Non-Key Tweets | Page 173 | The Boneyard

Non-Key Tweets

Hockey and Lacrosse to an extent, seem to be sports,that lower middle class kids are playing in increased numbers. The upwardly mobile aspect of these sports probably does factor into the the sacrifices parents make to play.
Size and Speed and the degree of competition have limited the potential for sports like football or basketball for most kids.
In hockey ,skill ,skating ability,and the limited numbers , can somewhat off-set those factors.
I worked with a circle of hockey enthusisists who claimed that playing hockey in college could be a real tool in success after graduation.
You become part of the fraternity. I don't know if that is true or not but belief is really the only requirement. Why else would a parent get their kid up at 4:00 AM to get available ice time.
 
UConn has always been on the B1G radar and it's always been about Notre Dame. It wasn't over with the ND/ACC deal and it won't be over until ND gets all in or all out.

Rutgers and Maryland were market venues to lure Notre Dame. Maryland/Navy puts ND in DC every year; Rutgers/UConn would put them in NYC every year.

Almost (but not quite--that's a long story) every school looked at by the B1G has been evaluated on the "will it help us get Notre Dame" criteria.

Now ND has been told they can get in or get out but get the heck out of the way, and Swarbrick is jacking the press to gauge reaction. It doesn't matter any more if ND goes all in with B1G or ACC--it could be any P5 but their days of "we're special" are over. Swarbrick's is blustering about building a new Nerdball division in college footall and it's mostly a (yawn) "Yeah, whatever Jack" situation.

Irregardless the future will be fine with or without them--because television has changed everything in surprising ways. Two years ago, it was thought (notice passive sentence construction) that ND/UConn would be tied at the hip. Now, not so much. Turns out in the brave new world of college athletics, UConn's rising and ND's slipping. Much to NBC's chagrin.

The only question for UConn is: sooner or later?
 
AZHuskiePop said:
Why else would a parent get their kid up at 4:00 AM to get available ice time.
Expand ...

Because the parent needs something to do.

This winter season of soccer emphasized that point to me. Because fewer kids play soccer in winter months, my child's travel club team went up against some of the premier teams in the area in the same league (they don't compete against each other spring/summer). The premier teams have professional coaches, top notch facilities, several practices a week. It's a big ticket $$ for those teams. My kid went to one of their camps last summer and was told by 10 year olds in absolute terms that they intend to become professionals. Then when you go to see the games, the parents' involvement in the whole charade becomes pretty evident.

Then again, a friend who was not rah-rah about soccer nor high-stakes sports went along grudgingly with his son joining a premier team. His son was actually a top ranked kid from the area (by USA soccer) but he experienced burnout at age 14 and took the year off. I asked my friend how he felt about it: "Devastated." After putting all that time, effort and $$$ in, 4 days a week, year round, tens of thousands, and your kid takes a year off. And you weren't the one pushing it in the first place.
 
upstater said:
Because the parent needs something to do.

....

I asked my friend how he felt about it: "Devastated." After putting all that time, effort and $$$ in, 4 days a week, year round, tens of thousands, and your kid takes a year off. And you weren't the one pushing it in the first place.
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Absolutely. I'm basically you're friend. My wife is Canadian... I was like, sure go ahead, sign them up for hockey... I don't care... now after investing so much time into it... I'd be devastated if my kids decided to stop playing. Not because I have any great expectations that he (or she) is going to play college hockey, the odds are astronomically thin... because yes less kids play... but there really aren't that many scholarships available... certainly far less than 100 programs offer scholarships... and even less on the girls side.. but I'd have a giant void and have to get a new hobby, although the sleeping in on Saturday's and Sunday's would be nice... not to mention I love spending all the time with them... luckily he seems to like it more and more every year.

Talk about a run on.
 
TruDomGopher said:
UConn has always been on the B1G radar and it's always been about Notre Dame. It wasn't over with the ND/ACC deal and it won't be over until ND gets all in or all out.

Rutgers and Maryland were market venues to lure Notre Dame. Maryland/Navy puts ND in DC every year; Rutgers/UConn would put them in NYC every year.

Almost (but not quite--that's a long story) every school looked at by the B1G has been evaluated on the "will it help us get Notre Dame" criteria.

Now ND has been told they can get in or get out but get the heck out of the way, and Swarbrick is jacking the press to gauge reaction. It doesn't matter any more if ND goes all in with B1G or ACC--it could be any P5 but their days of "we're special" are over. Swarbrick's is blustering about building a new Nerdball division in college footall and it's mostly a (yawn) "Yeah, whatever Jack" situation.

Irregardless the future will be fine with or without them--because television has changed everything in surprising ways. Two years ago, it was thought (notice passive sentence construction) that ND/UConn would be tied at the hip. Now, not so much. Turns out in the brave new world of college athletics, UConn's rising and ND's slipping. Much to NBC's chagrin.

The only question for UConn is: sooner or later?
Expand ...


Who has EVER thought UConn and ND are tied to together in anyway? I have never heard of that before(even in a passive way)in any way shape or form except now. ND will never join the Big 10. EVER, Uconn hopefully will and then peace will rein supreme throughout the land. UConn deserves to be in a P-5 conference and that is a total separate deal in regards to ND.

If and that is a BIG if we join a conference we have let it be known where it will be.

I'm hope ND is slipping on the Big 10 radar.
I actually like and respect the Big 10 because they actually care about Academics(Most). I am not one of those ND fans that bash the Big 10. But we(Big and ND) are not mean t to be together.

NBC is ecstatic with our deal, so much so they signed ND hockey to its own deal on NBCsports.
 
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upstater said:
Then again, a friend who was not rah-rah about soccer nor high-stakes sports went along grudgingly with his son joining a premier team. His son was actually a top ranked kid from the area (by USA soccer) but he experienced burnout at age 14 and took the year off. I asked my friend how he felt about it: "Devastated." After putting all that time, effort and $$$ in, 4 days a week, year round, tens of thousands, and your kid takes a year off. And you weren't the one pushing it in the first place.
Expand ...

I experienced that same burnout when I was 13 in baseball. It was too much, too many teams, practices, camps, etc as a teenager with school and a newly found social life. My Dad who was a great pitcher in his day, even invited to Cardinals camp in the 60's , wasn't really thrilled, but was okay with it. I played a little in high school but was never good enough to go beyond that. Taking time off really hurt my development, all my friends passed me in talent. Funny thing is, at 37, I still play in a wood bat league in Charlotte and love it. I Love playing baseball more now that when I was younger, it's no longer a choir like it was when I was a kid. If my dad had forced me to keep playing, I would end up hating him and the game. I think a lot of parents force activities on their kids so they can live through them.
 
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TruDomGopher said:
UConn has always been on the B1G radar and it's always been about Notre Dame. It wasn't over with the ND/ACC deal and it won't be over until ND gets all in or all out.

Rutgers and Maryland were market venues to lure Notre Dame. Maryland/Navy puts ND in DC every year; Rutgers/UConn would put them in NYC every year.

Almost (but not quite--that's a long story) every school looked at by the B1G has been evaluated on the "will it help us get Notre Dame" criteria.

Now ND has been told they can get in or get out but get the heck out of the way, and Swarbrick is jacking the press to gauge reaction. It doesn't matter any more if ND goes all in with B1G or ACC--it could be any P5 but their days of "we're special" are over. Swarbrick's is blustering about building a new Nerdball division in college footall and it's mostly a (yawn) "Yeah, whatever Jack" situation.

Irregardless the future will be fine with or without them--because television has changed everything in surprising ways. Two years ago, it was thought (notice passive sentence construction) that ND/UConn would be tied at the hip. Now, not so much. Turns out in the brave new world of college athletics, UConn's rising and ND's slipping. Much to NBC's chagrin.

The only question for UConn is: sooner or later?
Expand ...

You had me until the penultimate line. I'm as biased as anyone, but I'll believe that Jim Calhoun signed the Declaration of Independence before I'll believe that Notre Dame's stock is slipping and UConn's is rising in the world of Conference Realignment.
 
Jostar- thanks for posting all of these as I'm not a Twitter guy!

Dude is an absolute genius, period! How can he justify his position that Uconn at a $38mil value doesn't bring enough $$ to warrant a 40-50 mil B1G payout?? 38 mil in the AAC dumpster fire is pretty dam good as I see it. It would be PRETTY easy to break that $40mil+ barrier with a B1G schedule, in fact I believe Delaney is on the record with a comment similar.
 
UConnMike04 said:
I agree 1000%. I don't want to be in either conference, but speaking for a year or two for basketball I'd rather be in the BE. I know it'll never happen, but I'd rather just play local teams that we are familiar with and have histories with for a year or two if we are expecting an invite and leave the football in the AAC. I know it's not going to happen, but if the B1G said "you have a guarantee for 2018. Do what you must until then." I'd prefer for the next year or two to put basketball back there and keep football in the AAC. I know it's just fantasy though.
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Our Basketball travel schedule this year was crazy.
There were NBA teams with easier schedules.
1/13 at Tulsa
1/17 at Stamford
1/22 home
1/25 home
1/29 at Cinncy
2/01 at Houston
2/4 home
2/7 at Tulane
2/12 home
2/14 at SMU
2/19 at Memphis
The Houston,home New Orleans ,home,back to Dallaa was a ridicules stretch.
That's the best agrument for a regional conference.
The ACC ,and the B1G are actually more regional than the AAC
 
NC_Uconn_Fan said:
I experienced that same burnout when I was 13 in baseball. It was too much, too many teams, practices, camps, etc as a teenager with school and a newly found social life. My Dad who was a great pitcher in his day, even invited to Cardinals camp in the 60's , wasn't really thrilled, but was okay with it. I played a little in high school but was never good enough to go beyond that. Taking time off really hurt my development, all my friends passed me in talent. Funny thing is, at 37, I still play in a wood bat league in Charlotte and love it. I Love playing baseball more now that when I was younger, it's no longer a choir like it was when I was a kid. If my dad had forced me to keep playing, I would end up hating him and the game. I think a lot of parents force activities on their kids so they can live through them.
Expand ...

Last summer, after completing the travel softball season, my daughter (she was 14) and I were talking about her hitting. I told her I couldn't help her anymore and she could not self diagnose her mechanics. I told her if she wanted to progress she had to get back to 1 on 1 instruction. We'd rotate 5 week sessions every two months, blah, blah blah.

She looked at me and said, "Dad, you and I both know what I want to study in college and I want to do ROTC. I'm not going to have any time to play ball in college. Why go through all that. I just want to play and have fun."

I have a wise daughter.

I never discussed a hitting instructor again and the two of us work on her swing when it suits us.

And she has fun.
 
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Flugaur @flugempire · 3h 3 hours ago
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12702767/acc-commissioner-john-swofford-says-no-plans-go-three-divisions… Swofford says no plans for ACC to go 3 divisions. Or to go to one Div/Conf. No plans for ACC to get rid of CCG

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 46m 46 minutes ago
"@CFBHeather: R/Deregulation of CCG: Larry Scott told me he hasn't even seen a proposal on it and hasn't discussed it w/ membership yet. Wow

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 46m 46 minutes ago
"@CFBHeather: R/ ACC and Big12 proposal to deregulate league title games, Scott "I'm not even aware if they gave something to the NCAA." Wow

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 45m 45 minutes ago
"@CFBHeather: Scott told me the @pac12 is not even talking about it "until we see a proposal for it understand the rationale for it.” Wow

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 42m 42 minutes ago
Bowlsby may get his deregulation of CCG...because SEC/ACC/B10/PAC wants freedom...but the guy makes up things as he goes along.Pure Amature

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 41m 41 minutes ago
"@CFBHeather: We know what the ACC WON'T do with it, per John Swofford: http://es.pn/1b7sJx8" No 3 Divisions and no Elimination of CCG
 
nd73 said:
Who has EVER thought UConn and ND are tied to together in anyway? I have never heard of that before(even in a passive way)in any way shape or form except now. ND will never join the Big 10. EVER, Uconn hopefully will and then peace will rein supreme throughout the land. UConn deserves to be in a P-5 conference and that is a total separate deal in regards to ND.

If and that is a BIG if we join a conference we have let it be known where it will be.

I'm hope ND is slipping on the Big 10 radar.
I actually like and respect the Big 10 because they actually care about Academics(Most). I am not one of those ND fans that bash the Big 10. But we(Big and ND) are not mean t to be together.

NBC is ecstatic with our deal, so much so they signed ND hockey to its own deal on NBCsports.
Expand ...

Uh, I heard and bought it--why do think I'm here? In retrospect, it was probably bs to sooth ruffled feathers at the extraordinary brand coup of Rutgers/Maryland but at the time I bought in completely. You know, Delany, white whale, etc. BTW, it's a what? three year old rumor and probably only made the rounds on the B1G side.

As for the other thing: Yes, I'm sure Mark Lazarus was thrilled to wake up to his soft-boiled egg and oj to find Swarbrick stabbing him in the back. He probably lit up like the 4th of July: "Gordon Gee's right about these guys! My entire college football programming is now saying, 'Oh, yeah, and we don't care if our games count in the playoffs. We're special' The ratings are already softening in the ACC and now this?! Get Jack on the phone now!"

Or: Mark Lazarus talked with Jack Swarbrick ahead of time and it went like this:

Mark: Jack, the Big Ten deal's coming up and we need to make a move on it. It would help if you'd be...flexible.
Jack: How?
Mark: Join a conference--we all know where this going and there's no room for independents anymore. If you want to join the Big Ten...
Jack: I don't.
Mark: But if you did, the money's there to jailbreak the ACC and buy in. We're talking a lot of money. You bring NBC and your football games and the rest takes care of itself.
Jack: How much money?
Mark: You'll never have to pray again.
Jack: (Conscious-stricken) I'll think about it.

Or: Jack calls Gordan Gee:

Jack: Gordon!
Gordon: Jack! What's up?
Jack: Nothing--haven't trolled the press for awhile so I was going to string them along and, of course, I thought of you.

There might be other possibilities. That's just off the top of my head but Swarbrick's pushing the panic button in the press says a lot more than most people have caught onto yet. I'm sure NBC's happy with any sports right deal. For now.
 
TruDomGopher said:
Uh, I heard and bought it--why do think I'm here? In retrospect, it was probably bs to sooth ruffled feathers at the extraordinary brand coup of Rutgers/Maryland but at the time I bought in completely. You know, Delany, white whale, etc. BTW, it's a what? three year old rumor and probably only made the rounds on the B1G side.

As for the other thing: Yes, I'm sure Mark Lazarus was thrilled to wake up to his soft-boiled egg and oj to find Swarbrick stabbing him in the back. He probably lit up like the 4th of July: "Gordon Gee's right about these guys! My entire college football programming is now saying, 'Oh, yeah, and we don't care if our games count in the playoffs. We're special' The ratings are already softening in the ACC and now this?! Get Jack on the phone now!"

Or: Mark Lazarus talked with Jack Swarbrick ahead of time and it went like this:

Mark: Jack, the Big Ten deal's coming up and we need to make a move on it. It would help if you'd be...flexible.
Jack: How?
Mark: Join a conference--we all know where this going and there's no room for independents anymore. If you want to join the Big Ten...
Jack: I don't.
Mark: But if you did, the money's there to jailbreak the ACC and buy in. We're talking a lot of money. You bring NBC and your football games and the rest takes care of itself.
Jack: How much money?
Mark: You'll never have to pray again.
Jack: (Conscious-stricken) I'll think about it.

Or: Jack calls Gordan Gee:

Jack: Gordon!
Gordon: Jack! What's up?
Jack: Nothing--haven't trolled the press for awhile so I was going to string them along and, of course, I thought of you.

There might be other possibilities. That's just off the top of my head but Swarbrick's pushing the panic button in the press says a lot more than most people have caught onto yet. I'm sure NBC's happy with any sports right deal. For now.
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Link this so I can read about us being linked to UConn please. I've never seen it.

Why would he call Gordon Gee who is President of WVU?
 
nd73 said:
Link this so I can read about us being linked to UConn please. I've never seen it.

Why would he call Gordon Gee who is President of WVU?
Expand ...

Oops--jokes aren't any fun with explanations. It was a joke, referencing a comment Gee made when he was with Ohio State about the Fathers at Notre Dame being holy on Sunday and holy h**l the rest of the week.

A link to the rumor? It's a rumor that may or may not have made it to a board--I picked it up on a Saturday afternoon at a bar in Portland Oregon. It might be on the VTech board--I saw recently someone had revived it there as well.

I stand by my basic point though: Imagine if Delany started yapping to the press that the Big Ten was going DIII. ESPN and Fox would either a) not know about and go through the roof because they want "real" football or b) know about it in advance and discount it for whatever reason.

I don't know what's up with Swarbrick but he's not stupid and the whole thing was too well thought out--providing the press with a list of the Nerdball schools already? That's planned. (BTW, UConn's on the list with all the flagships, not the Nerdball list.)

Did NBC/Comcast know in advance--or cause it--or were they caught with their pants down? That's what I'd like to know. I don't know. I can only watch, wonder, and speculate. My speculation is that there is a lot of posturing because the Big Ten rights are going to be it for awhile. (How's that for going out on a limb?)

By the time they're done, I wouldn't be surprised to see We and Lifetime fighting it out for the rights to Big Ten branded UConn's women basketball.
 
"Swarbrick isn't necessarily advocating upheaval, just defining the future. The legal, moral and collegiate pressures may make it inevitable for a semi-pro division of college athletics to emerge."

Sickening.
 
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Butch said:
"Swarbrick isn't necessarily advocating upheaval, just defining the future. The legal, moral and collegiate pressures may make it inevitable for a semi-pro division of college athletics to emerge."

Sickening.
Expand ...
I hope that is just bluster like Delaney said awhile back about going to the Ivy model.
 
AZHuskiePop said:
Our Basketball travel schedule this year was crazy.
There were NBA teams with easier schedules.
1/13 at Tulsa
1/17 at Stamford
1/22 home
1/25 home
1/29 at Cinncy
2/01 at Houston
2/4 home
2/7 at Tulane
2/12 home
2/14 at SMU
2/19 at Memphis
The Houston,home New Orleans ,home,back to Dallaa was a ridicules stretch.
That's the best agrument for a regional conference.
The ACC ,and the B1G are actually more regional than the AAC
Expand ...
Trip from Stamford to Storrs is what an hour and 45 minutes?
 
TruDomGopher said:
Oops--jokes aren't any fun with explanations. It was a joke, referencing a comment Gee made when he was with Ohio State about the Fathers at Notre Dame being holy on Sunday and holy h**l the rest of the week.

A link to the rumor? It's a rumor that may or may not have made it to a board--I picked it up on a Saturday afternoon at a bar in Portland Oregon. It might be on the VTech board--I saw recently someone had revived it there as well.

I stand by my basic point though: Imagine if Delany started yapping to the press that the Big Ten was going DIII. ESPN and Fox would either a) not know about and go through the roof because they want "real" football or b) know about it in advance and discount it for whatever reason.

I don't know what's up with Swarbrick but he's not stupid and the whole thing was too well thought out--providing the press with a list of the Nerdball schools already? That's planned. (BTW, UConn's on the list with all the flagships, not the Nerdball list.)

Did NBC/Comcast know in advance--or cause it--or were they caught with their pants down? That's what I'd like to know. I don't know. I can only watch, wonder, and speculate. My speculation is that there is a lot of posturing because the Big Ten rights are going to be it for awhile. (How's that for going out on a limb?)

By the time they're done, I wouldn't be surprised to see We and Lifetime fighting it out for the rights to Big Ten branded UConn's women basketball.
Expand ...
http://www.foxsports.com/collegefoo...r-big-ten-commissioner-jim-delany-ncaa-092613

Jim Delaney Said this awhile back
Here’s what Delany wrote in a declaration supporting the NCAA against the O’Bannon’s pursuit of class-action status. In it, Delany introduces the possibility of using a Division III model:

“…it has been my longstanding belief that The Big Ten’s schools would forgo the revenues in those circumstances and instead take steps to downsize the scope, breadth and activity of their athletic programs. Several alternatives to a ‘pay for play’ model exist, such as the Division III model, which does not offer any athletics-based grants-in-aid, and, among others, a need-based financial model. These alternatives would, in my view, be more consistent with The Big Ten’s philosophy that the educational and lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for its student athletes.”
 
Greg Flugaur
‏@flugempire @gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @Briuconn I agree Chris that VT/UVA/GT are bigger targets than UCONN..everyone agrees. I would put OU/KU as..

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 53m 53 minutes ago
@gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @BriUConn ...bigger Delany targets in 7-9 years. However..if none of those want to do the tango with JD....

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 52m 52 minutes ago
@gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @BriUConn ...well Delany and the Big Ten will choose targets that increase BTN value. UCONN is becoming...

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 52m 52 minutes ago
@gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @BriUConn ...a better fit for B1G as times goes on. Rutgers was not Delanys first choice for 14. UCONN won't be..

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 51m 51 minutes ago
@gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @BriUConn ..UCONN won't be Delanys first or second choice for 16. But UCONN will become acceptable choice..

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 50m 50 minutes ago
@gampel_2_msg @theDudeofWV @BriUConn ...if other doors are closed. And there is a good chance these other doors will be closed for Delany

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 48m 48 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV First of all Chris...RUT got some basic coverage in NYC...but there is much more money to be made in NYC and New England on BTN

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV · 53m53 minutes ago
@flugempire nobody has explained why the B1G would add UCONN. How does the conf benefit?

Christopher Lambert @theDudeofWV · 1h 1 hour ago
@flugempire I checked with my B1G source a few hours ago. He confirmed what I knew.

Christopher Lambert @theDudeofWV · 1h 1 hour ago
@flugempire UCONN is not an AAU member. UCONN would not add sufficient value nor would a partner addition from a non-P5 school.

Christopher Lambert @theDudeofWV · 1h 1 hour ago
@flugempire He said the very fact that UCONN is not an AAU member rules then from consideration.

Christopher Lambert @theDudeofWV · 59m 59 minutes ago
@flugempire UCONN does not offer enough revenue potential for inclusion. They are not AAU. Case closed.

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 47m 47 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV BTN REV model does not stop at carriage fees...it's now rolling in money on TVAD buys. UCONN has a brand that sells in NYC/NENG

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV · 47m47 minutes ago
@flugempire Furthermore he said doubts about UCONN’s viability as a basketball power devalues brand.

Greg Flugaur
‏@flugempire @theDudeofWV What?

Greg Flugaur ‏@flugempire · 38m38 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV Doubts of Uconn BB viability?...I mean...you gotta be kidding me right?

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 43m 43 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV Whoever this guy is..I wouldn't let hm walk my dog. Doubts about viability as BB power? Ok then...

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 46m 46 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV you disagree...I get it. But it's been explained to you. BTN ratings are climbing...last year was better than the year before..

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV · 45m45 minutes ago
@flugempire Plus who would be UCONN’s partner? See. Nothing works. No justification.

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 42m 42 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV Delany is not going to sit on his hands and not expand if the economics ( positive) demands expansion.

Greg Flugaur @flugempire · 41m 41 minutes ago
@theDudeofWV No one is declaring UCONN to the Big Ten in 2016/17. But they are on radar. You yourself said in your metrics UCONN was #1..
 
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nd73 said:
I knew about that, I want to know about ND and UConn being tied at the hip.
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And I don't know what more to tell you--it was a rumor: unsubstantiated, ephemeral, gossip. With the passage of time, drifted away in a sea of rumors.

For my entire life, from Corky Taylor attacking Luke Witte through the Clem Haskins scandals, Gophers basketball has bounced between scandalous and irrelevant. Somewhere along the way, I decided I liked UConn bb better and kind of adopted them. And Notre Dame--well, it's friggin' Notre Dame.

It's a rumor I wanted to believe and I did. And I know we'd probably never agree on this, but allow me this one moment of sadness for the B1G w/ ND and UConn.

I think it would have been The Greatest Conference of All-Time. It makes me a little sad I'll never see it.
 
Sorry, got lost in what might have been...

Notre Dame isn't "tied at the hip" to anyone. If they want to join the B1G as 15, all the following are acceptable for 16:

Sacramento City College, University of Phoenix, Heald, ITT Tech, Universidad de Brasila. I'm sure Delany's flexible.

Still, I would prefer UConn.
 
TruDomGopher said:
Sorry, got lost in what might have been...

Notre Dame isn't "tied at the hip" to anyone. If they want to join the B1G as 15, all the following are acceptable for 16:

Sacramento City College, University of Phoenix, Heald, ITT Tech, Universidad de Brasila. I'm sure Delany's flexible.

Still, I would prefer UConn.
Expand ...
If you are going to add ND and make it 3 schools in Indiana, I suggest adding DeVry to make it 3 in Illinois.
 
LOL the Dood has a B1G "source". Maybe I should call up my roommate from grad school who did his undergrad at OSU, ask him what he thinks and cite him as my source.
 
I'll spell it out for the Dude:
1. By B1G metrics, UConn is virtually identical to Kansas (national basketball brand, weak football, state populations similar, academics identical [ignore AAU, Kansas is a legacy AAU member and UConn is equal to Kansas research-wise], contiguity similar) except that Connecticut borders NYC and Boston which are open to capture, if not by UConn specifically, by UConn/Rutgers/Penn State/Ohio State/Michigan jointly. The proximity and penetration to population, money, power, and research (Harvard/MIT/Yale) that UConn brings pushes its value ahead of Kansas. Comfortably.
2. By B1G metrics, UConn is comparable to Oklahoma. UConn's proximity to NYC/Boston/Harvard/MIT/Yale is compensated by the greater value of a football brand over a basketball brand.
3. UConn will maintain the average per-school payout in the B1G thanks to overpricing of BTN in Connecticut (more than $0.90 is attainable) and increased pricing in New York/Mass, plus the national value of the basketball brands. UConn football has the potential to grow. He is just wrong about revenue. UConn would be a middle-of-the-pack financial contributor to the B1G on the same order as Indiana, Maryland, and Minnesota.
4. AAU is a barrier but UConn is rising, is already comparable to other targets like Kansas and Oklahoma on AAU metrics, and proximity to Harvard/Yale/MIT may create synergies. Jackson partnership and state support are helpful. This is a strategic question - will B1G sacrifice every other strategic goal to AAU? Unlikely.
5. Of the remaining potential adds, the rank order of value by B1G metrics is: (1) Texas (but a lot of baggage here, eg LHN and past behavior driving schools out of B12), (2) UNC, (3) (a) UVa or (b) Va Tech, (4a) Oklahoma, (4b) UConn, (4c) Kentucky, (7) Kansas, (8) Missouri, (9) Duke, (10) Vanderbilt. Not sure where Ga Tech would fit, it depends on value of academics relative to athletics and contiguity, but certainly ahead of Duke and Vanderbilt.
6. Of these, who is going to be available? UConn is available, no others are certainly available.

If you had to pick one school not now in the B1G as most likely to be in the B1G by 2023, it would be UConn. The others all have legal/financial/tradition/cultural barriers to joining. UConn is a fit.

If they wait till 2025 to expand, and only want to go to 16, maybe they can pick up UNC and UVa, or Texas and Oklahoma (its geographic position as a bridge to Texas pushes Oklahoma ahead of UConn). In any other scenario, I think UConn is part of the next round of expansion.
 
TruDomGopher said:
And I don't know what more to tell you--it was a rumor: unsubstantiated, ephemeral, gossip. With the passage of time, drifted away in a sea of rumors.

For my entire life, from Corky Taylor attacking Luke Witte through the Clem Haskins scandals, Gophers basketball has bounced between scandalous and irrelevant. Somewhere along the way, I decided I liked UConn bb better and kind of adopted them. And Notre Dame--well, it's friggin' Notre Dame.

It's a rumor I wanted to believe and I did. And I know we'd probably never agree on this, but allow me this one moment of sadness for the B1G w/ ND and UConn.

I think it would have been The Greatest Conference of All-Time. It makes me a little sad I'll never see it.
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I am sorry that the idea of ND never being in the Big Ten saddens you. I mean that. But, ND joining the Big Ten would have been like Appomattox or the Fall of Bataan for me, personally. It would have been the worst of all possible realistic outcomes for ND in conference realignment, in my opinion.

I would rather ND join the ACC, Big 12 or Pac 12 than the Big Ten, and I would absolutely hate the idea of ND football joining any of those conferences.

UConn wants badly into the Big Ten and I hope it works out for them soon. UConn deserves to be in a P5 conference. I just never want ND to be part of any Big Ten discussions. I don't think that UConn needs ND involved in order for Delany to decide to invite it to the Big Ten.

2015 will be the first year since 1915 that ND football will not play any Big Ten teams. I like that development and hope it is the beginning of a trend.
 
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