for-1s with both. Unless you throw in a home game for them with the women's team...

Never understood why 2 for 1’s get such a bad rap.

Certainly better than being buy games for schools like Clemson.

I reckon we can build a halfway decent schedule with 2 for 1 deals.

 

[storrsroars]

Never understood why 2 for 1’s get such a bad rap.

Certainly better than being buy games for schools like Clemson.

I reckon we can build a halfway decent schedule with 2 for 1 deals.

I suppose you could, but some years your home schedule will probably look like crap.

Good article on how USF and UCF see this differently.

And here's a look at USF's future OOC opponents, with the effect of a handful of 2-for-1s.

 

[Guapo]

I suppose you could, but some years your home schedule will probably look like crap.

Good article on how USF and UCF see this differently.

And here's a look at USF's future OOC opponents, with the effect of a handful of 2-for-1s.

You’re probably right, intelligent scheduling is probably too much to ask of the folks in Storrs

 

[Caronimo]

WHatever happens I just want the Clemson game to remain. Circled that as a vacation.

 

[zls44]

76% of all percentages are made up...

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Take a look at UMass football 2022 schedule. Four home games. Four. New Mexico State, Buffalo, Liberty and Army. I'd really like to think we'd fall somewhere in between BYU and UMass, but it ain't pretty anyway you slice it.

09/03 - at Tulane
09/10 - at Toledo
09/17 - at Boston College
09/24 - at Temple
10/01 - at Eastern Michigan
10/08 - New Mexico State
10/15 - Buffalo
10/22 - at USF
10/29 - Liberty
11/12 - Army

 

[whaler11]

Take a look at UMass football 2022 schedule. Four home games. Four. New Mexico State, Buffalo, Liberty and Army. I'd really like to think we'd fall somewhere in between BYU and UMass, but it ain't pretty anyway you slice it.

09/03 - at Tulane
09/10 - at Toledo
09/17 - at Boston College
09/24 - at Temple
10/01 - at Eastern Michigan
10/08 - New Mexico State
10/15 - Buffalo
10/22 - at USF
10/29 - Liberty
11/12 - Army

Yep need to get 6 home games. Flip any two road games to home and that schedule is fine.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Yep need to get 6 home games. Flip any two road games to home and that schedule is fine.

I suppose. Excitement wise, for me at least, it's not much different that the American.

What it really comes down to I guess is it just depends on what you would consider success will be defined for as a FBS Independent. Simply existing and having a team, 8 wins, minor bowl tie-in, 20,000 in the stands most nights? Occasionally a BC, Rutgers, Pitt, Cuse coming to The Rent?

The goal was obvious in early 00s through CR, compete in the Big East with the Auto-BCS tie-in (which we did more often than not). The American, try and compete for the G5 Access Bid (never was going to happen). FBS Independent, compete for...?

 

[ASweet3781]

Take a look at UMass football 2022 schedule. Four home games. Four. New Mexico State, Buffalo, Liberty and Army. I'd really like to think we'd fall somewhere in between BYU and UMass, but it ain't pretty anyway you slice it.

09/03 - at Tulane
09/10 - at Toledo
09/17 - at Boston College
09/24 - at Temple
10/01 - at Eastern Michigan
10/08 - New Mexico State
10/15 - Buffalo
10/22 - at USF
10/29 - Liberty
11/12 - Army

Gotta hope we have something up our sleeve to help out. Basketball scheduling trade offs? Fox?

My ideal type of football schedule under these less than ideal circumstances.

3 home/home's with the other Indies- BYU, Army, UMass

2 get slaughtered payouts on the road- Clemson, another big name

2 home games against teams that could give us some wins that we play now- IE. Stony Brook, Wagner, Villanova, URI etc

That's 7 and not too bad. It;s doable. How we fill out the other 5 is where it could get away from us. In reality you'd love to fill it out about 2-4 home and homes with mid to lower level Power 5 like we have now- Illinois, Indiana, Duke, etc. Maybe a neutral site Fenway/Yankee Stadium game vs BC/Notre Dame. A MAC school too.

 

[whaler11]

I suppose. Excitement wise, for me at least, it's not much different that the American.

What it really comes down to I guess is it just depends on what you would consider success will be defined for as a FBS Independent. Simply existing and having a team, 8 wins, minor bowl tie-in, 20,000 in the stands most nights? Occasionally a BC, Rutgers, Pitt, Cuse coming to The Rent?

The goal was obvious in early 00s through CR, compete in the Big East with the Auto-BCS tie-in (which we did more often than not). The American, try and compete for the G5 Access Bid (never was going to happen). FBS Independent, compete for...?

It’s funny that people blame Edsall.

UConn football died with the BCS.

The auto-bid was the deliniation between legit and poser.

But some coach who was 74-73 left for 8 figgies elsewhere. He was the problem lol.

 

[Madmannsucks]

The move wouldn't bother me if they hadn't spent millions on football over the past several years. Someone really thought this out.
They can go to P 5 schools and get lambasted for a big payday. Then play schools like UMass at home in front of 3419 fans. Maybe they can play at Keeney Park.

 

[metsfan2323]

Take a look at UMass football 2022 schedule. Four home games. Four. New Mexico State, Buffalo, Liberty and Army. I'd really like to think we'd fall somewhere in between BYU and UMass, but it ain't pretty anyway you slice it.

09/03 - at Tulane
09/10 - at Toledo
09/17 - at Boston College
09/24 - at Temple
10/01 - at Eastern Michigan
10/08 - New Mexico State
10/15 - Buffalo
10/22 - at USF
10/29 - Liberty
11/12 - Army

We're counting UMASS as one game every year but one has to wonder how much longer they stay at FBS level. That home schedule is putrid. Why bother?

 

[WrenchFan69]

So for 2020 we have:
UMass
@Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Home FCS buy game
Could reasonably add Army who has two remaining slots

Then we have to find 6 games.
TCU is the only "Fox-affiliated" school with OOC slots, hopefully they can pull some strings (maybe 2-for-1?)
VA Tech/Miami/FSU/Arkansas away, perhaps a pay game for us
Whatever is left we'll have to get from Air Force/UCF/SMU and some Sun Belt/MAC/C-USA teams.

I think we can do it, even getting 6 home games. Though everything will change if there are other conference moves so maybe thinking about it now is pointless ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[storrsroars]

The move wouldn't bother me if they hadn't spent millions on football over the past several years. Someone really thought this out.
They can go to P 5 schools and get lambasted for a big payday. Then play schools like UMass at home in front of 3419 fans. Maybe they can play at Keeney Park.

Playing in the AAC wasn't getting crowds.

UConn Football’s True Attendance Hits New Low

UConn’s low attendances could get the school in hot water with the NCAA. According to NCAA Bylaw 20.9.9.2, FBS schools must “Average at least 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home football contests over a rolling two-year period.” Actual attendance is defined as scanned attendance; the number of people who enter the game with a ticket.

Paid attendance is a little more complex. In order for tickets to be counted as paid attendance, they must be sold for one-third of the price established at the start of the season or if a ticket sold for less than the one-third threshold is used to attend the game. People working at the game, such as vendors, security, etc., are not counted for paid attendance nor are players, coaches or cheerleaders.

 

[ZachCT12]

So for 2020 we have:
UMass
@Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Home FCS buy game
Could reasonably add Army who has two remaining slots

Then we have to find 6 games.
TCU is the only "Fox-affiliated" school with OOC slots, hopefully they can pull some strings (maybe 2-for-1?)
VA Tech/Miami/FSU/Arkansas away, perhaps a pay game for us
Whatever is left we'll have to get from Air Force/UCF/SMU and some Sun Belt/MAC/C-USA teams.

I think we can do it, even getting 6 home games. Though everything will change if there are other conference moves so maybe thinking about it now is pointless ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Air Force would be a nice pickup.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

We're counting UMASS as one game every year but one has to wonder how much longer they stay at FBS level. That home schedule is putrid. Why bother?

No idea if this is even feasible but the UConn Blog put together this schedule based on openings/availabilities.

What UConn Football’s Schedule Could Look Like in 2020 as Independent

Team	Date	Location
UMass	September 3	Rentschler Field
Illinois	September 12	Champaign, IL
Maine	September 19	Rentschler Field
Indiana	September 26	Rentschler Field
TCU	October 3	Fort Worth, TX
UAB	October 17	Rentschler Field
Louisiana Tech	October 24	Ruston, LA
Army	October 31	West Point, NY
UL Monroe	November 7	Rentschler Field
Southern Miss	November 14	Hattiesburg, MS
Virginia Tech	November 21	Blacksburg, VA
Florida International	November 28	Rentschler Field

Now, obviously TCU and VT wouldn't be making return dates to The Rent, but I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat.

 

[WrenchFan69]

No idea if this is even feasible but the UConn Blog put together this schedule based on openings/availabilities.

What UConn Football’s Schedule Could Look Like in 2020 as Independent

Team	Date	Location
UMass	September 3	Rentschler Field
Illinois	September 12	Champaign, IL
Maine	September 19	Rentschler Field
Indiana	September 26	Rentschler Field
TCU	October 3	Fort Worth, TX
UAB	October 17	Rentschler Field
Louisiana Tech	October 24	Ruston, LA
Army	October 31	West Point, NY
UL Monroe	November 7	Rentschler Field
Southern Miss	November 14	Hattiesburg, MS
Virginia Tech	November 21	Blacksburg, VA
Florida International	November 28	Rentschler Field

Now, obviously TCU and VT wouldn't be making return dates to The Rent, but I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat.

I could see us getting a 2-for-1 with TCU. They have a ton of open dates in the coming years and there's the Fox element. I also think it's more likely we end up with a second local FCS team rather than a final Sun Belt/C-USA team but either works for me just fine. Getting LA Tech at the Rent would be cool. Bring back Bobby.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think independence can work. Of the independent schools, we have the best brand aside from BYU. We also have basketball and women’s basketball to offer in trade. That can earn us some home and homes. I expect Fox to try to help us here, and push some of their schools to schedule us. A formal scheduling deal with the B1G would be ideal, say 3 games a year. Then play a payday game like our Clemson game once a year.

Tulsa just signed an 8 year home and home with Ok State. We need to do that with Penn State and include basketball. Rutgers too. Indiana. Kansas. There are schools that will play us, especially if we become competitive. Winning as an independent is sexier than winning in a meh conference. Not saying the American was meh. Benedict is going to have to be aggressive, but this can work. It’s a bridge to whatever comes next, but losing in the AAC wasn’t helping our brand. Going 6-5 Indy looks better.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Are there enough regional teams that would join to start like a 8 team Big East branded football conference?

Umass, Liberty, Army, maybe Georgetown and Nova can go fbs?

If you need eight teams -- to be like Ivy League -- UConn, Buffalo, Army, Navy, Villanova, Gtown, UMass and if they improve their program maybe William & Mary. Far from perfect

 

[Point6]

I would much rather be independent than join another conference. The B1G is not going to recognize us as a P5 scheduling opponent in CUSA or the MAC. If we can turn the ship around as an independent, we can be a Notre Dame lite. This is a better back door to the P5 club than the AAC imo. If the fans don't believe we can be a Notre Dame lite, why are we complaining about being left out of the P5?

Look at the quality of our football conference mates as an independent. They are all national brand, state flagship universities with high caliber academics. Okay, so its a football conference of one, but it is a P5 quality football conference (albeit with football down at the moment), not a P6, P7 or P8.

 

[Point6]

And lets let Benedict earn his money and worry about FB scheduling. I have confidence that he will get a better schedule for us than some of the worst case examples I am seeing on this board.

 

[Portico]

Uconn will not be able to play in Bowl games without a conference unless they can get a Bowl to do an independent tie in for them.

 

[tzznandrew]

And lets let Benedict earn his money and worry about FB scheduling. I have confidence that he will get a better schedule for us than some of the worst case examples I am seeing on this board.

Between Edsall's gif and the new locker rooms and commits, you would think they have some actual plan here.

 

[zmart]

If you need eight teams -- to be like Ivy League -- UConn, Buffalo, Army, Navy, Villanova, Gtown, UMass and if they improve their program maybe William & Mary. Far from perfect

The following schools could be interested in joining a league in the next few years:

UConn
UMASS
Temple
Army
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Navy
Marshall
Liberty
Old Dominion
East Carolina
Coastal Carolina

 

[ToolzieFan]

Between Edsall's gif and the new locker rooms and commits, you would think they have some actual plan here.

Let’s hope those are indications that a plan is in place. At the very least, there are no current plans to kill football or to let it die.