Here’s a bombshell

[CTFAN4LIFE]

What happened to college football in the Northeast?

The story of college football can't be told without the Northeast, but it's been less than impressive in recent memory. Can it find a way to succeed again?

www.espn.com

wouldnt expect anything less from a cuse grad working at espn...

CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR NED LAMONT wanted to spend a few minutes engaging with voters on Twitter earlier this summer, so he started a Q&A with the hashtag #AskNedAnything.

Question: Will UConn join a Power 5 conference?

For anyone who doesn't need to woo voters in the state, the answer seems obvious. In the playoff era, UConn is a woeful 21-76. The Huskies have exactly one win vs. an FBS opponent since 2017 (vs. equally awful UMass), and they last beat a Power 5 team nearly six years ago.

Lamont was undaunted. The replies were predictably hilarious. The UConn jokes mostly write themselves.

Since the program's high-water mark in 2010, when it won the Big East and played in the Fiesta Bowl, the Huskies have been a national laughingstock, and after canceling their entire 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they withdrew from the American Athletic Conference and opted for independence, just so their basketball programs could have a better home in the reconstituted Big East.

Unfortunately, it is accurate.

 

[CL82]

Unfortunately, it is accurate.

It’s all good. We’re down right now. We’ve been down for 10 years, but there’s reason to believe we are about to climb out of the hole. Jim Mora has been as impressive as is possible during his run up to his first season. Now, that doesn’t guarantee us wins, but people who are extraordinary at the details of the collateral aspects of their job, typically are equally extraordinary at the details of the core focus of their job. I’m hopeful.

I am completely willing to except all the cracks about our program that people want to make. We’ve earned them. But as I’m fond of saying here, the notion that the way things are is the way they will always be is the refuge of tiny minds. And every little snide remark, every time we’re underestimated, every time we are a punchline is just going to make our eventual revival that much sweeter.

 

[Hoophound]

I'll say it again, we have have quite possibly the two best coaches we've had in program history on staff right now. I know that is saying a lot, because we've had some great assistants and coordinators, but I believe it. This staff is loaded with competence. I feel fairly certain brighter days are ahead. I still have some reservations, but nothing like I've had in the past.

 

[fatlucy]

I’m hopeful but I’m also tired of spending so much money on an embarrassment of a program. Fingers crossed.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

It’s all good. We’re down right now. We’ve been down for 10 years, but there’s reason to believe we are about to climb out of the hole. Jim Mora has been as impressive as is possible during his run up to his first season. Now, that doesn’t guarantee us wins, but people who are extraordinary at the details of the collateral aspects of their job, typically are equally extraordinary at the details of the core focus of their job. I’m hopeful.

I am completely willing to except all the cracks about our program that people want to make. We’ve earned them. But as I’m fond of saying here, the notion that the way things are is the way they will always be is the refuge of tiny minds. And every little snide remark, every time we’re underestimated, every time we are a punchline is just going to make our eventual revival that much sweeter.

Agreed - I am hopeful, too. The new regime should get us back to .500 in a few seasons (likely not this year or next but perhaps three). We need this badly so we can be positioned better in terms of conference realignment, which will likely pause a bit for the next year or so (it seems like the conferences make one move every year or two with adding two teams and with Notre Dame seemingly showing patience and holding their independence dear to their heart) it gives us time to show the world we can be decent pig-skinners (again). That timeline will also let men's hoops get back to annual top-20 status (and hopefully beyond). Just wish that Paige didn't go down again as women's hoops is still our best calling card at the moment. Cheers to better days!!

 

[Ports21]

Yeah likely no movement until ND decides what to do. Their current deal is $22 million a year through 2025. I don't see NBC upping it to the $75 million they requested to stay independent -- but with NBC in the heart of negotiations I could see them trying to say well we can't do that but...if you join the BIG....

 

[Chief00]

Yeah likely no movement until ND decides what to do. Their current deal is $22 million a year through 2025. I don't see NBC upping it to the $75 million they requested to stay independent -- but with NBC in the heart of negotiations I could see them trying to say well we can't do that but...if you join the BIG....

$22 million isn’t what it use to be when you see the Big10/SEC numbers on the table.
Someone would differently pay more, especially given some network will have loss out on various deals and will have to try to salvage something and pay a lot.