Non-Key Tweets

[UConnJim]

Oh, my lord.

Please stop talking.

If Syracuse never replaces the Carrier Dome....so what? How would their situation differ from ours if we needed to replace Gampel or the Rent? We're entirely dependent on the state, so claiming any sort of dependency on Syracuse's part to be a negative is very glass-housey.

As a private school, Syracuse's athletic revenue exceeds ours before you even count the first penny from the network. A few years ago, our athletic departments were the same size - they're $20,000,000 ahead now. At $90M, there's no "chasm" between them and most publics.

They're fine. Boston College is fine. Miami fine. And you're bad at math.

So Syracuse can count on NY state to fund their athletic needs? Maybe. Can UConn depend on the state of Connecticut? It appears they can based on recent investments in athletic facilities by the state. And, if UConn needs money for more professors, more classrooms, more dorms... they turn to the state, not their endowment. The endowment is all Syracuse has!

Of course UConn needs more money and is at a disadvantage to those schools caring bigger media checks. But, in the long run, I believe UConn will be better off than most of the private schools.

 

[Fishy]

So the school that has an endowment that's over three times the size of ours and an athletic budget that's 25% higher and revenue that's probably 40% higher is in trouble?

That's some Boneyard Econ right there.

 

[Section138]

Totally disagree. You think $15 to $20 million per year is enough to stabilize the athletic program at a private school like Syracuse? They are at the mercy of the State of NY for their football and basketball facility. Do you think Syracuse could ever replace the Carrier Dome without public support?

Have you ever been to BC to see their athletic facilities? They are not very P5-like and I don't see major improvements coming in the future. Ever wonder why BC can't keep any decent football or basketball coach? Their athletic department does not have the money to pay them.

Where is Miami's football stadium? Doesn't exist. Their endowment per student is lower than Syracuse's.

Think about this. Since the BCS started in 1998, how many of the 12 P5 private schools have played in a BCS football game and the Final 4? One: Syracuse and they played in the BCS game 15 years ago.

Private schools are at a major disadvantage to public schools and the chasm is getting bigger and bigger. Can they even afford to spend to keep up?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

So Syracuse can count on NY state to fund their athletic needs? Maybe. Can UConn depend on the state of Connecticut? It appears they can based on recent investments in athletic facilities by the state. And, if UConn needs money for more professors, more classrooms, more dorms... they turn to the state, not their endowment. The endowment is all Syracuse has!

Of course UConn needs more money and is at a disadvantage to those schools caring bigger media checks. But, in the long run, I believe UConn will be better off than most of the private schools.

Connecticut's budget is a sea of red ink until eternity or bankruptcy. The latter could occur quite soon actually. I can just about guarantee that the state is going to be cutting funding to UConn and education in general over the next few years. Tuitions are going to increase, and non-essential spending will decrease.

The state is not going to raise taxes on every resident to pay for the football, no matter how hardcore the 5k fans that showed up for SMU think they are.

 

[Section138]

Totally disagree. You think $15 to $20 million per year is enough to stabilize the athletic program at a private school like Syracuse? They are at the mercy of the State of NY for their football and basketball facility. Do you think Syracuse could ever replace the Carrier Dome without public support?

Have you ever been to BC to see their athletic facilities? They are not very P5-like and I don't see major improvements coming in the future. Ever wonder why BC can't keep any decent football or basketball coach? Their athletic department does not have the money to pay them.

Where is Miami's football stadium? Doesn't exist. Their endowment per student is lower than Syracuse's.

Think about this. Since the BCS started in 1998, how many of the 12 P5 private schools have played in a BCS football game and the Final 4? One: Syracuse and they played in the BCS game 15 years ago.

Private schools are at a major disadvantage to public schools and the chasm is getting bigger and bigger. Can they even afford to spend to keep up?

I believe Stanford has played in a few.... no?

 

[Section138]

Totally disagree. You think $15 to $20 million per year is enough to stabilize the athletic program at a private school like Syracuse? They are at the mercy of the State of NY for their football and basketball facility. Do you think Syracuse could ever replace the Carrier Dome without public support?

Have you ever been to BC to see their athletic facilities? They are not very P5-like and I don't see major improvements coming in the future. Ever wonder why BC can't keep any decent football or basketball coach? Their athletic department does not have the money to pay them.

Where is Miami's football stadium? Doesn't exist. Their endowment per student is lower than Syracuse's.

Think about this. Since the BCS started in 1998, how many of the 12 P5 private schools have played in a BCS football game and the Final 4? One: Syracuse and they played in the BCS game 15 years ago.

Private schools are at a major disadvantage to public schools and the chasm is getting bigger and bigger. Can they even afford to spend to keep up?

Also, didn't UCF beat Baylor??

 

[Fishy]

I believe Stanford has played in a few.... no?

Don't even bother - it's an off the wall metric.

 

[CL82]

So the school that has an endowment that's over three times the size of ours and an athletic budget that's 25% higher and revenue that's probably 40% higher is in trouble?

That's some Boneyard Econ right there.

Well they've got expenses...lawyer's bills...libel lawsuit payoffs...hand sanitizer for the assistant coaches...

 

[junglehusky]

How does UConn pay for this athletic program off a crappy AAC TV contract and 5k people in the seats? I look forward to hearing this.

Go into debt. That's it.

 

[Fishy]

Go into debt. That's it.

The answer tomorrow is the same as the answer today - subsidy.

And prayer.

I understand where the people who are wish-casting and speculating that some members of the P5 are going to somehow die off and let us move up. They're wrong, but desperation makes a lot of dumb s--- make sense. I get it.

Nelson's view is just plain bizarre. We have a revenue and exposure problem - his solution is to make it much worse.

I'm not sure how that's supposed to help.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The answer tomorrow is the same as the answer today - subsidy.

And prayer.

I understand where the people who are wish-casting and speculating that some members of the P5 are going to somehow die off and let us move up. They're wrong, but desperation makes a lot of dumb s--- make sense. I get it.

Nelson's view is just plain bizarre. We have a revenue and exposure problem - his solution is to make it much worse.

I'm not sure how that's supposed to help.

In fairness to Nelson his view is more along the lines of turning UConn into the University of Vermont. Perhaps he still gets aroused when thinking about late 1960's Yankee Conference matchups.

 

[UConnJim]

So the school that has an endowment that's over three times the size of ours and an athletic budget that's 25% higher and revenue that's probably 40% higher is in trouble?

That's some Boneyard Econ right there.

When all you have is tuition and your endowment and your endowment is $56k per student, you have zero financial flexibility. Tuition is not going up at a high rate at privates like Syracuse anymore and your endowment can not produce enough income. Without state backing, I would say Syracuse has to be very careful with their money.

 

[uchusky32]

The answer tomorrow is the same as the answer today - subsidy.

And prayer.

I understand where the people who are wish-casting and speculating that some members of the P5 are going to somehow die off and let us move up. They're wrong, but desperation makes a lot of dumb s--- make sense. I get it.

Nelson's view is just plain bizarre. We have a revenue and exposure problem - his solution is to make it much worse.

I'm not sure how that's supposed to help.

Fishy, that's what I don't understand why would a school leave when the money keeps going up? If you leave you will never get back. Which President and AD are going to make that call? Just bizarre.

By the way how's my fellow Admiral doing?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The answer tomorrow is the same as the answer today - subsidy.

And prayer.

I understand where the people who are wish-casting and speculating that some members of the P5 are going to somehow die off and let us move up. They're wrong, but desperation makes a lot of dumb s--- make sense. I get it.

Nelson's view is just plain bizarre. We have a revenue and exposure problem - his solution is to make it much worse.

I'm not sure how that's supposed to help.

My position is that we need more money, and we need to do WHATEVER we have to do to make that happen. 90% of this board's position is that thumbs up butt for next 5 years will result in Big 10 invitation.

 

[FDNY99]

My position is that we need more money, and we need to do WHATEVER we have to do to make that happen. 90% of this board's position is that thumbs up butt for next 5 years will result in Big 10 invitation.

Ok Nelson....I have a question for you..do you do YOUR part to help UCONN make $$ by purchasing season tickets or even just single game tickets through the University for athletic events?

 

[Husky25]

My position is that we need more money, and we need to do WHATEVER we have to do to make that happen. 90% of this board's position is that thumbs up butt for next 5 years will result in Big 10 invitation.

That is not anyone's position here.

90% of this board recognizes that the School Administration is probably doing everything they can to improve the school's profile.

90% of this board also recognizes that the ONLY way into a P-5 conference is with football.

Given those two near-certainties, the position of 90% of this board is use the exit fees and Tournament shares we currently possess while the school makes itself more attractive for a P-5 invitation than it was in 2012.

Your position is to throw away that life raft, while pursuing a nominal increase in TV money, which potentially (probably) won't be there for the much referred to conference in 5 years .

 

[Fishy]

My position is that we need more money, and we need to do WHATEVER we have to do to make that happen. 90% of this board's position is that thumbs up butt for next 5 years will result in Big 10 invitation.

And how does your plan help any of that?

 

[1husky]

That is not anyone's position here.

90% of this board recognizes that the School Administration is probably doing everything they can to improve the school's profile.

90% of this board also recognizes that the ONLY way into a P-5 conference is with football.

Given those two near-certainties, the position of 90% of this board is use the exit fees and Tournament shares we currently possess while the school makes itself more attractive for a P-5 invitation than it was in 2012.

Your position is to throw away that life raft, while pursuing a nominal increase in TV money, which potentially (probably) won't be there for the much referred to conference in 5 years .

Unfortunately, Nelson is right. And for some reason 90% of this board thinks that having 1 of 3 landing spots implode and waiting 5 - 10 years to get our football program in order somehow helps us. We're currently in 5th place and dropping fast but adding another 5-10 schools to the free market and one less league helps us? 90% of this board somehow thinks we are going to elevate from the AAC and $2M / year to the B1G at $40M / year just because our profile is improved. In reality our profile is declining in the college sports world...We've got about 2-3 years max before the state pulls the plug or Malloy is driven from the governor's mansion with pitchforks and torches and our football program going undefeated in the AAC for the next 2-3 years won't mean squat to anyone including the B1G and our own fan base!

 

[businesslawyer]

There are posters who would watch UMass get picked over us for a P5 and say "Warde is doing the best he can".

It must be nice to be able to see the future. Because otherwise, you'd just be putting words in people's mouth totally out of the blue again.

 

[UConnJim]

Fishy, that's what I don't understand why would a school leave when the money keeps going up? If you leave you will never get back. Which President and AD are going to make that call? Just bizarre.

By the way how's my fellow Admiral doing?

Obviously, no school is leaving tomorrow. I am talking about down the road. Schools have moved conferences over time and schools will continue to move conferences over time. Anybody who thinks that college sports realignment is over is kidding themselves. And, schools will face tough choices down the road. Can I afford to build a new stadium? Can I afford to pay a coach to be competitive? Can I pay player stipends? Do I even want the university to be part of a sports minor league?

Think about this. Syracuse football has been ranked once at the end of the season in the last 16 years. Why? Antiquated facilities. Hiring coaches on the cheap.... All comes back to investing in athletics and this eventually impacts revenue generation. Financially, private colleges are most at risk due to the size of their endowments and the limited ability to raise tuition prices anymore.

 

[Fishy]

When all you have is tuition and your endowment and your endowment is $56k per student, you have zero financial flexibility. Tuition is not going up at a high rate at privates like Syracuse anymore and your endowment can not produce enough income. Without state backing, I would say Syracuse has to be very careful with their money.

About 40-45% of Syracuse's total revenue comes from sources other than tuition or investment returns. Their tuition increase was half of ours this past year.

You're not good at this.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Almost had a heart attack when I got this e-mail from the UConn business school as it is titled 'What is the Big Idea.' Not what I was hoping; but, cool anyway.

http://www.business.uconn.edu/press...m_medium=e&utm_content=1508&utm_campaign=epub

 

[FDNY99]

How does UConn pay for this athletic program off a crappy AAC TV contract and 5k people in the seats? I look forward to hearing this.

I am still waiting for you to answer my question about you attending games..so I will ask again...do you buy season tickets or attend games where you buy the tickets from UCONN for ANY UCONN athletics...but specifically football? Because if you don't do us all on here a favor and stop with the 5K people in the seats and UCONN needs to drop football because they don't make any $$ BULLS**T!!!

 

[UConnJim]

About 40-45% of Syracuse's total revenue comes from sources other than tuition or investment returns. Their tuition increase was half of ours this past year.

You're not good at this.

I'm a numbers guy and you clearly are not! In 2014, tuition and fees made up 54.2% of revenues. The endowment income contributed 5.8%. Auxiliaries contributed 23.6% which is made up of student housing, food service, athletics, book store,... Contributions, grants, and other contributed 17.4%.

Obviously, most of the auxiliary revenues comes from students, so I would estimate tuition, room, board, plus endowment income makes up at least 75% of revenues.

 

[itgoeslike]

And how does your plan help any of that?

What plan?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

And how does your plan help any of that?

The "stay the course" plan sucks. UConn's athletic program can die on its knees or die on its feet. I would prefer it die on its feet, fighting.

My PLAN is to do ANYTHING but stay the course. Go independent in football and join the Big East or A10. Blow up the AAC to get away from the terrible TV deal. Get creative in membership and scheduling arrangements with other leagues. Do something, anything but what we are doing. And if the decision is that every alternative will result in failure, and we know "stay the course" will result in failure, then UConn should consider other alternatives, including a sunset of the football program. Because if we listen to 90% of you on this board, we will eventually be shutting down the football program anyway, but only have a shell of the hoops program left by the time we do.

Struggling businesses pivot and survive all the time. Struggling businesses that do nothing fail 100% of the time.

 

[FDNY99]

The "stay the course" plan sucks. UConn's athletic program can die on its knees or die on its feet. I would prefer it die on its feet, fighting.

My PLAN is to do ANYTHING but stay the course. Go independent in football and join the Big East or A10. Blow up the AAC to get away from the terrible TV deal. Get creative in membership and scheduling arrangements with other leagues. Do something, anything but what we are doing. And if the decision is that every alternative will result in failure, and we know "stay the course" will result in failure, then UConn should consider other alternatives, including a sunset of the football program. Because if we listen to 90% of you on this board, we will eventually be shutting down the football program anyway, but only have a shell of the hoops program left by the time we do.

Struggling businesses pivot and survive all the time. Struggling businesses that do nothing fail 100% of the time.

You still haven't answered my question...do you buy season tickets or single game tickets from UCONN in ANY sport? Because of you don't then your rants about $$ and conference affiliation are worthless....especially with you quoting attendance figures. If you are gonna continually come on here and rant about that stuff...then at least be part of the group trying to solve that $ issue by attending games.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You still haven't answered my question...do you buy season tickets or single game tickets from UCONN in ANY sport? Because of you don't then your rants about $$ and conference affiliation are worthless....especially with you quoting attendance figures. If you are gonna continually come on here and rant about that stuff...then at least be part of the group trying to solve that $ issue by attending games.

What do you think?

 

[FDNY99]

What do you think?

I don't have esp...it's a simple question to answer

 

[UConnJim]

The "stay the course" plan sucks. UConn's athletic program can die on its knees or die on its feet. I would prefer it die on its feet, fighting.

My PLAN is to do ANYTHING but stay the course. Go independent in football and join the Big East or A10. Blow up the AAC to get away from the terrible TV deal. Get creative in membership and scheduling arrangements with other leagues. Do something, anything but what we are doing. And if the decision is that every alternative will result in failure, and we know "stay the course" will result in failure, then UConn should consider other alternatives, including a sunset of the football program. Because if we listen to 90% of you on this board, we will eventually be shutting down the football program anyway, but only have a shell of the hoops program left by the time we do.

Struggling businesses pivot and survive all the time. Struggling businesses that do nothing fail 100% of the time.

This isn't a plan. We have a test case for your plan - UMass. Independent in football and in the A-10 for other sports. Football schedule is absolutely awful and it will get worse as conferences go to 9 conference games. UMass can schedule away games, but they can't schedule good home games.

As for basketball, UMass has never been that good anyway and they are in a mid major conference.

End of the day, AAC basketball right now is at least as good or better than Big East and A-10 basketball. Plus, the AAC schools have upgraded coaches and the bottom tier schools will get better.