I think it's definitely better than being independent. Scheduling would be easier, you have a conference championship to play for and a CFP autobid. Even without the money it's better than what we've got.
I think the CFP is questionable because I've heard different things about when it was due to expire, but I certainly agree with everything else you said...
They aren't guaranteed to get the autobid back no matter what. They might not. Had they poached the AAC and MWC more successfully it was more likely. Now they just need an 8th team to be an FBS conference at all.UConn is not going to be the 8th member. They need 8 football + all sports members to count for the FB autobid. Gonzaga/UConn (or Hawaii, etc) doesn’t get it done.
UConn would be #9 if something happened giving them an 8 game conference slate and guaranteeing all members 4 home football games a year (vs 3 then 4 in alternating years).
Oregon State and Washington State need to sue!!!!
It’s always about the money:
I like to think he'd understand the big picture.How would this go over with Hurley?
With all of the conference realignment going on right now, scheduling should not be a problem in the next few years. Heck, Washington St. and Oregon St. need games for next year. That said, I think UConn needs to play in a conference with access to the CFP money and with bowl tie ins. I'm not excited by the Pac 12 and I would prefer a scheduling arrangement and I don't want to mess up the possibility of joining the ACC or Big 12 so I definitely don't want to sign up for 5 years in the Pac 12.Several of those future dates will probably be canceled within the next year.
I'm not thinking about it in terms of travel distance for road games. I'm thinking about it in terms of wanting to schedule opponents who interest our fan base more, especially for home games. Being able to arrange home-and-homes with Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Duke, etc. has the potential to attract butts to seats that don't get filled for Florida Atlantic and Rice, and won't get filled for UNLV and Utah State. But I suppose a 9-game limit would leave enough room for a home cupcake (probably UMass every other year), and one or two home games with power conference schools.I think the most we will be asked to play is 9 conference games like many other conferences now. At worst, it will be 5 away games plus 4 home games during every other year. I think that's worth it just for football. It will be a few extra hours of flying each day, but once you are on the plane you are on the plane.
Ultimately, not sure this works for all parties…. My mindset is let the process work. If something materializes that could help UConn fine. Doesn’t seem like something worth pursuing heavily.I'm not thinking about it in terms of travel distance for road games. I'm thinking about it in terms of wanting to schedule opponents who interest our fan base more, especially for home games. Being able to arrange home-and-homes with Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Duke, etc. has the potential to attract butts to seats that don't get filled for Florida Atlantic and Rice, and won't get filled for UNLV and Utah State. But I suppose a 9-game limit would leave enough room for a home cupcake (probably UMass every other year), and one or two home games with power conference schools.
I don’t think that is right. I think 8 members in all sports except football to be a conference then 8 football teams to get the G5 bid.UConn is not going to be the 8th member. They need 8 football + all sports members to count for the FB autobid. Gonzaga/UConn (or Hawaii, etc) doesn’t get it done.
UConn would be #9 if something happened giving them an 8 game conference slate and guaranteeing all members 4 home football games a year (vs 3 then 4 in alternating years).
MWC commish/schools wanted a gigantic slice of the PAC buyout money (from B1G and B12 defectors) to work with Oregon St and Wazzu. Oregon St and Wazzu then thought might as well just buy the top of the MWC, make a play at the AAC, and let the MWC fall apart and pick up the pieces if needed. MWC commish doesn't want to lose her job and the bottom part of the MWC doesn't want to be left behind so they fight to keep the conference alive. Ultimately it ends with both conferences and all the schools being compromised (except maybe Air Force and UNLV with this huge retention bonus).I can’t understand why they didn’t simply merge the two conferences by dissolving the MWC and then invite all of them to join the pac. There were 4 schools they didn’t want I guess. So make a deal with those. I dunno it seems like this should’ve been easier.
I can’t understand why they didn’t simply merge the two conferences by dissolving the MWC and then invite all of them to join the pac. There were 4 schools they didn’t want I guess. So make a deal with those. I dunno it seems like this should’ve been easier.
It seems like no based on how the NCAA rule is written and how it's being reported. I would think the PAC now goes after Texas St as a full memberSo, if they bring in Gonzaga as a full, as full as can be anyway, and bring in UConn as a football only, would that constitute a full member for the PAC.
They have to add one more full sports member first. Let's hope that Texas State says no, and UTEP says yes. IMO, that is best case scenario.I'd have to imagine this is good for us. It leaves them more desperate for a "brand" and they probably only want to add one more full member if they can get Gonzaga for basketball and us for football.