Temple to the Big East?

[Srqhusky]

First of all, HuskyfanDan has a point about having an avatar, and I hope he digs mine as much as I dig his. I don't think Notre Dame digs it, though...

Second, I think that the Temple move (if completed) is a very solid move. It adds a good football team as well as a good basketball team in the fifth largest city in the country. They're a regional fit that could establish good rivalries with UConn, RU, and Navy. For all of those people on the Boneyard who continue to moan and groan about the fact that we are adding Temple and not Notre Dame or Penn State, please stop. Who else do you really want the Big East to add?!? We are trying to stabilize the conference with good football teams willing to join our league and follow it with a pitch to the cable companies such as, "Hey, we are in big cities in multiple time zones with a current AQ tie in and fantastic basketball to boot. Give us money..."
However, I actually think that some of you believe UConn would be better off as an independent. They won't be. They'll turn into Army. If this conference is so easy and cupcake-like, we should have no problem winning it. If it isn't, what are we all whining about?

In summation, welcome to all the new Big East members (including possibly Temple), and GO UCONN!!!!! U....C.....O....N.....N.... UConn! UConn! UConn! (yeah, I am "that guy")

I agree....The purpose here is to support UCONN.. Although the loss of West Virginia stings a little bit we have to continue to be fans. Temple is competitive . They had Penn State on the ropes and walloped Maryland. Also they beat us a few years ago. This is a season for Uconn to rise to the occasion. We have a guaranteed BCS bid no matter who we play during the season. If I still lived in CT I would have season tickets unquestionably and attend every game. You guys are lucky. I see them play USF one year and I fly up the next year for a game. Its about supporting the school and the program. The more support we give the more it can grow and attract better players. Next year we will have Boise, Houston , UCF, SMU and others coming in. I for one am excited about these matchups.

 

[UConnDan97]

If it makes people feel any better (and it won't), we are likely replacing the West Virginia game with Temple......Florida State is replacing the West Virginia game with Savannah State.....ouch! How's that for ticket purchase regret...

 

[UCFBfan]

i'm w/ ya 97, & for that matter w/ CArl as well.
the tools among us are the crybabies begging 4 an acc invite, or BIG10, forget it already

UConn is not considered of the upper echelon amongst state U's that inhabit the BIG5 BCS leagues, wrap your mind around that reality & suddenly the world of BIGtime college athletics makes much more sense

& the ND pipe-dream is just that, it is nauseating to read continual posts of how the BIG east needs to get tough, w/ ultimatums & such, the Irish laugh @ the notion.

these are all marriages of convenience, & right now UConn is not a hot-enough property to live in the most expensive neighborhood

& to that i say: so what?

it shouldn't hinder coach P from building a high-quality product on the field, being in a BCS league isn't a guarantee of anything, there are plenty of middling fb programs filling out BCS conference rosters.

& i'm w/ 97, that if this new BE is so bad, i suppose the expectation is that the Huskies will simply walk-off w/ multiple championships in coming years, yes? well, let's see that happen...

Unfortunately, the reality is that College football is quickly becoming the haves and the have nots and if the current trend continues, UConn will be with the have-nots. The Big East is not going to be part of the new conference alignment. It can easily be seen that when all the dust settles in a few years there will be a new echelon of college football. If the conferences go to 16 teams each those 64ish teams will form the new college football world. The MACs, C-USA, Sun Belt, and Big East's of the world will be relagated to another level. Does this mean UConn needs to leave now, no but it needs to happen. Being n the ACC or B1G brings stability. So if people want to see UConn get to that stability, they have every right to say so.

I've loved watching this program grow but to assume it will continue to grow if UConn stands still and doesn't think beyond it's current situation is just dumb. The New Big East won't last another 5 years and if it does, it won't bring UConn anything. Recruits don't wanna play in a conference that doesn't get national attention. Say what you want about the ACC but because they get ESPN money, they get the national attention that recruits want. Money also is key and I'm very skeptical of the Big East getting a network pay day that will help keep this program competitive.

UConn is where it is. There's nothing that can be done right now. However, hoping to move to less shaky pastures is NOT a bad thing and something every UConn fan should be hoping for.

 

[Srqhusky]

and UCONN winning the big east and having a great fan base is what will make us more attractive when expansion hits again!

 

[UConnDan97]

UConn will be with the have-nots. The Big East is not going to be part of the new conference alignment. It can easily be seen that when all the dust settles in a few years there will be a new echelon of college football. If the conferences go to 16 teams each those 64ish teams will form the new college football world.

With all due respect, UCFBfan, I want to touch on your point above, because it's something that many on this board are talking about but the math doesn't add up to me. If we look at the other conferences going to 16:

ACC - 14 teams (would need 2 more)
Big12 - 10 teams (would need 6 more)
Big10 - 12 teams (would need 4 more)
SEC - 14 teams (would need 2 more)
Pac-12 - 12 teams (would need 4 more)

So therefore, 18 more teams will be swallowed up by the "haves" conferences. Are you saying that there would be 18 options better than UConn in that scenario??? Seriously?? I know I am a "homer", but there is no way in hell that there are 18 teams better than UConn in that scenario. And if you think there are, please list them so that I can see the error of my ways...
Otherwise, we make the best of our situation now, and when the "Great Apocalypse" happens, we will be sitting at a "bigger table" anyways......Go UConn!!![/quote]

 

[UCFBfan]

Dan,

Easy. I don't see the Big 12 lasting either. So now split that conference up and add those teams to the mix. I see UConn as being at the end of the remaining spots. So that leaves:

ACC - 2 spots
B1G - 4 spots
SEC - 2 spots
Pac-12 - 4 spots

That's 64 teams, like I said. So now you're looking at Texas, Oklahoma, OK St, Texas Tech, WVU, TCU, ND, Louisville, Cincy, UConn, Rutgers, Kansas, K-State, Iowa St, Baylor, USF, Boise St. That's 17 teams for 12 spots. Not sure how many of those teams UConn would beat out.

Now, if the Big 12 does survive and go to 16, sure UConn is fine. But there wouldn't be enough incentive for all of that. If they wanted to split the money in less ways and make it elitist, then the Big 12 goes and the remaining teams go in different directions.

 

[UConnDan97]

By the way, if the argument is that there will only be 4 "haves" conferences (64 teams) and not 5 "haves" conferences, then you are suggesting one of two things:

1) The conferences will keep current members without culling them out (i.e., Duke, Indiana, Wake, Washington State, Iowa State, Minnesota, etc.) and add a couple of teams presumably from a cannibalized ACC, leaving the rest of the ACC in the cold? If that's the case, why does it matter if we "begharder" and get into the ACC now?

2) The conferences will cull out their "runts" (see the aforementioned list with a couple of other names) and add as much quality as they can from outside the conference. If that is the case, why does it matter if we "begharder" and get into the ACC now?

I just need some assistance figuring out the logic behind the "begharder" movement....

 

[junglehusky]

For now, the big east is the only conference in the country, that can lay legitimate claim to the broadcasting region that is the northeast corridor from D.C. to Boston. In both football and basketball. We are also tied to Notre Dame.

And that folks - in this intercollegiate world we live in now, whatever organization holds those claims, is the one that I want to be part of, until there is a playoff system to determine a true national champ among conference winners in 1-A football, becuase until there is, this chaos in conference shifiting is only going to continue to get more and more shifty.

That's it. Had enough for today.

When UConn and Rutgers join the ACC, they should get rid of Atlantic/Coastal and have North/South. We'd be with RU, Pitt, Cuse, BC, Maryland, UVA and either VT or Miami (which is full of ex-New Yorkers) How's that for Northeastern (slash midatlantic) football? On the whole, football, markets, TV money, all sports competition, academics, intangibles, would UConn really turn that down for Navy, UCF, SMU, Temple, etc? Maybe Jim Calhoun would prefer to keep Louisville, Georgetown and Nova for bball over UNC/Duke, but it's not a bball only decision.

 

[UConnDan97]

Dan,

Easy. I don't see the Big 12 lasting either. So now split that conference up and add those teams to the mix. I see UConn as being at the end of the remaining spots. So that leaves:

ACC - 2 spots
B1G - 4 spots
SEC - 2 spots
Pac-12 - 4 spots

That's 64 teams, like I said. So now you're looking at Texas, Oklahoma, OK St, Texas Tech, WVU, TCU, ND, Louisville, Cincy, UConn, Rutgers, Kansas, K-State, Iowa St, Baylor, USF, Boise St. That's 17 teams for 12 spots. Not sure how many of those teams UConn would beat out.

Now, if the Big 12 does survive and go to 16, sure UConn is fine. But there wouldn't be enough incentive for all of that. If they wanted to split the money in less ways and make it elitist, then the Big 12 goes and the remaining teams go in different directions.

Sorry, my post below this comment was being typed as you typed yours. So you are saying to me that with the additions of WVU and TCU (and possibly Louisville if you believe most reports on it), you believe that the Big12 will be less stable than the ACC?? Even if you are correct, take what I typed in the last message and flip it. Either we are considered part of the "haves" or "have nots" in the apocalyptic scenario, and that will not hinge on our being in the ACC at the time of the Great Reckoning. It will hinge on things like bowl games, good fan support, and good results on the field. All are possible (perhaps even more possible) in the New Big East until said time comes...

 

[CTMike]

I agree and I like adding a northeastern team. Their football is on the rise and I think their sophomore QB last year was very impressive and they have a very nice RB that will replace their Nfl back (forget his name). People forget about basketball and they have a very nice bball program Adding SDSU,Memphis, and know Temple to the BE means the BE doesn't really lose a step in hoops.

I was being 100% sarcastic, but that's ok.

 

[rich1122]

When UConn and Rutgers join the ACC, they should get rid of Atlantic/Coastal and have North/South. We'd be with RU, Pitt, Cuse, BC, Maryland, UVA and either VT or Miami (which is full of ex-New Yorkers) How's that for Northeastern (slash midatlantic) football? On the whole, football, markets, TV money, all sports competition, academics, intangibles, would UConn really turn that down for Navy, UCF, SMU, Temple, etc? Maybe Jim Calhoun would prefer to keep Louisville, Georgetown and Nova for bball over UNC/Duke, but it's not a bball only decision.

I hope that we NEVER join the ACC. I am happy with the situation as is. The ACC will just bring us down down down!!!!!!

We did not go through all this trouble to leave. We are in it for the long haul.

 

[Chin Diesel]

If it makes people feel any better (and it won't), we are likely replacing the West Virginia game with Temple......Florida State is replacing the West Virginia game with Savannah State.....ouch! How's that for ticket purchase regret...

And as someone who lives in the Florida panhandle, the FSU fans are none too happy.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Irish Loop, you nailed it. Amazing post.

The only thing UConn can realistically control is beating who's on our schedule and as fans all we can control is supporting the team and going to the games.

That doesn't mean we can't complain or be upset with our current situation, but what can we do about it?

I won't lie this post got me pumped up. Just win, baby.

People can complain all they want about Temple. People complained about UConn once, too. The ACC didn't invite us. Period. No matter how many people say "get us out of here," this is our home for the foreseeable future. If the ACC calls, we'll be gone. If they don't, we'll have to accept our place in the New Big East.

I don't have a problem with the additions of Memphis and Temple. The Big East is in a bad position and had to make tough choices without any real obvious solutions. We can blame the BE Leadership or we can blame the Basketball Schools or we can blame WVU/Cuse/Pitt or we can blame a weak culture of college football in the Northeast. It doesn't really matter.

This is our home and we have every opportunity to step up and make the best of it by supporting out program. If we continue to support this program, everything else will come in time.

 

[BlueDogs]

Just when you think it cant get any less compelling. The BE is a laughable football product and UConn Football will suffer as a result. The attendance is going to take a major hit. There is very little to be excited about in this tier 2 conference and even less so given there are no real rivalries. For those Herbst fans out there, this whole process demonstrates maximum ineptitude. Seriously considering whether renewing is worth the time or money with a program destined for nothing special in a glorified MAC like conference. I can't be the only person incredibly pissed off.

 

[Chin Diesel]

People can complain all they want about Temple. People complained about UConn once, too. The ACC didn't invite us. Period. No matter how many people say "get us out of here," this is our home for the foreseeable future. If the ACC calls, we'll be gone. If they don't, we'll have to accept our place in the New Big East.

I don't have a problem with the additions of Memphis and Temple. The Big East is in a bad position and had to make tough choices without any real obvious solutions. We can blame the BE Leadership or we can blame the Basketball Schools or we can blame WVU/Cuse/Pitt or we can blame a weak culture of college football in the Northeast. It doesn't really matter.

This is our home and we have every opportunity to step up and make the best of it by supporting out program. If we continue to support this program, everything else will come in time.

This more than anything else is why BCU, SU, Uconn, PSU, Rutger's, Pitt and WVU aren't all in the same conference. There isn't a large enough critical mass of people around here who gives a rats patootey about college football to make sure all these team play each other.

Laugh all you want at anecdotes of brides-to-be checking football schedules before announcing wedding dates but that's a reality down south. You literally couldn't pay Auburn enough money to join a conference that meant not playing Bama annually. Down here it really is a foe of my enemy is a friend of mine mentality. Hatfield vs. McCoy. Damn near half of a schools' fanbases' identity is their rival. That doesn't exist up here.

Literally, the only rivalry north of the Mason/Dixon line that is absolute is Michigan/OSU football. Everything else in college is negotiable.

Uconn is in a pro sports section of the country.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Just when you think it cant get any less compelling. The BE is a laughable football product and UConn Football will suffer as a result. The attendance is going to take a major hit. There is very little to be excited about in this tier 2 conference and even less so given there are no real rivalries. For those Herbst fans out there, this whole process demonstrates maximum ineptitude. Seriously considering whether renewing is worth the time or money with a program destined for nothing special in a glorified MAC like conference. I can't be the only person incredibly pissed off.

Damn. President Herbst should have never turned down those Big10 and ACC offers!

 

[ConnHuskBask]

This more than anything else is why BCU, SU, Uconn, PSU, Rutger's, Pitt and WVU aren't all in the same conference. There isn't a large enough critical mass of people around here who gives a rats patootey about college football to make sure all these team play each other.

Laugh all you want at anecdotes of brides-to-be checking football schedules before announcing wedding dates but that's a reality down south. You literally couldn't pay Auburn enough money to join a conference that meant not playing Bama annually. Down here it really is a foe of my enemy is a friend of mine mentality. Hatfield vs. McCoy. Damn near half of a schools' fanbases' identity is their rival. That doesn't exist up here.

Your overall point is understood but even money and greed has ruined rivals in the South now with Texas and Texas A&M splitting up. The whole thing is enough to make you sick!

 

[Dann]

our fanbase needs to become a ECU type in fball. they support the out of that team, pack the home place and do everything well as a group. there just patiently waiting for a invite to the BE or somewhere. we need to be like that no matter who we play.

 

[UConnDan97]

Seriously considering whether renewing is worth the time or money with a program destined for nothing special in a glorified MAC like conference.

You're the second person tonight that I've read about wanting to not renew their season tickets. My ticket money is to watch UConn, not the other team. Is it more exciting when it's a big name like a Notre Dame? Sure. But if it's Temple, I'm still rooting for the Huskies. So if you are wondering whether you should continue to buy the ticket based on the fact that we're playing against Temple instead of WVU, my advice to you is.....don't.

 

[CTMike]

Just when you think it cant get any less compelling. The BE is a laughable football product and UConn Football will suffer as a result. The attendance is going to take a major hit. There is very little to be excited about in this tier 2 conference and even less so given there are no real rivalries. For those Herbst fans out there, this whole process demonstrates maximum ineptitude. Seriously considering whether renewing is worth the time or money with a program destined for nothing special in a glorified MAC like conference. I can't be the only person incredibly pissed off.

Yah, she really shouldn't have invited all those other schools to join the Big East.

Be pissed, but you are directing your anger at the completely wrong person...

 

[HuskyFan16]

What i dont get is why we couldn't figue out which team we needed to be our 12th. Honestly its maddening to think that the Big East did not have a contingency plan for scheduling when WVU left. One of Memphis or Temple would have been fine to fill out the schedule and get to 12 members. But going beyond 12? Our membership would have been fine where it was, but I guarantee we wont stay at 13, so what we're going to have a 14/19 constituancy? 16/21? and who the hell is going to be added to get there? Buffalo? UAB? I mean this is getting out of control. When the Big East knew they were going to settle with WVU, they should have gone to Memphis and Temple and asked which one would be able to join next year and be done with it.

 

[Srqhusky]

our fanbase needs to become a ECU type in fball. they support the out of that team, pack the home place and do everything well as a group. there just patiently waiting for a invite to the BE or somewhere. we need to be like that no matter who we play.

which is why I hope they are getting consideration to join!

 

[Dann]

which is why I hope they are getting consideration to join!

yea at this point i wanted them before every single add cept bsu, ucf and uh. they are fball ready like ucf but its right in the heart or dippers road. uconn playing fball down there and thrashing ecu's bball team(front page just for the visit in the newspaper) goes a long way middle finger wise for me. plus they play great baseball.
and btw, tailgating down there is good and the smoke shows are always out in force

 

[Adios]

What's laughable is seeing people go incredibly emo when we've only been top-tier for approximately one decade and immediately expect our program to be included with other programs who have been top-tier for several decadeS. Have to earn our stripes. Don't be so petty and spoiled and expect to be handed a silver platter. The fact we went straight into an BCS conference is plenty to be thankful for. So many fans of other programs are jealous of our present position and we whine worse than toddlers. If you're going to whine, don't go to football games or be a fan of the football program. Go to the Mystic Aquarium, Mark Twain's house or something like that. Or play with your Barbie dolls. What an ungrateful fan base we have. If I am correct, we have a losing all-time record against Temple. Temple accomplished more in their program's history than we have.

 

[Dann]

temple was so good that they had to drop the level of competition they play in a era where teams who never had a touch football game on campus before did nothing but upgrade. they may have tradition but they fell off a cliff like no other. meanwhile uconn has won ships in other sports and build/invested in a program like no other is such time. f the idea that we should be happy playing temple and others every single year instead of bc/cuse/pitt/psu/wvu/ruty/md etc. just becuase were a new guy doesn't mean we have to sit around for a while and prove ourselves, we already did that more than about 20 bcs schools in big confs today in the past 5 years. uconn put the time and money into this to play with the big boys just like we do with baskletball. now were hear and we seeing them above us. i want to join not look up and cry one day and balme youth. noise.

 

[uconnric]

Just when you think it cant get any less compelling. The BE is a laughable football product and UConn Football will suffer as a result. The attendance is going to take a major hit. There is very little to be excited about in this tier 2 conference and even less so given there are no real rivalries. For those Herbst fans out there, this whole process demonstrates maximum ineptitude. Seriously considering whether renewing is worth the time or money with a program destined for nothing special in a glorified MAC like conference. I can't be the only person incredibly pissed off.

With that attitude I hope you do stay away from UConn athletics. There are plenty of real UConn fans and supporters that will be there.

 

[mattp]

our fanbase needs to become a ECU type in fball. they support the out of that team, pack the home place and do everything well as a group. there just patiently waiting for a invite to the BE or somewhere. we need to be like that no matter who we play.

to be fair it hasn't worked out so well for ECU.
all of the bellyaching is really getting tiring. the situation is what it is, deal with it. what else can you do? Temple and Memphis were probably the best two options on the table and we took them. why can't people get excited to play some different teams over the next few years? odds are we won't be in the Big East in five years but you might as well enjoy games against Houston and Boise St in the meantime. if Memphis and Temple are lousy, we get some wins.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

temple was so good that they had to drop the level of competition they play in a era where teams who never had a touch football game on campus before did nothing but upgrade. they may have tradition but they fell off a cliff like no other. meanwhile uconn has won ships in other sports and build/invested in a program like no other is such time. f the idea that we should be happy playing temple and others every single year instead of bc/cuse/pitt/psu/wvu/ruty/md etc. just becuase were a new guy doesn't mean we have to sit around for a while and prove ourselves, we already did that more than about 20 bcs schools in big confs today in the past 5 years. uconn put the time and money into this to play with the big boys just like we do with baskletball. now were hear and we seeing them above us. i want to join not look up and cry one day and balme youth. noise.

Doesn't matter what we deserve. The ACC or B1G decides who they want and why. If we don't make the cut, it doesn't matter. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we can't pack a 40,000 person stadium every week? Maybe it's because we're the new kid on the block? It doesn't matter. You don't think Temple deserves to play in our league, well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but until ACC or B1G or anybody else invites us to the big boy table, this is apparently what we deserve.

 

[zls44]

I love the "if you hate the schedule so much, don't go!" people. A crappy conference and awful schedule isn't enough, now you want to voluntarily run people away from the program who were considering buying season tickets.

If you don't think these schools should matter when buying tickets, you really are clueless. Nobody is going to go watch UConn play them at the Rent. They will travel no fans. They almost universally have no history, no buzz. UConn being a newbie changes none of these facts.

It is what it is. Don't make it something it isn't- good news.

 

[uconnric]

I love the "if you hate the schedule so much, don't go!" people. A crappy conference and awful schedule isn't enough, now you want to voluntarily run people away from the program who were considering buying season tickets.

If you don't think these schools should matter when buying tickets, you really are clueless. Nobody is going to go watch UConn play them at the Rent. They will travel no fans. They almost universally have no history, no buzz. UConn being a newbie changes none of these facts.

It is what it is. Don't make it something it isn't- good news.

You're entitled to stay away, so just do it.