National sentiment

[AdamaNation]

There is a reason at the beginning of the past few seasons big east teams were ranked and aac teams weren’t. There is a national perception of the big east and the aac is an after thought. They will most likely remain an after thought, unfortunately. But the well tuned b-ball fans know it’s not the case. The move shows we have balls and basketball is taken serious.

Another reason recruiting will blow up!!!! Imagine a school paying more attention to b-ball over anything else. This is a ballsy move stating we are openly a basketball school first.

 

[billybud]

so you see that staying in the aac dying on the vine wasn’t going to lead anywhere but somehow this move hurts them?

solid logic

Kind of.

I think that Connecticut and UConn's financial situation sort of boxed in the administration.

Football is expensive and UConn, no matter what, was going to find it difficult to be in the top third of the AAC.

I think that the move was a solid, but forced choice.

I also think that it squarely moves UConn away from Cincinnati, UCF, USF, Memphis, Houston....and into the basketball school realms of Villanova, Gonzaga, etc.

"Hurt" is a term that depends on the outcome that you desire.

It will not hurt the basketball program and should be an assist. It may hurt future chances to move into P5s if they do expand...

 

[AdamaNation]

We get to relive memories! We're the only original non-Catholic school who's going to help relive them!

Butch Please!!!

 

[billybud]

I think that UConn can bolster its strong national identity and continue that unique institutional identity.

Maybe football had a hand in diluting that identity, I don't know.

 

[whaler11]

Kind of.

I think that Connecticut and UConn's financial situation sort of boxed in the administration.

Football is expensive and UConn, no matter what, was going to find it difficult to be in the top third of the AAC.

I think that the move was a solid, but forced choice.

I also think that it squarely moves UConn away from Cincinnati, UCF, USF, Memphis, Houston....and into the basketball school realms of Villanova, Gonzaga, etc.

"Hurt" is a term that depends on the outcome that you desire.

It will not hurt the basketball program and should be an assist. It may hurt future chances to move into P5s if they do expand...

only someone truly delusional is still framing these decisions on how they impact p5 opportunities.

there is none.

 

[AdamaNation]

Regardless of how you feel about the health of UConn athletics moving forward, you have to LOVE the gigantic Spartacus the school showed the AAC and ESPN. That alone sure feels good. Other than that, huge short term uptick for hoops. Longterm, is tbd. I still think that if the P5 contracts to the P4 that the NBE is still more viable than the AAC and because of tradition and branding and large tv markets, I can see a scenario that they are included in some basketball only relationship. This is the beginning of the end for football. One of the hardest things in life is to make that very difficult decision to realize a loss. UConn essentially did that yesterday. If you dig deeper, this also shows that they must have good intel that the P5 is never again expanding. Its over. UConn for once was proactive. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the response yesterday by the rest of the AAC. Their delusion was hilarious. Then I was reminded that 24 hours earlier, we were part of that delusion.

You can only sit by the phone waiting for that girl who has your number to call even though you keep seeing and hearing that she’s kicking it to everyone else. The school and state were bleeding and rapidly!!! This is as much a safe gamble if anything. Football has helped for five years or so and the guy who got us there is also part of the demise. I feel like the edsall rehire was to cleanse his soul. No one including UConn has taken football seriously. Time to sum for the notre dame model but in a flip.

 

[billybud]

I get UConn's situation...and the decision to go to the BIg East with the Catholic 7.

It also, given the northeast's love of basketball, makes some sense.

Having a strong regional aspect is valuable, I think. I have always lamented the Frankenstein conferences we have patched together.

Being in a conference that is highly regional, is strongly bent towards one sport, is not a lot different than the SEC. Just the sport doesn't ka-ching as well.

 

[upstater]

If the landscape stays the same, neither are leaving. My guess is by 2024 the entire landscape may change and none of this will matter anyway.

They are watching as schools like Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Boston College, Northwestern, Missouri, Mississippi State, Nebraska, make more money than them.

 

[billybud]

As you mention the "Notre Dame model"...it illuminates the value of football.

Notre Dame is in the ACC for all but football (where they play five games a year).

Notre Dame brings a national audience, good basketball....soccer, and other non revenue sports for the network...but gets paid $7.9 million for that.

 

[upstater]

UConn can become a Villanova...

They can not become a Virginia or Duke.

Or Michigan State or other all sports program.

Basketball may prosper in the BE...and fans will squint and, through misty eyes, see Marquette, St. Johns, Seton Hall, et al as the beloved old home place.

There is something to be said for being a Villanova....but still a different world from Duke or Michigan State.

And, someday, it may be Memphis, UCF, or Houston moving into that different world.

People like you are so short-sighted when it comes to college sports.

Teams go up, teams go down.

It never stays the same. You would think an FSU fan realizes this.

Nothing stays the same.

 

[djct1999]

They are watching as schools like Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Boston College, Northwestern, Missouri, Mississippi State, Nebraska, make more money than them.

College Football's Most Valuable Teams: Texas A&M Jumps To No. 1

 

[nomar]

If we don't uphold the football program, we can forget the P5 and become Washington University at St Louis or something.

Or, you know, one of those teams that won a basketball title with an FCS football team.

Gosh, I know that’s happened before. I think maybe in the late 90s?

UConn basketball success has never been tied to the football team.

 

[upstater]

College Football's Most Valuable Teams: Texas A&M Jumps To No. 1

Yowza--surprising that Texas A&M has now surpassed Texas. But, that's what happens when a team move to a real conference.

 

[djct1999]

You can only sit by the phone waiting for that girl who has your number to call even though you keep seeing and hearing that she’s kicking it to everyone else. The school and state were bleeding and rapidly!!! This is as much a safe gamble if anything. Football has helped for five years or so and the guy who got us there is also part of the demise. I feel like the edsall rehire was to cleanse his soul. No one including UConn has taken football seriously. Time to sum for the notre dame model but in a flip.

Yes, in hindsight, that Edsall re-hire and his low salary foreshadowed how we ended up here today.

 

[djct1999]

Yowza--surprising that Texas A&M has now surpassed Texas. But, that's what happens when a team move to a real conference.

Except when you read the finer print and see how Texas A & M jumped in front. Texas and OU are cash cows and always will be. This idea that they will jump is not necessarily true at all. In fact, you can easily argue that Texas will more go the route of ND than Nebraska if anything.

 

[upstater]

Yes, in hindsight, that Edsall re-hire and his low salary foreshadowed how we ended up here today.

They couldn't sustain football outside the BE, but they'll also need to explain why Tempe could. That's the big disconnect here. Temple football used to be a big joke on this board. One can only conclude that Temple's administration is much better than UConn's. What other explanations do people have for Temple doing what UConn couldn't do?

Also, it is pretty evident that people around the country don't realize that UConn actually competed in the old BE and had much better football than this. It once had 24 players in the NFL, which far surpassed most of the P5. I'm sure people like Joe Moorehead knew all about the school's ceiling, its problems, the difficulties of recruiting and being paid, but these coaches also knew about the games they won and the players they developed. So, sure Iowa St, Baylor, Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina, fans may look down and laugh at what UConn football has become, but they all took losses to UConn and they got as good as they gave.

 

[upstater]

Except when you read the finer print and see how Texas A & M jumped in front. Texas and OU are cash cows and always will be. This idea that they will jump is not necessarily true at all. In fact, you can easily argue that Texas will more go the route of ND than Nebraska if anything.

I'm talking about the TV money. Oklahoma makes half of what its former rival makes. It's appalling for them, and it's only going to get worse.

 

[browndog319]

Serious question, how is it a bold, strong move?

I think that's the crux of the divide between the fanbase right now. How are we better for this move?

Here’s why it’s a great move:
My daughter (14) got home from a graduation party last night. I told her we were going back to the Big East.
She went crazy.
She was at the 5 OT game against Louisville when she was 9. She went crazy for Kemba. She wants to go to UConn and I’ve tried to keep her into hoops but it’s been tough. We haven’t had the energy or excitement of games like those.
That’s how I knew it was right. We need that energy back. It will fuel recruiting for students and athletes alike. It will make the Big East Tourney the legend it was again...
If we build it, they will come.

 

[billybud]

The fact you don’t get why saying “UConn could become Villanova” is condescending is further proof we need a stronger ban policy around here.

No...I really don't get it.

Villanova is a very good basketball program with two very recent NC's.

UConn has 4 NC's in their past but has been sliding of late.

UConn, in the BE could, like Nova, win NC's....and maybe faster than in the AAC.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

No...I really don't get it.

Villanova is a very good basketball program with two very recent NC's.

UConn has 4 NC's in their past but has been sliding of late.

UConn, in the BE could, like Nova, win NC's....and maybe faster than in the AAC.

Don’t worry about it. Some day you’ll be as good as Florida.

 

[nomar]

No...I really don't get it.

Villanova is a very good basketball program with two very recent NC's.

UConn has 4 NC's in their past but has been sliding of late.

UConn, in the BE could, like Nova, win NC's....and maybe faster than in the AAC.

If Villanova keeps it up, they could be the next UConn.

 

[billybud]

If Villanova keeps it up, they could be the next UConn.

Sure....but, at some point, recency plays in....UConn needs to hold serve. And I think that they might in the BE

 

[Alum86]

UConn can become a Villanova...

They can not become a Virginia or Duke.

Or Michigan State or other all sports program.

Basketball may prosper in the BE...and fans will squint and, through misty eyes, see Marquette, St. Johns, Seton Hall, et al as the beloved old home place.

There is something to be said for being a Villanova....but still a different world from Duke or Michigan State.

And, someday, it may be Memphis, UCF, or Houston moving into that different world.

Kansas?

 

[billybud]

Don’t worry about it. Some day you’ll be as good as Florida.

LOL...yeah...those lizards.

Been a good run of late. 5-1 in last six vs the Gators...as many football NC's and FSU did not have a team when I was born.

But, oh ,how I do love those rascals.....friends come and go, but enemies are forever. And are a treasure. I'd hate to lose them as a rival.

 

[billybud]

Kansas?

Yeah...maybe a Kansas without the paycheck.

But...maybe you don't want to be exactly Kansas with one NC in the last 30 years..

 

[djct1999]

I'm talking about the TV money. Oklahoma makes half of what its former rival makes. It's appalling for them, and it's only going to get worse.

Its the net result that matters. Not how you get there.

 

[djct1999]

They couldn't sustain football outside the BE, but they'll also need to explain why Tempe could. That's the big disconnect here. Temple football used to be a big joke on this board. One can only conclude that Temple's administration is much better than UConn's. What other explanations do people have for Temple doing what UConn couldn't do?

Also, it is pretty evident that people around the country don't realize that UConn actually competed in the old BE and had much better football than this. It once had 24 players in the NFL, which far surpassed most of the P5. I'm sure people like Joe Moorehead knew all about the school's ceiling, its problems, the difficulties of recruiting and being paid, but these coaches also knew about the games they won and the players they developed. So, sure Iowa St, Baylor, Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina, fans may look down and laugh at what UConn football has become, but they all took losses to UConn and they got as good as they gave.

Realignment affected UConn's recruiting base far more than any other school. Simply put, by moving to the AAC, we stopped getting kids we were for a short time able to beat BC, Syracuse, and Pitt for. The move had far less impact to Temple's base. If anything, for Temple, it was a step forward. Sure, the administration is to blame for getting us into this mess. What happened on the field afterwards, I blame the AAC and UConn's affiliation with it. We were an outlier from the start and from the beginning had the most to lose, And we lost. But this is a marathon not a sprint, and although we may have flamed out of the race first, in the end, schools like Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Temple, and all of the AAC will most likely be standing either right beside us or behind.

 

[upstater]

Realignment affected UConn's recruiting base far more than any other school. Simply put, by moving to the AAC, we stopped getting kids we were for a short time able to beat BC, Syracuse, and Pitt for. The move had far less impact to Temple's base. If anything, for Temple, it was a step forward. Sure, the administration is to blame for getting us into this mess. What happened on the field afterwards, I blame the AAC and UConn's affiliation with it. We were an outlier from the start and from the beginning had the most to lose, And we lost. But this is a marathon not a sprint, and although we may have flamed out of the race first, in the end, schools like Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Temple, and all of the AAC will most likely be standing either right beside us or behind.

UConn was always at the bottom of recruiting in the BE. I'm also not sure how something that hurt UConn recruiting helped Temple recruiting, since Temple was already back in the BE prior to the AAC.

 

[upstater]

Its the net result that matters. Not how you get there.

That's not how they look at it. The net result is the result of the school's brand. And the administrators look at that bigger pot of money and say, "With our brand, we have to make at least what our lesser neighbors are making!"

The net result actually reinforces my point since it gives the bigwigs at Oklahoma an even bigger sense of entitlement.

This isn't even me say it. Oklahoma's principals are notorious for grousing over their B12 situation. An open secret.

 

[CL82]

I think it sends a different message. That for once we're not going to be tied to the whipping post. It's a bold, strong move. Whether it works out is a different question.

Mmm, not sure it says that at all. I'd guess it's an admission that we are a big time (P5, Football, Major, etc.) school. Most people will respond positively, even sympathetically to that.