National sentiment

[Husky25]

No one is blaming the football program. But the conference that was best for them is horrible for our basketball programs. Call it s scapegoat all you want. Recruiting was an uphill battle in the AAC. We can start pulling in top 10 classes consistently in the Big Beast. We can damn near put a strangle hold on the north east. The football program isn’t directly responsible for the basketball programs plummet from grace. But the fact is that there is no conference available to us at the moment where both can simultaneously reach their full potential. So a decision had to be made on which program to put in position to reach their potential. The basketball program has proven its capable of reaching the elite goal in its respective sport. The football team hasn’t proven it can be consistently competitive. The decision was an easy one. And anyone who is “a fan of UConn” should understand that

Basketball-onlys all blame the football program. Recruiting was an uphill battle because of those doing the recruiting, developing, and retaining.

 

[Husky25]

One year we went into the tournament with 7 losses. That team won the title, but got a freaking 7 seed. For contrast:

2002-2003 got 5 seed with 9 losses and a similar tournament championship blow out.
2003-2004 got a 2 seed with 6 losses
2004-2005 got a 2 seed with 7 losses
2007-2008 got a 4 seed with 8 losses
2012-2013 got a 9 seed with 13 losses --> same seed as our 2015-2016 that had 10 losses but won a conference tournament!

If we went 28-2 we'd likely get a 2 or a 3 seed. But look at what was getting 2 seeds for UConn in the Big East? What about the fact that Xavier got a 1 seed with 5 losses in 2018?

It's probably a mistake, but I recall that UConn was serving their APR ban in '12-'13.

To what I believe is your overall point, the Big East used to be the best and deepest basketball conference in the country. The New Big East is not that. UConn was not dominating the AAC on the court year in and year out. They had a losing record the last 3 years. Yet it was the conference that was dragging them down.

 

[UConnDad]

Bottom line is I'm elated. Also received numerous texts from friends around the country excited about the move. These are people planning to go to the tourney and they don't root for a team in the Big East. I feel bad for the football crowd but you weren't at the games last year. Just hoping for a good final season in the American for hoops.

 

[John]

Bottom line is I'm elated. Also received numerous texts from friends around the country excited about the move. These are people planning to go to the tourney and they don't root for a team in the Big East. I feel bad for the football crowd but you weren't at the games last year

Well to be honest neither were the basketball fans.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

We were in the AAC for the sole benefit of the football program. The AAC was a strain on the basketball program.

You're putting too much blame on the conference. Ollie had decent classes, but he effed it up and players departed. Had we stayed in the Big East, he would have effed it up in that conference too. Next year's freshman class was ranked well (top 20 give or take) and was recruited to play in the AAC. So recruits would come to UConn in the AAC. Put the blame where it belongs on FHCKO.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

It would have been nice if the $110 million spent on the Rent, the $10-$15 million annually spent on football, the $60m spent on the Shenkman and Burton, had just been plowed into men's hoops over the last several years.

So now you tell us.

 

[SixRings]

There’s a lot of opinions here about the FB program. We had to try and to a degree we succeeded. As a BBall fan for all years since Perno I really took pride in our FB program in the early days and should have supported better. They produced a lot of pros and had an interesting history pretty quickly. People should keep that in mind. Maybe we’re spoiled. It hasn’t worked out and I’m sorry to see so many BBall fans lashing out. I know it was one of the determining factors that caused the AAC affiliation which has turned out terrible but man the school was flying high in 2011. In the end I’m just sooooo excited to get back to MSC for the tourney, to get get better recruits and to be a strong BBall team again. That tourney is going to be riddled with UConn fans in 2021 to a point I don’t think we’ve ever seen before. But I sure did like when we had strong teams in both sports and I respect what we accomplished in FB in a short time. Wish we could have both again.

 

[FartMan69]

Why does everyone search for a singular thing to blame? It was a legit perfect storm of bad luck and mismanagement on the parts of conference leaders and our own admin.

 

[TheChamps990411]

*UConn men’s basketball fans, you’re not a UConn fan if you actively want to torpedo the football program to get what you want. Big problem with this fanbase

I dont give a flying you know what about the football program. I am a UCONN MENS BASKETBALL fan. I have no ties to the university or any other sport. If mens hoops is successful im a happy camper and I make no apologies for it.

 

[tzznandrew]

It's probably a mistake, but I recall that UConn was serving their APR ban in '12-'13.

Yeah, meant 2011-2012

 

[jimva]

Because our football team is worthless. If we had a solid football program instead of the dumpster fire that it is we`dve been in a P5 conference a long time ago.

If we didn't sue the ACC we would have been in P5 long ago. A lot of self inflicted wounds. I think this decisions is the lesser of two bad decisions.

 

[StunningSteve]

I dont give a flying you know what about the football program. I am a UCONN MENS BASKETBALL fan. I have no ties to the university or any other sport. If mens hoops is successful im a happy camper and I make no apologies for it.

Ironically... Caring about football at UConn would have elevated Basketball (ACC).

Without the former, the latter is relegated.

If Benedict could've figured this out, every single issue UConn has would've turned completely around.

The school needs fewer T-shirt fans and more actual stakeholders.

 

[CL82]

If we didn't sue the ACC we would have been in P5 long ago. A lot of self inflicted wounds. I think this decisions is the lesser of two bad decisions.

Doubt it.

 

[billybud]

There is a difference between being a basketball first, last, and only school...and being a basketball school.

Duke is a poster boy for a basketball first school. But they have had winning football seasons the last five of six...with a 9 and a 10 win season.

I had hoped that UConn would go that way in the AAC...I now suspect that UConn basketball will challenge Villanova in the Big East and be very successful on the national stage.

Football? Oh, there will be football...but on a smaller stage, I think. Going indy without being a Notre Dame with a national draw will be tough.

I will draw criticism for this thought, but I wonder if, with budget shrinking, someday it will be questioned "why continue the expense of a football program?"

 

[Ha Who]

FIFY

BCU didn't want to compete against UConn per their AD. It had nothing to go with being butthurt over the lawsuit. "It was business, not personal."

You are correct about BCU. However, without the lawsuit the conference might have told themto bend over and take it. Being the face of the lawsuit and filing in Rockville instead of allowing Pitt to take the lead did not help

 

[whaler11]

There is a difference between being a basketball first, last, and only school...and being a basketball school.

Duke is a poster boy for a basketball first school. But they have had winning football seasons the last five of six...with a 9 and a 10 win season.

I had hoped that UConn would go that way in the AAC...I now suspect that UConn basketball will challenge Villanova in the Big East and be very successful on the national stage.

Football? Oh, there will be football...but on a smaller stage, I think. Going indy without being a Notre Dame with a national draw will be tough.

I will draw criticism for this thought, but I wonder if, with budget shrinking, someday it will be questioned "why continue the expense of a football program?"

There are literally two coaches who can win at Duke. The second this one retires they go back to being Duke.

 

[billybud]

BC was originally voted down...

Boston College and Syracuse were the Big East schools in the ACC's original expansion plans -- along with Miami -- but were voted down in favor of adding the Hurricanes and Hokies. Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State voted against adding Boston College at the time.

But 11 teams were awkward and thus BC made it in later.

Then There Were 12: Boston College Joins ACC

www.wral.com

 

[billybud]

There are literally two coaches who can win at Duke. The second this one retires they go back to being Duke.

maybe....but Zac Roper, OC, is a decent recruiter and QB developer and has been with the program for 11 years...

I think that they will do a nationwide search and then hire internally.

 

[Husky25]

Yeah, meant 2011-2012

No issues, really. I think you conveyed your overriding point.

 

[CL82]

You are correct about BCU. However, without the lawsuit the conference might have told themto bend over and take it. Being the face of the lawsuit and filing in Rockville instead of allowing Pitt to take the lead did not help

Shrug. Pitt, a co-plaintiff, got in without so much as a whimper. Defillipis said that "(BCU) wanted to be the New England team." It was always about territory.

 

[billybud]

UConn, about the ACC, needs to be like a train on a track.....going somewhere and never looking back

 

[Ha Who]

Shrug. Pitt, a co-plaintiff, got in without so much as a whimper. Defillipis said that "(BCU) wanted to be the New England team." It was always about territory.

Yes Pitt was the co-plaintiff but it was not the Pennsylvania AG grandstanding for cameras. Business can overlook a lot and if Connecticut had stayed in the background like Pitt, they might have gotten in. He who shall not be named made it personal and took the lead. It was about territory but by making it personal, the ACC could not point to the proximity of the schools making for a great rivalry (what are the two N Carolina schools close by)

 

[CL82]

Yes Pitt was the co-plaintiff but it was not the Pennsylvania AG grandstanding for cameras. Business can overlook a lot and if Connecticut had stayed in the background like Pitt, they might have gotten in. He who shall not be named made it personal and took the lead

Well we could what if this to death. but the bottom line is the BCU AD came out and said that they blackballed us and specifically told us why. Personally I think Blummy is a king sized ass hat, but trying to lay the blame for our CR woes at his feet is revisionism.

 

[upstater]

If we didn't sue the ACC we would have been in P5 long ago. A lot of self inflicted wounds. I think this decisions is the lesser of two bad decisions.

I don't see why we continue to argue this, but Pitt also sued the ACC, and not only that, the Pitt President went on the warpath and personally insulted specific ACC presidents.

And yet, a few years later, UConn was the top choice to join along with Syracuse, until BC blackballed us.

At the end of the day, BC succeeded in making sure they were the only representative of the P5 in New England. Bob Ryan had a column back in 2002 in which he discussed conversations with high placed sources at BC which stated they were highly concerned that UConn was going to overtake them and that BC needed to remain king of the hill in NE. The last almost 20 years have been nothing but the result of the concerns Ryan highlighted in that column.

For the rest of the ACC, they could accept Pittsburgh as well as UConn. It just didn't matter enough to them. It only mattered to BC.

 

[upstater]

Yes Pitt was the co-plaintiff but it was not the Pennsylvania AG grandstanding for cameras. Business can overlook a lot and if Connecticut had stayed in the background like Pitt, they might have gotten in. He who shall not be named made it personal and took the lead. It was about territory but by making it personal, the ACC could not point to the proximity of the schools making for a great rivalry (what are the two N Carolina schools close by)

Background? Pitt reamed some ACC presidents in public.

 

[Ha Who]

Background? Pitt reamed some ACC presidents in public.

Link?

 

[Pudge]

This Blumenthal trope is just silly

Sure. He’s a blowhard media hogging mouthpiece. And said unfortunate things.

But this allows you to escape the real life answer: We weren’t good enough. We weren’t traditional enough. We were nouveau. And OUR Taxpayers would never allow YUM Center Graft. There’s no Robert Moses coming to build it.

My regret? I wish Dick had laid into Father Leahy - seemy - for the blatant hypocrisy.

 

[upstater]

Link?

You want me linking to stuff from 2003?

The funny thing is, there were posts ON THE BONEYARD made by high ranking officials. The former boneyard. Narratives of how a specific ACC President was vilified as a liar in front of fellow presidents at an academic event. There is likely no link to the former Boneyard.

 

[upstater]

This Blumenthal trope is just silly

Sure. He’s a blowhard media hogging mouthpiece. And said unfortunate things.

But this allows you to escape the real life answer: We weren’t good enough. We weren’t traditional enough. We were nouveau. And OUR Taxpayers would never allow YUM Center Graft. There’s no Robert Moses coming to build it.

My regret? I wish Dick had laid into Father Leahy - seemy - for the blatant hypocrisy.

You mean like the people at Pitt and Syracuse did? Upbraid him in public in front of others at a conference?

That maybe would have worked to get us in.

 

[billybud]

Miami sued Connecticut for defamation...it got personal.

And Miami had new friends in the ACC as well as their in state compadre FSU. Florida's Governor ordered the state's AG to get involved. Charlie Christ, governor at the time, felt it was a something that the state of Florida had an interest in.

Blumenthal ended up being the locus for all of the ill feelings...it did not take a BC black ball...

The suit was filed in part because Miami grew tired of "just a continuous sea of defamatory comments," Isicoff said. Specifically named as making some of those comments was Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who, according to the suit, stated that Miami damaged Connecticut through an "illegal conspiracy," plus "secretly negotiate(ed) with the ACC" and made "false promises" to Big East members.

All of those comments were false, according to Miami's lawsuit, which further claims the comments were made on UConn's behalf and defamed Miami in a way that "injured ... its good name and reputation among the public."