Again... I say this is a 5-10 year process, so how we "look" in terms of football in 2012 is not a factor to the B1G. I think we're on their radar (as in on a long list, not short list) but only if they don't make any moves for 5 years. If they would have gone to 16 in 2012 or the next couple years, it wouldn't matter what our football record is because they're going to take somebody else first anyways. I believed that before and I will continue to believe it until I see credible (i.e., non messageboard, non-CR tweep) evidence that UConn is high on their list. But I will also continue to believe that Uconn should make a five year plan for athletics and academics to be in position down the road. Also, I am very confident that if the Big Ten moves to 16+ in the next year and UConn isn't invited, it will not be because of what Warde Manuel did or did not do with respect to the football staff in 2012. It will be overall football and athletic track record, and it will be potential for future success, stadium expansion, market growth beyond the term of the current football coach and AD. It should be obvious, when the Big Ten invites a school they're looking at them for life, not a decade or two like other conferences might. They added Rutgers University, not Tim Pernetti and Kyle Flood. Tim Pernetti and Bob Mulcahey and their presidents helped get them to the point they are now, and that's what we need SH and WM to do. Long term project.
(and... it's worth remembering that no team is leaving the ACC until Maryland's exit fee is resolved. That's what's holding the next B10 expansion back).
However it is worth re-noting that it is on the record that UConn's short term football record and lackluster fan support was a factor for Louisville getting picked over us, along with geography (markets be damned), to the ACC. Could WM have tried to position UConn to be more attractive to the ACC by firing PP mid-year? Realistically, I just don't think it would have made us any more attractive. I just don't see it. The plateaued trajectory of the program, the fan apathy, the academics of the MBB team, and years of less than stellar fundraising are 100% traceable to Jeff Hathaway's reign of mediocrity. Unfortunately we can't kick him around anymore so I guess the next best thing is to bash Warde. Meanwhile in 2013 if fans don't buy tickets and we see a 60% empty Rentschler in the 3rd quarter against Michigan how do you think the ACC and BigTen will view UConn?