"If the B1G wants NYC" ....from MSU fans

[Adios]

Talking about you on the WVU forum as well.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=159&f=4582&t=12783672

I'm all for adding UConn to the Big 12 with either BYU or Cinci.
North
UConn
WVU
Cinci
ISU
KSU
KU

That would be an incredible division. I can live with that. One huge advantage the Big 12 has is it that it is located in strategic areas for trade and resources. It's mostly in states that are booming.

 

[cheech63]

There's always open ears somewhere. Some people are definitely receptive. My guess is those who are receptive are more educated than those who are not.

good point

 

[WestCoastHusky]

nice posts You wrote.I think you're wasting your efforts over there.They could care less about anything you have to say.

Thanks. I pretty much figured that out quickly. Those guys there don't care for intelligent conversation. They are bitter they just lost so they will trash anything UCONN. I seriously hope they don't represent the average B1G fans.

 

[1999.2004.2011]

Personally I'd take an invite to either the B1G, Big XII or ACC, whichever conference gives us an invite first. I noticed that some posters on the Big XII forums talk about the geographic separation between CT and the rest of the schools, but travel to other XII schools wouldn't be any difference than the AAC. We'd be trading trips to SMU, Houston and Memphis for Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. I'd take that in a New York City minute

 

[Davidm]

Personally I'd take an invite to either the B1G, Big XII or ACC, whichever conference gives us an invite first. I noticed that some posters on the Big XII forums talk about the geographic separation between CT and the rest of the schools, but travel to other XII schools wouldn't be any difference than the AAC. We'd be trading trips to SMU, Houston and Memphis for Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. I'd take that in a New York City minute

A little OT but what are you going to do about your name if the men win again sometime soon? Can't just leave it as that.

 

[okielite]

That would be an incredible division. I can live with that. One huge advantage the Big 12 has is it that it is located in strategic areas for trade and resources. It's mostly in states that are booming.

True. Would add what the Big 12 currently lacks. I think that one thing is being somewhat overlooked. The Big 12 allows teams to have a nice package of content to sell on thier own, which has been discussed too many times to count. This package is what for most of the conference is the least valuable content, but in the case of UConn it is actually some of the most valuable. As much as been discussed in realignment I don't believe this has been considered as such a huge advantage that UConn has over the rest of the Big 12 members. I believe it is 1 FB game, around 8 mens BB games, plus most WBB and OLY sports.which in most cases are not terribly valuable aside from KU BB primarily becasue they are the worst games of the year. I don't know that anybody in the Big 12 is even close to having WBB games that are as valuable. Baylor is good but does not have the fanbase or national following that UConn WBB has. Then on top of that you guys have hockey, lacrosse, baseball?, soccer?, etc.. that most Big 12 schools do not aside from baseball. When you combine all that content that has value I think there could be a huge oportunity there.

 

[okielite]

Would it help?

Seems to have worked for WVU And Louisville.

 

[uconnsouth]

You would have to think west Virginia would lobby for us. They need more eastern teams

 

[UConnDan97]

Although I have to say that the idea of a Big12 invite sounds really intriguing (a.k.a., lucrative), we would feel like a fish out of water. For those who think that the travel will be similar in the Big12 versus the American, it won't. Use the link below to collapse all the conferences except the American and the Big12, and you'll see the travel difference (and it doesn't include Navy for football yet):

http://collegesportsinfo.com/ncaa-map/

Would we or should we turn down the invite if we were offered? No. We can't turn it down. But man, if you think that WVU feels strange in that conference, we might as well be located in Canada...

 

[Fishy]

When you're on an airplane, you're on an airplane.

 

[UConnDan97]

When you're on an airplane, you're on an airplane.

I've been on an airplane for an hour and a half, and I've been on an airplane for 7 hours. I can say to you with great certainty that when you're on an airplane, you are not always on an airplane! Also, we still do have the option to take buses to places like Temple and Navy (although it would be a long trip), especially for the non-revenue sports. Maybe when you're on a bus, you're on a bus??

Again, keep in mind that I would not recommend turning down an invite to the Big12...

 

[Fishy]

There are no seven hour flights in the Big 12 or the the American and Navy is football only - UConn will fly there every other year.

There is very little difference in travel between the American and the Big 12 - it's all a bunch of 2.5 and 3.5 hour flights.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

At this point, if we get a B12 invite, we have to take it. We need money to continue building UCONN athletics. Besides, it can be intriguing for CT fans to see B12 teams playing at the Rent.

 

[pj]

There are no seven hour flights in the Big 12 or the the American and Navy is football only - UConn will fly there every other year.

There is very little difference in travel between the American and the Big 12 - it's all a bunch of 2.5 and 3.5 hour flights.

Except that the American schools are in cities close to airports - many Big 12 schools are far from airports. extra 1-2 hours commonly.

 

[noeynox]

Except that the American schools are in cities close to airports - many Big 12 schools are far from airports. extra 1-2 hours commonly.

Nothing against you as you are posting a fact, but really who cares? I know it means an extra hour or two on a bus for the athletes, but somehow, if it means the school will get revenue to keep it operating as a high major, it will be worth it to everyone, including the athletes.

 

[djct1999]

At this point, if we get a B12 invite, we have to take it. We need money to continue building UCONN athletics. Besides, it can be intriguing for CT fans to see B12 teams playing at the Rent.

Agreed. First, lets just get a chair at the table. We can worry about where we are sitting later.

 

[ZooCougar]

The Big 12 is the least likely of the three likely options.

 

[noeynox]

The Big 12 is the least likely of the three likely options.

I disagree. The B1g and ACC are at fourteen full time members+ Notre Dame. ND is gumming up the works in the ACC, by telling them there is a chance they will join for football. In addition, there are forces within the ACC that want to keep us out. That cannot be discounted. Who besides us, is not tied up with a GOR, that the Big Ten could pair with us? UConn/Kansas leading the basketball side has some real cache. For all the talk of the Big12 being the best basketball conference, they like the ACC went out with a whimper. UConn should aggresively, and privately be selling themselves to the Big12. Travel concerns be damned.

 

[Husky25]

Except that the American schools are in cities close to airports - many Big 12 schools are far from airports. extra 1-2 hours commonly.

I don't think this is as much of a consideration, except in non-revenue sports, and even then...

How many schools in the Old Big East could a team reasonably expect to take a bus? 4 (St. Johns, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Providence)? Pittsburgh is 8 hours away in a car without stopping (and the last 45 minutes are on local roads). 'Cuse is 5 hours, The DC area is about 6 hours. Add another 90 minutes for the bus factor (I.e. safe driving, they aren't on Fung-Wah buses), bathroom breaks, gas, and food. Suddenly a ride to Seton Hall is over 3 hours. So in all practicality, the teams were already flying a good deal. The revenue generating teams take charter flights on smaller planes that can take off and land from Municipal airports.

 

[okielite]

Except that the American schools are in cities close to airports - many Big 12 schools are far from airports. extra 1-2 hours commonly.

Really?

Most Big 12 schools are within an hour of a major airport. OU is less than an hour to OKC. OSU is about an hour to OKC or Tulsa. ISU is an hour from Des Moines. KU is 30 minutes from KC. TCU is in DFW. UT is in Austin. TT is in Lubbock. WVU is an hour form Pittsburg. Really Baylor and KSU are furthest from major airports but there are commercial flights into Topeka which is not far from Manhattan, KS.

 

[ZooCougar]

I disagree. The B1g and ACC are at fourteen full time members+ Notre Dame. ND is gumming up the works in the ACC, by telling them there is a chance they will join for football. In addition, there are forces within the ACC that want to keep us out. That cannot be discounted. Who besides us, is not tied up with a GOR, that the Big Ten could pair with us? UConn/Kansas leading the basketball side has some real cache. For all the talk of the Big12 being the best basketball conference, they like the ACC went out with a whimper. UConn should aggresively, and privately be selling themselves to the Big12. Travel concerns be damned.

We may not mind the potential travel. But here in Big 12 country they are already grumbling about traveling to Morgantown.

In football it's not so bad, because they only have to go out there once every other year, but in the other sports it is at least once a year. Why would they add to it? They are not thinking like that at the moment.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I'd sign up for the Big 12 in a heart beat even if it was contingent on every other home football vs Texas or OU being at Giants Stadium. Likely, I'd give more concessions than that as well.

As has been mentioned, if we could keep our tier 3 rights which would include some men's and a lot of women's basketball we'd stand to make a lot of money from that as well.

 

[Dooley]

Yeah, sign me up for the B12 too. My first choice is and will always be the B1G. But if the AAU requirement is too far out in the future (i.e. - won't happen for more than 5 years) and that is an absolute sticking point to gain an invite, then we need to move our athletics to the first power conference that offers. If that's the B12, great. I can think of a worse way to spend a Saturday than watching UCONN take on the likes of Texas, OU, OSU and welcome back WVU. Kansas vs UCONN basketball would be must-see TV. Maybe even make that an annual MSG tilt. We can play Texas and OU at MetLife until we can expand the Rent. We will need the cash infusion and the added revenue would offset the increased travel costs. And like others have said here, the expenses won't be all that much more than what we will be spending to play our AAC mates.

But, I really hope the B1G steps up soon and realizes that it needs UCONN to fully capture NYC.

 

[Waquoit]

I'd sign up for the Big 12 in a heart beat even if it was contingent on every other home football vs Texas or OU being at Giants Stadium. Likely, I'd give more concessions than that as well.

It's not worth agreeing to be someone else's bitch. It never works out.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It's not worth agreeing to be someone else's bitch. It never works out.

Yeah, you're right. Better to continue to bring in $20M less in tv revenue than our local rivals than two play two of the best programs in history in an NFL stadium every few seasons.

 

[pj]

Most Big 12 schools are within an hour of a major airport. OU is less than an hour to OKC. OSU is about an hour to OKC or Tulsa. ISU is an hour from Des Moines. KU is 30 minutes from KC. TCU is in DFW. UT is in Austin. TT is in Lubbock. WVU is an hour form Pittsburg. Really Baylor and KSU are furthest from major airports but there are commercial flights into Topeka which is not far from Manhattan, KS.

Alright. A major airport is one that has nonstop flights from Boston, New York, or Hartford. Austin is a major airport. Dallas Fort Worth is a major airport. Kansas City is a major airport. Pittsburgh is a major airport, but Morgantown is an hour away. After that, minor airports.

To get to Ames Iowa, you can change planes to fly into Des Moines (not a major airport) and drive 41 miles, or fly into Minneapolis (major airport) and drive 3 hours. Lubbock - who thinks Lubbock has a major airport?

The SEC has a similar problem by the way, you either charter flights into small airports or do a lot of plane changing and layovers on commercial flights or fly and take a long bus ride. It's a problem for student athletes and travel budgets.

Nothing against you as you are posting a fact, but really who cares? I know it means an extra hour or two on a bus for the athletes, but somehow, if it means the school will get revenue to keep it operating as a high major, it will be worth it to everyone, including the athletes.

Agreed, it's not relevant to our realignment decisions.

 

[CTGoonie]

You would have to think west Virginia would lobby for us. They need more eastern teams

Kansas as well. KU vs. Uconn in bball bould be the B12's Duke/Cuse.

 

[okielite]

Alright. A major airport is one that has nonstop flights from Boston, New York, or Hartford. Austin is a major airport. Dallas Fort Worth is a major airport. Kansas City is a major airport. Pittsburgh is a major airport, but Morgantown is an hour away. After that, minor airports.

To get to Ames Iowa, you can change planes to fly into Des Moines (not a major airport) and drive 41 miles, or fly into Minneapolis (major airport) and drive 3 hours. Lubbock - who thinks Lubbock has a major airport?

The SEC has a similar problem by the way, you either charter flights into small airports or do a lot of plane changing and layovers on commercial flights or fly and take a long bus ride. It's a problem for student athletes and travel budgets.



Agreed, it's not relevant to our realignment decisions.

If that is how you want to look at it then so be it. I responded to the post that said many Big 12 schools are 2 hours from an airport, which is simply not true. If you think that flying to DFW and connecting to Lubbock is too much then so be it. But Lubbock is not as small as you might think. 300k people and the 8th busiest airport in Texas. I think when you look at it the majority of schools are a direct flight to DFW, OKC, Tulsa, Austin, KC, or Pittsburg along with a 30 minute to 1 hour bus ride. Isn't that about what it is to UConn as well? With TT, ISU, KSU, and Baylor requiring a 1 hour plus bus ride and/or s connecting flight. Small price to pay for exchanging schools like SMU, Houston, UCF, etc... for UT, OU, OSU, TT, KSU, etc.. along with a bigger payday and a huge opportunity on tier 3.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

If that is how you want to look at it then so be it. I responded to the post that said many Big 12 schools are 2 hours from an airport, which is simply not true. If you think that flying to DFW and connecting to Lubbock is too much then so be it. But Lubbock is not as small as you might think. 300k people and the 8th busiest airport in Texas. I think when you look at it the majority of schools are a direct flight to DFW, OKC, Tulsa, Austin, KC, or Pittsburg along with a 30 minute to 1 hour bus ride. Isn't that about what it is to UConn as well? With TT, ISU, KSU, and Baylor requiring a 1 hour plus bus ride and/or s connecting flight. Small price to pay for exchanging schools like SMU, Houston, UCF, etc... for UT, OU, OSU, TT, KSU, etc.. along with a bigger payday and a huge opportunity on tier 3.

I think one of the biggest attraction thing to the B12 is the tier-3 thing. UCONN women's tier-3 rights sold for $1.14M a year to SNY. There is much money to be made there if UCONN can keep more games to ourselves.

I do agree with you that travel to B12 schools would be a small price to pay to play in a power conference. UCONN is every bit a P5 school and we need to be with our peers.

 

[pj]

If that is how you want to look at it then so be it. I responded to the post that said many Big 12 schools are 2 hours from an airport, which is simply not true. If you think that flying to DFW and connecting to Lubbock is too much then so be it. But Lubbock is not as small as you might think. 300k people and the 8th busiest airport in Texas. I think when you look at it the majority of schools are a direct flight to DFW, OKC, Tulsa, Austin, KC, or Pittsburg along with a 30 minute to 1 hour bus ride. Isn't that about what it is to UConn as well? With TT, ISU, KSU, and Baylor requiring a 1 hour plus bus ride and/or s connecting flight. Small price to pay for exchanging schools like SMU, Houston, UCF, etc... for UT, OU, OSU, TT, KSU, etc.. along with a bigger payday and a huge opportunity on tier 3.

Yes, agreed, small price. We'd love to be in the B12. Great football, and some great basketball teams - Kansas, ISU looks to be good for years to come, Texas and Oklahoma historically. Money wise it would be better for us than the ACC thanks to the Tier 3 rights, and it would also keep a B1G option open since the most likely B1G expansion would be upon a B12 break up at the expiration of their TV contract, whereas in the ACC we'd be locked in with the GoR and $52 mn exit fee. The main risk to the B12, that Texas or Oklahoma goes somewhere when the TV contract expires, wouldn't be much of a risk for UConn, by the expiration of the B12 TV contract in 2025 or whenever it is we'll probably be AAU, well established in football, and one of the top candidates for poaching by other leagues with Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas; we should find a safe landing. All in all it would be awesome for UConn.