ND to ACC

[alexrgct]

Herbst has actively courted the ACC and will continue to do so, I am sure. The other option is trying to sell the B1G on the concept of the Rutgers/UConn combo carrying enough of NYC to make it a strong get in tandem. Strictly from a BB perspective, both men's and women's, I would love to see UConn in the ACC, however.

 

[Icebear]

Clearly, ND was never going to enter the B1G because the B1G would laugh at their desire for football narcissism. The ACC blinked and made essentially a similar deal to the Big East's deal with ND.

 

[alexrgct]

Clearly, ND was never going to enter the B1G because the B1G would laugh at their desire for football narcissism. The ACC blinked and made essentially a similar deal to the Big East's deal with ND.

Even worse than the BEast's deal if what's being reported about the bowl situation is true.

 

[Icebear]

That's why I said similar and not the same. I think it is worse.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

Notre Dame has essentially been a freeloader during its association
with the BE. Now it gets to go and freeload in the ACC (although
to a lesser degree since the ACC did get them to commit to 5 ACC
games). Although, geographically, ND is a natural fit for the B1G,
I'm guessing that the B1G wouldn't allow them to freeload. All in or
nothing.

Now people are yelling for UConn to join one of the stronger
conferences as if UConn had that option. Look at it from a football
perspective (which is the only perspective that counts). UConn has
a decent but mediocre football program. How is that attractive to
one of the stronger conferences? Which of the stronger conferences
needs UConn?

I think those who characterize the ND move as a disaster for the BE
are a little over the top. They were never part of BE football and their
loss to men's hoops will be inconsequential.

 

[UConnChapette]

I hate ND. Always have, always will. Their arrogance and elitism - wanting to call the shots - just annoys me. They played the same fricken game BC did. Told a great story about how they wanted to make the Big East stronger, all the while working behind the scenes to leave as soon as possible. The BE conference, in their infinite wisdom, even put ND in charge of figuring out how to enhance the football landscape of the BE after Syracuse, Pitt and WVU bolted. Say what? The only non-football member helping determine the football future of the conference? ND comes out with EVERYTHING they wanted. Keep their football independence, getting a tie in to BCS ACC bowls without actually being in the ACC football conference, keeping their tv contract too, I'm sure.

I always figured that no conference would allow ND to join without also joining as a full fledged football member. Clearly, I was wrong. Swofford has raped the BE mercilessly.

On top of that, the exit fee for ACC teams is now a whopping $50 million. Do you really think Clemson, FSU or any other ACC teams is going to pony up to the plate for that amount of money to leave the conference now? They would have to have a really significant financial gain to do so. Ironically, this may help UConn and Rutgers eventually land in one of the bigger football conferences, just not the ACC.

In my opinion, there is not a chance UConn goes to the ACC. None. The football program isn't strong enough. Besides, with ND out as a full fledged football member, adding a 16th would mean an uneven split in football divisions. If they add any schools, it will be a non-football school. If I had to bet, I would say Georgetown for it's academic reputation.

UConn better hope for an invite to the B1G, or maybe the Big 12, but I don't see the Big 12 as a realistic option. One of the negatives for UConn getting an invite to the B1G is it is not a member of the AAU. But, an invite to one of the other "big boy" conferences is the only way the non-football sports stay relevant, and the football program has an in to go to the big-boy BCS bowls - assuming the program can rise above mediocrity.

Personally, at the very least I would love to see the Big East football schools part ways with the non-football schools. The conference is way too big in its current configuration. It will never happen...the Big East commissioners past and present have shown very little initiative to make a proactive move. Always in reactive mode. I suspect Louisville will depart in due course, which will leave UConn and Rutgers out in the cold.

I hope Herbst and Warde Manuel are working those phones hard! Loyalty, smoyalty. It is every program for themselves at this point. If UConn isn't willing to push hard to get out of this tattered mishmash of a conference, they should be ashamed of themselves!

 

[Scotter]

Question out of curiosity. If UConn could go to the ACC as a non-football playing member just like Notre Dame would you want UConn to do that? Say UConn could leave their football program in the Big East as Notre Dame leaving does not effect Big East football. They would be just like new Big East football only member Boise State.

To me that appears to be the potential option most readily available. Adding Notre Dame does not add uneven number of football teams so there isn't really a mandate for the ACC to add another school, but if they could add UConn to balance all the non-football sports along with the Notre Dame addition that might be immediately attractive given what it does for both men's and women's basketball.

While not ideal I think I see that as the current best potential solution for UConn.

 

[Scotter]

If you don't think UConn's football program is strong enough to get in the ACC then there is no way UConn gets into the B1G or the Big 12 or the other 2 power conferences. The ACC is UConn's only realistic option.

In my opinion, there is not a chance UConn goes to the ACC. None. The football program isn't strong enough. Besides, with ND out as a full fledged football member, adding a 16th would mean an uneven split in football divisions. If they add any schools, it will be a non-football school. If I had to bet, I would say Georgetown for it's academic reputation.

UConn better hope for an invite to the B1G, or maybe the Big 12, but I don't see the Big 12 as a realistic option. One of the negatives for UConn getting an invite to the B1G is it is not a member of the AAU. But, an invite to one of the other "big boy" conferences is the only way the non-football sports stay relevant, and the football program has an in to go to the big-boy BCS bowls - assuming the program can rise above mediocrity.

 

[UConnChapette]

Question out of curiosity. If UConn could go to the ACC as a non-football playing member just like Notre Dame would you want UConn to do that? Say UConn could leave their football program in the Big East as Notre Dame leaving does not effect Big East football. They would be just like new Big East football only member Boise State.

To me that appears to be the potential option most readily available. Adding Notre Dame does not add uneven number of football teams so there isn't really a mandate for the ACC to add another school, but if they could add UConn to balance all the non-football sports along with the Notre Dame addition that might be immediately attractive given what it does for both men's and women's basketball.

While not ideal I think I see that as the current best potential solution for UConn.

Now that is an option I could live with.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

I get that the BE looks like a bunch of morons, but what were they supposed to do? Teams have been jumping ship left and right. In hindsight, they should have said "screw the hoops schools. let's make the FB league stronger". but the Football schools apparently didn't push hard enough, or lacked the clout. The best case scenario would be for Maryland to get poached away from the ACC and have them need 2 schools. PSU never leaves the Big 10 (at least i don't think they do) so UCONN and RU to the ACC. L'ville to the Big 12 and the Big East renames their conference the Big Least.

Problem is, they were never proactive and had FOUR separate occasions where they lost schools to other conferences. The first one was the VaTech/Miami/BC exodus. The second was Pitt and Syracuse leaving. The third was West Virginia leaving and TCU not showing up. The fourth is Notre Dame leaving.

At some point, the "what were they supposed to do" question is wholly irrelevant because it is obvious they did not do anything or learn from their mistakes. The other conferences were the agressors, while the Big East was repeatedly reactionary.

 

[semper]

Our home BE schedule is going to be really sad. It's going to be tons of blowouts, and not a single challenge. Really too bad for us. Hope we still play ND at least once before we get to the tournament.

 

[Coler]

I'm kind of hoping that UConn goes to the ACC, and RU goes to the B10.

 

[Coler]

Our home BE schedule is going to be really sad. It's going to be tons of blowouts, and not a single challenge. Really too bad for us. Hope we still play ND at least once before we get to the tournament.

Yes, keep overlooking Rutgers.

 

[arty155]

- Its fun, worrying about sports, instead of real problems. Wasn’t it just a few months ago we heard complaining we play ND four times a year? Congrats – problem solved.

"while it is too early to speculate on what our schedule will look like in future seasons, we would eagerly entertain the opportunity to continue our longstanding rivalry with Connecticut on a non-conference basis." Muffet McGraw
That's good news!

- Yes, I agree with FC - its definitly a good quote. I suspect UConn will likely continue its WCBB rivalry with ND each regular season for years to come, and national television revenue will make it very worth their while. If they continue to be strong in the NCAA tourneys, we’ll see them play twice (and if they are not that strong, we will not miss them).
- Sports. Change is inevitable. Unless you are among the very few influencing the action, why not enjoy the ride? (Oops,... almost forgot that first sentence ).

 

[uconnfan68]

Just saw this. Boy did the big XII screw the pooch here. They could have had this exact same arrangement six months ago.

And there goes what was budding into the best rivalry in WBB. Maybe we can still get an annual game. And UConn does own ACC opponents.

I hope the AD has enough guts to tell them never again.

 

[uconnfan68]

That's why I said similar and not the same. I think it is worse.

great

 

[triaddukefan]

I wonder if this will help or hurt ND in terms of recruiting. Not that they need any help in that regard...

I hate ND. Always have, always will. Their arrogance and elitism - wanting to call the shots - just annoys me.
s!

With Notre Dame's arrogance and elitism.... and UNC's arrogance and elitism.... all the ACC needs to do to corner that market is to add the Univ of Texas






Of course Duke doesnt fall into that category

 

[tomcat]

Well, as I said before, this puts UConn in a position that is not entirely unlike that of LaTech, and I respectfully disagree with the poster, 'way back when, who said it wasn't the same. Of course it's not the same, but it is similar, in the sense that UConn will play a bunch of blowout league games and, in the years when Rutgers or someone else has a strong team, a couple of somewhat close ones, but will be essentially unchallenged locally. They will then have to be tested out of conference, and rely on those games to prepare the team for NCAA combat. Let's ask LaTech how that worked out for them, long-term, eh?

It also puts UConn in a much more difficult position in terms of recruits. Okay, lets see: You can go to UConn and play your league schedule against Seton Hall, PC, Villanova, South Florida, Rutgers and that ilk, or you can go to the ACC and play against Duke, North Carolina, NC State, BC, Maryland and GaTech. Someone please help me out here. Why is the Big East a better place to be, particulaly down the line if Geno retires? I'm not saying UConn won't get some decent recruits. I'm suggesting that unless something is done, UConn's competitive position is reduced by, say 50%. I'm not kidding, folks. In a few years, UConn could be the Gonzaga of New England. And while I admire Gonzaga and its coach, I am certain none of us want to see that kind of a fall.

If the UConn AD and his folks are not n the phone, casting their nets, they are insane.

 

[cabbie191]

A friend of mine very familiar with Syracuse athletics told me quite awhile ago that most of the ACC schools wanted to invite UConn but the idea was vetoed by BC. Does anyone know if in fact ACC rules allow a single school that veto power?

 

[triaddukefan]

A friend of mine very familiar with Syracuse athletics told me quite awhile ago that most of the ACC schools wanted to invite UConn but the idea was vetoed by BC. Does anyone know if in fact ACC rules allow a single school that veto power?

No. I do believe it has to be 75 percent approval. During the original wave of expansion in 2003 I think..... Duke and UNC voted against expanding and adding VPI, BC and Miami.......but the vote was 7-2 for. When the first talk of expansion included Syracuse instead of VPI....... Syracuse didnt get the 7 votes required.... UVA joined UNC and Duke in opposing adding the Orange.

 

[alexrgct]

Well, as I said before, this puts UConn in a position that is not entirely unlike that of LaTech, and I respectfully disagree with the poster, 'way back when, who said it wasn't the same. Of course it's not the same, but it is similar, in the sense that UConn will play a bunch of blowout league games and, in the years when Rutgers or someone else has a strong team, a couple of somewhat close ones, but will be essentially unchallenged locally. They will then have to be tested out of conference, and rely on those games to prepare the team for NCAA combat. Let's ask LaTech how that worked out for them, long-term, eh?

It also puts UConn in a much more difficult position in terms of recruits. Okay, lets see: You can go to UConn and play your league schedule against Seton Hall, PC, Villanova, South Florida, Rutgers and that ilk, or you can go to the ACC and play against Duke, North Carolina, NC State, BC, Maryland and GaTech. Someone please help me out here. Why is the Big East a better place to be, particulaly down the line if Geno retires? I'm not saying UConn won't get some decent recruits. I'm suggesting that unless something is done, UConn's competitive position is reduced by, say 50%. I'm not kidding, folks. In a few years, UConn could be the Gonzaga of New England. And while I admire Gonzaga and its coach, I am certain none of us want to see that kind of a fall.

If the UConn AD and his folks are not n the phone, casting their nets, they are insane.

Or, instead of asking La Tech how it worked for them, you could maybe, you know, ask Geno. Or have you forgotten that for much of UConn's dominant run, the Big East absolutely sucked in WBB?

It is hilarious that you're bringing up a bunch of schools in the ACC that either a) are terrible (seriously, playing BC is going to be a draw for recruits?), or are b) teams UConn plays routinely and massacres routinely. Not to mention Baylor, Stanford, ND still in all likelihood, Penn State, A&M...I mean, have you seen our OOC schedule this season?

So basically, you're worrying about when Geno retires that we'll be in a crappy conference. Well, this is ridiculous to worry about given a) Geno isn't retiring anytime in the short or intermediate term, and b) that this conference will be "similar" to La Tech. Really? I wasn't aware that the Sun Belt conference had teams like Georgetown, St Johns, Louisville, Rutgers, and DePaul.

I mean, worry about whatever you want, but I'll be sleeping fine at night.

 

[Icebear]

Miami, BC, VATech, Pitt, Syracuse, WVU, ND, and reportedly UL still to depart that would have been a decent conference, oh! wait, it used to be one. Now it is just dust in the wind.

 

[Man-Man]

Just heard on the radio that East Carolina, App State, JMU & Delaware have all inquired about replacing Notre Dame. The Big East will stay alive and well if on of them comes.

 

[Vowelguy]

A friend of mine very familiar with Syracuse athletics told me quite awhile ago that most of the ACC schools wanted to invite UConn but the idea was vetoed by BC. Does anyone know if in fact ACC rules allow a single school that veto power?

Word is that the football powers (Florida St, Clemson, & others) are opposed to adding UConn, as it further weakens a weak football league -- a league which is already taking a hit by adding Syracuse & Pitt.

 

[UConnChapette]

Word is that the football powers (Florida St, Clemson, & others) are opposed to adding UConn, as it further weakens a weak football league -- a league which is already taking a hit by adding Syracuse & Pitt.

Yeah, and now that it will cost them $50 million to leave the ACC, there is little hope that they will jump to the SEC to eliminate that road block.

Warde Manual and Susan Herbst inherited a mess left by an incompetent BE commissioner who didn't have the foresight to make an assertive move when each domino fell. Let's see if they can make lemonade out of lemons - I just am not sure UConn has enough sugar to offer.

 

[UConnChapette]

Voice of reason time - I don't know what is coming over me. I guess the doom and gloom is exhausing me so I am choosing to take the more optimistic road. At least for today.

UConn was a nothing program until Geno came along. In fact, Big East women's basketball was a nothing conference. UConn slowly established dominance over the years until today they are widely recognized as one of the elite and best programs in history. Along the way, other BE programs developed and became ranked programs, sometimes even top ranked programs: Notre Dame, Rutgers, Louisville, WVU, Syracuse (to a point), and Miami and VaTech and BC back in the day. This is in large part due to playing UConn regularly which forced these programs to get better.

We have a lot of new programs coming into the BE. Many of their women's basketball programs are probably better right now than the perennial cellar dwellers Seton Hall and Providence (though once these programs were the cream of the crop in the BE). And, the new programs will get better when they start playing UConn. Just like Rutgers did. And Notre Dame did. And Louisville did, etc.

It will not happen overnight, and yeah, for a while it is going to be ugly with lopsided losses and UConn likely skating mostly unchallenged to the regular season and tournament championship most years, with Rutgers and Louisville putting up the biggest fights (until one or both become the next dominoes to fall). But, eventually, over time, the new programs will get better simply by playing UConn on a regular basis.

Football? Let's not even go there. I am not feeling optimistic on that front but this is the WBB forum, so let me keep my positivity in tact here.

(However, if Geno comes out and says he is retiring or going to another program, that splash you see in the Connecticut River below the Bulkley Bridge will be me!)

 

[semper]

Look, we should move to the ACC. And if we can't, we schedule every single top 15 team at least once. Play double headers, the BIG EAST game, followed by the Stanford game. That could work.

 

[Phil]

UConn was a nothing program until Geno came along. In fact, Big East women's basketball was a nothing conference. UConn slowly established dominance over the years until today they are widely recognized as one of the elite and best programs in history. Along the way, other BE programs developed and became ranked programs, sometimes even top ranked programs: Notre Dame, Rutgers, Louisville, WVU, Syracuse (to a point), and Miami and VaTech and BC back in the day. This is in large part due to playing UConn regularly which forced these programs to get better.

Exactly, and worth repeating. Neither UConn nor the Big East were highly regarded in the 80's for good reason. There's no question that the SEC was the dominant confernce in the early years of the NCAA tournament.

Geno changed all that, some of it personally, and some of it by example. He famously said it wasn't his job to play down to the competition, it was their job to play up, and many of the BE teams responded.

In the last dozen or so years, no other conference has as many wins in the NCAA tournament as the BE. Admittedly, the BE is, or has been a slightly larger conference than some others, so raw wins may be an unfair statistic. But the Big East has a better win percentage in NCAA tournament play over the last dozen or so year than any other conference. Regular season win percentages are tricky, because you have to consider schedule strength, but if you look at the post-season only you are all playing in the same pool of the 64 teams selected. The Big East wins two out of three games, not just UConn wins, that includes every invited BE team. That's a better win percentage than any other conference.

 

[DishNSwish]

Mike DiMauro with some interesting info and comments today

http://www.theday.com/article/20120913/SPORT01/309139525

 

[Icebear]

Just heard on the radio that East Carolina, App State, JMU & Delaware have all inquired about replacing Notre Dame. The Big East will stay alive and well if on of them comes.

You are kidding, right?