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

[RSTuthill]

The Courant is now owned by vulture capitalists who have hollowed it out. They have very few staff and most sports content they buy from other services or gig columnists some of which are very respected retirees from the paper. They no longer print the paper themselves and that is done in Springfield. It will most likely disappear in its current form within a decade.

 

[businesslawyer]

The Courant is now owned by vulture capitalists who have hollowed it out. They have very few staff and most sports content they buy from other services or gig columnists some of which are very respected retirees from the paper. They no longer print the paper themselves and that is done in Springfield. It will most likely disappear in its current form within a decade.

I guess that shows I'm old, but even though I've lived in Fairfield County for 40 years and rarely see it, for the 7 years I lived in Hartford, New Haven and Hamden in the late 70s and early 80s the Courant was a very solid paper. It still makes me said to think that not even what were good local papers aren't going to survive. And it's not good for our nation.

 

[CL82]

What high horse? And what makes sense these days? Texas in the SEC? Nebraska and USC in the Big Ten? Get off yours asshat.

 

[CL82]

Not really. We're outliers to them, and that's not an entirely incorrect thought. We're thousands of miles away and our football is historically not great. Can't expect a bunch of folks from the midwest and southwest to welcome that profile with open arms - whether those arguments are true or false.

We are not, and never will be a logical fit for the Big 12 like we were for the ACC. So it's not unexpected that a bunch of their fans think such a move would be illogical or stupid.

This. We have been historically bad at the thing that matters most to them and historically good at something that most of them don't really care about. Plus, as much as some on the board are critical of the regional bias of The Boneyard, there's a lot of chatter about how "a liberal New England school" won't be a good "cultural fit" in the big 12.

We are kind of a square peg in a round hole for the big 12, but the stuff the Twitter versus latching on to is kind of silly. Hopefully in the near future other big 12 fans can hate us because we are beating them regularly. I can live with that.

 

[CL82]

Correct, there are many UConn basketball fans who root for BC and/or Notre Dame football.

 

[Muddler]

We are a good fit for the acc …

Except it is clear they don’t want us. If we go to the Big 12, there is every reason to believe we will beat out Syracuse, Pitt, and BC for football recruits—like we do in basketball. When the the ACC explodes, we would be in a position of power.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

This. We have been historically bad at the thing that matters most to them and historically good at something that most of them don't really care about. Plus, as much as some on the board are critical of the regional bias of The Boneyard, there's a lot of chatter about how "a liberal New England school" won't be a good "cultural fit" in the big 12.

We are kind of a square peg in a round hole for the big 12, but the stuff the Twitter versus latching on to is kind of silly. Hopefully in the near future other big 12 fans can hate us because we are beating them regularly. I can live with that.

Thanks for understanding my comment! A lot of folks on here can't separate the that UConn not being a logical fit to the Big 12 does not preclude it from being invited to the Big 12. But we can't expect everyone to look at us, an unequivocal outlier in multiple categories, and roll out the red carpet.

 

[CL82]

They will grab WVU when the Big 12 GOR is up in a couple years.

I doubt it. I've never wanted them before and it is hard to see how West Virginia is additive to use the current buzzword.

 

[Skiblets]

I guess that shows I'm old, but even though I've lived in Fairfield County for 40 years and rarely see it, for the 7 years I lived in Hartford, New Haven and Hamden in the late 70s and early 80s the Courant was a very solid paper. It still makes me said to think that not even what were good local papers aren't going to survive. And it's not good for our nation.

Yeah but now we have bloggers and influencers so we should be ok.

 

[CL82]

Keep soccer regional!!!!!

Agreed, if you can. Which conference are you thinking?

 

[greenday61892]

Linda Livingston sounds like a future villain name in UConn lore. Right next to Donna Shalala.

Ooga booga Mark Emmert

 

[uconnyankee]

Ask yourself when was the last time the local writers ever had a scoop

They write what they are able to cobble together from the Boneyard

Lol, I think The Courant used MHver as a source!

 

[uconnyankee]

The Courant is now owned by vulture capitalists who have hollowed it out. They have very few staff and most sports content they buy from other services or gig columnists some of which are very respected retirees from the paper. They no longer print the paper themselves and that is done in Springfield. It will most likely disappear in its current form within a decade.

Not even. I’m guessing print is gone in less than 5 for bulk of papers. Will happen quickly.

 

[uconnyankee]

I guess that shows I'm old, but even though I've lived in Fairfield County for 40 years and rarely see it, for the 7 years I lived in Hartford, New Haven and Hamden in the late 70s and early 80s the Courant was a very solid paper. It still makes me said to think that not even what were good local papers aren't going to survive. And it's not good for our nation.

Not a newspaper guy but spent a few years recently working in the industry. Very sad.
Most talent has either left or been laid off.
Journalists are probably down to 10% of where they were 20 years ago.
Photographers are basically extinct.

It’s now just a cash play to collect what’s left of subscribers and continue to cut costs. Once the math says circulation can’t cover print, it’s over.

For a sense of how quickly that’s going, Providence Journal, a very well established state paper had over 400K subscribers 30-40 years ago. About 6 years ago, that circulation was about 50-55K for Sunday. Still pretty strong for print when people are paying $120/month.

Last I heard from my contacts, it’s closer to 20K now.

That’s not unique to Pro Jo

 

[RSTuthill]

Not a newspaper guy but spent a few years recently working in the industry. Very sad.
Most talent has either left or been laid off.
Journalists are probably down to 10% of where they were 20 years ago.
Photographers are basically extinct.

It’s now just a cash play to collect what’s left of subscribers and continue to cut costs. Once the math says circulation can’t cover print, it’s over.

For a sense of how quickly that’s going, Providence Journal, a very well established state paper had over 400K subscribers 30-40 years ago. About 6 years ago, that circulation was about 50-55K for Sunday. Still pretty strong for print when people are paying $120/month.

Last I heard from my contacts, it’s closer to 20K now.

That’s not unique to Pro Jo

Once they have squeezed all the equity out of it they will fold and sell whatever is left. Office stuff, the real estate.

 

[uconnyankee]

Once they have squeezed all the equity out of it they will fold and sell whatever is left. Office stuff, the real estate.

Yep. Real estate is about all that’s left.

 

[Skies2018]

Lol this thread went from full confidence in an invite to discussing local news operations REAL quick.

 

[king conn]

We will be talking about the Big East in ten years like we are talking about newspapers now, so it's relevant

 

[UConn Dan]

Pull the trigger on UConn. You can do it

 

[The Viking]

I don’t like that. I’d prefer they keep 16 as an option as well.
Maybe it’s an intentional comment to start getting remaining pac members to not let this drag out before there are no seats left, and 16 is still in play.
Clearly they are targeting PAC and think of us as a last resort. Not Yormack, but other higher ups in the Big 12

 

[UConn Dan]

I don’t like that. I’d prefer they keep 16 as an option as well.
Maybe it’s an intentional comment to start getting remaining pac members to not let this drag out before there are no seats left, and 16 is still in play.

Yes. I think it’s an intentional “leak” to get teams (both Arizona’s) to jump ASAP.

 

[MKH2317]

Pull the trigger on UConn. You can do it

To me, this either means that UConn is a lock, or it means they’ve totally scratched UConn off the list of candidates, cause UConn would jump to the big 12 in a heartbeat

 

[Bongo Fury]

Any exit fees for PAC schools. Thinking PAC can’t add schools without having a contract and agreement.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Pull the trigger on UConn. You can do it

I imagine this comment was to prevent the P-12 from claiming the B-12 is intentionally trying to destroy their conference. Any more additions (including us) have to appear as if the school approached the B-12 about the possibility of joining.

 

[Exit 4]

FWIW - it was reported that Yormark set 8/1 as a deadline for Colorado to join. I imagine the AZ schools have the same deadline.

Perhaps an announcement on seats 14, 15 and 16 will come Monday evening. Next Tuesday is 8/1.