"Paying them to play us"

[Philly Kid]

This is a Geno quote in an article on the rules changes for todays game on the SNY site. Does UConn actually pay the teams to play exhibition games? Here is the section from the article.

"Auriemma has had a long friendship with Vanguard coach Russ Davis. Also, UConn freshman Katie Lou Samuelson played for Davis’ AAU club team. When Auriemma approached Davis about the experimental rules, he agreed to the plan.

“I knew he would be in for it,” Auriemma said. “I’ve known him a long time. We’re paying them a lot of money to come out here. He’s coming to my house and he’s going to drink 10 bottles of my really good wine. Believe me, he’s not doing this for free.

Any thoughts or opinions on this?

 

[johnnyc]

I think, if I remember correctly, reading about this in John Feinstein's book about men's Patriot League basketball. They are called 'guarantee games'. One team is guaranteed a win and the other is guaranteed $20,000 for their trouble. (I think that was the figure he mentioned).

That was, of course, regular season games and the losing team was not in it just for the money but to get experience playing higher caliber teams. In this instance it is an exhibition game where the win doesn't mean anything but both coaches are interested in experimenting with the rules and it provides a good opportunity to do that.

 

[VFLfan]

I think it's pretty standard for the "lesser" teams in exhibition games to be payed for their services. For a lot of smaller schools, games like these help keep their programs in the black, among other things.

 

[TitleTown]

Since the NCAA does not allow exhibition games between two Division I teams a premium is put on non Division I teams that can provide somewhat of a challenge to teams like UConn. There are very few of these teams around and they receive offers from other Division I schools as well. The amount of money that Vanguard receives from UConn for this exhibition game will probably pay for their entire season.

 

[ochoopsfan]

This is a Geno quote in an article on the rules changes for todays game on the SNY site. Does UConn actually pay the teams to play exhibition games? Here is the section from the article.

"Auriemma has had a long friendship with Vanguard coach Russ Davis. Also, UConn freshman Katie Lou Samuelson played for Davis’ AAU club team. When Auriemma approached Davis about the experimental rules, he agreed to the plan.

“I knew he would be in for it,” Auriemma said. “I’ve known him a long time. We’re paying them a lot of money to come out here. He’s coming to my house and he’s going to drink 10 bottles of my really good wine. Believe me, he’s not doing this for free.

Any thoughts or opinions on this?

This pays for the major part of Vanguards season, as it did a few years ago when they also came to play UConn. Vanguard, the school, had major financial problems just a few years back and there were some articles in the OC Register, about them possibly losing accreditation, which would have been a disaster for anyone trying to transfer from the school or trying to go on to Grad school.

I had the over/under at 12 for bottles of wine. I guess even great coaches slow down a bit as they age.

By the way, Vanguard plays in a small gym. It is called "The Pit". It only has three rows on the sidelines. If you sit in the front row, it is almost a certainty that a player will land in your lap going for a ball. I dont know if those rows are banned when the guys play. Picture on the link below.
http://www.vanguardlions.com/f/Facilities.php

 

[huskyd]

Controversy in exhibition games? Surely UConn additionally will be criticized for playing a mutual fund team. So: let me say here and now: Vanguard is one of the BIGGEST mutual funds in the world. Take that, critics.

 

[Wbbfan1]

This is no different then what may Football teams do when they schedule non FBS1 Schools. Guess the only difference is its an exhibition game and doesn't count against/for UConn's season record.

 

[Philly Kid]

I looked at the link to "The Pit". I guess I have lead a sheltered life, my HS had 20 rows of bleachers around the whole court and I have designed a high schools with seating over 4200 on two tiers and standing for another 600, but it was in Columbus Indiana. I guess the smaller schools really have it tough to field a team.

 

[UCAP_Fan]

Since the NCAA does not allow exhibition games between two Division I teams a premium is put on non Division I teams that can provide somewhat of a challenge to teams like UConn. There are very few of these teams around and they receive offers from other Division I schools as well. The amount of money that Vanguard receives from UConn for this exhibition game will probably pay for their entire season.

NCAA does allow D1 teams to play other D1 teams in exhibition. However the games cannot be open to the public and the results cannot be publicized. Many schools do this including UHART. If the game is open to the public, it cannot be a D1 program and spectators must pay to attend.

 

[HoopsFan21]

NCAA does allow D1 teams to play other D1 teams in exhibition. However the games cannot be open to the public and the results cannot be publicized. Many schools do this including UHART. If the game is open to the public, it cannot be a D1 program and spectators must pay to attend.

Why does the NCAA have such weird rules? Who even thinks some of this stuff up?

 

[CocoHusky]

This is a Geno quote in an article on the rules changes for todays game on the SNY site. Does UConn actually pay the teams to play exhibition games? Here is the section from the article.

"Auriemma has had a long friendship with Vanguard coach Russ Davis. Also, UConn freshman Katie Lou Samuelson played for Davis’ AAU club team. When Auriemma approached Davis about the experimental rules, he agreed to the plan.

“I knew he would be in for it,” Auriemma said. “I’ve known him a long time. We’re paying them a lot of money to come out here. He’s coming to my house and he’s going to drink 10 bottles of my really good wine. Believe me, he’s not doing this for free.

Any thoughts or opinions on this?

This ( big pay day to an inferior opponent) happens all the time even during the regular season and within Division I . My Daughter's team was on the wrong end (inferior team) of a couple of these games against Louisville, Notre Dame and Iowa State. Her athletics department got a big pay check , they got killed, but she got a lifetime of memories which includes playing @ ND against Diggins & @ Louisville against Angel and that the fans at Iowa State are the greatest host you can ever imagine.
Last year UMass Lowell in only it's second year in Division I went to ND and lost by 50+ points. Holy Cross also went to ND and lost by 75 points- you can bet it was not for the Catholic kinship.

 

[TitleTown]

NCAA does allow D1 teams to play other D1 teams in exhibition. However the games cannot be open to the public and the results cannot be publicized. Many schools do this including UHART. If the game is open to the public, it cannot be a D1 program and spectators must pay to attend.

Not that its a big deal but those games are called "scrimmages" not "exhibition games".

 

[BroadwayVa]

I looked at the link to "The Pit". I guess I have lead a sheltered life, my HS had 20 rows of bleachers around the whole court and I have designed a high schools with seating over 4200 on two tiers and standing for another 600, but it was in Columbus Indiana. I guess the smaller schools really have it tough to field a team.

Small Gyms are not bad places--teams get to "feel" the fans and hear the cheering. The Old field house was a place like that--lot of fun--hard on the back side.

 

[huskyd]

Breaking News: Game Tracker has UConn up by 2 in today's game--that hasn't yet started. We are paying them after all.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Breaking News: Game Tracker has UConn up by 2 in today's game--that hasn't yet started. We are paying them after all.

Surprised !! What is wrong with Geno to allow them to get that far ahead. By games time they'll have 30 points...