Is the Big Ten an option?

[businesslawyer]

This is all hypothetical, forum discussion because the B!G appears to be on hold. But hypothetically if the B!G and ACC give a call to UConn it means the B!G no longer is on hold. And depending on who the B!G offers or could offer, UConn would have to consider things carefully.

Suppose the B!G offers Missouri, UConn and Rutgers. Now what does that mean for the SEC, ACC, B12 and Notre Dame. Does the SEC go after the conjectured ACC schools? Does the B12 take the remaining BE schools? Does the B!G leak news that they are going after Maryland? And does this mean that both the ACC and the BE become so gutted they are no longer options for ND which finally puts the pressure on ND to join the B!G.

I agree with you. As things stand today, both the ACC and the B!G are supermodels. But things can turn around quickly and I can easily think of things happening where the ACC supermodel develops severe eczema or breast cancer.

LOL.

 

[uconndogs]

Why don't you just debate which of your two favorite supermodels you are going to sleep with tonight?

How about both.......at the same time?

 

[Hoophound]

Don't be surprised if UCONN/Rutgers to the B1G chatter picks up. Somehow, I think the B1G is talking about how to rattle ND's cage. If they force the ACC to get on with inviting people by beginning talks with Uconn and Rutgers, they can push ND a little bit. The B1G is just way too quiet right now.

 

[tzznandrew]

We would dominate in basketball (men and women's), but obviously need to really pick it up in football.

We wouldn't dominate. We'd be among the best couple of schools, and probably not fall as low as is possible in the BE. But MSU, OSU, and Wisconsin are always good. Indiana is on the way back up, as is Michigan.

 

[Hoophound]

We wouldn't dominate. We'd be among the best couple of schools, and probably not fall as low as is possible in the BE. But MSU, OSU, and Wisconsin are always good. Indiana is on the way back up, as is Michigan.

We would dominate along with MSU as long as JC is around. We have a better caliber recruiting pipeline going and we have a great coach. tOSU could compete with us long term as well because they get talent, but ultimately, we have the superior product along with MSU due almost entirely to coaching.

 

[mattp]

This discussion floors me right now. Why don't you just debate which of your two favorite supermodels you are going to sleep with tonight?

If either conference calls us, we are answering yes before they change their mind. It is of no import whatsoever what we would do if they both offered us and gave us time to determine our preference

if you take that attitude this whole conference expansion board is a waste of time b/c it's not like any of us have any input at all on the decision of where we end up, and in reality even Herbst may have no control over where we end up. that being said it's friday and i don't feel like working too hard, so i need something to occupy my time, thus we debate.

 

[ctchamps]

As it stands presently, especially with the addition of Cuse and Pitt for men's bb, the ACC would be a better bb conference to join than the B!G for both UConn men's and women's bb programs. But the difference is not significant enough imo to have much impact on UConn's future success in bb.

The B!G's football conference is significantly better than the ACC's. But there is no way of knowing how this would translate for UConn's football program. The single most important factor for a program's success is winning and not whose conference a university belongs with.

There is no way of knowing which conference alignment would help UConn's recruiting or ability to win. The B!G would give UConn much greater buzz to start with, but would that translate into greater ability to access various regions for better recruits. Not necessarily. If Uconn can become good in a great conference this would benefit them much more than if UConn becomes good in a weak conference. But no one knows if that can happen.

The only consideration I would give about going to one conference over the other, if I were given the option of both, would be which is more stable and therefore likely to continue future success for the conference and its member universities.

 

[ctchamps]

LOL.

I hope you are laughing at my supermodel theories.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Please, can we stop talking about the Big 10 now?
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...ansion-not-radar-commissioner-jim-delany-says

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm a simple guy. Give me a supermodel for the night (and permission from my wife) and I wouldn't waste a second wondering what other supermodels might be available.

But by no means am I challenging anyone else's right to have the debate.

If we're going to fantasize about things like this, why do we need to stop at one supermodel per night?

I've just become convinced that a hybrid model, allowing for partial membership is the best way to go. I want to be part of the ACC for Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Soccer, Baseball, Women's Field Hockey, Golf and Tennis while the B1g will be where we park our Football, Men's & Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Volleyball and our Track & Field programs (along with our research being complemented with CIC membership (by the way, we will receive full shares of revenues from both conferences).

The way I see it, the odds of the above are pretty similar to the odds of me banging two supermodels in the same night.

 

[whaler11]

If we're going to fantasize about things like this, why do we need to stop at one supermodel per night?

I've just become convinced that a hybrid model, allowing for partial membership is the best way to go. I want to be part of the ACC for Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Soccer, Baseball, Women's Field Hockey, Golf and Tennis while the B1g will be where we park our Football, Men's & Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Volleyball and our Track & Field programs (along with our research being complemented with CIC membership (by the way, we will receive full shares of revenues from both conferences).

The way I see it, the odds of the above are pretty similar to the odds of me banging two supermodels in the same night.

Oh you want Notre Dame's deal

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

wait...what? you honestly believe the big ten would take our football team and NOT our basketball teams? you can't seriously believe they'll ever go for that. that'd be like hiring johnnie cochran to mow your lawn at his legal hourly rate.

 

[Jimdish255]

Please, can we stop talking about the Big 10 now?
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...ansion-not-radar-commissioner-jim-delany-says

On how much he would like to see a Big Ten team such as fourth-ranked Wisconsin end the SEC's five-year run of winning national championships in football: "We want to compete on the national level whether it's football, basketball or track and field. I tip my hat to the SEC for their success on the field.

Seems like they're done for now, but if they break the streak it will be because of an NC State transfer QB - lol!

 

[Richmondhsky]

Please, can we stop talking about the Big 10 now?
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...ansion-not-radar-commissioner-jim-delany-says

After reading this article and the many posts on realignment it is no more than ever, important to have JC continue as our BB HC. Our value proposition is BB regardless of how well our FB program does even thougt FB drives the bus. As long as JC is our HC he will out recruit the competition further expanding the UC brand.

Being left out of this round thus far won't hurt us long term if we are able to keep the BB program at the elite level. IMHO

 

[weyuo]

The football program has been thrown to the wolves this season. Transfers(Frey and others), early departures(Toddman), quitters(Edsall), more quitters(Pitt & Cuse), even more pot headed quitters(Endres and others), disgruntled donors(Burton), injuries, regime changes(Herbst, Hathaway), a new coaching staff and learning a completely different system on very short notice, lousy weather, lousy fan attendance.

But.... UConn still dictates it's own future. They have a great coaching staff. Recruiting looks better than in the past. Now all they have to do is win games. Winning will take care of everything else. You clean up some of the mistakes and your 5-0. A couple guys get healthy and your running game starts to improve. You win a couple and your confidence builds and by the end of the season you've won enough to get invited to a bowl. Next season everyone is comfortable with the new system, recruiting picks up a little more. More games are won. We blow out MD and the traitors Pitt and the fruit. We go on a roll.... maybe pick up a top 25 ranking. The doom and gloom goes away and maybe a couple conferences start fighting for our admittance. Winning football games will take care of our problems. Lets give Coach P and the team till the end of next season to change the perception of UConn football. I know they can if just given the chance. Best thing we all can do is be fannies in the seats. Not doomsayers on a blog.

 

[whaler11]

Attendance hasn't actually been that bad. Nobody stayed for the end of the WMU game, but it was decently attended in the first half given the weather and the results to date.

 

[Nostical]

Sorry Brass, but the Delaney article is not what it appears. He's a smart, silent guy who knows how to play the game. The Big10 Network is his baby and difference maker and he needs our eastern NY/NE eyeballs to further hype his ad rates. And we offer great content and an expandable football stadium. With Herbst working behind the scenes and her preference clearly being the Big 10, I'm encouraged that we'll be heading there in the future.

 

[whaler11]

Sorry Brass, but the Delaney article is not what it appears. He's a smart, silent guy who knows how to play the game. The Big10 Network is his baby and difference maker and he needs our eastern NY/NE eyeballs to further hype his ad rates. And we offer great content and an expandable football stadium. With Herbst working behind the scenes and her preference clearly being the Big 10, I'm encouraged that we'll be heading there in the future.

If that is the scenario... what is he waiting for?

 

[Nostical]

He's waiting, like every other conference, for ND. If they can find a way to deal with the TV issue ( and I see Comcast/NBC engaging in that broader discussion) and ND joins, Comcast may encourage those eastern markets to prevent the ESPN dominance via the ACC. Fox is a player now in the Pac12 sharing deal. Do you think Comcast is going to let ESPN play the Machiavellian role and dominate the landscape (and Fox as well) without trying to protect/expand their interests? And the best vehicle for that influence is a ND/ Expanded Big10.

 

[upstater]

Sorry Brass, but the Delaney article is not what it appears. He's a smart, silent guy who knows how to play the game. The Big10 Network is his baby and difference maker and he needs our eastern NY/NE eyeballs to further hype his ad rates. And we offer great content and an expandable football stadium. With Herbst working behind the scenes and her preference clearly being the Big 10, I'm encouraged that we'll be heading there in the future.

Then problem with the east is that the BTN will not get the rates it gets in the midwest. Adding UConn is not going to get BTN off the extra tiers onto basic. I don't believe Delaney thinks that either. After all, Penn State is unable to throw its weight behind the BTN in Penn. So what makes anyone think UConn and Rutgers could do it? Eastern cable subscribers are not about to fork over $1 a month to watch Penn State, UConn or Rutgers.

 

[upstater]

They are on expanded basic. Not the basic package that the Big10 is pushing for according to that article. The deal with Comcast in PA bring in pennies on the dollar, not the $1 charged in the midwest. There's a big difference. I've seen breakdowns for Eastern Pa that had BTN charging .25 for expanded basic, while in the midwest they charge $1 on basic.

 

[RS9999X]

Find those break downs.

The basic and expanded basic tiers vary per carrier and state law. Not all have the same option of services. It's not a requirement to be on the near free 'Basic' $12 news package some carriers are required to have. It's on the tier above that.

I've seen plenty confirming that once Comcast set the rate all providers pay the same if they have a Big 10 team. It's either/or and not micro-regional.

 

[junglehusky]

Big Ten Fever... catch it!!!

 

[coachcap]

Sorry Brass, but the Delaney article is not what it appears. He's a smart, silent guy who knows how to play the game. The Big10 Network is his baby and difference maker and he needs our eastern NY/NE eyeballs to further hype his ad rates. And we offer great content and an expandable football stadium. With Herbst working behind the scenes and her preference clearly being the Big 10, I'm encouraged that we'll be heading there in the future.

Nostical, from your lips to God's ears, BUT, where did you see that the Big-10 is Pres. Herbst's preference? She's been angling southward to preserve "local" rivalries with "like minded" institutions. (or so we're led to believe)

 

[Hoophound]

Nostical, from your lips to God's ears, BUT, where did you see that the Big-10 is Pres. Herbst's preference? She's been angling southward to preserve "local" rivalries with "like minded" institutions. (or so we're led to believe)[/quote

Her stated mission for UConn sounds more like a B10 approach than the ACC approach. She wants to grow research and the endowment, she is moving towards AAU status, mostly large public universities etc. I think she would prefer the B10 if she had a choice not only because of the money, but because of the vision she has.