NCAA board votes to allow autonomy - top five conferences to write many of their own rules

[dsturdy5]

@ASweet3781, you can't sell that to non UConn fan taxpayer in this state. This state always has a throng of Ken Krayeske types ready to jump on that type of stuff. They'll find a way to stay relevant for another decade or so. See the new practice facility for bball. There are no plans to go away quietly.

Just read the comments in the Courant online article and you will see this sentiment.

 

[dsturdy5]

On a scale of:

Ignore completely to Begin Lobbying to shutter the entire athletic department.... How exactly should I react to this?

People like Ivan Maisel and the rest of ESPN, CBS, and Fox analysts (you know, the major broadcast partners of NCAA football p5 conferences) all think this is just swell!

Link

 

[ecasadoSBU]

The first priority of UConn and the state is academics not sports, it’s a school after all. We are not going to give a billion to subsidize a sports team that is supposed to turn a profit. That would be so small time the AAC would kick us out.


Making UConn a top 10 public is in the interests of all. It will help us get AAU status which will help us gain Big 10 entry.


Let’s not be silly.

Its sad that you even had to address this to the previous poster. Are people forgetting this is the University of Connecticut. Lets not get carried away with sports. They are great entertainment, and fun to watch and root for... BUT its a game... in no way can it be weighted vs. academic interests of the university. Connecticut is doing the best for the future of the University and the people of the State of Connecticut by fostering new jobs, technological innovations, new academic initiatives, and increased research. The moment that someone questions this I must immediately question their state of mind.

The only thing I can hope for is that my state, New York, follows Connecticut's lead and also invest 1 billion in STEM

 

[Colt house75]

Its sad that you even had to address this to the previous poster. Are people forgetting this is the University of Connecticut. Lets not get carried away with sports. They are great entertainment, and fun to watch and root for... BUT its a game... in no way can it be weighted vs. academic interests of the university. Connecticut is doing the best for the future of the University and the people of the State of Connecticut by fostering new jobs, technological innovations, new academic initiatives, and increased research. The moment that someone questions this I must immediately question their state of mind.

The only thing I can hope for is that my state, New York, follows Connecticut's lead and also invest 1 billion in STEM

I tend to disagree with you. It is not "just a game". A thoughts...yes it is education-but it is the BUSINESS of education. Growth is extremely important in terms of getting exceptional faculty, facilities, and top notch students. To do that, the university continues to need a marketing and sales group To a large part, the athletic department is the vocal piece of that marketing effort. All businesses need to be marketed and a vigorous and aggressive athletic budget is part of that effort to trumpet the Husky banner. Second....moving in stride with P5 schools creates separation for those of us willing to move from G5 smaller school mentality.

Maybe it's time for those alums who passively sit and never contribute to HUSKY UP and join the Alumni Association, contribute to the Endowment Fund, attend a game or two. If you're not a member of the Alumni association, you should be.....for most of us it gave us a life. If you're a member-look at being a LIFE MEMBER. Husky Up. If you are not an alumnus, you CAN still be a part of the alumni association for a low cost per year. HUSKY UP.

Maybe it's time for corporate big business to get off their asses and contribute on a much more active basis through advertising and group ticket purchases and take a more active role in terms of corporate sponsorships. HUSKY UP.

ESPN broke the news and plays a big part in the separation as they reap the financial rewards. we need a new TV contract...period. Be a part of the state you enjoy. HUSKY UP.

 

[gars44]

This isn't horrible for UConn because they will be able to implement a lot of the same rules that the P5 schools put in place. It may actually give us an edge over other G5 schools who can't afford to do it.

The question is how long we'll be able to keep up with the Joneses given the revenue gap.

The revenue gap is not that substantial. Connecticut can easily make up the $20MM or $25MM needed to remain competitive with the majority of P5 programs. We compete with all but the elite programs, i.e., PSU, FSU, OSU, Michigan, etc., etc.. We can remain financially competitive with the Pitts, and the Cuses, and the BCs, Virginias, Utahs, Iowas, etc. None of them or us can compete with the elites anyway. We are all just there to provide food for the trough, Ws for their stat column. They say they don't want any more of that thin gruel, i.e., FCS grade grain, but a lot of the programs, BC, Wake, Indiana, even Alabama, can't get all those Ws if they play only P5 programs, so, lot's of talk, no action. And the way I read the rules is, the P5 can make their own rules, and any other conference can copy them if they want. If they can afford it. The NCAA can't say no. So, I expect the AAC to copy the P5 rules. Every school in the AAC is a wannabe, so why aren't they going to copy the P5? They aren't not going to. Don't worry about us finding $20MM to remain competitive with mid to low level P5 programs, which is essentially what we are. Maybe more low than mid.

 

[gars44]

Which is why I find it irresponsible for the state to be passing this 1 Billion dollars for a tech park at UConn.

As a tax payer, I would prefer a good percentage of that money go to the athletic department to off set the TV contract disadvantage it will be at compared to other conferences. I am getting really sick and tired of hearing how much the TV contracts will screw us, than wake up and read the state is shoveling another billions for more big shiny buildings on campus. If we are gonna throw money around let's throw at least SOME of it to athletics to offset the TV contracts.

If you ever want to see the inside of the Big10 we better take care of our own academic and research behinds first. That's the first mission of a flagship university, and that what this administration is focused on. As a taxpayer, you should be overjoyed that this has finally happened.

 

[dsturdy5]

Silver reported yesterday on Twitter that UConn should be fine for the next 3-5 years financially. Beyond that, who knows? How will UConn close the gap? Look at the pay-for-play games...

Sign on for away football games at P5 schools for a high payout. Lower the payouts to the marginal teams UConn brings in.

In basketball, take on some games like they did years ago, playing at Buffalo and UCF when they were opening their new arenas. Games UConn should win, get some cash for the appearance and get out with a road W to boot.

 

[IMind]

I think you're going to see this shake out some schools that just aren't serious... This ultimately may hurt leagues like the MAC and schools like Hawaii, Temple and Tulane. UCF, Boise, UConn, Cinnci, etc will probably all still survive for a while at least.

 

[metsfan2323]

Dream scenario for the AAC:

The MAC, SUNBELT, CUSA and half the MWC throw in the towel and the AAC picks up a few western schools who want to stay in the game. The AAC suddenly becomes a valued television property.

More likely scenario is the AAC stays as is and the other 4 conferences become the other 2 or other 3 conferences.

Say good bye to many of the non revenue sports.

 

[Husky25]

Dream scenario for the AAC:

The MAC, SUNBELT, CUSA and half the MWC throw in the towel and the AAC picks up a few western schools who want to stay in the game. The AAC suddenly becomes a valued television property.

More likely scenario is the AAC stays as is and the other 4 conferences become the other 2 or other 3 conferences.

Say good bye to many of the non revenue sports.

It becomes harder to comply with Title IX without them. Title IX is a federal rule not NCAA.

 

[Colt house75]

Dream scenario for the AAC:

The MAC, SUNBELT, CUSA and half the MWC throw in the towel and the AAC picks up a few western schools who want to stay in the game. The AAC suddenly becomes a valued television property.

More likely scenario is the AAC stays as is and the other 4 conferences become the other 2 or other 3 conferences.

Say good bye to many of the non revenue sports.

Good scenarios. I see your first scenario more likely as the AAC strengthens in the next three years-that is-if we are still in the AAC....and the TV contracts are re-examined.

 

[Colt house75]

Dream scenario for the AAC:

The MAC, SUNBELT, CUSA and half the MWC throw in the towel and the AAC picks up a few western schools who want to stay in the game. The AAC suddenly becomes a valued television property.

More likely scenario is the AAC stays as is and the other 4 conferences become the other 2 or other 3 conferences.

Say good bye to many of the non revenue sports.

If your first scenario occurs, which I think it will, look for an 8 team playoff at year end within 3 years....winners of the P6 (power 6) conferences and 2 at large bids. The 4 team playoff leaves out a conference (or two)
under the present make-up.

 

[dsturdy5]

NY Times chimes in.

 

[UCFBfan]

College sports, particularly College Football, used to be my favorite sport across the board, hands down. This ruling, while not a shock, just continues to hammer the nail that will shut my interest in it entirely.

If you lose schools with history and tradition like those in the MAC or even some C-USA teams it's going to be a shame.

The entire state of this sport just makes me shake my head...

 

[huskymedic]

NY Times chimes in.

What a pompous tool:

>>Steve Patterson, the men’s athletic director at the University of Texas, was more ruthless in describing the Big 5’s decision to break from the group. The programs outside the Big 5 aren’t pulling their weight, he said.

“We are the ones making the money and carrying the liability,” Patterson said. “The others don’t make any money. Nobody wants to watch them on TV. I don’t accept the argument that you have to have total socialism."

He said if the Division I universities on the outside looking in want to make it to the level of the Big 5, they would have to invest more in their sports programs. Or, he offered, they could simply step aside.<<

 

[jdb50]

What a pompous tool:

>>Steve Patterson, the men’s athletic director at the University of Texas, was more ruthless in describing the Big 5’s decision to break from the group. The programs outside the Big 5 aren’t pulling their weight, he said.

“We are the ones making the money and carrying the liability,” Patterson said. “The others don’t make any money. Nobody wants to watch them on TV. I don’t accept the argument that you have to have total socialism."

He said if the Division I universities on the outside looking in want to make it to the level of the Big 5, they would have to invest more in their sports programs. Or, he offered, they could simply step aside.<<

So in the football world Purdue vs Illinois and Miss vs Kentucky are pulling their weight? In reality Patterson is a sports bigot. ESPN brings GameDay to Williams vs Amherst yet in the future this will be seen as a non event. If tradition is what matters in College Football then it would be nice if the Power 5 would look to be more inclusive and not try and kill the joy that attracts fans to the games.

 

[RedSoloCup]

So in the football world Purdue vs Illinois and Miss vs Kentucky are pulling their weight? In reality Patterson is a sports bigot. ESPN brings GameDay to Williams vs Amherst yet in the future this will be seen as a non event. If tradition is what matters in College Football then it would be nice if the Power 5 would look to be more inclusive and not try and kill the joy that attracts fans to the games.

I guess you really feel this way, right?

 

[J187Money]

Maybe just the top 15 schools should just form their own conference. After 3 years everyone would stop watching.

Like baseball and revenue sharing. You could have never allowed it but you would have ended up with a 3 team league. And as much as Yankee fans want to win every year they need other teams to play.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

There is no reason for the non-P5 to go along with this. They should tell the P5 to pound sand, and then sue when the P5 try to break off. Burn the whole thing to the ground rather than consent to these changes. The non-P5 leagues are at the point of having nothing to lose.

Also, legally, consenting to any autonomy structure would be used against the non-P5 later in any lawsuit, since an argument could be made that the non-P5 schools consented to any subsequent changes by agreeing to autonomy rules. In any event, a future lawsuit could become a contractual fight instead of a statutory fight. I think this whole autonomy drive is the P5 trying to position itself for the inevitable anti-trust lawsuit.

 

[Adios]

Many schools in the G5 do have growth potential. And many schools in the G5 do have powerful donors behind them. There's no way UConn is going to be left behind unless we fail in football. And it's been made clear failure will not be tolerated.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I tend to disagree with you. It is not "just a game". A thoughts...yes it is education-but it is the BUSINESS of education. Growth is extremely important in terms of getting exceptional faculty, facilities, and top notch students. To do that, the university continues to need a marketing and sales group To a large part, the athletic department is the vocal piece of that marketing effort. All businesses need to be marketed and a vigorous and aggressive athletic budget is part of that effort to trumpet the Husky banner. Second....moving in stride with P5 schools creates separation for those of us willing to move from G5 smaller school mentality.

Listen, I get what you are saying but I honestly resist as seeing football as anything more than a football game (which I'm a really big fan of and I personally think its a wonderful game and all). Football is a sports game, and is widely seen as a marketing tool ONLY because a lot of people watch it and brings revenue to the school, gets the name out there, etc. But at the end of the day what really builds the reputation of an University like no other is the investment in education and strong research. Breakthrough discoveries, research citations, quality of students (SATs, GPA, etc), scholarships awarded to top students (the real marketing tool for those in academics)... While football has the ability to promote the name to a nationwide audience, it does little to promote or enhance the academic end of the University to the top notch kids who will continue to go to the better private/public research Universities (Look at most schools of the SEC. Would you ever attend one of those if you had a chance. Heck no I wouldn't... Their priorities are misguided)

You have to build facilities, research labs, hire top notch staff, increase research expenditures to get Connecticut to the top 60 Research University club (AAU) and the only way to do that is by dedicating the billion+ funding from the State of Ct. to research and innovation. Smart move by the state and I hope it pays a lot of dividends to the people of Connecticut in the following decades.

With this, I'm not trying to say that UConn shouldn't fund football or that it should give up on it... It should definitely continue to fund and do the best it can to grow the program. All I'm saying is that spending a lot of money in academics is NEVER a bad idea, no matter how much is the amount. You can't never spend too much to improve Research and Academics in flagship university like Connecticut. It would only make UConn stronger

 

[DoctorWho85]

Many schools in the G5 do have growth potential. And many schools in the G5 do have powerful donors behind them. There's no way UConn is going to be left behind unless we fail in football. And it's been made clear failure will not be tolerated.

Agreed. A school like Memphis may not have the success of some of the P5 schools, but it does have the backing of the owner of Fedex. And that guy is not afraid to throw money at the school to help it compete.