Multiple Conferences?

[OldAlum]

So now I am bored waiting for the tourney to start. Was thinking about conferences and the difficulties in finding a conference that suits football, men's & women's basketball and other sports.
Has any consideration been given to allowing a university to join more than one conference? So the football team could play in a suitable conference and the basketball teams could play in a different one if it suits the program better. With all the movement, it is not like the college's identity is tied up in the conference. Seems like they could put together more competitive conferences if different sports could be in different conferences. I guess the other college sports could join whichever fits them better too.

 

[rford53]

So now I am bored waiting for the tourney to start. Was thinking about conferences and the difficulties in finding a conference that suits football, men's & women's basketball and other sports.
Has any consideration been given to allowing a university to join more than one conference? So the football team could play in a suitable conference and the basketball teams could play in a different one if it suits the program better. With all the movement, it is not like the college's identity is tied up in the conference. Seems like they could put together more competitive conferences if different sports could be in different conferences. I guess the other college sports could join whichever fits them better too.

This happens now. UConn is in the American for most sports but for ice hockey and field hockey, which most American conference teams do not have, they are in two additional conferences.

 

[Huskyhoops]

Well, Notre Dame plays in the ACC and is independent for football. But what conference would want to take on the UConn women alone for basketball and how would there be enough incentive for them moneywise?

 

[mr006]

Well, Notre Dame plays in the ACC and is independent for football. But what conference would want to take on the UConn women alone for basketball and how would there be enough incentive for them moneywise?

If handled correctly, I would think some teams could get a fair amount of publicity for their own program and additional folks in the seats when UConn comes to town, not to mention a boost in their SOS which might be helpful come March. Some schools fear the challenge, however, ultimately to their own detriment, one would think.

Football really is its own beast... why not let it loose to play its game and and let the other sports continue with leagues that don't ask for cross-country travel for, say, the lacross team? But then no one asked me - except for maybe OldAlum

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I think the ACC is clearly your best match, with the Big Ten a far distant second.

 

[Geno-ista]

These days are over I think- re splitting the football and b ball. It's all or nothing it looks like. We need to improve football and/or get in a P-5 conference---- end of story. The loss of p-5 revenues will eventually catch up with us.

 

[Geno-ista]

I think the ACC is clearly your best match, with the Big Ten a far distant second.

U r correct- we'd jump at either first opportunity! As I'm moving to SC - I'm hoping it's the ACC!

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

U r correct- we'd jump at either first opportunity! As I'm moving to SC - I'm hoping it's the ACC!

Where in SC are you moving?

 

[OldAlum]

Interesting. So a school could split conferences? I am a bit surprised that there isn't a strong "basketball conference". There are other schools where basketball is way more popular than football. A shame to see them in a lesser BB conference because their football program keeps them out of the top conferences.
I have no illusions that it would be based on womens BB.

 

[Stewie Fan]

The ACC would be the best match except football. As stated above, let football play as an independent like ND does.

 

[Brochacho]

There is precedent in UMass; they took basketball out of the MAC and put it into the A-10, shortly after the MAC told them to take a hike with their football team. If we were to move other sports to other conferences, the AAC would do the same. And to put it simply, UConn football would not survive as an independent. UMass currently has 10 home games over the first 6 years of independence. 4 from BYU and Army, with a fifth being a return game from UConn, which UConn only agreed to because of playing at Gillette Stadium. Other home games are returns from Troy, Ohio, and Old Dominion.

If I had to make an analogy, the football team is a plane, and the other sports are passengers on the plane flying over the Atlantic. In order to make it across, you need the airplane. If a problem were to arise, in theory, you could land it in the Atlantic. But after that, you are done. Yes, everything would have survived, but you would no longer be able to reach your destination. We have to keep our sports together if we want the B1G or ACC.

 

[Stewie Fan]

If I had to make an analogy, the football team is extra weight and keeping the plane from taking off. Get rid of the extra weight and the plane will soar at greater heights.

 

[Buzzyboy]

The ACC would be the best match except football. As stated above, let football play as an independent like ND does.

Why do you say, except for football? Up until a few years ago, where was Duke football. What about Wake Forest? Has Virginia been anything in football. We were ranked in football in this past decade and why can't that happen again. We've got a new practice facility and we've sent a multitude of players to the NFL. We got ourselves mired in mediocrity for a while now but there's nothing to suggest that we can't be a decent program, at a minimum. In the ACC, I think our ability to get a better level of recruit would be appreciably higher.

 

[j66kicker]

The ACC would be the best match except football. As stated above, let football play as an independent like ND does.

Yeah and have our own football network like ND? Maybe CPTV?

Football and Men's BB is where the money comes from to support all this other stuff.

 

[Stewie Fan]

Yeah and have our own football network like ND? Maybe CPTV?

Football and Men's BB is where the money comes from to support all this other stuff.

Just my opinion that Men's and Women's Basketball is where the money comes from, football not so much.

 

[j66kicker]

Just my opinion that Men's and Women's Basketball is where the money comes from, football not so much.

You're talking about UCONN. That's nice, but what P5 conference cares? In order to be of value to a P5 conference, a school needs to have a football program which would attract LOTS of viewers

 

[Geno-ista]

Where in SC are you moving?

Daughter near Greenville! Son in law at the other SC school in physics doctorate program. We are thinking Charleston- Savannah. Blufton probably!

 

[uconnfan68]

I think the ACC is clearly your best match, with the Big Ten a far distant second.

How did your ACC time go?

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

How did your ACC time go?

I didn't even live in South Carolina when we were in the ACC. We won the ACCT the last year in the conference and the second to last year we were 14-0 in the league. Unfortunately, leaving the ACC and becoming an independent killed our MBB program. I'm optimistic about next season and the future, though. Seriously, though, wouldn't you rather be in the ACC than the AAC?