Dooley
Done with U-con athletics
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- Oct 7, 2012
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When you have a chance to pick up a Nebraska, of course you do it. That was a pretty easy move to understand but how many other similar properties are out there for the taking? Rutgers is far more instructive of B1G reasoning.
No one not wearing scarlet was talking about Rutgers' tradition before the B1G dropped a bombshell by inviting them. No doubt the reason for that is that Rutgers' tradition was one epic futility (with all due respect to our Scarlet Knight fans who drop by.) Yet now, you felt compelled to discuss RU's tradition as justification for its acquisition by the B1G. That's because you were fitting that square peg into the round hole of tradition driving the bus. RU was a worthwhile property because of potential to aid in the B1G's plans 10-20 years out. That's the level of analysis that is taking place. UConn is worthwhile looking at in that time frame. Its status as a land grant institution, the premier public institution in the state, makes it a decent potential fit for the B1G.
As you so aptly pointed out, the B1G is dripping with tradition. They don't need to buy it via conference offers. They need teams to bring eyeballs and cable access dollars. UConn is positioned nicely to bring that. The fact that it is likely to bring unparalleled athletic success in the sports like men's basketball that the B1G is not dominant is a bonus.
Spot on, CL82. Frank, you've come to the wrong place if you are trying to convince people that Rutgers has any football tradition worthy of B1G consideration. A tradition of losing? Sure. But nobody can convince me that Rutgers' football tradition is so much better than UConn's. Longer? Yes. Better? Absolutely not. Earlier in this thread or another, there was debate as to what UConn's best achievement was: losing in the Fiesta, beating South Carolina or beating Notre Dame? Now, quick. Please tell me what Rutgers' best on-field achievement is. If you can give me ONE bowl game bigger than UConn's Fiesta, I'd be impressed (and also accuse you of being stubborn not to admit you're wrong). 8 bowl games in 140 years of football. 8. 7 of them are from 2005-present (does that timeline look familiar?). And none of them are bigger than UConn's Fiesta. Please spare me the "it was a down year" in the Big East talk, too. It was a down year in the Big East for all teams that year, including the beloved, "tradition-rich" Rutgers. But guess who stepped up and won the conference when it had the chance? "No-tradition" UConn. Guess who choked away a double digit second half lead on their home turf last season to give the "tradition-rich" program its FIRST EVER BCS appearance?
I understand the B1G grabbing RU from a media market perspective. Heck, I can understand the argument claiming that Rutgers is a good growth potential play. But, sorry Frank, nobody will EVER convince me that Rutgers is a program steeped in the type of tradition that the B1G covets. UConn would be an excellent addition to the B1G for the same reasons Rutgers was: media market, growth potential, strong academics, and loyal fanbase. But UConn has something Rutgers doesn't: a much longer history of conference and national championships in other sports. THAT is what makes tradition.