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

[jostar1]

It's not that simple. But it would be quite odd for the votes to not have already been favorably lined up (at least conditionally) in order for Benedict and Toscano to be meeting with Big12 presidents. It seems unlikely that the meeting's purpose is for the AD and the Board Chairman to convince a handful of dissenting Presidents. That'd be strange business. In the past handful of years, the Big12 has expanded twice by 4 schools each time. They seem to have solid business practices. To not manage the UConn situation effectively and fairly for the hopeful candidate would be counter to how they've handled their affairs recently.

Benedict and Toscano met with the athletic directors. As far as I know, they did not meet with the Presidents. Yormark is meeting with the Presidents this week.

What is odd to me is that Benedict didn't make a presentation last year. Why this year? Could it be that we had the votes last year (until the PAC 12 schools became available) but didn't this year with the Four Corners schools? So the Benedict and Toscano presentation was an attempt to sway them?

I think it looks bad for Yormark if he can't get the votes after it's been out in the press. Maybe that is why the story was leaked by a couple of UConn fans? Hoping it would push the Presidents not to embarrass Yormark? It looks bad for UConn, too, if the Presidents don't approve it.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Benedict and Toscano met with the athletic directors. As far as I know, they did not meet with the Presidents. Yormark is meeting with the Presidents this week.

Agree and reports are that Benedict and Toscano are going to meet with the presidents on Tuesday.

What is odd to me is that Benedict didn't make a presentation last year. Why this year? Could it be that we had the votes last year (until the PAC 12 schools became available) but didn't this year with the Four Corners schools? So the Benedict and Toscano presentation was an attempt to sway them?

I don't think whether Benedict made a presentation or not last year was reported on. Supposedly UConn officials went to sleep thinking they were to be accepted that fateful evening the the four corner schools agreed to go to the Big12, so either way the ball was on the one foot line.

I think it looks bad for Yormark if he can't get the votes after it's been out in the press. Maybe that is why the story was leaked by a couple of UConn fans? Hoping it would push the Presidents not to embarrass Yormark? It looks bad for UConn, too, if the Presidents don't approve it.

Agreed that there'll be a lot of egg on many faces if this is not a go.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Benedict and Toscano met with the athletic directors. As far as I know, they did not meet with the Presidents. Yormark is meeting with the Presidents this week.

Radenka Marić - suspect it’s unlikely Benedict and Toscano directly meet with Big 12 presidents without Marić

 

[jostar1]

Agree and reports are that Benedict and Toscano are going to meet with the presidents on Tuesday.

I don't think this is correct. Do you have a source for this?

According to McMurphy:

"Last week, UConn officials met in Dallas with Big 12 athletic directors. UConn “showcased how it would build in the future leading up to 2031 and invest more in football,” a source said.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who has been enamored by UConn’s basketball program and its Northeast media market, is expected to make a presentation to the Big 12’s presidents, who must approve any expansion additions."

Sources: Big 12 Considering Adding UConn

Brett McMurphy reports that the Big 12 is considering adding the UConn Huskies as its next member.

www.actionnetwork.com

According to Dellenger:

In a marriage that could bring together arguably the country’s strongest basketball conference and perhaps the nation’s best hoops program, UConn officials visited with Big 12 athletic administrators in Dallas last week. Though nothing is imminent, the in-person presentation is a sign of the serious nature of the discussions.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is set to make a similar presentation to the league's presidents next week. Expansion requires a three-fourths vote, or 12 of the 16 members.

Sources: UConn, Big 12 in serious negotiations about Huskies joining as newest expansion member

Pete Thamel:

The talks have advanced to the point where UConn athletic director David Benedict and board chair Daniel Toscano met with Big 12 athletic directors in person in Dallas last week to make their case, sources told ESPN. The conversations centered around football funding and how UConn could be competitive upon joining the league in 2031, sources said.

A Big 12 board call is being planned for next week with the league's presidents that would lay out the specific deal points, according to sources.

Sources: UConn in early talks for joining Big 12

 

[jostar1]

Radenka Marić - suspect it’s unlikely Benedict and Toscano directly meet with Big 12 presidents without Marić

Are you saying that Maric is going to talk or meet with Big 12 Presidents? Do you have a source for this?

I agree it would be helpful if she did.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I don't think this is correct. Do you have a source for this?

According to McMurphy:

"Last week, UConn officials met in Dallas with Big 12 athletic directors. UConn “showcased how it would build in the future leading up to 2031 and invest more in football,” a source said.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who has been enamored by UConn’s basketball program and its Northeast media market, is expected to make a presentation to the Big 12’s presidents, who must approve any expansion additions."

Sources: Big 12 Considering Adding UConn

Brett McMurphy reports that the Big 12 is considering adding the UConn Huskies as its next member.

www.actionnetwork.com

According to Dellenger:

In a marriage that could bring together arguably the country’s strongest basketball conference and perhaps the nation’s best hoops program, UConn officials visited with Big 12 athletic administrators in Dallas last week. Though nothing is imminent, the in-person presentation is a sign of the serious nature of the discussions.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is set to make a similar presentation to the league's presidents next week. Expansion requires a three-fourths vote, or 12 of the 16 members.

Sources: UConn, Big 12 in serious negotiations about Huskies joining as newest expansion member

Pete Thamel:

The talks have advanced to the point where UConn athletic director David Benedict and board chair Daniel Toscano met with Big 12 athletic directors in person in Dallas last week to make their case, sources told ESPN. The conversations centered around football funding and how UConn could be competitive upon joining the league in 2031, sources said.

A Big 12 board call is being planned for next week with the league's presidents that would lay out the specific deal points, according to sources.

Sources: UConn in early talks for joining Big 12

My bad, I conflated last week's meeting attendees and this week's meeting.

 

[jostar1]

My bad, I conflated last week's meeting attendees and this week's meeting.

I wish Benedict was making a presentation to the Presidents.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I wish Benedict was making a presentation to the Presidents.

Or our President was and then got high-fived.

 

[jostar1]

 

[Forte]

Over the weekend, we went from hearing that UConn had the votes and that a move was imminent, with some even celebrating as if it were a done deal, to now seeing everyone, including ESPN, quoting university presidents saying it's far from happening and still premature. More podcasts and experts are now suggesting it might not happen in this round or even for a long time. It's deflating to see such heavy contradictions after all the initial hype.

On a side note he hammers home the point that its not about football. Its about protecting all of the sports and that Geno and Hurley are fully on board for obvious reasons.

 

[TheDrifter75]

I hope that Geno and Dan being onboard will encourage our nostalgic BE fans to see the light and walk this way.

 

[CL82]

Are you saying that Maric is going to talk or meet with Big 12 Presidents? Do you have a source for this?

I agree it would be helpful if she did.

Personally, While I'm sure Maric needs to be there, I hope she leaves the negotiating to Toscano. It's not one of her strong points.

 

[upstater]

Mindboggling if the B12 does this to UConn for a 3rd time.

I wont believe it

 

[CL82]

Mindboggling if the B12 does this to UConn for a 3rd time.

I wont believe it

Won't believe that they will take us or won't believe that they'll publicly yank us around yet again?

 

[Ucxc24]

I’m feeling pretty uneasy about it. There seems to be consensus “?” on the logic of the move from sports journalists and pundits. I think the tricky part is convincing a football first league to take the leap of faith on a move that doesn’t benefit them currently. It just seems the same arguments that prevent uconn from finding a chair when the music stops keep popping up every single time. Having said that, this is the most legit shot we have compared to say last year or a few years ago. I can see it happening, I can see a swift kick in the nuts. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out

 

[Ha Who]

I’m feeling pretty uneasy about it. There seems to be consensus “?” on the logic of the move from sports journalists and pundits. I think the tricky part is convincing a football first league to take the leap of faith on a move that doesn’t benefit them currently. It just seems the same arguments that prevent uconn from finding a chair when the music stops keep popping up every single time. Having said that, this is the most legit shot we have compared to say last year or a few years ago. I can see it happening, I can see a swift kick in the nuts. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out

“Interesting“ is a unique perspective. My feeling is I’ve been kicked in the nuts too many times, but I feel like a junkie coming back to this page again and again.

 

[Rondogg]

“Interesting“ is a unique perspective. My feeling is I’ve been kicked in the nuts too many times, but I feel like a junkie coming back to this page again and again.

LOL, my thoughts exactly, we are Charlie Brown about to kick the ball, again.

I've grown numb to it. I blame Randy Edsall.

 

[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.<-

 

[Stinger92860]

I’m feeling pretty uneasy about it. There seems to be consensus “?” on the logic of the move from sports journalists and pundits. I think the tricky part is convincing a football first league to take the leap of faith on a move that doesn’t benefit them currently. It just seems the same arguments that prevent uconn from finding a chair when the music stops keep popping up every single time. Having said that, this is the most legit shot we have compared to say last year or a few years ago. I can see it happening, I can see a swift kick in the nuts. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out

Yet Stanford to ACC or USC to B1G is a no brainer. There is a football only mentality in parts of the sports media, much like the basketball only mentality here, They won‘t be happy when we start winning again.

 

[Ucxc24]

Yet Stanford to ACC or USC to B1G is a no brainer. There is a football only mentality in parts of the sports media, much like the basketball only mentality here, They won‘t be happy when we start winning again.

Out biggest weakness is having the reputation of being a school that will always be there if conferences want to expand down the road. Problem is we’ve been here for years and still are on the outside looking in. With football the way it is, we are seen as a safety choice for the power conferences. It’s unfair, but hopefully this arrangement at least gets our foot in the door.

 

[ZooCougar]

-> 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.<-

Don’t click on that.

 

[Waquoit]

I've grown numb to it. I blame Randy Edsall.

He never believed in UConn football.

 

[ctchamps]

It's just an opinion obviously but not based on intel.

One quibble in an otherwise decent podcast. UConn did not get kicked out of the BE. The Catholic schools voted amongst themselves to leave the conference with the only dissenting vote being Georgetown. UConn, Cincinnati and South Florida were the remaining BE teams. They sold the name of the BE to the Catholic schools.

 

[JMick]

Yikes. So it leaked again from our side and again we probably don't have the votes? Why do we keep leaking this. Its really bad optics to keep getting rejected.

 

[jostar1]

-> 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.<-

Well the new information is that media consultants are going to make a presentation to the Big 12 AD's and Presidents. I think this is a good thing. As someone else posted a few days ago, it seems like something has changed with ESPN. That they want UConn in their inventory. There is also the growth in popularity of women's basketball. Also the market size, which would be the largest in the Big 12.