Jimbo
Running to Stand Still
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2016
- Messages
- 710
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I think UConn would have to take that deal, and the increased payout is the primary reason why. Someone with more knowledge in this area can correct me if I'm wrong, but UConn's budget situation appears to be a real problem. It seems to me that we're spending money on athletics to try to maintain a P5-level athletic department even though we don't have P5 revenue coming in. Personally, as an alumnus and a fan, I approve of that strategy for as long as we can sustain it (particularly as it relates to our efforts to look attractive as a P5 expansion candidate), but I worry that it may not be financially viable for very long. Accepting the provisional Big 10 membership you propose would probably go a long way toward alleviating that problem. Plus, the step-up in conference affiliation across most sports except hockey probably helps recruiting, and I'd have to think even a partial Big 10 schedule increases the football program's exposure and stature. In almost every way, I think this hypothetical situation would be better than our current one, even if we'd be stuck in limbo for a while as far as permanent full membership.Okay, let's play more hypothetical games....
Let's say the B1G offered UConn a Notre Dame/ACC style of package, until UConn is AAU or the B1G feels completely confident in its football program remaining competitive. All sports invite except for a 5-game B1G football scheduling deal for the "interim" (interim = anywhere between 0-15 years). The payout would obviously be less than full share but even a partial B1G payment would roundhouse any full AAC payment we are scheduled to receive. Would UConn accept that?
But as long as we're hypothesizing… If UConn ever entered into such an arrangement with the Big 10, what would happen if another conference came calling during the "interim"? Better to accept full membership in the Big 12 or ACC then, or wait it out and hope the Big 10 eventually brings UConn's football team into the fold?