Hmmm, sounds like UConn to the ACC?

[huskypantz]

There's an Applebee's there.

You'd love it.

It's been gone for a year, as is the movie theater. Being replaced by the Hotel Grand Swofford.

 

[billybud]

It's seemingly irrational for the ACC to let a second conference drive another wedge between its northern and southern schools, but they've been stupid about things so far and there's no reason to think that will change.

None of ESPN's top 25 football markets are north of Virginia while being east of Ohio...

 

[billybud]

When towns like Greensboro, Greenville, Richmond and Norfolk bring college football viewers (all Top 25 ESPN football markets) and cities like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Boston do not, the lesson may have been learned.

 

[Hoophound]

When you have a bunch of schools that don't win anything and/or a bunch of small private schools that barely win anything, you are gonna struggle. There is a state flagship in that area that wins and has a huge, captive audience. Once that school plays a good football schedule, it will inevitably look more like a traditional football school.

 

[djct1999]

None of ESPN's top 25 football markets are north of Virginia while being east of Ohio...

And yet all the B1G 10 are. Thats the problem for ESPN. A network wont work if all you can lock down is the state of VA, NC, and northern FL.

 

[BlueMAB]

. There is a state flagship in that area that wins and has a huge, captive audience.

What is this "huge, captive audience." you speak of?

Our state is relatively small and shrinking. And the audience has shown they have plenty of other options.

Now if we get in the Big 12, the crowds will certainly improve, if/when the team improves, we'll regularly sell the place out. But it would take a generation or more to be like a Penn State.

 

[upstater]

None of ESPN's top 25 football markets are north of Virginia while being east of Ohio...

Say wha? How is Penn State and Philly not a top market?

Are you talking about ratings? If you are, you are missing the big picture. I say this all the time, but a 5 rating in NY City is a much better accomplishment than a 50 rating in Louisville, if you're counting eyeballs.

 

[upstater]

What is this "huge, captive audience." you speak of?

Our state is relatively small and shrinking. And the audience has shown they have plenty of other options.

Now if we get in the Big 12, the crowds will certainly improve, if/when the team improves, we'll regularly sell the place out. But it would take a generation or more to be like a Penn State.

Have you even looked at the rest of the country?

The B1G has a state like Iowa with fewer people than Connecticut, and it has 2 large P5 universities.

Jeez.

Most state in that 3-6 million range have 2 state universities, other than Connecticut. Look it up. Look up Indiana. Iowa. South Carolina. Kansas. Oregon. etc.

 

[Hoophound]

If you think our following in Connecticut is small you haven't been around small athletic programs. Connecticut loves UConn and there is amazing growth potential for the program and the university. We've just begun tapping NYC and Fairfield County for fans and donations. The school is raising its academic profile at a lightning fast pace and soon the children of the state's wealthy will want to go to UConn in much greater numbers. UConn is becoming an elite institution under Herbst.

We still do well with fans and we are playing a schedule that is completely depressing to the fanbase. The state of Connecticut is a huge captive audience. By that, I mean that we dominate the market. UConn is everywhere. I was just in Connecticut and my wife said, "wow, UConn is on everything here." Banks, coffee cups, commercials, pizza boxes, trains, interstate signs, one shirt and hat after another on the street. That is a huge, captive audience. You don't see that when near many power schools. It isn't a Florida or Ohio state type audience but as far as college sports programs go, UConn is the best the Northeast has to offer after Penn State. Give UConn a P5 schedule and you'll see it happen. You'll never see that from Boston College. We were well on our way when Randy Edsall left.

UConn is one miracle football season and a P5 invite away from being a major player.

 

[Jae-VT]

When towns like Greensboro, Greenville, Richmond and Norfolk bring college football viewers (all Top 25 ESPN football markets) and cities like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Boston do not, the lesson may have been learned.

Sir, I would proffer the following theory for your consideration:

Given the level of animosity the UConn fanbase has with Boston College and Syracuse, if our conference were to invite UConn, it could certainly spike the level of interest in college sports in the seemingly dormant Northeast region. Nothing fuels a good rivalry like passion and animosity is certainly a passion. Until my personal experiences with graduates from UVa, I really did not feel anything for the Commonwealth Cup. Now, it is a must win game for me when watching Virginia Tech.

It could be, that the demise of the Old Big East has had an unintended side effect of lessening the level of interest of the casual college sports fans that live in this region of the country.

Of course this is all speculation but also consider that with the addition of a dedicated sports network for the ACC, our conference would need to add programming beyond Football. Yes, I understand that football is king and is the cash crop that must be protected, but UConn basketball is a valuable property as well and basketball has a following within the ACC.

 

[Waquoit]

How about the buzzkillers take a timeout? Feel free to come back and gloat if everything goes south but until then give us fans a break.

 

[BlueMAB]

Have you even looked at the rest of the country?

The B1G has a state like Iowa with fewer people than Connecticut, and it has 2 large P5 universities.

Jeez.

Most state in that 3-6 million range have 2 state universities, other than Connecticut. Look it up. Look up Indiana. Iowa. South Carolina. Kansas. Oregon. etc.

You're missing my point.

There are 261 schools in MA, 207 in NJ, and 114 in CT. That's 582 options within a 3-4 hour drive from most places in the state.

CT is 5,000+ square miles
MA is 10,000 + square miles
NJ is 8,000+ square miles

That's 582 options in 23,000+ square miles.

Iowa has 107 schools and 56,000 square miles.

Then there's the obvious cultural differences and the fact that most people in the northeast place far more weight and value on a private school education, where as most people in the Midwest and south have more pride in their state school. Going to a state school in CT was, for generations, a plan b. That doesn't change overnight, not when you have as many quality private school options as we have in the northeast.

 

[Jae-VT]

How about the buzzkillers take a timeout? Feel free to come back and gloat if everything goes south but until then give us fans a break.

Fair enough and I apologize for the intrusion. But please believe me when I state that I would not gloat if UConn is not invited into the Big-12. Good day to you all.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

You're missing my point.

There are 261 schools in MA, 207 in NJ, and 114 in CT. That's 582 options within a 3-4 hour drive from most places in the state.

CT is 5,000+ square miles
MA is 10,000 + square miles
NJ is 8,000+ square miles

That's 582 options in 23,000+ square miles.

Iowa has 107 schools and 56,000 square miles.

Then there's the obvious cultural differences and the fact that most people in the northeast place far more weight and value on a private school education, where as most people in the Midwest and south have more pride in their state school. Going to a state school in CT was, for generations, a plan b. That doesn't change overnight, not when you have as many quality private school options as we have in the northeast.

Still not following how that has much to do with the ability of the state to support 1 FBS team.

I'd wager about half the people on here went to state schools in CT or private schools in New England and still support UConn athletics.

I don't think anybody is making a Penn State comparison, but to say with a big time schedule we couldnt pack in 50k most weeks is short sighted given that in 8 win seasons in the Big East with some of the worst offenses in FBS we sold the place out at 40k.

I understand that some of us have an inflated view of UConn on here and you've been trying to ground some of that in reality, most of which I tend to agree with btw, but on this matter I dont see your point of view.

 

[BlueMAB]

If you think our following in Connecticut is small you haven't been around small athletic programs. Connecticut loves UConn and there is amazing growth potential for the program and the university. We've just begun tapping NYC and Fairfield County for fans and donations. The school is raising its academic profile at a lightning fast pace and soon the children of the state's wealthy will want to go to UConn in much greater numbers. UConn is becoming an elite institution under Herbst.

We still do well with fans and we are playing a schedule that is completely depressing to the fanbase. The state of Connecticut is a huge captive audience. By that, I mean that we dominate the market. UConn is everywhere. I was just in Connecticut and my wife said, "wow, UConn is on everything here." Banks, coffee cups, commercials, pizza boxes, trains, interstate signs, one shirt and hat after another on the street. That is a huge, captive audience. You don't see that when near many power schools. It isn't a Florida or Ohio state type audience but as far as college sports programs go, UConn is the best the Northeast has to offer after Penn State. Give UConn a P5 schedule and you'll see it happen. You'll never see that from Boston College. We were well on our way when Randy Edsall left.

UConn is one miracle football season and a P5 invite away from being a major player.

The only parts I disagree with is that the audience is ""huge" and captive". The state is shrinking. That's a serious problem that we can't ignore. I'll agree to different definitions on "huge". The fact that we're just tapping into Fairfield County is kind of my point. A large percentage of our population lives there and we just started going after it a few years ago. We have a lot of room to grow, which is why I wouldn't call our fanbase huge. **Not for football, which is significantly more important than WBB, and more important than MBB** But our overall fanbase definitely can be huge. And we're doing a great job tapping into NY.

Other than that, yes, I totally agree. We have a ton of potential. TBH I think Rutgers could potentially have as much to offer if they could ever figure out how to have a halfway competent Athletic Department. But, I agree totally, we have far more potential than BC and Cuse, and anyone in New England. It's not even close.

Believe it or not, it is possible to be a fan, AND, recognize areas for improvement and causes for concern.

 

[Marty Jackson]

None of ESPN's top 25 football markets are north of Virginia while being east of Ohio...

PSU?

 

[UConNation]

Fair enough and I apologize for the intrusion. But please believe me when I state that I would not gloat if UConn is not invited into the Big-12. Good day to you all.

I don't think he was talking to you. You've been pretty fair and objective with your comments.

 

[amory]

Fair enough and I apologize for the intrusion. But please believe me when I state that I would not gloat if UConn is not invited into the Big-12. Good day to you all.

are you actually george washington

I don't think he was talking to you. You've been pretty fair and objective with your comments.

yeah cuz he's george washington and he cannot tell a lie. duh.

 

[BlueMAB]

Still not following how that has much to do with the ability of the state to support 1 FBS team.

I'd wager about half the people on here went to state schools in CT or private schools in New England and still support UConn athletics.

I don't think anybody is making a Penn State comparison, but to say with a big time schedule we couldnt pack in 50k most weeks is short sighted given that in 8 win seasons in the Big East with some of the worst offenses in FBS we sold the place out at 40k.

I understand that some of us have an inflated view of UConn on here and you've been trying to ground some of that in reality, most of which I tend to agree with btw, but on this matter I dont see your point of view.

I didn't say the state doesn't have the ability to support 1 FBS team. I'm talking about allegiances.

You can wager what you want, but it's a WAG. I didn't go to UConn. Most of my friends didn't go to UConn. Of that gruop, I'm the outlier. Most of us grew up huge UConn BB fans. Nobody cared about the FB team because it was minor league. Our allegiances to BB run deep, but they care far less about FB because the history isn't there. They're completely comfortable not going to FB games after having season tickets based on what happened with CR and the team.

Again, I'm just saying it's going to take time, that's all. Not that we can't (or even aren't) building that football fanbase.

I didn't say we "couldn't" pack in 50k most weeks. I think it will take a little while, and an obvious stadium expansion. We need to be good to sustain it, but we certainly can average 40-45, with sellouts against the big names at 50k.

I think you might not see my point of view because I didn't say either of those things.

The Penn State comment was hyperbole.

 

[UCONN in OKC]

I have to reference King Katie here and she wrote this peace wish I loved.... Being raised in New Britain it hit home...

also not a UCONN alum but grew with UConn in my DNA.... I was accepted to attend UConn but wasn't able to go because my awesome Dad refused to fill financial aid form for my scholarship for Math and Science… I graduated have attended Catholic University of PR and St. Louis University Grad. I bleed UConn blue and will till I die and all my kids bleed blue and fallow the team because I love them.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I didn't say the state doesn't have the ability to support 1 FBS team. I'm talking about allegiances.

You can wager what you want, but it's a WAG. I didn't go to UConn. Most of my friends didn't go to UConn. Of that gruop, I'm the outlier. Most of us grew up huge UConn BB fans. Nobody cared about the FB team because it was minor league. Our allegiances to BB run deep, but they care far less about FB because the history isn't there. They're completely comfortable not going to FB games after having season tickets based on what happened with CR and the team.

Again, I'm just saying it's going to take time, that's all. Not that we can't (or even aren't) building that football fanbase.

I didn't say we "couldn't" pack in 50k most weeks. I think it will take a little while, and an obvious stadium expansion. We need to be good to sustain it, but we certainly can average 40-45, with sellouts against the big names at 50k.

I think you might not see my point of view because I didn't say either of those things.

The Penn State comment was hyperbole.

I guess my main point of contention is when you say it will take a generation (and of course a stadium expansion which is true) to get to the place where we can expect to have big crowds, I just don't buy it.

There is a huge appetite for UConn football as evidenced from our sell out crowds from Day 1 at the rent. That didn't take generations to go from memorial stadium to a 40k seat stadium.

The attendance only began to dwindle after the P debacle and the current CR nightmare.

If UConn makes it into the Big 12 and there are big names, high ranks and some familiar faces in WV, Cincinnati and the OOC, the stadium will be sold out in a heart beat and we will need to expand.

The idea our fan support has fallen on hard times is true, but there's still quite a large base out there that all they need is a spark. We've seen it before.

 

[UConn Dan]

Fair enough and I apologize for the intrusion. But please believe me when I state that I would not gloat if UConn is not invited into the Big-12. Good day to you all.

Yup... I don't think he was talking about you... you're good

 

[CL82]

You're missing my point.

There are 261 schools in MA, 207 in NJ, and 114 in CT. That's 582 options within a 3-4 hour drive from most places in the state.

CT is 5,000+ square miles
MA is 10,000 + square miles
NJ is 8,000+ square miles

That's 582 options in 23,000+ square miles.

Iowa has 107 schools and 56,000 square miles.

Then there's the obvious cultural differences and the fact that most people in the northeast place far more weight and value on a private school education, where as most people in the Midwest and south have more pride in their state school. Going to a state school in CT was, for generations, a plan b. That doesn't change overnight, not when you have as many quality private school options as we have in the northeast.

I've never seen such a pile of pointless data. It assumes that each one of the institutions you list have equal support among sports fans. Kind of silly don't you think? But let's assume for a moment that that concept has any validity. You neglect to address the population difference. CT. MA, and NJ have a population of about 18 million while Iowa, though roughly the same land mass has a population of only 3 million.

Wing U, I just don't understand you at all. I don't think that you are trolling, but I've never seen a CT fan so motivated to ignore Connecticut's strengths and work so hard to find manufacture weaknesses. I don't get it.

But hey, at least you now acknowledge the ACC's prior interest in UConn and Boston's College's role in blocking us. Baby steps.

 

[FDNY99]

I have to reference King Katie here and she wrote this peace wish I loved.... Being rased in New Britain it hit home...

This is flat out awesome! Easy to relate to...

 

[Marty Jackson]

You're missing my point.

There are 261 schools in MA, 207 in NJ, and 114 in CT. That's 582 options within a 3-4 hour drive from most places in the state.

CT is 5,000+ square miles
MA is 10,000 + square miles
NJ is 8,000+ square miles

That's 582 options in 23,000+ square miles.

Iowa has 107 schools and 56,000 square miles.

Then there's the obvious cultural differences and the fact that most people in the northeast place far more weight and value on a private school education, where as most people in the Midwest and south have more pride in their state school. Going to a state school in CT was, for generations, a plan b. That doesn't change overnight, not when you have as many quality private school options as we have in the northeast.

Sorry but your view is out dated... you may as well be preaching the value of a good buggy whip or how we'll never see an electric vehicle in our lifetime...
Yes, there are many private schools in the northeast, but with the skyrocketing cost of a college education, there has been a huge influx of applications to the in-state universities which in turn has increased the selectivity and decreased acceptance rates of schools like UCONN and UMass. yes, there are still great private school options but many of the top students in CT and MA are now looking at the flagship schools and not just as a safety.

The other piece I disagree with is the notion that someone who goes to a small private or other public school won't be a UCONN fan. I grew up in CT. never went to UCONN but became a fan because they were the local team. Went to a couple small private schools in The Commonwealth but still remain a UCONN fan. For some reason, my three kids are into UCONN now as well and one has it high on his list of college choices (sadly, it would be out of state and very pricey)...

that's how it works. Your right, it doesn't happen overnight, but if you think the 110,000 that show up in Happy Valley or down in Tuscaloosa every saturday during fb season studied at those schools you're mistaken...

Lastly, many of uconn's older bb fans follow college fb, but not UCONN because they didn't play 'big-time' football way back when. that's why you hear about ND or BC fans. they were the 'default' choice. UCONN on the big stage builds the fan base. Kids grow up following UCONN football. Playing Texas, Oklahoma, BC, Penn State, ND, Michigan, and Ohio State. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen overnight and it is a generational thing.

 

[Waquoit]

Yup... I don't think he was talking about you... you're good

Yeah, I was referring to the overall vibe I'm getting from those voice of reason types. We know the score, we don't need any splaining from them.

 

[upstater]

You're missing my point.

There are 261 schools in MA, 207 in NJ, and 114 in CT. That's 582 options within a 3-4 hour drive from most places in the state.

CT is 5,000+ square miles
MA is 10,000 + square miles
NJ is 8,000+ square miles

That's 582 options in 23,000+ square miles.

Iowa has 107 schools and 56,000 square miles.

Then there's the obvious cultural differences and the fact that most people in the northeast place far more weight and value on a private school education, where as most people in the Midwest and south have more pride in their state school. Going to a state school in CT was, for generations, a plan b. That doesn't change overnight, not when you have as many quality private school options as we have in the northeast.

How about Alaska, they must be the best option for the P5s under your square mile metric?

Also, UConn is really worried about Albertus Magnus eating into its ratings.

 

[BlueMAB]

I guess my main point of contention is when you say it will take a generation (and of course a stadium expansion which is true) to get to the place where we can expect to have big crowds, I just don't buy it.

There is a huge appetite for UConn football as evidenced from our sell out crowds from Day 1 at the rent. That didn't take generations to go from memorial stadium to a 40k seat stadium.

The attendance only began to dwindle after the P debacle and the current CR nightmare.

If UConn makes it into the Big 12 and there are big names, high ranks and some familiar faces in WV, Cincinnati and the OOC, the stadium will be sold out in a heart beat and we will need to expand.

The idea our fan support has fallen on hard times is true, but there's still quite a large base out there that all they need is a spark. We've seen it before.

I'm not sure where we disagree....here's what I said

Now if we get in the Big 12, the crowds will certainly improve, if/when the team improves, we'll regularly sell the place out. But it would take a generation or more to be like a Penn State.

Penn State has 100,000+ seat stadium.

There's a pretty wide gap between selling out 40,000 and selling out 105,000 no? Like about a generation wide?

 

[RegisteredUconn]

It's been gone for a year, as is the movie theater. Being replaced by the Hotel Grand Swofford.

I heard the official name is the Best Exotic Marigold Grand Swofford.

 

[BlueMAB]

Sorry but your view is out dated... you may as well be preaching the value of a good buggy whip or how we'll never see an electric vehicle in our lifetime...
Yes, there are many private schools in the northeast, but with the skyrocketing cost of a college education, there has been a huge influx of applications to the in-state universities which in turn has increased the selectivity and decreased acceptance rates of schools like UCONN and UMass. yes, there are still great private school options but many of the top students in CT and MA are now looking at the flagship schools and not just as a safety.

The other piece I disagree with is the notion that someone who goes to a small private or other public school won't be a UCONN fan. I grew up in CT. never went to UCONN but became a fan because they were the local team. Went to a couple small private schools in The Commonwealth but still remain a UCONN fan. For some reason, my three kids are into UCONN now as well and one has it high on his list of college choices (sadly, it would be out of state and very pricey)...

that's how it works. Your right, it doesn't happen overnight, but if you think the 110,000 that show up in Happy Valley or down in Tuscaloosa every saturday during fb season studied at those schools you're mistaken...

Lastly, many of uconn's older bb fans follow college fb, but not UCONN because they didn't play 'big-time' football way back when. that's why you hear about ND or BC fans. they were the 'default' choice. UCONN on the big stage builds the fan base. Kids grow up following UCONN football. Playing Texas, Oklahoma, BC, Penn State, ND, Michigan, and Ohio State. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen overnight and it is a generational thing.

Never said UConn was still a safety school, I said it takes time to overcome that old way of thinking.

Never said someone who didn't go to UConn couldn't be a UConn fan. I explained that I, and many of my friends are, despite not going to UConn.

Never said that all of he Bama/PSU fans are alumni.

My point exactly about UConn FB is we have to build, because we're young to the big time football stage.

In fact, I said it doesn't happen overnight and it is a generational thing.

So thank you for building that long and arduous strawman, only to come to an agreement with me at the end.