ok give it to me straight - why didn't we get in (again)

[uconnyankee]

Yes, we're viewed as a basketball school because we're awesome at basketball and win championships all the time in basketball. We're viewed as a terrible football school because we suck at football. The sucking at football thing is why we're left out.

We agree.

If the school would have even pretended to care about football prior to Mora, we’d be in better place.

Bad hires, sticking with HCRE, stupid coaching moves, cancelling a season, etc.

Doesn’t scream we’re football

 

[uconnyankee]

We're on a path where college sports will he irrelevant for a large swaths of the country. I guess it will be fun for those few SEC teams who win championships and those few Big 10 teams who are ranked highly all season and never win championships. I don't see how that will be fun for anyone else

Participation Trophy’s!

 

[superjohn]

If the school would have even pretended to care about football prior to Mora, we’d be in better place.

Bad hires, sticking with HCRE, stupid coaching moves, cancelling a season, etc.

Doesn’t scream we’re football

They did care they just made horrible hires in P and Pink Pants. Okay, they stopped caring when they hired back the snake and canceling the season was beyond ridiculous. There were actually a lot of people here who were cheering for canceling the season and they thought other non Ivies would cancel their season. Lolz.

 

[aburks41]

Forget all the esoteric last minute machinations of the Pac 12. While the 4 Corner Schools made more sense for hurried Big 12 invitations during that dramatic "tipping point" on Friday morning, the fact remains that—FOX was not pushing for us to be invited! While Yormark and ESPN wanted us—FOX was against it. While UConn may have played an outsized role in Bret Yormark’s conference vision, FOX’s Big East TV rights made UConn more valuable to them staying in the Big East (at least in the short term) than any perceived 'value added' Fox might get from us being in the Big12. Why would FOX want to lose their ratings "big dog" as the Huskies head into the ‘23-24 season as the National Champion.

May 2023
Representatives from FOX Sports, the Big East's television partner, led by Executive Vice President Jordan Bazant and Executive Vice President Larry Jones, who negotiated the conference’s current national television agreement, spoke to the men’s and women’s coaching groups about plans for the 2023-24 season, including scheduling and promotional strategies to enhance their already innovative wall-to-wall coverage of BIG EAST men’s and women’s basketball. "The league will enter the 2023-24 season riding a wave of basketball successes during the 2023 postseason, which culminated with the University of Connecticut’s fifth men’s basketball national championship. Ratings for men’s and women’s basketball on the FOX family of networks this past year were up 10% and 107%, respectively."
Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President for Marquee Events, participated in discussions about the success of the BIG EAST Tournament and potential future events involving BIG EAST schools at The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden.
The BIG EAST Men's regular season culminated with sellouts in all five sessions of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden, the Tournament’s home since 1983. This was the highest attendance and TV ratings in years. The BIG EAST Women's Tournament at Mohegan Sun boasted the highest attendance and viewership numbers since realignment.

I would submit that in both instances, UConn's being back in the conference with successful programs were key contributors to the rise in both attendance and viewership. Would you be eager to see UConn slip away to the Big 12 if you owned those Big East rights? UConn is must-see TV for Fox’s Big East basketball ratings.

I think UConn vs Kansas twice a year and UConn vs Arizona twice a year would deliver monster ratings. Way more than anyone we play in the Big East. UConn vs Nova does huge numbers but I don’t really think anyone else in the Big East comes close to Kansas or Arizona’s draw in basketball. The quality of programs is part of it, but also small catholic schools having an alumni base 10% the size of these Big 12 schools plays a big role. The Big 12 really screwed up bringing ASU on board. They are mediocre at everything

 

[J187Money]

TV market isn't worth that much. Would help if football is better but there aren't enough eyeballs here (and even if UCONN was a perennial 9 win team this isn't appointment viewing for the fanbase here). If this is about money (and it is) the only thing that matters is the perceived value of the TV market.

 

[Waquoit]

(and even if UCONN was a perennial 9 win team this isn't appointment viewing for the fanbase here).

It would be if UConn was in a Power conference.

 

[DoctorWho85]

It’s a largely southwest conference and four already-P5 schools in more convenient locations became available.

According to the Arizona president, they were signing a GOR on Friday morning before Oregon called and said they were going to the Big Ten.

We came that close

I'm still disappointed we didn't get in, but they took 4 P5 schools in expansion to destroy a rival conference. It's exactly what the ACC did to the Big East in the early 2000's. There's still rumors that the Big 12 will go to 18, but I'm not holding my breath. At this point I'm hoping FSU and Clemson bounces from the ACC, because you know we'll be the first on the list to get the call.

 

[Drumguy]

I'm still disappointed we didn't get in, but they took 4 P5 schools in expansion to destroy a rival conference. It's exactly what the ACC did to the Big East in the early 2000's. There's still rumors that the Big 12 will go to 18, but I'm not holding my breath. At this point I'm hoping FSU and Clemson bounces from the ACC, because you know we'll be the first on the list to get the call.

Apparantly right after Cal and Stanford get their calls in.

 

[Fishy]

I'm still disappointed we didn't get in, but they took 4 P5 schools in expansion to destroy a rival conference. It's exactly what the ACC did to the Big East in the early 2000's. There's still rumors that the Big 12 will go to 18, but I'm not holding my breath. At this point I'm hoping FSU and Clemson bounces from the ACC, because you know we'll be the first on the list to get the call.

I think people have a fundamental misunderstanding of the ACC.

We’re not first on any list they have.

Right now, they are discussing whether to invite California. Their football is awful and they have not been to the sweet 16 in 30 years. Also - THEY ARE ON THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

But they’re more interesting to the ACC than we are.

 

[CL82]

There's only 4 conferences who win basketball national championships. ACC, Big East, Big 12, and SEC. There's basically only one conference the SEC who wins football national championships and 4 teams are in the mix- Bama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida. Clemson will be the 5th team once they're added to the SEC. The point is having 2 conferences who control everything while everyone else is shut out and only one conference who wins stuff is terrible for college sports. People lose interest when they're not a part of things.

True enough, but if you have a presence in every major media market, do you really care whether people in other markets are interested? The idea will be to maximize revenue for the "power" schools during the period of time that are relevant to the decision makers.

 

[dayooper]

I think people have a fundamental misunderstanding of the ACC.

We’re not first on any list they have.

Right now, they are discussing whether to invite California. Their football is awful and they have not been to the sweet 16 in 30 years. Also - THEY ARE ON THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

But they’re more interesting to the ACC than we are.

I wonder if they are trying to entice ND to join fully into the ACC.

It also depends on where the report is coming from. Could it be Cal and Stanford trying to encourage the Big10 to invite them?

 

[Fishy]

I wonder if they are trying to entice ND to join fully into the ACC.

It also depends on where the report is coming from. Could it be Cal and Stanford trying to encourage the Big10 to invite them?

It would not have any impact on Notre Dame. They already play Stanford every year - they do not need a conference for that. If their other sports are in a conference with Stanford now, too, they get the affiliation thrown in for nothing. ND gets the milk, no need for a cow.

There’s nothing out there that would really pressure ND into a conference. They’re going to get paid, they have a great home for their other sports and the expanded CFP looks like they wrote it themselves. They have access and no need to share the rewards.

It’s still Notre Dame’s world.

 

[dayooper]

It would not have any impact on Notre Dame. They already play Stanford every year - they do not need a conference for that. If their other sports are in a conference with Stanford now, too, they get the affiliation thrown in for nothing. ND gets the milk, no need for a cow.

There’s nothing out there that would really pressure ND into a conference. They’re going to get paid, they have a great home for their other sports and the expanded CFP looks like they wrote it themselves. They have access and no need to share the rewards.

It’s still Notre Dame’s world.

Oh I agree, but I think the ACC is getting a little anxious.

Ultimately I believe that NBC will give ND that contract they want, but require they play 3-5 Big10 teams every year. 2 of those could be the LA schools so they get their Cali fix. Playing Purdue, Michigan (scheduled for ‘33 and ‘34), MSU and other Big10 rivalries. Still room to play Navy and BC.

 

[billybud]

It would not have any impact on Notre Dame. They already play Stanford every year - they do not need a conference for that. If their other sports are in a conference with Stanford now, too, they get the affiliation thrown in for nothing. ND gets the milk, no need for a cow.

There’s nothing out there that would really pressure ND into a conference. They’re going to get paid, they have a great home for their other sports and the expanded CFP looks like they wrote it themselves. They have access and no need to share the rewards.

It’s still Notre Dame’s world.

Never trust a leprechaun.

 

[DoctorWho85]

I think people have a fundamental misunderstanding of the ACC.

We’re not first on any list they have.

Right now, they are discussing whether to invite California. Their football is awful and they have not been to the sweet 16 in 30 years. Also - THEY ARE ON THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

But they’re more interesting to the ACC than we are.

That's because Duke and UNC doesn't want to deal with Hurley and his superior recruiting now that K and WIlliams are gone hahahaha. Syracuse hasn't been good since they left the big east and same with Pitt.

 

[Fishy]

Oh I agree, but I think the ACC is getting a little anxious.

Ultimately I believe that NBC will give ND that contract they want, but require they play 3-5 Big10 teams every year. 2 of those could be the LA schools so they get their Cali fix. Playing Purdue, Michigan (scheduled for ‘33 and ‘34), MSU and other Big10 rivalries. Still room to play Navy and BC.

ND has a scheduling agreement with the ACC; there’s no room for another. And there’s a question of leverage - NBC probably needs Notre Dame more than Notre Dame needs NBC.

 

[Fishy]

Never trust a leprechaun.

The one school that you can probably trust in all this is Notre Dame. They’re going to do what is good for Notre Dame when it’s good for Notre Dame.

 

[Rufus]

The ratings for Notre Dame vs. B1G teams are MUCH higher than Notre Dame vs. ACC teams. Notre Dame home games are not worth the $75 million price ND is asking for unless they are all highly rated games. I understand why NBC wants ND to play several B1G games each year.

 

[billybud]

The one school that you can probably trust in all this is Notre Dame. They’re going to do what is good for Notre Dame when it’s good for Notre Dame.

I think other programs have gone to school on this....

 

[Fishy]

I think other programs have gone to school on this....

Almost all of them not named Michigan or Ohio State or Alabama or Georgia really have no ability to make things happen for themselves the way Notre Dame can.

That’s probably the most annoying thing about all this upheaval - you pretty much know that Notre Dame is watching without a care in the world.

 

[billybud]

I was thinking more of Irish lore...

The leprechaun plays several roles in Irish folklore; he is principally a roguish trickster figure who cannot be trusted and will deceive whenever possible.

 

[Rufus]

Ten years ago, if you were to have heard that the Huskies were joining the B1G, would anyone have imagined it would be the Washington Huskies and not UConn?

 

[Dizzy21]

It is pretty simple, the reality is the following:
-Networks pay for this whole thing and they want teams who draw viewers currently or have something that will lead to them doing that in the future.
-UConn football does not draw viewers.
-As much as everyone thinks basketball is a blue blood so they draw viewers, the fact is the men's team won this year and every headline was that the final had the lowest viewership ever.
-The women were not in the final this year, LSU and Iowa were, and it drew twice as many viewers as any other finals game. Demolishing any game that the UConn women were ever in. Twice as many as last year.
-As good as the Big East has been for the performance of the basketball teams, no one watches Big East Basketball. The Big East tournament viewers are consistently the 9th most, behind the P5, MW, A10, and AAC tournament viewers. Adding UConn has not meaningfully changed this.

UConn needs to keep winning and improve football, but also start to create some stories that captivate a larger audience. We don't have the built in fan base to rely on to tune in and move the needle for the networks in any sport. Something needs to give people a reason to do that and UConn needs to find whatever it is that does that. Oregon used some insane uniforms to do it and UConn needs to find that creative thing to move that needle and make UConn "cool" to a larger audience.

 

[Vowelguy]

try, as best as you can, to give a simple, sober-minded, non-emotional answer as to why we failed to get in again, and if you still believe we can, what are your top 3-5 things we must do to get into the p4/ p3 party ASAP.

UConns football resume this year:
1) 2 players run into each other causing a fumble
2) getting manhandled by Georgia St

Don’t be duped by far kls saying “it’s a no brainer for the AAC to add UConn in FB.” UConns FB brand is worse than mud. It will take years of success to erase that, and make UConn attractive.

Also MCBB extreme dip during the ACC has raised many doubts the program can succeed out the BgE.

 

[Hoophound]

UConns football resume this year:
1) 2 players run into each other causing a fumble
2) getting manhandled by Georgia St

Don’t be duped by far kls saying “it’s a no brainer for the AAC to add UConn in FB.” UConns FB brand is worse than mud. It will take years of success to erase that, and make UConn attractive.

Also MCBB extreme dip during the ACC has raised many doubts the program can succeed out the BgE.

It will take one year to erase it. That’s why we are where we are. Other schools have a big year or two and surpass us in public perception. We need our big year.

 

[billybud]

Yes...A big year moves the perception needle...two big years back to back, helps solidify that perception.

Wins over good teams is the barometer.

And...PR helps...look at how much mileage Colorado gets from Deion's over the top style.

 

[uchusky32]

Need to upgrade around Mora. Have no choice but to spend money. Spend money or die.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

My thoughts on why we didn't get a Big 12 invite:

1) Better options arose for the Big 12 as the Pac 12 collapsed. The 4 corner schools have athletic history with many of the Big 12 schools.
2) Geography. As much as Yormack wants a NY presence, the 4 corner schools are a more natural fir for the Big 12.
3) Lack of recent football success for UConn and not much history of playing FBS football.
4) Perception that UConn doesn't value football. UConn was one of 2 schools that cancelled the football season in 2020.
5) The lack of measurable TV ratings for football to help determine UConn's football value. Being on CBSSN is great, but the channel ratings are not measured by Nielsen.

I'm not advocating this, but look at what Cincinnati did during COVID. They shut down men's soccer to save ~$750k and invested the savings into paying Luke Fickell more money. Look at UConn. Mora is paid ~$1.5 million (slightly less than what PP earned back in 2011!), Hurley is going to be paid $5 million plus, and Geno makes ~$3 million. Granted, Hurley and Geno have accomplished a lot, but at no P5 school is the football coach paid less than both the men's and women's basketball coach. It's pretty clear that basketball is more important than football.

People say that UConn WILL invest more in football if we get a P5 invite. That is not how it works when a G5 team wants to move up. They invest in football BEFORE getting the P5 invite.

What should UConn do right now? Announce an increase in the investment in football. Increase salaries for coaches, etc. How to fund it? Since we have an athletic department deficit, the athletic department has to raise the money from donors and through ticket sales. And, we need to pack the Rent. The athletic department needs to go to every company in Connecticut and push ticket sales. The athletic department needs to call every alumnus in the Northeast and ask them to buy football tickets and explain why football is important to the athletic department. Give free tickets to Connecticut state workers,... Finally, win games!

From my perspective UConn seemed to view its elevation into a then power conference as found money not as an opportunity to invest in a secure. Future We had worth in the Big East because of basketball. value in that conference. When that fell apart I only football centric leagues remained.

 

[Vowelguy]

It will take one year to erase it. .

Nah, need sustained success to erase the bad memories.

 

[JeepCSC]

Total expenses for football, 2022

Temple- $29m
SMU- $27.1m
BYU- $23.8m
Cincinnati- $23.7m
Central Florida- $20.9m
Houston- $20.4m
South Florida- $18.7m
Connecticut- $18.4m
Memphis- $17.1m
ECU- $14.6m
Tulsa- $13.9m
Tulane- $9.9m

Equity in Athletics

ope.ed.gov

$20 million seems a rough separating point between those moving up and those not (save Temple lol).