Jeff Jacobs: No Excuses! If UConn Can't Get Into Power 5 Conference I Want To Know Why!

[uconnfan68]

Fans need to fill the stadium and boosters need to boost -$$. We could get Nick Saban up here for about $9 million/year. Then the recruits would come.

If you're looking for my eyeballs on OU football, you can take them from my cold dead body.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

What Mr. Leghorn says above, in spades.

And, as a side note, it does not hurt to travel well. For football, given the long term state of the program, Rutgers actually travels fairly well. Not a factor in conference realignment as much as in bowl selection when you don't make the NY6.

 

[iamcbs]

I don't understand why this topic keeps coming up. It's simple in College Athletics it's Football that is the driver of everything. UConn doesn't have a prominent enough Football program and until they do, they won't be attractive to any Power 5 Conference. It's not about wins and losses it's about the ability to drive revenue and UConn Football isn't a revenue driver. A crappy stadium and no major TV market appeal are the biggest problems. The B1G believed that Rutgers would be a bigger draw in the NY market than UConn and that's why they chose Rutgers when they expanded.

 

[huskymedic]

A crappy stadium...

Crappy stadium? How so?

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't understand why this topic keeps coming up. It's simple in College Athletics it's Football that is the driver of everything. UConn doesn't have a prominent enough Football program and until they do, they won't be attractive to any Power 5 Conference. It's not about wins and losses it's about the ability to drive revenue and UConn Football isn't a revenue driver. A crappy stadium and no major TV market appeal are the biggest problems. The B1G believed that Rutgers would be a bigger draw in the NY market than UConn and that's why they chose Rutgers when they expanded.

Yes, it's about revenue but not revenue from ticket sales, it's from media contracts. UConn is smack dab between the Boston and NYC markets and has proven it draws eyeballs to TVs. Otherwise, explain Rutgers to the Big 10 or BC to the ACC. UConn would be in the ACC now if BC hadn't blackballed it.

 

[iamcbs]

It has a capacity of 40K which would easily be the smallest facility in the B1G, Ryan Field at Northwestern is currently the smallest and it seats 52K, but NU has been in the B1G forever. When was the last time the stadium was renovated? Can it be expanded? Would the University consider expanding it.

 

[UcMiami]

As a long-time college football fan, I think I can accurately state that no one who isn't a UCONN grad cares a hoot about UCONN football. The only thing they care less about is WCBB. Jacobs calling WBB a 'major sport' is a joke.

While posted here on the WCBB site - the article if you read closely is referring to the money sports of football and men's basketball - hence the count of 4 championships (men's basketball) and comparing that total to the totals between those two sports at P5 universities. He is pointing out that as far as fielding competitive teams in those two men's sports, Uconn can hold its head high against a lot of really mediocre teams including many of the expansion schools that have joined P5 conferences.

 

[EricLA]

It has a capacity of 40K which would easily be the smallest facility in the B1G, Ryan Field at Northwestern is currently the smallest and it seats 52K, but NU has been in the B1G forever. When was the last time the stadium was renovated? Can it be expanded? Would the University consider expanding it.

Why expand it when they can't fill it? It has a max of 42,000 or so seats. In our "heyday", we averaged about 38,000 fans. this past season i think it was about 31,000.

Next season should be a good one for UCONN football and I would hope that our per game average would be north of 35,000 - maybe even close to 40,000, but fans will come to teams that win, especially for a fledgling football program.

I hope Diaco stays at least 7-8 years. I think he's on the right track, but I imagine coaches see UCONN as a stepping stone and I would not be surprised to see him bolt after 5 years, just like Edsell did in heading to Maryland, which in hindsight was disastrous for him.

I don't disagree with people who say UCONN isn't ready for the big time. BUT... they are trending in the right direction and I'd imagine they could easily expand if they were to get teams like OSU, Wisconsin, Michigan, etc etc. Those teams would draw way more interest than Villanova, ECU and Tulane. In a way it's a catch 22.

 

[iamcbs]

That was my entire point, UConn Football does not draw eyeballs to TV's, even UConn Men's Basketball isn't a big TV draw. The B1G felt that Rutgers would be a better route to the NY Market and it didn't want BC for reasons that Mr. Delaney wasn't able to clearly articulate. The team that the B1G is salivating for openly is ND who is a huge draw in multiple sports. The contract for the B1G Network is in its final year and ESPiN is reportedly ready to shell out record bucks to get it from Fox. UConn's FB program just isn't up to P5 level yet and until it is, there will be no invite no matter how many Natty's the WCBB win.

 

[CL82]

It has a capacity of 40K which would easily be the smallest facility in the B1G, Ryan Field at Northwestern is currently the smallest and it seats 52K, but NU has been in the B1G forever. When was the last time the stadium was renovated? Can it be expanded? Would the University consider expanding it.

At the time it was made, it was designed to be expanded to by 10-15k more seats, which would put it in the upper half of Big 12 stadiums.

That was my entire point, UConn Football does not draw eyeballs to TV's, even UConn Men's Basketball isn't a big TV draw.

Lol, are you sure that Men's BB doesn't have good ratings?

Regarding, Football TV ratings, two quick points. Connecticut is still recovering from a devastating HC hire of this guy...

The losing season's under his watch devastated the program, but things are on the way back under Bob Diaco.

Keep in mind that for a lot of schedule, our young, recovering football program is the "marquee" team. Put us in a P5 league and our TV ratings and attendance will jump dramatically.

 

[huskymedic]

When was the last time the stadium was renovated? Can it be expanded? Would the University consider expanding it.

Renovated - geez, it only opened in 2003.

It can be expanded and it has been widely noted that there are already footings in place to add an additional level opposite the press box to increase capacity by 10-15K. The AD has already stated if there was a need to increase capacity (increased attendance/conference affiliation requirement) then expansion would be pursued.

 

[cabbie191]

Keep in mind that for a lot of schedule, our young, recovering football program is the "marquee" team. Put us in a P5 league and our TV ratings and attendance will jump dramatically.

Seems to me a chicken and egg conundrum. Does UConn need to fill football seats to get to a P5 league (most probably scenario I think) or do we hopefully wriggle our way in to a power conference and expect that everything goes rosy afterward as CL82 expects?

I haven't lived in CT for decades but I don't ever remember it being a football state. Never able to support a minor league team in Hartford, and even in the year the Huskies went to the Fiesta Bowl, it seemed that there weren't sellouts at Renschler.

 

[huskeynut]

As a long-time college football fan, I think I can accurately state that no one who isn't a UCONN grad cares a hoot about UCONN football. The only thing they care less about is WCBB. Jacobs calling WBB a 'major sport' is a joke. Obviously I'm a big fan, but the reality is we WBB fans are outliers, with too small numbers to have any economic clout at all.

I'm an Oklahoma grad, so for football I'm incredibly spoiled. But, as a personal example of UCONN's place in the world, in 2010 when UCONN was showing signs of being respectable, they got into the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. I live in Phoenix, so I was able to go. It was embarrassing. Everybody knew Oklahoma was going to kill them and they did. No point at all to playing this game. Plus UCONN lost hundreds of thousands of $$ on the game because they had to buy a bunch of tickets and hotel rooms which nobody used. In addition to winning, the program needs some real fan support when the do. Anyway, total bummer all the way around.

The only way to get anyone's attention in the P5 conferences is to WIN in football. I don't know what the governor or senators or attorney general can do about this, but something needs to change or all the journalist whining in the world won't get us in a P5 conference.

And what happened to Oklahoma this year. Blown out by 20. The Fiesta Bowl is a tired story. Give it a rest. And I won't mention what happened to Michigan State this year. So by your standards, the two semifinal games this year shouldn't have been played!

 

[huskymedic]

... even in the year the Huskies went to the Fiesta Bowl, it seemed that there weren't sellouts at Renschler.

2010 UConn Football Home Attendance (Fiesta Bowl year) (capacity is 40,642)

37,359 Tx So
36,728 Buffalo
40,000 Vanderbilt
40,000 West Virginia
35,391 Pitt
40,000 Cincinnati

Unfortunately the bottom out during the Pasqualoni years. Attendance is on the rise again, and as other UConn sports teams fans have shown - if the opponent is exciting, the seats are filled. ho-hum opponents - not so much.

 

[CL82]

Seems to me a chicken and egg conundrum. Does UConn need to fill football seats to get to a P5 league (most probably scenario I think) or do we hopefully wriggle our way in to a power conference and expect that everything goes rosy afterward as CL82 expects?

I haven't lived in CT for decades but I don't ever remember it being a football state. Never able to support a minor league team in Hartford, and even in the year the Huskies went to the Fiesta Bowl, it seemed that there weren't sellouts at Renschler.

Our attendance was actually pretty good, pre Pasqualoni. Of course you're right, I'm, necessarily, speculating, but I suspect more people want to see Oklahoma than Tulane and Texas rather than Tulsa. I doubt many would disagree with that.

You might find Rutgers a useful analogy. It's football attendance went through the roof when it first joined the Big 10.

 

[j66kicker]

And what happened to Oklahoma this year. Blown out by 20. The Fiesta Bowl is a tired story. Give it a rest. And I won't mention what happened to Michigan State this year. So by your standards, the two semifinal games this year shouldn't have been played!

Regardless of what happened to Oklahoma and Michigan State after they got to the national semifinals, they're big-time programs and they GOT THERE. They won their respective P5 conference championships, and won all their OOC games. I hate to say it, but many UCONN fans are delusional - either in thinking any of the P5 would value our WBB success (delusional and generally unaware of one's surroundings), or in thinking the UCONN football program is on the brink of being successful enough to be attractive to a P5 conference (merely delusional).

I would LOVE to see UCONN get into a P5 conference. I thought they were on the way when the Big East was a BCS conference and UCONN was showing signs of life, but that's ancient history now. Need to bring in a big-time coach who will bring in recruits and put butts in the seats. Schedule P5 OOC opponents, and beat them, so the butts stay in the seats, people actually want to watch on TV, and we get more recruits' attention. This doesn't happen overnight, but at today's pace it won't happen in many of our lifetimes.

 

[CL82]

Regardless of what happened to Oklahoma and Michigan State after they got to the national semifinals, they're big-time programs and they GOT THERE. They won their respective P5 conference championships, and won all their OOC games. I hate to say it, but many UCONN fans are delusional - either in thinking any of the P5 would value our WBB success (delusional and generally unaware of one's surroundings), or in thinking the UCONN football program is on the brink of being successful enough to be attractive to a P5 conference (merely delusional).

I would LOVE to see UCONN get into a P5 conference. I thought they were on the way when the Big East was a BCS conference and UCONN was showing signs of life, but that's ancient history now. Need to bring in a big-time coach who will bring in recruits and put butts in the seats. Schedule P5 OOC opponents, and beat them, so the butts stay in the seats, people actually want to watch on TV, and we get more recruits' attention. This doesn't happen overnight, but at today's pace it won't happen in many of our lifetimes.

You really are behind the curve on the analysis of this issue. Seriously, stop by the Conference Realignment board, if you are curious about it. There are a lot more moving pieces to it than you surmise.

 

[cabbie191]

2010 UConn Football Home Attendance (Fiesta Bowl year) (capacity is 40,642)

37,359 Tx So
36,728 Buffalo
40,000 Vanderbilt
40,000 West Virginia
35,391 Pitt
40,000 Cincinnati

Unfortunately the bottom out during the Pasqualoni years. Attendance is on the rise again, and as other UConn sports teams fans have shown - if the opponent is exciting, the seats are filled. ho-hum opponents - not so much.

Thanks for the data - I'm glad to learn I was wrong about the fan support that year.

 

[Waquoit]

Crappy stadium? Clearly, the poster who said that has never been there. It's a great stadium. Beautiful sight lines, great tailgating. If we ever get a P5 slot, expansion will begin soon after and we will sell out league games. And we will have a huge home field advantage, teams will dread coming here.

 

[cabbie191]

Crappy stadium? Clearly, the poster who said that has never been there. It's a great stadium. Beautiful sight lines, great tailgating. If we ever get a P5 slot, expansion will begin soon after and we will sell out league games. And we will have a huge home field advantage, teams will dread coming here.

One thing I recall from watching a few nationally televised home games: the announcers mentioning that though small in seating capacity, Renschler was second to none in the country in terms of amenities, particularly for the players and coaches.

I'm not aware of many colleges investing in new football stadiums in recent years though I'm sure some have had renovations and upgrading. Still, I'd bet the Rent remains one of the best.

As a side note, I remember listening to a story on National Public Radio from a few years back - the Univ of Massachusetts was assessing upgrading their football program at the time. Does anyone know what the final decision was up in Amherst?

 

[Waquoit]

UMass is now D-1, but they just got booted from the MAC and are trying to make it as an independent. They split their home games between campus and Gillette Stadium
UConn just announced a series of games with UMass.

BTW, they got the boot because the MAC insisted they join for all sports and UMass wanted to stay in the A10.

 

[cabbie191]

UMass is now D-1, but they just got booted from the MAC and are trying to make it as an independent. They split their home games between campus and Gillette Stadium
UConn just announced a series of games with UMass.

BTW, they got the boot because the MAC insisted they join for all sports and UMass wanted to stay in the A10.

Until recently, I never paid much attention to the fact that some schools split their conference alignment. I was really excited when I heard Navy was joining the AAC because I have a close friend who works at the Naval Academy and thought I'd combine a visit to Annapolis with taking in a women's game. Didn't realize at the time that they were in the conference only for football.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Regardless of what happened to Oklahoma and Michigan State after they got to the national semifinals, they're big-time programs and they GOT THERE. They won their respective P5 conference championships, and won all their OOC games. I hate to say it, but many UCONN fans are delusional - either in thinking any of the P5 would value our WBB success (delusional and generally unaware of one's surroundings), or in thinking the UCONN football program is on the brink of being successful enough to be attractive to a P5 conference (merely delusional).

I would LOVE to see UCONN get into a P5 conference. I thought they were on the way when the Big East was a BCS conference and UCONN was showing signs of life, but that's ancient history now. Need to bring in a big-time coach who will bring in recruits and put butts in the seats. Schedule P5 OOC opponents, and beat them, so the butts stay in the seats, people actually want to watch on TV, and we get more recruits' attention. This doesn't happen overnight, but at today's pace it won't happen in many of our lifetimes.

I know Houston's quarterback was out when it happened but didn't the Huskies beat Houston (for their only loss) and didn't Houston kick the crap out of FSU who had won a national championship two years ago and last year was in the playoffs for a national championship???? To presume that UConn's attendance wouldn't increase appreciably if they were in a major conference with the likes of OSU and Michigan and Michigan State coming in along with Nebraska???? The potential to compete against these major schools alone would bring in better recruits as it did for the men's basketball team and probably the women's as well. Coaches will tell you that without talent, it's virtually impossible to compete seriously with quality opponents. No one would have ever assumed that we would be the "basketball center of the universe" as Jay Bilas noted just a few short years ago and though it's more difficult to transition to the top of the heap in football, who would have thought TCU and Texas Tech and Texas A&M would have had the success they've had over the last ten years or so along with a lot of other schools, in college football. It started somewhere, didn't it??? How many schools are there that have done virtually nothing in forever and yet are entrenched in major conferences. Kansas in football???? Indiana????? Up until a while back, how many people knew that Oregon even had a football program. They were totally unheard of and does Oregon State have a great reputation??? I have no doubt that we would have some success if both on the field and in the stands if we were to get accepted into a major conference that centered on college football because our administration has done itself proud in a various sports, winning national titles in basketball, field hockey, soccer! Not too shabby in my opinion.

 

[Gus Mahler]

At the time it was made, it was designed to be expanded to by 10-15k more seats, which would put it in the upper half of Big 12 stadiums.
Lol, are you sure that Men's BB doesn't have good ratings?

Regarding, Football TV ratings, two quick points. Connecticut is still recovering from a devastating HC hire of this guy...

The losing season's under his watch devastated the program, but things are on the way back under Bob Diaco.

Keep in mind that for a lot of schedule, our young, recovering football program is the "marquee" team. Put us in a P5 league and our TV ratings and attendance will jump dramatically.

I don't really have a dog in this discussion other than my affinity for the UConn WBB team, but this hire was simply stupifying. And at such an unfortunate time.

 

[Bonpland]

As a long-time college football fan, I think I can accurately state that no one who isn't a UCONN grad cares a hoot about UCONN football. The only thing they care less about is WCBB. Jacobs calling WBB a 'major sport' is a joke. Obviously I'm a big fan, but the reality is we WBB fans are outliers, with too small numbers to have any economic clout at all.

I'm an Oklahoma grad, so for football I'm incredibly spoiled. But, as a personal example of UCONN's place in the world, in 2010 when UCONN was showing signs of being respectable, they got into the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. I live in Phoenix, so I was able to go. It was embarrassing. Everybody knew Oklahoma was going to kill them and they did. No point at all to playing this game. Plus UCONN lost hundreds of thousands of $$ on the game because they had to buy a bunch of tickets and hotel rooms which nobody used. In addition to winning, the program needs some real fan support when the do. Anyway, total bummer all the way around.

The only way to get anyone's attention in the P5 conferences is to WIN in football. I don't know what the governor or senators or attorney general can do about this, but something needs to change or all the journalist whining in the world won't get us in a P5 conference.

j66. Kinda harsh on our girls' sport. Not easy to gather supporters when you refer to WCBB as a "joke". I know what you mean to say but next time maybe use the phrase "wishful thinking" (as in Jacobs calling WBB a major sport is "wishful thinking") instead of qualifying our passion as "a joke". It might not be more accurate, but it will make us feel better.