Possible Big 12 Invite rumors

[superjohn]

Yes literally every single road trip will take us no closer than Cincinnati or Morgantown; and then most trips are even farther than Milwaukee. I guess we can agree to disagree as to whether college kids care about that. Again, the classes Hurley have coming in are plenty happy with our current peers and aren’t begging to travel to little-brother State schools in fly-over country.

The type of fan you are is irrelevant to the discussion. I know you’ll still show up to watch us get blown out by B12 teams, but we are talking about building the fan base back up. Attendance matters when trying to be appealing to what a B1G superconference. The name on the other side of a 60-6 drubbing in front of 6,000 doesn’t impress anyone.

We're in the weirdest of positions. The other Big East schools aren't exactly peer schools, they are smallish Catholic schools who don't play football but they culturally are similar to UConn and they are obsessed with basketball like UConn is.

Moving to the Big 12 would only be about money, that's a big deal but there's no reason for people to pretend our basketball would be better off in the Big 12, it wouldn't. The money is really important, money is always important but we would be playing a bunch of B level Texas teams and other schools we have nothing in common with and who don't really move the needle. We would be the one northeast outlier in a conference who doesn't give a cr@p about NYC and Connecticut. A conference where every team will be looking for an exit plan. They still have the name Big 12 but it's a carcass of what it was.

I actually think our football team would do better than expected and our basketball team would do worse than expected. We would have to think long and hard about it, being a nomad often isn't a good thing. I'm actually pretty content being the best basketball school in the country with football playing Independent. If it was some stable great conference we were moving to for the money I'm sure I would feel differently.

 

[Rico444]

That's basically what I said though, no? Forego bus trips to PC, SH, StJ, Nova and Georgetown which definitely sucks, but the other 5 trips are planes to Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Omaha. It's definitely not as convenient when you sacrifice the first 5, but I don't know, once you're in the air what's an extra 30 min to 1 hr?

You're right, our 5 longest trips in the Big East are somewhat comparable to 5 trips in the Big 12, but the other 5 are longer than any current flight our team has to make. So you're replacing Providence (50 miles) with Oklahoma State (1570 miles), St. John's (130 miles) with TCU (1700 miles) etc.

 

[JSB60]

I really don't see Dan Hurley leaving for Rutgers or Penn State.

But what about MSU after Izzo?

 

[B1GEast]

Can anybody direct me to the fun part of this thread?

Well I am enjoying this thread and the vote count

 

[tzznandrew]

I'll tell you as someone who has probably seen 99% of UConn football snaps since 05, I'm going to be way more excited to see Big 12 teams coming to the Rent than the likes of FIU, Utah State, USF, and good lord Sacred Heart.

I'd buy season tickets tomorrow.

 

[tzznandrew]

UConn won't be in the B12. But if the B12 offered, we'd be stupid to be worried about our basketball program. It's the best conference in basketball, has two teams we have Big East history with, and has some historically great basketball programs.

And...I actually think the football program can win some games in that conference, just like they could in the ACC. They ain't winning the league ever, but they can be a regularly bowl-eligible team that scores an upset every now and then.

 

[freescooter]

Why not just move football to the Big 12 and play everything else in the Big East? Agree to 2 games a year or something for both hoops teams.

One move I think should be explored is having the Big East offer to absorb all the ACC schools. This gets the ACC out of their long-term contract, and creates a potential basketball behemoth. It might get ESPN to jump and renegotiate the ACC deal to prevent it from happening, which is also a win for the ACC. Maybe the Big East gets a break up fee like 10% of the incremental contract for helping the ACC out.

This is your brain on drugs!

 

[temery]

Recruiting may take a bit of a hit for northeast kids, I'll concede that but nationally if anything it helps. Call it a wash.

We're talking 10 road trips over the course of an entire basketball season too. Given we already play road games in Milwaukee, Chicago, Omaha, and Indianapolis, it's maybe truly an additional 6 truly inconvenient trips.

I'll tell you as someone who has probably seen 99% of UConn football snaps since 05, I'm going to be way more excited to see Big 12 teams coming to the Rent than the likes of FIU, Utah State, USF, and good lord Sacred Heart.

Might as well give better teams the chance to see our players in action before they poach our players at the end of the season.

 

[August_West]

If the Big 12 offers what should we do?

I’d drink bleach first and anyone saying yea, I’d hand them the funnel.

 

[August_West]

It's a legitimate thing.

The Big 12 appears hellbent on expanding whether it is P5 or G5 programs (reading between the lines of Ross Dellenger's piece).

If the Big 12 can't snag the Corner 4 from the Pac-12 or SDSU (who prefers the Pac-12), the three top remaining candidates for 2-3 spots (according to Dellenger) are UConn, Memphis, and UNLV.

Jesus dude

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

UConn BB can win a whole lotta games and more than its share of natty's when it has good players and a good coach. It has done so by both the men's and women's programs when in the BE and the AAC. It's inaccurate to say it couldn't do it while in the ACC or Big12.

UConn FB can win its share of games and make bowl games annually when it has the right coaching staff. It has done so without P5 revenue. With P5 revenue it can increase its FB profile and be competitive in the ACC and perhaps in the Big12.

Travel is not a huge issue for FB or BB in either potential conference - look at the men's BB schedule next season and see the away/neutral games locations.

The BE for BB and Independent for FB is not a sustainable model - it was taken as a temporary resting spot in lieu of building back athletic success in order to get into a P5. So far, all of our athletic programs (maybe except for men's soccer) are holding up their end of things.

If either the ACC or B12 offer, you accept in a heartbeat.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I’d drink bleach first and anyone saying yea, I’d hand them the funnel.

Why do I have the feeling that it wouldn't be your first time drinking bleach?

 

[uconnric]

I’d drink bleach first and anyone saying yea, I’d hand them the funnel.

Get real. The Big 12 is a terrific conference and we need the money to sustain our athletic department.

 

[Billy Jack]

What drives the P5? Football.

There is no more P5. There is only a P2.

 

[noeynox]

There is no more P5. There is only a P2.

I mean i linked an article where the total payout tv, bowls, CFB playoff money, ncaa tourney money etc., is 50 to 55 million per school. Is it Big 10 or SEC money? No, but it's a hell of lot more than we have ever gotten from a conference and could UConn really say no to that? DO I THINK IT WILL HAPPEN? Longshot.

 

[Incursio007]

There is no more P5. There is only a P2.

This. Plus there likely won’t be traditional “conferences” in 10-15 years anyways. I don’t think basketball is any danger long-term by staying in the NBE & will likely continue to thrive, even as changes to the landscape inevitably occur. That said, If you don’t accept a potential B12 invite, the football team would eventually tread so much water that the school would likely have no choice but to take action.

Personally, I think we’re ahead of the curve as independents in football & if we could make the finances work, would love to keep things status quo. Unfortunately this seems pretty unlikely over the long haul.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Question:

Why is UConn worth a gazillion dollars in the Big 12, but not worth anything in the Big East? That is the argument here, right?

 

[Sick Puppy]

Gold Standard
Michigan attendance just shy of 109K/
OSU vs Mich. 16M viewers

College conversation: P2 … or not P2?

Conference realignment and consolidation has become woven into the summer offseason like fireworks on the Fourth of July, as schools look to climb the college hierarchy in the relentless pursuit of more money and stature. What remains is the torn fabric of college athletics, at least until a new...

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[JSB60]

We’ve done just fine in the Big East, but somehow we need to be in a P5 to avoid some murky future financial disaster. I don’t buy it.

 

[noeynox]

Question:

Why is UConn worth a gazillion dollars in the Big 12, but not worth anything in the Big East? That is the argument here, right?

The only answer is the same reason that every FB playing school made more money upon leaving for a P5 conference. I don't think SU really adds anything to the ACC or BC or any other school that left the BE.

 

[businesslawyer]

the only sport i truly care about is basketball. we've proven we can win championships and reassert ourselves as national powers in the big east, so why would we, as basketball fans, want to leave?

people on this board love dumping on cuse and BC for taking the money, forgoing basketball, and becoming middling/irrelevant programs. i think there's a good chance that the same thing happens to uconn if we go to the big 12, which is a sinking ship in and of itself. how will fans feel then? do you think the big east will invite us back for a third time if it doesn't work out??

The Big East has not “invited us back” even one time. We joined a conference before it was formed. We were then deserted by the Catholic schools so they could control their destiny without football, who invited us in to their new conference that bought the Big East name.

If we leave the Big East and are invited back, it will be the first time we are invited back.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Question:

Why is UConn worth a gazillion dollars in the Big 12, but not worth anything in the Big East? That is the argument here, right?

In general, because independents not named Notre Dame aren't worth as much as conference members. Why? Because tv networks pay more for conference members because they are able to spread the risk of poor on-field performance in any one (or a few) years by an individual school by simply de-selecting that poor performing team and selecting games with teams that are still in the hunt for a conference and/or national title.

To further the issue, our FB has been a decade of poor performers.

 

[noeynox]

 

[husky429]

We’ve done just fine in the Big East, but somehow we need to be in a P5 to avoid some murky future financial disaster. I don’t buy it.

Financially, the athletic department is not doing just fine. It's a disaster.

 

[willie99]

No one in your area of Tennessee knows who the national champion in men's college basketball was for this year? That seems unlikely. And, I'm just taking a guess here, I kind of get the sense that Tennessee women's basketball fans might know who UConn is.

Imagine suggesting nobody in Tennessee knows about UConn? The school that dethroned their only national title contending program? Yes, women's basketball is popular in Tennessee, yet nobody in the state heard about UConn

That's funny. It's more likely they hate UConn

 

[WestCoastHusky]

The answer is pretty simple: if there is an actual B12 invite, you take it.

It is just a matter of time before schools from the P2 come after our coaches. Do you really think Hurley will turn down a $6M per year offer from a basketball school like Kentucky or even Vandy? Or do people think Mora will keep working for a salary that's less than $2M?

By being in the B12, you are in the club. It might not be P2, but it will position UConn to be in a better position vs. in the Big East especially when the ACC inevitably implodes. Besides, it will be much more fun to watch leeches like BCU desperately looking for a home vs. being there alongside with them.

You need money to run a big time athletic program. You need money to keep the program going forward it is as simple as that.

 

[Rdkid]

Financially, the athletic department is not doing just fine. It's a disaster.

And it joins its place in line with 80% of other D1 programs - including P5s and P2s. At least we have major success to show for it - enrollment bump, capital investment, giving on the rise.

 

[willie99]

The answer is pretty simple: if there is an actual B12 invite, you take it.

It is just a matter of time before schools from the P2 come after our coaches. Do you really think Hurley will turn down a $6M per year offer from a basketball school like Kentucky or even Vandy? Or do people think Mora will keep working for a salary that's less than $2M?

By being in the B12, you are in the club. It might not be P2, but it will position UConn to be in a better position vs. in the Big East especially when the ACC inevitably implodes. Besides, it will be much more fun to watch leeches like BCU desperately looking for a home vs. being there alongside with them.

You need money to run a big time athletic program. You need money to keep the program going forward it is as simple as that.

I can't disagree with much of what you said, other than the fact that both Hurley and Mora will soon be making a lot more. And it doesn't have to come from the state.

Basketball donations will be soaring, and football donations are probably a small fraction of what they can be.

Plus Hurley (and Andrea) are supposedly Northeast people

Job security and loyalty still matters to some people. Just ask Jim Calhoun

 

[willie99]

Why are we attractive (or should be attractive) to the B10

1) Both our basketball programs are among the nation's best, indisputable

2) We are NYC's team

3) We'll bring in New England too

4) Baseball

5) Hockey

6) Academic excellence

7) Mora improving football (he'll get a mega raise with an invite)

8) Other powerhouse regional or national programs

They want to be a legitimate basketball powerhouse, and they do, we're their solution (I don't think early exits is their goal)

I believe time is on our side, we're going to land on our feet

 

[Gburyhusky]

Regarding the Mike Anthony piece this morning ... I doubt that Benedict would be speaking on the record or making these kinds of public comments if there was anything happening with the Big 12.