Non-Key Tweets

[Charley Horse]

You mean other than the public statements of the President of the second most important school in the Big XII? Nothing. ("But other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?")

So when you say statements by Boren do you mean the very few he has actually made specifically about Texas? Like these:

"... For all the rumors, are we knocking heads with Texas or somebody, I have a very cordial relationship with the president of Texas, the new president (Gregory Fenves), relatively new president, very sharp individual. They have a new athletics director (Mike Perrin). It’s kind of a new regime, although probably my past spats with them have been exaggerated.

“It’s very interesting. A lot of times, the issues are semi-academic. Oklahoma and Texas more often than not are alike in the Big 12. We’re not always at opposite ends of things. We more than likely are in agreement. But I think the cordiality of all of it is getting better. Trust, confidence in each other is getting better.”

(Source: http://newsok.com/article/5479437)

Or do you mean the conjecture of the twittershere?

 

[businesslawyer]

So when you say statements by Boren do you mean the very few he has actually made specifically about Texas? Like these:

"... For all the rumors, are we knocking heads with Texas or somebody, I have a very cordial relationship with the president of Texas, the new president (Gregory Fenves), relatively new president, very sharp individual. They have a new athletics director (Mike Perrin). It’s kind of a new regime, although probably my past spats with them have been exaggerated.

“It’s very interesting. A lot of times, the issues are semi-academic. Oklahoma and Texas more often than not are alike in the Big 12. We’re not always at opposite ends of things. We more than likely are in agreement. But I think the cordiality of all of it is getting better. Trust, confidence in each other is getting better.”

(Source: http://newsok.com/article/5479437)

Or do you mean the conjecture of the twittershere?

Actually, I put 0% stock in ramblings of anonymous internet posters, whether the individual post makes sense or not. But what Boren is publicly stating, and what Boren is leaking to legit reporers, is something else entirely. Boren is a politician, and if Boren truly didn't have a position with Texas's position on expansion, we would not see either his quotes or the leaked stories. And his statements that "but Texas and we see eye to eye on everything important" is empty political politeness.

 

[Charley Horse]

Actually, I put 0% stock in ramblings of anonymous internet posters, whether the individual post makes sense or not. But what Boren is publicly stating, and what Boren is leaking to legit reporers, is something else entirely. Boren is a politician, and if Boren truly didn't have a position with Texas's position on expansion, we would not see either his quotes or the leaked stories. And his statements that "but Texas and we see eye to eye on everything important" is empty political politeness.

Maybe you're right. Maybe Boren wants expansion and Texas doesn't. Or maybe Boren wants expansion and Texas doesn't really want expansion but they're willing to consider it to appease OU. Or maybe Boren wants chaos so OU can walk out.

The thing is - none of us really knows. It's fun speculation. Naturally I hope my school will be good guys and play ball. And I really hope UConn is conference member 11 or 12. I think the Huskies would be a fabulous addition to the conference.

 

[Charley Horse]

You've answered you own question, Texas looks out for itself, and therefore should be an independent. You can't have a conference that will get anywhere if one school is always looking out for itself first at the expense of the others. It's real simple.

So by that logic, I take it you would advocate UConn rebuffing any invitation from the Big 12 (or B1G or anybody else). After all, UConn wouldn't want to look out for itself at the expense of its AAC conference mates. Right?

 

[dwalks93]

So by that logic, I take it you would advocate UConn rebuffing any invitation from the Big 12 (or B1G or anybody else). After all, UConn wouldn't want to look out for itself at the expense of its AAC conference mates. Right?

C'Mon now you are just trying to bait UConn fans. Comparing UConn in the AAC to Texas in the Big12 is unfair.

UT is a plank holder and one of the two anchor pieces in the Big12. When you ask an average fan about the Big12 the first teams that come to mind are UT and OU. It is truly up to UT whether the Big12 continues or whether it implodes. The bottom line is if UT wants to absolutely maximize its revenue then its future is likely in the BIG, PAC or with a sweet heart deal in the ACC. If UT values being the center piece in a conference stepped in UT history and is willing to take a little less money to be with its historic rivals then it will reform the Big12. Personally I do not see UT wanting to be in the Big12 without OU but I won't pretend to be an expert on UT' s mindset.

UConn has never professed undying loyalty to the AAC. There is a reason there are no GORs in the AAC. None of UConn traditional rivalries are in the AAC and the AAC literally spans from Florida to Texas to Connecticut. When UConn leaves the AAC there will be no subterfuge, no trickery, and no under-handness. Despite being the most valuable program in the AAC, UConn has never demanded a larger share of revenue and UConn has never tried to pull a power play with the other AAC members. Most strong programs in the AAC have been honest in their desire to move to the P5 and no AAC team would fault another team for leaving for a P5 invite.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

So by that logic, I take it you would advocate UConn rebuffing any invitation from the Big 12 (or B1G or anybody else). After all, UConn wouldn't want to look out for itself at the expense of its AAC conference mates. Right?

I think one thing we learned during all the conference realignment fiasco is that every school looks out for itself. Our former BE partners could not care about the conference. UCONN was screwed in the process. That memory is still very fresh in our minds.

Texas should definitely look out for itself. If Texas isn't committed to the B12, B12 will not survive. The only way I can see B12 stabilizes is with a network. Hopefully, this means an invite for UCONN. We are a P5 school that need to be in a P5 conference.

 

[Charley Horse]

C'Mon now you are just trying to bait UConn fans. Comparing UConn in the AAC to Texas in the Big12 is unfair.

UT is a plank holder and one of the two anchor pieces in the Big12. When you ask an average fan about the Big12 the first teams that come to mind are UT and OU. It is truly up to UT whether the Big12 continues or whether it implodes. The bottom line is if UT wants to absolutely maximize its revenue then its future is likely in the BIG, PAC or with a sweet heart deal in the ACC. If UT values being the center piece in a conference stepped in UT history and is willing to take a little less money to be with its historic rivals then it will reform the Big12. Personally I do not see UT wanting to be in the Big12 without OU but I won't pretend to be an expert on UT' s mindset.

UConn has never professed undying loyalty to the AAC. There is a reason there are no GORs in the AAC. None of UConn traditional rivalries are in the AAC and the AAC literally spans from Florida to Texas to Connecticut. When UConn leaves the AAC there will be no subterfuge, no trickery, and no under-handness. Despite being the most valuable program in the AAC, UConn has never demanded a larger share of revenue and UConn has never tried to pull a power play with the other AAC members. Most strong programs in the AAC have been honest in their desire to move to the P5 and no AAC team would fault another team for leaving for a P5 invite.

Good post.

I wasn't trying to bait UConn fans. I was just trying to make a retort to one post.

Texas is blamed for an awful lot. Sometimes fairly but sometimes not.

Hopefully they'll do the right thing.

 

[CL82]

Good post.

I wasn't trying to bait UConn fans. I was just trying to make a retort to one post.

Texas is blamed for an awful lot. Sometimes fairly but sometimes not.

Hopefully they'll do the right thing.

Here's the thing Charley, every institution will act in their own interest. WVU bailing from the Big East was in their interest and was detrimental the conference as a whole, but there is not much, if any, ill will toward the Mountaineers from their former conference mates. Converse that with Boston College who was serving on key committees while actively negotiating with another league. They are pretty universally despised by former Big East members and particularly by UConn fans because they've actively worked to keep us out of the ACC to try to preserve their failing brand.

Now I'd put Texas in a separate category. They will act in their own interest and aren't underhanded. They are a part of the Big 12 but they don't particularly have to worry about the conferences viability because they are such a valuable property and they got a sweetheart deal from the ESPN but is in the way of the Big 12 establishing a network. I can see why your conference colleagues would resent that, since it makes their own situations more precarious.

So I get why Texas would get some heat from your conference peers and tend to view posts through that lens. I don't think that you will find much of that here, however.

 

[Waquoit]

UConn has never tried to pull a power play with the other AAC members.

In fact the opposite is true. UConn had sub-optimal schedules because the AAC uses them for promotion.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

UConn has never professed undying loyalty to the AAC. There is a reason there are no GORs in the AAC. None of UConn traditional rivalries are in the AAC and the AAC literally spans from Florida to Texas to Connecticut. When UConn leaves the AAC there will be no subterfuge, no trickery, and no under-handness. Despite being the most valuable program in the AAC, UConn has never demanded a larger share of revenue and UConn has never tried to pull a power play with the other AAC members. Most strong programs in the AAC have been honest in their desire to move to the P5 and no AAC team would fault another team for leaving for a P5 invite.

And it's a good thing we haven't, it's our trump card when negotiations of some kind need to come up, whether it be leaving the conference or reassessing our status. I'm still of the belief that if one or two of UC/UH/UCF/Memphis leave for the Big 12 and we're not invited we must investigate moving to football-only in the AAC and moving basketball back to the Big East. AAC basketball minus one or two of those teams would be a death knell for our two programs, while football could still survive in the AAC. If we could make that move and negotiate an agreement to play three AAC teams a year or something while returning to the Big East formally in basketball, that would be the best scenario of a bad situation.

 

[Kolumbo]

My condolences to Steve Pikiell.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm not saying going independent in football, I know that's a death sentence for football. What I'm saying is we negotiate a way out of the AAC in basketball, remain in football, agree to play X number of games against the AAC for X number of years, but become members of the Big East in basketball only. The Big East's TV cache would immediately increase, we would have a home for the two teams that isn't also a death sentence (which an AAC minus two would be), and still have a good home for football. We've been more than kind to the AAC in terms of not asking for anything special considering UConn carries the flag for the league in basketball, is the highest profile school in the conference, boosts TV numbers, and has brought it the most overall notoriety since its inception. Were we to end up in this situation, we'd be in a position where we could finally use our IOU so to speak.

There is little in life easier than unilaterally deciding how bilateral negotiatons will turn out. You and Trump.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

There is little in life easier than unilaterally deciding how bilateral negotiatons will turn out. You and Trump.

I'm not deciding it, I'm presenting what our arguments would be, and hence why I said originally "we should investigate" this option.

 

[Ldandy]

I'm not saying going independent in football, I know that's a death sentence for football. What I'm saying is we negotiate a way out of the AAC in basketball, remain in football, agree to play X number of games against the AAC for X number of years, but become members of the Big East in basketball only. The Big East's TV cache would immediately increase, we would have a home for the two teams that isn't also a death sentence (which an AAC minus two would be), and still have a good home for football. We've been more than kind to the AAC in terms of not asking for anything special considering UConn carries the flag for the league in basketball, is the highest profile school in the conference, boosts TV numbers, and has brought it the most overall notoriety since its inception. Were we to end up in this situation, we'd be in a position where we could finally use our IOU so to speak.

Again why would The AAC allow you to take your two most valuable properties out of their league, but still provide you the benefit of a home for football? Outside of Navy, which was a unique situation as they came in as an independent, no one else has an arrangement like this in the conference. The majority of teams in The AAC have no realistic better options for conference affiliation. They are hoping The AAC works out long term. Allowing a bunch of teams to potentially pursue partial memberships is not a recipe for long term conference success.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I'm not saying going independent in football, I know that's a death sentence for football. What I'm saying is we negotiate a way out of the AAC in basketball, remain in football, agree to play X number of games against the AAC for X number of years, but become members of the Big East in basketball only. The Big East's TV cache would immediately increase, we would have a home for the two teams that isn't also a death sentence (which an AAC minus two would be), and still have a good home for football. We've been more than kind to the AAC in terms of not asking for anything special considering UConn carries the flag for the league in basketball, is the highest profile school in the conference, boosts TV numbers, and has brought it the most overall notoriety since its inception. Were we to end up in this situation, we'd be in a position where we could finally use our IOU so to speak.

Lost cause. Most of the posters on this board would pick the AAC over the Big East as a long-term home for football and basketball because someday the Big 10 may invite Uconn. The fact that the Big 10 will never invite UConn doesn't factor in this fantasy.

 

[Ldandy]

The AAC took Navy as a football only, why wouldn't they take UConn too? The reality is that the AAC is better off having UConn football in than out. It's true that UConn football would be worse off outside the AAC - the MAC or some other available conference would be a step down -- but at some point UConn may have to bargain for its media rights and the only leverage is threat of exit.

I won't belabor the point after this post, because I don't disagree that if there is a legit avenue to attaining more revenue for its sports products UCONN should pursue it. I just don't see the Navy Comparison as a viable one. UCONN was all in for all major sponsored sports when The AAC was formed. Navy was only interested in a home for its football team, as was The AAC. Yes UCONN Football is an upside product, but the AAC as a sports league is harmed by losing UCONN Basketball M & W on a full time basis. I don't think the conference would open that can of worms, as others might want to weigh their options across multiple leagues if UCONN is able. Again your best option is improving football, winning The AAC, and working toward inclusion in potentially The Big 12 in the near term or The B1G or ACC Longterm.

 

[Ldandy]

Lost cause. Most of the posters on this board would pick the AAC over the Big East as a long-term home for football and basketball because someday the Big 10 may invite Uconn. The fact that the Big 10 will never invite UConn doesn't factor in this fantasy.

As opposed to the fantasy that somehow football can be maintained as an independent at The FBS Level while playing basketball in The Big East? Its becoming overbearing for programs like BYU and ND who try this. How the Hell is UCONN going to do it? Unless that's the plan all along. Hmm.

 

[dante]

Again why would The AAC allow you to take your two most valuable properties out of their league, but still provide you the benefit of a home for football? Outside of Navy, which was a unique situation as they came in as an independent, no one else has an arrangement like this in the conference. The majority of teams in The AAC have no realistic better options for conference affiliation. They are hoping The AAC works out long term. Allowing a bunch of teams to potentially pursue partial memberships is not a recipe for long term conference success.

UConn football is on the up swing which is better then adding a startup program or another CUSA program that can't keep up with the AAC budget. My understanding is that the AAC TV contract was based on football and not basketball I'm pretty sure they want to keep that contract instead of hoping to get something better.
UConn basketball is a national brand and needs to stay that but it's also unfair to ask/demand the rest of the conference "mas moneda"

 

[Ldandy]

UConn football is on the up swing which is better then adding a startup program or another CUSA program that can't keep up with the AAC budget. My understanding is that the AAC TV contract was based on football and not basketball I'm pretty sure they want to keep that contract instead of hoping to get something better.
UConn basketball is a national brand and needs to stay that but it's also unfair to ask/demand the rest of the conference "mas moneda"

What happens if The AAC agrees for UCONN, and suddenly Cincy or Temple decide they would rather be in The Big East for Basketball, and The Big East decides they are receptive to it? The AAC can't go down that road. I don't think they would even entertain it.

 

[dante]

What happens if The AAC agrees for UCONN, and suddenly Cincy or Temple decide they would rather be in The Big East for Basketball, and The Big East decides they are receptive to it? The AAC can't go down that road. I don't think they would even entertain it.

The Big East don't want those programs UConn would be the exception.

 

[Ldandy]

The Big East don't want those programs UConn would be the exception.

For all we know The Big East is fine as it is currently configured and doesn't want anybody including UCONN. We are speaking in hypothetical dealings. JMO but basketball CAN survive in The AAC even if the games are bit less interesting to your fans. Football as an independent could bring the entire AD down should The AAC Balk at this proposed arrangement.

 

[uchusky32]

The Big East isn't taking Uconn for basketball only to see it leave in a few years. The notion that the Big East would make an exception for us knowing we are trying to get into the P5 for football is absurd.

 

[Ha Who]

The Big East isn't taking Uconn for basketball only to see it leave in a few years. The notion that the Big East would make an exception for us knowing we are trying to get into the P5 for football is absurd.

I guess the moonshine isn't only flowing in West Virginia

 

[whaler11]

If UConn told the AAC they were moving the basketball program they would just punt the football program with it and wouldn't lose a second of sleep.

UConn has no leverage with the AAC because anyone with any sense realizes there is nowhere else to put the football team.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

If UConn told the AAC they were moving the basketball program they would just punt the football program with it and wouldn't lose a second of sleep.

UConn has no leverage with the AAC because anyone with any sense realizes there is nowhere else to put the football team.

Insert Nelson's response of saying everyone is OK with the AAC and that nobody else has any other alternative solutions and we're content to die on the vine yada, yada, yada.

 

[whaler11]

Insert Nelson's response of saying everyone is OK with the AAC and that nobody else has any other alternative solutions and we're content to die on the vine yada, yada, yada.

It's similar to what they told Hank Greenberg. We can finish last without you.

When you get no revenue... oh no we went from 1.9 million to 1.4 million!

Temple would be glad to take the recruits. ECU, UCF, USF, Tulane, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa and SMU would all be happy to never set foot in Rentschler again.

Cinci and Navy would feel a twinge for a second, download Tinder and be over it in 48 hours.

 

[Fishy]

We're not going to throw the entire athletic department into chaos for an extra million dollars a year.

An extra million, btw, that will likely evaporate the next time the Big East signs a television contract.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

We're not going to throw the entire athletic department into chaos for an extra million dollars a year.

An extra million, btw, that will likely evaporate the next time the Big East signs a television contract.

As opposed to lighting $25MM that we don't have on fire every year in the hope that we will get a windfall in the form of a P5 invitation, that will have a multi-year buy in towards a future pot of gold that would likely evaporate the next time the Big 12 or ACC signs a TV contract.

No matter what your position on the future (P5 invite or no P5 invite), remaining in the AAC is a mistake.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It's similar to what they told Hank Greenberg. We can finish last without you.

When you get no revenue... oh no we went from 1.9 million to 1.4 million!

Temple would be glad to take the recruits. ECU, UCF, USF, Tulane, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa and SMU would all be happy to never set foot in Rentschler again.

Cinci and Navy would feel a twinge for a second, download Tinder and be over it in 48 hours.

If none of them want to schedule us, then why are we in a league with them in the first place?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Insert Nelson's response of saying everyone is OK with the AAC and that nobody else has any other alternative solutions and we're content to die on the vine yada, yada, yada.

If UConn does not have a Big 12 (or other P5) invitation by the end of this round of realignment, our athletic program is going to look very different in a few years.