Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[huskypantz]

The option to terminate the agreement if certain schools leave is on ESPN. It doesn't appear to be an auto-term.

>>NBC Sports Network's contract divided the league into Group A (Connecticut, Cincinnati, Houston and Temple) and Group B (the remaining members), sources said. The media rights deal can be terminated if either two Group A schools leave or one Group A and one Group B school leave. If two Group B schools leave, the contract will be renegotiated, sources said. This does not include any schools that already have announced they are leaving, such as Louisville, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh or Syracuse.<<

That's not the contract, it's the wording of a media statement. In my eyes, it makes no sense that the contract "can" be terminated if two group A schools leave but "will" be renegotiated if an A and B leave - I think it's a little more granular than that. The contract contains stipulations that ESPN no longer holds the AAC by the balls at the of the 19-20 season, I would not be surprised if renegotiating opens up the contract to other parties. If any school abides by the 27 month notice (admittedly not likely), that's going to take them into 2019, which also means that there's only 18 or so months left on the contract anyway at that point.

 

[FDNY99]

Do you guys think Tramel is pushing us so hard out in the open with the blessing of Oklahoma?

To write the 2 pieces he has the past 2 days..he got a call from the OU Athletic Dept to "sell UConn" to the OU fanbase. It's the only reason that makes sense regarding those 2 articles...Berry travel is the OU athletic Dept mouthpiece.

 

[FDNY99]

Is Tramel getting guidance from the OK admin to talk up their choice of UConn to try and improve the perception people have of them?[/QUOTE
Most definitely!!!

 

[Fishy]

To write the 2 pieces he has the past 2 days..he got a call from the OU Athletic Dept to "sell UConn" to the OU fanbase. It's the only reason that makes sense regarding those 2 articles...Berry travel is the OU athletic Dept mouthpiece.

Or, more likely, he came to the conclusions all by himself.

 

[FDNY99]

RE: The Tramel question, he's not writing these pieces unless he's hearing from sources that UConn has a real chance. To stake your reputation on pushing a school that so many in Big 12 country are skeptical of is a real risk.

That being said, I don't think he's getting these stories fed to him by OU, I think they are largely his pieces.

I'm gonna disagree with you on not getting the green light from OU on those pieces. He is selling UConn to the OU fanbase. He has been in UConn's corner from the beginning but not like this. These 2 pieces..especially the follow-up containing the AD budget numbers are unlike anything he has ever written before. They were written with a purpose and that purpose came from OU.

 

[huskymedic]

That's not the contract, it's the wording of a media statement. In my eyes, it makes no sense that the contract "can" be terminated if two group A schools leave but "will" be renegotiated if an A and B leave - I think it's a little more granular than that. The contract contains stipulations that ESPN no longer holds the AAC by the balls at the of the 19-20 season, I would not be surprised if renegotiating opens up the contract to other parties. If any school abides by the 27 month notice (admittedly not likely), that's going to take them into 2019, which also means that there's only 18 or so months left on the contract anyway at that point.

Do you think the granular contract uses the term "holds the AAC by the balls" in the stipulations you reference?

 

[FDNY99]

Or, more likely, he came to the conclusions all by himself.

Doubtful Fishy...not to have that sudden change so quickly. Remember he said UConn was a good choice if they expanded by 4..if it was only 2 it would be Cincy and BYU.

 

[upstater]

I think we'd find ESPN would try and negotiate and the American would shop around if they wanted to lower the figure. You can't play competitively at this level on $2,000,000, let alone less. It was different when there were rounds of CR to go but if we are about to see a 9 year quiet period, the AAC schools need to make some money.

Just as an FYI, the old BE contract stated that the exit fees would or could be lowered (renegotiated) if the media package was reduced.

 

[UCFBfan]

So today is a "up" day in CR emotions....this will last another day or so until we get 5 different articles/tweets making us all feel like we're out. God I hate CR yet can't stop following it! This needs to end soon and we need to be safe!

 

[mavblues]

Hmmm...

Dooley has been suspiciously absent at the exact moment that "Berry Tramel" writes not one, but two very positive articles about UConn joining the B12.

There's only two logical conclusions:

1) Dooley enlightened Tramel with one of his patented email blitzes. - or -

2) Tramel is tied up somewhere and Dooley hijacked his byline.

Come to think of it, where's conspiracy kitty?

 

[MattMang23]

Or, more likely, he came to the conclusions all by himself.

Ehhhh. He just saw the light? He's quoting an athletic budget from 2014-2015 which has been published for what? Eight months? Saturday he spoke of being a flagship state U, cited our 2015 USNWR academic ranking, and talked about our media market. UConn didn't just become the state's flagship this week, didn't just get ranked Friday and didn't pick it's campus up and drop it halfway between New York and Boston last month.

These data points have either been published for a long time or are geographically obvious. You don't think he thought about what schools would make good additions until this week?

I think it's far more likely it was hinted to him that "UConn has some nice qualities about it, perhaps you should investigate them more."

 

[Kolumbo]

Remember when it was believed that the ACC took l-ville because UConn would always be available.
Say Big 12 takes UConn and Cinci. Last two in the ACC were Pitt and l-ville.
ACC loses, again.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Hmmm...

Dooley has been suspiciously absent at the exact moment that "Berry Tramel" writes not one, but two very positive articles about UConn joining the B12.

There's only two logical conclusions:

1) Dooley enlightened Tramel with one of his patented email blitzes. - or -

2) Tramel is tied up somewhere and Dooley hijacked his byline.

Come to think of it, where's conspiracy kitty?

Have you ever seen Dooley and Tramel in the same place at the same time? I know I haven't.

 

[TGW93]

I think it's pretty safe to say ESPN won't allow the AAC to put their product on the open market unless they believe it is worth noticeably less than the current deal. If we are still in after all of this ESPN won't exercise their option to terminate.

I also believe that if we do leave the AAC without a bid to the B-12 (or another P-5) someone (Fox?) is underwriting our football independence.

Interesting. And we are recognized as a P5 opponent by the Big Ten....

 

[King Husky]

Interesting. And we are recognized as a P5 opponent by the Big Ten....

Yeah, and Memphis isn't. Big 12 take notice! How an intelligent league perceives things

 

[huskypantz]

Do you think the granular contract uses the term "holds the AAC by the balls" in the stipulations you reference?

You're right, I guess that terminology is more appropriate for divorce decrees.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I'm kinda confused by a lot of the comments on here. When talking recruiting territory, people are talking about football. Most (all?) men's basketball teams have to recruit pretty broadly in the U.S. There's an uptick in the NYC area, but generally for basketball you search everywhere and anywhere. There's not too many "hot spots" for college basketball recruits.

NYC, DC, Chicago, LA...

 

[RedStickHusky]

You're right, I guess that terminology is more appropriate for divorce decrees.

isn't that what we're talking about?

 

[Chin Diesel]

Interesting. And we are recognized as a P5 opponent by the Big Ten....

Another example of small bits of information that when when looking backwards a few years from now will seem like a "well, duh" moments.

The Civil Conflict rivalry game and trophy will be another.

 

[auror]

I'll say it again. How can the non Texas schools allow another Texas school and only add 2? Are they that freakin stupid? I think the northen schools put the kibash on this expansion before letting Houston in with just 2.

Because UT doesn't need the conference to expand and they control enough votes to prevent any schools from getting to 8. So they can leverage not expanding at all with okay we'll expand if Houston is included (so UT can get their Houston satellite campus).

 

[mavblues]

Hmmm...

Dooley has been suspiciously absent at the exact moment that "Berry Tramel" writes not one, but two very positive articles about UConn joining the B12.

There's only two logical conclusions:

1) Dooley enlightened Tramel with one of his patented email blitzes. - or -

2) Tramel is tied up somewhere and Dooley hijacked his byline.

Come to think of it, where's conspiracy kitty?

Have you ever seen Dooley and Tramel in the same place at the same time? I know I haven't.

I think we're on to something here.

Notice that there have been no denials from either party.

So is Dooley really Tramel, - or -
is Tramel really Dooley?

 

[djct1999]

Because UT doesn't need the conference to expand and they control enough votes to prevent any schools from getting to 8. So they can leverage not expanding at all with okay we'll expand if Houston is included (so UT can get their Houston satellite campus).

UT wants a sweetheart deal. They don't care at all about UH. Anytime the other schools suggest parity, UT threatens with UH. It's why they made it go public so early. This is about money and assurance that the people in Austin get the most of it. It has very little to do with Houston and/or some satellite campus.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Tramel beating the drum

I said from the beginning that Boren wants us. If you go back to the winter, he had two stated reasons for expansion.
1. stabilize the Big 12 so it can compete going forward
2. improve the academic company and academic recruiting ground for the University of Oklahoma.

Think like a University President, not a fan. Sports are marketing for recruiting undergrads. Where do you want to recruit undergrads who have high SAT scores and can pay out of state tuition?

 

[Kolumbo]

Speaking of recruiting undergrads, just heard on radio that UConn has 5,100 incoming freshman, 37% minority. Up from 14% minority in 1996. This is all very impressive.

Check it: "The freshman class also is among the most accomplished in school history with 181 valedictorians or salutatorians, up from 42 students 20 years ago."

UConn freshman class most diverse in school’s history

 

[HuskyHawk]

Or, more likely, he came to the conclusions all by himself.

Which would be remarkable. They've been obvious all along and these other morons are oblivious to them.

 

[pj]

Do you think the granular contract uses the term "holds the AAC by the balls" in the stipulations you reference?

I think the actual language was this:

"DEFINITIONS.
Balls. The League's valuable and sensitive properties named in Exhibit A. Not to be confused with footballs or basketballs.
STIPULATIONS.
Network shall possess the Balls until the conclusion of the 2019-2020 athletic year."

 

[pj]

Speaking of recruiting undergrads, just heard on radio that UConn has 5,100 incoming freshman, 37% minority. Up from 14% minority in 1996. This is all very impressive.

UConn freshman class most diverse in school’s history

Why is that impressive? They changed their policy to favor minorities, and the admissions office was able to execute the new policy. Did anyone doubt they could?

 

[MattMang23]

Why is that impressive? They changed their policy to favor minorities, and the admissions office was able to execute the new policy. Did anyone doubt they could?

The incoming class has 181 valedictorians or salutatorians and is the most accomplished freshman class ever. I think everyone wins.

 

[upstater]

Why is that impressive? They changed their policy to favor minorities, and the admissions office was able to execute the new policy. Did anyone doubt they could?

You're assuming too much.

If anything, the affirmative action laws were reversed, and African-American students were no longer considered as a special class in admissions. It is now illegal by federal law.

This is why the African-American population has FALLEN at UConn and it is now just below 5%. A much smaller number than the 11.6% of overall state population. Hispanics are 15.4% of the state population and 8% of UConn's population. I suspect the affirmative action rulings worked against them as well. The big change at UConn is that Asians are double in number as students to their overall population. AND, the stat above also takes into account international students. 5%.

Add it all up: 5 + 8 + 11 + 5 = 29% of the student body is non-white. Then you have some mixed race, Native American, Islander, etc. Probably another 5%.

 

[CL82]

I think we're on to something here.

Notice that there have been no denials from either party.

So is Dooley really Tramel, - or -
is Tramel really Dooley?

Or did @Dooley snap and Tramel is now duct taped in the trunk of his car while Dooley is generating pro-UConn articles. If so, I salute you.