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

[nelsonmuntz]

Roller Coaster ride continues...

Mark Blaudschun@blauds 3 mins ago
News from the Big 12? Well....There is movement. Check it out on
Big 12 focusing on adding only 2 schools

Essentially: >>According to sources familiar with the process, the Big 12 is now focusing on adding two–not four– schools .. And while multiple schools will receive consideration, the front runners appear to be BYU–but probably in a football only scenario–and either Connecticut or Cincinnati.<<

There is a post in one of the three Key/non-key/premium threads that talks about adding 3 schools. Who knows...

If football only is on the table, why not add Boise and BYU for football only, Cincinnati and UConn for all sports? Boise and BYU actually help pay for themselves because they already have separate ESPN contracts.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

If football only is on the table, why not add Boise and BYU for football only, Cincinnati and UConn for all sports? Boise and BYU actually help pay for themselves because they already have separate ESPN contracts.

Sounds like TV doesn't want four members, much less one of them being waaaayyyyy out on an island.

 

[Husky25]

You are correct that contracts are typically not FOIAble until they are signed and executed. HOWEVER, emails, visitor/travel logs and other related items are available even if the underlying agreement they are discussing is not completed. So, if there is any record of a draft contract being circulated through the University, that should be available to the public prior to the final document is signed.

That is not completely accurate. Travel logs might be available, but I doubt that draft contracts and notes.

Also, initial compliance with an request made under the FOIA rests almost completely with the requestee. Applicable commissions are liable to give a wide birth in terms of interpretation, if it even gets that far. A lawyer worth his salt can argue that almost anything related to an unexecuted contract is exempt.

Sec. 1-210. (Formerly Sec. 1-19). Access to public records. Exempt records.
...
(b) Nothing in the Freedom of Information Act shall be construed to require disclosure of:

(1) Preliminary drafts or notes provided the public agency has determined that the public interest in withholding such documents clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure;
...

(24) Responses to any request for proposals or bid solicitation issued by a public agency or any record or file made by a public agency in connection with the contract award process, until such contract is executed or negotiations for the award of such contract have ended, whichever occurs earlier, provided the chief executive officer of such public agency certifies that the public interest in the disclosure of such responses, record or file is outweighed by the public interest in the confidentiality of such responses, record or file;

 

[NYUConn]

That is not completely accurate. Travel logs might be available, but I doubt that draft contracts and notes.

Also, initial compliance with an request made under the FOIA rests almost completely with the requestee. Applicable commissions are liable to give a wide birth in terms of interpretation, if it even gets that far. A lawyer worth his salt can argue that almost anything related to an unexecuted contract is exempt.

Sec. 1-210. (Formerly Sec. 1-19). Access to public records. Exempt records.
...
(b) Nothing in the Freedom of Information Act shall be construed to require disclosure of:

(1) Preliminary drafts or notes provided the public agency has determined that the public interest in withholding such documents clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure;
...

(24) Responses to any request for proposals or bid solicitation issued by a public agency or any record or file made by a public agency in connection with the contract award process, until such contract is executed or negotiations for the award of such contract have ended, whichever occurs earlier, provided the chief executive officer of such public agency certifies that the public interest in the disclosure of such responses, record or file is outweighed by the public interest in the confidentiality of such responses, record or file;

That's a reasonable and fair assumption, though I've seen instances where notes and other "in progress documents" have been accessed in open-records requests.

But you're right, those protections do exist at the federal level.

Not sure what OPRA says though.

 

[UConnNick]

Provo avg temp November 52
East Hartford avg temp November 51
Provo to Austin 1600 miles
Hartford to Austion 1200 miles

I'm not trying to lessen our chances here, but Austin is 1,864 miles from Hartford via the interstates, which probably makes it about 1,800 via the air. That's still no appreciable difference compared to Provo, but it is further.

 

[Sea Goat]

Listening to Tramel...."if the Huskies football program was where it was six years ago, there'd be a lot stronger case..."

Man, these people are so short-sighted. Holy crap.

Worse yet, CR qualification has become a moving target. When Syracuse was taken in 2011, they come off a s#!tful 5 year football stretch. When Rutgers was taken in 2012, it was all about cable boxes - no one even mentioned their GD sports. We bring more than either of them to CR.

 

[2Infinity]

Provo avg temp November 52
East Hartford avg temp November 51
Provo to Austin 1600 miles
Hartford to Austion 1200 miles

Umm, I think you might have the numbers somewhat reversed there. As the crow flies, Storrs is actually 1625 miles from Austin while Provo is 1043. We might be able to make the case that it's not all that much of a difference when flying.

 

[ASweet3781]

Matt Schonvisky ‏@MattSchonvisky 4m4 minutes ago
"Oklahoma does not want to be in a league with Memphis" @BerryTramel of @TheOklahoman on #Big12Expansion - full interview up shortly

Any school that willingly wants to be in a league with Memphis should be kicked out of the league.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Provo avg temp November 52
East Hartford avg temp November 51
Provo to Austin 1600 miles
Hartford to Austion 1200 miles

Edit: yes I have the distances reversed. Still, cmon.

 

[ASweet3781]

Is there anyway 13 works for football? UConn and Cincy in all sports and BYU as football only? Does it have to be 2 divisions of 7?

 

[businesslawyer]

Is there anyway 13 works for football? UConn and Cincy in all sports and BYU as football only? Does it have to be 2 divisions of 7?

If you have 13 teams for football, then (I) you can't play 9 conference games -- you have to play an even number, and (in) you can't have divisions where everyone plays everyone in their division once and the same number of games against teams from the other divisions. You can only make it work with one division of 13 and an even number of teams.

So you could do it, but I don't see why anyone would voluntarily do it.

 

[jho]

FOI info. The Board of Trustees regular August meeting is next Wednesday morning. While there is nothing related to the Big 12 on the agenda, items can be added to the agenda with the consent of 2/3's of the membership. Special meetings can be called provided there is 24-hour notice.

 

[The Viking]

So, if rumors are true that the TV networks - NAMELY THE ONE IN OUR BACK YARD GETTING CONNECTICUT TAX BREAKS - end up being a significant reason that the expansion is being halved from four to two and we aren't in the two while we may have had a much stronger case getting in the four, then we can unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN for UConn AD's potential demise.
Feel free to tell me where I'm being overly dramatic here.

 

[ASweet3781]

So, if rumors are true that the TV networks - NAMELY THE ONE IN OUR BACK YARD GETTING CONNECTICUT TAX BREAKS - end up being a significant reason that the expansion is being halved from four to two and we aren't in the two while we may have had a much stronger case getting in the four, then we can unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN for UConn AD's potential demise.
Feel free to tell me where I'm being overly dramatic here.

I made this case yesterday. They are on the wrong end of every decision that could help us and face almost zero public pressure. Seems we are a lock if the expansion is 4 and possibly heading to yet another runner up miss out if it's 2.

 

[ninety-nine]

ESPN has us on a leash. They feed us kibble and have no interest in letting us run free and reach our potential. They're the enemy in our midst. They want to keep us down.

 

[businesslawyer]

So, if rumors are true that the TV networks - NAMELY THE ONE IN OUR BACK YARD GETTING CONNECTICUT TAX BREAKS - end up being a significant reason that the expansion is being halved from four to two and we aren't in the two while we may have had a much stronger case getting in the four, then we can unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN for UConn AD's potential demise.
Feel free to tell me where I'm being overly dramatic here.

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

It's time for the state to start backing a different corporate horse. ESPN is on the wrong side of history anyway.

 

[8893]

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

The ability to enter a Family Dollar store in a niqab?

 

[JSM1970]

Honestly, as a private business trying to maximize revenues and profits purposely excluded UConn if they have a business model that says going to 4 and including UConn would increase both?

In theory the governor should have placed incentives for tax credits based on supporting UConn's P5 entrance

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

 

[CL82]

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

A sense of moral superiority?

I'm just spitballing here.

I'm waiting for us actually to be left out before I summon up a pitchforks and torches post. I do resent that ESPN hasn't helped us in the past when it was within their ability to do so. I do think that their failure to do so, if that is the case, ought to be when they ask for any future largesse from the State of Connecticut. They took millions from taxpayers. Leaving UConn outsided the P5 cost Connecticut taxpayers millions more.

 

[UC313]

And having the right to "unequivocally blame once and for all ESPN" gets you what exactly?

Someone to blame.
Someone to hate.
Someone to direct my ire at.

 

[CL82]

Someone to blame.
Someone to hate.
Someone to direct my ire at.

Hmmn, very lyrical. I feel like there's a song in there somewhere.

 

[UC313]

Hmmn, very lyrical. I feel like there's a song in there somewhere.

Phil Anselmo would work for me.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I don't know if muckraking is part of this process but I hope someone at UConn is pointing out how 2 big knocks on UConn apply to BYU as well. Also highlight how UConn culturally fits much better

 

[huskymedic]

UH banks on joining big leagues to 'sustain' athletics spending