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

[GoConn]

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

Good point. Maybe we weren't ever really close last summer?

 

[UConn Dan]

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 hear you. What’s changed is the media dollars had dried up with the addition of all 4 PAC schools. It was reported last time that ESPN would give us pro rata.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

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

This is a big decision and there is a process. Nothing is unusual about this so far.

 

[ZooCougar]

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.

They wouldn’t the information if it wasn’t 100% beneficial.

 

[How Sway?!]

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

Our media value has increased with the back to back titles and the new NCAA women's tournament rights.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I hear you. What’s changed is the media dollars had dried up with the addition of all 4 PAC schools. It was reported last time that ESPN would give us pro rata.

And ESPN is about to lose a mountain of content with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington going to the Big 12, and ESPN lost out on the Big East. It needs content.

 

[superjohn]

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.

Some of our fanbase is insufferable.

I had a friend today text me b^tching about Andy Katz and how he hates UConn because he ranked UConn the second best college basketball fanbase in the country after Kentucky.

 

[UConn Dan]

And ESPN is about to lose a mountain of content with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington going to the Big 12, and ESPN lost out on the Big East. It needs content.

Yup. And it’s also reported that ESPN would pony up for UConn this year too but Fox will not (since they have us for cheap). So that’s the issue.

The fact that talks continue is in our favor.

 

[UConnJim]

The Big 12 schools have not been in a conference together for that long so the dynamics of how the conference works are still in flux so I'm sure the decision making process will be drawn out. Look at the groups of schools:

Long term Big 12 schools: Baylor, Iowa St., Kansas, Kansas St., Oklahoma St., Texas Tech

Pac 12 adds: Arizona, Arizona St., Colorado, Utah

AAC/Big East adds: UCF, Houston, Cincinnati, West Virginia

The other 2: TCU, BYU

 

[huskymedic]

 

[UConn Dan]

The press from this is amazing and the timing is perfect. Shows we care about football and supporting the players with NIL.

 

[Forte]

Less than worthless. They seem actively detrimental.

They'll report in droves when we get denied.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but I firmly believe that UConn entering the Big 12 now will enhance certain ACC schools in the future to feel better about joining if a B1G/SEC invite isn't available. I believe our east coast location, our academics and our championship DNA will matter to other East coast institutions.

 

[Exit 4]

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

Sad. No understanding of the situation to lazily reprint that AP junk.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[GoKU]

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”

Yes it is a good thing.

 

[bendm]

Yup. And it’s also reported that ESPN would pony up for UConn this year too but Fox will not (since they have us for cheap). So that’s the issue.

The fact that talks continue is in our favor.

Why can’t Fox shave off from the big east contract whatever they would pay us in the big 12? they could renegotiate the BE deal if schools left

 

[UConn Dan]

Yes it is a good thing.

Thank you Mr. Goff for the update. Hopefully your colleagues feel the same way.

 

[Forte]

I'm glad to see so much optimism here for the Big 12. Don't let them bring you down! However, to me.. the longer this drags on, the less likely it seems we'll get in—it's just how realignment has worked for us. One thing is for sure: 'imminent' was off.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I'm glad to see so much optimism here for the Big 12. Don't let them bring you down! However, to me.. the longer this drags on, the less likely it seems we'll get in—it's just how realignment has worked for us. One thing is for sure: 'imminent' was off.

It's hard to say how long it's "dragged on" for certain. We pitched to the XII in 2016 and last year. These reports broke last Friday but renewed talks have been certainly going on for a while. Hopefully today was the last piece of the puzzle ($) before a vote.

 

[Forte]

It's hard to say how long it's "dragged on" for certain. We pitched to the XII in 2016 and last year. These reports broke last Friday but renewed talks have been certainly going on for a while. Hopefully today was the last piece of the puzzle ($) before a vote.

Hopefully this drama doesn't play out through the entire football season. Talk about a distraction. @GoKU any feel for how long this would LIKELY play out?

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

Why can’t Fox shave off from the big east contract whatever they would pay us in the big 12? they could renegotiate the BE deal if schools left

Putting two-and-two together, maybe that is the purpose for the leak that was made on Friday by the B12.

Initial B12 conversations with Fox about UConn expansion probably came back "there is no chance we are giving additional $ for UConn since we already have them locked in on the cheap with the Big East with the new BE contract". But the whole "all-sport in '26 and football in '31 for the B12" may be a planned leak to push them to give some additional $ for the UConn B12 expansion (certainly won't be pro-rata, but can we get half of the Fox pro-rata rate?).

 

[Huskyforlife]

I'm glad to see so much optimism here for the Big 12. Don't let them bring you down! However, to me.. the longer this drags on, the less likely it seems we'll get in—it's just how realignment has worked for us. One thing is for sure: 'imminent' was off.

What dragging on? The process only officially began last week.

 

[UConnJim]

It's hard to say how long it's "dragged on" for certain. We pitched to the XII in 2016 and last year. These reports broke last Friday but renewed talks have been certainly going on for a while. Hopefully today was the last piece of the puzzle ($) before a vote.

You have to remember, there are only 8 schools in the current Big 12 that were in the Big 12 back in 2016. The other 8 have to be brought up to speed on what UConn does for the Big 12. This vetting by the Big 12 seems much deeper than what happened in 2023. In 2023, the Big 12 was looking for a 14th school to pair with Colorado and this time it feels like a UConn add is positioning the Big 12 for the future.

 

[jostar1]

The press from this is amazing and the timing is perfect. Shows we care about football and supporting the players with NIL.

I hope it makes it to the Big 12 meetings.