Geno: "We did a lot of dumb things that are still haunting us."

[John Greene]

How many New Yorkers have Connecticut ties? How many kids from the NYC area go to UConn? How many top recruits out of NYC go to UConn? Even getting a small percentage of the NYC market to tune in is worth more than getting the entire state of Kentucky to watch. We don't have to approach the kind of popularity that the pro teams get to consider ourselves a factor in the NYC market. We already had a better deal from SNY than any other NYC area team. You also have to think about this in terms of potential markets... CT is a done deal... there's room for growth in NYC.

Can't answer for certain but I would bet that more CT residents have NY ties than NYC residents have CT ties. The two would be quite different as far as college sports choices are concerned. Also don't know how many NYC students outside of 5 star BB players attend UConn, but given the huge percentage of our undergrad population that comes from CT I would guess not a lot. Is it possible to build more "regional" interest? Sure it is but, not easily. RU did not get into the B1G because it is NYC's team. It is the Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. NJ has a lot more people than CT.

 

[Adios]

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, etc, do not have high tier teams. If UConn was in the B1G, East Hartford would become a weekend destination in the fall. Aren't they building some mall at Rentschler?

 

[John Greene]

Poppycock. Then what you're saying is that every game we have ever played at MSG felt like a home game because CT based fans trained in to NYC? Do Syracuse fans train in too? Or is NYC just gaga for Syracuse and UCONN has to train in our fans from Connecticut only?

Aside: most of the CT based fans training in live in the NYC DMA. Syracuse is not in the NYC DMA.

When we or Cuse "took over MSG" it was during the BE tourney. Lots of fans from both schools trained, bussed, drove, etc. into the city bought losing team fans tickets and packed the later games. I remember lots of GT & Nova fans doing the same when they were in the semi's and finals. Granted that may be before the memory of many on the BY. That was what made the BE at MSG so special, the fans of most of the schools could get there and pack the place as their team advanced. Unlike most other tourneys where if a local school is not in the final it is a morgue.

 

[Gampeltiles]

Hmmm, what do others drink while reading here?

I have never shaken my love for Red, White and Blue beer.

 

[Gampeltiles]

We are not getting into the ACC. It's B1G or nothing.

If that is the case, my money is on nothing.

 

[John Greene]

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, etc, do not have high tier teams. If UConn was in the B1G, East Hartford would become a weekend destination in the fall. Aren't they building some mall at Rentschler?

Yes they are building an outlet mall but it is not because they expect thousands of people from northern NE to drive past the half dozen similar malls between their homes and EH to support it. They are building it there because they do not believe the land will be needed for other purposes such, as more space for an expanded Rent. I'm sorry if that seems overly negative but it is correct.

 

[Gampeltiles]

Yes they are building an outlet mall but it is not because they expect thousands of people from northern NE to drive past the half dozen similar malls between their homes and EH to support it. They are building it there because they do not believe the land will be needed for other purposes such, as more space for an expanded Rent. I'm sorry if that seems overly negative but it is correct.

Please educate me, to add 10,000 seats to the Rent they can expand vertically in the end zone. How does that take up land?

 

[Adios]

Yes they are building an outlet mall but it is not because they expect thousands of people from northern NE to drive past the half dozen similar malls between their homes and EH to support it. They are building it there because they do not believe the land will be needed for other purposes such, as more space for an expanded Rent. I'm sorry if that seems overly negative but it is correct.

I think a UConn football fanbase throughout New England can be cultivated in the B1G. Already been somewhat done in basketball, I'd say. We'd need to win football games.

Winning over cities, no matter the size, is what we must do. Example, Auburn is aiming to own Mobile, Alabama.

 

[sportsart]

Please educate me, to add 10,000 seats to the Rent they can expand vertically in the end zone. How does that take up land?

Need to pok the ca's

 

[FAIRTIDES]

I think he kind of burst the bubble of CR hope for UConn. I guess that there are no talks with other conferences happening if you read what he said.

Maybe, but, if you were Susan, and you had a secret that absolutely had to remain secret, would you relay that secret to a man with no filter? Just sayin.

 

[Gampeltiles]

Give parking discounts to cars with 4 or more people in it. Find some unused space in Manchester or wherever and run shuttle buses. People could also tailgate in the "commuter" lot and catch the shuttle a half hour or sooner before gametime since the shuttle bus, as it were, does not have to park, it just lets people out.

 

[Hoophound]

Maybe, but, if you were Susan, and you had a secret that absolutely had to remain secret, would you relay that secret to a man with no filter? Just sayin.

Bingo. We aren't getting any hints one way or another. The P5 autonomy vote and CR are getting messier by the week. Everything is likely to be done more quietly and carefully than ever. I look for hints every day but I don't truly expect to get one. I think we'll find a home eventually but I suspect we'll all be surprised when it suddenly happens.

 

[Gampeltiles]

Maybe, but, if you were Susan, and you had a secret that absolutely had to remain secret, would you relay that secret to a man with no filter? Just sayin.

I think the administration may have given a filter to Mr. Tell it Like it is----I do think he knows. He just comes across as purposely negative. Maybe he wants to keep it that way because we are on the cusp and doesn't want the let down that happened when the ACC invited us last time.

I mean it was sign sealed and delivered. Press conference Tuesday.

I agree that any announcement will be sudden and unexpected. I don't think they would keep Geno in the dark, however. That would be a complete lack of respect.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

It is true that Blumenthal was and is an attention whore who used the initial ACC raid as a platform to help his career, not the state or the state's flagship university. That said, the lawsuit at this point is little more than an excuse the ACC can throw out as they had gotten over it and were more than willing to take exhaustive steps to add us prior to even the second round ACC of expansion through BE raids.

I found out in the fall of 2009 (from someone who would have known this) that JH had informed a handful of people (primarily power donors to the athletic department) about the ACC's plan to eventually (when, not if was the only variable) add Syracuse and us in an effort to a) establish them as without question the strongest men's hoops conference b) lock up the entire eastern seaboard and c) deliver the blow to the BE that they thought the earlier would accomplish (in this case by taking then the three most current national titles and the two highest profile members that the conference could boast about) while in the process gaining a rivalry that they could promote as second to only UNC-Duke.

One major reason this went wrong was that JH assumed everything had been cast in stone and his work (not that he actually did any) was done. Another was that due to the CR activity during the summer of 2011, the ACC a) sped up their timetable for the purposes of renegotiating a television deal and b) acted in a very unique manner that required quick and covert action. That BC was on the committee that tasked with recommending action allowed them far more authority than they normally would have had. They could have tied up the decision for days if they did not agree with the choices, which would have derailed the entire endeavor. Our missing out in Spetember 2011 was not due to the lawsuit.

Of the laundry list of complaints I have with JH, the largest is this: it was pointed out in this thread about our baseball team (in addition to football and basketball success) in 2011. Our 2010-2011 athletic year was among the best that any athletic department could brag about yet few outside of our fan base have any clue as to what we had accomplished. He did zero to promote the program anywhere.

 

[Gampeltiles]

It is true that Blumenthal was and is an attention whore who used the initial ACC raid as a platform to help his career, not the state or the state's flagship university. That said, the lawsuit at this point is little more than an excuse the ACC can throw out as they had gotten over it and were more than willing to take exhaustive steps to add us prior to even the second round ACC of expansion through BE raids.

I found out in the fall of 2009 (from someone who would have known this) that JH had informed a handful of people (primarily power donors to the athletic department) about the ACC's plan to eventually (when, not if was the only variable) add Syracuse and us in an effort to a) establish them as without question the strongest men's hoops conference b) lock up the entire eastern seaboard and c) deliver the blow to the BE that they thought the earlier would accomplish (in this case by taking then the three most current national titles and the two highest profile members that the conference could boast about) while in the process gaining a rivalry that they could promote as second to only UNC-Duke.

One major reason this went wrong was that JH assumed everything had been cast in stone and his work (not that he actually did any) was done. Another was that due to the CR activity during the summer of 2011, the ACC a) sped up their timetable for the purposes of renegotiating a television deal and b) acted in a very unique manner that required quick and covert action. That BC was on the committee that tasked with recommending action allowed them far more authority than they normally would have had. They could have tied up the decision for days if they did not agree with the choices, which would have derailed the entire endeavor. Our missing out in Spetember 2011 was not due to the lawsuit.

Of the laundry list of complaints I have with JH, the largest is this: it was pointed out in this thread about our baseball team (in addition to football and basketball success) in 2011. Our 2010-2011 athletic year was among the best that any athletic department could brag about yet few outside of our fan base have any clue as to what we had accomplished. He did zero to promote the program anywhere.

Maybe the baseball team can play at the Rock Cats new ballpark in Hartford to raise awareness. That's how UCONN does things to raise awareness-------move it off-campus.

(I am aware they are building a new baseball facility on campus, it's nice to know that they will have a home that is not second fiddle to ECSU's baseball facility).

 

[06029]

Give parking discounts to cars with 4 or more people in it. Find some unused space in Manchester or wherever and run shuttle buses. People could also tailgate in the "commuter" lot and catch the shuttle a half hour or sooner before gametime since the shuttle bus, as it were, does not have to park, it just lets people out.

Shuttle buses? Are you trying to turn the Rent environment into BC where you have to pay a lot to have grilling privileges? Not to mention the cost of the buses and no remote lot will allow tailgating. Too tough to control and too many rent a cops to make remote parking tailgate successful. Also, Uconn fans have trouble making kick off now when they can walk to their seats from their car. No way they get in buses 30 minutes early.

 

[CL82]

I have never shaken my love for Red, White and Blue beer.

You crack me up. I had far too many PBRs and Red, White and Blues.

 

[Pudge]

I am always amazed at how many people think UConn can become a "regional team". Everyone I have ever known from NYC, & LI will say something nice about MBB (WBB) and then change the subject to the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, etc. In MA the same thing only substitute Sox, Pats, Bruins. I don't know about NH & RI but my guess is outside of the southern suburbs of Springfield there would not be a lot of interest. We are the University of Connecticut. When we "took over MSG"is because a lot of fans took the train down to see the game, not because many New Yorkers really care about UConn.

I couldn't be more on the opposite side of this debate.

Talking Yanks, Sox, Bruins, Pats, Giants ... ain't where our pool of revenue will come from. I think you can think a little harder & see that you left out a HUGE chunk. Regional? Why does Rutgers - with putrid results and a sick brand - get credit for people who'll never go to New Brunswick or turn on that TV? We actually have a BRAND appeal in Men's and Women's hoop. We actually have great Football within a few hours drive for a family/group ... that won't cost a bundle. The Pro discussion hits the wall when you realize that you are basically leaving live sports to just a corporate and wealthy guy environment.

 

[Gampeltiles]

Shuttle buses? Are you trying to turn the Rent environment into BC where you have to pay a lot to have grilling privileges? Not to mention the cost of the buses and no remote lot will allow tailgating. Too tough to control and too many rent a cops to make remote parking tailgate successful. Also, Uconn fans have trouble making kick off now when they can walk to their seats from their car. No way they get in buses 30 minutes early.

So other than that you agree with me?

 

[huskypantz]

I think he kind of burst the bubble of CR hope for UConn. I guess that there are no talks with other conferences happening if you read what he said.

Naahhhh. I think he's actually framing the argument as "UConn is a worthy P5 school, but we made enemies due to the lawsuit and that's the only reason we're on the outside".

 

[jostar1]

Here are emails from 2011 in case anyone hasn't seen them. By that time Hathaway was gone and Paul Pendergast was acting AD. Note how he was trying to get involved but Herbst made it quite clear that presidents and not AD's were running the show.

http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/282123-responsive-documents.html#document/p1

 

[businesslawyer]

The lawsuits- plural - were filed in CT, and named individuals personally as responsible for damaging UCONN. It's pretty shocking to me, still, even now - that it was allowed to happen. People hold grudges, especially if they are sued personally for millions of dollars.

Lew Perkins, never stayed to see his baby succeed - he knew exactly what was happening - his baby was spitting the silver spoon out and he wasn't staying around to try to clean up the mess.

What we do - is acknowledge it happened, learn from it, recognize the importance of the sport of football in the national landscape of intercollegiate athletics, and move forward accordingly demonstrating that we've learned from it, and hopefully voters in CT won't re-elect the liar in the senator's seat.

Carl: I am begging you to stop. You are embarassing yourself.

Let me make this simple for you: a lawyer can not sue a party without his client agreeing to it. That means that the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech (at first), Rutgers, West Virginia and UConn -- as universities -- ALL APPROVED EACH PLAINTIFF BEING NAMED. And every individual at an ACC school that was sued knew this when then voted to invite Pitt.

 

[businesslawyer]

I am always amazed at how many people think UConn can become a "regional team". Everyone I have ever known from NYC, & LI will say something nice about MBB (WBB) and then change the subject to the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, etc. In MA the same thing only substitute Sox, Pats, Bruins. I don't know about NH & RI but my guess is outside of the southern suburbs of Springfield there would not be a lot of interest. We are the University of Connecticut. When we "took over MSG"is because a lot of fans took the train down to see the game, not because many New Yorkers really care about UConn.

That is amazingly dumb. SNY pays to televise mens hoops, womens hoops and football and show the games in the entire region. if the rights only had value in CT, they would be bought by a CT broadcaster.

 

[UConnDan97]

Carl: I am begging you to stop. You are embarassing yourself.

Let me make this simple for you: a lawyer can not sue a party without his client agreeing to it. That means that the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech (at first), Rutgers, West Virginia and UConn -- as universities -- ALL APPROVED EACH PLAINTIFF BEING NAMED. And every individual at an ACC school that was sued knew this when then voted to invite Pitt.

THIS! This is the key statement. This is why I lose my mind when people want to keep pointing back at the lawsuit (I know, I know...even Geno did it). The ACC was not at all concerned about the lawsuit and Nordenberg's major role in it when they invited Pitt and Syracuse. But they did so because they knew the money would be there and that they would cripple their major competitor in the East...

 

[RMoore1999]

Carl: I am begging you to stop. You are embarassing yourself.

Let me make this simple for you: a lawyer can not sue a party without his client agreeing to it. That means that the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech (at first), Rutgers, West Virginia and UConn -- as universities -- ALL APPROVED EACH PLAINTIFF BEING NAMED. And every individual at an ACC school that was sued knew this when then voted to invite Pitt.

As a fellow transactional lawyer, couldn't agree more. Surprising this isn't obvious to all - neither a law, nor any other, degree should be required to grasp this concept.

I am curious though as to the identity of the AG's of those other states from back then...i can't seem to remember. Unlikely Blumenthal's contributions in that matter will soon be forgotten.

 

[CL82]

That is amazingly dumb. SNY pays to televise mens hoops, womens hoops and football and show the games in the entire region. if the rights only had value in CT, they would be bought by a CT broadcaster.

I agree BL but I do think a big motivating factor was getting a presence in Connecticut. They were already in NYC and North Jersey. UConn games were the keys to penetration into Connecticut. The real lesson of the SNY/UConn deal is that that penetration happened as fast as it did. UConn may not cause every TV in NYC to tune in (although they do cause a lot of them to do so and even a small percentage of that very big number has value) but they do carry the state of Connecticut, (Hartford/New Haven DMA, plus Fairfield County, plus the eastern part of the state) and that it is one of the more meaningful demographics still on the table.

 

[businesslawyer]

I agree BL but I do think a big motivating factor was getting a presence in Connecticut. They were already in NYC and North Jersey. UConn games were the keys to penetration into Connecticut. The real lesson of the SNY/UConn deal is that that penetration happened as fast as it did. UConn may not cause every TV in NYC to tune in (although they do cause a lot of them to do so and even a small percentage of that very big number has value) but they do carry the state of Connecticut, (Hartford/New Haven DMA, plus Fairfield County, plus the eastern part of the state) and that it is one of the more meaningful demographics still on the table.

You have accurately described the hidden value to SNY of the deal, and why it made more sense for them than it would have for MSG or YES. Having said that, Connecticut is a modest piece of SNY's total market, and they are not paying to carry the games in all of New York State, New Jersey and Eastern PA without believing that someone is watching.

 

[coachcap]

I agree BL but I do think a big motivating factor was getting a presence in Connecticut. They were already in NYC and North Jersey. UConn games were the keys to penetration into Connecticut. The real lesson of the SNY/UConn deal is that that penetration happened as fast as it did. UConn may not cause every TV in NYC to tune in (although they do cause a lot of them to do so and even a small percentage of that very big number has value) but they do carry the state of Connecticut, (Hartford/New Haven DMA, plus Fairfield County, plus the eastern part of the state) and that it is one of the more meaningful demographics still on the table.

The proof in the pudding of UConn's value to SNY is this. SNY had been trying for years to get coverage on CT. cable systems not in Fairfield County with little success. Once UConn signed it's contract with SNY the cable systems buckled & SNY was on every system seemingly within a month.

 

[Sea Goat]

Carl: I am begging you to stop. You are embarassing yourself.

Let me make this simple for you: a lawyer can not sue a party without his client agreeing to it. That means that the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech (at first), Rutgers, West Virginia and UConn -- as universities -- ALL APPROVED EACH PLAINTIFF BEING NAMED. And every individual at an ACC school that was sued knew this when then voted to invite Pitt.

It's not that simple - at the time everyone knew Blumenthal was leading the litigation efforts. ( The action(s) were brought in CT and controlled by his office - the actions could have been brought in other jurisdictions.) Clients do have to agree on whether to proceed in litigation, but lawyers set the tone and advise and influence on all things, including who to sue. Blumenthal chose to name people individually and likely promoted the idea to his clients. That made it intensely personal and, in truth, it wasn't necessary to gain whatever relief he thought he could get. As a result, Blumenthal and CT ended up highest on the ACC " list".

Having said that, we know other reasons for the "blackball" were in play, especially with BC. But the CT's leadership on the lawsuit(s) probably tipped the balance. We all know that "success has a thousand fathers and failure is an orphan". Sure our fellow plaintiffs ran for the hills when the litigation strategy backfired. However, let's be real; if somehow the case(s) miraculously changed the course of CR at the time, you would have been run over by Blumenthal if you were between him and the cameras.

 

[businesslawyer]

It's not that simple - at the time everyone knew Blumenthal was leading the litigation efforts. ( The action(s) were brought in CT and controlled by his office - the actions could have been brought in other jurisdictions.) Clients do have to agree on whether to proceed in litigation, but lawyers set the tone and advise and influence on all things, including who to sue. Blumenthal chose to name people individually and likely promoted the idea to his clients. That made it intensely personal and, in truth, it wasn't necessary to gain whatever relief he thought he could get. As a result, Blumenthal and CT ended up highest on the ACC " list".

Having said that, we know other reasons for the "blackball" were in play, especially with BC. But the CT's leadership on the lawsuit(s) probably tipped the balance. We all know that "success has a thousand fathers and failure is an orphan". Sure our fellow plaintiffs ran for the hills when the litigation strategy backfired. However, let's be real; if somehow the case(s) miraculously changed the course of CR at the time, you would have been run over by Blumenthal if you were between him and the cameras.

Hogwash. Utter and complete hogwash. The litigation was being run by Skadden. Blumenthal was just the public spokesman. Anyone who thinks Pitt and WVU and Rutgers was ignoring the way Skadden wanted the litigation played and was instead relying on Dick Blumenthal's opinions and strategies is insane.

When you hear someone from the outside say "it's because of Blumenthal,", what do you expect them to say? It's because we don't want to have to compete with UConn? It's because we can make more money by leaving UConn on the outside? Those are all evidence of per se antitrust violations. They point to Blumenthal to explain decisions that are illegal but they don't want to publicly admit are illegal.

God, I wish people were smarter than this.