Independent Scheduling | Page 7 | The Boneyard

Independent Scheduling

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Nostical said:
“Like it or not UConn is an FBS school with a known national brand. Beating them is better than an FCS or directional school no one recognizes when the score flashes by.”

That’s exactly the thinking that gives our Independent status a real chance to succeed—and in rejuvenating fan interest. Now, if we can win more games this fall than most expect, the future of Husky football will brighten considerably.
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That is great for the away games. The issue is getting a halfway decent home schedule. FSU is not coming to the Rent. Neither is Clemson. Who do you get to come to the Rent to fill out a 6 game home schedule and can you do it with 2 or 3 for 1 deals? The only way to get fans back in the Rent, besides winning, are some interesting opponents.
 
My surmise from reading opinions on this site is that you guys will be better off in the long run, especially if Fox ups the per school payout in the NBE as some expect, as almost all of your teams will have lower travel costs; this includes the FB team too - recruits want to play against the best (that "chip on the shoulder" macho attitude to prove that they are good too* and were wrongly disdained during recruitment) and against Clemson and a resurgent FSU (and others like that) they will get that moreso than against AAC teams. Then too, there is the prospect of having a more regional group of core FB opponents, something lost by many in the realignment craze for TV money - kind of amazing that Nebraska does not play Oklahoma anymore in another "Game of the Century" (1971), nor Texas play Arkansas or Texas A&M. If Fox adds 1-2 million per school per year, the contract will have the same value as the AAC contract, given that SNY will still have access to broadcasting your games (not hidden behind an ESPN paywall), and that you don't have to invest in broadcast facilities - ACC schools have spent several million dollars (or more) per school to get ready for their participation in the ACC Network. It was not a cost-free operation. The other thing is due to the national championships by your basketball teams, you have a brand, even though your FB teams have not done well lately - ND, BYU, UConn are all "household names" for sports fans everywhere.

*Unexpected victories by FCS Applachian State vs. Michigan at "the Big House" and FCS Ga Southern vs. Florida in "the Swamp".
 
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Pondering some things here. My ballpark guess is that we will end up with a combo of SNY and FS1 for TV. For the low appeal games, they would be on SNY. P5 type game would be FS1. Whether that’s via SNY selling the national rights or a truly split deal, who knows. Or even the opposite, Fox selling the local appeal games to SNY and maybe streaming them.

The reasoning is that any P5 coming here will want national broadcast of the game their fans can watch. Yet I don’t think FS1 wants UConn vs Liberty or an FCS team.
 
atom58 said:
My surmise from reading opinions on this site is that you guys will be better off in the long run, especially if Fox ups the per school payout in the NBE as some expect, as almost all of your teams will have lower travel costs; this includes the FB team too - recruits want to play against the best (that "chip on the shoulder" macho attitude to prove that they are good too* and were wrongly disdained during recruitment) and against Clemson and a resurgent FSU (and others like that) they will get that moreso than against AAC teams. Then too, there is the prospect of having a more regional group of core FB opponents, something lost by many in the realignment craze for TV money - kind of amazing that Nebraska does not play Oklahoma anymore in another "Game of the Century" (1971), nor Texas play Arkansas or Texas A&M. If Fox adds 1-2 million per school per year, the contract will have the same value as the AAC contract, given that SNY will still have access to broadcasting your games (not hidden behind an ESPN paywall), and that you don't have to invest in broadcast facilities - ACC schools have spent several million dollars (or more) per school to get ready for their participation in the ACC Network. It was not a cost-free operation. The other thing is due to the national championships by your basketball teams, you have a brand, even though your FB teams have not done well lately - ND, BYU, UConn are all "household names" for sports fans everywhere.

*Unexpected victories by FCS Applachian State vs. Michigan at "the Big House" and FCS Ga Southern vs. Florida in "the Swamp".
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Well said.

I saw the length of the post and the time it was posted and I was girding myself for a rant, but you surprised.

I think you hit the nail on the head with “UConn is a household name” and that is what differentiates us from the New Mexico States of the world.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Pondering some things here. My ballpark guess is that we will end up with a combo of SNY and FS1 for TV. For the low appeal games, they would be on SNY. P5 type game would be FS1. Whether that’s via SNY selling the national rights or a truly split deal, who knows. Or even the opposite, Fox selling the local appeal games to SNY and maybe streaming them.

The reasoning is that any P5 coming here will want national broadcast of the game their fans can watch. Yet I don’t think FS1 wants UConn vs Liberty or an FCS team.
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This what i have been envisioning as well.
 
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Guapo said:
Well said.

I saw the length of the post and the time it was posted and I was girding myself for a rant, but you surprised.

I think you hit the nail on the head with “UConn is a household name” and that is what differentiates us from the New Mexico States of the world.
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I should have added that I read the AAC schools also are having to spend some money to get ready for participating in the new ESPN TV contract, maybe not so much as the ACC schools with their new network, but again that is some money that could have been used elsewhere. While I am not a socialist, I do think the G5 schools have gotten a raw deal - a few million more per school would have been good to support them, for the good of the game (buying safer helmets, equipment, etc.).
 
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06029 said:
That is great for the away games. The issue is getting a halfway decent home schedule. FSU is not coming to the Rent. Neither is Clemson. Who do you get to come to the Rent to fill out a 6 game home schedule and can you do it with 2 or 3 for 1 deals? The only way to get fans back in the Rent, besides winning, are some interesting opponents.
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Currently the conference home games were any combination of American teams. Last year UConn played Cinci, SMU, UCF, Temple, URI, UMass. Replace the American teams with just the current independents Army, Liberty, UMass, BYU, New Mexico State and tell me the difference. Considering the fact that UConn already has 1 for 1’s with Illinois, Duke, Purdue, NC State, Indiana and BC. I think we could get middle tier P5 schools to come. We are already scheduling it.
 
2020 Season is just over a year away. When would you guess additional games being announced. The speculation has been going and going like the energizer bunny.
 
Not sure if this has been brought up but Auburn is scheduled to play FCS Alcorn State on 9/5 next year. Auburn doesn't normally schedule FCS games. We are scheduled to play UMASS on 9/3. I'm sure we would want to re-schedule that UMASS game to a month when conference teams are playing each other. Benedict as we all know has ties with Auburn. Maybe we can pony up the money for Alcorn State to fly to UMASS next September.
 
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metsfan2323 said:
Not sure if this has been brought up but Auburn is scheduled to play FCS Alcorn State on 9/5 next year. Auburn doesn't normally schedule FCS games. We are scheduled to play UMASS on 9/3. I'm sure we would want to re-schedule that UMASS game to a month when conference teams are playing each other. Benedict as we all know has ties with Auburn. Maybe we can pony up the money for Alcorn State to fly to UMASS next September.
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huskymedic said:
When the full slate is complete and contracts in hand...?
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Your reply makes some sense.

Asked because I still have some remote hope that a FB-only with the MAC is still in play. You still have half your preferred schedule and three seasons, OOC, Season and most importantly a post season. You can play 2-3 P5 in the OOC if that is your wish, regional foe as Rutgers or even an AAC team and an FCS local tune up game. You will have UMass and Buffalo on the schedule.

Rescheduling the 9/3, UMass game thou why would we want to do that, especially if you did not support the FB only option to the MAC. Do understand you have very little Basketball games to commit and not sure how long the commitment with the AAC runs through. So perhaps in the future as we improve, but it's a bit ridiculous that we'd reschedule for you when you guys have refused to schedule us in BB since 2005.
 
A few MAC teams on the schedule is probably going to happen, however a MAC league schedule is a big no-no. The key is getting people to come and watch again. First start to win and play decent football. Second you must have a compelling schedule which the directional MAC is not.
 
chalk1 said:
A few MAC teams on the schedule is fine...but a MAC league schedule is a big no-no.
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I agree. The majority of fans who make the effort to support the Huskies on the road would rather go to away games at UNC or Clemson or ?? than annually head for Eastern Mich, Kent State or Ohio U.
 
It's really not a shot against the MAC - most of their teams would beat us today and the past few seasons - it's just that if the UConn football fan didn't accept the AAC, they certainly aren't going to accept the MAC.

I'm happy/expecting to play 3 or 4 MAC games a year if need be, but you can't expect the UConn football fan to purchase season tickets for 1 FCS, 4 MAC, UMass and 1-2 P5.
 
I’d just like some comment from AD Dave. He has let the media and sites like this (of which most CT writers steal intel) run with it. I thought they said give us a couple of weeks. It’s been that.
 
Alum86 said:
I’d just like some comment from AD Dave. He has let the media and sites like this (of which most CT writers steal intel) run with it. I thought they said give us a couple of weeks. It’s been that.
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Hartford Courant (Anthony, Putterman) has already eluded to the fact that things are in motion, fans will like the games, but it is going to be awhile before we hear anything official as these things take time. Until anything becomes official, I doubt anyone can comment further than what has already been said.
 
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The last thing we want is serious leaks because frankly it’s possible that he alumni / booster / media elements at other schools. c r a p on any announcement with our program. It just takes one team backpedaling to perhaps cause a ripple effect.

I’m just fine if we sign up for a pay day game with SC, TCU or Ark before their fan bases catch wind. A Home and Home with struggle Arkansas is perhaps not totally out of the realm - granted our focus is on closer programs.... but we have a lot slots too fill.
 
Alum86 said:
I’d just like some comment from AD Dave. He has let the media and sites like this (of which most CT writers steal intel) run with it. I thought they said give us a couple of weeks. It’s been that.
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It was Susan Herbst who said that.

Herbst said UConn remains dedicated to making football work in some fashion. She begged for patience on details. “Weeks,” she said. “I’m not talking the next few months.”

Mike Anthony: Nostalgia is nice, but UConn’s move to the Big East is about writing and sending its own athletic messages
 
Alum86 said:
I’d just like some comment from AD Dave. He has let the media and sites like this (of which most CT writers steal intel) run with it. I thought they said give us a couple of weeks. It’s been that.
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@Alum86 Setting aside 1. negotiating an expedited AAC exit was UConn’s apparent priority until completed just 9 days ago, 2. a new president only started 3 days ago, and 3. completing #1 reasonably limited extensive focus on prospective scheduling and possible broadcasting opportunities, beyond info linked in huskymedic’s following message:

A. What would you reasonably expect Benedict to communicate already?

B. In such premature communications, what's your take on perceived benefits?

Nothing additional and none which can be reasonably articulated?
 
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Alum86 said:
So she’s gone (thank God) so all bets are off?
the AD needs to be up front and at least answer general questions.
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From 7/30/19:

>>Life as an FBS independent

At least in the short-term, the biggest question facing the football team’s move to independence is who UConn can put on its schedule in 2020. Considering most schools build non-conference schedules years in advance — the Huskies already have Lafayette locked in for 2026 — building a 12-game schedule in a little more than a calendar year will certainly be a challenge.

“The first couple years are going to be a little bit more challenging to put and structure a schedule that is what you really want,” Benedict said. “We might have to play some games that aren’t necessarily what we would choose to do.”

Despite that, Benedict believes that once they get through the first years, the Huskies should be able to build quality schedules. He said there are three important considerations for building a schedule as an independent: What recruits want, what current players want and what fans want. Benedict is confident in UConn’s ability to create 12-game slates that will leave all three groups happy.

“I know a lot of people might think that sounds crazy because it can be difficult as an independent, but I think we’re unique. We have a unique proposition in front of us,” Benedict said. “I think if you look at our non-conference schedule both this year with Indiana and Illinois and looking out, we play a lot of other Power 5 opponents in Purdue, Boston College, Syracuse, North Carolina State, Clemson — the list goes on and on.

“Our ability to attract those types of opponents just for four non-conference games in the past, our ability to add more of those types of games and series to our schedule in the future now that we have eight other games to schedule, I’m excited about that proposition. I think we’re going to be successful in doing that.”<<
 
Is the Tennessee series officially dead? Did they pay the buyout? We should push for them to play it.
 
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My ballpark, completely uninformed guess is that the 2020 schedule can't be announced until we also have a TV deal to announce. It's like trying to swing a six team trade, since we will probably ask teams who play each other in 2020 to play us instead. Then add the TV uncertainty and the need to schedule out into the future.

Hypothetically:
School A - We will play you if you have a TV contract
School B & C - We play each other and will move those games and play you, but we need tv assurances
School D - will play us no matter what, but we can't slot them until A, B, C are done (Liberty)
School E - Same as D (NM State)
School F - FCS filler game
 


ULM still needs a home game in 2020 as they have 3 non-conference road games.
 
KENT STATE’s OOC:
2019 @Arizona St, @Auburn, @Wisconsin
2020 @arkansas, @Kentucky, @Alabama
2021 @Texas A&M, @Iowa, @Maryland
2022 @Georgia

Note- they do host a BCS team each year.
 
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