Moving UConn Football Forward - A Message from Athletic Director David Benedict.

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

It seems the AAC would be a good fit for football. But we would have to give them something in return. How about football and women basketball go to AAC only. Everything else stays Big East.

@Nicklo28 Absolutely not possible, see NCAA rules. Current FBS independent football UConn could move to a FBS conference as a football-only member. However, NCAA rules prohibit other UConn D1-level Big East member sports moving to other D1 conferences. UConn hockey could move from Hockey East to join B1G, because the Big East has no hockey.

Unlike UConn football, Army and Navy can be AAC football members as the Patriot League only offers FCS-level football.

 

[Patman]

@Nicklo28 Absolutely not possible, see NCAA rules. Current FBS independent football UConn could move to a FBS conference as a football-only member. However, NCAA rules prohibit other UConn D1-level Big East member sports moving to other D1 conferences. UConn hockey could move from Hockey East to join B1G, because the Big East has no hockey.

Unlike UConn football, Army and Navy can be AAC football members as the Patriot League only offers FCS-level football.

I think its that if a conference offers a sport you are obligated into it

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I think its that if a conference offers a sport you are obligated into it

Yup

 

[jostar1]

Is Marc correct that UConn football NIL was only around $1 million for 2025? This amount would make more sense since we struck out on the defensive side of the ball this year obtaining players in the portal and lost two of our best defensive linemen to the portal.

It doesn't seem correct.

From article dated August 28, 2024:

In bringing in 50-plus new players this season, UConn spread more than $1 million into the hands of 20-plus recruits from the transfer portal, many of them, like Evers, having come from power programs. The goal is for $2-3 million to be shared with, say, 40 players of high expectations next offseason, giving UConn the size, depth and talent needed in an effort to show that the program can be more than something basketball and university support drags along.
“I’m not sure how many people did more than we did, in the Group of Five,” Benedict said of programs unaffiliated with power conferences. “It’s difficult to say where we stand because there’s no ledger of, here’s the list of what everyone did around the country in the Group of Five. But if we’re not in the top five, I’d be surprised.

“The realty of a year ago is, there was no emphasis on it. There wasn’t a plan. It was still something that, collectively, everyone was trying to figure out the best approach with. Last year, we made a decision that this was something we had to get in the business of and we quickly were able to organize and have people lead an effort that aggregated resources that put us in the very top echelon in the Group of Five.”

 

[drayenob]

I am just reporting what Marc stated on X. If Marc who I thought was part of the leadership team on raising NIL knows less than you then cool.

Pony up the 9.99 per month for Storrs Central and you would know that Marc is not in the know.

 

[Marbles90]

not gone 0-3 in OT games and been in consideration for the college football playoffs

Right now we have no path to be in consideration for the playoffs - even going 12-0. With no conference championship the only way we get in is as an at large, meaning we would have to be ranked in the top 7 of the remaining non conference champions. Do you really think a 12-0 UConn with our schedule is ranked higher and gets in over say a 10-2 Oklahoma who played an SEC schedule?

 

[Hoophound]

Right now we have no path to be in consideration for the playoffs - even going 12-0. With no conference championship the only way we get in is as an at large, meaning we would have to be ranked in the top 7 of the remaining non conference champions. Do you really think a 12-0 UConn with our schedule is ranked higher and gets in over say a 10-2 Oklahoma who played an SEC schedule?

I honestly don’t care. Being in the conversation would be plenty of excitement for right now. We’re trying to get into a P4, not win a national championship. That’s the aspiration for the moment.

 

[uconndogs]

I’m not sure why folks expected some level of loyalty from Mora to UCONN. That simply does not exist today in college athletics. The coaches are subject to expectations that require immediate success or they’re out. Players hit the portal for the most money.

 

[freescooter]

I honestly don’t care. Being in the conversation would be plenty of excitement for right now. We’re trying to get into a P4, not win a national championship. That’s the aspiration for the moment.

That is exactly right. People don’t understand where UConn basketball was when Calhoun arrived. Nobody except maybe Jim Calhoun ever expected to win a national championship, let alone 6. If you told UConn fans they would make the tournament every other year, most would have signed up for that in a heartbeat. People were crying with joy, literally, at winning the NIT.

The point is don’t worry about getting into the playoffs right now. Enjoy winning

 

[Stinger92860]

That is exactly right. People don’t understand where UConn basketball was when Calhoun arrived. Nobody except maybe Jim Calhoun ever expected to win a national championship, let alone 6. If you told UConn fans they would make the tournament every other year, most would have signed up for that in a heartbeat. People were crying with joy, literally, at winning the NIT.

The point is don’t worry about getting into the playoffs right now. Enjoy winning

Winning the NIT was a big deal for me. Also, the first big wins over St. John’s and Georgetown, were a huge breakthrough.

 

[Waquoit]

Winning the NIT was a big deal for me. Also, the first big wins over St. John’s and Georgetown, were a huge breakthrough.

Nine years from those two games to the natty. It was great just being in the mix almost every year. Like now.

 

[freescooter]

9 years. Exactly. It was fun, frustrating and exciting, but if I told you we’d win a a national championship after the NIT nobody would have believed it.

 

[inWV]

Fort Collins and a chance to compete is a reconstituted Pacific league vs. Storrs CT where football and a vague memory once BB season starts and living off the land when it comes to scheduling a season.