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

[CJasmer]

I would phrase it as resentment, not hatred and I have a firm belief that our success from 2007-2010, along with sone comments by the only two within the school who had the ability to speak for the football program (Edsall & Hathaway) bothered quite a few schools and their fan bases.

Many saw us as a school that really didn't give a s#!t about football until we were guaranteed a spot in a then New Years day bowl conference. Edsall and Hathaway viewed bragging about having access to one of the major bowls (which many schools that had been playing competitive football for many decades did not have) as a good thing.

That we won our conference (while losing to the two worst teams in the conference, and a non-conference game to a mediocre at best Temple squad) irritated enough people that within our conference other schools were publicly lobbying to change the rules so that West Virginia could go instead of us, the committes conspired to send us to the worst possible destination for us and the narrative from shortly before that game until years afterward was that we did not belong.

We were painted as an entitled school/fan base that needed the guarantee of a reward in order to be willing to provide an effort. Sadly, beginning with Hathaway's decisions shortly after Edsall left, we've done very little to change the opinions of anyone on the outside.

I think the issue with UConn there is a lot of fair weather fans. When both Kansas and Iowa state were terrible they still had very good attendance for football games. UConn has to be good to get a decent crowd to come to games. Part of the reason is a lot of UConn football attendance is from nonUConn graduates that are looking for NFL experience without paying NFL ticket prices. Also CT is a professional football state with three teams less than 2 hours from anywhere from CT. Add in Fairfield county is really just a suburb of NYC with a population that could care less about college football (similar to NYC and Boston markets) makes it hard for UConn football to draw large attendance for football games.

 

[CL82]

The matchup with Oklahoma was intentional as OU wasn't going to allow a repeat of the Boise St game. The market was flooded with discounted tickets (due to Auburn being selected for the title game and the then rules requiring fans to buy tickets for both events at the venue), allowing part of the narrative being "UConn couldn't sell their allotment".

Of course, the fact that's never talked about is Oklahoma didn't sell out its allotment either that year. I guess they're not fit to be a basketball power either.

(The reason had to do with the way ticket sales were set up, which effectively flooded the secondary market cheap tickets. IYKYK)

 

[HuskyHawk]

I would phrase it as resentment, not hatred and I have a firm belief that our success from 2007-2010, along with sone comments by the only two within the school who had the ability to speak for the football program (Edsall & Hathaway) bothered quite a few schools and their fan bases.

Many saw us as a school that really didn't give a s#!t about football until we were guaranteed a spot in a then New Years day bowl conference. Edsall and Hathaway viewed bragging about having access to one of the major bowls (which many schools that had been playing competitive football for many decades did not have) as a good thing.

That we won our conference (while losing to the two worst teams in the conference, and a non-conference game to a mediocre at best Temple squad) irritated enough people that within our conference other schools were publicly lobbying to change the rules so that West Virginia could go instead of us, the committes conspired to send us to the worst possible destination for us and the narrative from shortly before that game until years afterward was that we did not belong.

We were painted as an entitled school/fan base that needed the guarantee of a reward in order to be willing to provide an effort. Sadly, beginning with Hathaway's decisions shortly after Edsall left, we've done very little to change the opinions of anyone on the outside.

They don't resent us. They don't think much about us at all. People are overthinking this. It's no different than it was with the ACC.

Culturally, do we have a lot of Frats and Sororities, with game day traditions? Do we have any game day traditions for football? Do the people of Connecticut hold weddings on Saturdays in the fall? Do our HS teams still play on Saturday instead of Friday night? That what that does to our audience? Every CT HS football player and their family is often unavailable to attend or even watch our games on TV.

They know how we feel about college basketball, and I think that garners some respect. They want to see that we feel that way about football. They want us to be all-in. We say "add us and we will be", but that's a tough sell. I think the ramp-up proposal is to allow us to build what is needed, culture, not facilities. TCU and Baylor play in 45k stadiums. So does BC. KState is 50k. Colorado 50k. Houston 40k. KU's new stadium is getting smaller from 47k.

 

[Rondogg]

Of course, the fact that's never talked about is Oklahoma didn't sell out its allotment either that year. I guess they're not fit to be a basketball power either.

(The reason had to do with the way ticket sales were set up, which effectively flooded the secondary market cheap tickets. IYKYK)

This was at the same time ESPN was pushing for a Playoff...hard. They used us as reason #1 why the Bowl Championship Series was "Broken". We were the scapegoat so that they could "fix" the problem and line their pockets. Not saying the playoffs weren't needed, just that we didn't need to be singled out, we should have been celebrated as the plucky underdogs instead of the reason why College Football was broken.

 

[jostar1]

Bob Thompson
@rltsports
Principal, Thompson Sports Group LLC. a sports and media consulting firm. Former Fox Sports executive and BTN co-founder.

 

[freescooter]

I sort of liken the ramp up proposal for football as similar to our joining the Big East. There was originally a 3-4 year period that ultimately was shortened when BC Mismi and VPI left. We sort of did the same thing moving to Hockey East. We were part of that league but we took 3 years to get to a full scholarship level. We had been at 0 in our Atlantic days. What Id like to see is 4 B12 football games starting in 2026 maybe even ramping up to 6-8 by 2030.

Oh and the return of the Civil ConFLiCT. It will be great to see an old and storied rivalry return!

 

[JMick]

Do our HS teams still play on Saturday instead of Friday night? That what that does to our audience? Every CT HS football player and their family is often unavailable to attend or even watch our games on TV.

What are you even talking about

 

[freescooter]

They don't resent us. They don't think much about us at all. People are overthinking this. It's no different than it was with the ACC.

Culturally, do we have a lot of Frats and Sororities, with game day traditions? Do we have any game day traditions for football? Do the people of Connecticut hold weddings on Saturdays in the fall? Do our HS teams still play on Saturday instead of Friday night? That what that does to our audience? Every CT HS football player and their family is often unavailable to attend or even watch our games on TV.

They know how we feel about college basketball, and I think that garners some respect. They want to see that we feel that way about football. They want us to be all-in. We say "add us and we will be", but that's a tough sell. I think the ramp-up proposal is to allow us to build what is needed, culture, not facilities. TCU and Baylor play in 45k stadiums. So does BC. KState is 50k. Colorado 50k. Houston 40k. KU's new stadium is getting smaller from 47k.

The killer was that while we lost to Oklahoma the ACC champ, playing in the Orange Bowl got absolutely pasted 40-12 and Michigan got beaten 52-14 in its bowl. But it was never VPI or Michigan didn’t belong!

 

[ninety-nine]

What are you even talking about

Re: HuskyHawk's question - I checked my HS alma mater's football schedule for this season (Bristol Central). There's only one Saturday game (Nov 2), which oddly is on the same weekend UConn has a Friday night home game. The rest of Central's games are on Friday, and a few Thursday. I think that's pretty much the way it is everywhere in CT now - not many Saturday games.

 

[AllHusky]

BY= Brett Yormark
BY=Boneyard

Hmmm….Conspiracy Kitty, what say you?

 

[John]

BY= Brett Yormark
BY=Boneyard

Hmmm….Conspiracy Kitty, what say you?

The call is coming from inside the house!

 

[huskymedic]

-> UConn athletic director David Benedict recently traveled to Dallas to pitch the Big East school to Big 12 administrators. Conference ADs and presidents were scheduled to hear from the league’s media consultants Monday and further discuss Yormark’s latest vision.

To add a new member, 12 of the 16 Big 12 schools would need to be in favor. According to several people familiar with the situation who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, Yormark still has convincing to do among his members that adding UConn is a sound move and the Big 12 needs to act fast.<-

The Courant uses AP Ralph’s article above for a story??

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Drew]

This is a good thing for our candiancy.

Said another way: Big 12’s media consultants came in and talked to the decision makers about UConn’s media value and how it would translate with Big 12 membership- those conversations were positive/productive enough that the decision makers are willing to continue down the path on this and didn’t immediately say “thanks but no thanks”

 

[ZooCougar]

The Courant uses AP Ralph’s article above for a story??

Our state media is worthless

 

[GoConn]

Seems somewhat positive. I'll take it.

 

[JMick]

This is a good thing for our candiancy.

Said another way: Big 12’s media consultants came in and talked to the decision makers about UConn’s media value and how it would translate with Big 12 membership- those conversations were positive/productive enough that the decision makers are willing to continue down the path on this and didn’t immediately say “thanks but no thanks”

What makes no sense to me is that if we were going to be the team that goes with Colorado pre-collapse, didn't they already do this stuff? It doesn't add up. It's not like anything has materially changed

 

[huskymedic]

 

[HuskyHawk]

Re: HuskyHawk's question - I checked my HS alma mater's football schedule for this season (Bristol Central). There's only one Saturday game (Nov 2), which oddly is on the same weekend UConn has a Friday night home game. The rest of Central's games are on Friday, and a few Thursday. I think that's pretty much the way it is everywhere in CT now - not many Saturday games.

Excellent. That is good news. It wasn't the case back when we lost out on the spots to the ACC.

 

[Gburyhusky]

For newcomers to this insanity - they only take a vote if they have the votes.

 

[jostar1]

What makes no sense to me is that if we were going to be the team that goes with Colorado pre-collapse, didn't they already do this stuff? It doesn't add up. It's not like anything has materially changed

I wondered this about Benedict. I don't think he went last year, but he went this year.

My conclusion is that it is because of the 4 Corners Schools. They weren't there last year. They will be voting this year. And from what I've read, they need convincing.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

For newcomers to this insanity - they only take a vote if they have the votes.

That is not true. I believe that UConn did lose a vote at the ACC Board once.

 

[JMick]

Excellent. That is good news. It wasn't the case back when we lost out on the spots to the ACC.

Yes it definitely was. Most teams have had lights and play on Friday since the late 90s. It's just some FCIAC holdouts and schools that still don't have lights that play on Saturdays

 

[NowInStorrs]

Our state media is worthless

Less than worthless. They seem actively detrimental.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Maybe cope but... would there be interest in continuing talks if the presentation today didn't have them leaning in our direction? Otherwise you'd think they'd shut it down and not waste anymore time.