1) You are arguing that UConn will gladly continue to lose millions on the athletic department indefinitely because...well, because.
Where did I say (or type, as the case may be) indefinitely?
2) We are already seeing the impact of this conference affiliation. Attendance is down and we are getting fewer nationally televised games for both sports. The women's basketball schedule is going to be a joke next year with Louisville gone. The biggest thing about the attendance is that it will lead to decreased interest in UConn athletics by the university community, which will lead to less willingness to fund losses. That cycle will feed on itself very quickly.
More goes into attendance than conference realignment, including but not limited to: ) Technology, 2) Disposable income of the core fan, and 3) Team performance (FB went 3-9 as a rudderless ship). Women's basketball is wildly popular along the 42nd parallel, (between 71.5 Degrees and 73.5 degrees W), but it really isn't given much thought in many other parts of the country (i.e. it doesn't count for much). Be that as it may, the manner in which UConn has dispatched the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th ranked teams in the country indicates that the rankings after Notre Dame should start at 9. The women haven't had much issue dispatching national powers, let alone their own conference opponents.
UConn just hired a football coach who, while hasn't taken the field for his first game as of yet, has breathed new life into the program since the announcement that the State broke ground in East Hartford. He's done everything short of offering everyone of the 40k it takes to fill the stadium a personally chauffeured ride to home games.
3) Football recruiting has not gone well, and I was underwhelmed by Diaco's staff. I was hoping for at least a couple of lateral moves from P5 programs, or at least a couple of coaches with senior level P5 experience.
(and I'm not talking about being a UConn Counter troll)? How do you make your living? If your title does not include a word even remotely related to athletic activities, then excuse me for deferring from you and to the current staff.
You say that all of your posts are rooted in logic and analytics. How exactly has recruiting not gone well and how it is laid at the feet of the current regime? Most of the new class is not on campus yet, the media is allowed only limited access to spring practice, which is closed to the public. As far as parallel moves from a P5 school. Well first, that's not the way it typically works, but I'll let that lie. Vincent Brown and Anthony Poindexter were plucked from Virginia and Brown played the game at an All-Pro level in the NFL at the position that is his focus. Wayne Lineburg (5 years), Kevin Wolthausen (10), Matt Balis (9), Don Patterson (20) and Josh Reardon (1) all have recent experience at a current P5 school, plus Mike Foley, who has ten years of BCS experience. But oh, it's technically not a p5 school. You may have also heard that UConn's new Head Coach is a Broyles award winner from NOTRE FRIGGIN' DAME UNIVERSITY.
Nelson's not impressed so the Diaco era is a failure before it starts.
4) The seeding was an insult, and the basketball conference is getting significantly worse next year.
The Seed was a bit of a slight. I would have though a 6 seed at worse, but the path to the sweet sixteen made up for it and now UConn has a decent chance to win on Friday in a virtual home game in New York City. Why is it a virtual home game? Because, 40% of the traffic on secondary market originated in Connecticut. That traffic is the cause of no longer being able to get in the door for under 5 Benjamins. The basketball conference takes a hit in the near term with Louisville leaving, but UConn can only play the teams on the schedule. They win and they are in. Want a better seed, play a better OOC schedule in out years. But how does that happen? Even Duke and has down years. In the age of stats, a name is not good anymore. Who do you know for a fact will have a good RPI?
5) The travel is going to be horrendous, which will impact recruiting for all sports.
See, the problem is that you're under the impression that posters refuting your alternative want to remain in the AAC. That just simply isn't so. The AAC does however give the school the best opportunity to improve their current situation. Things are happening outside the world of Athletics more than any of us think. Incidentally, travel (By most accounts) has not affected basketball recruiting for the immediate future.
6) Why would ESPN ever pay the ACC $20MM/year to take a UConn program that only costs them $2MM/year today? As long as we are beholden to ESPN through the AAC, they will not pay us a nickel more. If we want ESPN to pay more money, though another conference, then we need to make ESPN think we are going somewhere.
In case you haven't noticed, all indications are that the administration has turned its focus to the Big Ten.
But that's beyond the first row of trees and you appear to be nearsighted.
