More conference realignment Hunger Games

[broooce]

These expanded conferences are being created by the media, not the conferences. This is all about maximizing advertising revenue and UConn does exist in a prime market region. There are a lot of bad P-5 football programs.

Hartford-New Haven DMA is 32nd in the USA, ahead of most BIG markets. Cable/streaming makes the DMA's moot as these contracts are all about national following. And if we're talking about bad football then would BIG jettison some teams on that alone? I don't think so - remember when Northwestern was considered the worst football team in the country in the 70's and 80's, even worse than Ivy League? Joining a conference like BIG results in a revenue stream that allows members to invest in its infrastructure and become better, that is, if it has effective leadership to get there. Read my other posts about the next three largest revenue producing sports after football and how UConn fits the bill. IMO UConn leadership needs to become aggressive in promoting all its great qualities and change the narrative about its credentials as a future BIG member, or it'll be left standing when this round of musical chairs ends.

 

[HuskyNan]

I think the Big East deserves a little more respect, at least with regard to WBB. We sent 4 teams to the tournament, three advanced, two made it to the Elite Eight, and one was in the NC game. I think a case could be made for Marquette having been included, too. The Big East went 9-4 in the tournament, which is better than the Pac 12 the Big 10 or the Big 12 did.

ACC and SEC were clearly more competitive. It just irritates me to see those other conferences consistently rated higher than the Big East. This last year, it was the third most competitive as measured by NCAA tournament success.

Basketball has zero influence on conference realignment,neither the men nor the women. It’s all about football

 

[Bone Dog]

Basketball has zero influence on conference realignment,neither the men nor the women. It’s all about football

I never said it did. And it is plenty obvious that Football drives all these decisions. But the question of conferences will inevitably have an influence for good or ill on UConn WBB. This was the point of my post.

 

[broooce]

There are no D1 FBS football programs in NYC: Columbia, Fordham and Wagner are all FBS teams. The closest FBS teams are Rutgers and Army West Point, both about 40 miles away; Storrs is about 140 miles away. When Rutgers under Schiano and UConn under Edsall were doing well in the 2000-2010 era (give or take) I remember that the NYC TV stations would report on both teams' seasons and bowl appearances as if they were their own. It's happened before and it can happen again. Let's be honest - Rutgers might actually be in the NYC DMA but it has been similarly dismal in football while UConn has been far more successful in most of the other sports.

If football is the sole driver, then why do I read about Kansas and Missouri as potential BIG targets (as it is rumored that both BIG and SEC are eventually going to become 20-25 team super conferences)? Kansas brings basketball caché but UConn men's has won more NC's in the past 23 years (4 vs 2) and Kansas football has historically been an extremely middling football program. Missouri? Pish-posh.

DON'T underestimate or undervalue the other revenue producing sports of basketball, ice hockey and baseball where UConn matches up better than just about any other possible BIG or SEC target school. FOX and/or ESPN want to expand programming and these other sports will do that and help grow overall advertising revenue.

Sorry I meant Columbia, Fordham and Wagner are FCS teams in NYC.

 

[Alibi Ike]

(JUST KIDDING). It is rumored that the B1G moved one step closer to fulfilling its long term desire to capture the New York viewing market by extending offers to join the conference to the New York Giants and the Jets. It is also rumored that the two NFL teams are seriously considering the offer since it may be their last chance to have a winning season. Apparently they also wanted to include the Pats in the deal, but that was quickly squashed by BC who believe they own the football rights to all New England. (JUST KIDDING)

SEC teams would still beat them.

 

[Wbbfan1]

No way the Big Ten would accept UConn. UConn is not worth giving them $100 Million Dollar Share of TV Revenue. $100 Million Dollar per school is the projected Revenue each Big Ten school would receive once they sign a contract with Fox Sports. That's one of the reason the Big Ten is not interested in Stanford and Cal which IMO would be more deserving then UConn. If Stanford gets invited it will happen if ND accepts an invite and demand that Stanford is also included.

 

[broooce]

No way the Big Ten would accept UConn. UConn is not worth giving them $100 Million Dollar Share of TV Revenue. $100 Million Dollar per school is the projected Revenue each Big Ten school would receive once they sign a contract with Fox Sports. That's one of the reason the Big Ten is not interested in Stanford and Cal which IMO would be more deserving then UConn. If Stanford gets invited it will happen if ND accepts an invite and demand that Stanford is also included.

With that thinking then why wouldn't BIG kick some schools to the curb? Rutgers? Illinois? Northwestern? Purdue? Minnesota? Indiana? Maryland?

Then they can take Clemson and all those other football powers in the Big 12 and ACC instead.

If they go to 20-25 teams then I think UConn's merits stack up to most other schools and should earn a spot at the trough/table. This is an M&A situation and the smartest conferences look at the entire resumé of each candidate. Even ND has a downside - not AAU accredited.

 

[visitingcock]

With that thinking then why wouldn't BIG kick some schools to the curb? Rutgers? Illinois? Northwestern? Purdue? Minnesota? Indiana? Maryland?

Then they can take Clemson and all those other football powers in the Big 12 and ACC instead.

If they go to 20-25 teams then I think UConn's merits stack up to most other schools and should earn a spot at the trough/table. This is an M&A situation and the smartest conferences look at the entire resumé of each candidate. Even ND has a downside - not AAU accredited.

The Power Two don’t kick their schools to the curb. Bad business. Vandy will get their free ride as long as they want. So will Rutgers (who does have decent fan support.)

 

[Alydar]

We are close to where college football splits from the NCAA. There's too much $$$ at stake to allow a bean counter like the pres. of the NCAA to have a say.

 

[JordyG]

The Power Two don’t kick their schools to the curb. Bad business. Vandy will get their free ride as long as they want. So will Rutgers (who does have decent fan support.)

Indeed. There is nothing to keep the B1G from becoming a 20 or even a 25 team conference. As long as that TV money is ripe the B1G is ready. But 20 teams is a nice number for 4 divisions and a sweet conference playoff scheme.

 

[JordyG]

We are close to where college football splits from the NCAA. There's too much $$$ at stake to allow a bean counter like the pres. of the NCAA to have a say.

3-5 years before the split. Probably sooner.

 

[Bone Dog]

I always thought the BCS would lead to something like this.

 

[JordyG]

I always thought the BCS would lead to something like this.

BCS was just a symptom, a toe dip.

 

[JordyG]

ND just said hell no to joining the B1G. So for now the ACC is safe. The question is, did ND say no to the B1G price and is just trying to negotiate a better deal, or is this a firm no? Will ND join the ACC full time in football?

 

[broooce]

ND just said hell no to joining the B1G. So for now the ACC is safe. The question is, did ND say no to the B1G price and is just trying to negotiate a better deal, or is this a firm no? Will ND join the ACC full time in football?

I haven't seen this anywhere, source?

 

[JordyG]

I haven't seen this anywhere, source?

From an insider named MHver3 on Twitter.

 

[SCGamecock]

There are no D1 FBS football programs in NYC: Columbia, Fordham and Wagner are all FBS teams. The closest FBS teams are Rutgers and Army West Point, both about 40 miles away; Storrs is about 140 miles away. When Rutgers under Schiano and UConn under Edsall were doing well in the 2000-2010 era (give or take) I remember that the NYC TV stations would report on both teams' seasons and bowl appearances as if they were their own. It's happened before and it can happen again. Let's be honest - Rutgers might actually be in the NYC DMA but it has been similarly dismal in football while UConn has been far more successful in most of the other sports.

If football is the sole driver, then why do I read about Kansas and Missouri as potential BIG targets (as it is rumored that both BIG and SEC are eventually going to become 20-25 team super conferences)? Kansas brings basketball caché but UConn men's has won more NC's in the past 23 years (4 vs 2) and Kansas football has historically been an extremely middling football program. Missouri? Pish-posh.

DON'T underestimate or undervalue the other revenue producing sports of basketball, ice hockey and baseball where UConn matches up better than just about any other possible BIG or SEC target school. FOX and/or ESPN want to expand programming and these other sports will do that and help grow overall advertising revenue.

Which is exactly why UConn is a better fit for the B1G than the SEC, my entire point. If the SEC wanted to get stronger in basketball, sure you can look at UConn… but are you REALLY looking at UConn when you have UNC, Duke, NC State etc in a state that’s contiguous to current SEC states. Unlike the B1G, being contiguous to current states matters to the SEC, the conference places value in its “Southern” roots.. which is why it’s highly unlikely the SEC plucks a team like Washington or Oregon (not impossible, but very unlikely).

Not sure what you mean either when you say UConn matches up better in baseball than other SEC targets. Those targets being Clemson, FSU, Miami, UNC, NC State etc. That is simply not true.

And the SEC doesn’t have ice hockey, but the B1G does. Lacrosse, Field Hockey.. all of those other very East Coast non-revenue sports.. are NOT in the SEC…. But guess what, they are in the B1G.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

SEC And BIG may choose to sever themselves from the NCAA. SEC has had serious discussions about it and if the BIG joined them, it could see it happening fast.

You can't spell secession with out an "S", and "E" and a "C."

So the NCAA basketball tournament is no more???? All in the name of football???? What happens to all the other athletic programs besides football? I don’t see it happening, but I’ve been wrong before.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

The SEC and BiG10 are going to be the P2, with everyone else a step below. Has to be a bitter pill for the ACC and PAC12. The money for the P2 is going to be so big that it may overwhelm the ACC's GOR poison pill for Clemson and/or FSU.

Other intercollegiate sports (mens and womens) will suffer, this flat out wrong.

 

[billybud]

Sooo ?

Is this where the P2 is going... they review teams that fill out a dating app like profile that you can hit or swipe on by ?

1....Loves basketball, pizza, and travel away from the east coast, smart, let me show you around New York.

2....You need me as much as I need you. I love green beer, travel to the west coast, and your crowd has been my crowd since the days of the Gipper.

3....Love rap music, large jangly fake gold necklaces, know a letter of the alphabet and proud to display that fact. Are "U" ready to salsa?

4....Just putting this out there. Love wine and cheese, basketball, the color Petty Blue, smart, dress nicely...like to stay close to home.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Big 10 considerations:
Notre Dame
UNC
UVa
GaTech
Miami
Duke
Boston college
Syracuse
Kansas

SEC considerations
Notre Dame
FSU
Clempsun
NC State
VaTech
Pitt
Okie State
Iowa state
West Virginia

Is this the end of college football, and the beginning of a pro league? This means that most schools will not play competitive football and make decent money at it for the university. 32 teams, perhaps a few more, in two leagues. Sounds like the National League and the American League. Why does this pro football scheme need universities anymore? Who needs the NCAA? And why do players need this sham amateur league structure, when they should be payed big bonuses to go into that AAA league and get paid, plus endorsements, just like minor league baseball players? Like soccer players?

Who needs colleges? Who needs the NCAA? At least for college football? Time to cut the cord.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

ND just said hell no to joining the B1G. So for now the ACC is safe. The question is, did ND say no to the B1G price and is just trying to negotiate a better deal, or is this a firm no? Will ND join the ACC full time in football?

 

[visitingcock]

Is this the end of college football, and the beginning of a pro league? This means that most schools will not play competitive football and make decent money at it for the university. 32 teams, perhaps a few more, in two leagues. Sounds like the National League and the American League. Why does this pro football scheme need universities anymore? Who needs the NCAA? And why do players need this sham amateur league structure, when they should be payed big bonuses to go into that AAA league and get paid, plus endorsements, just like minor league baseball players? Like soccer players?

Who needs colleges? Who needs the NCAA? At least for college football? Time to cut the cord.

Free housing and excellent training table. Opportunity to earn NIL money. Opportunity to earn a college degree. Campus life. Adulation by an (often too) adoring fanbase.​

VS

Minor League Salaries​

Level	Minimum pay	23 weeks

Rookie	$400/week	$9,200
Hi A, Low A	$500/week	$11,500
AA	$600/week	$13,800
AAA	$700/week	$16,100

 

[Bone Dog]

I know from experience that everyone at any university who works outside the athletic department or the advancement office thinks football has been a disaster for every major university

 

[JordyG]

Not surprising, but very interesting. It'll take more than one of the worst teams in the B1G sponsoring them. Too bad UConn football stinks or else Geno and co. would have been B1G 4 years ago.

 

[UHF]

Is this the end of college football, and the beginning of a pro league? This means that most schools will not play competitive football and make decent money at it for the university. 32 teams, perhaps a few more, in two leagues. Sounds like the National League and the American League. Why does this pro football scheme need universities anymore? Who needs the NCAA? And why do players need this sham amateur league structure, when they should be payed big bonuses to go into that AAA league and get paid, plus endorsements, just like minor league baseball players? Like soccer players?

Who needs colleges? Who needs the NCAA? At least for college football? Time to cut the cord.

I posted earlier the SEC and tB1G will become the NFL Developmental League. Whether or not the NFL calls it D-League or something else.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

As I said in an earlier post, Rutgers wants UConn in the B1G. It props them up, and restarts an old rivalry from Big East days that will definitely sell tickets.

 

[broooce]

As I said in an earlier post, Rutgers wants UConn in the B1G. It props them up, and restarts an old rivalry from Big East days that will definitely sell tickets.

All yuks aside, every league either has or needs a Rutgers, Kansas or Vanderbilt otherwise every football season will be a difficult to navigate successfully to make the playoffs. And I'd think we'd all agree that UConn brings one of the best non-football resumes amongst possible BIG candidates. If the people on this board can solve for recruiting, playing time, and the many other issues that needed our help then we can assist UConn on finding the right conference for our long-term athletic success. Maybe even help BIG land Notre Dame (now that Muffet McGraw is gone lol!).

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Free housing and excellent training table. Opportunity to earn NIL money. Opportunity to earn a college degree. Campus life. Adulation by an (often too) adoring fanbase.​

VS

Minor League Salaries​

Level	Minimum pay	23 weeks

Rookie	$400/week	$9,200
Hi A, Low A	$500/week	$11,500
AA	$600/week	$13,800
AAA	$700/week	$16,100

But those aren't the elite. They get signing bonuses in addition to salary. And they will likely get to the majors a lot sooner.

The college degree is worthless for these football players- recreation management? And many, if not most, never get their degrees.

They could get NIL money in a pro league.